Celebrating Inspirational Exporters

Celebrating Inspirational Exporters

10 October 2006 - Nineteen outstanding companies across the industry spectrum and ranging from enterprises earning more than $200 million annually in exports to small, entrepreneurial software developers have today been named as finalists in the 2006 New Zealand Trade and Enterprise (NZTE) Export Awards.

The finalists, listed below, are contesting seven sector-based Export Awards, with one of the category winners being named the 2006 DHL Supreme Exporter of the Year. The winners will be announced at an awards ceremony at the Sky City Convention Centre in Auckland on 30 November.

The Prime Minister, the Rt Hon. Helen Clark will present the Award for the DHL Supreme Exporter of the Year together with Derek Anderson, General Manager, DHL Express New Zealand.

NZTE will also award a special New Thinking commendation to a company or companies that display a New Thinking approach to their business through creativity, innovation and/or technology.

Independent Assessor Graham Russell of Christchurch-based Pinpoint Solutions said that he was impressed with the calibre and achievements of this year's finalists. "These companies have demonstrated the characteristics of high performing exporters, carrying on a tradition that we have come to expect in the Export Awards.

"The applicants have shown significant strengths in the areas of leadership and capacity management, and a willingness to think differently and explore new ways of doing business, collaborating and being creative.

"Leaders of these organisations have also demonstrated courage by clearly communicating their aspirations and inspiring others to share their success. They are looking internally and creating new skills and management systems that are helping them to compete in a global environment."

NZTE CEO Tim Gibson congratulated the finalists and said they were doing an outstanding job helping to improve New Zealand's economy.

"Exporting demands confidence and commitment and the finalists in the 2006 Export Awards are an inspiration," he said.

"This year marks the 40th anniversary of the Awards; four decades that chart the growth and success of New Zealand companies on the world stage. Finalists over the years represent a who's who of New Zealand business.

"Their example helps lift the capacity and aspiration of New Zealand businesses to compete successfully in international markets. Their business acumen, their sheer hard work and determination has placed them among the country's leading exporters."

He also thanked DHL, the major sponsor of the Export Awards and a long-time partner of the event.
DHL Express General Manager, Derek Anderson, said that DHL is increasingly dealing with talented exporters who are adept at finding lucrative markets for their products and services internationally.
"Over the 33 years that DHL has had a presence in New Zealand, we have seen the nation's exports develop from commodity resources to include the many value-added and innovative solutions available today. The dynamic global marketplace requires fast paced responses and solutions. Our exporters strive to be competitive and leading edge players within this demanding environment.
"We are pleased to continue recognising those that are consistently meeting and exceeding such global demands, and congratulate all finalists for their outstanding contributions to New Zealand's export industry," he added.
In addition to the NZTE Export Awards, Export New Zealand will present their National Emerging Exporter of the Year and the Foundation for Research, Science and Technology will present their Technology Commendations for 2006.

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FINALISTS - 2006 NEW ZEALAND TRADE AND ENTERPRISE EXPORT AWARDS

42 BELOW
Auckland
With a vision to dominate the world of premium boutique beverages with New Zealand product, 42 Below's strategy combines passion and creative marketing with the purest water supply in the world. With 25 employees located across New Zealand and an extensive number of contractors around the globe, 42 Below is currently building its brand in more than 25 countries worldwide by targeting media and exclusive bars in each new market. The company produces vodka, gin, rum and mineral water and never fails to create a buzz around its product.
www.42below.com

Comvita New Zealand Ltd
Tauranga
With a global reputation for premium Manuka honey and bee-based natural healthcare products, Comvita is committed to the development of innovative natural products based on scientific research. By utilising leading-edge technology complemented by a strong focus on R&D and product innovation driven by credible scientific evidence, Comvita is broadening its product range 'outside the hive' and forging into other innovative New Zealand sourced natural health and wellbeing products. Located in the Bay of Plenty, today Comvita employs more than 120 people worldwide who are dedicated to serving its growing international customer base.
www.comvita.com

Conexa Markets
Auckland
Conexa delivers an industry-leading set of product- and service-based solutions that help maximise the value of eCommerce infrastructure dollars. Conexa supports suppliers across five major business processes: Selling, Sourcing, Procurement, Invoicing and Payment. Conexa represents evolution and innovation in procurement technologies, strategies and solutions. With offices in Australia and New Zealand, Conexa is the most comprehensive procurement service provider in Australasia.
www.conexa.com

Events Clothing Company
Auckland
Events Clothing Company specialises in providing quality marine clothing to boats, race teams and associated sponsor and corporate industries. With its Line7 and Musto brands, Events Clothing is setting new parameters for innovation, fabric technology and design features for marine technical wear and setting the trend for stylish casual wear. Events Clothing also caters specifically to the requirements of some of the world's most luxurious superyachts, providing quality and stylish uniforms that are worn by the likes of Katana, Georgia, Kokomo, Tatoosh, Aria, and Destination.
www.eventsclothing.co.nz

