Celebrating Northland Business - February 2022

Celebrating Northland

BUSINESS

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Celebrating Northland

BUSINESS

NORTHCHAMBER BUSINESS EXCELLENCE AWARD

WINNERS ANNOUNCED

The long awaited results of the 2021 NorthChamber Northland Business Excellence Awards are out with Whangarei business Foreno Tapware voted Supreme Winner and Raewyn Tipene inducted into the Hall of Fame.

N NorthChamber Chief Executive – Steve Smith

orthChamber Chief Executive Steve Smith says he has immense respect for all finalists and winners of the 18 categories following multiple delays in reaching the finale of Northland’s pinnacle business event. The Awards were originally scheduled for October 29, 2021.

“Every business who threw their hat in the ring for the awards stuck with it, despite the Covid challenges we had

to contend with along the way and the judges were brilliant in the way they went about navigating the ever changing landscape,” says Mr Smith.

“The Foreno team were simply outstanding and thoroughly deserving of their award, as were all of the other category winners and finalists. For those who did not win their categories I sincerely hope they have another go in the 2022 awards which are really only just around the corner.

“Equally I can’t say enough about Raewyn’s addition to the Hall of Fame.

What she has done for the community over the decades is simply amazing. We are truly blessed to have community and business leaders like Raewyn in our midst in Northland. The impact she has had on the community and in particularly Maoridom, is substantial, and she is showing no signs of slowing down.

Mr Smith says the addition of Top Energy and Northpower as principal sponsors has added a lot of strength to the awards and he is looking forward to leveraging off that even more in the lead up to the 2022 awards later this year.

“Having our two locally owned electricity lines companies backing us has helped take the awards to a whole new level. They bring so much to the table – business acumen, humility and a real sense of community. They are passionate

about giving back to their shareholder owners in every part of the communities that make up Northland.

“We are equally grateful for the support of all of our sponsors, many of whom have supported the awards for a long time. And we look forward to working with them in the lead up to the 2022 awards later this year,” says Mr Smith.

Principal Sponsors Top Energy and Northpower have joined NorthChamber in thanking the judging panel and congratulating all winners and entrants in the delayed awards.

Chief Executives Russell Shaw and Andrew McLeod respectively, believe the efforts of entrants have been immense under extremely trying circumstances and the two principal sponsors are encouraging businesses to start preparing their entries for the 2022 awards. The awards have been running for 44 years.

Entries for the 2022 NorthChamber Northland Business Excellence Awards open in April and you can find out more information here https://www. northlandbusinessawards.co.nz/ There is no cost to enter the awards, you do not need to be a member of NorthChamber and there are significant benefits for all businesses who enter, including free independent feedback and recommendations on building business capability.

18 TROPHIES

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ave Taylor was commissioned by Creative Northland on behalf of NorthChamber to create 18 trophies for the 2021 Northland Business Excellence Awards.

The theme for the trophies was perseverance, strength and resilience. From this, Dave came up with a beautiful design of a whale’s fluke rising above the waves. The trophies also reflect “Whangarei Te Reinga Paraoa“ otherwise known as the gathering place of the whales and a homage to Ngati Wai, the Tangata Whenua of this area.

Celebrating Northland

BUSINESS

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PROSPEROUS WHANAU

VISION OF NORTHCHAMBER HALL OF FAME INDUCTEE Raewyn Tipene is the 2021 inductee for the Northland Business Hall of Fame.

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aewyn has been recognised for her significant contributions to Te Taitokerau through her business and community activities since the early 1990s.

NorthChamber Chief Executive Steve Smith says the Northern Advocate Business Hall of Fame is designed to recognise those who have, during their business career, demonstrated service both to their industry and to the greater Northland community.

“Raewyn is clearly that kind of person and we are lucky to have her steadfast commitment to keep giving back to the community and making Northland a better place,” says Mr Smith.

“NorthChamber recognises that the efforts of individual business people are actually the fuel that keeps the

economy running. Her work has not only led to significant business success, but transformational outcomes in housing, education, youth leadership and technology innovation,” says Mr Smith.

