Entrepreneur Michael Hill said he was passionate the two-yearly competition would continue to attract the cream of international talent to the resort, which would have the "win-win" of boosting New Zealand's stature on the world stage.
Mr Hill was commenting after Josef Spacek (22), of the Czech Republic, won the 2009 Michael Hill International Violin Competition, in the nail-biting final at the Auckland Town Hall, on Thursday night.
Mr Spacek won $40,000, a recording session with classical music label Naxos and a tour of New Zealand in 2010.
His final round repertoire was Prokofieff's Concerto No 2 in G minor Opus 63.
The top three finalists were accompanied by the Auckland Philharmonia Orchestra.
Yoo Jin Jang (18), of Korea, took second place and won the first Michael Hill Audience Prize, which was determined by the audience on the night through text voting.
Danbi Um (19), of Korea, was third, Tessa Lark (20), of the United States, was fourth, David McCarroll (23), of the United States, was fifth, and Dami Kim (20), of Korea, sixth.
Second through sixth-placed players received awards from $10,000 to $1000.
Mr Hill said the event was praised as the best in the world by the international panel of judges, for the standard of its entrants, the scenic location and the absence of politics.
Mr Spacek was "a very good ambassador for the competition", Mr Hill said.
"He's very mature for his years, and he was immaculate from the very first note he played. He said he was nervous in the trio, but he wasn't in the final."
Sarah Buchan, originally of Christchurch, was loaned for two years a contemporary Cremonese violin by master craftsman Riccardo Bergonzi. Ms Buchan was also awarded the competition's inaugural NZ Development Prize.
"Look out, she might be able to get into the next one," Mr Hill said.
"That would be great to see a New Zealander in there."
