Ruralco chief executive officer Tony Aitken and Greg Donaldson Contracting general manager Michael Donaldson have been awarded high accolades at the ANZ Business of the Year Awards last week in Ashburton.
The awards gala dinner, a black-tie, red-carpet event, run by Ashburton District Council and RiRa Events, was attended by 450 people at the Ashburton Aviation Museum.
It saw Aitken named winner of the excellence in business leadership award, while Donaldson won the emerging business leader award.
There were 50 finalists across 15 award categories.
“Strong leadership is never about one person. It’s about people working together toward a shared purpose,’’ Aitken said, in a statement.
‘‘I’m proud of what our team has achieved for our shareholders and our community.”
It was a sentiment shared by Donaldson.
‘‘I’m still lost for words, couldn’t do it without my amazing team and loyal clients,’’ he posted to social media on Monday.
Greg Donaldson Contracting were finalists in five award categories; excellence in primary industries, excellence in technology and innovation, excellence in environment sustainability, emerging business leader, and excellence in workplace wellbeing.
They went on to win excellence in technology and innovation, and then the supreme winner award, as decided by Ashburton Mayor Liz McMillan.
Company founder, Greg Donaldson, speaking on Hokonui radio this week, said the success of the evening had not fully registered.
‘‘It’s just amazing. I don’t think it’s completely sunk in yet. It’s not something that I would go out and seek…in the past I’ve just relied on doing a good job and doing it once and doing it right. The staff do that, and without them we’ve got nothing.
‘‘This has been phenomenal and to win so many categories and be runner up.’’
He congratulated everyone who entered, and thanked ANZ, Ashburton District Council and category sponsors for the support.
‘‘It’s no mean feat and it’s a fantastic thing for Ashburton. It puts us on the map as a community.’’
Meanwhile, at the awards Ruralco took out the highly commended award as finalists in the excellence in retail and hospitality category. The category was won by Smoke Ashburton.
The judging panel were former mayor Neil Brown, Jason McCrae from Business Canterbury, Chantelle Quinn of the Braided Rivers Community Trust, and Willie Murney of Murney Trust.
McMillan said the awards, held every two years, were a chance to pause and celebrate the incredible work happening across the district.
‘‘Running an organisation takes grit, courage and determination so taking a moment to shine a spotlight on the people who keep our local economy moving feels genuinely uplifting.’’
Full results
Winners of the 2026 ANZ Business of the Year Awards:
Excellence in Primary Industries – Large (sponsored by Catalyst Performance Agronomy) winner: Molloy Agriculture. Highly commended: Greg Donaldson Contracting.
Excellence in Primary Industries – Small (sponsored by Catalyst Performance Agronomy) winner: Grassroots Dairy Management Graduate Programme. Highly commended: Heli Rural.
Excellence in Export – Small (sponsored by Anzco) winner: Fourflax. Highly commended: Hemprino.
Excellence in Export – Large (sponsored by Anzco) winner: Kaipak.
Excellence in Technology and Innovation (sponsored by Croys) winner: Greg Donaldson Contracting. Highly commended: NZ Ski.
Excellence in Customer Experience (sponsored by Spark) winner: Beckley Coachlines and Travel. Highly commended: Homestead.
Emerging Business Award (sponsored by Abbott) winner: Hemprino. Highly commended: Heli Rural.
Excellence in Manufacturing (sponsored by Fox Peak Dairy) winner: Kaipak. Highly commended: Fourflax.
Excellence in Community Impact (sponsored by NZ Bed Company) winner: Dear Effie Charitable Trust. Highly commended: Community House Mid Canterbury.
Excellence in Workplace Wellbeing (sponsored by Crest Clean) winner: RMF Silva. Highly commended: O ¯ puke Thermal Pools and Spa.
Excellence in Environmental Sustainability (sponsored by Canstaff) winner: NZ Ski. Highly commended: Greg Donaldson Contracting.
Excellence in Retail and Hospitality (sponsored by Mt Hutt) winner: Smoke Ashburton. Highly commended: Ruralco.
Excellence in Tourism (sponsored by Experience Mid Canterbury) winner: Hemsworth Estate. Highly commended: NZ Ski.
Excellence in Professional Services (sponsored by Tavendale & Partners) winner: Rushton Marketing. Highly commended: Croys.
Emerging Business Leader (sponsored by Talley’s) winner: Michael Donaldson – Greg Donaldson Contracting. Highly commended: Harriet Bell – Hemprino.
Excellence in Business Leadership (sponsored by Naylor Love) winner: Tony Aitken.
Supreme winner: Greg Donaldson Contracting.
