Awards for central firms

Michael Barnett, chief executive of the Auckland Chamber of Commerce. Photo / Natalie Slade

Central Auckland firms will finally have the chance to enter their own business awards this year.

Until now, such events have only been held in Manukau, Waitakere and the North Shore.

"There's been a sector of Auckland [business] that hasn't had the opportunity to showcase itself," said Michael Barnett, chief executive of the Auckland Chamber of Commerce, which is organising the awards.

Barnett said the Westpac Auckland Central Business Awards would give companies a chance to tell their stories and benchmark their success against each other.

Winners will be announced at a gala dinner on November 10.

Before the Super City, Manukau, Waitakere and the North Shore had their own economic development agencies (EDAs). Under the new Auckland Council, the functions of the regional EDAs continue to operate as northern, western and southern branches of the Auckland Tourism, Events and Economic Development (ATEED) council-controlled organisation. ATEED now organises the Auckland South, Auckland West and Auckland North business awards, which will be held later this year.

Clyde Rogers, ATEED's business and sector development manager, said the organisation was not provided with the funding required to run the central city awards. Barnett said the Auckland Chamber of Commerce stepped in to fill the "void".

Rogers said some of the category winners of this year's four regional business awards would go forward to an Auckland-wide final in March 2012.

He said the event would help bring the city's business community together.

BEST BUSINESS

Westpac Auckland Central Business Awards

* Entries open on May 3 and close on July 1.

* All businesses within the Auckland Central area are eligible to enter.

* The Auckland Central boundaries are: Albert-Eden-Roskill ward, Maungakiekie-Tamaki ward, Orakei ward and Waitemata ward.

* The 8 awards catagories include Excellence in Innovation, Best Emerging Business and Excellence in Retail.

* A supreme winner will be drawn from the winners of the 8 categories.

* Winners will be announced at a gala dinner on November 10.

* Go to chamber.co.nz for more information.