Ag-Hub, a rural broadband initiative providing cloud-based software to farmers, has been rewarded with the Telecommunications Users Assocation of New Zealand (TUANZ) ‘best of the best’ prize at its 2011 Innovations Awards.

TUANZ says with its scope to go international, Ag-Hub shows New Zealand is continuing to take the lead in the farming sector.

The awards were presented last night at a gala function at Auckland's Langham Hotel, hosted by the Topp Twins.

In other results, power provider comparison website Powershop was named initiative of the year, and schedule and tracking app vWorkApp was named application of the year.

Public voting was included in the awards for the first time, with 2degrees securing the telecommunications carrier of the year award.

A Chairman’s Award was also presented to the Canterbury telecommunications industry for its services to the community following the Christchurch earthquakes of September 2010 and February 2011.

Go here for a full list of the award winners.