The competition is part of a business programme in which secondary pupils set up a company, create real products or services, and make real profits or losses.
This week's event at the Glenroy Auditorium was to determine which Otago secondary school's business had the best business plan, the most investment potential, the best trade display and, ultimately, the best oral presentation of a business plan.
Moemoea Records won the best oral presentation and trade display categories, and received several commendations for its record production company, which is producing a CD of music written and performed by pupils at Queen's and King's High Schools.
Managing director Ranui Ellison said the company had already recorded three of the seven tracks for its CD, which they planned to start selling at Marbecks in August this year.
"The CD has a distinctly South Dunedin flavour."
Ranui said the secret of their success had been creating a company based on what they knew well.
"Unconsciously, we instantly decided on doing something music-wise because we all have amazing musical abilities," she said.
"It hasn't been that easy. We can all do music, but we all had to rely on each other because the business side of it is what we didn't know how to do well."
The next stage for the company is to produce an annual report to show its success.
The company was one of 13 in the Otago competition, and all seven judges commented on how difficult it had been to choose a winner because of the exceptionally high quality of presentations.
Two companies from St Hilda's Collegiate School - Good Sorts and Missing Pieces - were second and third respectively in the best oral presentation category.
The best business plan category was won by 3ee (Otago Girls' High School) for a DVD on how to drive a manual car; and the award for the company with the most investment potential went to Elastico (Kaikorai Valley College) for its elastic band, which goes around sports footwear to cover shoe laces.
Other companies competing were Perfect Match (Otago Girls' High School), Choc Local (Columba College), Dun' Deals (Kavanagh College), Liaison (Otago Girls' High School), Pictur It (Kaikorai Valley College), Skinettes (St Hilda's Collegiate School), Stealth (Otago Girls' High School) and Wha Taitamariki (Queen's High School).
The regional awards will be announced in October. The overall winner of the Excellence in Business Award will represent the region at the national awards in Wellington on December 1.
