Archive | North Shore City

Published 4 March 2010

North Shore City Council has reached agreement with the Auckland Transition Agency to allow the disposal of the former council works depot in Albany and apply the funds to legacy community projects.

Mayor Andrew Williams said yesterday the agreement meant numerous community projects were in line to be accelerated: “The projects include commencement of town centre upgrades for Highbury & Takapuna, a broadcast centre & improved ticketing facilities at North Harbour Stadium ahead of the Rugby World Cup, additional toilets and upgrades for walkways & other recreational facilities.

“We have approval from the Auckland Transition Agency to dispose of NSC Holdings Ltd, which was essentially the old council works department in Paul Matthews Road in Albany. This property is now leased out to commercial businesses and has not been part of our core business activities for some years.”

Mr Williams said $12.8 million of projects identified for fast-tracking included:

Albany, North Harbour Stadium, broadcasting & ticketing improvements, $425,000BeachHaven, civic square development, $750,000Birkenhead, Highbury town centre upgrade, $1.5 millionBirkenhead/Northcote community co-ordinator accommodation, $600,000Devonport–Takapuna walkway & green cycleway, new footbridge, $200,000Glenfield, ActivZone upgrade, $650,000Greenhithe, Collins Park skateboard park, $150,000Little Shoal Bay & Halls Beach, sand replenishment, $1.5 millionNew public toilets at Rosedale Park, Eskdale Reserve & Sunnynook Reserve, $1.5 millionPurchase of some reserve land for bush protection, $1.2 millionTakapuna, Hurstmere Green redevelopment & visitor centre relocation, $1 millionTakapuna, Shore Exhibition Centre, $1.5 millionTakapuna, Aquatic Centre upgrade & Leisure Centre upgrades, $800,000Walkways, Torpedo Bay, Devonport (stage one), Sanders Reserve track, Paremoremo, and other walkway upgrades, $1 million.

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Attribution: Council release, story written by Bob Dey for the Bob Dey Property Report.

Published 17 February 2010

The North Shore City Council has withdrawn the district plan rules that required cash payments where businesses could not satisfy parking standards.

Plan change 11, known as the ‘cash in lieu of parking’ rule, enabled developers or business operators who didn’t comply with onsite parking rules in town centres to make a cash payment to the council for development of public off-street parking spaces.

Council strategy & finance committee chairman Grant Gillon said the council decided withdrawing plan change 11 would have more benefits than downsides: “Small businesses previously having difficulty getting started due to cash payments that were relatively large can now commence, provided the overall parking situation is acceptable. Businesses or offices with many employees can address parking shortfalls through various mitigating measures, including staff travel management plans.

“North Shore’s ‘cash in lieu’ rules were seen by businesses as a comparative disadvantage within wider Auckland, and a disincentive to business growth. The withdrawal brings North Shore in line with other Auckland councils, who seldom use ‘cash in lieu’ rules.”

Another factor was a desire to direct resources into comprehensive parking management plans for town centres, leading up to the Supercity in November. At the North Shore council, this work will run parallel with a review of onsite parking standards applicable to town centres.

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Attribution: Council release, story written by Bob Dey for the Bob Dey Property Report.

Published 12 March 2009

North Shore City Council approved its 15-year draft city plan for consultation last Friday.

It also proposed an average rates increase of 5.9% for the next financial year, plus 0.5% for the new Auckland regional amenities levy. The council said rates for an average-value residential property would rise by $116, from $1813 in 2008-09 to $1929.

The council has proposed an average 5.4% rates rise over the next 15 years – below previous forecasts of 8%/year.

The draft plan will be open to submissions for 5 weeks, from Monday March 23 to Friday April 24.

North Shore is the first New Zealand council to prepare a 15-year plan as opposed to the standard practice of 10-year plans. The mayor, Andrew Williams, said the council had done a good job to deliver a comprehensive plan that provided for community needs and delivered an extensive capex programme for required infrastructure of a growing city. Changes were made to the new capital programme to maintain steady progress for the city during tough economic times.

“Without the changes this council has made to the draft plan, including careful prioritisation of projects, there would have been much higher rates increases to fund new assets needed by our expanding community,” Mr Williams said.

The council is planning to invest $1.7 billion in new capital projects and a further $900 million on renewing infrastructure over the next 15 years.

