Wellington Gold Awards

12/12/2025

ESSENTIAL READING: WELLY FORGE
Fuel Your Friday with Wellington’s tech foundry of news

Ready to plug into Wellington’s tech pulse? The Welly Forge newsletter is your one-stop hub for everything shaping the region’s innovation scene — from startup sparks to deep tech breakthroughs.

And a super-comprehensive tech event calendar choc full of Meet-ups, seminars, conferences, camps - every single tech-get together in Welly !!

Brought to life by tech trailblazer Ralph Highnam 2023 Wellingtonian of the Year (founder of Volpara Health - now Lunit Winner 2020 Technology & Supreme Gold), this weekly read is packed with insight, energy, and industry gold straight from one of the best-connected minds in the game.

If you’re serious about what’s next for Wellington innovation — this one’s a *must-read*.

Subscribe here www.wellyforge.nz

10/12/2025

KAPITI GOLF FEVER - Part 2: GOLF FOR GOOD
A little swing, a lot of heart – play Kāpiti’s Golf for Good

Following the big news of the NZ PGA returning to Paraparaumu, there’s a brand-new way to get into the swing of things a little closer to home.

Mini Golf Kāpiti is open – a world-class, community-built course that’s more than just fun and games. With design inspiration from St Andrews’ famous Himalayas course and guidance from international mini-golf expert Scott McPherson, it’s mini golf like you’ve never played before!

This is truly a community-built masterpiece powered by volunteer hours, local tradies, and community spirit. Every putt supports great causes through Golf for Good – so go on, grab your friends, line up your shot, and play your part for Kāpiti.

Pictured: Top - Rotarian Alistair Beissel, Mal Bird, Jason Buckley and Dave Mills Mills-Albert Limited and Mayor Janet Holborrow

Below: Golf for Good organiser Mal Bird, Nick Katsoulis St Pierres Sushi, Jason Buckley Mills-Albert Limited, former Blackcap Grant Eliott and Lantech founder now retired Rex Bullard

09/12/2025

MUST WATCH VID: Essential viewing!!
100 Episodes Later: Startup Theatre Goes Big with Rod Drury

Troy Hammond from Talent Army sits down with Kiwi tech legend rockin' Rod Drury (Xero Winner 2012 Global & Supreme Golds) for an unmissable live episode of Start-Up Theatre.

They go deep on early IPOs, scaling smart, hiring A‑players, and what’s next for Aotearoa’s tech future.

Watch the full fireside chat here →

👀 Watch this if you want to learn how to grow a company to $1BThis is our 100th episode, and we marked it properly: live audience, fireside chat, and one of...

09/12/2025

Welcome to the 2025 Winners Circle
FERNGLEN FARM - purveyors of the very finest sheep milk
2025 Winner: Emerging Gold - Products

Fernglen Farm run by the Ravenwood family - is shaking up the dairy industry with its SPCA Certified sheep milk products, including milk, yoghurt, labneh, and cheese, now available in stores throughout New Zealand. ​

“We’re proud to provide a highly nutritious, tummy-friendly dairy-alternative that everyone can enjoy.” says Directors Ben & Cameron Ravenwood. Aided by Mum, Dad and sister Baeley.

Their sheep milk is naturally A2-type, offering 60% more protein and calcium than cow’s milk, and is easier to digest for many. ​

As New Zealand’s first SPCA-accredited dairy, Fernglen leads in animal welfare and environmental stewardship.

Check out their sheep milk product range here.... www.fernglenfarm.co.nz

09/12/2025

ALUMNI UPDATE: FIX & FOGG - Smooth Moves !!
Start-Spreading-the-News..... Fix and Fogg (Winners: Emerging Gold - Products 2017, Global Gold 2020 & 2021, Supreme Gold 2021) go to the UK!!

After years of fans asking, “When are you coming to the UK?”, this beloved (some say cult) Kiwi nut butter brand has finally crunched (Really? Ed.) the question — and made the move.

Fix & Fogg jars are now proudly sitting on shelves in Whole Foods Market UK stores nationwide.

It’s a nuts milestone for founders - once Wellington lawyers, husband and wife team Roman and Andrea Jewell, whose UK following has already grown into its 4th-largest audience — full of expat Kiwis and curious Brits who’ve been spreading the love from afar.

Their partnership with Whole Foods in the US has been a huge part of their journey over the past four years, and being invited into Whole Foods’ UK stores is the smoothest next step in that relationship.

And for all those loyal fans who’ve been sneaking jars into their suitcases. No more mid-flight peanut butter explosions (looking at you, 4kg pail incident - pictured).

From Wellington to Westminster, Fix & Fogg is officially going global — one tasty toast at a time.

