Category winners in this year's Rural Women New Zealand Business Awards have been announced, with judges impressed with the standard and variety of entries.
The annual awards aim to celebrate and showcase business, entrepreneurship and innovation by rural women.
An overall winner chosen from the seven category award winners will be announced in November.
Rural Women New Zealand national president Fiona Gower said the standard of entries was high this year.
"Every one of the businesses who entered is a winner in their own right and the judges found it difficult to select the final winners," she said.
One of the judges, Christina Chellew from sponsor NZI, said there was also a wide range of businesses.
"The judges were highly impressed with the range and calibre of entrants in this year's awards, especially in the two new categories - Bountiful Table and Rural Health and Wellbeing," she said.
"It is especially pleasing that the award winners are located from around the country with three from the South Island and four from the North Island."
Presentation of the awards to the category winners and the announcement of the overall supreme award winner will take place on Friday, 22 November in Wellington.
Award winners for each category are:
Creative Arts
Whistle & Pop - Rebecca Hayman, South Canterbury
Emerging Business
By The Horns - Amanda King, Canterbury
Innovation
Skool Loop - Sharlene Barnes, Kaikōura
Love of the Land
AgriSea New Zealand - Clare Bradley, Waikato
Rural Champion
CommuniKate - Kate Taylor, Hawkes Bay
Bountiful Table
The Clareville Bakery - Rosalie Kloeg, Wairarapa
Rural Health and Wellness Excellence
Piopio Dental - Kim Tatham, Waikato
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