23 September 2024
Southland exporters shine at gala awards
Southland’s most innovative and successful exporters were celebrated on Friday night.
The Export Southland Trust hosted 240 export businesses and their supporters for the biennial DHL Export Gala Dinner at the Ascot Park Hotel.
Winners on the night included Backlanz founder Ethan Todd, George Munro – Hokonui founder Laura Todd, Davaar & Co, Resolution Farming App, and agriculture entrepreneur Keith Neylon.
Southland Business Chamber chief executive Sheree Carey said it was exciting to see the diversity and calibre of entries for this year’s awards, making it tough for judges to choose the winners.
Ethan Todd’s ultra-lightweight bipod range has won him the NZAS Innovation in Export Award.
Manufactured in New Zealand and assembled in Invercargill, Backlanz is exporting the bipod worldwide, even filling an order for the US Navy.
The DHL Mentorship went to George Munro – Hokonui founder Laura Todd, whose single source lambswool business uses crossbred Perendale wool and exports to Sweden, Scotland, France, Germany, England, Australia and Japan.
The Export Southland Grant will be shared by two businesses: Davaar & Co and the Resolution Farming App.
The grant is aimed at helping businesses who aspire towards building a skilled workforce and a sustainable environment and is awarded to applicants that can show how their exporting activity will enhance skills, employment and development in Southland’s export sector.
The Graham Dick Memorial Trophy, supported by McIntyre Dick was presented to Keith Neylon — a pioneer in the NZ Export Industry.
Neylon’s work spans deer, sheep, and cattle farming, meat processing, marine farming, and his leadership in the dairy sector led to the creation of Blue River Dairy.
Initiatives like the Export Southland Gala and grant programs supported innovation and recognise achievements in the export sector, Carey said.
The current environment for exporting businesses in Southland was both promising and challenging, she said.
“Southland continues to punch above its weight and the region’s GDP growth rate has been double the national average over the last five years, reflecting its significant contribution to the national economy.”
But export businesses were also facing hurdles like inflation pressure, increasing costs and workforce shortages, Carey said.
Geopolitical shifts and trade tensions in regions like China, the US and Europe were also creating uncertainty, she said.
“These issues, combined with protectionist tendencies in global trade policies, are influencing commodity prices, making it harder for Southland exporters to forecast and plan,” Carey said.
Source: The Southland Times – 20 September 2024; The Southland Tribune – 20 September 2024; The Southland App – 20 September 2024; Southland Express and Otago Daily Times – 24 September 2024