New Zealand Hi Tech award

PayGlobal of Christchurch, a payroll and human resources software company, won the Supreme Award and became the Westpac Hi Tech Company of the Year at the recent Westpac New Zealand Hi Tech Awards, held at Te Papa Tongarewa in Wellington.

Donald Hastie, CEO of PayGlobal said that one of the company's major goals is to have PayGlobal behind every pay slip in the world.

"That doesn't necessarily mean everyone will know it's PayGlobal "“ our technology could be re-branded a hundred different ways - it does mean our technology will be in use globally," Hastie said.

The Awards this year include the Supreme Award, three sector awards (software, electronics and biotechnology), five category awards and the Tait Electronics Flying Kiwi Award which went to Neville Jordan, who in 1997 became the first Kiwi to list his company on the US NASDAQ stock exchange.

Neville joins the inaugural Flying Kiwi, Sir Angus Tait, in the New Zealand Hi Tech Hall of Fame.

The Awards were created 11 years ago to recognise New Zealand businesses that are leading their industries, both here and around the world. The Awards also acknowledge the people behind these companies who are working to build businesses around exciting new technologies.

It was the second year in a row that PayGlobal stood out as a real achiever in the software category, said Selwyn Feary, chair of the Hi Tech Awards organising committee.

"PayGlobal was described as a clear winner in the software sector last year, and it continues to exhibit a clear market focus resulting in demonstrable growth and profitability. PayGlobal became a very worthy overall winner," Feary said.

PayGlobal also won the Microsoft Software Company of the Year Award.

In congratulating PayGlobal, Microsoft New Zealand Managing Director Ross Peat said the Hi Tech award acknowledges PayGlobal's obvious talent and focused ambition to achieve success.

The other Award winners were:

Proacta Therapeutics of Auckland took the Crown Research Institutes' Biotechnology Company of the Year Award. Proacta Therapeutics has made a giant step in the treatment of cancer. Founding scientist, Bill Wilson of the Cancer Society Research Centre at the University of Auckland, says that the majority of people who are diagnosed with cancer each year have significant areas of cells which are deprived of oxygen in their tumours.

The Gallagher Group collected the Avnet Electronic Company of the Year Award As the number-one electric fence manufacturer worldwide, The Gallagher Group is a New Zealand company that has managed to position its brands as global leaders. The Gallagher Group comprises a number of companies centred around animal management and business security systems. It exports to over 130 countries through an established network of distribution channels. More than 70 percent of the company's revenue is from exported products.

There were also five category award winners:

Dynamic Contract Manufacturing Deal of the Year Award was collected by Whisper Tech of Christchurch.

Navman Emerging Company of the Year Award was taken by Aftermail of Wellington.

Morel & Co High Growth Company of the Year Award was collected by Orcon Internet of Auckland.

Prolificx Marketer of the Year Award went to Emech Control of Auckland.

Precision NZ Most Innovative Product of the Year Award was won by Syft Technologies of Christchurch.

Adilam Young Achiever of the Year Award was collected by Seeby Woodhouse. Seeby (28) is the founder and managing director of Orcon Internet Limited, a privately-owned and operated New Zealand internet service provider (ISP). Seeby turned Orcon into the fourth-largest ISP in New Zealand with multi-million dollar annual revenue without any outside investment.