NZ Herald
  • Home
  • Latest news
  • Herald NOW
  • Video
  • New Zealand
  • Sport
  • World
  • Business
  • Entertainment
  • Podcasts
  • Quizzes
  • Opinion
  • Lifestyle
  • Travel
  • Viva
  • Weather

Subscriptions

  • Herald Premium
  • Viva Premium
  • The Listener
  • BusinessDesk

Sections

  • Latest news
  • New Zealand
    • All New Zealand
    • Crime
    • Politics
    • Education
    • Open Justice
    • Scam Update
  • Herald NOW
  • On The Up
  • World
    • All World
    • Australia
    • Asia
    • UK
    • United States
    • Middle East
    • Europe
    • Pacific
  • Business
    • All Business
    • MarketsSharesCurrencyCommoditiesStock TakesCrypto
    • Markets with Madison
    • Media Insider
    • Business analysis
    • Personal financeKiwiSaverInterest ratesTaxInvestment
    • EconomyInflationGDPOfficial cash rateEmployment
    • Small business
    • Business reportsMood of the BoardroomProject AucklandSustainable business and financeCapital markets reportAgribusiness reportInfrastructure reportDynamic business
    • Deloitte Top 200 Awards
    • CompaniesAged CareAgribusinessAirlinesBanking and financeConstructionEnergyFreight and logisticsHealthcareManufacturingMedia and MarketingRetailTelecommunicationsTourism
  • Opinion
    • All Opinion
    • Analysis
    • Editorials
    • Business analysis
    • Premium opinion
    • Letters to the editor
  • Politics
  • Sport
    • All Sport
    • OlympicsParalympics
    • RugbySuper RugbyNPCAll BlacksBlack FernsRugby sevensSchool rugby
    • CricketBlack CapsWhite Ferns
    • Racing
    • NetballSilver Ferns
    • LeagueWarriorsNRL
    • FootballWellington PhoenixAuckland FCAll WhitesFootball FernsEnglish Premier League
    • GolfNZ Open
    • MotorsportFormula 1
    • Boxing
    • UFC
    • BasketballNBABreakersTall BlacksTall Ferns
    • Tennis
    • Cycling
    • Athletics
    • SailingAmerica's CupSailGP
    • Rowing
  • Lifestyle
    • All Lifestyle
    • Viva - Food, fashion & beauty
    • Society Insider
    • Royals
    • Sex & relationships
    • Food & drinkRecipesRecipe collectionsRestaurant reviewsRestaurant bookings
    • Health & wellbeing
    • Fashion & beauty
    • Pets & animals
    • The Selection - Shop the trendsShop fashionShop beautyShop entertainmentShop giftsShop home & living
    • Milford's Investing Place
  • Entertainment
    • All Entertainment
    • TV
    • MoviesMovie reviews
    • MusicMusic reviews
    • BooksBook reviews
    • Culture
    • ReviewsBook reviewsMovie reviewsMusic reviewsRestaurant reviews
  • Travel
    • All Travel
    • News
    • New ZealandNorthlandAucklandWellingtonCanterburyOtago / QueenstownNelson-TasmanBest NZ beaches
    • International travelAustraliaPacific IslandsEuropeUKUSAAfricaAsia
    • Rail holidays
    • Cruise holidays
    • Ski holidays
    • Luxury travel
    • Adventure travel
  • Kāhu Māori news
  • Environment
    • All Environment
    • Our Green Future
  • Talanoa Pacific news
  • Property
    • All Property
    • Property Insider
    • Interest rates tracker
    • Residential property listings
    • Commercial property listings
  • Health
  • Technology
    • All Technology
    • AI
    • Social media
  • Rural
    • All Rural
    • Dairy farming
    • Sheep & beef farming
    • Horticulture
    • Animal health
    • Rural business
    • Rural life
    • Rural technology
    • Opinion
    • Audio & podcasts
  • Weather forecasts
    • All Weather forecasts
    • Kaitaia
    • Whangārei
    • Dargaville
    • Auckland
    • Thames
    • Tauranga
    • Hamilton
    • Whakatāne
    • Rotorua
    • Tokoroa
    • Te Kuiti
    • Taumaranui
    • Taupō
    • Gisborne
    • New Plymouth
    • Napier
    • Hastings
    • Dannevirke
    • Whanganui
    • Palmerston North
    • Levin
    • Paraparaumu
    • Masterton
    • Wellington
    • Motueka
    • Nelson
    • Blenheim
    • Westport
    • Reefton
    • Kaikōura
    • Greymouth
    • Hokitika
    • Christchurch
    • Ashburton
    • Timaru
    • Wānaka
    • Oamaru
    • Queenstown
    • Dunedin
    • Gore
    • Invercargill
  • Meet the journalists
  • Promotions & competitions
  • OneRoof property listings
  • Driven car news