Raewyn is passionate about building whānau prosperity and improving wellbeing for Māori. It was in the 1990s that Raewyn became one of a small number of young, qualified Māori women around the country, involved in a range of life-changing projects. Her humility is immense.

Her influence included being on the early board of Te Rūnanga ā Iwi o Ngāpuhi, Chair of Te Rūnanga O Ngati Hine, establishing Kia Ora Ngāpuhi Housing and the establishment of Ngati Hine Radio. The breadth and diversity of her work and influence then and now, has covered housing construction, education services, land development, digital services and Māori development largely through an entity she set up, He Puna Marama Trust.

And Raewyn is now looking to develop housing projects to provide affordable homeownership opportunities for first home buyers, having already been instrumental in building over 700 homes for whānau around the midNorth. Her current aim in Hikurangi is to offer new builds at around $450k to help people into the property market with quality and warm homes.

While humbled with her award, Raewyn says she would like to see more Maori step up and be recognised for their contribution to community, like many she was driven to keep giving back.

Through the establishment of Mokopuna Early Childhood Centres in Northland, thousands of youngsters have had an excellent Māori immersion start to pre-school life.

Meanwhile, over 200 young Māori men who live by a code of service, built around a military ethos have gone on to higher learning, trades and careers.

“The most satisfying thing I have

done in my working life, is establish the Leadership Academy Of A Company, giving meaning and purpose to the lives of many young men. The Leadership Academy is dedicated to the men of the 28th Maori Battalion. “Over the years, being part of Iwi and Hapu development, I decided we needed to do things differently.

The Trust and its work is really about offering different models for our people, for our country, through whanau. I have always been very particular about making things happen.” There is so much more to Raewyn’s story. Kaikohe born and bred, university educated, well-travelled and driven to come home in her 20’s to ‘help her people’, while later in her career the driver was to create an enriching learning, working, business environment that would nurture her own children.

Not only that but the children of others to be highly capable, successful citizens who share the same vision for Prosperous Whanau, in all its forms.

PIONEER VILLAGE KAIKOHE A PLACE, A SENSE OF BELONGING, AND PRIDE IN OUR COMMUNITY

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his hidden gem nestled in the heart of Kaikohe is a journey into the past waiting to be discovered.

Pioneer Village Kaikohe is a valuable community resource and home to an extensive collection of exhibits, architecture, technology, significant Māori and post-colonial history. It is set on five acres of park like grounds, recreated to represent a village of times gone by. PVK provides a cultural/heritage experience in the heart of Kaikohe, home to 22 unique buildings and well over 5000 collection items. The service provided by the museum contributes to the significance of the cultural and heritage wellbeing of our communities. We set out to protect our heritage, not only to preserve our past but to inform our future. This outdoor museum engages memories and creates learning opportunities.

Educational visits for Schools looking for learning that is focused on relevant

Take a Journey through the past curriculum and demonstrates an integrated approach. We work with them to design an experience to immerse students in authentic learning experiences and links to desired outcomes.

In addition, our café and venue provides a place to gather for coffee, local events, and formal meetings. The full PVK experience and ambience is hard to put on paper and must been seen to really appreciate all it offers.

“Carrying out this BEA application, while it has been a challenge, it has been an incredibly useful process for our organisation. We have reviewed our entire organisation; not only has it highlighted the areas that function highly effectively but identified those that need further attention.”

Explore and discover this hidden gem. Nestled in the heart of the Kaikohe Township the Pioneer Village has something for everyone Opening Hours Monday to Friday 10am-4pm | Weekends by appointments Closed Public Holidays The Village can also be hired for events such as weddings, birthdays, family barbecues etc. Check out our website for more details.

Pioneer Village Kaikohe 1A Recreation Rd Email: info@pioneervillage.org.nz Website: pioneervillage.org.nz

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Celebrating Northland

BUSINESS

LOCAL TAPWARE COMPANY

SUPREME WINNER

Jon and Kerry at Foreno

PROUD WINNERS OF TH E 2021 NORTHL AND BUSINESS EXCELLENCE SUPREME AWARD

TA P W A R E M A D E FO R N E W Z E A L A N D s i n ce 1 9 6 9 .

