Waikato Chamber of Commerce Business Awards 2023, Claudelands, Friday 17 November 2023. Photo: Stephen Barker / Barker Photography.
Waipā’s My Mortgage, Treadlite NZ, Central Kids Early Education and the New Zealand Fieldays Society were among the major winners at last weekend’s Waikato Business awards.
The awards, presented at a gala night at Claudelands, brought together finalists from a field of 77 entries.
Waikato Chamber of Commerce chief Don Good said it was heartening to see a raft of small and medium enterprises taking out category awards.
“The increased number of entries and the impressive diversity of participants demonstrates the flourishing entrepreneurial spirit within our region,” he said.
Head judge Heather Connolly from the University of Waikato’s Management School said there were record entries for the People and Culture and Innovation Awards.
“Awards entries showcased the strength of the export community in the Waikato,” she said.
Dick Breukink – Waikato Chamber of Commerce Business Awards 2023, Claudelands, Friday 17 November 2023. Photo: Stephen Barker / Barker Photography.
©Waikato Chamber of CommerceThere was also an acknowledgement of the work of one of the judges – Cambridge’s Dick Breukink for 10 years’ service in the role.
Central Kids, a double winner, has delivered early childhood services across the Central North Island for half a century and the not-for profit organisation operates 52 centres including three in Kihikihi and Te Awamutu.
Treadlite NZ, Waikato Chamber of Commerce Business Awards 2023, Claudelands, Friday 17 November 2023. Photo: Stephen Barker / Barker Photography.
Treadlite NZ, another double winner from Cambridge, was the major winner in the Waipā business awards earlier this year.
Award winners: Supreme winner – Invivo Wines (Te Kauwhata), CEO of the Year – Lisbeth Jacobs, Gallagher Animal Management, Emerging Leader of the Year – Jenni Falconer, Emergency Consult, People’s Choice – Central Kids Early Education (Te Awamutu), For Purpose – Central Kids Early Education (Te Awamutu), Marketing – Pure Lighting (Taupō), People and Culture – Ninja Valley (Hamilton), Innovation – Emergency Consult (Hamilton), Sustainability – Fieldays Society, International Trade – Invivo Wines, Micro Business – Wyreframe (Hamilton), Community Contribution – South Waikato Investment Fund (Tokoroa), Service Excellence – My Mortgage (Cambridge), Business Growth – Treadlite NZ (Cambridge).
From left, Tracy Griffin, Lynne Dodds, Naomi Peterson and Central Kids chief executive Christine Hall pictured with their Waikato business award trophy Photo: Stephen Barker.
Fieldays. Waikato Chamber of Commerce Business Awards 2023, Claudelands, Friday 17 November 2023. Photo: Stephen Barker / Barker Photography.
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