Puzzles & Quizzes

  • Puzzles
    • All Puzzles
    • Sudoku
    • Code Cracker
    • Crosswords
    • Cryptic crossword
    • Wordsearch
  • Quizzes
    • All Quizzes
    • Morning quiz
    • Afternoon quiz
    • Sports quiz

Regions

  • Northland
    • All Northland
    • Far North
    • Kaitaia
    • Kerikeri
    • Kaikohe
    • Bay of Islands
    • Whangarei
    • Dargaville
    • Kaipara
    • Mangawhai
  • Auckland
  • Waikato
    • All Waikato
    • Hamilton
    • Coromandel & Hauraki
    • Matamata & Piako
    • Cambridge
    • Te Awamutu
    • Tokoroa & South Waikato
    • Taupō & Tūrangi
  • Bay of Plenty
    • All Bay of Plenty
    • Katikati
    • Tauranga
    • Mount Maunganui
    • Pāpāmoa
    • Te Puke
    • Whakatāne
  • Rotorua
  • Hawke's Bay
    • All Hawke's Bay
    • Napier
    • Hastings
    • Havelock North
    • Central Hawke's Bay
    • Wairoa
  • Taranaki
    • All Taranaki
    • Stratford
    • New Plymouth
    • Hāwera
  • Manawatū - Whanganui
    • All Manawatū - Whanganui
    • Whanganui
    • Palmerston North
    • Manawatū
    • Tararua
    • Horowhenua
  • Wellington
    • All Wellington
    • Kapiti
    • Wairarapa
    • Upper Hutt
    • Lower Hutt
  • Nelson & Tasman
    • All Nelson & Tasman
    • Motueka
    • Nelson
    • Tasman
  • Marlborough
  • West Coast
  • Canterbury
    • All Canterbury
    • Kaikōura
    • Christchurch
    • Ashburton
    • Timaru
  • Otago
    • All Otago
    • Oamaru
    • Dunedin
    • Balclutha
    • Alexandra
    • Queenstown
    • Wanaka
  • Southland
    • All Southland
    • Invercargill
    • Gore
    • Stewart Island
  • Gisborne

Media

  • Video
    • All Video
    • NZ news video
    • Herald NOW
    • Business news video
    • Politics news video
    • Sport video
    • World news video
    • Lifestyle video
    • Entertainment video
    • Travel video
    • Markets with Madison
    • Kea Kids news
  • Podcasts
    • All Podcasts
    • The Front Page
    • On the Tiles
    • Ask me Anything
    • The Little Things
  • Cartoons
  • Photo galleries
  • Today's Paper - E-editions
  • Photo sales
  • Classifieds

NZME Network

  • Advertise with NZME
  • OneRoof
  • Driven Car Guide
  • BusinessDesk
  • Newstalk ZB
  • Sunlive
  • ZM
  • The Hits
  • Coast
  • Radio Hauraki
  • The Alternative Commentary Collective
  • Gold
  • Flava
  • iHeart Radio
  • Hokonui
  • Radio Wanaka
  • iHeartCountry New Zealand
  • Restaurant Hub
  • NZME Events

SubscribeSign In
Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.
Home / Business

Rotorua Business Chamber Excellence Award winners 'over the moon' and 'stoked'

Samantha Olley
By Samantha Olley
Rotorua Daily Post·
6 Oct, 2019 05:00 PM4 mins to read

Subscribe to listen

Access to Herald Premium articles require a Premium subscription. Subscribe now to listen.
Already a subscriber?  Sign in here

Listening to articles is free for open-access content—explore other articles or learn more about text-to-speech.
‌
Save

    Share this article

    Reminder, this is a Premium article and requires a subscription to read.

DCA Architects were named the Supreme Winner at the Rotorua Business Awards. Photo / Andrew Warner

DCA Architects were named the Supreme Winner at the Rotorua Business Awards. Photo / Andrew Warner

"Totally unexpected."

