Bay of Plenty exporters that are 'flying high” in their respective industries have been celebrated at the 2016 Bay of Plenty ExportNZ awards last night.

ASB Baypark Stadium Lounge was decked out in a 1950s theme and took guests back in time to the golden age of air travel when leg room was copious and travelling by air was glamourous.

Skyline Rotorua won the ‘Sharp Tudhope Lawyers Exporter of the Year' at the 2016 Bay of Plenty ExportNZ awards last night. Pictured: Skyline Rotorua general manager Bruce Thomasen. Photo: File

Now into its 26th year, the Zespri sponsored awards recognise innovative, brave and successful companies which are helping to grow and transform New Zealand and local economies.

'The high calibre and volume of companies who were finalists in this year's awards meant there was serious competition across each and every category,” says ExportNZ Bay of Plenty executive officer Melissa Conrad.

'The judging panel commented that they were extremely impressed by the variety of businesses that entered across a range of industries.”

Taking out the big award on the evening was Skyline Rotorua who won the ‘Sharp Tudhope Lawyers Exporter of the Year' award, while Streamland Honey Plant winning the ‘YOU Travel Emerging Exporter of the Year' award.

Well-known local businessman Graeme Marshall was also honoured last night by being named the recipient of the ‘New Zealand Trade & Enterprise Service to Export' award for his outstanding contributions to the export community throughout the Bay.

New Zealand Manuka Group founder and executive chairman Phil Caskey won the ‘Beca Export Achievement' award, while the company also took out the ‘Page Macrae Engineering Innovation in Export' Award.

Head judge and company Productiv director Kelvin Trask says this year's entrants were from a variety of sectors, ranging from recent start-ups through to established exporters.

'The commitment to exporting excellence these businesses demonstrate, and their willingness to be judged is exciting for our region,” says Kelvin.

For more information visit the Bay of Plenty ExportNZ Awards website at: www.bopexportnzawards.org.nz