Among major programmes included in these budgets are:

Transport $1.128 billion, which includes major road improvements, public transport initiatives, footpath & cycleway improvementsWastewater $575 million, which includes the completion of the new $117 million Rosedale treatment plant tunnel & outfall in 2010, and the Project CARE programme by 2021Stormwater $261 million, to further reduce flooding and address ongoing stormwater quality issuesParks, sportsfields & beaches $278 million, which includes $104 million on land for parksWater supply $179 million, ensuring a constant supply for ratepayers & firefightingCommunity services $105 million, which includes a new library & aquatic facility in the Albany area.

In the draft plan, debt levels are forecast to rise from $347 million to a peak of $671 million in 2020 before falling to $336 million in 2024. “These projected debt levels are within the limits set by the council’s treasury management policy.  While debt comes close to the limit of the maximum income:debt ratio during early years of the plan, it reaches a more favourable level in later years.”

The council has estimated income from development contributions will drop by $80 million over a 7-year period from the next financial year until 2016, which in turn will have an impact on the council’s forward programmes.

Council website: 15-year plan

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Attribution: Council release, story written by Bob Dey for the Bob Dey Property Report.

Published 12 February 2009

I really ought to get back for a day in a North Shore City Council meeting, despite the severe attack of nausea which overcomes me at such a thought. Why drop in? To see if the council really is doing what it claims here: “North Shore City Council is making sure its 15-year strategic city plan takes care of the city now and into the future.”

Sufficiently unctuous to work the sewage system further out to sea?

Secondly, to see why on earth this council believes its ratepayers should keep paying over the odds for services.

But first, the mayor, Andrew Williams: “The current economic climate is starting to bite and many demands are being placed on the city’s budget. Intense debate has led to some tough decisions being made as councillors grappled with running a very tight budget while keeping rates as affordable as they can.

“Our community’s priorities have remained steady for many years and these will continue. A renewed commitment to Project CARE, to be completed in 2021, keeps the focus on improving beachwater quality through wastewater & stormwater programmes. This has always been seen as the highest priority for North Shore residents.

“We are all extremely proud of our city’s heritage and for the first time have developed a strategy to make it easier to identify & protect all our historic heritage resources for current & future generations.

“Our city continues to be a highly desirable place to live and faces pressure from population growth, which places increasing demands on services & facilities.”

Down the bottom of this release, you feel, there will be a large & concrete moment of importance, and here it is:

“The council is proposing an average rates increase of 5.9% for the next financial year. In addition, the new Auckland regional amenities levy will add a separate 0.5% to the proposed rates increase, bringing the total to 6.4% (the council used to pay a little for some these services; for a while it will pay more; it needs to accept this is part of its service, so the proposed rise is 6.4%).

“In dollar terms, the proposed average residential rates for 2009-10 is $1929 compared to $2052 in the previous city plan 2006-16, a reduction of $123. An average rates rise of 5.4% is proposed over the next 15 years, which is well below previous forecasts of 8.4%/year.

“Debt levels are proposed to rise from $347 million to a peak of $671 million, before settling at $336 million in 2023-24 once the Project CARE programme is completed. This debt level is within the council’s major debt constraints, although it comes close to the limit of the maximum income:debt ratio during the early years of the plan, before reaching a more favourable level in later years.”

The mayor explained, as many politicians have: “When debt is used to fund new capital projects, it is raised over the life of the assets or up to 50 years. It is important that each generation pays a fair share of the cost of infrastructure that will last many years, and not to burden today’s ratepayers unfairly with all these costs.”

It’s a nice theory, but I believe it’s an improper one. The theory is to charge future generations for the benefits created today, although today’s generation hasn’t paid for the benefits created in the past. Today’s generation does pay for some of the mistakes of the past; there is a presumption in the current theory – to which I don’t hold – that this generation doesn’t make mistakes. Think leaks, think bad design, think international economic & financial mismanagement, think the mistakes that haven’t been discovered yet.

The mayor again: “The proposed plan has lower rates increases and has spread debt repayments over a longer time than the previous city plan 2006-16. If this approach was not followed, it would have meant higher rates increases to fund new assets or a much reduced capital programme, leading to fewer improvements & new infrastructure.”

The council will release its draft city plan, 2009-24, on Monday 23 March. Some of the issues it will highlight are:

the timing around building both a library & a swimming pool in the northern part of the city (debated for a long time behind closed doors)deciding on the future of the historic Victoria Wharf in Devonportcontinuing to fund a programme that attracts business to the city, andcontinuing to invest in the city’s cycle routes.

“North Shore City Council is planning to invest $1.7 billion in new capital projects and a further $0.9 billion on renewing infrastructure over the next 15 years,” the mayor said. 

