Halo shines at Mainstreet Business Awards

Their "little baby halo" grew from the ground up four years ago to shine at the 2006 Mainstreet Business Awards in Wanganui on Saturday night.
Hair by Halo's crowning glory was winning the 2006 Overall Best Business and also picking up Pete's Post Best Personal Service Sector Award.
Liana Kiriona and Kristy Whittington, owners of Hair by Halo and delighted with their win, said they enjoyed giving good service.
Both women paid tribute to their hair stylists: April Bealing, who has just qualified as a senior stylist, Jodie Donaldson, Tiffiny Thompson and Angela Doyle.
Business proprietors and their staff gathered to hear about their business excellence and the little difference that separated the winners from the second and third placegetters in some categories.
Fifty-nine businesses entered the 11th annual awards held at the Concert Chamber in the War Memorial Hall.
Exceptional product knowledge at Hair by Halo; the extra dash of panache by Rivercity Insurance Brokers 2000 Ltd; Maxilab's outstanding customer service, voted by a member of the public; Leigh Mana of Michael Hill Jewellers' special mention by the judges for outstanding individual service and in the same category, the nerves of steel of Petre House's Sandra Glennie; and Indigo's best use of space in the visual presentation category, were points the judges marked the businesses against.
Guest speaker Wayne Mowatt, from National Radio, reminisced about his time in the River City when he arrived as a 22-year-old copy writer to work for station 2ZW.
His anecdotes were from a time when some of those now in business weren't born.
Photo News was the weekly magazine that everyone bought and which Mr Mowatt said "you bought to see if you were in it and who you were with".
He regaled the audience about the time a "Maori youth stopped me and asked if he could borrow my Fender guitar."
The youth was Wanganui musician Posie Te Tana, who borrowed the guitar, did return it and then invited the Dunedin boy to play with his band.
"That was the best 10 years of my life crammed into 1968-1969, when I played with the Diplomats in the Imperial Hotel, in woolsheds and at the hairdressers' ball.
"It was a time when I was embraced by Wanganui Maori and learned so much about the culture."
Mr Mowatt said that on his return to Wanganui he had found a progressive, vibrant and friendly city.
"You've come a long way, baby."
The 2006 Mainstreet Business Awards winners -
Stephen Lace & Co Chartered Accountants ? best small retail business award: Petre House, 1; Health 2000 Wanganui, 2; Top Draw, 3.
Rivercity Insurance Brokers 2000 Ltd ? best medium retail business award: Bates' Watchmakers, 1; Footloose Shoes, Wanganui 2; The Bike Shed 3.
Wanganui Gas ? best large retail business award: Central City Pharmacy, 1; Michael Hill Jeweller, 2; Just Looking 3.
Pete's Post ? best personal service sector award: Hair by Halo, 1; The Edge Beauty Studio, 2; Renaissance Hair Design, 3.
Harrison's HireMaster ? best professional business award: Rivercity Insurance Brokers 2000 Ltd, 1; State Insurance, 2; Air New Zealand, 3.
The Flying Fox ? best restaurant & bar award: Red Flame Thai Restaurant & Cafe, 1; Beijing Licensed Restaurant & Function Centre, 2; Stellar Restaurant & Bar, 3.
Crombie Lockwood (NZ) Ltd Best Cafe, Takeaway or Coffee Lounge Award: Cracked Pepper, 1; The Orange, 2; Li's Sushi Bar & Restaurant, 3.
Wanganui Incorporated ? best visual presentation award: Indigo Cafe & Bar, 1; Art & Grace Hairdressing, 2; Footloose Shoes Wanganui, 3.
KiwiHost Central ? outstanding customer service award: Maxilab Film & Digital
Outstanding individual service merit awards: Leigh Mana, Michael Hill Jeweller 1;
Sandra Glennie, Petre House, 2; Farzana Mohammed, Red Flame Thai Restaurant & Cafe, 3.
2006 overall best business: Hair by Halo.
PICTURED: Crowning glory? for Hair by Halo who took the top prize at the Mainstreet Business Awards on Saturday night. From left: Jodie Donaldson, Tiffiny Thompson, Liana Kiriona, Kristy Whittington and April Bealing. Absent, Angela Doyle.