Awards celebrate NZ-US relations at gala ceremony

Winners Announced for 2010 American Chamber of Commerce DHL Express Success & Innovation Awards

Awards celebrate New Zealand-United States relationship at gala ceremony

Auckland, 17 September 2010 - The AmCham DHL Express Success & Innovation Awards, held last night at Auckland's Hyatt Regency Hotel, lauded the Christchurch Engine Centre with the Supreme Award for trade with the United States. The Centre is a joint venture partnership between Pratt & Whitney and Air New Zealand that competes globally for contracts to service, overhaul and remanufacture a variety of aircraft engines.

The win recognises the innovation Pratt & Whitney's service centre has brought to its business. "We were particularly impressed with the steps the Centre has taken to implement best practice technologies and processes, while positioning the centre to take on more high-value engine overhauls from the US in the future," says New Zealand Trade and Enterprise Operations Director and AmCham Awards judge, Hans Frauenlob.

The Supreme Award is chosen from the winners of each of the categories presented on the night. The complete list of winners follows:

* Education Partnership with US: Mainfreight and Duffy Books USA * Importer of the Year from the US: Observatory Quest * Investor of the Year to or from the US: O-I New Zealand * Exporter of the Year - under NZ$500,000: Enlight Photo * Exporter of the Year - NZ$500,001 - 5 million: Mobile Commerce Ltd * Exporter of the Year - over NZ$5 million: Pratt & Whitney Air New Zealand Services at Christchurch Engine Centre * Trevor Eagle Memorial Award - AmCham Member of the Year: Baldwins * Supreme Award Winner: Pratt & Whitney Air New Zealand Services at Christchurch Engine Centre

The AmCham DHL Express Success and Innovation Awards celebrate success and innovation in the export, import and investment sectors between New Zealand and its third-largest trading partner, the US. Prizes include a travel voucher worth NZ$2,500 for air travel to the US on Qantas Airways for winners of the importer, exporter and education partnership categories.

"The American Chamber of Commerce in New Zealand believes this is a crucial time to foster more trade links with the US, and we hope the success of these finalists inspires other companies to investigate the market," said AmCham's Executive Director Mike Hearn. "We're constantly looking for opportunities to enhance and expand business and trade relationships within the private and public sectors. The annual Success & Innovation Awards provide an opportunity to showcase companies that have demonstrated imagination, innovation and entrepreneurship, and to honour and celebrate their achievements."

In addition to AmCham, DHL-Express and Qantas, the awards are also supported by AUT University, Ernst & Young, New Zealand Trade and Enterprise, Baldwins and Fonterra, a two-time winner of the Supreme Award in 2008 and 2009.

Other previous winners of the Supreme Award include Zespri International, Specialist Marine Interiors, Peace Software, Airways Corporation, HumanWare, Tenon, Orion Systems International and Zeacom.

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