|
|
Westpac-Otago Chamber of Commerce business awards officials chief judge Bevan Rickerby (left), sponsor representative Westpac regional manager Phil Moore, and awards convener Ali Copeman. Photo by Linda Robertson |
The Westpac-Otago Chamber of Commerce business award
finalists, announced last night, were the highest quality yet
seen by the judges, awards convener Ali Copeman said.
"We were completely blown away by the quality and the number
of entries. This is my fourth time involved with the awards
and we were pretty impressed by the calibre of the entries."
The awards started in 1998 and are held every two years.
However, what impressed Mrs Copeman even more were the 800
nominations which were whittled down to 135 entries.
Those 135 superseded the entries received by the Auckland and
Wellington chambers for their awards.
The judges had a tough job sorting through the original
entries before deciding on who to interview, she said.
"We have so many businesses doing amazing things
internationally that we know very little about. It is
possible to live in Dunedin and work anywhere."
Mrs Copeman this year set herself a goal of involving more of
Otago's more established sponsors and successful businesses
who had been less than forthcoming about their success.
"We should be shouting from the rooftops about how successful
these businesses are."
The winners would be announced at an awards dinner in Dunedin
on November 30.
The awards finalists are-
• Manufacturing/primary: Farra Engineering, Scott Technology,
Speight's Brewery.
• Not-for-profit: Dunedin Community Childcare Association,
Fortune Theatre Trust, Pact Group Charitable Trust, Chatbus.
• Retail: Dunedin Mitre 10 Mega, Stirling Sports-Dunedin,
Acquisitions.
• Service: Back in Motion Physiotherapy, Chatsford - The
Lifestyle Choice and Birchleigh Residential Care Centre,
Myth, Southern Hospitality.
• Tourism: Catlins Wildlife Trackers, Larnach Castle, Tasty
Tours.
• Maori Business Award: The Biomechanic, Kokiri Training
Centre, Te Ara Pathways Transformational Life Coaching, A3
Kaitiaki.
• Emerging business: Destination Content, Igtimi, Old
Fashioned Pie Company.
• Ethics: Computer Solutions & Training. Mercy Hospital
Dunedin, Artemis Natural Healthcare, Zeal Steel.
• Sustainability: Zeal Steel, Monarch Wildlife
Cruises,Catlins Wildlife Trackers.
• International trader: Gran's Remedies, New Zealand Honey,
TracPlus Global.
• Health and Safety Impact: Otago Polytechnic, Bradken
Resources, Milmeq.
• Research innovation and design: Farra Engineering, Milmeq,
Scott Technology.
• Future business leader: Michael Milne, Anna Campbell.
A name, residential address, and (preferably residential) telephone number is required from readers who comment on ODT Online. These details will not be visible to site visitors.