Westpac Northland Business Champions 2020 Winners Announcement
The Westpac Northland Business Champions 2020 awards took place at Forum North on Friday night, 6 November. In a year impacted by drought, Covid-19 and flooding, this one-off special event gave Northlanders a chance to shine a light on those businesses and business people in their communities who displayed champion qualities such as leadership, community mindedness, innovation and resilience.
Over 2500 individual nominations were received for 244 Northland businesses and individuals across five business categories and eight specialist categories. Finalists were selected based on the number of nominations, and then an independent panel of judges had the difficult task of choosing the category winners and the ultimate Westpac Northland Business Champion – Supreme Leadership winner.
Steve Smith, NorthChamber CEO said, “It has been heart-warming and inspiring to read about the business champions in our region. Feedback from the nominations indicates we are a business community of pro-active, resilient, creative, adaptable, and kind folk. Our future success lies in more of the same.”
Westpac Northland Business Champions – Supreme Leadership
Winner
Jessie Rose Boutique, Forever Love Caskets and Inspire Art Studio
Judges Comments
“Jessie Rose and her business stood out because of the complexity and success of the response to Covid-19 and other 2020 disasters. Forced into the world of online teaching for the delivery of painting classes, she changed her ways of doing business and expanded on those learnings to build new product offerings and outlets for her creativity while at the same time providing those stuck at home an outlet for their feelings around Covid restrictions and a way to continue something ‘normal’.
A significant decline in the death rate and changes to the way funerals were conducted led to changes and new opportunities in her casket decorating business. Rather than being overwhelmed by a personal tragedy, she directed her response into the establishment of a space in her premises where others with similar experiences could come without judgment or expectation. She took time to reflect on the business, where the strengths are and where she could diversify and improve – and took action on what she found. Every dark experience was turned into a positive and the business thrived as a result, with all of her activities based on sound ecological principles.
In Jessie’s words: “The positive from Covid is that it has validated that what we are doing is working and impacts people’s lives. We have made a difference.”
NorthTec Northland Business Champion – Business Person (Individual)
Finalists
Steve MacMillan – Northpower
Jessie Rose – Jessie Rose Boutique, Forever Love Caskets and Inspire Art Studio
Jennifer Andrews – Regent Training
Winner
Jessie Rose – Jessie Rose Boutique, Forever Love Caskets and Inspire Art Studio
Northland Document Solutions Northland Business Champion – Micro Business (1-3FTE)
Finalists
Wild Ivy Flowers and Gifts
Jessie Rose Boutique, Forever Love Caskets and Inspire Art Studio
KeriCentral Hostel
Winner
Jessie Rose Boutique, Forever Love Caskets and Inspire Art Studio
Henderson Reeves Northland Business Champion – Small Business(4-8FTE)
Finalists
David’s Pharmacy
Blush Beauty Therapy
Heads Up Adventures
Winner
David’s Pharmacy
Marsden Maritime Holdings Northland Business Champions – Medium Business (10-24FTE)
Finalists
BestStart Maunu Village
NorthAble Matapuna Hauora
Winner
NorthAble Matapuna Hauora
Vodafone Northland Business Champion – Large Business (25+FTE)
Finalists
Northern Districts Security
The Jetsons Group, incorporating No 8 Restaurant, the Cove Café, the Dune Mangawhai Restaurant and Bar, and The Quay.
PAK’nSAVE
Kensington Pharmacy
Winner
PAK’nSAVE Whangarei
Accident Compensation Corporation Workplace Safety Champion
Finalists
Hone Heke Lodge
Individual nomination – Jennifer Andrews Regent Training Centre
Aligned Movement
Winner
Aligned Movement
Northland Regional Council Environmental Business Champion
Finalists
Gathered
HeadsUp Adventures
Kohatu Development Ltd
Digital Wings
Winner
HeadsUp Adventures Ltd
Top Energy Not for Profit Champion
Finalist
Northland Arts Centre
Rugby For Life Community Partnership Programme
Winner
Northland Arts Centre
Northland Inc Innovation Champion
Finalists
Aligned Movement
Best Start Maunu Village
Digital Wings
Winner
Aligned Movement
Creative Northland Creative Industries Champion
Finalist
Jessie Rose Boutique, Forever Love Caskets and Inspire Art Studio
Wild Ivy Flowers and Gifts
MD Gallery
Winner
MD Gallery
More FM Customer Choice Champion
Finalists
Wild Ivy Flowers and Gifts
Blush Beauty Therapy
KeriCentral Hostel
Aligned Movement
David’s Pharmacy
Jessie Rose Boutique, Forever Love Caskets and Inspire Art Studio MC
Winner
Jessie Rose Boutique, Forever Love Caskets and Inspire Art Studio
Ministry of Social Development He Poutama Taitamariki Champion (Youth Employee of the Year)
Finalists
Anahera Pickering – Whangarei Youth Space
Jared Johnston – Northland Scaffolding
Winner – Employee Jared Johnston
Winner – Employer Northland Scaffolding
The Northern Advocate Northland Business Hall of Fame Inductee
Inductee
Sandra McKersey