Healtheries of New Zealand Ltd
Auckland
Healtheries, a New Zealand company established in 1904, is among Australasia's leading health food and supplement manufacturers and one of New Zealand's most trusted brands. Today almost every supermarket, health food store and pharmacy in the country is a Healtheries stockist. Healtheries makes products for people who want to enhance their own good health and wellbeing. Its range covers more than 750 diverse products and spans many health and wellbeing categories. The company is a global exporter, distributing quality product on all five continents.
www.healtheries.co.nz

Multi Serve Education Trust/Cognition Consulting Ltd
Auckland
Multi Serve Education Trust is a charitable Trust and New Zealand's largest independent supplier of consulting services to education communities in New Zealand and specific offshore markets. Since their foundation 17 years ago they have provided a range of services to schools and central government agencies. Services exported include professional development services for teachers and school leaders across the sector, from early childhood to tertiary teacher training; coaching and mentoring; curriculum and assessment development, policy and strategic planning.

In August 2006 Multi Serve launched a subsidiary company, Cognition Consulting, to assist with growth in global markets and has further developed its research capacity in the education field. They have been delivering major international projects since inception however had driven significant growth offshore in the last four years. Demand for their services has never been stronger. Cognition Consulting has 74 employees, over 40 of whom are based in Qatar. They have offices in Auckland, Hamilton, Wellington, and Qatar.
www.cognitionconsulting.co.nz

New Zealand Aluminium Smelters Ltd
Invercargill
Located on the Tiwai Peninsula, New Zealand Aluminium Smelters Limited (NZAS) is one of the world's largest aluminium smelters. NZAS is a tolling operation that converts alumina to primary aluminium products for its two joint venture partners, Comalco, based in Brisbane and Sumitomo Chemical Company of Japan. Production activities at the smelter include manufacturing of carbon anodes, aluminium production (smelting) in reduction lines, and casting of molten metal into aluminium products.
www.comalco.com

New Zealand Pharmaceuticals Limited
Palmerston North
New Zealand Pharmaceuticals Ltd (NZP) manufactures biochemicals, pharmaceutical intermediates and diagnostic products for the world's leading pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies. It also produces a range of dietary supplements. It has a strong export focus with over 99 per cent of its products being exported to all parts of the world.
www.nzp.co.nz

New Zealand Yachting Developments
Auckland
New Zealand Yachting Developments is a family-run business that, through knowledge and dedication, builds yachts of true grace and elegance. Using exploration to progress development and, with a clear focus on teamwork and collaboration to encourage new thinking, New Zealand Yachting Developments has become one of New Zealand's leading builders of composite performance yachts.
www.ydl.co.nz

Opus International
Wellington
Opus is a leading professional services consultancy, providing specialist advice and project management across a wide range of service sectors. Their main areas of work include highway asset development and maintenance, architecture, structural design, infrastructure development, and asset management, water management and environmental planning.
www.opus.co.nz

Orion Health
Auckland
Orion Health is a leading provider of clinical workflow and integration technology for the healthcare sector. Orion's clinical information software meets the information needs of clinical staff and healthcare managers, delivering secure, universal access to healthcare information and helping healthcare providers proactively manage and coordinate patient care across the community. Orion Health's integration and messaging products streamline the exchange of healthcare data within organisations and between business partners.
www.orionhealth.com

Pacific Forest Products Ltd
Auckland
Pacific Forest Products (PFP) was incorporated in April 2002 to trade logs and lumber, and also to provide marketing services into the Pacific Asia Markets and Middle Eastern Markets. Export volumes are currently running at around 1.2 million m3 on an annualised basis, with a stable supply group that includes a number of significant forest owners and management companies. Its export operations are concentrated in the North Island of New Zealand.
www.pfpltd.co.nz

Phil & Teds' Most Excellent Buggy Company Ltd
Wellington
phil & teds' positioning statement is 'adapt & survive!â„¢'. Central to this positioning is phil & teds' belief that modern parents seek products that 'fit with meâ„¢' because they wish to live a dynamic life with kids; not a life dictated by kids. To do that, parents need innovative, adaptable products. Their flagship e3 buggy uniquely adapts to take two children from newborn right through to two toddlers.

By being 'design focused; innovation led' in all areas of the company (internal operation; brand; product) 22 staff have carved out a $25 million niche in the nursery product world, defining a whole new category labelled 'kids & travel'. As a result they have become a global brand and category leader, generating over 94 per cent of revenues from 22 export markets.
www.philandteds.com

Provenco Group Ltd
Auckland
Provenco is a New Zealand-founded technology company operating globally with customers in over 20 countries. Listed on the New Zealand stock exchange (NZX: PVO), the company has a number of international offices including those in Beijing, Kuala Lumpur, Melbourne and Sydney.

After more than 30 years on the technology scene, Provenco has evolved into a sound and diverse company. With a heritage in Eftpos and payment solutions, Provenco's business now extends across a range of technology applications for the retail environment.

