Now in it's twelfth year The Gold Awards winners list reads like a Who's Who of Wellington Business.

The supreme award (The Dominion Post Wellington Gold Award) has been won by such superstars of New Zealand business as Icebreaker NZ Ltd, Weta Workshop and Weta Digital, Kiwibank, Te Papa, phil&teds and Sidhe Interactive.

After attending last year's Gold Awards Prime Minister John Key said "It is particularly heartening in such tough times to see Wellington businesses bucking the trend through commitment, creativity and sheer hard work. They are a reminder to us all that excellence should be recognised, fostered, and celebrated. The Gold Awards is an outstanding event about outstanding Wellingtonians. Long may it continue."

This year 780 people attended an opera-themed Gold Awards at TSB Bank Arena with the supreme award going to Trilogy.

The other 2010 winners were Gecko Press, Snapper Services, Times-7, Acma Industries, GNS Science, Optimal Usability, World of Wearable Art, Interislander, Wellington Zoo and Yellow Brick Road

The Awards cover industry sectors ranging from creative to infrastructure, from manufacturing to IT, exporting to small business. There are also  two best practice awards: for sustainability and workplace safety practices

Other stellar Wellington businesses to have won their categories in previous years have been Resene Paints, Formway, MasterPet, Vega,  Steel & Tube Holdings, Wedgelock, Datacom and Bluebridge Cook Strait Ferry.

Emerging businesses to receive recognition have included Radiola Aerospace, Explorer Graphics, Magritek and last year, maternity lingerie manufacturers Womama.

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FAMILY MATTERS

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 this year there were a few other family teams amongst the 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...

Dominion Post Editor Bernadette Courtney, Honourable Steven Joyce, Sarah Gibb, Undine Marshfield & Catherine de Groot from Trilogy

Sheridan Bruce, Zane Te Wiremu Jarvis, Toni Huata,
Liz Melhuish & Mere Boynton

Photos courtesy of Snapstar

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THE GOLDS "TOP 5" FINALISTS VIDEO CLIPS

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 During the dinner break at this year's Gold Awards,
we invited the audience to submit their bright ideas
as part of Grow Wellington's "Bright Ideas Challenge" campaign.

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."

Hmm - wouldn't that be great!

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