A postage stamp made from an All Black jersey by a Dunedin print company came from behind to win the industry's supreme award, the New Zealand Pride in Print.
About 50 people attended the award ceremony at Dunedin Public Art Gallery last night.
Judge convener Symon Yendoll, of Wellington, said the ceremony was an "unusual occasion'' because the award was given to Logick Print & Graphics, for its wine box entry, at a ceremony last month.
The Auckland company subsequently asked for its entry to be disqualified, when it realised it did not fully comply with competition rules.
Consequently, another ceremony was needed to give the award to the rightful winner, Dunedin-based company Southern Colour Print.
"We apologise to Southern Colour you didn't get your moment of glory,'' Mr Yendoll said.
The company's entry of a $15 NZ Post postage stamp was printed on adidas fabric worn by All Blacks in the 2015 Rugby World Cup winning squad.
"It is a remarkable piece of print work,'' Mr Yendoll said.
Southern Colour Print managing director Sean McMahon thanked NZ Post for giving the "challenging'' project to his company.
"We probably wouldn't have taken on this project if we didn't have the can-do attitude from the staff at Southern Colour Print. When these opportunities come up there is a genuine enthusiasm from staff to get involved.''
The "complex'' project meant staff from across the factory had to find solutions to technical challenges.
Dunedin Mayor Dave Cull said the win reinforced Dunedin's reputation as a "great, small and smart city'' of the world.
The international market was competitive and Southern Colour Print was leading on the world stage, he said.
