Kiwibank and Nga Tangata Microfinance Trust have been named the overall winner of the 2013 NZI National Sustainable Business Network Awards, held at Auckland Museum on 21 November. A complete list of the results follows at the end of this article.
During the last two years, Kiwibank has supported Nga Tangata Microfinance Trust, the first microfinance initiative in New Zealand. This programme addresses the causes of poverty and helps bring people in low-income areas out of debt. The initiative is a partnership of Child Poverty Action Group, NZ Federation of Family Budgeting Services, and the NZ Council of Christian Social Services. Read more about the initiative here.
CEO of the Sustainable Business Network Rachel Brown says “The Kiwibank/Nga Tangata initiative stood out to the judges because of the collaborative nature of the project, which ensures a genuine knowledge and understanding of the causes of poverty. It’s directly addressing these causes, as opposed to supporting initiatives that simply look at the symptoms or stop gaps.
“The judges also felt that Kiwibank has taken on board this initiative out of a genuine desire to address poverty, rather than simply for commercial benefit.”
The winners of the other award categories are: Sam Judd (Sustainability Champion); The Nappy Lady (Communicating Sustainability); Turning Trash into Treasure (Community Impact); New World Newlands & Foodstuffs NZ (Mega efficiency Innovation); Auckland University of Technology (Mega efficiency Impact); Vector Ltd (Renewables Innovation); Yealands Estate Wines (Renewables Impact); BioBrew Ltd (Restorative Innovation); The Farm Butchery (Restorative Impact); Yealands Estate Wines (Energy Management).
“I congratulate all of the winners, which are responding to the many issues facing businesses, communities and the planet today. They are re-thinking business models, products and services and using a social and environmental lens to create a platform for change,” says Rachel.
For further information about the NZI National Sustainable Business Network Awards go to: www.sustainableawards.org.nz
2013 NZI National Sustainable Business Network Awards: full list of results
NZI GREATEST CONTRIBUTION TO A SUSTAINABLE NEW ZEALAND (SUPREME AWARD)
(Sponsored by NZI)
Winner: Kiwibank / Nga Tangata Microfinance Trust
Finalists: Auckland War Memorial Museum, Auckland University of Technology, Vector Ltd, Yealands Estate Wines
SUSTAINABILITY CHAMPION AWARD
(Sponsored by Element Magazine)
Winner: Sam Judd, Sustainable Coastlines
Finalists: Isabella Lenihan-Ikin, Jo Wills, Kath Dewar, Niki Harré, Rebecca Mills
COMMUNICATING SUSTAINABILITY AWARD
(Sponsored by Convergence PR & Marketing)
Winner: The Nappy Lady
Commendation: Wanaka Wastebusters
Finalists: Conscious Consumers; GoodSense; Niki Harré, Charlotte Blythe, Graeme Bibby, Lucy Yu & Laura Dueker
Longlist: Rotoroa Island Trust, Solscape Eco Retreat, Waikato University, Wellington Zoo
COMMUNITY INNOVATION AWARD
Winner: Kiwibank / Nga Tangata Microfinance Trust
Finalists: Chalkle˚, Garden to Table Trust
Longlist: BioBrew Ltd, Biopolymer Network Ltd, Planet Goodness, Te Puna Reo o Puhi Kaiti, Thomas Civil & Environmental Consultants Ltd, Turning Trash to Treasure, Vodafone NZ Ltd, Yealands Estate Wines
COMMUNITY IMPACT AWARD
(Sponsored by The University of Waikato Management School)
Winner: Turning Trash into Treasure
Finalists: Environmental Education for Resource Sustainability Trust (EERST), Hobsonville Land Company, Sustainability Options
Longlist: Ecological Associates and Auckland Transport, Greenearth Development, GSF New Zealand, Te Whangai Trust, Turning Trash into Treasure, Vodafone NZ Ltd
MEGA EFFICIENCY INNOVATION AWARD
(Sponsored by Ricoh)
Winner: New World Supermarket, Newlands & Foodstuffs NZ
Commendation: Ooooby
Finalists: Auckland War Memorial Museum, BioBrew Ltd, CHEP NZ, Yealands Estate Wines
Longlist: Ecoportal, Mil-tek, Mr Box Ltd, NZ Post, The Stone Paper Company Ltd, Vector Ltd
MEGA EFFICIENCY IMPACT AWARD
(Sponsored by Auckland Council)
Winner: Auckland University of Technology
Commendation: Soar Printing
Finalists: Laminex NZ, Reclaim Ltd, Yealands Estate Wines
Longlist: Coca Cola Amatil (NZ) Ltd, EcoStock Supplies Ltd, GSF New Zealand, Mil-tek (NZ) Ltd, Todd Property Group
RENEWABLES INNOVATION AWARD
Winner: Vector Ltd
Commendation: Progressive Group – Wood Weta
Finalists: Kiwibank, NXT Fuels, Progressive Group (Fast Instantaneous Response Project), Yealands Estate Wines
(no additional organisations on the longlist)
RENEWABLES IMPACT AWARD
Winner: Yealands Estate Wines
Commendation: EnaSolar
Finalists: Electric Bike Hub, Reid Technology Ltd
Longlist: GSF New Zealand, NXT Fuels, Sustainability Options
RESTORATIVE INNOVATION AWARD
Winner: BioBrew Ltd
Finalists: Nelmac, Sean Weaver, Stormwater360, Yealands Estate Wines
Longlist: EcoTec Hydro-Seedling, Solscape Eco Retreat, Te Whangai Trust, Todd Property Group, Vision Products
RESTORATIVE IMPACT AWARD
Winner: The Farm Butchery
Finalist: We Compost
Longlist: Green Footprint Consulting Ltd, Healthpost, Te Whangai Trust, Todd Property Group, Trees for Survival
ENERGY MANAGEMENT AWARD
(Sponsored by EECA)
Winner: Yealands Estate Wines
Commendations: Auckland War Memorial Museum, Auckland University of Technology
Finalists: CHEP NZ, Coca Cola Amatil (NZ) Ltd, Yealands Estate Wines