The PricewaterhouseCoopers New Zealand Hi-Tech Awards finalists have been announced at simultaneous functions in Auckland and Christchurch last night.

The Hi-Tech awards recognise excellence across New Zealand's software, electronics, biotechnology, telecommunications and creative technology industries. This year's awards saw a record number of entries (160 from 115 companies and individuals).

Judges have said the quality of submissions from entrants this year is extremely high, and finalists in the company, product and young achiever categories will now face a further stage in panel interviews with the judges to decide the winners.

"Our international judges will also get involved in determining the winners and we are looking forward to getting some quality feedback from Michael Dell, Cisco's Howard Charney and our other international judges," says NZ Hi-Tech Association Chair, Wayne Norrie.

PricewaterhouseCoopers Partner and principal sponsor spokesperson Scott Kerse: "This year we had a record number of entries - but what is especially impressive is the high quality of entrants across the board. This demonstrates the high calibre of talent among New Zealand hi-tech companies."
Winners of the awards in each category will be announced at a black-tie, Gala event to be held in Christchurch on May 1, 2009.

The finalists for each category are as follows:

PricewaterhouseCoopers Supreme Award NZ Hi-Tech Company of the Year
Compac Sorting Equipment
Fisher & Paykel Healthcare
Orion Health

IRL Emerging Company Award
BookIt
Sentient Software
Sonar6

Enatel Innovative Hardware Product
INRO Technologies
NextWindow
Times-7
Vesper Marine

Recruit IT Innovative Software Product Award
Biomatters
Massive Software
Mobile Commerce
Orion Health
Sonar6
Straker

HiFX Innovative Service Product Award
Sonar6
Truescape Visual Reality
Xero

Endace Young Achiever Award
Andrew Graham
Alain Richardt
John-Daniel Trask

Outstanding Individual Contribution Award
Milton Bloomfield
Scott Gilmour
Dr Claire McGowan

Outstanding Industry Initiative Award
DigitalNZ
eDay
The Distiller