That was DCA Architects of Transformation founder Darryl Church's reaction to becoming the Supreme Winner at this year's Rotorua Business Chamber Excellence Awards on Saturday night.

READ MORE:
• Rotorua Business Awards finalists announced
• Rotorua business owner says economic benefits will start with wellbeing
• target="_blank"> Premium - Rotorua businesses weigh in on potential rates relief as more vacant shops appear around the CBD
• Rotorua and Murupara businesses secure finalist spots in New Zealand Tourism Awards

The gala event was staged at the Energy Events Centre and attended by about 640 people.

Dotted between the 18 awards and speeches were live performances, including a half-time set from Che Fu, and a three-course meal.

Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.

The Hits radio presenter Paul Hickey was the MC.

Rotorua Business Chamber Supreme Excellence Award about to be announced.

Posted by Rotorua Daily Post on Saturday, 5 October 2019

Church said taking the top prize was "a massive achievement" for DCA Architects' staff.

"We are more than a team we are like family, and it is the strength of that enables us to do what we do."

Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.

Speaking to the Rotorua Daily Post after the event, operations manager Helen Mossman said the team was "over the moon".

DCA Architects were named the Supreme Winner at the Rotorua Business Awards. Photo / Andrew Warner
DCA Architects were named the Supreme Winner at the Rotorua Business Awards. Photo / Andrew Warner

"We have such awesome staff and everyone is just stoked."

Discover more

Business

Where to find the cheapest rentals in Rotorua

21 Oct 01:13 AM
New Zealand

Want a job? Hospitality sector booming but staff needed

01 Nov 08:00 PM
New Zealand

Coin toss turns to loss - Hinerangi Goodman loses council seat

31 Oct 06:11 AM

Earlier in the night, DCA was also named the winner of the Excellence in Property and Construction category.

Church told the crowd winning an award for business, not design, was a new experience for the firm.

The Supreme Winner at the Rotorua Business Awards, DCA Architects. Photo / Andrew Warner
The Supreme Winner at the Rotorua Business Awards, DCA Architects. Photo / Andrew Warner

"Five years ago we didn't even have a business plan, but we are now really focused on that."

One of the biggest crowd-pleasers was the Business Person of the Year Award, given this year to Ian Patchell with a standing ovation.

The Patchell Group founder and avid philanthropist was overseas on prearranged business, so his award was accepted by general manager Brent Whibley.

Ian Patchell won the Business Person of the Year Award and it was received on his behalf by Patchell Group general manager Brent Whibley. Photo / Andrew Warner
Ian Patchell won the Business Person of the Year Award and it was received on his behalf by Patchell Group general manager Brent Whibley. Photo / Andrew Warner

Patchell left school at age 15 to make boilers, before eventually starting his own trailer manufacturing business.

Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.

Fifty years later, Patchell Group has clients all over the world and employs 270 employees, all but three of which work in Rotorua across eight buildings.

Whibley said one of his biggest regrets was that Patchell could not receive the award in person.

"This is exactly the kind of recognition he needs."

Rotorua Business Chamber Excellence Awards 2019 at the Energy Events Centre. Photo / Andrew Warner
Rotorua Business Chamber Excellence Awards 2019 at the Energy Events Centre. Photo / Andrew Warner

Pukeroa Oruawhata Trust chairman Malcolm Short gratefully received the Outstanding Contribution to Rotorua award on behalf of the Pukeroa Oruawhata Group.

It has grown its balance sheet from a couple of million dollars in 1980 to $303 million, involving retail projects such as Trade Central and the Rotorua Central Mall.

"We have loved every minute of trying to develop Rotorua, our town," Short said.

Lawyer and te reo advocate Kerri Anne Hancock from Te Maru o Ngāti Rangiwewehi won the Emerging Leader Award and was acknowledged with a spontaneous karanga from a colleague upon returning from the stage.

Waimangu Volcanic Valley took home two category wins - Innovation and Technology and Tourism - which left the staff "extremely happy and proud".

Frank Zhou, a Rotorua commercial manager with the awards' main sponsor, Westpac, spoke of the importance of Te Arawa in the Rotorua business community.

"The more we appreciate mana whenua... The history of Rotorua, the better we are equipped for the challenges of the future."