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SHOWER

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F O R E N O . CO . N Z

Celebrating Northland

BUSINESS Foreno Tapware Ltd has been named winner of the Supreme Award at the 2021 NorthChamber Northland Business Excellence Awards.

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he announcement comes just weeks after it won the NorthChamber’s Excellence in Business – Medium Business Award.

In announcing the Northpower and Top Energy Northland Business Excellence Supreme Award Winner, Convenor of judges and BDO Director Greg Atkins says Foreno’s journey has been a privilege to be on.

“The team really took on our feedback when they entered for the first time in 2019. They went away and worked hard on the business and here we are now,” says Mr Atkins.

“Foreno is a Northland business quietly achieving success at a national level. Designing and distributing beautiful tapware throughout New Zealand, the team have developed efficient systems and skills to create innovative products that we all want.

“The judges were impressed with their clear understanding of the customer needs, design process and their supply chain. A diverse leadership group also adds valuable guidance to meet the businesses strategic goals.

“Foreno is great success story for a Northland business and business excellence. All these qualities help Foreno stand out as the Supreme winner for 2021,” says Mr Atkins.

Foreno General Manager Kerry Lord says the Supreme award announcement last week took him completely by surprise.

“From where we came from to where we are now really is chalk and cheese and to be honest it is down to the team we have.

We have semi-reenergised and rebuilt the team in recent years and we have a whole new sales team, people in the factory and in management,” says Mr Lord.

“I did not expect the award. Being involved in the NorthChamber Northland Business Excellence Awards is well worthwhile even if you don’t win. The feedback you get from the judges is really constructive. They tell you what is what and tell you what to work on.

“Every Northland business should enter and give it a crack. Only a week before we received the award I was asked by other businesses if the awards are worthwhile and I said absolutely because you learn so much and can improve your business so much. But it was pretty cool when the phone call came through.

Like Mr Lord, Foreno’s Managing Director Jon Doherty has worked in the plumbing and bathroom sector for over 30 years and says the win is testament to the effort of the staff.

“This award is their award so it is great for our people in the business to be able to celebrate. It has been a tough couple of years so it is really pleasing to come out with this,” says Mr Doherty.

“We had started on a journey to reset the business in 2015 but the feedback we received from the judges in 2019 gave us even more to work on which has been invaluable. We have continued to look at ourselves, our processes and our brand.

Until you go through the process you don’t realise how much work you can do to improve your business and as a result we have been growing at 25% to 30% year on year and in five years we have more than tripled our top line sales and expanded our product line and customer reach around New Zealand.

“I would absolutely encourage businesses to commit the time to enter the 2022 awards and to make sure they do the process justice by being really thorough and drill into their business,” says Mr Doherty.

Along with Principal Sponsors Top Energy and Northpower, NorthChamber CEO Steve Smith has praised Foreno.

“Of all the businesses we have come to know intimately during the 2021 awards, these guys really stood out. They came to understand that the awards are less about winning but more about the journey and the process,” says Mr Smith.

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“They have enacted the advice of the judges from 2019 and as a result they are really cranking. The team at NorthChamber is really excited for their future. We will continue to support them and look forward to continuing the journey with them.”

Northpower Chief Executive Andrew McLeod says Foreno are absolutely deserving of the Supreme Award.

“I came to Northland four years ago to work with the Team at Northpower, and of course Russell Shaw has been up here quite a bit longer with the Top Energy Team. We both get a real kick out of meeting the people behind businesses operating out of the North - they really are world class. It’s pretty neat that the Foreno taps we see in our hardware stores are a truly home grown product. ” says Mr McLeod.

“Hat’s off to the team at Foreno and to all the businesses that took part in the awards this year - the owners and the people in them have a great work ethic, support of each other to the hilt, and keep their focus on making a difference for the North. Like Top Energy, we’ve enjoyed getting a sense for that and being part of the awards.

We are looking forward to the 2022 awards and discovering yet more local success stories. I strongly encourage businesses to enter, we learn so much from each other being part of the experience.”

