News & Media

Surtees wins BOP Exporter of the Year Award

With Surtees celebrating their 20th anniversary this year it was the icing-on-the-cake to be awarded Emerging Exporter of the Year at the BNZ Bay of Plenty Export New Zealand Awards 2013 on Friday night. Beating out some serious competition in the category – including an agricultural giant and a seriously innovative performance kite-surfing manufacturer – Surtees finished the evening holding the trophy aloft.

The awards are a hotly contested annual event in the Bay of Plenty, with some of the best businesses from Rotorua, Whakatane and Tauranga all vying for recognition for their exporting skills in a select group of categories. For Surtees, who’ve resolutely remained in the region since their inception in the early 90s, it was gratifying to be recognised for their export achievements from the market that has supported the brand for two decades: the local market. 

It was in Whakatane itself that Neil Surtees first decided to design and purpose-build an aluminium fishing boat. That finished product looked and performed so well he was very soon taking orders. And so the Surtees business was born. While the initial focus was on servicing domestic demand, Surtees Boats now employs over 40 people who help build 300 boats a year for the Australian and Pacific markets as well as New Zealand.

The profile, and sales volumes, of Surtees Boats is established and increasing rapidly in these tough overseas territories, something that’s been achieved through hard work, strategic marketing, and the strength and performance of the boats themselves.

Said Surtees Managing Director Phil Sheaff:

“To have our export efforts recognised by our peers here in the Bay of Plenty is really satisfying. There is a real climate of expertise and innovation here, and using that knowledge to gain traction in overseas markets is how a business like ours is able to keep growing at the rate that it is. The Export Awards are a great thing to be part of; even better when you get to take home a trophy!”

Article featured in www.MarineBusiness.com.au