2015 American Chamber of Commerce DHL Express Success & Innovation Awards

AmCham celebrates 50 years

Auckland, 21th August 2015 — The 16th annual AmCham DHL Express Success & Innovation Awards and AmCham’s 50th Anniversary dinner were held at the Pullman Auckland Hotel last night, with Fisher & Paykel Healthcare winning the Supreme Award for trade with the United States.

AmCham was delighted to welcome Prime Minister the Rt Hon John Key, who attended the AmCham Awards dinner and presented the three exporter awards, as well as the Supreme Award.

Fisher & Paykel Healthcare has been developing innovative medical devices and systems for use in the field of sleep apnoea and respiratory acute care, adding value to patients, clinicians and healthcare organisations in New Zealand, North America and around the world.  While the company employs 3,150 people in 36 countries, North America represents 43% of all products sold.

Chair of the Judging panel Stephen Titter said Fisher & Paykel Healthcare had consistently shown success and innovation in their products, which has seen their US business grow by 10% in the last year to US$235m. “The company is investing $10 to $15 million in the current year and employing an additional 40 people as it moves to a direct US hospital distribution model. They focus on continually improving their products, serving more patient groups, extending their range of products and growing their international presence to deliver robust revenue growth,” said Titter.

Tim Baxter, country manager DHL Express New Zealand, who announced the supreme winner, said “Fisher & Paykel Healthcare has established itself as one of New Zealand’s most successful companies both in our local market and abroad. It is indicative of the opportunities that exist in the US market that Fisher & Paykel Healthcare has identified it as a key export area, and continues to work to develop this crucial trade lane. This is behaviour that DHL Express has also seen from other entrepreneurial and innovative exporters."

“This year was one of the toughest ever for the Awards’ judges. Any one of the finalists could have been their category winner and all finalists should be recognized as winners for their outstanding achievements,” said Stephen Titter.

The Supreme Award is chosen from the winners of each of the categories presented on the night. The complete list of winners is as follows:

The AmCham DHL Express Success & Innovation Awards celebrate success and innovation in the export, import and investment sectors between New Zealand and its third-largest trading partner, the USA.  Winners of the importer and exporter categories receive $1,000 of free shipping from DHL Express, $2,000 for the over $5m category winner and 100,000 airline miles from Hawaiian Airlines.  The winner of the Eric & Kathy Hertz award has the choice between 100,000 airline miles from Hawaiian Airlines or $2,500.

In addition to AmCham, DHL-Express and Hawaiian Airlines, the Awards are also supported by ASB Bank, Baldwins, Fonterra, Prescient Marketing & Communications, The Pullman Auckland Hotel, media partner The Business, and wine sponsors Fine Wine Delivery Company and Foley Family Wines.

Other previous winners of the Supreme Award include Zespri International, Specialist Marine Interiors, Peace Software, Airways Corporation, HumanWare, Tenon, Zeacom, Pratt & Whitney Air New Zealand Services t/a Christchurch Engine Centre, Fonterra Co-operative Group, Buckley Systems, Vista Entertainment, Greenshell New Zealand and Orion Health.

Finalists Announced for the 2015 AmCham-DHL Express Success & Innovation Awards

To be celebrated in conjunction with AmCham’s 50th Anniversary celebrations

AUCKLAND, 16 July, 2015– The American Chamber of Commerce in New Zealand has today announced the finalists for the 2015 AmCham-DHL Express Success and Innovation Awards, held in conjunction with Hawaiian Airlines. The awards, now into their 16th year, celebrate the success and innovation of those New Zealand companies doing business with the USA.

 Mike Hearn, Executive Director for AmCham, says “2015 has seen another very strong group of entrants, covering a diverse range of products and services. While technology companies are again to the forefront, there are also strong entries from healthcare/medical equipment, fruit grading equipment, wine, building products, film, cars and engineered products.   

 “Despite the high dollar, we continue to see many New Zealand businesses engaging with the US market in both depth and breadth. In the last year, two-way trade between New Zealand and the USA hit a new high of $11.22 billion, an increase of 29.8%, and accounted for 11.2% per cent of New Zealand’s total earnings from overseas trade.” says Mr Hearn.

 DHL Express Country Manager and lead sponsor, Tim Baxter says "The NZ/US trade lane is highly valuable for both importers and exporters operating in New Zealand. It’s exciting to see organisations from a wide range of industries, both large and small, recognising this value. No doubt the competition will be tough this year, but ultimately all these organisations have achieved success in the US market through the right business strategies and focus."  

 The Awards & 50th Anniversary gala dinner are being held on Thursday 20th August in Auckland at the Pullman Hotel. AmCham is delighted to have the Prime Minister, the Rt Hon John Key, again attend the dinner to present the exporter awards, along with US Ambassador Mark Gilbert. As part of our celebrations we are inviting all Past Prime Ministers; US Ambassadors to NZ; NZ Ambassadors to the USA, AmCham Past Presidents and others who have played a significant role in our success over the last 50 years.      

