Entries open for the Claymark Hauraki Coromandel Business Awards
Published on 01 June 2026
Entries are now open for the Claymark Hauraki Coromandel Business Awards, recognising outstanding local businesses across the Thames-Coromandel and Hauraki districts.
The 2026 awards celebrate a wide range of businesses - from start-ups and family-run enterprises to established employers, growers, retailers, tourism operators, service providers, and Māori-led organisations - highlighting those driving innovation, supporting communities, and contributing to a strong regional future.
Delivered biennially by Hauraki and Thames-Coromandel District Councils, and supported by an exceptional group of sponsors, the awards showcase the best of what our districts have to offer.
The awards night will be held on 15 October at the Thames War Memorial Civic Centre, bringing together around 150 business leaders from across Hauraki, Coromandel and the wider Waikato region to celebrate, connect and recognise success.
Submit your application here Service to Business Nomination People's Choice Nomination
Entries close Friday 31 July.
Award Categories
This year the Claymark Hauraki-Coromandel Business Awards have the following entry categories. A business can enter a maximum of two categories:
- Community Contribution: This award celebrates a business that has a positive and lasting impact on their community.
- Customer Experience: This award celebrates a business that consistently delivers great experience for its customers and goes the extra mile to meet their needs.
- Employer Excellence: This award celebrates businesses that demonstrate outstanding commitment to their people. The business fosters a positive, inclusive, and supportive workplace culture.
- Marketing and Digital Edge: This award celebrates a businesses that has achieved success through excellent marketing or digital innovation.
- New and Emerging: This award celebrates a new or emerging business that has demonstrated strong potential through innovation, resilience, and early success. (To enter this category, the business must be no greater than 3 years old at the time of the awards).
- Excellence in Sustainability: This award celebrates a business that excels at understanding their environmental impacts and integrates sustainability into their everyday operations.
- Māori Business Excellence: This award celebrates Māori led businesses and kaupapa Māori Organisations operating in the Hauraki Rohe that excel in uplifting whanau and the community through Kaupapa Māori business ethos.
Nomination-based Awards
Three awards are also open for nominations:
- Service to Business: Who are our local business champions? This category is for someone who has given their time, energy and enthusiasm to businesses in the community. The winner is decided by the judging panel.
- People’s Choice Thames-Coromandel & People's Choice Hauraki: One for each District. Who do you think are the most awesome businesses in Hauraki and Coromandel? An opportunity for the public to voice their appreciation and support of local businesses. Winners decided by public vote.
Find out more
Our Economic Development Team is out and about at Business After 5 events across the district - sharing information, answering questions, and encouraging entries and nominations. Come along to:
- Tairua: 4 June at Pepe Cafe
- Whangamatā: 9 June at The Whangamata Club - 401 Port Road
- Thames: 2 July at Thames War Memorial Civic Centre
Click here to find out more about the awards