Tindall named 2006 Blake Medalist
The Warehouse founder, and sustainable business proponent, Stephen Tindall has been named this year’s recipient of The
Blake Medal, New Zealand’s supreme award for leadership.
Mr Tindall was awarded The Blake Medal at the 2006 Sir Peter Blake Leadership Awards announced at Parliament.
A citation of his achievements was read by Pippa, Lady Blake, wife of the late Sir Peter, and the award was presented by
Her Excellency, the Governor General, Dame Silvia Cartwright.
Although more known for establishing the chain of Warehouse stores around the country, recognition of Mr Tindall’s
outstanding leadership contribution reflected the diverse range of projects he has been involved in.
Stephen was a member of the Knowledge Wave Trust Advisory Board, Chairman of the New Zealand Business Council for
Sustainable Development and a member of the Government’s Science and Innovation Advisory Council. He is currently a
member of the Growth and Innovation Advisory Board to the Prime Minister and of the New Zealand Institute. He is
co-founder of Kea New Zealand which now connects 6000 professionals in more than 100 countries.
The Sir Peter Blake Leadership Awards also included the recognition of six Emerging Leaders. Awards were presented to:
• Emeline Afeaki-Mafile’o, founder of Affirming Works in Manukau;
• Andrew Berry, Senior Sergeant, Otara Police Station;
• David McConnell, joint Managing Director of McConnell Ltd;
• Michael Redman, Mayor of Hamilton;
• Sarah Trotman, Founder of the Small Business Expo in Auckland, and
• Dr Gary Wilson, Dunedin-based Chair of the multi-national Antarctic drilling project.
While demonstrating an ability to lead was a key criterion for award success, it was more the style of that leadership
and its potential that interested the selection panel.
Given the challenging task they faced, it’s appropriate the selection panel for the awards is itself a who’s-who of
outstanding New Zealand leadership talent, ranging from the rugby field, to the boardroom, to academia and far beyond.
Chaired by Sir Ron Carter, other leadership luminaries on the panel included Ann Sherry (chair of the Sir Peter Blake
Trust and chief executive of Westpac New Zealand); Sir Wilson Whineray (former All Black captain and chair of Carter
Holt Harvey); Sir Hugh Kawharu (chair of Ngati Whatua), Dr Lester Levy (chief executive of Excelerator), John Graham
(former Headmaster of Auckland Grammar School) and Eion Edgar (former chancellor of Otago University). Inaugural Blake
Medalist, Sir John Anderson, also joined the panel this year.
Sir Ron says the awards revealed New Zealand has a depth of talent in terms of leadership ability and said these
awardees were people to be watched closely over the years to come.
“The work these people have been doing is truly inspirational. They display a unique form of New Zealand leadership – a
quiet, can-do, roll the sleeves up attitude which separates them from other leaders,” he says.
“What our award recipients have in common is a capacity for inspirational leadership.”
Sir Peter Blake Trust chair Ann Sherry said the Trust was delighted by the very high quality of leadership on display.
“One of the Trust’s primary goals is to foster and recognise leadership across all sectors in New Zealand.
“It’s particularly pleasing the recipients are drawn from such a diverse range of activities. Some of these people are
already very well known to New Zealanders, while others are definitely ‘ones to watch’ as their careers advance.
“They share a key attribute of all leaders – the ability to build and sustain the confidence of the people around them.
And confidence is essential for New Zealand and New Zealanders to succeed, whatever the endeavour,” said Ann Sherry.
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