Diverse range of entries

Press, 11 October 1982, Page 30

Diverse range of entries

A nation-wide search for New Zealand's most enterprising individuals in business is the focal point for this year's Enterprise New Zealand campaign.

The 1982 Air New Zealand Enterprise Award was launched by the associate Minister of Finance. Mr John Falloon. three months ago to highlight the opportunities that exist for initiative in a free enterprise economy and by example, to encourage others to be enterprising to the mutual benefit of themselves and the economy. The competition is held in conjunction with the Enterprise Week promotion coordinated by Enterprise New Zealand which is the economic education programme of the New Zealand Chambers of Commerce.

The competition is designed to acknowledge enterprising individuals, whether self-employed, managing their own businesses or accountable for a division or department of a larger organisation.

The competition has two categories — small businesses with an annual turn-

over of less than $2 million (or. where more than $2 million, a business that has existed for fewer than three years), and large businesses with a turnover of more than $2 million (or. where less than $2 million, the enterprise is a subsidiary of a company with a turnover exceeding $2 million).

At national level, the small-business winner will receive return air travel for one to any overseas Air New Zealand destination, and the large business winner return travel for one to any Air New Zealand Pacific destination.

The enterprise competition. which is being supported by 23 provincial and metropolitan chambers of commerce throughout the country, has drawn a diverse range of entries. A Christchurch man who began a part-time, backyard workshop with his brother-in-law manufacturing security alarms, now runs a thriving business with about 1500 homes connected to a security system, and several national clients.

A 24-year-old Auckland

man. with no business training or stock, borrowed $lOOO from his father to establish his own tractor business, which now boasts a turnover — after six years - of $1.7 million a year.

A cottage industry making leatherware, which began as a result of dinner party cnversation, has grown into a business with outlets all over New Zealand for a Wellington woman. The woman, together with five assistants, makes women's high-fashion accessories.

All three are entries in this year's award scheme. Mr Geoffrey Bowes, the national organiser of this year's campaign, says entries have been of a high standard.

Local area winners will receive an inscribed gift set. They will then participate in a regional competition, with the winner receiving a scroll.

Regional winners will be taken to the presentation dinner in Auckland on Thursday when the national winners will be announced.

In conjunction with the

competition, an enterprising woman of the year award contest, sponsored by the "New Zealand Woman's Weekly" will be held. The winner will receive an eightday holiday for two in Raro-

tonga. The winner of the Air New Zealand Enterprise Award last year was an inventor designer, Mr Tony Worrallo. of Auckland.

After being made redun-

dant in 1967. Mr Worrallo began a business in his basement making aluminium shelving, furniture and cabinets. He now heads a firm of 15 which has a turnover of $1 million a year.