From left are Warrant Officer Class 2 Gerry Costello and Sergeant Daniel Bristow and their employer, Tony Hunter, from Dunedin; Chris Hopkins and Richard Aimers, from Scott Technology, Dunedin, and their employee Lieutenant John Aitken; Otago-Southland Regional Employer Support Council chairman Julian Smith, of Dunedin; and Balclutha farmers Colin and Dianne Halder and their employee, Major Lance Nicholas. Photo by Linda Robertson.

The finalists in the 2012 Otago-Southland Best Employer of Defence Force Personnel awards and the territorial soldiers who nominated them gather at the awards function at the Army Drill Hall in Dunedin last night.

The overall winner of the best employer award was Blackhead Quarries.

The annual awards, organised by the Employer Support Council, recognise employers who are making an exceptional effort to support staff members who are also part-time members of territorial and reserve forces in Otago and Southland.

Maj Nicholas said there were more than 130 employers in the two regions employing 234 territorials.