The hunt for the upper North Island's most sustainable business is one step closer now that this year's finalists have been selected.

Entries for the Sustainable Business Network Northern Region Awards, which closed on 1 August, were received from businesses of all sizes operating in diverse industries across the region, which covers Auckland and Northland.

David Clendon, Regional Manager of the Sustainable Business Network's Northern office, is delighted with the continued engagement and interest in the awards, this year with the theme 'Reinvent to Thrive'.

"While there are certainly challenges associated with doing business in a recession, many of the entrants this year are also exploiting the opportunities to innovate, educate, and future-proof their companies, reinventing and adapting to the new reality to ensure they maintain their viability and markets. "These business leaders are heeding the advice of people like commentator Rod Oram, who earlier this year said, 'you and your company have a choice: you can hunker down hoping the global economic crisis will blow over soon, or you can use it as a springboard for building a much better business'. If you're wise you'll choose the latter," says Clendon. To enter the awards, businesses participated in the Sustainable Business Network's 'Get Sustainable Challenge', covering eight identified areas of sustainable practice; or entered the Sustainable Design and Innovation Award, which covers products and services.

The finalists for the 2009 Northern Region awards are:

Category Finalists Large Business, Trailblazer Sinclair Knight Merz Downer EDI NZ ecostore

Small & Medium Business, Trailblazer Supplejack Ltd Kokako Organic

Large Business, Emerging Chow:Hill Hayes Knight Kordia SATO NZ The Nielsen Company

Small & Medium Business, Emerging Borderless Productions jericho The Conference Centre Patch from Scratch Phytomed Medicinal Herbs Ltd

Sustainable Design & Innovation Award Kokako Organic LOVEnotes Methven Paradigm Salvage Bags LanzaTech Online Gardner Fruitfed Supplies/PGG Wrightson

Not for profit Framework Trust Heart of Auckland City The awards will be presented at a cocktail function at 6:30pm on Thursday, 3 September at the Okahu Function Centre, 18 Tamaki Drive, Okahu Bay.

Winners of the regional awards automatically progress to the nationwide NZI Sustainable Business Network Awards to be announced in Auckland on 12 November.

Tickets are limited and cost $65 per person. See www.sustainable.org.nz To reserve a seat please email Jasmine at northern@sustainable.org.nz before 31 August.