Opus International Consultants – a truly global company New Zealand’s top Exporter of the Year

November 30, 2006

New Zealand’s top exporter for 2006 is Opus International Consultants, a company that’s come a long way from its origins as the Ministry of Works and Development to become the country’s leading engineering, architecture, planning and property management consultancy.

Opus outperformed 18 other finalists to be named the DHL Supreme Exporter of the Year at the 2006 New Zealand Trade and Enterprise (NZTE) Export Awards, presented at Auckland’s Sky City Convention Centre on 30 November. Opus also won the Services Exporter of the Year Award.

Based in Wellington, Opus achieved record revenue of $217 million last year. About $37 million was from exports, up from $12 million in 2003. The company was applauded by the Awards’ judges who called Opus a ‘truly global company that is consistently upgrading and constantly innovating.’

They said Opus’ international evolution, its complexity, scale and sharing of knowledge across international subsidiaries is indicative of a company that demonstrates excellence across the board.

NZTE Chief Executive Tim Gibson described the calibre and achievements of this year’s Export Award winners as outstanding and inspirational.

"They are building world class companies by continually striving to take their business to the next level. And despite the diverse areas they work in, they share common strengths, including confidence, visionary leadership and the ability to do what they do extraordinarily well."

He said the companies proved that coming from a distant country of just four million people was no impediment to winning in the tough international business arena.

"We celebrate their achievements and the valuable contribution they are making to the New Zealand economy."

Opus provides innovative and specialist services to a wide range of public and private sector clients on a diverse range of projects, from asset management of thousands of kilometres of New Zealand’s and Western Australia’s highways and road networks to underwater structural engineering investigation work on major bridges on the River Thames.

Dr Kevin Thompson, Chief Executive for Opus, said the skills and capability the company has developed over decades working in New Zealand have been instrumental in building the business internationally. A key strength is its road asset management capability, a niche in which he said New Zealand was regarded as a world leader.

Currently Opus is focused on growing its business in existing markets through a strategy of organic growth and more importantly, through a programme of mergers and acquisitions with locally-based businesses, leveraging off their local knowledge, skills and market recognition.

Presently the company has over 1800 staff operating through 58 offices in Australia, Canada, UK and New Zealand.

"One of our key strengths is our ‘local office’ model,” explained Dr Thompson.

"Based on its success in New Zealand, we’re applying this model internationally, operating multiple, small, locally-focused offices, where similar competitors have typically only one or two large, impersonal offices."

He said without trying to sound clichéd, Opus is very much about its people. "We put a lot of effort into that. We’ve got to; our people are our particular strength and our marketing point of difference."

Contact:  Richard Silcock, Marketing Services & Corporate Communications Manager, Opus International Consultants, phone +64 4 471 7047, Richard.silcock@opus.co.nz, www.opus.co.nz

Cheryl Dudfield, Marketing & Communications Co-ordinator, Opus International Consultants, phone +64 4 471 7067, email cheryl.dudfield@opus.co.nz, www.opus.co.nz

Notes for editors:

The Export Awards celebrate their 40th anniversary in 2006. A historical briefing and more information including profiles of all of this year’s finalists and media information on individual sector category winners is available at www.exportawards.co.nz 

Interviews can be arranged through Jennifer Andrewes, New Zealand Trade and Enterprise, phone +64 4 931 6144, mobile 027 228 0261, or email jennifer.andrewes@nzte.govt.nz

Photographs representing Opus International Consultants are available on request to Jennifer Andrewes.

About NZTE:

New Zealand Trade and Enterprise is the government's economic development agency, committed to helping New Zealand businesses grow their international competitiveness, capability and profitability. Visit www.nzte.govt.nz or www.exportawards.co.nz

About DHL:

DHL is the global market leader of the international express and logistics industry, specialising in providing innovative and customized solutions from a single source.
DHL offers expertise in express, air and ocean freight, overland transport, contract logistic solutions as well as international mail services, combined with worldwide coverage and an in-depth understanding of local markets. DHL's international network links more than 220 countries and territories worldwide.  285,000 employees are dedicated to providing fast and reliable services that exceed customers' expectations.

DHL is a Deutsche Post World Net brand. The group generated revenues of €56 billion in 2005.

About the Foundation for Research, Science and Technology (FRST):

The Foundation for Research, Science and Technology invests over $460 million a year on behalf of the New Zealand Government, in research, science and technology. These investments are made to enhance the wealth and well being of New Zealanders.

Through its Technology New Zealand suite of schemes, the Foundation assists companies to undertake research and development projects that result in new export-focused products, processes or services. Investment from the Foundation, in the form of grants, is directed at supporting technical risk and the building of technical skills and expertise in companies.

For more information visit www.frst.govt.nz

About Export New Zealand (ENZ) - The association of New Zealand exporters:

ENZ is a Non Governmental Organisation (NGO), not for profit incorporated society with national coverage. ENZ specifically focuses on helping its membership of exporters and exporter service providers grow their business in the international market place. ENZ has an elected National Executive and CEO with well established regions in Auckland, Waikato, Bay of Plenty, Wellington and Christchurch providing the important regional presence and focus that ensures local needs are understood and met.  ENZ specifically acknowledges new export success with the Emerging Exporter Award.  This year, five regional finalists will compete for The Export New Zealand Emerging Exporter of the year award, to be presented at the NZTE Gala Awards evening in November.

For more information visit www.exportnewzealand.org.nz

Distributed by Jennifer Andrewes, New Zealand Trade and Enterprise, phone +64 4 931 6144, mobile +64 27 228 0261, or email jennifer.andrewes@nzte.govt.nz