The best New Zealand broadband and energy providers of 2021 have been revealed at the NZ Compare Awards.
The evening saw hundreds of senior-level professionals from the New Zealand Internet and Energy sectors come together for the NZ Compare Awards 2021 to celebrate the best of the best in the New Zealand broadband and energy sectors.
The awards were hosted virtually by NZ Compare, a consumer champion that offers free-to-use tools that allow consumers to compare everything from broadband plans and power providers to dishwashers and gaming consoles. Movinghub provided vital support as a Premier Gold Sponsor for the event.
Although delayed and moved online due to COVID-19 restrictions, the belated 2021 NZ Compare Awards were particularly relevant, as they come at a time where there has been more demand than ever to power the digital connectivity that keeps us connected to family, enables flexible working and provides entertainment alongside an environment of rising prices and increased inflation.
"We felt that 2021, in particular, was a time to recognise success and celebrate the essential businesses that operate in New Zealand's broadband and energy sectors," says Gavin Male, CEO for NZ Compare.
"As essential services the entire telecoms and energy sectors have worked incredibly hard to keep Kiwis connected and powered up during 2021," he says.
"It was fantastic to see another year of record entries from a huge range of providers including, Contact Energy, Now, Sky Broadband, Farmside, Vodafone, Wireless Nation, MyRepublic, Orcon, Nova Energy, Slingshot, 2degrees, Gravity Internet, Network for Learning and even Send A Sausage!"
A number of new categories were introduced in the 2021 awards alongside established categories like Best Customer Support, Best Fibre Provider and Best Bundled Plan. These new categories reflect the changing landscape of digital connectivity and the energy sector in NZ.
The new categories included Best Energy Innovation, Best Mobile Application, and the Making a Difference Award.
"These new categories reflect the importance of innovation, value and community involvement within the broadband and energy sectors," says Megan Matthews, GM for NZ Compare.
"A key aspect of the awards this year is the recognition that digital connectivity in New Zealand is now just as important as a reliable power supply and more and more providers are starting to offer both to the Kiwi consumer," she says.
"That's one of the key reasons we made the decision to expand the awards to now include the energy sector as well as broadband."
The record number of entries displayed true innovation in the way that NZ service providers are understanding their customers' needs and delivering ground-breaking services, packages and consumer tools.
The 2021 NZ Compare Awards Winners are:
BROADBAND AWARDS
Best Wireless Service Provider - sponsored by Go Wireless NZ Wireless Nation
Best Digital Innovation - sponsored by UBS Vodafone
Best Value Broadband Provider - sponsored by Recycle A Device 2degrees
Best Rural Service Provider - sponsored by Kacific Lightwire
Best Bundled Plan - sponsored by Tuatahi First Fibre Sky Broadband
Best Fibre Broadband Provider - sponsored by Northpower Fibre Orcon
Best Customer Support - Broadband - sponsored by Enable NOW
People's Choice Award - Broadband - sponsored by Broadband Compare Slingshot
Broadband Provider of the Year - sponsored by Chorus NOW
POWER AWARDS
Best Mobile Application - sponsored by Nodd Contact Energy
Best Energy Innovation - sponsored by Excel Sales Choice Energy
Best Value Energy Provider - sponsored by ACN Nova Energy
Best Customer Support - Power - sponsored by Vector Metering Contact Energy
Best Customer Loyalty or Reward Initiative - sponsored by Digital Simple Z Electric
People's Choice Award - Power - sponsored by Power Compare Flick Electric
Power Provider of the Year - sponsored by realestate.co.nz Contact Energy
SUPREME AWARDS
Young Professional of the Year - sponsored by TUANZ Saba Samiei
Making a Difference - sponsored by Neighbourly Orcon Group
Supreme Champion - sponsored by NZ Compare Contact Energy