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Attribution: Council release, story written by Bob Dey for the Bob Dey Property Report.

Published 13 November 2008

North Shore City Council has extended its long-term plan to 15 years – out to 2024 – but mayor Andrew Williams issued a release today saying: “The current world & local economic outlook is top of mind for city councillors & senior council staff.”

The release is platitudinous, about a timetable to get the document produced more than about long-term planning. Nobody expected the world’s economic planners to devise the catastrophe they came up with, but the New Zealand economy was overcooked for 5 years and a cyclical downturn was inevitable.

Mr Williams said: “The economic climate is troubled and we must be mindful of the affordability of our programmes whilst not over-reacting & causing further adverse effects on the economy & our citizens. It would be unwise to impact negatively on our long-term plans that have been developed over a number of years to support our vibrant & growing city.

“But inevitably we must cut our cloth to suit the times and we will be looking to significantly reduce the previously forecast average annual rates increases of 8%.”

Councils shouldn’t be dreaming 8% rates increases in good times or bad – it’s careless use of other people’s money. Citizens & councils reach a point of “requiring” large increases because they haven’t agreed on the real cost of infrastructure over many years, and the deferral catches up.

The North Shore predicament is not unusual: it will pick up last year’s document, add a few figures & lines on the page and have trouble subtracting a few, conclude that it’s all desperately needed and go for it. That’s neither economic nor infrastructure planning, nor is it social planning – on the Shore or anywhere else. Across the bridge in Auckland City the knives have come out after a spell of exuberant excess; neither of those is too smart either.

It won’t stop councilors & their staffs from trying, exhaustively, to get things right, as Mr Williams said: “From this month and continuing through into the early part of next year, councillors will be holding a series of meetings to consider the work programme & expenditure for the next 10-15 financial years.

“The community’s priorities have remained steady for many years and are:

·         improving beach water quality through wastewater & stormwater programmes – $500 million in the 2006-16 city plan

·         better transport – $784 million

·         acquisition & improvements to parks – $226 million.”

Mr Williams said these remained the priorities. “The council is leading the way by extending plans to a 15-year horizon to retain all the key elements of capital programmes, with the highest priority works being completed first….

“The challenge remains considerable to deliver services & improvements to our community and keep rates increases to an affordable level, all in the context of a troubled economic time which is impacting ratepayers & business throughout the city. We remain committed to maintaining progress for the city in a plan that stays focused on our priorities and keeps the city’s finances in sound condition.”

Key dates for the city plan are:

Adoption of draft for consultation, 6 MarchPublic consultation, 23 March-24 AprilHearings, 11-28 MayAdoption of final plan, 30 June.

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Attribution: Council release, story written by Bob Dey for the Bob Dey Property Report.

Published 14 January 2008

North Shore City Council will have a new treasury management policy to consider in February, enabling the council to cut the proposed rates increase from 8.4% to 5.9%

The council agreed just before Christmas to consult on the new debt management policy, which will enable debt to be repaid over a 50-year period rather than the current 30 years.

Mayor Andrew Williams said the council would use the new policy to draft its 2008-09 annual plan and there would be a second review providing more information about capital projects & operating costs “which will provide definite & more affordable outcomes whilst maintaining service levels.

 “This reduction of 2.5% of the originally expected increase will be achieved by matching debt repayment more closely to the expected lives of the assets. There will be some rescheduling of capital projects to ensure rates levels are kept lower than previously predicted, but important projects – particularly within roading & transport – will still be delivered within acceptable timetables to ensure important projects deliver the benefits.”

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Attribution: Council release, story written by Bob Dey for this website.

Published 26 October 2007New North Shore mayor Andrew Williams put 6 touchy subjects on the agenda of the city council’s inaugural post-election meeting last night, deferred them but then gave his views anyway.

Those subjects, on which discussion was deferred until the first business meeting of the council on Friday 9 November at 9.30am, were:

Whenuapai airbase, future use – recommendation to revoke the agreement to participate with Waitakere City Council & Infratil Ltd, but to support retention of the airbase for Defence purposes beyond 2015Third harbour crossing – recommendation to fast-track another harbour crossing2011 Rugby World Cup stadium – recommendation not to support any Shore ratepayer funding to upgrade Eden ParkNorthern recreation precinct statusDevelopment contributions status, andAlbany Lakes tender acceptance (in the confidential section of the agenda, which didn’t happen).

Deputy’s job

Instead of a long debate on those issues, the council dealt rapidly with a matter of immediate contention: Who was to be deputy mayor?

