AucklandPlus congratulates Craig Norgate

The board and staff of AucklandPlus congratulate Advisory Board member Craig Norgate on winning a World Class New Zealand award in the Finance, Investment & Business Services category, and wish him all the best for the Supreme Award which will be announced on 27 February 2008.

7 February 2008
Source: Kea New Zealand and New Zealand Trade & Enterprise

Kea New Zealand and New Zealand Trade and Enterprise today announced the winners of the prestigious 2008 World Class New Zealand Awards, now in its fifth year.

The awards recognise New Zealand’s ‘Tall Poppy’s’ who provide inspiration and leadership for the next generation of business, creative and academic leaders. Winners are those who have given their time, knowledge and skills to help New Zealand succeed internationally. The awards are across a range of sectors reflecting the diversity of the New Zealand economy.

The winners are:

• Biotechnology - Prof. Garth Cooper
• Information and Communications Technology - Rod Drury
• Research, Science, Technology & Academia - Prof. Margaret Brimble
• Finance, Investment & Business Services - Craig Norgate
• Manufacturing - Maurice Prendergast
• Creative Industries - Phil Keoghan
• New Thinking - Bruce Farr

The winner of the Supreme Award, sponsored by HSBC, will be announced on the evening of the Awards.

All eight winners will receive a ‘Tall Poppy’, a unique statuette designed by Richard Taylor from the Oscar-winning WETA Workshop in Wellington. The black-tie gala dinner will be held at The Langham Hotel in Auckland on 27 February.

"New Zealand punches way above its weight internationally and these awards give us the perfect opportunity to celebrate this. As a judge, I have had the privilege of reading about not only these talented individuals but a whole raft of finalists and I have been so impressed with the excellent work New Zealanders are continuing to do around the globe.

"The winners are a shining example to young New Zealand entrepreneurs, of business people and academics succeeding on a world stage while at the same time contributing back into the New Zealand economy," says Chair of Kea New Zealand, Stephen Tindall.

New Zealand Trade and Enterprise Chief Executive, Tim Gibson says "Now in its fifth year I am continually surprised by the sheer number of world class Kiwis doing creative, cutting edge and ground breaking work in their fields. It is a sign of how well New Zealand is excelling on the world stage."

The 2008 World Class New Zealand Awards are proudly supported by sponsors - HSBC; Gen-i; BDO Spicers; Merck Sharp & Dohme; Enterprising Manukau; Foundation for Research, Science and Technology; Provenco and Wellington City Council.

The black-tie gala dinner will start at 7pm and will be held at The Langham Hotel in Auckland on 27 February 2008. Tickets are limited and available from wcnz-tickets@keanewzealand.com or by phoning Victoria on (09) 302 3100.