History of the New Zealand Export Awards

For more than four decades the New Zealand Export Awards have charted the growth and success of Kiwi companies on the world stage.

Past winners of these prestigious awards read like a who’s who of New Zealand business. They include household names such as Tip Top Ice Cream, Fletchers, Lion Breweries, the New Zealand Dairy Board, Bowron Sheepskin and Crown Lynn Pottery. Included in their ranks are also many companies that have achieved world firsts, such as C.W.F. Hamilton and Co Ltd, pioneers of jetboat propulsion, and Gallagher Group, inventor of the electric fence.

Some firms have won several awards over the last 40 years, an indication of their ability to evolve and respond to the changing needs and trends of global markets.
In some ways the 2007 New Zealand Export Awards are light years away from those held in 1966 – today a strict judging criteria applies, and some of the categories contested, for example life sciences, biotechnology and information and communications technology, were unheard of in 1966. The government agency responsible for organising the Export Awards has changed its name many times to its present incarnation as New Zealand Trade and Enterprise.

What hasn’t changed is the main objective of the New Zealand Export Awards – to recognise and celebrate the achievements of the men and women of New Zealand who take risks and invest huge amounts of time, money and passion into successfully selling this country products and services to the world.

The New Zealand Export Awards also encourage the growth and breadth and depth of New Zealand’s export base and help to build a culture of business and enterprise.

The Highlights

1965
The first Export Awards scheme was introduced by the Trade Promotion Council.

1966
The first ten awards were presented in 1966. The winning companies included Tonka Corporation of NZ Ltd which made the famous metal Tonka toys. Another familiar name was Morrison Industries Ltd of Hastings, motor mower manufacturers. Publisher A.H. and A.W. Reed was also among the first bunch of winners. Now called Reed Publishing (NZ), the company’s website notes that the 1960s marked a new level of success for the long-established business, with a rush of bestsellers including the phenomenal A Good Keen Man by Barry Crump. Reed Publishing (NZ) Ltd won the Creative and Design Exporter of the Year Award in 2004.

Export Award winners received a pennant and an “inscribed” certificate.

1967
Four winners included C.W.F. Hamilton and Co Ltd. This Christchurch company pioneered jetboat propulsion with the Hamilton Jetboat recognised as the genesis of the modern waterjet propulsion system.  The company also won an Export Award in 2003.

1968
This year’s winners included Crown Lynn Potteries. Its products included what has become the iconic New Zealand Rail cup. 
 
1970
Winners included PDL Industries Ltd of Christchurch, manufacturers of electrical equipment. The original company was founded in 1937 with 12 staff and annual sales of $5000. By 1997 it had 2000 staff and $350 million in annual sales across three continents. Schneider Electric acquired the PDL group in 2001.

1971
By 1970, 25 Export Awards had been presented and Export News reported that “the range of products represented by the firms is indicative of the rapid diversification of New Zealand’s export products.”

1972
Winners included The Fletcher Group. Reporting the win, Export News said: “Three years ago the Fletcher Group was a negligible exporter, at least in comparison with its domestic sales. However, since it embarked on a concentrated export drive in 1968, export sales have soared from $1.9 million to over $5.5 million per year and prospects for the future are excellent.”

1973
Trade and Industry proposed introducing the Governor General’s Award. This was to be the ultimate Export Award, for a “firm or organisation which for at least five years since receiving an award has not only continued to expand its exports but has achieved a truly outstanding record in overseas markets.” Today’s equivalent is the Supreme Exporter of the Year Award, presented to one of the category winners.

In 1973 the Apple and Pear Marketing Board and the New Zealand Dairy Board were deemed eligible for Export Awards.

1974
The Governor General’s Award was presented for the first time in December 1974 to G.L Bowron Co Ltd of Christchurch (it won the award a second time in 1989).  Export News reported that “Farsightedness, willingness to take risks, effective marketing and teamwork - these were the qualities which helped win for the Christchurch tanning and manufacturing company.” The Governor General Sir Denis Blundell presented the award before a large number of “distinguished guests.” The company received an inscribed metal wall plaque and trophy, commissioned from artist Guy Ngan.
 
