Entries have been declared open for the 2011 NZ Hi-Tech Awards.

Three new categories have also been created for the awards: Vodafone Most Innovative Technology from an Emerging Market (2011 – Mobile Technologies); TechNZ Hi-Tech Start-up of the Year 2011; and a special category to recognise the Hi-Tech Company of the Decade (2001 to 2010), sponsored by New Zealand Trade and Enterprise.

Entries for the Company of the Decade category will be drawn from previous Company of the Year winners.

NZ Hi-Tech Trust Chair, Wayne Norrie, said, “The categories we have introduced for 2011 means that every technology company in New Zealand should be able to identify at least one category they can enter.

“The entry process has been simplified and with the opportunity to get your business in front of some of the biggest global names in technology, the Hi-Tech Awards now offers an opportunity that money can’t buy. We look forward to improving on last year’s record number of entries and celebrating the winners with a full house at the TSB Arena in Wellington in May next year.”

The full list of categories for the 2011 NZ Hi-Tech Awards are:

NZTE Hi-Tech Company of the Decade (2001-2010)PricewaterhouseCoopers Hi-Tech Company of the Year 2011NZX Hi-Tech Emerging Company 2011TechNZ Best Hi-Tech Start-Up 2011Duncan Cotterill Innovative Hi-Tech Software Product Award 2011Dell Innovative Hi-Tech Hardware Product Award 2011HiFX Innovative Hi-Tech Services Product Award 2011Vodafone Most Innovative Product from an Emerging Market (2011– Mobile Technologies)Recruit IT Hi-Tech Employer of Choice Award 2011NZMEA Hi-Tech Exporter of the Year 2011 – two sections; above/below $5millionMaxnet Hi-Tech Young Achiever Award 2011 (under 30 years of age)Swaytech Hi-Tech Journalist Award 2011Kiwi World Beaters 2011 (the category where all entrants are winners)

You can see this year’s winners here.