Chance for triple gold strike

Three Wairarapa businesses are up for top spots in Wellington's Gold Awards, the first time Wairarapa has been included the awards.

Toast Martinborough and the Tora Coastal Walk are two of the five finalists in the Vibrant Gold category, which recognises events, hospitality and visitor facilities.

Pukaha Mt Bruce National Wildlife Centre is a finalist in the Green Gold category for positive sustainability programmes.

The Gold Awards have been running for 14 years and celebrate Wellington region businesses.

Awards Director John Dow said the Wairarapa finalists reflect "a very creative, innovative and hard-working group of people who are still prepared to take risks".

Toast Martinborough general manager Rachael Fletcher said she is delighted the wine, food and music event had been included in the awards.

"The festival is a real success story for the vineyards, for Martinborough and for the wider Wairarapa region," said Fletcher.

Ms Fletcher said the event had put Martinborough on the map as a boutique wine producing area, generating significant income for the region, and enabling them to back local projects through fundraising.

Tora Coastal Walk spokeswoman Kiri Elworthy said after 17 years in business, 2011 was their biggest year yet, with around 1750 taking the walk.

"I think it was our stats that really got us in the finals, but to create the stats you have got to have a pretty good operation going and we have consistently high standards," he said.

Mrs Elworthy said pitching the business at something between the Department of Conservation hut tramps and expensive guided walks may have also been a factor.

All 38 finalists will also be contending for the Supreme Award - previous winners include Weta Digital, Kiwibank and Icebreaker.

The 2012 winners will be announced at a dinner in Wellington on May 31.