Four exceptional leaders first to enter Enterprise North Shore Business Hall of Fame
Enterprise North Shore inducted four exceptional North Shore business identities to its newly established Business Hall
of Fame last Thursday at a glittering gala dinner to celebrate the Westpac Enterprise North Shore Business Excellence
Awards.
Enterprise North Shore Chairman Maurice Boland announced that Roberts Electrical Managing Director Ralph Roberts, Smales
Farm Directors Jim and Geoff Smale, and founder of The Warehouse, Stephen Tindall, were to be the inaugural Business
Hall of Fame ‘laureates’.
The Enterprise North Shore Business Hall of Fame is a prestigious new award to recognise outstanding business
individuals whose efforts have had a positive impact on the city’s economy, business success and the community.
The inaugural laureates demonstrated dedication to their community and country, a wonderful spirit of generosity, as
well as outstanding business achievements, said Mr Boland.
“Our warm congratulations to the “Hall of Famers” and we express our appreciation for your contribution to the economy
and community of North Shore City,” said Mr Boland.
The 2004 Enterprise North Shore Business Hall of Fame laureates are:
Ralph Roberts MBE is Managing Director of Roberts Electrical, a family firm established in 1927 and which today is a leading electrical
wholesale, retail and contracting company in North Shore City.
Ralph was a yachting judge at the Olympics in Athens this month, and is recognised internationally as both a successful
competitor and a competent and leading sports administrator.
“Ralph has represented New Zealand successfully at both Olympic and Commonwealth Games at yachting,” said Mr Boland.
“And he was a popular Chef de Mission, leading competitors in New Zealand teams to gold, silver and bronze medals at a
number of Olympic and Commonwealth Games.” Ralph is a Justice of the Peace, Life Member of the Guild of Electronics and
Appliances, and president of the Takapuna Boating Club.
Jim and Geoff Smale have been in business on the North Shore for many years, providing a considerable diversity of products and services.
Mr Boland described them as “gentlemen who humbly and modestly, and by their competence, have developed a very
successful enterprise”. Jim and Geoff are third-generation members of the Smales family, which has strong connections
with the North Shore.
Smales Farm at Takapuna is today one of New Zealand’s leading technology parks, offering quality buildings with the
latest communications technology available, as well as strong relationships with Massey University and Enterprise North
Shore. Both Jim and Geoff have been internationally competitive yachtsmen.
In particular, Geoff won the 1958 World Championship at Cowes, Isle of Wight, in the United Kingdom, and went on to
represent New Zealand at the 1968 Olympics in Mexico.
Smales Farm makes four annual tertiary scholarships available to North Shore secondary school students studying
technology and engineering at year 13 level.
A further example of the Smale family generosity is the annual, free Smales Farm Laser Show which entertains more than
100,000 people at Christmas time.
Stephen Tindall is Founder and Managing Director of The Warehouse Ltd, a member of the New Zealand Science and Innovation Council,
Chairman of the New Zealand Business Council for Sustainable Development, and Member of the Prime Minister’s Growth and
Innovation Advisory Board.
Stephen established The Warehouse at Takapuna in 1982 with initial capital of $40,000. The Warehouse Group now has 82
retail and 42 Warehouse Stationery stores in New Zealand, as well as 127 stores in Australia.
The total market capitalisation is $2.2billion, with annual sales in excess of $1.5billion. Stephen is a Founder and
Trustee of The Tindall Foundation, which was established to focus on improving the performance of families, creating
employment, and support environment projects that enhance New Zealand’s clean, green image.
The foundation has provided more than $20 million for such projects. Stephen is also a Founder and Trustee of the Alay
Buhay Educational Foundation and a generous benefactor of the Massey University e-centre – given in his father’s name –
The Bob Tindall Centre.
Background
The Enterprise North Shore Business Hall of Fame will enhance the recognition of individuals who are the elite among
North Shore business people.
The Business Hall of Fame will complement the Westpac Enterprise North Shore Business Excellence Awards which, for the
past seven years, have recognised the achievements of local businesses.
Enterprise North Shore chairman Maurice Boland who, with a group of leading North Shore business people instigated the
award, says each year awards will be made to business people who have made a significant contribution to the North
Shore’s business growth and economic development.
Nominees will have operated a successful business for a minimum of 10 years and their business must be located in North
Shore City. Enterprise North Shore Board of Trustees will select up to five laureates each year from public nominations,
to a maximum of 25 overall.