Cllr Dianna Hale held the job for the 9 years George Wood was mayor and was nominated again. Nominated against her was Cllr Julia Parfitt, and the result went Cllr Parfitt’s way, 10-6 on division.

It’s not often that divisions within this council are brought to the surface – unlike Auckland City Council, there are no left-right tickets – but on this occasion the dominant mood was for the new broom to continue sweeping.

The council deferred appointment of councillors to community boards until the 9 November meeting, after the mayor said he wanted input from the community boards first. Mr Williams also pointed to a new way of looking at politics on the Shore: He said previous administrations had reduced the meaningfulness of those boards and he wanted to see more powers delegated to them.

On other issues, Mr Williams said:

Rates: “We received a clear message from the community that the level of rates collected was unacceptable.” But he said getting them down wasn’t just a matter of deferring whole projects – each major project would have to be worked through to see how reductions could be achieved.Whenuapai: “The proposal to commercialise the Whenuapai Air Base….. could have immense adverse effects on the quality of our North Shore lifestyle.” Hand in hand with rejecting the airport option, he said, was to vastly improve access to the existing international airport at Mangere. “Public transport to the airport, that originates on the North Shore, is something the council will push.”Harbour crossing: “The need for a second harbour crossing (third if you count Greenhithe) also needs to be addressed.” Mr Williams said more than $40 million would be spent strengthening the Auckland Harbour Bridge over the next 2 years, but a new crossing was imperative in a shorter timeframe than the currently envisaged 15 years. “As part of that – and I see this as integral – we must include electrified rail to the North Shore in that 10-15-year timeframe, and up to Orewa & Whangaparaoa, through the isthmus and out to Mangere Airport.Auckland region governance inquiry: “We must protect the interests of North Shore & its residents. I do not favour a supercity. We would not see the same level of finance & resources going to the North Shore if we were subservient to some organisation in Upper Queen St.”Stadium, in reference to financial support for Eden Park as a 2011 Rugby World Cup Venue, and also in relation to the Regional Amenities Bill proposing support for several sporting & cultural organisations: “We have our stadium….. We have got plenty enough (organisations to support) on our side of the bridge without sending money over the bridge. We have a huge number of community groups.”Birkenhead Library: “The Birkenhead Library must be rebuilt.”Long Bay: “Long Bay is very special to us. It’s the most popular regional park and it must be protected so we don’t have urban sprawl enveloping it. I will be pushing that we work as much as possible with the ARC & Government to support the maximum buffer zone possible.” At that point Mr Williams introduced his mother in the audience, as a person who swims every day at Long Bay through the summer.Graffiti & vandalism: Mr Williams commented on the high cost of smashed bus shelters, graffiti & vandalism: “There need to be more surveillance systems in our city centres.”Roading & public transport: “Huge amounts of money have been spent widening roads, much of the justification for it for the peak hours…. We will be looking at public transport alternatives. I’m looking for things such as, during the day, senior citizens can ride the buses for a very low price, next to nothing. With 30% of traffic congestion in the mornings generated by education places, we have to encourage far greater use of public transport for education.”Open council & governance: “I want to ensure this council is very transparent. I don’t want to see a lot of business conducted behind closed doors. There has been a move by previous administrations, in my opinion, to reduce the meaningfulness of community boards. I want to see more delegated powers given to community boards.”

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Attribution: Council meeting, story written by Bob Dey for this website.

Published 20 March 2007

North Shore City Council has proposed a 7.4% average rate increase for 2007-08.

Mayor George Wood said the increase was to pay for major new assets and maintain the city’s services. It also includes museum & MOTAT levies.

“More than half of every rates dollar goes to continue progress in areas that are important to residents. These areas are wastewater, public transport, roads, footpaths, parks, beaches & sportsfields.”

The submissions period opened today, 20 March, and closes on Friday 20 April. Hearings will be held in May and the council intends to adopt the plan on Friday 29 June. Meetings about the draft plan will be held (all at 7.30pm) at:

East Coast Bays council area office, Glen Rd, Browns Bay, on Tuesday 3 April
Glenfield area office, Bentley Avenue, Glenfield, on Wednesday 4 April
Devonport area office, Victoria Rd, Devonport, on Wednesday 11 April, and
Takapuna area office, The Strand, Takapuna, on Thursday 12 April.

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Attribution: Council release, story written by Bob Dey for this website.

