New Zealanders are buying into the benefits of artificial intelligence (AI) as it is creeps into many walks of everyday life, an AI specialist says. New Zealand needs to actively embrace artificial intelligence at a faster rate as an extraordinary opportunity and challenge for New Zealand’s future, Artificial Intelligence Forum of New Zealand (AIFNZ) executive director Ben Reid says. AI has a growing impact on the daily lives of all New Zealanders. Its potential impacts are profound. In the near future, it is likely to accelerate – at an unprecedented pace – resulting in major changes to our economy, society, and institutions, Reid says. Key issues relating to accelerating AI developments across the country will be discussed at the AIFNZ event in Wellington tomorrow. Precision Driven Health (PDH) is one organisation spearheading AI changes across NZ in the health sector. PDH is a seven-year $38million academic research group aimed at improving health outcomes through data science and is a finalist at the NZ Innovation Awards to be announced in Auckland on Thursday night. “Globally, hospitals have been slow to adopt robotics and artificial intelligence into patient care, although both have been widely used and tested in other industries. Internationally, surgeons are already using intelligent robots in the operating theatre to assist with surgery,” Reid says. Reid says that in the business world, examples include the Xtracta App uses machine learning to read documents such as invoices, receipts and sales orders to insert data directly into accounting software. “Soul Machines latest project with Air New Zealand is another great example of the potential of AI or digital humans in customer service,” Reid says. “Soul Machine’s robot, Sophie, the digital human, has advanced emotional intelligence and responsiveness and can answer questions about New Zealand as a tourist destination and the airline’s products and services. Soul Machines is creating some of the world’s first emotionally responsive and interactive digital humans. “Another cool AI advance for the environment is artificial intelligence software based upon Google’s TensorFlow framework that has been trained to recognise the different calls of threatened native birds. “In banking, many banks are planning to use chatbots to provide robo-advisor to customers. In transport, New Zealand firm HMI Technologies’ self-driving buses are being trialled in Christchurch. Ohmio Automation, a subsidiary of HMI Technologies, will soon start manufacturing self-driving electric shuttles from New Zealand which use artificial intelligence to navigate. “The shuttles may not be used on city roads for many years but would be for more controlled environments like retirement villages, airports, or the campus of a business or educational facility. “However, corporate New Zealand and government have yet to engage significantly and start building in-house capability to develop AI tech. Boards and senior management teams are still needing to get to grips with the major impacts that AI presents as part of their organisation's strategy. “The use of AI technologies could lead to greater productivity, enhanced social good and the creation of new fields of work. But AI also presents risks. These could include greater inequality and unemployment from disrupted industries and professions. “We have a duty to seek a deeper understanding of New Zealand’s potential as an AI-assisted economy and society, to ensure AI is a positive part of New Zealand’s future. The AI Forum brings together business, academia and the government connecting, promoting and advancing the AI ecosystem to help ensure a thriving New Zealand underpinned by technology.” For further information contact AIFNZ executive director Ben Reid on 027 3446808 or Make Lemonade editor-in-chief Kip Brook on 0275 030188

| A AIFNZ | MakeLemonade release  ||  October 17,  2017   |||

On the win of the prestigious ‘Best National Event of the Year’, TAFT Chief Executive, Suzanne Porter, says “This is an award that recognises Taranaki, our partnerships and our loyal WOMAD audience as much as the festival. We thank our WOMADers and partners for their support and look forward to celebrating with them at the 2018 festival” .

TAFT Board of Trustees chair, Charles Wilkinson added "This award brings together a culmination of years of expertise, dedication and professionalism that's been given to this festival by our most wonderful staff. I congratulate Suzanne Porter our CEO and her dedicated crew for what they have so deservedly achieved at these national awards. I am so proud of them, as is my board, and I am so excited that we now have a line that we can exceed to take our Festival to an even greater level."

WOMAD NZ were finalists for three national awards in this year’s 2017 New Zealand Event Awards presented last night at a gala ceremony at Sky City in Auckland. They received nominations for ‘Best National Event of the Year’ and the the public voted ‘Eventfinda / New Zealand’s Favourite Event of the Year’. And WOMAD NZ’s Marketing and Communications Manager, Cleopatra Wood, was named as a finalist in the ‘Emerging Event Professional’ category. Suzanne Porter says of this nomination “We are incredibly proud of our marketing manager, Cleopatra Wood, for her nomination. The calibre of finalists is a true testament to her great achievements working on WOMAD”.

