Kaitaia again tops Tall Poppy Awards

Media Release
Kaikohe, Monday, 6 October 2007

Kaitaia again tops Tall Poppy Awards

Kaitaia’s Archibalds Group has taken out the coveted Supreme Award, as well as a Gold Award in the Retail category, in this year’s Top Energy Tall Poppy Business Awards.

The vehicle sales, service, rental and finance company joins previously celebrated Tall Poppy Supreme Awards winners from the Kaitaia district, including Ancient Kauri Kingdom (2004) and Claud Switzer Memorial Trust in last year’s competition.

At the Awards Presentation, Dinner & Dance held at The Copthorne Hotel & Resort, Paihia last Saturday evening, Archibalds Group Principals, Brian and Rosemary Archibald were honoured for their business excellence achievements, along with other top businesses from throughout the region, which also won Awards.

Award winners for 2008 were:
TRUSTS / CHARITIES AND NOT-FOR-PROFIT ORGANISATIONS:
GOLD Award - Ahipara Sandhoppers Early Childhood Centre
GOLD Award - Kerikeri Kindergarten
GOLD Award - Northpoint Trust, Kaikohe
SILVER Award - Far North Regional Museum, Kaitaia

TOURISM & HOSPITALITY:
GOLD Award - Salt Air Ltd, Paihia
SILVER Award - Kamakura Restaurant, Russell
SILVER Award - Mid North Motor Inn, Kaikohe
MERIT Award - The Pub ‘round the Corner, Russell.

SERVICE INDUSTRY:
GOLD Award - Real Property Kerikeri Ltd
SILVER Award - Justaplumber NZ Ltd, Mangonui

RETAIL:
GOLD Award - Archibalds, Kaitaia
GOLD Award - Doubtless Beauty, Mangonui
GOLD Award – Kaeo Farm & Fuel

THE SUPREME AWARD:
For overall business excellence – Archibalds Group, Kaitaia

According to Awards Judge Chairman, Gary Gabbitas, entries were down on previous years, due to exceptionally difficult economic times, however he was able confirm they presented a very high standard across the board. “Due to many exceptional entries, the Judges had no qualms in setting the bar higher than in previous years. Winners can go away from these Awards knowing that they are the tallest poppies we have ever had in the Far North and they should all be justifiably proud of that fact”, he said.

Sponsor, Top Energy believes the Tall Poppy Business Awards offer the Far North community a unique opportunity to recognise and celebrate business excellence in the region. On hand to make the presentations, Top Energy Deputy Chairman, Mike Simm said, “We are heading into difficult times as the economy softens and consumers’ disposable income tightens. Businesses need to focus on quality and excellence in the way they plan and manage. Tall Poppy Business Awards entrants have recognised this by submitting themselves to be measured against best practice and their Far North peers. The lessons learned from this process will ensure they have the best chance of negotiating the difficult times ahead and continuing to grow their businesses. I congratulate them on their commitment to business excellence”.

Top Energy also believes the Tall Poppy Business Awards sit well with other educational and community programmes the company sponsors, including Enterprise 4 Education (E4E) – which works in partnership with Far North secondary school students, teachers and the business community and is designed to develop an enterprise culture in schools. It focuses on the delivery of the whole curriculum in a way where students can see the relevance of their
learning – to help them develop into enterprising people. Included under the E4E umbrella is the Young Enterprise Scheme (YES) which provides a hands-on learning experience where students form companies, become directors, and develop products and services which they market and sell. YES teaches skills in budgeting, planning, interpersonal relations, decision-making, reporting, communications, risk management and teamwork; School-to-work Programme – which recognises not all senior students are gifted academically or have entrepreneurial skills. Through this programme, Top Energy offers scholarships, which encourage secondary school students to stay at school while getting paid, part-time work experience; Far North Science & Technology Fair – which is an annual learning initiative for secondary school students, designed to stimulate an interest in the sciences and technology,. Fair exhibitors can submit projects covering any area of science or technology and they are encouraged to choose a topic, which involves investigation, challenge and imagination; WaterSafe – teaching primary school children graduated learn to swim and personal water survival skills. Approaching its 11th consecutive season, the WaterSafe Programme has been widely recognised as creating the national benchmark for teaching children how to swim and keep safe around water and Northland’s Electricity Rescue Helicopter Service – jointly sponsored by Top Energy and Northpower since 1988. From 2006 the joint sponsors have agreed to match all public Appeal donations dollar for dollar, for a total minimum contribution each year of $300,000.

ENDS

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