Tickets are on sale for the 2026 Katikati and Waihī Beach Excellence Awards Night on September 3 at a new location, Fairview Golf & Country Club, from 5.30pm.
The biennial event celebrates the innovation, resilience, and community spirit that define the local business landscape, and announces winners of the 2026 awards.
Co-hosted by Katch Katikati and Waihī Beach Events and Promotions and sponsored by Barfoot & Thompson, this year the awards have 11 categories, with some previous awards renamed and reconfigured.
Finalists are Retail Excellence Award: Out of the Wild Petfood and Katikati Four Square; Small Business Excellence: Beach Road Deli and Katifit Gym; Hospitality Excellence: Debrief Café and Beach Road Deli; Event Of The Year: Echo Walking Festival and Katikati A&P Show; Tourism Provider of the Year: Athenree Hot Springs & Holiday Park and The Arts Junction; Employee Of The Year: Cindy Boonzaaier (EastPack) and Jan de Faye (Katikati Community Centre); Sportsmanship Award: Jen McCready and Michael Williams; Local Hero: Cindy Clare and Andrew Cochrane; Tradesperson of the Year: Konrad Williams, (K Williams Electrical) and Dez Procter (The Handyman Can); Cultural Ambassador of the Year: Reon Tuanau and Paula and team (Western Bay Museum); Organisation of the Year: Renaturing Katikati and Waihī Beach Lifeguard Services Inc (surf club).
The winners from 2024’s Katikati and Waihī Beach Community Business Awards held at The Secret Garden, Waihī Beach. Photo / Cassandra Sharp Photography
This year a panel of judges will select category winners instead of the former process of the public voting online.
Awards spokeswoman Jacqui Knight said if you’ve been looking for an excuse to dress up, this is it. “Guests will be welcomed with cocktails on arrival, courtesy of Wilderkin Spirits, with grazing tables flowing through the evening and a photobooth to capture the night.
“Three local guest speakers will share their stories across community, business and sport. These are ordinary-extraordinary people from our own backyard.”
Project Parore general manager Brodie Davis will talk about the community-led environmental organisation, working from the hills to the harbour across the northern Tauranga catchments.
SMYD founder Jason Topp will talk about turning the accounting and advisory business into an award-winning practice recognised for its innovative approach.
Former New Zealand Tall Black Chris Simpson, who led the bid for New Zealand to win co-hosting of the 2023 Fifa Women’s World Cup and has overseen a number of international events in NZ, will also speak.
Joining the evening for a live, one-hour Q&A is Nadia Lim, a former MasterChef New Zealand winner, qualified dietitian and author, co-founder of My Food Bag, and Officer of the New Zealand Order of Merit.
“It’s the kind of name you don’t often see in our corner of the country, and it’s set to be a highlight of the evening,” Knight said.
The Katikati & Waihī Beach Excellence Awards night tickets cost $75 each plus a booking fee online at: https://www.katikati.org.nz/tickets