The 2018 EventThe full WOMAD NZ 2018 festival line up is being announced in Wellington on the night of Wednesday October 18th. Previously announced artists for the 2018 festival include Los Angeles saxophonist, composer and jazz superstar KAMASI WASHINGTON, the Indian classical and progressive sitar virtuoso ANOUSHKA SHANKAR and classic Kiwi band DRAGON who will be joined by many more exciting and eclectic artists from across the globe.

The internationally established three day festival brings together international artists to celebrate the world’s many forms of music, arts and dance. Set in the stunning 55-acre Brooklands Park and TSB Bowl of Brooklands, New Plymouth, WOMAD NZ has rightfully gained a reputation as one of the most beautiful outdoor festivals in the world.

The main stage is set at the base of a natural amphitheatre and not only provides a stunning setting, but an acoustic experience second to none. The other three stages are located throughout Brooklands Park, with every square inch oozing the vibrancy of the family friendly WOMAD.

Since the first festival in the UK in 1982, founded by Peter Gabriel and Thomas Brooman, WOMAD has held more than 160 festivals worldwide with 2018 seeing the festival celebrate its 14th anniversary in New Plymouth. In its tenure, WOMAD has had 150,000 visitors through its gates and generated over 100 million dollars for the local Taranaki economy.

As an organisation, WOMAD now works in many different ways, but their aims are always the same - at festivals, performance events, through recorded releases and through educational projects, they aim to excite, inform and create awareness of the worth and potential of a multicultural society.

WOMAD New Zealand 2018 is on at Brooklands Park, New Plymouth, from March 16 to 18. Tickets on sale from womad.co.nz

| A Womad release  ||  October 12,  2017   |||

A leading tech businessman, who has possibly done more to improve trade ties with Vietnam than any other New Zealander, has last night recognised for his leadership at the Auckland University of Technology Business School NZ Business Support Excellence awards. Augen director, NZTech and FinTechNZ chair Mitchell Pham was one of the finalists at the gala event in Auckland. Pham has impeccable links with South East Asia and was pivotal in setting up the Kiwi Tech Connection Hub in Ho Chi Minh city to help Kiwi tech businesses accelerate presence and engagement in the ASEAN region. “New Zealand lacks capability and reach to operate in Asia. There has been plenty of focus on China and India, but not enough capability in South East Asia. We provide that reach and operational capability on-the-ground with the Kiwi Connection Tech Hub,” Pham says. “New Zealand has not had the capacity or expertise to engage in broad business development activities and deep relationships with business networks as well as tapping into talent pools and investment capital in South East Asia. “We are starting to look at how we can take Kiwi Connection Tech Hub to the next level and provide a more direct business development channel to Kiwi tech businesses. New Zealand faces global demand for tech innovation, while at the same time we also suffer from shortage of both tech talent and investment capital to support international growth. “I feel very honoured to be a finalist in the awards last night, on behalf of all the people and organisations that I work with. As I don't work alone or achieve any impact on my own, this recognition is for them.” Pham developed his leadership skills from business and community engagements and has also spent time at Harvard University’s Kennedy School to further enhance and broaden his capability in this area as a result of being named Young Global Leader by the World Economic Forum. His company, Augen, has brought resource scalability to help nearly 250 New Zealand businesses accelerate innovation and gain speed-to-market advantages, including such groups as Acuite, AgilityTRx, Atlantis Health, Auckland District Law Society, Benecura, Blackbay, Calqtech, Go Car Finance, GO Rentals, HealthSoft, Kiwa Digital, Manawanui In-Charge, MerlotAero, OMNIMax, Orion Health, Rhombic, RoleQ, ShapeShifter, SoftTech, Strategic Pay, SurveyOnline.com and Wizbang. Many of the Kiwi businesses assisted by Augen have also been upskilled with the capability to work effectively with international teams in today's diverse globally supply chains and digitally-connected business ecosystems. Pham was one of the refugees who were fortunate enough to successfully get out of Vietnam in the 1980s. He survived several near-death experiences crossing the South China Sea and two perilous years in four refugee camps in Indonesia. He says he resettled in the best country on earth, received world-class education, established his life in New Zealand, built a technology business group and expanded back into Vietnam years later. “I am very fortunate to have built a business career in an industry – technology – that is now the fastest growing globally. I reconnected with my immediate family after 13 years apart and reunited in New Zealand after 30 years. I have expanded my Kiwi technology group back into Vietnam to support the growth of New Zealand businesses and creation of opportunities for both countries.”

| A MakeLemonade release  ||  October 5,  2017   |||

On Thursday 5 October at 12.30pm, ambassadors and high commissioners from nine of the countries involved in Antarctica will visit the Antarctic Ecobots programme at Ara. Their visit is being hosted by Antarctica NZ.