Photo courtesy Fix and Fogg

05/12/2025

ALUMNI UPDATE: MAORILAND
From Ōtaki to the world - Māoriland Charitable Trust has won the Supreme Award at the 2025 Wellington Airport Regional Community Awards

Champions of Indigenous creativity and community spirit, Māoriland's (Creative Gold 2020) mahi shines a global spotlight on storytelling, collaboration, and connection — all rooted in kaupapa Māori values.

Congrats to all the incredible community groups and volunteers who make the Wellington region thrive.

View the full list of 2025 Winners here....
https://tinyurl.com/me6vnsf2

04/12/2025

ALUMNI UPDATE: WELLINGTON AIRPORT
EAST MEETS SOUTH

Big things are taking off for Wellington Airport (Vibrant Gold 2007) which has just signed a new partnership with Guangzhou Baiyun International Airport — China’s busiest and the 7th busiest airport In-The-World! Handling 73 million passengers (!!!) in 2024.

This new collaboration will see the two airports working together on staff exchanges, joint projects, and exploring future flight connections between our regions.

CE Matt Clarke says: "With our runway enhancements nearly complete, this is an exciting step toward opening up new opportunities — connecting New Zealand’s capital directly with Asia and beyond."

PS: While you are in Guangzhou why not try the highest heart-pumping vertical free fall - the Canton Tower Sky Drop (pictured). With drops of 455 and 485 meters. There is the traditional “Sitting Drop”(for sissies). Or the free-falling “Standing Drop” (if you are bonkers)

03/12/2025

KAPITI HAS DONE IT AGAIN
The fairway to fame is back on the Kāpiti Coast!

The NZPGA Championship is returning to
Paraparamu Beach Golf Club in February 2026 — one of Aotearoa’s most iconic links courses, where Tiger Woods once walked - back in 2002 and now our region gets another global spotlight.

Expect world-class golf, big crowds, and even bigger economic benefits as players, media, and fans flood in from across NZ, Australia, and Japan.

Kāpiti, it’s time to tee up: great coffee, epic views, and now a world-class tournament on our doorstep. Let’s show them why this coast is a hole-in-one.

LEARN MORE https://www.thepost.co.nz/nz-news/360908081/kapiti-coast-golf-course-play-host-national-tournament

03/12/2025

ALUMNI UPDATE: RJ WHITTAKERS & SONS

Christmas just got a whole lot snappier. WWhittaker's Chocolate Lovers(4 time Gold Awards winners - 2025 Team & Green Gold, 2022 Global & Supreme Gold) new limited-edition Brandy Snap block is landing in Kiwi pantries.

So The Post Chocolate Editorial Team - André Chumko and Sky Austin-Martin - put it to the taste test to see if this crunchy Christmas collab is a cracker or a clanger.....?

Find out here......

Trying to keep a new chocolate flavour a secret in a newsroom is nothing short of hopeless.

03/12/2025

ALUMNI UPDATE Buoy Salon & Spa
Double win, Triple wow—Hearty Congrats Sam and the Buoy team (2025 Creative Gold)

Hannah wrote to tell us: "Amidst the hustle and busy-ness of our Wellington salon life, we were thrilled to be awarded New Zealand Hairdressing Business of the Year at the NZ Hair Awards in Christchurch.
Wei Jiang also took home Editorial Stylist of the Year and Colour Concept of the Year at the NZ Hair & Barber Awards - an incredible achievement." And we say Hair Hair! (sic)...

Buoy has been in operation for over 38 years* treating over 300+ clients each week. See more of their work, team and space on Instagram .

* Founded by Hair Legend Derek Elvy in 1988 and now carrying on the family tradition of creating A-MAZING Dos, is his lovely niece Sam Elvy.

02/12/2025

ALUMNI UPDATE: LIBERTINE PICTURES
Red Rocks, Green Light: Season 2 and 3 Emmys Incoming!

The Wellington-made family adventure series "Secrets at Red Rocks" has landed three Children’s & Family Emmy nominations and is now lining up Season 2 filming on Wellington’s South Coast in early 2026.

Huge congratulations to the Richardf Fetcher and the Libertine Pictures team (Winner 2025 Creative Gold) and all the creatives and crew behind this internationally acclaimed kids’ series flying the flag for our region.

In this new series, Secrets at Red Rocks, 12-year-old Jake finds the skin of a selkie, a mythical creature that can change from seal to human, while visiting...

28/11/2025

PLENTY FOODS = MORE COMPETITION Eat that duopoly!!

Thank you Brewtown Upper Hutt (Emerging Gold Services 2020 & Vibrant Gold 2022) for hosting the Hutt Valley's latest independent supermarket.

Checkout some of their mind blowing deals on Facebook.....

A last-minute database crash couldn't stall the opening of Plenty Foods in Brewtown.