Finalists Announced for 05 Pacific Business Awards

PRESS RELEASE

FRIDAY 17 JUNE 2005

Finalists Announced for 2005 Pacific Business Awards

The Pacific Business Trust has announced twenty two finalists for the 2005 Pacific Business Awards, to be held at the TelstraClear Pacific Events Centre on Friday 24 June. The finalists were among fifty four Pacific business people to enter this year’s awards.

In the Pacific Business Enterprise of the Year category, the finalists are Tofilau Finance Ltd owned by Esther Tofilau, Ethnic Communications Ltd owned by Frank Koloi, Seyleck Global Supplies Ltd owned by Toalepai Jesse and Sulu Lee, Scalini’s Italian Restaurant and Pizzeria owned by Joesph and Amanda Lam and Connect Global Ltd owned by and Siuai and Serena Fiso. This award is given to a business that has operated successfully and profitably for two to five years.

The Community Enterprise Award is a new category and has four finalists: Taeaomanino Trust in Wellington, NZ Kahoa Tauleva Trust 2000 in Pukekohe, Auckland, K’aute Pasifika Services in Hamilton, Pukapuka Community of New Zealand Incorporated in Auckland and Pacific Trust Canterbury in Christchurch.

The Pacific Business Person of the Year Award will be contested by Allan Kimiangatau from BuyLink Ltd, Siaosi George Niuhulu from Panorama Painters and Decorators Ltd, Ronnie Matafeo from Matefeo Group Ltd and Sulia Nau from Morning Star Freight Ltd.

Kenina Court from Acorn Solutions NZ ltd, Paul and Sarah Nelson from the Cleaning Professionals (Christchurch) Ltd and Reupena and Eseta Kovati from Kovati Tam Yam Gardens are the finalists for the Pacific Business of the Year Award. These finalists will be judged on sales, profitability and equity trends over the past five years.

The finalists for the premiere Pacific Business Leader Award are Henry Ropati from Henry Ropati Chartered Accountants, Isabel Evans from Ministry of Social Development, Rosita Gilbert from Westpac Banking Corporation NZ Division, Sina Moore from NiuFM and Wendy Kennedy from PILOT Consulting Group.

The Pacific Business Leader Award honours a Pacific business person who demonstrates leadership, innovation and entrepreneurial flair while leading a business unit or organization.

The judges for this year’s awards were Nevil Gibson, Editor in Chief of the National Business Review; Tim Gibson, Chief Executive of New Zealand Trade and Enterprise; Dianne Ludwig, Principal of Gosling Chapman Chartered Accountants; Iain Hines, Executive Director of the JR McKenzie Trust; Isaac Tuhega from the New Lynn Building Centre Ltd; Fa’amatuainu Tino Pereira, Managing Director of Niu Vision Group Ltd and Uluomatootua Aiono, founder of Cogita NZ.

The Pacific Business Awards is a biannual event and was first held in 1993 to recognise the achievements of Pacific people in business. This year’s prizes range from two $5000.00 business technology packages, $100,00.00 worth of interest free loans, travel vouchers throughout NZ and free membership to the Employment and Manufacturers Association.

The 2005 Pacific Business Awards will be a black tie gala event. Entertainment includes violinist, Loata Mahe; opera singer, ‘Atolongake Helu; the Soifua Village Dance Group and Tongan band, Three Houses Down. The guest speaker is top NZ entrepreneur and music producer, Murray Thom.

The 2005 Pacific Business Awards are proudly presented by the Pacific Business Trust and Manukau Institute of Technology with Niu FM, New Zealand Trade and Enterprise, Department of Labour, ACC, EMA (Employment and Manufacturers Association), Ellis Gould Barristers and Solicitors and Origin Pacific Airways.

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