Antarctic Ecobots is a free interactive workshop for year 9 and 10 students on 4 and 5 October. The focus in this workshop is to build a robot that can tackle dangerous environmental tasks using maths, physics and computer skills, utilising VEX IQ Robots and MBots that then compete to win the ‘Antarctic Mission’.

After learning about Antarctic science, including microbiology, glaciation, the effects of global warming and the damage it does to the environment, participants learn what robots can contribute in this environment and then build an ecobot robot.

Earlier in the week was Mission to Antarctica, a free engineering programme on 2 and 3 October for Years 9-11, exploring solutions for living in an inhospitable place.

Participants use engineering and architectural design principles and 3D printing to build geodesic habitats and energy systems for survival, and learn how to live in harmony with this unique and fragile environment.

The habitat created would also harness solar and wind energy and protect humans from radiation, cold, wind and extreme isolation – no small challenge, says Ara STEM Coordinator Miranda Sattherthwaite.

“Providing a substantial challenge raises the engagement of the participants as they strive to use design thinking, learning and resources to create solutions. There are many inhospitable places on the planet, each with their own challenges. This programme, run in collaboration with Fablab, gets participants thinking about how humans can exist in such places. Using the tools of engineering and broadens their understanding of what can be accomplished,” she said.

Engineering comes into many aspects of life near the south pole such as navigation, wearable technology and the science of Antarctic glaciology.

Miranda is seeing more and more robotics in learning in New Zealand and this is coming through to competitions as well.

Later in the year, she will help to judge the biggest robotics competition ever held in the Southern Hemisphere in Rotorua in December - the Asia Pacific VEX Robotics Competition 2017 .

Ara uses innovative technology such as robotics, modelling and 3D printing to engage students in science, technology, engineering and science.

School holiday programmes in these areas help students to broaden their awareness, start thinking about possible careers and check out study options and pathways - plus they are a lot of fun and free.

| An ARA release  ||  October 4,  2017   |||

Packaging Innovations London 2017 | London event sees big names and record visitors

With over 4,300 visitors in attendance over the two days, Packaging Innovations and Luxury Packaging London 2017 was the most successful edition to date.Busy Aisle

Unilever, Bulgari, Innocent, ASDA, Superdrug, The Body Shop, Chanel, Heineken, Harrods, Dyson and Mars were just some of the major names at the show, as well as leading entrepreneurs Peter Jones from Dragon’s Den and Made in Chelsea’s Francis Boulle. Over 4,300 visitors attended over the two days viewing products and services from 180 leading exhibitors and taking in more than 18 hours of educational content.

James Drake-Brockman, divisional director, Easyfairs’ Packaging Portfolio, commented: “What a show! Not only did we welcome more visitors and host more suppliers than ever before, but we also successfully introduced ourNew for 2017, The Pentawards Conference brought together the best and brightest from the packaging design industry, covering everything from the best ways to tell a brand’s story and how to deliver innovation through design, to the added value possibilities when designing through technology. Some of the brands and agencies passing on their knowledge included Bulletproof, COTY, ButterflyCannon, Diageo and Kinneir Dufort.

Speaking at the Pentawards Conference, Asa Cook, creative director, Design Bridge London, discussed ‘packaging design for the goldfish era’. Commenting on research conducted by Microsoft that shows people now have a shorter attention span than goldfish, Cook said that it is now necessary for design to ‘tell a story quickly and through multiple media’ to avoid audiences becoming distracted. Cook concluded that, in an age of social media, if you succeed in creating something engaging, ‘consumers will create the advertising for you’ and they will do it organically.

Continue to read the PackagingNews release by Toby Corbin here . . .

| A PackagingNews release  ||  September 20,  2017   |||

The FoodBowl and DWC FoodTech are pleased to present a tailored one-day training course providing food manufacturers (and supporting industry) the practical information needed to manage heat processing options, health risks, guidelines and compliance.

