Celebrating Excellence: Winners Announced at the 2025 Unison Great Lake Taupō Business Awards
Taupō, 9th August 2025 – The region’s business community came together in style last night to celebrate the outstanding achievements of local enterprises at the 2025 Unison Great Lake Taupō Business Awards Gala Dinner.
The sold-out event at the Great Lake Centre showcased the best in business across seven key categories, with MyStays taking out both Strettons Excellence in Strategy & Planning and the prestigious title of 2Degrees Overall Business of the Year. Judges praised MyStays for its bold, scalable business model, values-driven culture, and embedded innovation that have driven phenomenal results.
The evening was hosted by Will Martin, the youngest man in history to top the UK Classical Charts, who captivated the audience with show-stopping ballads and tunes, making the celebration truly unforgettable.
2025 Winners
- Strettons Excellence in Strategy & Planning: MyStays Ltd
- Legend Excellence in Marketing: MTF Finance Taupō
- Epro Best Emerging Business: MTF Finance Taupō
- Contact Excellence in Sustainability: XOX Floral
- MoreFM Excellence in Community Contribution: The Cozy Corner
- Gallagher Insurance Employer of the Year: SiteCare Ltd
- Amplify Excellence in Innovation: Western Energy Services Ltd
Highly Commended
These businesses were also recognised for their exceptional performance:
- Strategy & Planning: MTF Finance Taupō
- Marketing: Café Lacus
- Best Emerging: Farmers Quality Meats
- Employer of the Year: Western Energy Services Ltd
- Innovation: MyStays Ltd
Jason Larkin, Group General Manager Customer, Commercial and Regulatory at Unison, said the awards are a powerful showcase of Taupō’s thriving business community:
Unison is proud to support the 2025 Unison Great Lake Taupō Business Awards. These awards are a celebration of the people and businesses who are helping our region grow, adapt and thrive. It’s been inspiring to see the passion, creativity and commitment reflected in this year’s entries, and to recognise the impact these businesses are making in our communities.
We’re here to power and support our local businesses so they can keep doing what they do best. A big thank you to the Taupō Business Chamber for all the mahi they put into making this event such a success, and congratulations to all the finalists and winners. Your work is making a real difference.
The gala event featured live entertainment, local food and wine, and a celebration of the region’s collective achievements. The awards not only recognise business excellence but also foster connections and collaboration across industries, contributing to a stronger economic future for Taupō.
