PORT TARANAKI was the big winner at the Taranaki business awards

The judges said Port Taranaki's leadership team had built and positioned itself well for a healthy future.

They said the communication and understanding throughout such a large company was to be applauded. Port Taranaki was one of 61 entries in a bid to find the region's best businesses, up 17 on last year's event.

New Plymouth manufacturing company Howard Wright Limited won the large business award, Elite Kitchens took out the medium business award and the small business award winner was Eagars Funeral Services.

This year's black tie awards event was held at the New Plymouth Club.

Awards:

• Westpac Supreme Business Award winner: Port Taranaki; highly commended: Howard Wright
• Taranaki Chamber of Commerce Extra Large Business Award winner: Port Taranaki; highly commended: Taranaki Newspapers.
• Genesis Energy Large Business Award winner: Howard Wright; highly commended: Rivet.
• CApENZ Engineering Award winner: Howard Wright; highly commended: Rivet.
• New Zealand Trade & Enterprise Export Award winner: Howard Wright; highly commended: PTN Ltd.
• PricewaterhouseCoopers Medium Business award winner: Elite Kitchens.
• Taranaki Daily News Small Business Award winner: Eagars Funeral Services.
• The Results Group Franchise Award winner: Shed Boss Taranaki; highly commended: Tasman Toyota.
• Air New Zealand Tourism & Hospitality Award winner: Crowded House Bar & Cafe; highly commended: Burgess House; commended: Richmond Farm Lodge.
• Classic Hits 90FM Retail Award winner: Live Footage Shoes; highly commended: Churchwood Bridal; commended: Shoprite Inglewood and Fresha Foodstore & Cafe.
• South Taranaki District Council Trades and Manufacturing Award winner: Van Dyck Fine Foods; highly commended: Rivet; commended: Elite Kitchens and Shed Boss Taranaki.
• Powerco Service Award winner: Opus International Consultants; highly commended: M & O Pacific; commended: Mercy Jenkins and Elite Kitchens.
• Thursday Farmer Rural Sector Award winner: PTN Ltd; highly commended: Inglewood Veterinary Services.
• Stratford District Council Emerging Business Award winner: Shed Boss Taranaki; highly commended: Churchwood Bridal; commended: Taranaki Quality Property Management Ltd (trading as Quinovic New Plymouth).
• Implement Employer of Choice Award winner: Rivet; highly commended: Opus International Consultants; commended: Port Taranaki.
• Shell Todd Oil Services Health & Safety Award winner: Taranaki Newspapers; highly commended: Allied Work Force Taranaki; commended: TimberCo and Woolworths.
• New Plymouth District Council Environmental Awareness Award winner: Jesters Pies (NP); highly commended: Vetro Mediterranean Foods; commended: Inglewood High School.
• Settlement Support Migrant Employer Award winner: Transfield Worley; highly commended: Chalmers Home; commended: Franchise Systems (NZ) Ltd (trading as Print Stop @ Your Service).