History was made last night as Surtees Boats were the first company to take out the Emerging Exporter of the Year, and the Exporter of the Year awards in consecutive years in the BNZ Bay of Plenty ExportNZ Awards 25 year history.

Surtees Boats designs and builds aluminium trailer boats for fishing and recreational use and took home the Sharp Tudhope Exporter of the Year Award.

'Sharp Tudhope Lawyers Exporter of the Year Award 2014 Winner Surtees Boats Ltd Phil Sheaff, Toni Palmer, Mel & Neil Surtees'. Photos: Wayne Tait Photography

Surtees Boats builds boats in the Eastern Bay.

Their reputation is worldwide, with 50 per cent of their boats exported.

'Surtees boats have just made history by being the first ever company to win the Emerging Exporter of the Year, and Exporter of the Year award in consecutive years,” said the judges at last night's award ceremony.

'So a flooding keel doesn't float your boat, maybe not, but an integral water ballast ride stabiliser will certainly make for a smooth day out on the water. Just one example of how through listening, design innovation, practical features, naked craftsmanship by dedicated specialists, and a great dealer network the team at Surtees Boats build boats built to fish.”

Well known businessman Ian Macrae, managing director at Page Macrae Engineering, was the very surprised humbled recipient of the Zespri International Service to Export award for his contributions to the Export Community in the Innovation space in particular.

ExportNZ Bay of Plenty executive officer Angela Wallace says ExportNZ Bay of Plenty could not thrive without the likes of Ian who is passionate, visionary and always looking at the greater good.

'Ian is a long time sponsor of ExportNZ Bay of Plenty and on the ExportNZ Bay of Plenty Executive Committee.”

Scales Corporation's Jon Mayson described Ian as one of the Bay of Plenty's unsung heroes always working away behind the scenes.

'Ian you are such a worthy recipient. Your passion for this region and what can be made to happen here is amazing. For me the best part is you are only just getting started,” says John Gordon from Sharp Tudhope Lawyers.

All five winners of the BNZ Bay of Plenty ExportNZ Awards for 2014 were decided at a Country Music themed awards evening last night at ASB Baypark Stadium.

Guests were entertained by MC Te Radar on a stage which included a working saloon bar, and treated to a Southern style meal including a bucket of shrimps and low & slow BBQ baby back ribs.

The high calibre of companies meant there was serious competition in every category with head judge Kelvin Trask commenting that judges were very impressed by the variety of businesses who entered from milk, vanilla, roofing, luxury fibre to solar energy – there are no two companies in the same sector. But as with all awards, there can only be one winner in each category:

United Travel Business Emerging Exporter of the Year Award

WINNER: Miraka Limited

Page Macrae Engineering Innovation in Export Award

WINNER: Douglas Creek Ltd

Bay of Plenty Tertiary Partnership Export Achievement Award

WINNER: Colin Baskin – Comvita New Zealand Ltd

Zespri International Service to Export Award

WINNER: Ian Macrae – Page Macrae Engineering Ltd

Sharp Tudhope Lawyers Exporter of the Year Award

WINNER: Surtees Boats Ltd

Finalists: United Travel Business Emerging Exporter of the Year Award

- Heilala Vanilla

- Miraka Ltd

- Global Roofing Solutions