Event Snapshot: ExportNZ ASB Hawke’s Bay Export Awards 2025
ABB Take Centre Stage as 2025 Exporter of the Year
The ExportNZ ASB Hawke’s Bay Export Awards 2025 brought the region’s leading exporters together for a night of celebration, connection, and recognition. Hosted at Toitoi – Hawke’s Bay Arts & Events Centre, the event honoured the businesses driving our region’s reputation on the world stage. It wasn’t just an evening of awards; it was a showcase of innovation, resilience, and pride.
Now in its 11th year, from the moment guests arrived, there was a buzz of anticipation. Finalists mingled with industry leaders, sponsors, and supporters, all gathered to celebrate the achievements of Hawke’s Bay companies making a global impact. The evening carried a sense of shared purpose: that our region’s exporters are writing a story of growth, creativity, and ambition that deserves to be told. Despite the headwinds of recent years, these businesses continue to show resilience, creativity, and global ambition. It was a real honour to document that spirit through my lens.
Winners of each category go on to the final stage of the NZ Trade & Enterprise (NZTE) International Business Awards, held in Auckland on November 27.
Winners:
• 2025 ASB Exporter of the Year: ABB
• T&G Global Best Established Business Award: Starboard Bio
• ContainerCo Best Emerging Business: Ovenden Seeds
• Judges’ Choice Award: Haumako
• Ziwi Excellence in Innovation Award: ABB
• NZME Service to Export Award: Stephen Jacobi
• Napier Port Unsung Heroes Award: Tamsyn Illston, Natural Pet Foods & Nick Elliot, ABB
Why Event Photography Matters
For events like this, photography goes beyond documenting who won what. It’s about capturing the spirit of the occasion; the excitement on a winner’s face, the applause echoing through the room, the conversations happening in the wings. These are the moments that embody the night’s success and create a visual legacy that lasts long after the end of the event.
High-quality event images become powerful business tools. They fuel social media updates, bring colour to press releases, elevate LinkedIn profiles, and sit proudly on company websites. For finalists, sponsors, and the wider community, strong visuals help tell the story of their involvement and amplify the impact of the event itself.
Anticipating the Moments That Matter
Event photography isn’t about passively clicking a shutter, it’s about anticipating the rhythm of the night. When guests networked during breaks, those connections represented the seeds of future partnerships. Every image contributes to the bigger picture.
The Value Beyond the Night
One of the most underrated benefits of professional event photography is its ability to extend momentum. With high and web-resolution images being delivered promptly (these were delivered first thing the following morning), media, organisers, sponsors, and businesses can immediately share the story of success while the energy is still alive. Fast delivery turns an awards night into weeks of visibility, conversation, and engagement.
Creativity Meets Precision
Every event comes with challenges: complex lighting, dynamic movement, and the need to stay discreet yet present. Professional photography combines technical know-how with creative instinct. It’s about understanding how to balance lighting on stage while still capturing the sparkle of an audience, or how to frame a handshake without intruding on the moment.
The goal is always the same, images that feel authentic, intentional, and aligned with the story the event is telling.
A Celebration Worth Remembering
The ExportNZ ASB Hawke’s Bay Export Awards 2025 wasn’t just about trophies and awards, it was about acknowledging the work of businesses who carry the Hawke’s Bay name to the world and celebrating the people behind that success. As a photographer, it’s a privilege to help preserve that legacy through images that inspire pride today and continue to add value tomorrow.
Ready to Capture Your Event?
If you’re planning an awards celebration, gala, a launch, a conference, or any other business-related event where first impressions matter, let’s talk. Professional photography ensures your investment in the event delivers value long after the evening is over.
Contact me today, and let’s create visuals that make your next event unforgettable.
