Southland’s business community gathered in force on Friday night for the 2025 Southland Business Excellence Awards, a sold-out gala at Ascot Park Hotel that drew more than 400 leaders, sponsors, and supporters.

The region’s top honour, the Datagrid Supreme Award, went to Traffic Management Services (TMS), which also claimed the Workplace Safety Award.

Judges praised TMS for 'end-to-end excellence,' citing strong leadership, robust systems, and a people-first culture.

Under Kerrian and Lara Simpson, the company has grown from four to nearly 30 staff in four years while maintaining a flawless safety record, they said.

WM Environmental was named Small Business of the Year and also won the Primary Industry Excellence Award.

Judges highlighted its “courageous reset and disciplined execution,” noting its innovative environmental planning services and strong wellbeing culture.

Other winners included The Headache Clinic (Professional Services and Innovation), Road Runner Panel and Paint (Trade Industries), Hayz at The Anchorage (Consumer Services), and Finance Now Ltd (Workplace Wellbeing).

Individual honours went to Calvin Claridge of South Fish for export excellence and Haylee-Chanel Simeon, who received both the Local Food Champion and Local Legend awards.

Southland Business Chamber CEO Sheree Carey praised the calibre of entries and the support of sponsors. “The judges had robust deliberations this year, which speaks to the quality and diversity of businesses in Southland,” she said.