The company's growing diversity is reflected in each of the key areas of its operations today - providing forecourt solutions for the international retail oil industry; EFTPOS payment and retail technology in the domestic New Zealand market; and distribution of retail, barcoding and mobile & wireless technology in Asia-Pacific

Provenco's tailored solutions for retail business environments use a combination of internally-developed software and hardware, as well as top international brands.
www.provenco.com

Right Hemisphere
Auckland
Right Hemisphere is a venture-backed, enterprise software company based in Silicon Valley with R&D in Auckland, New Zealand and is the leading provider of Product Graphics Management (PGM) software. Right Hemisphere provides a range of Consulting, Education, and Support Services to help realise the value of Product Graphics Management. Staffed by PGM and Right Hemisphere product experts, these professionals help clients learn from the best.
www.righthemisphere.com

rml (NZ) Ltd
Waikato
rml (NZ) Ltd are designers and manufacturers of quality erecting, packing and closing machinery and providers of world leading end-of-line automation solutions. rml have in-house capability for design, manufacture, assembly, project management and after sales service that has enabled them to deliver innovative packing, processing and material handling systems to a wide range of the worlds largest packing and food companies over the past 25 years. Their success has been underpinned by their enthusiastic, innovative and committed staff of 45, located at their design and manufacturing house in Hamilton, as well as their Auckland and Australian offices.
www.rmlautomation.com

Skellerup Industries Ltd
Christchurch
Skellerup Industries Ltd's strength and future lies in an extensive range of reliable, dependable, quality products - from industrial rubber products, dairy rubber ware, (third largest manufacturer in the world), to waterproof footwear, liners for waste containment, mining products, vacuum pumps and construction products. With its head office in Christchurch, Skellerup Industries Ltd is the principal company of Skellerup Holdings, listed on the NZX Stock Exchange and now employing over 900 people in New Zealand, Australia, United Kingdom, USA and China.
www.skellerup.co.nz

Status Produce Ltd
Auckland
STATUS is a growing and marketing company, which primarily markets tomatoes grown in over 20 hectares of state-of-the-art environmentally controlled glasshouse facilities in and around Auckland. STATUS prides itself on using biological controls and other natural methods to encourage pesticide-free growing conditions. STATUS is proud of its streamlined high-tech pack house facilities and does packing for a committed tomato grower base outside of its growing facility.
www.statusproduce.co.nz

Tasti Products Ltd
Auckland
Tasti is a food manufacturer based in Auckland, New Zealand making products that have been stocked in generations of New Zealand pantries. Founded in 1932, Tasti specialises in producing a wide variety of nutritional snacks bars for the Australian and New Zealand supermarket industry. Products include muesli bars, fruit bars, cereal bars, multi-layered bars and many other interesting food concepts.
www.tasti.co.nz

Notes for editors:

The Export Awards celebrate their 40th anniversary in 2006. A historical briefing is available at www.exportawards.co.nz

Interviews can be arranged through Jennifer Andrewes, New Zealand Trade and Enterprise, phone 04 931 6144, mobile 027 228 0261, or email jennifer.andrewes@nzte.govt.nz

About NZTE:
New Zealand Trade and Enterprise is the government's trade and economic development agency, committed to helping New Zealand businesses grow their international competitiveness, capability and profitability. Visit www.nzte.govt.nz or www.exportawards.co.nz
About DHL:
DHL is the global market leader of the international express and logistics industry, specialising in providing innovative and customized solutions from a single source.
DHL offers expertise in express, air and ocean freight, overland transport, contract logistic solutions as well as international mail services, combined with worldwide coverage and an in-depth understanding of local markets. DHL's international network links more than 220 countries and territories worldwide. 285,000 employees are dedicated to providing fast and reliable services that exceed customers' expectations.
DHL is a Deutsche Post World Net brand. The group generated revenues of €56 billion in 2005.
About the Foundation for Research, Science and Technology (FRST):
The Foundation for Research, Science and Technology invests over $460 million a year on behalf of the New Zealand Government, in research, science and technology. These investments are made to enhance the wealth and well being of New Zealanders.
Through its Technology New Zealand suite of schemes, the Foundation assists companies to undertake research and development projects that result in new export focussed products, processes or services. Investment from the Foundation, in the form of grants, is directed at supporting technical risk and the building of technical skills and expertise in companies.
For more information visit www.frst.govt.nz

About Export New Zealand (ENZ) - The association of New Zealand exporters:
ENZ is a Non Governmental Organisation (NGO), not for profit incorporated society with national coverage. ENZ specifically focuses on helping its membership of exporters and exporter service providers grow their business in the international market place. ENZ has an elected National Executive and CEO with well established regions in Auckland, Waikato, Bay of Plenty, Wellington and Christchurch providing the important regional presence and focus that ensures local needs are understood and met. ENZ specifically acknowledges new export success with the Emerging Exporter Award. This year, five regional finalists will compete for The Export New Zealand Emerging Exporter of the year award, to be presented at the NZTE Gala Awards evening in November.
For more information visit www.exportnewzealand.org.nz
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