Media Release
Friday 15 March, 2019
Westpac Auckland Business Awards – Best of the Best
Baggage logistics business has real handle on success
Glidepath won the Supreme Business Excellence Award at last night’s Westpac Auckland Business Awards - Best of the Best.
Sir Ken Stevens, founder of the West Auckland business that designs and builds baggage/parcel handling systems for
airports and logistics businesses around the world, says the company is already a substantial exporter and will still
get better.
“This is great for our people and our morale. We’re pitching against the big guys around the world and we often win. In
fact we more than often win - that’s why we have to live and breathe innovation.”
Glidepath also won the Excellence in Innovation category at the awards following on from their regional success last
year at Westpac Auckland Business Awards – North West.
Other category winners last night included IT company Unleashed Software, adventure tourism business Skydive Auckland, tourism enterprise Haka Tourism Group, clinical studies provider Optimal Clinical Trials Ltd, digital strategy consultants Overdose Digital, digital ‘giving’ and engagement solutions business Pushpay, recruitment and logistics contract service provider Link2 Group and online meat retailer The Meat Box.
Auckland Business Chamber CEO Michael Barnett congratulates the businesses on the success they have achieved.
“The winners – and all of the entrants – are businesses that are not only brave enough to discover what they are doing
well through the process of entering the awards, but also in allowing others to judge them and learn from them. They are
to be celebrated.”
Auckland Council’s economic growth agency – Auckland Tourism, Events and Economic Development (ATEED) – partners with
the Auckland Business Chamber to present the awards.
ATEED Chief Executive Nick Hill says small and medium-sized businesses are essential to Auckland’s economic growth and
praised the winners’ achievements.
“Small and medium sized businesses represent 99 percent of the region’s businesses and play an important role in the
region’s employment and economy. ATEED’s goal is to support the creation of ‘quality jobs for all Aucklanders’ and we’re
delighted to celebrate the significant contribution the Best of the Best winners make.”
Westpac Regional Commercial Manager Jeff Driscoll, congratulated Glidepath and acknowledged their true kiwi innovation
that has led to their success.
“As businesses go, Glidepath and our other winners tonight each demonstrate why they are class acts and collectively
will go a long way to helping grow the Auckland and New Zealand economy.”
WESTPAC AUCKLAND BUSINESS AWARDS BEST OF THE BEST - WINNERS
Supreme Business Excellence Sponsored by Westpac
Glidepath
Excellence in Marketing Sponsored by Villa Maria
Haka Tourism Group
Employer of the Year Sponsored by Vodafone NZ Limited
Link2 Group
Excellence in Innovation Sponsored by Ministry of Social Development
Glidepath
Best Emerging Business Sponsored by Air New Zealand
Overdose Digital
Excellence in Customer Service Delivery Sponsored by Barfoot & Thompson
Unleashed Software
Excellence in International Trade Sponsored by Ports of Auckland
Pushpay
Excellence in Strategy and Planning Sponsored by Nauhria Precast Limited
Optimal Clinical Trials
Excellence in Community Contribution Sponsored by Westpac
Skydive Auckland
People’s Choice Award Sponsored by Foodstuffs NZ
The Meat Box
For a complete list of finalists and award ceremony details, please visit aucklandbusinessawards.co.nz
ends