At the time of the win G.L. Bowron was exporting about NZ$1.6 million annually. Its marketing manager said: “A key to growth is to diversify products and markets to obtain a bigger volume and spread of sales. This in itself compensates for the risks, the setbacks, and the grinding hard work that go into developing successful export markets.”

Founded as a small tannery in 1881, the name "Bowron" remains synonymous in 2006 with the world's finest sheepskin products. Working from a world class manufacturing facility the company is a preferred supplier of sheepskins to global retail and manufacturing brands.
 
1975
Tasman Vaccine Laboratory Ltd of Upper Hutt was the second recipient of the Governor General’s Award; the company had built up an impressive international business based on the export of veterinary vaccines and pharmaceuticals, doubling exports since 1971 to nearly $6.5 million.

Farmer Brian Kerrigan was the first recipient of an Export Award for an individual. Working in the Ohingaiti district near Taihape over the previous 20 years, Mr Kerrigan had built up a large flock of black sheep by breeding from specially selected black rams and in 1970 started exporting hand-spinning wool to Canada.

By 1975 he had diversified into other products, including pickled pelts, suede lamb and slink skins and knitting yards and extended his export markets to France, Japan, Hong Kong and Australia.

1976
The Export Awards scheme was extended this year to include a holiday prize for an employee from the shop floor or office, nominated by an Export Award winner selected each year.

The holiday prize was still in existence in 1984, at which time Air New Zealand, the Mount Cook Group, the Tourist Hotel Corporation and the government jointly sponsored it. The prize was a week’s expenses paid holiday at any THC resort, plus $100 spending money for an employee of the company. The winning company chose its own recipient for the prize and was encouraged to select a non-executive member of its staff who had been closely involved in the export effort.

1982/83
The Trade Promotion Council was abolished in March 1982 and an Export Award Committee established in 1983 to take over responsibility for the awards.

1983
The Governor General’s Award was won by Gallagher Export Company from Hamilton for its world-leading power fencing equipment. At the time of winning the award, it already had clients in more than 100 countries, including Iceland and The Falklands. Today the Gallagher Group comprises a portfolio of world class companies centered on innovative animal management and business security systems. The company continues to be owned by the Gallagher Family.

1984
The Governor General’s award went to NZ Pharmaceuticals (NZP) in Palmerston North. Today NZP is at the forefront of biotechnology industry development in New Zealand. It manufactures and exports pharmaceutical intermediates and diagnostics products for the world’s leading pharmaceuticals and biotechnology companies. It also produces a range of dietary supplements.

Export Award recipients this year included Lion Breweries of Auckland. Mike Moore, the Minister of Overseas Trade and Marketing presented the company with the award in recognition of success with exports of Steinlager, Leopard beers and Tia Maria liqueur. Managing Director Douglas Myers noted that his company’s products were “not only a pleasant accompaniment to the New Zealand way of life, but also meant employment to thousands of people”. The staff of Lion Breweries held a barbecue to celebrate the win, and naturally enough “washed everything down with Steinlager”, reported Export News.

By May 1984, 138 companies had been presented with New Zealand Export Awards, coming from all the main centres as well as a whole host of smaller towns and cities, including Blenheim, Shannon, Taupo, Oamaru, Rakaia and Ohingaiti.

1986
Joint winners of the Governor General’s Award were Trigon Packaging Systems NZ Ltd and Tait Electronics. Tait Electronics won the Governor General’s Award for the second time in 1994 and in 1998 founder Angus Tait won the inaugural Trade New Zealand Director’s Award for outstanding individual achievement. He was knighted the following year. Today the Christchurch based company is a leading provider of advanced voice and data radio communications solutions for mobile organisations throughout the world, with wholly-owned customer service operations in Australia, Singapore, Thailand, China, United Kingdom, France, Germany, Canada, United States, and New Zealand.

1988
The Governor General’s Award was presented to Fletcher Wood Panels Ltd by Sir Paul Reeves. The award reflected the company-wide drive and dedication and export sales of a record $23.5 million in 1987.

1989
G.L. Bowron won the Governor General’s Award for the second time.

The Trade Development Board introduced the Export Commendation awards. These were awarded to companies that had demonstrated overall export success, or for a specific achievement, for example winning a major international contract. They were presented throughout the year by an appropriate dignitary such as a Cabinet Minister or local Member of Parliament. The presentation was made at the company’s premises so that all staff could share in the celebration. Up to 30 Export Commendations were presented annually, with about five companies selected to go through and compete for the Export Commendation Award in the annual Export Awards.

