Each month over the past year, the Buy NZ Made Campaign has awarded monthly Hero status to 12 companies. The winners were businesses which had promoted their New Zealand made status as well as excelled in other areas including sustainability, employee satisfaction, innovation, domestic and international growth and diversification into new markets.
The 12 companies were voted on by the public over the month of November, with the Carac Group securing the outright victory.
The Carac Group was established 30 years ago and has grown internationally over the years due to the quality of its products as well as the company's innovative ideas.
The company produces components for the New Zealand and international market in automotive, agricultural, marine, engineering and utility industries.
It employs 40 staff including the couple's son Mark Burling, who works as a mechanical engineer, daughter Sonia Kiser, who works on the company's marketing/HR, and daughter Heather McDonald, who is the company's financial administrator.
Sonia says she is both surprised and excited by the win which was defiantly a team effort.
"We really thank our 40 staff for all there hardwork in making this happen.
It's really fantastic for Eltham too — we have a lot of companies here putting themselves on the world map. It's just great for our small town."