The continued rapid growth in consumer demand for chilled foods has seen a proliferation of a wide range of products utilising an increasing array of packaging and processing systems. The need for widespread distribution means that manufacturers must maximise shelf life without compromising food safety. Whilst chilled foods are perceived as fresh and healthy, there can be increased risks.

This workshop will address the issues involved in the production and distribution of safe chilled foods.

Continue here for more information and to register . . .

New Zealand company Ubco will officially unveil its newest electric farm bike on the first day of the National Ploughing Championships in Screggan, Tullamore, Co. Offaly, Ireland

Ubco’s 2018 dual electric drive (2X2) utility bike aims to allow farmers to ride silently alongside their herd while saving on costs and reducing environmental damage.

In the past, the Kiwi company has received acclaim for previous models of the bike in the US, Australia and New Zealand. Ubco chose to unveil its new model for the first time in Ireland “due to its influential farming community and its suitability for the Irish market”.

The bike reportedly produces no emissions, has no external drivetrain or combustion engine, doesn’t flood when laid on its side and weighs only 63kg.

The bike is also “extremely economical”, costing less than €1/120km to run, the manufacturer claims.

Commenting on the global launch, Ubco CEO Timothy Allan said: “The new 2018 2X2 is designed to take riders further than ever before, allowing them to also explore an on-road environment.

There’s no compromise on power and grunt, but you also have greater control off-road when going up-hill, through mud and forest tracks, or over unsealed roads.

“Aside from that, it’s whisper-quiet – so you can enjoy the environment as you ride.”

Allan also claims that the near-silent running of this cross-paddock transport also creates less stress for stock, as well as maintenance costs being greatly reduced.

According to Ubco, the bike’s lightweight frame and low centre of gravity also make it a safer option than a traditional quad bike.

The electric bike has a range of 120km, with a charge time of between six and eight hours. It also has a top speed of 45kph. Ubco will be located in the New Zealand Pavilion at Stand 268, Row 11, Block 3 at the ‘Ploughing’ site in Co. Offaly.

 Leinster Leader - The latest in sensor technology systems, seed drills, rotary milking systems and even a dual electric drive utility bike will be on show as New Zealand agritech returns to Ireland following a successful presence at the National Ploughing Championships in 2016.

The strong agricultural partnership between New Zealand and Ireland will continue to prosper as 13 leading New Zealand agricultural companies descend on Screggan for the 2017 National Ploughing Championships.

Companies such as world-leading in-shed farm automation technology provider LIC Automation (Saber) and specialist seed drill manufacturers, Duncan Ag and Aitchison will return for the second year running. As well as displaying their market leading technologies, they will introduce exciting new products to the Irish market for the first time.

The New Zealand pavilion will also feature some highly anticipated new additions, such as UBCO Bikes, manufacturers of dual electric drive, all terrain bikes and Waikato Milking Systems, leaders in advanced dairy technology.

Under the theme of smarter farming, the New Zealand pavilion aims to grow the longstanding and successful partnership of two leading agricultural nations. Farmers visiting the New Zealand pavilion will get an exclusive insight into the efficiencies and innovations of industry-leading products and how New Zealand and Ireland are working together to continuously improve and develop on-farm systems – working smarter, not harder.

Keeping in theme with smart technology, Irish farmers will be able to ‘virtually’ explore a New Zealand farm through a unique virtual reality (VR) experience.

Daniel Taylor, New Zealand Trade Commissioner to the United Kingdom and Ireland says:, ‘All of the companies representing some of the best of New Zealand agriculture are delighted to be back in Screggan this year following an excellent Ploughing Championships last year. We’re looking forward to continuing to build on our relationships developed last year and further growing our partnership with Irish farmers.”

“I am convinced that the shared experiences and similarities between farming in New Zealand and Ireland, coupled with the innovation our companies display, we will continue to forge a strong and mutually beneficial relationship for Irish and New Zealand agriculture,” says Mr Taylor.

Companies exhibiting at the New Zealand pavilion include:

   * LIC Automation, a world leader in integrated and innovative ‘Saber’ in-shed farm automation and sensor technology systems with a proud history dating back to 1909;   * UBCO Bikes, a newcomer to Screggan for 2017 UBCO manufacture dual electric drive, all terrain bikes for use around the yard and further afield. UBCO bikes come complete with power outlets and USB ports, as well as accessory lugs for equipment;   * Duncan Ag, market leaders in the manufacturing of robust and user-friendly machinery for seed drilling and forage feeding;   *Waikato Milking Systems, the third largest manufacturer globally of rotary milking systems provide advanced dairy technology options to simplify milking routines to ensure more efficient milking, better mastitis control and higher productivity; and,   * Aitchison, a company with a proud 40-year history of machinery manufacturing and specialising in seed drills and spreaders whose size, flexibility and rugged construction are well suited to the Irish market.

