FLEET TAKES TOP PRIZE AT WHANGANUI BUSINESS AWARDS

Fleet Line Markers NZ shone brightly at the prestigious Whanganui Business Awards, taking home four major accolades, including the Supreme Award for Best in Business.

The evening began with a vibrant pre-event gathering at the newly reopened Te Whare o Rehua Sarjeant Gallery, where attendees enjoyed the stunning surroundings of one of Whanganui’s cultural gems. The main awards ceremony, hosted by renowned journalist Mike McRoberts, was held at the Whanganui War Memorial Centre and organized by Business Whanganui.

Fleet Line Markers NZ took the stage multiple times throughout the night, starting with the Bronze Award for Community Contribution, recognizing their commitment to making a positive impact locally. The company then claimed two Gold Awards: one for Innovation, highlighting their groundbreaking advancements in robotics and horticulture, and another for Best in Sector for Manufacturing, Engineering, Production, and Processing.

The highlight of the evening was Fleet Line Markers being named the Supreme Award winner, the pinnacle of recognition for their exceptional contributions to Whanganui and beyond.

Founder and CEO, Carr, described the victory as “a real cool regional New Zealand story,” reflecting on the company’s journey since its establishment in 2000. What began as a small operation has grown into a national leader, commanding 80% of New Zealand’s line-marking market, producing cutting-edge robots, and expanding into horticulture.

“Our core values are ‘dream, believe, create, succeed,’ and that’s the vision of everything we’re trying to create,” Carr said.

Fleet Line Markers’ recent innovations include the Fleet Line Marking Robot, developed in collaboration with Wrybill Robotics and Metalform, and their horticultural solution of spray-applied white paint to enhance fruit ripening—a method that reduces labor costs by up to 50%.

Carr expressed his gratitude for the recognition: “I’m just super proud of what my team has achieved. It’s such an awesome acknowledgment of their hard work and passion. Winning the Supreme Award is truly special and a testament to the dedication of everyone involved.”

Business Whanganui chief executive Helen Garner praised the winners, saying, “The Whanganui Business Awards are a celebration of the extraordinary talent, resilience, and innovation within our community. The passion and dedication demonstrated by our winners, particularly Fleet Line Markers, is truly inspiring.”

As Fleet Line Markers prepares to launch full-scale production of their robotics line in 2025 and continues to export to markets in Australia, the Pacific Islands and South America, their story is a testament to regional innovation, teamwork, and success.

With these accolades, Fleet Line Markers cements its place as a standout contributor to Whanganui’s business and innovation landscape.