Marsden Metals Group Northlands own metals and waste recycling Company Need a bin for your waste or scrap want to participate in our construction waste recycling

www.marsdenwaste.co.nz Or call us on 0800336673

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Celebrating Northland

BUSINESS

L-R: Northpower CE Andrew McLeod, NorthChamber CE Steve Smith, Top Energy CE Russell Shaw

TOP ENERGY AND NORTHPOWER PRAISE NORTHLAND BUSINESSES Principal sponsors, Top Energy and Northpower are paying tribute to all businesses and judges involved in the 2021 NorthChamber Northland Business Excellence Awards.

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hief Executives Russell Shaw and Andrew McLeod respectively, believe the efforts of entrants from throughout Northland have been immense under extremely trying circumstances and they are encouraging businesses to start preparing their entries for the 2022 awards.

“Obviously our congratulations go to the winners of the 18 categories, particularly the Supreme and Hall of Fame

Awards, but those who did not win deserve equal praise for having a go,” the pair say.

Both locally-owned companies are driven to invest in Northland and help support other businesses, which is why they have become principal sponsors of the NorthChamber Northland Business Excellence Awards.

Top Energy’s Russell Shaw says Northland is home to many world class, innovative and successful businesses and he says the calibre of entries has again shown the strength and breadth of local businesses.

“The past two years has been hard for our businesses and communities but we continue to support each other and that has developed level of resilience that will help us continue to thrive,” says Mr Shaw.

“I have said it before but that attitude and ability to adapt is reflective of the values that Top Energy and Northpower as Trust-owned businesses must live and operate by every day.”

It is a point backed by Mr McLeod who says it’s nice be involved in an event that celebrates the unique ‘let’s make it personal and have some fun’ style of doing business in the north.”

“Being involved in the awards gets us close to the culture and attitude of these businesses. The winners of this year’s awards are great examples of businesses turning up strongly to make a difference in our community. It’s been a tough couple of years, so it’s nice to take a breath and recognise their successes,” says Mr McLeod.

“We are also very lucky to have a judging panel who are so willing to offer up their knowledge, expertise and time to make the awards a success and help businesses grow, so it is important to acknowledge them,” says Mr McLeod.

Both men agree that the value of the awards is being part of a process which requires people to look at their business performance and progress, while looking for opportunities to improve, adjust and innovate.

“The award process is a hugely positive experience for everyone and we would encourage businesses throughout the Far North, Kaipara and Whangarei to put their hands up and enter in the 2022 NorthChamber Northland Business Excellence Awards,” they say.

“The winners of this year’s awards are great examples of businesses turning up strongly to make a difference in our community. It’s been a tough couple of years, so it’s nice to take a breath and recognise their successes ...”

FACES OF NORTHLAND BUSINESS

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tlc4u2 WHEN YOU CAN’T DO IT ON YOUR OWN… tlc4u2 is here to support you and your whanau/family with professional, quality and fully-personalised home care services throughout the Northland, Auckland, Bay of Plenty and Waikato regions. tlc4u2 is led by founder Jonathan Harris. Together, with his strong team comprised of registered health professionals and experts in finance, human resources and other areas, they support 200+ hand-picked nursing and home care professionals to care for you and your whānau/family.

We talk to Jonathan today to learn about him and why he started the business.

foundation of care and empathy it would be really hard to have ongoing success.

Q: How long have you been in business and what do you think drives your success?

I have been involved in TLC4U2 as the founder for nearly 12 years. I think it’s really important that we genuinely care for the people that we look after. I think that being a primary focus, because you genuinely care, you provide a high quality service, and then success naturally comes from that. Without that

Q: How big is your team?

We have a staff of 230 odd people in Northland. 11-12 management staff in the office. We also have a client base in Auckland and Tauranga but Northland is our biggest service area.

Q: When did you know that this was the career you wanted?

I worked as a caregiver in a rest home and saw an opportunity to provide inhome Live-In care services for the elderly so they didn’t have to go into residential care. There was no one in NZ at the time who were using this particular model. As time has gone on we have got more involved with ACC and injury-based disability.

Q: What did you want to be when you were at school?

I wanted to be out of school!

Q: Did you have any mentors throughout your career and how did they influence your decisions?

