Judging is now completed in New Zealand’s toughest and most

Media Release
18/11/11

Judging is now completed in New Zealand’s toughest and most prestigious business excellence awards

The New Zealand Business Excellence Awards are unique in that they are based on an international assessment criteria and scoring system, and a rigorous 4 stage assessment process. They are the only awards in the country which are fully aligned to the internationally respected US Baldrige criteria.

The awards are administered by the New Zealand Business Excellence Foundation. Foundation CEO, Mike Watson, says “These awards are about striving for best practice levels of performance. Applicants have to really earn their status as they’re competing against a rigorous international benchmark. An organisation achieving a NZ Business Excellence Award Gold can genuinely claim to be among the best in the world.”

There are two tiers to the awards. In 2011 only one organisation has undertaken the difficult journey and entered the highly prestigious New Zealand Business Excellence Awards and two organisations are in the running for New Zealan Business Achievement Awards. The Business Achievement Awards are an abridged yet still rigorous version of the fully Baldrige aligned New Zealand Business Excellence Awards. Awards are to be presented by the Hon Rodney Hide Minister of Local Government at a gala luncheon in Wellington on 24th November.

Mike Watson says “Being points based rather than competing against other applicants, the number of awards granted varies from year to year. In the past 14 years only three of the coveted “Gold” level NZ Business Excellence Awards have been presented. In 2007 New Zealand Aluminium Smelters Ltd achieved this level, followed in 2008 by Vero Insurance NZ Ltd and in 2009 the Royal New Zealand Navy. In 2010 Spectrum Care Trust was the first New Zealand health care organisation to enter and achieved the “Silver” level award.

Established in 1992 the New Zealand Business Excellence Foundation is a not-for-profit Incorporated Society, set up by private and public enterprise to help improve the overall performance of New Zealand organisations.

The 2011 New Zealand Business Excellence Awards Gala Luncheon takes place at the Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa, Wellington, 11.45 – 3.30 on Thursday 24th November. Tickets are still available.

ENDS

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