2024 Hi-Tech Awards winners announced

Pictured above: The Rocket Lab team accepting their award at Friday night’s ceremony.

Rocket Lab continues its ascent taking out the top honour at the 2024 Hi-Tech Awards held on Friday, May 24, being named the PwC Hi-Tech Company of the Year.

A new record for attendance at the event was set with 1,300+ people including several senior Government Ministers, packing Auckland’s Spark Arena making it one of the biggest awards nights to be held in New Zealand.

Rocket Lab is a founding company of New Zealand’s growing space economy that is now valued at close to contributing $2 billion annually to the New Zealand economy. With contracts with multiple international organisations including NASA, the company continues to develop its technology with its Electron boosters and highly anticipated Archimedes engine and Neutron launch vehicle.

Read more: Rocket Lab’s Peter Beck on leadership and his passion for bigger, better business

Other big winners were Palmerston North-based NovoLabs winning three categories for Most Innovative Hi-Tech Hardware Product, Most Innovative Hi-Tech Solution for a More Sustainable Future and Most Innovative Deep Tech Solution. Their UV water treatment technology impressing judges and delivering practical solutions for environmental gain.

Founded in Alexandra, Otago, Starboard Maritime Intelligence won double honours with Hi-Tech Start-up Company of the Year and Most Innovative Hi-Tech Software Solution. Their marine vessel tracking technology creating greater bio-security and monitoring tools.

More than 80 local and international judges contributed to the judging of the Hi-Tech Awards which continues to see a year on year increase in submissions with an increasingly high calibre to match.

Of the 2024 Awards New Zealand Hi-Tech Trust Chair David Downs saw the achievement of the Tech sector as a pride that all of Aotearoa could share in.

“We’re witnessing an industry that is continuing exceptional growth as well as innovation.

“The continued increase of diversity across the finalists is a reflection of the fact that there is a place in Tech for all New Zealanders,” says Downs.

All the winners

ASX Hi-Tech Emerging Company of the Year
Winner: Tracksuit

Punakaiki Hi-Tech Start-up Company of the Year
Winner: Starboard Maritime Intelligence
Highly Commended: DataMasque

Duncan Cotterill Most Innovative Hi-Tech Software Solution
Winner: Starboard Maritime Intelligence
Highly Commended: Toku Eyes

Braemac Most Innovative Hi-Tech Hardware Product
Winner: NovoLabs

Kiwibank Most Innovative Hi-Tech Solution for a More Sustainable Future
Winner: NovoLabs

Callaghan Innovation/ Poutama Trust Hi-Tech Kamupene Māori o te Tau – Māori Company of the Year
Winner: Envico Technologies

Xero Hi-Tech Young Achiever
Joint Winner: Nu’uali’i Eteroa Lafaele
Joint Winner: Joshua Parsons

NZTE Most Innovative Hi-Tech Agritech Solution
Winner: The Smart Machine Company

Spark Best Hi-Tech Solution for the Public Good
Winner: Kara Technologies

NZX Most Innovative Hi-Tech Creative Technology Solution
Winner: IMMORTAL Camera Systems

PwC Hi-Tech Company of the Year
Winner: Rocket Lab

Aware Group Most Innovative Deep Tech Solution
Winner: NovoLabs

Consult Recruitment Best Contribution to the NZ Tech Sector
Winner: Creative HQ

Datacom Hi-Tech Inspiring Individual
Winner: Elle Archer

The New Zealand Hi-Tech Awards celebrate the success of our producers of goods and services from the software, electronics, telecommunications, mobile, agritech, creative and other high-tech industries. The Awards are run by the NZ Hi-Tech Trust, a not-for-profit organisation aimed at promoting and supporting the wider industry.