There have definitely been contributors

Wish4Fish Charters

along the way … but not a mentor. I had to teach myself a lot… everything from how to use different computer programmes to how to run a business. Luckily I have some previous business-owning experience: I spent time overseas in the Philippines where I had a karaoke bar & restaurant, plus we had a couple of dive charter boats – so I at least had a base before starting this business.

Q: Throughout your career what was a highlight for you?

It’s always been about managing cases that everybody else has written off, and being able to manage them successfully.

We come across a lot of clients who have got conflicts and challenges, and it’s very easy for other organisations to put them in the too hard basket.

Our philosophy is not to say no. We have had some really, really, really challenging cases which we have been able to succeed in managing over a long period of time.

Q: What is the most challenging thing about your work?

Everything! The whole industry that we work in is challenging... Finding staff is probably one of our biggest challenges.

There are people in the community with

spinal cord and brain injuries who should be having 24/7 care who don’t have it because of staffing shortages. There were shortages before Covid, then it hit and we are not able get staff from overseas.

Since mandates came in we’ve lost over 10% of our workforce, and now with the isolation rules around Omicron … it’s tough.

Q: Where do you see the business in 10 years time?

I’d like to see us operating nationally as a care provider. We are currently working with a company in Auckland to build a respite centre for people with spinal injuries. I would definitely like to see that all over New Zealand, in addition to the home care that we currently provide.

Q: What other interest/hobbies do you have?

I have just recently learnt to scuba dive which is something I’ve wanted to do for a long time. I did a fantastic 1-week course through Dive Now here in Whangarei.

Since then I’ve been diving up in the Bay of Islands to get scallops and crays.

I’m also an avid motorcyclist. I like to do adventure riding – for example through the Southern Alps – and have just started track racing which I’m really keen on (Hampton downs).

tlc4u2 specialises in providing quality care in your own home, enhancing your lifestyle and independence.

Short term, long term, ACC funded, respite and palliative care.

Take the next step and call us to see how we can help you

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Respite Care (Short Term Care) Long Term Care Recuperative/Rehabilitation Palliative Care (End of Life Care) ACC Referrals Accepted

0800 852 482 info@tlc4u2.co.nz www.tlc4u2.co.nz

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FACES OF NORTHLAND BUSINESS

MARSDEN METALS GROUP

THE ONLY NORTHLAND OWNED METALS RECYCLING BUSINESS

Marsden Metals Group feels like it’s one of my kids that never grew up and left home. I started this business after more than 25 years of working in the metals recycling industry. My earliest memories of recycling are of riding my bike to the local tip and scrounging around for parts to make my next bike for one of my siblings. Whist I didn’t know it then I was devoted to the concept of the circular economy before the name was ever invented.

Q: What inspried your business?

As a mechanical engineer, I have just always appreciated the craftmanship and the time taken to make a piece of machinery out of metal. I just knew it was always better to find a new home for equipment that still had a use rather than just cut it up for scrap.

Unfortunately the down side of this is that I tend to horde stuff. I think to myself, ‘someone will want this one day’. I know right, a whole lot of you are thinking about your sheds now and looking a little guilty. I think that’s why my wife Janine and I make a great team here with our business. I horde it, she finds it and gets it chopped up, eventually.

Q: How has your business developed over the last few years?

Our business was originally based in Auckland, but my heart was always in Northland. Ever since I was a kid and came north on holiday . I just knew I belonged here. It was not until just a few years ago when DNA testing showed that my birth father was born here in Kaeo, and that I was descended from the Nga Puhi iwi that I realised why the pull was so great.

About 5 years ago we decided to add a waste bin service to our business. It

helped Janine keep control of some of my hording and helped other wives get their husbands to clear out their sheds. Now we are major providers of waste service to the constuction industry here in the North. We are this year looking to apply some of the principles of: recycle, renew, and reuse that have always been our mantra in the scrap metal business to the construction waste business.

Q: What have you found challanging?

Covid changed everyones life without a doubt. For us and the business we knew we had to work smarter and more efficiently.

We also had to transition from the old world way of running a scrap yard to the more sustainable model that we operate today.

