16 Oct 2010

Rural awards

2:46 pm on 16 October 2010

A number of awards have been presented to rural products and people over the past week.

New Zealand Merino Company chief executive John Brackenridge has been named an outstanding leader at Trade & Enterprise New Zealand's annual awards.

He was recognised for changing attitudes and behaviours in wool industry, and for earning the respect of farmers and fine wool retailers worldwide.

Trade & Enterprise New Zealand also awarded Grasslanz Technology, a seed company division of AgResearch, for best use of intellectual property, with its ground-breaking forage technologies.

In other awards: a New Zealand pinot noir took the top award again at the International Wine and Spirit Competition in Britain.

Black Estate's 2007 Waipara pinot noir beat entries from around the world to win the competition trophy for that variety.

Pinot noirs from Martinborough and Central Otago were also awarded gold medals.

A Kapiti Coast olive oil has been named the best in show at the 2010 national extra virgin olive oil awards.

The Kapiti medium blend made by David and Helen Walshaw and Graeme and Chris Harris of Kapiti Olives won gold and best in class for commerical varieties before going on to win best in show.

Wools of New Zealand also received a high-profile wool industry award for its collaborative work in the development of a new fabric called WoJo.

The sustainability award was presented on behalf of the 2010 Campaign for Wool, convened by the Prince of Wales, in association with the Society of British Interior Design.