The Rua Bioscience medicinal cannabis company has been named as a finalist in two sections of the 2024 ExportNZ ASB Hawke’s Bay Export Awards. 

Some of the region’s top exporters are among the finalists for the awards, which bring together the region’s best and brightest to celebrate exporting excellence. 

“This year’s finalists were selected from a record field of entries, with judges recognising their efforts in innovation, sustainability, strategy and growth,” an awards spokesman said. 

Ruatoria-based Rua Bioscience is one of six finalists in the Southeast Asia Centre of AsiaPacific Excellence-sponsored Excellence in Innovation section. 

The others are all from Hawke’s Bay. 

Rua Bioscience is also one of three finalists in the NewstalkZB/Hawke’s Bay Today Excellence in Sustainability section. The other two are from Hawke’s Bay. 

The awards gala dinner is being held at Toitoi Hawke’s Bay Arts and Event Centre on August 1. 

ASB head of international trade Mike Atkins said the calibre of entries made this year’s judging a particularly difficult task. 

“The simplified entry process has resulted in a record number of entries this year, making it even more challenging for the judges to select the winners. 

“We were impressed by the breadth of business categories represented and the high calibre of the finalists’ presentations.”