The journey has been a real challenge with more successes than hiccups. We are proud of how our business looks today, and even more proud of the fact that we are the only Northland Owned Metals Recycling business here in the North.

Q: What is a business highlight for you?

Our amazing successes in the Business Excellence Awards demonstrates how much our business has grown in the last couple of years. Keep and eye on us we have lots more to offer with employment and great service options in the future.

“We are proud of how our business looks today, and even more proud of the fact that we are the only Northland Owned Metals Recycling business here in the North ...”

Marsden Metals Group

Northland’s own metals and waste recycling Company Need a bin for your waste or scrap want to participate in our construction waste recycling www.marsdenwaste.co.nz | Or call us on 0800336673

FACES OF NORTHLAND BUSINESS

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‘THE BEST BAGEL I HAVE EVER EATEN’ Q&A with Handsome Frog Gourmet Foods

Q: What is the most interesting part of your work/business day?

A large part of our business was the highly sought after Handmade Gourmet meat, vegetarian or vegan pies as well as our very popular full sourdough (no yeast) range of breads.

Q: What do you believe contributes to your success?

We took the successful aspects of the business and focused on the main items, Bread/Bagels and Pies. This proved to be a prudent move. Our

Ian, Chef/Baker and Janet Nutritionist/Administrator

success is driven by our sheer hard work producing great high quality products – which our customers appreciate. We are always looking at new and varied items to add to our list.

Ian, Chef/Baker and Janet Nutritionist/ Administrator are the faces of the business. With extensive working knowledge of the industry and of food, they understand the importance of good tasting products and the necessity of a good balanced diet. With no support from anybody, we have

our product through. We are constantly looking for new retail outlets, cafes, restaurants, etc. to supply. Due to interest and demand from other areas, we are looking further afield.

managed to forge our way through the adversity and to persevere with our vision, to produce great food.

Q: What is the most challenging thing about your work?

After closing our Café in Whangarei CBD and setting up the highly successful food truck (Handsome Frog Mobile Café), which we operated for 2 very happy and enjoyable years, we were suddenly faced with no markets or events to attend due to Covid’s first lockdown.

Handsome Frog Gourmet Foods evolved to what it is today, from necessity.

Throughout your career what was a highlight for you?

We are very proud to be a finalist in the ‘Peoples Choice’ category through Northland Chamber Business Awards.

We are especially proud of this, as it is the ‘Customers’ who have voted for us.

And we would like to thank them very much for their votes and supporting us

Q: What have you done to overcome the challenge?

Due to the food truck being off the road, we sought out establishments to sell

The extensive hours we work is offset by the great feedback and reviews we receive. For example: A gentleman from New York, informed the owner of Hell Hole Bagelry in Russell, ‘This is The best Bagel I have ever eaten!’

HANDSOME FROG GOURMET FOODS ARE PROUD TO SUPPORT LOCAL BUSINESSES Our current range of products are stocked at the following retailers:

(Not all products are available at all stores)

Hell Hole Bagelry – Russell | Keri Berries – Kerikeri Wholey Health Food Co-op - Whakapara Putiputi Ra – Whangarei CBD | Graze Deli – Maunu Smith & Local – Parua Bay | Zest Café – Paparoa Online stores: handsomefrogcafe.com or forwardwhangarei.co.nz

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Celebrating Northland

BUSINESS

2021 BUSINESS AWARDS TOOK TIME, ‘LIKE FINE WINE’

Greg Atkins is a Director at BDO Northland Limited, Chartered Accountants. He has been Convenor of Judges for the Northland Business Excellence Awards. for the past nine

years. As a Chartered Accountant he is focused on helping businesses and their teams grow and be successful. Outside work, Greg is a Board Trustee at Whangarei Boys’ High School and has held previous Trustee, Board member and honorary positions in the community.

Greg offers up a few thoughts on the 2021 Awards process which was impacted by the restrictions governing gatherings and events owing to Covid-19.

“They say with cheese (and fine wine) good things take time, and I believe the same can be said for the 2021 Northland Business Excellence

Awards process, we are well into February 2022 and they have finally concluded this month. I apologise for the added suspense of having to wait so long for the results but acknowledge the need to celebrate our winners as best we could.

