Te Puna Umanga Venture Taranaki has been recognised with three honours at the 2025 Economic Development New Zealand (EDNZ) Awards, celebrating excellence, innovation, and leadership in regional development across Aotearoa.

The awards recognise the agency’s outstanding contribution to advancing regional prosperity and resilience through its people, research, projects, and technology.

Anne Probert recognised for 25 years of service to regional development

Anne Probert, Strategic and Sector Partnerships Director and the longest-serving team member at Venture Taranaki, received the Lifetime Distinguished Service Award, celebrating over 25 years of leadership and impact.

Dr Probert was a part of the agency’s inception and has played a pivotal role in shaping the region’s economic landscape. Her leadership, insight, and passion have helped guide Taranaki through times of growth and transformation, particularly within the energy and primary sectors.

Venture Taranaki Chief Executive Kelvin Wright says Anne’s recognition is well deserved.

“For 25 years, Anne has been at the heart of regional development in Taranaki. From the early foundations of Venture Taranaki through to today, her dedication, professionalism, and commitment to positive outcomes have strengthened our region and supported countless businesses and projects. This recognition is truly deserved and reflective of her lifetime dedication to both economic development, and Venture Taranaki.”

Probert has been instrumental in shaping many of the agency’s cornerstone initiatives, including leading the business case that secured the establishment funding for Ara Ake, driving national renewable energy innovation and advancing the region’s offshore wind opportunity, and attracting international interest and investment in Taranaki. She also helped shape the Tapuae Roa Action Plan and Taranaki 2050 Roadmap - frameworks that continue to guide regional transition today.

Branching Out recognised for excellence in primary research

Venture Taranaki has received the Economic Development Primary Research Award for Phase 2 of its land use diversification project,  Branching Out. This flagship food and fibre initiative is designed to accelerate land-use diversification and strengthen resilience across the primary sector in Taranaki.

Phase 2 of the project delivered a three-year, research-led programme involving 12 trial sites, 13 crops, and multiple value chains - generating one of New Zealand’s most comprehensive datasets on horticultural diversification. The trials explored new ventures such as hemp fibre, functional botanicals, and high-value food crops, and is supporting decision making for farmers and investors interested in land use diversification.

The project’s robust research design, integration with industry and iwi partners, and its measurable impact on regional practice set a new benchmark for applied economic research in Aotearoa New Zealand.

Michelle Bauer, Branching Out Project Lead, says the award is a proud acknowledgement of the team’s sustained effort and collaboration.

“To be recognised again for Phase 2 shows the continued strength and credibility of the work we’re doing,” says Bauer. “This project is grounded in real farms, real crops, and real outcomes, and it’s been made possible through the dedication of our trialists, industry partners and research collaborators. I’m thrilled for the team and we're looking forward to building on the work in Phase 3 of the project, which will focus on the pre-commercialisation of a series of ventures.”

Excellence in Innovative Use of Technology Award for the Land Use Portal

The third accolade, the Excellence in Innovative Use of Technology Award, recognises the development of Venture Taranaki’s Land Use Portal. Delivered as part of the Branching Out project in partnership with leading farm planning developer, Groundtruth, the tool is a pioneering digital platform designed to transform how land-use decisions are made in Taranaki.

Currently in its final testing phase, the tool combines geospatial data, crop suitability and profitability, infrastructure and workforce factors to help landowners explore diversification scenarios at a paddock, multifarm, and regional scale. It represents a national first in integrating land, climate, and infrastructure data into a single, accessible decision-support system.

By making complex data practical, visual, and interactive, the tool empowers farmers and landowners, and regional partners to plan change with confidence – supporting more sustainable, productive, and resilient land-use choices for the future.

“From multiple sources including our own crop trials, the Land Use Portal brings together research and technical development into one practical, user-friendly tool,” says Bauer. “It’s about empowering landowners with the insights they need to make informed land-use decisions. We’re looking forward to sharing the tool with the wider public in the new year.”

The Land Use Portal is due to launch early in 2026.

A regional team effort

Kelvin Wright says the three awards reflect the calibre of Venture Taranaki’s work, the expertise of its team, and the organisation’s leadership in driving regional economic development.

“Receiving three of the eight national awards is outstanding recognition for our region and for the quality of work Venture Taranaki delivers. It reinforces that we’re one of New Zealand’s leading regional development agencies, quietly achieving great things on the national stage,” says Wright.

“These awards validate the impact of our programmes and the professionalism of our team. It’s particularly rewarding to see Branching Out recognised again, having also won three years ago for Phase 1. The continuation of that success shows that Taranaki is not just innovating, we’re leading the way.”