Downer EDI Works is Manukau’s best business

Downer EDI Works Limited is Manukau’s best business for 2007

- Ten companies honoured in individual categories
- Downer EDI Works Limited takes overall prize
- Owners of Firmount Golf Park recognised for exceptional community contribution
- Elias Nakhle and Hugh Green inducted into the Manukau Business Hall of Fame

Two months of intensive judging in an entrant line-up described as the most competitive ever has culminated in the Australasian infrastructure company Downer EDI Works being named Manukau’s top business for 2007.

The best of Manukau’s businesses were celebrated at the 2007 Westpac Manukau Business Excellence Awards gala dinner on 24 August. Ten businesses were recognised, plus outstanding members of the business community and those making an outstanding contribution to the community.

Downer EDI Works Limited – formerly the Ministry of Works until the government department was corporatised in 1988 - is one of New Zealand's leading builders and maintainers of roads, tunnels, bridges, water, gas and electricity infrastructure services. The company, which also won the Brookfields Lawyers Employer of Choice Award, employs 3,000 staff in New Zealand and is represented in almost every New Zealand community.

This is the fourth year that Downer EDI Works Limited has taken part in the Westpac Manukau Business Excellence Awards. Head Judge Clyde Young says that its perseverance has paid off. “Each year it has taken judges’ feedback onboard, to return as a better business with a stronger entry.”

Young was particularly impressed with how every person in the organisation, from roadside workers through to top management, were ‘walking the talk’, and focused on achieving excellence.

“All of our winners show excellence in all aspects of business, from leadership and strategic planning to customer focus, measurement, human resources, process management and business results. Winning an award is a tremendous achievement and shows a business is inspiring all involved in its enterprise,” said Bruce McLachlan, Westpac General Manager for Business Banking.

Ten other companies and individuals were also honoured:

Mention the word ‘dog control’ and you probably think about the negative press this industry receives. But one of the reasons that DSS Animal Management entered the Westpac Manukau Business Excellence Awards was to combat negative perceptions and demonstrate that it is a very high performing business, particularly in the area of customer service, and it is that category which they won, not only because they provide a high caliber service, but for the great lengths they go to in educating the public about safety around dogs.

Metalman New Zealand Limited’s biggest challenge is coping with business growth of up to 80% every year. But the five-year old company, which recycles scrap metal nationwide and is a significant exporter, has done so admirably, and came away with the Employers & Manufacturers Association Excellence in Manufacturing & Services Award.

The winner of the Wiri Licensing Trust Best Emerging Business title is Liquid Health Limited. The company is brand new but its healthy iced-tea beverage range is already represented through Foodtown supermarkets and other chains.

Multi-award winning motel Grange Lodge is back in the Westpac Manukau Business Excellence Awards for the third year in a row, this time winning the Excellence in Small Business Category. The business is located slightly off the beaten path, but has a very high return rate by industry standards, because of its ‘customer first’ culture and friendly atmosphere.

Manukau’s own e-commerce success story, Fishpond.co.nz, is the winner of the Enterprising Manukau Excellence in Exporting Award. Started in the spare bedroom of owner Daniel Robertson’s home, it now employs 18 people and has over 1.1million books, 180,000 CDs and 5,000 DVDs on its virtual shelves. Fishpond.co.nz is the biggest online bookstore in New Zealand, and the second biggest in Australia.

Transforming itself into the ‘Royal Ronwood Ave Yacht Squadron’ for the America’s Cup, and getting its staff into Rugby World Cup mode, is just one of the innovative strategies that led Catch Restaurant and Guada Fiesta Bar to be given the COGITA Excellence in Innovation & Strategy Award. The Mexican-themed establishment is one of Manukau’s very best for dining and entertainment.

The International Travel College of New Zealand is responsible for training the city’s up and coming tourism stars. With 200 people studying each year at its Botany Downs campus, which opened its doors in 2005, the company prepares students who can help fill the national staff shortage for qualified workers. International Travel College of New Zealand has won the Excellence in Tourism – Visitor Services category, sponsored by Auckland International Airport.

Zero tolerance of unsafe behaviour and practices, and the goal of zero fatalities, injuries, motor vehicle accidents and environmental exceedances was what it took for the ACC Workplace Safety Award to be presented to Linfox Logistics (NZ) Ltd. In 2006 Linfox established ‘Vision Zero’ and the programme delivered immediate results, showing a 48% reduction in non-safe incidences across its 900 staff, 400 vehicles and 100,000 square metres of warehouse operations.

A very special category in the Westpac Manukau Business Excellence Awards is the Manukau Community Foundation Business Contribution to the Community Award, presented to a business or business leader within the city. Allan, Diane and Andrew Wallace of Firmount Golf Park in Ormiston Road, East Tamaki, were presented with this award for their significant financial support of international children’s charity, The First Tee. Since 2005 over 1,000 Manukau children have benefited from the positive values taught by the programme, which uses the sport of golf to teach life skills.

Two people were also inducted into the Manukau Business Hall of Fame. They are Irish immigrant farmer Hugh Green, and property developer Elias Nakhle. Mayor Sir Barry Curtis says Hugh Green and Elias Nakhle are both very worthy choices for the Hall of Fame honour. “Both men are representative of what our multi-cultural city is about. One from Ireland and one from Lebanon, they both arrived in New Zealand with very little and worked hard, building successful businesses. It is a great honour to recognise their achievements, and a great honour that they operate businesses in Manukau.”

Sponsors of the Westpac Manukau Business Excellence Awards are Manukau City Council, Westpac, Brookfieldss Lawyers, Wiri Licensing Trust, The Employers & Manufacturers Association, COGITA, Auckland International Airport Limited, ACC and the Manukau Community Foundation.

The Westpac Manukau Business Excellence Awards are delivered by Enterprising Manukau on behalf of Manukau City Council and have been a firm fixture on Manukau’s business calendar for 15 years.

ENDS

© Scoop Media