The New Zealand Pavilion will be located at stand 268, Row 11, Block 3 at the National Ploughing Championships from 19-21 September 2017, in Screggan, Tullamore, Co. Offaly.

| A LeinsterLeader release  |||  September 12,  2017   |||

World changing Kiwi innovations finalists have been named for the big annual New Zealand Innovation Awards.

The finalists represent game-changing innovation from every corner of the country, with new ventures, products and services from a broad range of industries and business disciplines, the New Zealand Innovation Council’s founder and chief executive Louise Webster says.

“They all demonstrate in their own way that Kiwi innovation has come a long way with a vibrant and active innovation in the business community.

“Included in the finalists are an exciting range of entries such as quiet drones, solar-powered cow collars, smart trampolines, Te Reo Maori smartphones and ethical corporate workwear. Spoilt for choice with this year’s entries – these are truly world changing innovations.

“The seventh annual innovation award winners will be named at the awards evening in Auckland on October 19. The awards night is now established as New Zealand’s most iconic innovation event. It’s great to have seen the innovation ecosystem grow and develop over this time and simply humbling to talk to so many fantastic business innovators.

“Since the awards began we have seen a shift away from businesses developing new products and services for the New Zealand market to a strong focus on export markets with many businesses going global from day one,” she says.

Bayer New Zealand managing director Derek Bartlett says Bayer are committed to helping Kiwi companies be the best that they can be.

“We have innovation at the heart of everything we do and take pride in supporting such a great initiative to celebrate and profile innovation across New Zealand,” he says.

Last year, ARANZ Medical won the Bayer Supreme New Zealand Innovation prize at the annual New Zealand Innovation awards. ARANZ Medical’s advanced scanning technology, silhouette, measures wound healing and ensures the right treatment is being used to promote faster healing and more accurate diagnosis.

The 2017 New Zealand Innovation Awards finalists are:

