20 June 2002
2002 WestpacTrust Manukau Business Excellence Awards
Manukau’s Best Businesses Announced
Winners of the 2002 WestpacTrust Manukau Business Excellence Awards were announced last night (Thursday 20 June) at a
gala dinner at Lakeside Convention Centre, hosted by Sir Barry Curtis.
The supreme award of the event, the WestpacTrust Manukau Business of the Year went to Rayglass Boats. Rayglass also
collected the Cock & Bull Excellence in Manufacturing and the Excellence in Exporting Awards.
Recognised within the industry as New Zealand’s most progressive and innovative marine builder, Rayglass manufactures
custom-built fibreglass boats at a ‘world class’ manufacturing facility in Pakuranga.
A winner of the Emerging Exporter Award in 2000, Rayglass has now emerged as a fully fledged exporter - quadrupling
export production in just three years. The brand is registered in the USA, Australia and UK and strong offshore markets
have been developed in USA, European and Asian markets.
Rayglass Boat’s immaculate showroom and factory, ambience, quality control, structure and financial capabilities were
all highlighted by the judges as contributing factors towards their selection as the WestpacTrust Business of the Year.
Chosen from the winners across all categories of the WestpacTrust Manukau Business Excellence Awards, Rayglass Boats was
found to have excellent processes in place and was noted by judges as being “a most remarkable business.”
Winner of the Skill NZ Staff Development Award went to Lakeside Convention Centre, a versatile Manukau venue that caters
for a variety of functions. People are the key to the Centre’s success, which has seen tremendous change over the past
three years. Lakeside currently employs a large number of part time and casual staff and works closely with WINZ,
providing training and job placements.
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MANUKAU’S BEST BUSINESSES ANNOUNCED
Its staff training programme addresses many individual issues and the youth and multiculturalism of the Lakeside staff.
The Excellence in Tourism Award was presented to the Auckland International Airport - New Zealand’s busiest airport for
both aircraft and passengers. Judges described the airport as “a superbly run business with impressive profits, strong
leadership and an excellent strategic plan.” The airport has recently expanded its tourism related products and services
and continued to innovate with its Arrivals Duty Free Priority Clearance - a world first.
The Auckland International Airport was also honoured by Manukau City Council for their Business Contribution to the
Community. The Auckland International Airport plays a major role in the region’s development. Sponsorship of the
Auckland International Airport 3 Day Event and the Life Education Trust, the Bluecoats Hospitality Ambassadors, and the
Airbridge mentoring programme with Aorere College are just some of many community based airport initiatives recognised
by the judging panel.
The Westfield Manukau Retail Excellence Award winner is A.T.S. Pacific, one of New Zealand’s leading inbound travel
operations. Based in Westfield Manukau, the company offers a personalised travel management service for clients
throughout the world. Its ‘Rest of World’ division recently launched a marketing strategy they refer to as ‘The Colors
Concept’. This is embodied in a one of their promotional tools – the ‘Colours of New Zealand brochure - which explores
NZ through 10 specific regions, highlighting each one’s unique and distinct characteristics.
Tapestry Knitwear has won the coveted Phillips Fox Innovation Award for its innovation with changing fabrics and methods
of assembly. Tapestry were the first company in the world to blend possum fur with merino wool introducing the first new
natural fibre to the world in over 100 years. Not resting on this innovative breakthrough, they have also become the
first and only commercial knitwear company in the world to be Organically Certified for their Pure New Zealand Organic
Wool. Over five years Tapestry has transformed itself into a global competitor in the manufacturing of knitwear.
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3… 2002 WestpacTrust Manukau Business Excellence Awards
MANUKAU’S BEST BUSINESSES ANNOUNCED
The Mariner 7 Best Emerging Business Award winner is South Pacific Loans. Overall the judges declared this money lender,
“a most impressive business”. South Pacific Loans operates as a finance company, providing personal loans on chattels,
vehicles and real estate, listed company shares and life insurance policies, in addition to a range of add-on services.
South Pacific Loans was launched in May 2000 by director Kit Parkinson, and is now a five-member team.
Express International Logistics has collected the Kuehne & Nagel Transport, Warehousing & Distribution Award. In the last 13 years the company has grown from a small customs brokerage provider of just two
people, into a fully integrated supply chain logistics supplier. Express International Logistics are international
freight forwarders providing the complete range of airfreight, sea freight, import, export, express courier,
warehousing, distribution and supply chain logistics services for their clients. They are a key player on the
Trans-Tasman airfreight route with branches in Auckland, Wellington, Christchurch, Sydney and Melbourne.
The Telecom Local Directories Best Small Business Award was presented to Transport Engineering Research NZ (TERNZ), an
independent research institute aimed at improving the efficiency, safety and environmental sustainability of the
transport sector. TERNZ is involved in research to support policy in the transport area by investigating vehicle
performance, infrastructure and human factors. A focus of current research is road user behaviour including perceptions
of risk and driver demographics, and the advance methods of improving the life and reducing the cost of roads.
The people’s vote for the Telecom Local Directories Customers’ Choice Award went to LA Barbers – a hair salon located
within The Warehouse complex in Manukau. LA Barbers’ winning formula is providing quality haircuts for great value in a
friendly, relaxed atmosphere. With its walk-in, no appointment necessary approach and quick service, LA Barbers prides
itself on providing a fast, convenient option for customers on the go. Over 12,000 votes were cast by Manukau residents
for their favourite business – LA Barbers receiving just over 1200 votes for their customer service.
4… 2002 WestpacTrust Manukau Business Excellence Awards
MANUKAU’S BEST BUSINESSES ANNOUNCED
A new category in this year’s awards – the ACC ThinkSafe Health & Safety Award - has been won by Pacific Steel & Pacific Wire, part of Fletcher Steel Ltd. With a very dangerous work environment and a goal of ‘Zero Harm’, Pacific
Steel & Pacific Wire developed and implemented its SmartSite programme in July 1999. With the right training and equipment,
SmartSite ensures that the accident rate is reduced and production levels maintained as experienced production staff
remain at work.
Two captains of industry were also honoured by Sir Barry Curtis as inductees in the Manukau Business Hall of Fame. They
are the late Tom Ah Chee, founder of Foodtown supermarkets and David Levene, founder of Levene’s.
“On behalf of Manukau City Council, WestpacTrust, our category sponsors and all the judges involved in the awards, we
recognise the outstanding achievements of all of this year’s winners”, said Sir Barry Curtis. “The business excellence
and quality of this year’s entrants and winners bodes well for the continued prosperity and economic development of the
Manukau region”.
ENDS.
Prepared on behalf of the WestpacTrust Manukau Business Excellence Awards by Goode Communication.