On April 17th at Jeff Gray BMW's Kaiwharawhara showroom The Dominion Post's GM - Gerrard Watt and Mayor Celia Wade-Brown announced this year's finalists. Photos here
They are a true cross-section of business and life! Providing us with services and products from the cradle to the grave.....
From a hi-tech skin balm products to purveyors of green coffinry- Antipodes Saviour Balm & TenderRest, from a wild 3-day coastal walk to extreme tree top thrills - Tora Coastal Walk & Adrenalin Forest, gelato and biscotti makers - Carrello del Gelato & Giustina's, cricketand ticket software - - CricHQ & Dash Tickets, creators of both virtual world and real world environments - MinoMonos & Studio Pacific Architecture. And of course apps aplenty.
The Wellington business landscape has transformed over the last 14 years. It is no longer a grey government town, but a home for many highly creative businesses.
The Gold Awards are very proud to have encapsulated this rebirth. Since 1999 the list of Gold Awards winners is laden with the inspirational businesses that form Wellington's New Economy.
Last year's winners are just such a group. From boutique brewers - Tuatara Brewing to revolutionary software makers - Aptimize, from luxury visitor destination - Boomrock to leading design practice - Designworks, from massive metal recycler - Macaulay Metals to green family run coffee company - Celcius, from our largest agri-employer - Landcorp Farming to major paint manufacturer - Dulux.
The supreme award went to Endoform a high-tech strong, shelf-stable tissue substitute developed by Mesynthes, which with their FDA approval are soon to launch in the USA.
We asked Brian Ward CEO about progress: "The last 6 months has been massive. We have made huge strides towards commercialisation - confirming our US distributor, organizing logistics and working through reimbursement approval for the US Health system. We have also gained ISO13485 certification for manufacturing in our Lower Hutt facility. Winning The Gold Awards has given us great profile and recognition. It has also been a real boost for the team."
Jonnie Eastwick owner of Boomrock hasn't stopped since their win for Vibrant Gold in May:
"During the Rugby World Cup Boomrock enjoyed hosting a range of international visitors working closely with major sponsors and teams. The corporate bookings since the cup have been overwhelming. Our subsidiary FleetsafeNZ (which began on the Boomrock racetrack) is aimed at changing drivers behaviours in the fleet industry and is ramping up in the with pilots programmes aimed at Youth Drivers hitting schools in March."
Macaulay Metals have continued to expand according to CFO Phil Springford:
"We have taken on three new directors to help us guide and grow the business. We have also opened a new yard in Gisborne - taking our total to six yards. More than anything else winning The Global Gold Award have given us real credibility with larger Wellington businesses who had previously not heard of us."
The 2012 Gold Awards look forward to spotlighting the next wave of inspiring Wellington Businesses.
Mesynthes, the Lower Hutt company that developed an organic tissue substitute for people with burns or severe skin injuries, was last night named the supreme winner of the Wellington Gold Awards.
Mesynthes supreme winner at Wellington Gold Awards
HAMISH RUTHERFORD The Dominion Post 19/05/2011
ON A HIGH: Winners, from left, Barnaby May, Brian Ward and Nancy Yopp from Mesynthes. Photo by Kent Blechynden
Mesynthes, the Lower Hutt company that developed an organic tissue substitute for people with burns or severe skin injuries, was last night named the supreme winner of the Wellington Gold Awards.
At a gala evening at the TSB Bank Arena, the company also took out the discovering gold award for the best research and development project for Endoform, a hi-tech, strong, shelf-stable tissue substitute.
Mesynthes was formed three years ago by veterinarian Brian Ward, who spotted shortcomings in the tissue-substitute market in the 1990s.
In collaboration with scientists from Otago University and crown research institute Industrial Research, the Mesynthes chief executive refined a product that not only replaces the patient's tissue but encourages the patient's cells to grow there and replace it.
Endoform uses tissue from sheep and strips it of its immunological components like cells and cell walls, leaving the regenerative material behind.
Stripping the material down reduced many of the immunological issues of using materials between species.
Its first product gained the crucial approval in January of the US Food and Drug Administration, the world's most lucrative medical market, where it expects to launch commercially this year.
The Gold Awards, Wellington's premier business awards, saw 10 companies and government agencies recognised for business excellence, while an iconic figure of Wellington business was also recognised.
Lloyd Morrison, the investment banker who founded Morrison & Co, best known as the manager of infrastructure giant Infratil, was recognised in the Dominion Post tribute to an icon.
Infratil's assets range from airports and buses to petrol stations. Mr Morrison's contribution to business saw him made a companion of the New Zealand Order of Merit in the New Year honours in 2009.
In the other awards, Wellington design agency Designworks won the creative gold award, and Aptimize took out the cyber gold award for its revolutionary software that speeds up websites by up to 50 per cent.
Tuatara Brewing, which produces New Zealand's most widely distributed craft beer, won the emerging gold award, while the global gold award for exporters and service companies was won by Macaulay Metals, New Zealand's largest privately owned scrap metal recycler.
