Thirty-three finalists will be competing against each other across 12 categories in this year's Datagrid Southland Business Excellence Awards.

Considered Southland's premier business event, the awards run biennially and are organised by the Southland Business Chamber.

400 business leaders, sponsors, and supporters are expected to attend a gala celebration, including awards presentation, held at Ascot Park Hotel on 19th September.

Southland Business Chamber CEO Sheree Carey said this year’s entries reflected the remarkable diversity and ambition of Southland’s business community.

“From innovators leading the way on the world stage to startups reshaping local industries, the quality of applications was truly exceptional."

"There was robust judging conversations, and the finalists should be incredibly proud,” Carey said.

2025 Finalists

Findex | Primary Industry Excellence Award

• Robert Dennis Racing

• The Gofer

• WM Environmental

Breen | Trade Industries Award

• Aotea Electrical

• Road Runner Panel and Paint

• Traffic Management Services

Elm Marketing | Consumer Services Award

• Hayz at The Anchorage

• Invercargill Airport

• Rakiura Distilling

• The Fat Duck Restaurant & Bar

2degrees | Professional Services Award

• Digital Stock

• Finance Now

• The Headache Clinic

ILT | Not for Profit Award

• Hospice Southland

• Insert Coin to Play

• Southern REAP

Blue River Dairy | Workplace Wellbeing Award

• Finance Now

• McCulloch & Partners

• Number 10 Youth One Stop Shop

• WM Environmental

Fi Innovations | Innovation Award 2025

• Kiwi Econet

• Pawthotics NZ

• The Headache Clinic

PowerNet | New & Emerging Award

• Garston Hops

• Southland Carbon

• The Florence Society

Rio Tinto NZAS | Workplace Safety Award

• Macaulay Motors

• Olphert Contracting

• Traffic Management Services

Meridian Energy | One to Watch Award

• Alisha Loach – The Florence Society

• Grant Lightfoot – Kiwi Econet

• Laura Thompson ONZM - āhei

• Stephen Breetzke - Pawthotics

Air New Zealand Cargo | Individual Excellence in Export Award

• Calvin Claridge – Southfish

• Chris Blenkiron – Rio Tinto NZAS

• Penny Simmonds – Former CEO, Southern Institute of Technology

Invercargill City Council | Small Business of the Year Award

• Digital Stock

• Garston Hops

• Hayz at The Anchorage

• Road Runner Panel & Paint

• Robert Dennis Racing

• Southland Carbon

• The Florence Society

• The Gofer

• WM Environmental

The winner of each category is eligible for the Datagrid Supreme Award Winner.