NZ Hi-Tech Awards

The winners of the 2010 New Zealand Hi-Tech Awards have been announced at a Gala Dinner. The Awards recognise excellence by New Zealand's producers of high-technology products, services and software solutions.

"Entrepreneurship and innovation are critical to global success and we're seeing a new momentum in the companies entering the Awards that gives us every reason to be optimistic about the future of the industry," said Wayne Norrie, Chairman of the NZ Hi-Tech Trust.

Winners of the Tait Radio Communications Flying Kiwi Awards form the NZ Hi-Tech Hall of Fame.

Established in 2003, the Tait Radio Communications Flying Kiwi Award recognizes individuals that have made a sustained and outstanding contribution to New Zealand's hi-tech industries: software, electronics, telecommunications, biotechnology, creative technologies.

Each year at least one Flying Kiwi is recognised by the NZ Hi-Tech Association - it can identify a "living legend" or be made as a post-humus award. Trevor Eagle received the award posthumously in 2007. The full list of Flying Kiwis is:

2009: Rod Drury

2008: Selwyn Pellett

2008 : Dennis Chapman

2008 : Sir Gil Simpson

2008 : Ian Taylor

2007 : Trevor Eagle

2007 : Bill Gallagher

2006 : Peter Maire

2005 : Sir Woolf Fisher and Maurice Paykel

2004 : Neville Jordan

2003 : Sir Angus Tait (inaugural winner)

For further information: http://www.hitech.org.nz/hall-of-fame.html