 The finalists are:

Importer of the Year

BMW New Zealand

Roads & Concrete t/a Top ½

Protempo Ltd

Exporter of the Year to the USA $1 to $500,000

Career Engagement Group t/a Fuel 50

Stqry

Stretchsence

VMob

Exporter of the Year to the USA $500,001 to $5m

·        Straker Translations

·        Volpara Solutions

·        Abel Software

·        BFM Global Ltd

·        Pukeko Pictures

·        Aranz Medical Ltd

·        McKay Ltd

Exporter of the Year to the USA over $5m

Scott Technology

Compac Sorting

Vista Entertainment

JMP Engineering Ltd

Constellation Brands

Fisher & Paykel Healthcare

Each of the above winners receive $1,000 of free shipping with DHL Express ($2,000 for the over $5m category) and 100,000 Hawaiian Airlines Miles

 Investor of the Year to or from the USA

Bessemer Ventures for investment in Rocket Lab

Blue Elephant for investment in Harmoney

CRG for investment in AFT Pharmaceuticals

Ric Kayne

The Eric & Kathy Hertz Award for Citizen Diplomacy

NZ Robotics Charitable Trust

Achilles International NZ

High Tech Youth Network

Piha Surf Life Saving Club

 One of the above will be chosen as the Supreme winner.  One other award will be presented on the night:  The AmCham Supporter of the Year

In addition to AmCham, DHL Express and Hawaiian Airlines, the awards are supported by ASB Bank, Baldwins, Fonterra Co-operative, Prescient Marketing & Communications, The Pullman Hotel and media sponsor The Business.

 The awards will be presented at a black tie gala dinner at the Pullman Hotel Auckland on Thursday 20th August. For details and tickets see www.amcham.co.nz

 In addition to AmCham, DHL Express and Hawaiian Airlines, the awards are supported by ASB Bank, Baldwins, Fonterra Co-operative, Prescient Marketing & Communications, The Pullman Hotel and media sponsor The Business.

Previous winners of the Supreme Award have included Zespri International, Peace Software, Airways Corporation, HumanWare, Tenon, Orion Health, Zeacom, SMI Group, Fonterra and Pratt & Whitney Air New Zealand Services t/a Christchurch Engine Centre, Buckley Systems, Greenshell New Zealand and Vista Entertainment.

Trade with USA hits record high - Launch of Awards for businesses trading with the USA

Entries open for US-NZ success & innovation awards

Auckland - The American Chamber of Commerce is delighted to announce the launch of the 2015 AmCham – DHL Express Success & Innovation Awards, held in conjunction with Hawaiian Airlines. The awards celebrate business achievement between New Zealand and the United States. 

Two-way trade between New Zealand and the USA hit a new high in the last year of $11.22 billion, an increase of 29.81% on 2014 and accounts for 11.2% per cent of New Zealand’s total earnings from overseas trade.

AmCham works closely with its members and companies trading with the USA to enhance and expand business and trade relationships within the private and public sectors.

"The annual Success & Innovation Awards provide an opportunity to showcase those companies that have demonstrated imagination, innovation and entrepreneurship, as well as honour and celebrate their achievements."

says AmCham Executive Director Mike Hearn.

Awards categories are:       

A Supreme Award winner is selected from winners of each of these awards. 

AmCham also makes an award to the Supporter of the Year. 

The winners of the importer and exporter awards receive between $1,000 and $2,000 of free shipping with DHL Express and 100,000 air miles from Hawaiian Airlines

Award winners will be announced at a gala awards & 50th Anniversary dinner at the Pullman Hotel Auckland on 20th August.

Companies interested in entering the 2015 awards can find further information at www.amcham.co.nz or by contacting Mr Hearn – email mike@amcham.co.nz   or phone 09 309 914009 309 9140.  Entries close at 5.00 pm on 29 May. Finalists will be announced on 14 July and the winners announced at the black tie awards dinner on 20 August.  

Previous winners of the Supreme Award have included ZESPRI International, Peace Software, Airways Corporation, HumanWare, Tenon, Zeacom, Specialist Marine Interiors, Fonterra and Christchurch Engine Centre, Buckley Systems, Vista Entertainment, Greenshell New Zealand and Orion Systems International.

In addition to AmCham, DHL Express and Hawaiian Airlines, the awards are supported by: ASB Bank, Baldwins, Fonterra Co-operative, Prescient Marketing & Communications, the Pullman Hotel Auckland and The Business Herald

APPLICATION FORM

If you have any questions contact

Mike Hearn

Tel 09-309-914009-309-9140

mike@amcham.co.nz