Eyeing excellence in business

A109 Light Utility Helicopter flight with mayor Gisborne City from the air in November 2023.

Innovation and entrepreneurial spirit: Two hallmarks of any thriving business, and the two things organisers are looking to celebrate as they head into the Westpac Gisborne Business Excellence Awards.

Two new categoriesReflecting the dynamic and entrepreneurial spirit of the region, organisers have added two new categories to the roster — Start Up Business Excellence, and Health and Wellbeing Excellence — as well as including technology in the Manufacturing Excellence Sector. Event organiser Prue Younger says they are pleased to have incorporated the changes.

“Technology has always been important in connecting Tairawhiti to global markets and, as a result, our businesspeople have a reputation for technology leadership and early adoption across a number of sectors.

“We’re also a region of great start-ups. Even our more established, multi-generational businesses started small and have been nurtured through ebbs and flows of growth and profitability.

“It’s satisfying that we can present categories that really get to the heart of who we are as business people in Tairawhiti,” she says.

Activate Tairawhiti and Westpac are co-sponsors of this prestigious business event. Both organisations are keen to see widespread support for it — even if it’s just for the discipline of entering.

Right from the start, the process gives entrants the opportunity to put their business under the microscope.

“For entrants the exercise of identifying strengths and uniqueness, reviewing their business plans — which is all completed with the support of a mentor — not only supports good business practice, but allows business people to really understand how far they’ve come,” says Activate Tairawhiti general manager of economic development Steve Breen.

“Every year, even the most seasoned business people tell us how beneficial it is for them to take a holistic look at their business.”

Awards an 'opportunity to gain exposure and recognition'Ms Younger says the awards also present an opportunity to gain exposure and recognition amongst business peers and the wider community.

Previous supreme winners of the Westpac Gisborne Business Excellence Awards include East Coast Farm Vets (2012), Eastland Group (2013) and Sport Gisborne Tairawhiti (2015).

Entries are open and remain so until Tuesday May 1, 2018. Judging will take place over June and July with finalists notified in mid-August. The awards evening and dinner will be held in early September, where Master of Ceremonies and TV personality Te Radar will keep guests entertained at the Farmers Air Showgrounds Event Centre.