INNOVATION IN AGRIBUSINESS & ENVIRONMENT - Sponsored by Bayer NZ● Alliance Group - The Omega Lamb Project● Halter● Levno - Sensor and Data Technology● Marine Flex - Elastic Mooring● SPATnz (Shellfish Production and Technology New Zealand) - Next Generation Shellfish● Spring Sheep Milk Co. - New Zealand's Gentlest Milk● Squawk Squad INNOVATION IN DESIGN & ENGINEERING - Sponsored by James & Wells● ARANZ Geo - Leapfrog 3D Geological Modelling Software● Dotterel Technologies● Fisher & Paykel Healthcare - Optiflow Junior 2● Onguard Group - Seismic Systems● Rocket Lab● SolarBright - DATAeye● Springfree Trampoline - Smart Trampoline● Tectonus - Resilient Slip Friction Joint INNOVATION IN EDUCATION, TRAINING & DEVELOPMENT - Sponsored by Chartered Accountants Australia and New Zealand● CORE Education - iNVENTIONATOR● Crimson Education● EdPotential● Fulton Hogan - Virtual Reality Training● Kami● Linewize - Classwize● Massey University Wellington - The Design+Democracy Project● Osnova - Amy INNOVATION IN FINANCIAL, PROFESSIONAL & PUBLIC SERVICES - Sponsored by Equifax● Cream● Department of Internal Affairs - SmartStart● FluentIQ - Test Center● McCarthyFinch● Simplicity● Simply Payroll● StockX - A Smarter Exchange INNOVATION IN HEALTH & SCIENCE - Sponsored by Chorus● Avalia Immunotherapies - Synthetic Vaccines● BFW Innovations - The Original Mattress Elevator● CoLiberate - Nourish Your Mind● Fisher & Paykel Healthcare - Optiflow Junior 2● FlexiMap● MARS Bioimaging● Myovolt - Wearable Vibration Therapy● Precision Driven Health INNOVATION IN FOOD & BEVERAGE - Sponsored by Plant & Food Research● Alliance Group - The Omega Lamb Project● Anteater - Premium Edible Insects● Fix & Fogg - World’s Best Peanut Butter● Fonterra Co-operative Group - Protein Ingredient (MPC4867)● Green Spot Technologies● Imake - The Grainfather INNOVATION IN TECHNOLOGY SOLUTIONS - Sponsored by Jade Software Corporation● Air New Zealand - Customer Innovation Programme● ARANZ Geo - Leapfrog 3D Geological Modelling Software● Corvecto - Virtual Reality Training Solutions● fulcrum - The fulcrum HUB● Moxion● Onguard Group - Seismic Systems● The Social Club● Vector - Glen Innes Substation● WaterOutlook INNOVATION SYSTEMS & PERFORMANCE IMPROVEMENT - Sponsored by Westpac NZ & the NZ Government● Fonterra Co-operative Group - Vitamin D Measurement● Forsite● Halter● High Performance Sport New Zealand (HPSNZ) - Innovation Programme● Revisia - Industrial 3D Innovation● Soar Printing - Evolution through Innovation● Vigilance - Financial Risk Management● Waitemata District Health Board - Leapfrog Programme INNOVATION IN MEDIA, MARKETING & COMMUNICATIONS - Sponsored by StopPress● 2degrees - Data Hunt● AttitudeLive● Corvecto - Virtual Reality Training Solutions● Fire and Emergency New Zealand - Escape My House● Fisher & Paykel Healthcare - Optiflow Junior - Therapy Growth and Product Preference● Shuttlerock● Spring Sheep Milk Co. - New Zealand's Gentlest Milk● Workhere New Zealand - LookSee Wellington● Zavy INNOVATION IN SUSTAINABILITY & RENEWABLE ENERGY - Sponsored by NZ Innovation Council● EcobagsNZ - No to Plastic Bags, yes to Compostable● ecostore● Green Spot Technologies● Little Yellow Bird - Ethically Made Corporate Workwear● Marine Flex - Elastic Mooring● Organic Initiative (Oi)● solarcity New Zealand - solarZero energy service● Yealands Wine Group - Harnessing the power of the sun INNOVATION IN TOURISM & ENTERTAINMENT - Sponsored by Idealog● GeoZone● Haka Tourism Group - An Innovative Business Model● Modern Maori Quartet● Off The Beaten Track● Pop-up Globe Auckland● Sonnar Interactive - Audio Games● Tourism Holdings (THL) - Mighway● Wherewolf INNOVATION IN MAORI DEVELOPMENT - Sponsored by KPMG● Hiakai● Huawei New Zealand - Te Reo Maori Smartphone● Metia Interactive - Takaro● Plink Software - Tipu Te Reo Maori● Punarau Media - Pipi Ma EXPORT INNOVATION OF THE YEAR - Sponsored by New Zealand Trade & Enterprise (NZTE)● Alliance Group - The Omega Lamb Project● ARANZ Geo - Leapfrog 3D Geological Modelling Software● Fisher & Paykel Healthcare - Optiflow Junior 2● fulcrum - The fulcrum HUB● Moxion● Onguard Group - Seismic Systems● Shuttlerock● Timely EXCELLENCE IN SOCIAL INNOVATION - Sponsored by Sovereign● AttitudeLive - Attitude● Fire and Emergency New Zealand - Escape My House● Organic Initiative (Oi)● Plink Software - Tipu Te Reo Maori● Te Whare Hukahuka - Growing Maori Social Enterprise● Te Whare Hukahuka - Ka Eke Poutama● Massey University Wellington - The Design+Democracy Project● The Taranaki Retreat INNOVATION EXCELLENCE IN RESEARCH● Alliance Group - The Omega Lamb Project● Avalia Immunotherapies - Synthetic Vaccines● Dotterel Technologies● Halter● Myovolt - Wearable Vibration Therapy● mango teQ - REYEDR HUD● Sonnar Interactive - Audio Games START-UP INNOVATION OF THE YEAR● Anteater - Premium Edible Insects● Burnsafe NZ - Disposal of Landmines & Unexploded Ordnance● Firstcheck● Hiakai● Mevo - Electric Vehicles On Demand● Moxion● Previously Unavailable - Toothcrush● SolarBright - DATAeye EMERGING NEW ZEALAND INNOVATION - Sponsored by Regus● Cream● Kami● Marine Flex - Elastic Mooring● MARS Bioimaging● Simply Payroll● StockX - A Smarter Exchange● WaterOutlook● Zavy DISRUPTIVE & BREAKTHROUGH INNOVATION - Sponsored by Westpac NZ and the NZ Government● ARANZ Geo - Leapfrog 3D Geological Modelling Software● Avalia Immunotherapies - Synthetic Vaccines● Fisher & Paykel Healthcare - Optiflow Junior 2● Flick Electric Co.● Halter● MARS Bioimaging● Moxion● Rocket Lab● SolarBright - DATAeye YOUNG NEW ZEALAND INNOVATOR - Sponsored by MOTAT● Erik Zydervelt - Mevo● Henry Lane - Corvecto● Jarek Beksa - Sonnar Interactive● Jody Burrell, Bop Murdock, Sarah Tuck - CoLiberate● Samantha Jones - Little Yellow Bird● Shay Wright - Te Whare Hukahuka MOST INSPIRING INDIVIDUAL - Sponsored by 3M● Asantha Wijeyeratne (Peter) - Simply Payroll● Helen Robinson - Organic Initiative● Katie Hinsen - Blue Collar Post Collective● Peter Beck - Rocket Lab BAYER SUPREME NEW ZEALAND INNOVATION - Sponsored by Bayer New ZealandWinner to be announced on the night. THE PEOPLE’S CHOICE AWARD - Sponsored by RadioLIVE● All finalists - public voting open from September 12 via www.innovationawards.org.nz

