Sawmill stands tall at business awards

All the winners from Friday's Te Hiringa Tai Tokerau Maori Business Awards ceremony with Minister of Maori Development Te Ururoa Flavell. Photo / C. Horsford Photography

Demonstrating it is a market leader, being recognised and respected by its peers, and having a welcoming environment for its team, customers and stakeholders has seen Waipapa Pine take out top spot in this year's Te Hiringa Tai Tokerau Maori Business Awards.

The company also won the Most Outstanding Maori Enterprise category.

Minister for Maori Development Te Ururoa Flavell presented the company's chief, Shane Horan, with the awards at an awards dinner at Forum North in Whangarei on Friday.

Waipapa Pine head Shane Horan (right) gets his company's awards from Minister of Maori Development Te Ururoa Flavell. Photo / C. Horsford Photography

Convenor of the judges' panel and chairman of Te Hiringa Charitable Trust, which hosted the awards, Steve Bennett of Bennett and Associates Chartered Accountants, said judges thought Waipapa Pine was clearly the best in its class, and deserving of placement as overall winner.

"The standard of applications received, quality support material and high commitment to business excellence made our judging process an honour to undertake.

"The calibre of all applicants showed that Maori business in Te Tai Tokerau is indeed very good and it is fantastic for our rohe to have businesses of this nature operating in our midst," Mr Bennett said.

"These awards are held to encourage Te Tai Tokerau Maori businesses to lift their game, adopt best practice and to produce role models for others to aspire to.

"Maori business owners recognise that relationships and people play a significant factor in their successes - the awards applaud and celebrate being Maori."

Award recipients on the night included:

- Maori Business of the Year 2016 and Most Outstanding Maori Enterprise winner - Waipapa Pine.

- Best Emerging and Newly Created Enterprise winner - CrossFit Whangarei.

- Best Not for Profit Enterprise winner - Te Reo Irirangi O Te Hiku O Te Ika (trading as Te Hiku Media).

- Excellence in Environmental Management and Awareness winner - Te Runanga O Te Rarawa - Warawara Forest Project.

- Rangatahi Development winner - He Puna Marama Trust.