Nominations for business awards
More interest than ever as ‘emerging business energy’ heralded
Nominations are open for this year’s Rotorua business awards, which has a new name and sponsor. More than 100 local businessmen and women attended the launch of the 2021 Tompkins Wake Rotorua Business Awards at the Pullman Rotorua last night.
Rotorua Chamber of Commerce chief executive Bryce Heard said the awards “hit the sweet spot” with the city’s business community.
“It’s exciting.”
Heard said it was exciting to have Tompkins Wake come on board as the main sponsor after Westpac’s 16-year history of supporting the awards.
He thanked all sponsors for their selfless contributions to the business awards especially post Covid-19 lockdown.
Last year 725 businesses entered the awards themed around celebrating Rotorua’s resilience postlockdown. Heard said this was the most ever entries.
Since then, Heard said it has been made easier for businesses to enter. “Anyone can nominate anyone.” Tompkins Wake partner Andrew Orme said it was a “fantastic opportunity” to become the awards’ main sponsor.
In 2014 Tompkins Wake merged
with long-standing Rotorua law firm Davys Burton, founded in 1898.
“We have a long history with Rotorua and we are very lucky and proud to be involved in the business awards.”
Rotorua mayor Steve Chadwick said there seemed to be a lot more younger businesses interested in the awards.
“I wonder if that’s what I call the Covid-effect. People took a pause and started to rethink their business models. I think we’re going to see some interesting, new emerging business energy this year.”
Like many businesses, Jenny Lux had to adapt to a new way of working during the Covid-19 lockdown.
Lux and her husband, Richard Gillies, were some of the lucky ones able to continue operating during alert level 4.
The husband and wife duo were kept busy growing organic vegetables, selling them online and providing a contactless delivery for their customers.
Post-lockdown, her five-year-old business Lux Organics now supplies organic produce to fine dining restaurants including the five-star Pullman Rotorua hotel.
Lux Organics won the 2020 Environmental Sustainability Award last year. “It was a real surprise and an honour,” she said.
She said the awards were important community recognition for the city’s businesses.
● Nominations for the awards are open. For more information or to nominate a business, visit rotoruabusinessawards.co.nz