1990
Tru-Test Corporation Auckland won the Governor General’s Award and the Prime Minister’s Award for Outstanding Export Innovation. Today Tru-Test is a multi-national company, and remains a world leader in milk metering and livestock weighing.

Paxus Information Services won the New Zealand Value Added Export Award. It was reported to be a specialist company dealing in a “relatively new export industry – computer software”.

The Trade Development Board upgraded the awards this year. In addition to a specially designed trophy, there were sponsored prizes consisting of air travel, accounting and consultancy services and overseas market research for the winners.

1992
Cedenco Foods, Gisborne, won the Governor General’s Award. The company also won the Air New Zealand Export Excellence Award for a regional exporter.

1993
The Apple and Pear Marketing Board won the Exporter for the Year Award.

1994
Tait Electronics Ltd won the New Zealand Exporter of the Year Award.

1995
Tip Top Ice Cream Co Ltd won the New Zealand Exporter of the Year Award.

1996
MAS Technology Ltd won the New Zealand Exporter of the Year Award.

1997
Svedala Barmac Ltd won the New Zealand Exporter of the Year Award.

The categories were revised this year to better reflect the export profile. Changes included the introduction of a major category for a company earning more than $75 million; a group category “cooperating to compete”; and the reintroduction of an award for an individual who had made an outstanding contribution to New Zealand’s foreign exchange growth.

DHL, now the global market leader of the international express and logistics industry, commenced its partnership with the NZ Trade Development Board as Major Sponsor of the Export Awards.
 
1998
Buckley Systems Ltd won the New Zealand Exporter of the Year Award. With annual turnover of about $50 million currently, it is a privately owned engineering manufacturer of precision electromagnets, ion beam physics hardware and high vacuum equipment used in the semi-conductor ion implant industry and laboratory research.

1999
Telecom and the New Zealand Dairy Board (NZDB) go head to head in the DHL Major Exporter of the Year category. The winner was the NZDB, which went on to be named the 1999 Supreme Exporter of the Year – recognition for the country’s largest foreign exchange earner.

In 1999 the changing trading environment was recognised with the introduction of a special e-business award. The joint winners were the Totalisator Agency Board – earning $20 million a year in foreign exchange, and The Parent Company, a small Auckland early education company.

2000
In direct contrast to 1999, this year’s Supreme Exporter Award was won by Old Fashioned Foods, winner of the Small Exporter of the Year Award. The company, which exports steamed puddings, said the Supreme Export Award contributed to business increasing 100% in the year that followed the ceremony.

In 2000, the awards were changed from size based (ie major, medium, small) to sector categories. These continue to evolve to reflect the fast changing nature of exporting.

2001
Companies went through the first stages of entry and judging, but a major review of the Export Awards programme saw presentation of the awards delayed until 2002. Export Commendations were presented throughout the year.

2002
Navman NZ Ltd won the Supreme Exporter of the Year.

2003
ZESPRI International Ltd won the Supreme Exporter of the Year.

A World Class New Zealander award was introduced. The inaugural winner was former Aucklander Andy Lark, Vice President Global Communications and Marketing for Sun Microsystems.

Information Communication & Technology, and Creative & Design categories were introduced.
 
2004
Solid Energy New Zealand Ltd won the Supreme Exporter of the Year.

In 2004 categories continued to reflect the changing profile of NZ foreign exchange earners: a Niche Manufacturing category was introduced and Biotechnology was added to the Life Sciences and Agritech category.

2005
Rakon Ltd, a family business that had started in a basement, won the DHL Supreme Exporter of the Year Award. At the time of its win Rakon was earning more than $60 million in annual exports, its high performance crystals and oscillators found in the world’s leading mobile phones and global positioning systems.

2006
Opus International Consultants was named the 2006 DHL Supreme Exporter of the Year.  Opus International Consultants has come a long way from its parental origins – the Ministry of Works and Development – to become the country’s leading engineering, architecture, planning and property management consultancy, achieving record revenue of $217 million in 2005, of which 20 per cent was derived from exports.

2007
The Export Awards are renamed the New Zealand Export Awards in recognition of their international importance and prestige.