Nescafé Big Break Makes Young Dreams Come True

MEDIA RELEASE Wednesday 20 November, 2001

Nescafé Big Break Makes Young Dreams Come True

Three young New Zealand entrepreneurs have been awarded Nescafé Big Break grants in a trans-tasman event aimed at helping young people achieve their dreams and goals.

Hydroponic fancy lettuce grower Hamish Williams of Kimbolton in Manawatu has just been awarded a AUD$20,000 grant in the Nescafé Big Break Awards, while Mark Rowe (16) of Harewood in Christchurch and Hamish Black (19) of Hakataramea Valley in the Mackenzie Country were awarded runners' up awards of AUD$2000 each.

Hamish Williams - who only left school to set up his business in January this year - grows 8000 lettuces, including 10 different varieties, in hydroponic greenhouses in Feilding. He plans to use the grant to buy his own hydroponic greenhouses and develop a new product.

Mark Rowe can now realise his dream to design, produce and market a 3D computer game of commercial quality based on his own Astral 3D engine. This would become the first ever 100 percent New Zealand made 3D game.

Hamish Black has a business developing an extensive range of rare coloured sheepskins and woollen clothing. He needed a big break so he can buy more stock (sheep) and increase product supply.

The three New Zealand finalists were chosen from a huge talent pool of 400 semi-finalists selected from more than 5000 trans-tasman entries.

To win they had to present a proposal about 'why they deserved a big break' to a judging panel made up of past Nescafé Big Break winners in Sydney.

This year Nescafé Big Break was extended to offer more people the chance to enter. There was more prize money with a total of AUD$256,000 awarded across Australia and New Zealand in two age categories - 16-19 years and 20 -24 years. In each age category there were six winners' awards of AUD$20,000 and four runners-up who received AUD$2,000.

The philosophy behind NESCAFÉ Big Break is that it is not an achievement award. It's for people who have an ambition or dream, and are just getting started. Nestlé Brand Manager - Coffee, Julia Dixon, says this year's awards were particularly pleasing because of the high calibre of entries and she says it is a true testament to each person's self belief, drive and ambition that they came home with an award.

"We have a huge number of talented young people in New Zealand and Australia and it is fantastic to be able to reward them for their outstanding efforts."

For more information on Nescafé Big Break visit www.nestle.co.nz http://www.nestle.co.nz.

Released on behalf of Nestlé NZ by Porter Novelli New Zealand (Auckland) Ltd.

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