FINALISTS ANNOUNCED

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FINALISTS ANNOUNCED |

The Hits Hastings City Celebration Awards 2026

Friday 21st of August | Functions on Hastings - Toitoi


The Hits Hastings City Celebration Awards evening is to recognise and celebrate businesses within the Hastings CBD whose efforts contribute to the overall success and vibrancy of Hastings City. This also plays an important role in promoting and strengthening development in the area and aims to raise the bar for Hastings City Businesses, providing a benchmark in the recognition of excellence and creating a positive atmosphere in which to shop, live and do business.

WHAT ARE THE AWARDS CATEGORIES?

There are 10 categories in total and these are divided into Sector Awards and Special Category Awards.

The Special Category Awards celebrate how a business does what they do, with the focus being on a new business, great customer service and employee welfare. The Sector Awards look at what a business does. Are they a business that excels in their respective areas of expertise; be it retail, hospitality, wellness or beauty, professional services, health services, trade or non-for-profit?

All entries into the Sector Award categories will automatically be entered into the Supreme Business Award. This is an overall winner that scores highly in all aspects of the judging criteria and has an x-factor that inspires the judging panel.

Nominations for all categories will close at 11.59pm on Friday 5th of June 2026.

SECTOR AWARD CATEGORIES


SPECIAL AWARD CATEGORIES


SUPREME BUSINESS AWARD - SPONSORED BY THE HITS

All entries into the Sector Award Categories will automatically be entered into the Supreme Business Award. This is an overall winner that scores highly in all aspects of the judging criteria and has an x-factor that inspires the judging panel.

JUDGING PROCESS

Step 1: Preliminary Questionnaire (FINALISED)

All nominees will be sent a preliminary questionnaire to complete as part of the initial judging process. The questionnaire is designed to help judges gain an understanding of your business, services, achievements, and overall performance.

Each submission will be independently reviewed, judged, and scored by the judge assigned to that award category. Once all questionnaires have been assessed, the scores will be weighted to determine the top five highest-scoring businesses, which will then progress to the next stage of judging.

Step 2: Site Visits (FINALISED)

The top five businesses in each category will progress to a site visit conducted by the independent judge assigned to that category. Site visits are undertaken to ensure consistency and to provide judges with a deeper understanding of your people, services, operations, and business environment.

During the visit, judges will gain a comprehensive impression of the business and its overall customer and community impact.

Site visits will be scheduled in advance and the interview component should take approximately 30 minutes (please allow up to one hour if required).

Following the site visit, the independent judge will complete their final scoring and assessment.

The entire judging panel will then consider all finalist scores and assessments, with input also contributing toward the selection of the Supreme Business of the Year Award recipient.

CONFIDENTIALITY

We take your confidentiality seriously:

  • All awards entry documentation and official entry forms are treated as confidential.

  • All judges sign a confidentiality agreement.

  • Judges are required to declare conflicts of interest.

CLICK HERE FOR COMPETITION TERMS AND CONDITIONS


THANK YOU TO OUR SPONSORS