New Zealand was the big winner at the Cannabiz Awards 2026 last night, with Puro taking home the Cultivator of the Year trophy and co-founder Sank Macfarlane named Business Leader of the Year.
Meanwhile, outgoing NZ Medicinal Cannabis Council executive director Sally King won the award for Campaigner of the Year.
The success caps a busy 12 months for Puro during which the firm completed its first shipment to the United Kingdom under a NZ$16.1 million supply agreement struck with IPS Pharma, the first time New Zealand-grown organic cannabis medicine had been supplied to the UK market.
RAYS Wellness also had a good night, winning the awards for Best Place to Work and Company of the Year, and being highly commended in the Best Dispensary/Pharmacy category.
Montu divisions were celebrating after Alternaleaf scored the Best Use of Technology award for its Immediate Doctor Consultations service while Leafio was named Wholesaler/Distributor of the Year.
Deb Ranson became an unprecedented three-time winner of the Nurse of the Year award, with PlantMed’s Dr John Teh (Prescribing Healthcare Practitioner of the Year), Wildleaf Clinic (Clinic of the Year) and GreenEase (Dispensary/Pharmacy of the Year) among those taking home trophies for the first time.
Companies recognised on the night included Medical Cannabis Australia (Best Education/Engagement Initiative), ECS Botanics (Manufacturer of the Year), Hale Farm (Cannabiz Award for Innovation), HemPanel (Hemp Product of the Year) and Golden Days Cultivators (Start-up/Launch of the Year).
The Best Use of Data trophy went to CANN-RELIEF by Southern Cross University, while Kristin Viccars, Dr Teresa Nicoletti and the inaugural Medicinal Cannabis Council Australia board were recognised for their efforts in bringing two industry bodies together by taking out the award for Industry Collaboration.
The Cannabiz Awards were judged by 36 senior industry figures in a rigorous, two-stage process and presented in front of a sold-out audience at Melbourne’s Plaza Ballroom.
The judges said of RAYS Wellness: “RAYS has achieved exceptional commercial growth of its patient-first model with a clear long-term strategy and sustainable expansion.
“It demonstrates strong industry leadership through advocacy, education and collaboration, and fosters a positive, values-driven culture – with measurable results.”
Of Macfarlane, they said: “Sank combines incredible commercial leadership with international impact, while building a values-based culture and making a significant contribution to the wider industry via government engagement, robust collaboration and community partnerships.”
The full list of award winners:
Best Education/Engagement Initiative
WINNER: The Duty of Care Education Series by Medical Cannabis Australia
HIGHLY COMMENDED: Spring Sciences Australia with the University of Queensland
Hemp Product of the Year
WINNER: HemPanel
Cultivator of the Year
WINNER: Puro New Zealand
Start-up/Launch of the Year
WINNER: Golden Days Cultivators
Best Use of Technology
WINNER: Immediate Doctor Consultations by Alternaleaf
Nurse of the Year
WINNER: Deb Ranson, The New Clinic
Best Place to Work
WINNER: RAYS Wellness
HIGHLY COMMENDED: Tasmanian Botanics
Prescribing Healthcare Practitioner of the Year
WINNER: Dr John Teh, PlantMed
Clinic of the Year
WINNER: Wildleaf Clinic
HIGHLY COMMENDED: Horizon and MediCann Clinics
Dispensary or Pharmacy of the Year.
WINNER: GreenEase
HIGHLY COMMENDED: RAYS Wellness
Campaigner of the Year
WINNER: Sally King, New Zealand Medicinal Cannabis Council
Cannabiz Award for Industry Collaboration
WINNER: Kristin Viccars, Dr Teresa Nicoletti and the inaugural Medicinal Cannabis Council Australia board
HIGHLY COMMENDED: Medical Cannabis Research Australia Cape to Cape for Cannabis 2026
Manufacturer of the Year
WINNER: ECS Botanics
Wholesaler/Distributor of the Year
WINNER: Leafio
Best Use of Data
WINNER: CANN-RELIEF by Southern Cross University
Cannabiz Award for Innovation
WINNER: Hale Farm
Business Leader of the Year
Sank Macfarlane, Puro New Zealand
Company of the Year
WINNER: RAYS Wellness
HIGHLY COMMENDED: ECS Botanics