Published 19 January 2007

North Shore mayor George Wood said on Wednesday he would stand for a fourth term this year. In his address to the Birkenhead Rotary Club, Mr Wood covered a wide range of developments that have occurred in the city over the past decade, and an outlook focused on transport, infrastructure, who controls it and how that’s done.

Below are excerpts from his speech:

One of the more enlightened things that North Shore City Council has done during my time as mayor has been to join with Massey University & the Tindall Foundation in the setting up of the Massey eCentre. Our council contributed $500,000 on the basis that Massey set up a science-technology incubator on its Albany campus. Stephen Tindall chipped in with the funds to construct the building. The aim is to encourage young innovators with great ideas to develop them into viable business ventures.

Massey University has now teamed up with Smales Farm Business Technology Park so business ventures graduating from the eCentre can grow up at Smales Farm. This whole programme is backed up with the technology & engineering for industry programme at Massey, under the practical & entrepreneurial Professor Ian Maddox & his team.

With Auckland University just over the harbour, the North Shore is well placed to take full advantage of the great opportunities presented in the business & job-creation areas through science-technology.

Urban fibre network & broadband

This morning (Wednesday) I launched North Shore’s urban fibre network – an initiative to connect 45 local schools, 7-day-a-week libraries and other community facilities by high-speed broadband. This project is a partnership between our council & Vector, which has been great. Due to finish by July, it is funded in part by $4.6 million from the Government’s digital challenge. At speeds of one Gigabit/sec (or 1000 Megabits/second), a DVD movie can be downloaded in just 5 seconds.

Fast broadband access is an integral part of every global city’s infrastructure. I believe it is critical to the productive, growth & economic transformation of our region.

We’re keen to take our opportunities but recognise that there are constraints. We’ve seen great things occur in recent years but the amount of available greenfields business land is fast drying up.

I believe there’s a need for some innovative steps to be taken to redevelop some of our older areas such as Highbury & Wairau Valley to accommodate good quality businesses.

Transport the big challenge, but first comes governance

I’d like to outline some of the major challenges facing us as a city and as a region. Transport is without doubt the major issue of the day, the year & the decade but first, I’d like to explain where our council stands on the matter of Auckland regional governance.

This issue is with the Government and we await its decision as to what changes will be made. I’m hoping that we get something of a lead that is positive & responsive to the many problems that need to be addressed: particularly regarding transport!

Last month North Shore City Council made its views known to the Cabinet, calling for:

multi-year funding agreements between central & local government – the rates burden must be eased, particularly when the current Government is hoarding huge surpluses for its own pre-election, re-election campaigns
integration of transport plans – right across the region
new funding tools for local government and particularly a regional petrol tax, primarily for the delivery of public transport infrastructure across the region – we don’t want the Shore unfairly stung by tolls
retention of the ownership of Watercare by Auckland’s various councils, but with North Shore City keeping our own water services assets that we’ve spent tens of millions upgrading over the past decade
We want to see the Auckland Regional Council get its act together and do what it was set up for: deliver an effective regional public transport system
We want to see ARTA (the Auckland Regional Transport Authority) & ARH (Auckland Regional Holding), fit seamlessly within the ARC
We’d even support the ARC having additional powers – carefully negotiated, of course – if it means they get the job done
All proposals must go before the public no later than March so our community can say what it thinks.

Huge overhaul needed for transport

As I’ve already said at least once before, Auckland’s public transport needs a huge overhaul and this requires strong leadership, teamwork & tough decisions. It is vitally important to North Shore City that progress is made on improving the network as we are bringing the new Northern Busway system on stream over the next year. And, yes, my council does walk the talk: We’ve invested millions of your rates dollars to get the Busway on the road. We’ve earned the right to tell our regional council & Government to follow our lead.

North Shore City has made mistakes in the past, for sure, in delaying essential investment in infrastructure but we’ve learned our lessons. Last year we asked our ratepayers how much they wanted to see invested in better transport. By choosing option 3 on our city plan last April, they told us to put the foot on the accelerator – not the clutch and certainly not the brake.

The pace is different at a regional level and it concerns me greatly.

Mayor caustic about regional performance

Last May, ARTA released a “no holes barred” exposé of the current state of the Auckland region’s public transport system. It was around that time that I was told at the launch of the ARTA & Transit annual plans at the Aotea Centre that integrated ticketing would be a reality by the end of 2008.

However, after reading the ARTA & ARC 10-year plans out to 2016, it seems to me that integrated ticketing is dependent on a great leap of faith, especially in the area of funding. Integrated ticketing would obviously come at a hefty cost to operate, especially in the early years until numbers substantially ramp up.