Frank Zhou, a Rotorua commercial manager with the awards' main sponsor, Westpac. Photo / Andrew Warner
Frank Zhou, a Rotorua commercial manager with the awards' main sponsor, Westpac. Photo / Andrew Warner

He hoped all attendees would take something away from the night, whether it was a new idea, a new networking connection, or just a chance to reflect on their hard work.

The chamber's president John McRae said there were a record number of entries for the awards this year.

He spoke about the importance of "co-opetition" in Rotorua.

"We [businesses] keep each other on our toes but we come together for Rotorua Inc on the world stage."

Winners

Excellence in Primary Industries
PF Olsen Ltd

Excellence in Property, Construction and Manufacturing
DCA Architects of Transformation

Excellence in Retail
Mountain Jade

Excellence in the Service Sector
Cheal

Excellence in Hospitality
Sichuan Style Restaurant

Excellence in Tourism
Waimangu Volcanic Valley

Bilingual Business Award
Arataua

Small Business Award
Galaxy Travel World Travellers

Sustainability
Jasco Distributing

Innovation and Technology
Waimangu Volcanic Valley

Not for Profit
The Arts Village

Workplace Safety
Redwoods Treewalk

Emerging Leader
Kerri Anne Hancock – Te Maru o Ngati Rangiwewehi

Employee of the Year
Helen Bennett - Physio Direct

Young Innovator of the Year
Kayleigh Waller - Western Heights High School

Business Person of the Year
Ian Patchell

Outstanding Contribution to Rotorua
Pukeroa Oruawhata Group

Supreme Winner
DCA Architects of Transformation

Save

    Share this article

    Reminder, this is a Premium article and requires a subscription to read.

Latest from Business

Retail

'Challenging conditions': Luxury retail giant DFS closing Kiwi stores

11 Jul 07:43 AM
Premium
Shares

Market close: 'Green shoots' for Ryman – positive reaction to earnings outlook

11 Jul 06:25 AM
Premium
Retail

Push Gummies halts sales amid creatine content controversy

11 Jul 06:20 AM

Audi offers a sporty spin on city driving with the A3 Sportback and S3 Sportback

sponsored
Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.

Latest from Business

'Challenging conditions': Luxury retail giant DFS closing Kiwi stores

'Challenging conditions': Luxury retail giant DFS closing Kiwi stores

11 Jul 07:43 AM

Duty Free Shoppers is exiting the Oceania market after 30 years.

Premium
Market close: 'Green shoots' for Ryman – positive reaction to earnings outlook

Market close: 'Green shoots' for Ryman – positive reaction to earnings outlook

11 Jul 06:25 AM
Premium
Push Gummies halts sales amid creatine content controversy

Push Gummies halts sales amid creatine content controversy

11 Jul 06:20 AM
Watch: 'My raging backyard river' - North Shore homeowner fears stormwater torrent

Watch: 'My raging backyard river' - North Shore homeowner fears stormwater torrent

11 Jul 06:00 AM
Gold demand soars amid global turmoil
sponsored

Gold demand soars amid global turmoil

NZ Herald
  • About NZ Herald
  • Meet the journalists
  • Newsletters
  • Classifieds
  • Help & support
  • Contact us
  • House rules
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms of use
  • Competition terms & conditions
  • Our use of AI
Subscriber Services
  • NZ Herald e-editions
  • Daily puzzles & quizzes
  • Manage your digital subscription
  • Manage your print subscription
  • Subscribe to the NZ Herald newspaper
  • Subscribe to Herald Premium
  • Gift a subscription
  • Subscriber FAQs
  • Subscription terms & conditions
  • Promotions and subscriber benefits
NZME Network
  • The New Zealand Herald
  • The Northland Age
  • The Northern Advocate
  • Waikato Herald
  • Bay of Plenty Times
  • Rotorua Daily Post
  • Hawke's Bay Today
  • Whanganui Chronicle
  • Viva
  • NZ Listener
  • Newstalk ZB
  • BusinessDesk
  • OneRoof
  • Driven Car Guide
  • iHeart Radio
  • Restaurant Hub
NZME
  • About NZME
  • NZME careers
  • Advertise with NZME
  • Digital self-service advertising
  • Book your classified ad
  • Photo sales
  • NZME Events
  • © Copyright 2025 NZME Publishing Limited
TOP