ENTRIES CLOSE WEDNESDAY 10 JUNE - EMAIL YOUR ENTRY TO ENTRIES@BKH.ORG.NZ

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ENTRIES CLOSE WEDNESDAY 10 JUNE - EMAIL YOUR ENTRY TO ENTRIES@BKH.ORG.NZ |

Entries Close Wednesday 10 June!

  • The Main Awards

    The Awards are here for 2026, ready to champion the businesses that are embracing today and leading tomorrow. FREE to enter.

    Whether you’re established or emerging, this is your chance to put your business forward for the recognition it deserves!

    Our simple entry form is quicker than ever to complete - answer a few questions about your business and what you’ve achieved - then send it in! Plus when you enter the Main Awards, you automatically get entered into the Customer Experience Awards - no text-to-vote required!

    Entries are open now until the 10th of June, 2026.

    For all key dates, please see - About The Business & Innovation Awards Page.

    We can’t wait to get into our 32nd season of celebrating innovation and those who are shaping the future of business excellence across our districts.

Categories

    • Manufacturing, Production and Processing

    • Hospitality, Entertainment and Tourism

    • Construction and Trades

    • Retail

    • Professional and Business Services or Technology

    • Not for Profit, Community and Public Services

    • Consumer Services

    • New/emerging (Less than 3 years in operation)

    • Small business (0-11 FTE’s)

    • Innovation

    • Environmental Sustainability

    • Customer Experience

  • For full category definitions - click here

Why enter the Main Awards in 2026?


✨Validation for your business

✨Marketing opportunities

✨Industry expert feedback

Free to enter

✨Simple entry process

For guidance on completing your entry form please see the 2026 Entrant Guidelines document below.

Profiling for your business in 2026!

Entrant profiling

Added to the BKH website

Added to an email campaign

Social post on Facebook and LinkedIn

Press release out to media

Entrants event – attendance and opportunity to speak

Finalist profiling

All entrant profiling plus..

Social post on Facebook and LinkedIn

Added to a finalist email campaign

Added to our website

Press release out to media

Awards Night – inclusion in the programme, Emcee mention and AV inclusion.

Winner profiling

All entrant and finalist profiling plus..

Social post on Facebook and LinkedIn

Added to a winners email campaign

Added to our website

Press release out to media

Awards Night – Same as finalists with the addition of a stage speaking opportunity, further AV inclusion and winners’ photos.

We have free mentor sessions available to support you with your application form and help you to represent your business to the best of your ability.

Register to enter this year’s awards and be eligible to receive a 30-minute free coaching session to support you with your entry form. We have Entry Mentors for each region who will support entrants for the season ahead.

Kāpiti - Steve Gregan

Horowhenua - Carmen Gray

Our mentors will work one-on-one with you, answering questions and clarifying thoughts and ideas regarding your entry. First, you must have completed your entry, and then this session is aimed at refining your responses ready for submission.

If you wish to upgrade your session – adding on additional time to further develop your thoughts whilst making sure that the questions are answered please speak to your Entry Mentor about possibilities in this space.

How to secure your space...

Kāpiti-based entrants: email steve@cuaccountants.co.nz

Horowhenua-based entrants: email carmen@thcl.nz

  • Steve is an experienced corporate executive and has worked across a range of industries and different-sized businesses. He has been on the board of BKH for over 8 years and previously worked for Electra—our naming sponsor—for 8 years as the Deputy Chief Executive.

    Steve is CA qualified and is a member of the Chartered Accountants Australia and New Zealand professional body.

    Steve recently joined Chapman Upchurch Accountants as the Director and Principal.

    Steve has a real passion for business growth and excellence and really enjoys working on mergers and acquisitions

    Steve has a keen interest in cycling both on road and off road and is a strong supporter of the local cycling clubs.

  • Carmen is the Economic Development Manager at The Horowhenua Company, working alongside local businesses to support growth and opportunity across the district. She’s also a small business owner and a recent New Zealand Champion Producer award winner. Carmen is a strong supporter of small business and is actively involved in the wider regional business community, including the Kāpiti Coast Food & Beverage Cluster leadership team. She brings a practical, real-world perspective and a good understanding of the local business landscape and is looking forward to supporting Horowhenua entrants as a mentor.

Your 2026 Entrant Support Videos!

Click here for the 2026 Terms and Conditions for the Electra Business & Innovation Awards.