Sadly, the latest fare rises announced this week won’t help. It’s a bit of a shambles, quite frankly, when our residents need separate concession tickets to use either Ritchie’s or Stagecoach buses – whichever comes first. We need to make it easier, not harder, for people to use public transport.

ARTA & the ARC both say they support integrated ticketing but the ARC hasn’t put the necessary funds into its 10-year plan. Therefore there is funding to develop an integrated system but no funding to operate it. We say that’s not good enough.

What good is a 4.9% rates rise if it doesn’t raise the funds needed to do the job?

I’ve asked to meet North Shore’s 2 regional councillors – Joel Cayford & Wyn Hoadley – both of whom I know well and who have shared the hard decisions to invest in North Shore City’s infrastructure. I trust them to serve our interests well again.

Fellow councillors, Chris Darby & Tony Barker, will join me in a meeting with Transport Minister Annette King next month when she will hear our views and what we feel needs changing.

Staying on transport and back to the Northern Busway – this is my proudest achievement during my service as mayor. This project will come to fruition in December with the completion of the “rail on rubber tyres” from Albany to Britomart. You can see the roadworks alongside the motorway, main roads, the park’n’rides, kiss’n’rides & the rest.

Some additional benefits that you may not have known about the project:

TransPower will have the 220 KV power lines now running up the Northern Busway in the new ducts that are being installed as part of the busway construction
Eventually there will be a branch line from the 220 KV line to take power into the Wairau sub-station
This will mean that we can get rid of the unsightly lines that currently bring power overhead from Albany to Wairau Rd
It will also give the North Shore far better continuity of power supply now that we have 2 line feeds into the city.

Development contributions decision expected soon

Progress provides opportunity for many but a threat to others. One major threat facing us this year is the outcome of the High Court decision on development contributions expected shortly. Briefly, a group of largescale developers oppose council’s scheme to charge them for the cost of providing growth-related infrastructure.

There’s a lot at stake: economically & environmentally.

A third of a billion dollars over the next 10 years of our cCity plan is the amount of contributions we expect from the developers. They, in turn, expect existing ratepayers to meet the cost of the new drains, roads & community facilities servicing their subdivisions & developments. It’s quite a battle and the lawyers are doing nicely.

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Attribution: Wood speech notes, story written by Bob Dey for this website.

Published 1 September 2006

Enterprise North Shore & Westpac Bank handed out 13 business excellence awards and added 2 locals to the North Shore Business Hall of Fame last night.

The 2 inducted into the hall of fame were Emerald Group Holdings Ltd founder & managing director Diane Foreman and former Mainzeal Group Ltd chairman Peter Menzies.

Mrs Foreman thanked her husband, businessman Bill Foreman, for setting her on the right track: “Bill taught me to select, value & motivate people,” she said. She also heads Australia-based franchised ice cream business NZ Natural, is a leading exporter, founded the Hearing House for Cochlear-implanted children and is vice-chairman of Mercy Ascot Hospitals Ltd.

Mr Menzies has been closely involved in the Committee for Auckland’s promotion of business in the region, is a director of NZ Trade & Enterprise, the NZ Seed Fund, DamWatch Services Ltd and a trustee for the Tindall Foundation.

There were 23 finalists in 12 categories (some in more than one category) and the supreme award winner, airport baggage control system exporter BCS Group Ltd, came from the unlikely position of winning the employer of choice category, heading 2 businesses which grew out of the Massey University E-business Centre.

The North Shore awards are among 13 around the country which Westpac is involved in.

Award winners were:

BDO Spicers excellence in service delivery: Nappies Direct

ACC ThnkSafe workplace safety: Underground Vision Ltd

Benefitz best new startup business: Perceptive

3M NZ excellence in innovation: Davko Computer Locking Systems

North Shore Times contribution by business to the community: The Elements Medi-Spa Beauty

Smith & Davies employer of choice: BCS Group Ltd

Chelsea Sugar excellence in exporting: CleanFlow Systems Ltd

Actionmail excellence in marketing: Nose to Tail

Vector best emerging business: Pitango Innovative Cuisine Ltd

Massey University excellence in technology: High Profile Solutions

Smales Farm excellence in environmental management: The Toner Recycling Centre

The Spencer on Byron Hotel excellence in hospitality & tourism: North Shore International Academy

Westpac supreme business excellence award: BCS Group Ltd

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Attribution: Awards dinner, story written by Bob Dey for this website.