Hi-Tech Awards 2026: Tait Communications and Hectre among big winners

“While Tait was founded 57 years ago, the company continues to innovate on the global stage and move at speed – not an easy achievement for such a well-established company,” the panel of international judges said.

“Tait is coming off a phenomenal year, passing the half-billion-dollar revenue mark.

“It grew organically and by acquisition, expanding into new countries and introduced technically advanced new products, and it competes strongly on the world stage.”

The maker of radio communications gear has had a focus on keeping manufacturing local at its sprawling Christchurch campus.

Its biggest growth spurt in recent times came over 2023 and 2024 as revenue jumped from $421.6m to $426.6m on Tait’s acquisition of distressed Australian player RFI.

In 2025, Tait made a net profit of $44.1m on $516m revenue.

October last year saw the Christchurch firm buy NZX-listed struggler Vital in a deal worth $18m.

Tait has itself been the subject of acquisition. In 2018, Japan’s JVC Kenwood received Overseas Investment Office approval to acquire 40% of the Christchurch firm, with the option to acquire the remaining 60% at a future date.

It has yet to do so; the Sir Angus Tait Trust still owns a majority of the shares.

Tait’s customers in 150 countries include the London Fire Brigade, Transport for London’s 10,000-strong bus fleet, and various public safety agencies and utilities across the United States.

But one of its biggest projects has been at home with its involvement in the $1b-plus Public Safety Network overhaul of emergency communications. Tait took full control of the behind-schedule project in 2024 as Kordia was reduced to subcontractor status.

Hectre won two categories: the Agritech Innovation and the Hi-Tech Kamupene Māori o te Tau Māori Company of the Year category.

Earlier this year, the Auckland start-up raised $12 million, in part thanks to the “golden visa” influx of investment money, to further develop its “AI vision system” for grading fruit by size, colour and quality before it enters a packhouse.

Hectre has won business in Europe and the US. Founder Matty Bloomfield recently told the Herald he’s targeting $100m revenue and a $1b valuation.

Vend founder Vaughan Fergusson was recognised as the 2026 Flying Kiwi and inducted into the NZ Hi-Tech Hall of Fame.

He was recognised for his entrepreneurial endeavours, plus the “major contribution he has made to the industry through his philanthropic contribution via the Pam Fergusson Charitable Trust and the support and mentoring of Kiwi tech founders”.

Fergusson, raised by a paraplegic, wheelchair-bound solo mother, began his career as a co-founder of start-up Travelbug (“We were Airbnb before there was Airbnb”), which was bought by Trade Me in 2008.

He went on to found Vend, a point-of-sale software company that replaced cash registers with iPads, which gained users around the world. Investors include Sam Morgan and Peter Thiel.

Vend was sold to Canadian firm Lightspeed for around $455m in 2021. Fergusson held an 8% stake at the time of the sale.

He invested in a dozen start-ups, including Upstock (which aims to make life easier for small firms ordering wholesale supplies and dealing with supermarket stocking), CoGo, an app that helps users track the planet-friendliness of their spending and smart home battery firm Aotea Energy.

With partner Zoe Timbell, Fergusson bought an old outdoor education centre on a 100-acre block near Raglan and converted into the Institute for Awesome.

He also created the OMGTech! trust that helped underprivileged kids get tech education. It was wound down in late 2024, with Fergusson blaming “a change in priorities for government”.

Fergusson’s induction came as the Hi-Tech Trust board prepared to review allegations of sexual misconduct made against Hall of Fame member Sir Rod Drury. The Xero founder was inducted in 2009.

More than 80 local and international judges contributed to the judging of the NZ Hi-Tech Awards, which received a record number of submissions.

New Zealand Hi-Tech Trust chairwoman Marian Johnson said she saw the achievement of the tech sector as “a source of pride that all of Aotearoa could share in despite the last couple of challenging years”.

“We’re witnessing an industry that is continuing exceptional growth as well as innovation and matching it with the best in the world.”

PwC Hi-Tech Company of the Year

Xero Hi-Tech Young Achiever

Christchurch International Airport Best Hi-Tech Solution for the Public Good

Consult Recruitment Best Contribution to the NZ Tech Sector

Datacom Hi-Tech Inspiring Individual

Fujitsu Most Innovative Deep Tech Solution

GreenMount and Poutama Trust Hi-Tech Kamupene Māori o te Tau – Māori Company of the Year

Tait Communications Flying Kiwi

NZX Most Innovative Hi-Tech Creative Technology Solution

Duncan Cotterill Most Innovative Hi-Tech Software Solution

Braemac Most Innovative Hi-Tech Manufacturer

Kiwibank Most Innovative Hi-Tech Solution for a More Sustainable Future

NZTE Most Innovative Hi-Tech Agritech Solution

2040 Ventures Hi-Tech Startup Company of the Year

ASX Hi-Tech Emerging Company of the Year

Chris Keall is an Auckland-based member of the Herald’s business team. He joined the Herald in 2018 and is the technology editor and a senior business writer.