Creative HQ, the business incubator assisting the next generation of Wellington businesses and leaders, won the supporting gold award, while the luxury rural getaway, Boomrock Lodge, won vibrant gold.
Dulux New Zealand won the ACC workplace safety award for demonstrating ongoing and proactive commitment with a zero tolerance for injury, and Celcius Coffee, a boutique family-owned coffee company, took the green gold award for positive and sustainable business practices.
Landcorp Farming, one of New Zealand's largest agribusinesses, won the team gold award for investment in people and human resources programmes.
At a gala evening at the TSB Bank Arena, the company also took out the discovering gold award for the best research and development project for Endoform, a hi-tech, strong, shelf-stable tissue substitute.
Pictured aboved Barnaby May, Brian Ward & Nancy Yopp from Mesynthes. The company was formed three years ago by veterinarian Brian Ward, who spotted shortcomings in the tissue-substitute market in the 1990s. more...
Lloyd Morrison (pictured right between Sir John Anderson, Sir John Todd) says the path to beating cancer is like starting a company: you might not know how it will turn out but you battle on believing you will make it. "It's probably the
same thing as building a business; you have an optimism and a vision that you'll get there. You're not sure how, you don't know how the road will unfold, but you keep going." more...
On receiving his Tribute at The 2010 Gold Awards John Todd talked about the value of family in establishing the Todd empire over 100 years ago. He saluted Trilogy's owners, sisters Catherine de Groot and Sarah Gibb as another family business.
As it happened there were a few other family teams amongst the 2010 winners: Acma Industries is run by father and son Alan and John Bowmar (pictured left). Snapper has brothers Miki and Gabor Szikiszai.
Also attending from Flagmakers were mater and pater Dianne and Peter Hume and their daughter Kirsten. Kirsten has just joined the company's Nexus export division after working in London for 5 years.
There were also the parents, in business themselves, who came along to support their offspring's endeavours.
These included Don and Eve Casagranda (pictured right) from On Arrival NZ (relocation and resettlement specialists) who were there to support daughter Lisa Casagranda of Pet Angels. Lisa attributes her entrepreneurial bent to her parents and does not underestimate the value of their continual belief and support in her dreams.
John and Carol Roper (pictured left) from Horizon International, paving manufacturers, were there with their daughter Rachel Taulelei from Yellow Brick Road.
Acclaimed photographer Grant Sheehan was there with his son Rhian Sheehan. Rhian's in-laws came along as well. Nick Schembri from Dash Ticket's mum Katie Taylor, who Nick credits for his "Sales Genes", was there too.
A lot of new businesses could not proceed without moral and very often financial support from Mum and Dad, so it's really nice to see that reflected at The Gold Awards...
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WIN TICKETS TO THE GOLDS!
dompost.co.nz is giving two shining new businesses the chance to attend The 2012 Gold Awards.
Tell us Why You Are Start-Up Stars (in less than 200 words) and you could WIN 5 TICKETS for your team to be at The Golds on May 31st.Entries close May 21st.
Wairarapa Times Age Friday, April 20, 2012 Three Wairarapa businesses are up for top spots in Wellington's Gold Awards, the first time Wairarapa has been included the awards.
Toast Martinborough and the Tora Coastal Walk are two of the five finalists in the Vibrant Gold category, which recognises events, hospitality and visitor facilities.
Pukaha Mt Bruce National Wildlife Centre is a finalist in the Green Gold category for positive sustainability programmes.(continues)
Wellington Business Icon: LLOYD MORRISON 1957-2012
The Wellington Gold Awards were very saddened to learn of the loss of Lloyd Morrison.
Lloyd was a true business leader who inspired and built a global infrastructure company from his base here in Wellington. At the 2011 Gold Awards Lloyd was honoured with "The Dominion Post Tribute to a Wellington Icon" special award.
His acceptance speech was a major highlight of the night as he spoke movingly of his challenging battle with cancer, his overall business philosophy and his passionate commitment to Wellington and New Zealand.
Lloyd's contribution to business, the Arts, Sport and the city and country he loved was immense and he will be greatly missed by many people.
John Dow - Director Wellington Gold Awards in association with The Dominion Post 10 February 2012
During the dinner break at last year's Gold Awards, we invited the audience to submit their bright ideas as part of Grow Wellington's "Bright Ideas Challenge"
There were some beauties.
One of our favourites came from the Acma table (who picked up the Global Gold - Goods Award):
"A drink for teenagers that makes them not want to drink alcohol or have sex. It also makes them love their parents more."
d Brian Ward CEO about progress:
Eastwick owner of Boomrock hasn't stopped since their win for Vibrant Gold in May:
Macaulay Metals have continued to expand according to CFO Phil Springford:
offspring's endeavours.
(pictured left) from Horizon International, paving manufacturers, were there with their daughter Rachel Taulelei from Yellow Brick Road.
During the dinner break at last year's Gold Awards, we invited the audience to submit their bright ideas as part of Grow Wellington's