| A  New Zealand Innovation Council release with MakeLemonade  ||  September 4,  2017   |||

Celebrating 30 years of food innovation

The finalists have been announced for the prestigious New Zealand Food Awards 2017, recognising Kiwi companies for their outstanding innovations in New Zealand’s food and beverage industry.

Now in its 30th year, the awards, powered by Massey University, celebrate the creative innovations from New Zealand’s artisanal and large-scale food and beverage manufacturers.

Finalists have submitted their finest products in the hopes of taking out one of the top awards, including the Artisan Food Producer Award, BITE Gourmet Award, Export Innovation Awards and the coveted Massey University Supreme Award.

The high-calibre finalist line-up includes a diverse range of food and beverage producers from across New Zealand.

Massey University Vice-Chancellor Professor Jan Thomas says she is proud of the role that the New Zealand Food Awards have played in recognising and promoting innovation and excellence in food and beverage production and manufacturing over the past 30 years.

“The New Zealand Food Awards take great pride in celebrating New Zealand’s progressive food and beverage industry and every year we are impressed by the calibre of the finalists,” Professor Thomas says. “The awards provide local producers with the opportunity to elevate their business on a global scale.”

The New Zealand Food Awards is excited to welcome back their expert judging panel, including Bite magazine’s Ray McVinnie, chef Geoff Scott, as well as World Kitchen television host and chef Nici Wickes. For the first time, New Zealand’s first certified cicerone (beer expert), Josh Scott, joined the judging panel.

Mr McVinnie says he is “absolutely blown-away” at the calibre of this year’s finalists. “I have had some major ‘wow’ moments throughout the judging process and it was fantastic to see modern technology used to produce food that is completely natural and fresh.”

Mr Scott shared the same sentiment, saying, “The finalists are inventive, original, resourceful and clear food and beverage industry leaders in New Zealand. There is an immense variety across all the catego-ries and it is really fascinating because you get to see innovative ideas and fantastic produce from all parts of New Zealand.”

Ms Wickes says, “We have such a vast array of fantastic ingredients and products available to us now and the NZ Food Awards do an exceptional job of highlighting those. Every year I get a steer on what is going to become more fashionable, what is popular, and what is next on the horizon!”

Winning products are eligible to use the New Zealand Food Awards “Quality Mark”, which highlights the superiority of products to both consumers and industry, and can help boost sales and distribution do-mestically and internationally.

The New Zealand Food Awards winners will be announced at a Gala Dinner at Sky City Convention Cen-tre, emceed by broadcaster Kerry McIvor on October 12. For more information, please visit www.foodawards.co.nz.

The New Zealand Food Awards is made possible thanks to Massey University and the family of strategic and supporting partners – Auckland Tourism Events and Economic Development, Countdown, FoodHQ, The FoodBowl, The New Zealand Institute of Food Science and Technology, Ministry for Primary Indus-tries, New Zealand Trade & Enterprise, NZME, Review Publishing, XPO Exhibitions, RangeMe, Brother Design, Palmerston North City Council and Villa Maria.

| A Foodworks release  ||  September 4,  2017   |||