In 2021 we returned to judging based on the “Business Excellence” format, with the key requirement of having physical visits at entrant’s premises. Being able to see business owners face to face, meet a team and view a workplace provides much more insight than what can be seen in a written entry.

2021 provided a fine crop of entrants over the various categories, displaying a high standard of business excellence in some very trying times. To the business owners and their amazing teams – thank you for entering and we wish you the best for the future. To the well deserving finalists and winners, congratulations, be proud of what you have achieved and celebrate!

As always, a huge thank you to my fellow judges who generously offer up their time and experience to visit entrants and provide feedback.’

MEET SOME OF THE JUDGES OF THE BUSINESS CATEGORIES Karen Amos is Portfolio Manager at Westpac Bank where she has worked for 11 years. She is currently a People Leader responsible for coaching and developing a group of Credit Analysts. Previously Karen was the Area Manager responsible for the Commercial and Agri business teams and has also had experience as a Relationship Manager where she managed a portfolio of clients across a wide range of industries. She has been a judge for the Business Awards for the past six years.

Mike Lindsay is Manging Director of Building and Fire Services (2008) Limited. He has worked as a professional in the Fire, Safety, and Building Compliance field for over 24 years delivering professional advice and solutions on all aspects of fire safety, speciality health and safety compliance and emergency training across all industry sectors. He is passionate about, and wholly committed to, educating New Zealanders about how to protect people and property. He has been a judge for the Business Excellence Awards for four years.

Sarah Greener is Managing Director at The Rock Adventure Cruise and Founder at The Human-Centred Business Blueprint. Sarah is a Business Coach who helps business owners build sustainable businesses through The Power Hour™, The Success Map™ and The People Advantage™ giving them back control of their time and the space to enjoy life. 2021 was her first time judging in the Northland Business Excellence Awards.

Cushla Donnelly has been a regular judge for the Business Excellence Awards for several years. She has experience in strategic planning and project management. She also has experience assessing and implementing business excellence in diverse businesses and environments, including the Middle East. Cushla is currently the Programme Manager, Partnerships & Equity, Te Pūkenga.

Bruce Larsen is an owner, director and the GM of Northpine Ltd. He has worked in various companies, both corporates and SME’s within the forest industry for 40 years. Bruce has been a judge in the Awards since 2015. Outside work Bruce is Chairman of Promote Waipu, is a trustee for Waipu 2000 Community Chest and is active in many Bream Bay community events.

Ken Wilson is a 5th generation Northlander, based in Whangarei and trading as GT Advantage, a specialist role within Gilmore Taylor Associates.

He has over 30 years Operations and General Management experience across a broad range of sectors throughout New Zealand. He is and associate member of NZIM, a member of the Institute of Directors (IOD), and a judge for the Northland Business Excellence Awards. He also sits on many Advisory Boards for Northland Businesses.

Pauline Rose has judged Business Excellence Awards for 19 years. She has private sector experience in strategic planning, marketing and communication management with large NZ corporates as well as project management, stakeholder management and business improvement experience in local government. She now works for local broadband provider Uber Group and is co-owner of Land of the Lotus Watergardens and Banana Park. She has been president of the Public Relations Institute of NZ and is a regular judge at their annual awards.

Specialist category judges are chosen for their experience and knowledge in the specific category they are assessing and incorporate the Sponsor of the category and a panel of stakeholders that bring industry knowledge.

2021 specialist category Judges include the following; Creative Northland Creative Industries - Hinurewa Te Hau, Northland Inc. Innovate Northland – Sophie Wiltshier, Jules Smith and Jeroen Jongejans, EMA Not For Profit and NorthChamber Judges Choice, – Business Judges panel, Vodafone Digital Transformation – Pauline Rose, Te Mana Oranga Workplace Diversity and Inclusion– Reg Peterson, Rachel Peterson and Richard Bell, Northland Regional Council Environmental – Kim Wall, ACC Workplace Health and Safety – Pete Oxley and Phillip Tana and The Northern Advocate Hall of Fame – panel including Greg Alexander, Rachel Ward, Tim Robinson, Steve Smith and Eru Lyndon.