Telecom Selects Home Business Competition Finalist

Telecom Selects Home Business Competition Finalists

New Zealand’s most inspirational home businesses recognised

Twenty-two of New Zealand’s most inspirational and successful home businesses have been selected as the finalists in the inaugural Telecom Home Business of the Year competition.

The 22 finalists come from many areas of New Zealand including Auckland, Christchurch, Hawkes Bay, Keri Keri, Nelson, Palmerston North, Warkworth and Wellington. Their businesses range from selling products such as toys, hammocks and deer velvet, to providing services such as event management, home help and hairdressing.

Minister for Economic Development Jim Anderton, New Zealand Herald Small Business Editor Ellen Read, and Home Business New Zealand Managing Director Heather Douglas will select the overall winner, to be announced in December.

“It is exciting to see the breadth of expertise and innovation among New Zealand home businesses,” Mr Anderton says. “The quality of entries is impressive and it will be a difficult decision to choose a winner.”

Telecom launched the competition in June and received over 150 entries. Entrants were asked to provide information on their goals and aspirations for becoming a home business, how well they had achieved these goals, and any unique factors and obstacles in setting up their business.

Telecom’s Home Business Programme Manager, Sam Irvine, says the competition recognises and celebrates the achievements of New Zealanders who run their businesses from home.

“Telecom is delighted with the enthusiastic response it has received for the competition,” he says. “We are pleased to be supporting an initiative that encourages the development of home business in New Zealand.”

Telecom has announced the finalists as part of National Home Business Week, running from October 12 – 19. Home Business New Zealand Managing Director, Heather Douglas, welcomes Telecom’s support.

“Home businesses have frequently struggled to gain recognition as an important part of the country’s economy. The support and acknowledgement from a company such as Telecom is an important part of raising the visibility and credibility of home businesses throughout New Zealand.”

The competition winner will receive a prize worth $7,000, including a Compaq Tablet PC TC1000 and docking station from Big Byte, home office furniture from Urban Office, and a compact Samsung A591 mobile phone.

Telecom’s Home Business programme was established in 1999 to meet the unique needs of people who run businesses from home. Almost 50,000 home businesses have joined the programme to take advantage of the information and services Telecom offer.

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