MEDIA RELEASE
29 October 2009

Southern Hawke’s Bay firm wins Westpac Hawke’s Bay Chamber of Commerce Business Awards top award

A Dannevirke based engineering firm that developed a world acclaimed electric wheel chair has been named the Hawke’s Bay Today Business of the Year.

Metalform took out the major award at last night’s Westpac Hawke’s Bay Chamber of Commerce Business Awards at the Hawke’s Bay Opera House.

The firm also won the Export Hawke’s Bay Exporter Award and the Pan Pac Forest Products Large Business Award.

Convenor of judging Rick Cranswick said Metalform was taking on the world with some amazing technology advances, especially with the Ezi rider wheel chair.

He said the business had the ability to operate 24/7 with automated machinery that worked throughout the night.

More importantly Mr Cranswick said the business had a strong heart and was aware of its contribution into a small community.

“The business is led by a father and son team (Geoff and Campbell Easton) but they had the nous to realise that they are first and foremost designers and that they needed to employ a general manager (Allan Benbow) to assist in running the business.

“They have been incredibly successful in the current economic environment. They understand their role in the community and provide great opportunities for staff,” Mr Cranswick said.

Optometry business Visique Shattky on Russell also took out two award categories – Classic Hits Excellence in Retail and Orb Communications Small Business Award.

Mr Cranswick said there was considerable debate to decide the overall winner based on two companies winning two categories.

Progressive Meat’s Managing Director Craig Hickson was named the Hawke’s Bay Chamber of Commerce/Employer Manufacturers Association Business Person of the Year.

A new category celebrating Maori business, the Te Puni Kôkori Mâori Business Excellence Award was won by Cultureflow, a business that teaches Te Reo Mâori throughout New Zealand.

Another Maori business, Waimarama Maori Tourism, took out the Venture Hawke’s Bay Visitor Industry Award.

2009 Winners
Hawke’s Bay Today Business of the Year Metalform (Dannevirke) Ltd		Export Hawke’s Bay Exporter of the Year Metalform (Dannevirke) Ltd Pan Pac Forest Products Large Business Metalform (Dannevirke) Ltd
Workfit Healthy Workplace Award Pak’N’Save Hastings Heinz Watties (Hastings)		3R Group Sustainable Business Kennedy Park Top 10 Resort
Xplore.net Online Award Ezibed.com		Classic Hits Excellence in Retail Visique Shattky on Russell Orb Communications Small Business Visique Shattky on Russell
Venture Hawke’s Bay Visitor Industry Award Waimarama Maori Tourism		Te Puni Kôkori Mâori Business Excellence Award Cultureflow
Hawke’s Bay Chamber of Commerce/Employer Manufacturers Association Business Person of the Year Award Craig Hickson Unison Service Provider Gains Psychology & Consulting Services (no image)		Judges

Click here to go all images of the Awards Night (images can be purchased)