The Nelson-Tasman Business Awards last Friday night was a ripper of an event after years of Covid disruptions. It was a great to recognise some of the stunning businesses that sustain our region’s economy. My congrats to Ali Boswijk and the Chamber of Commerce team.
The induction of Seifried Estate and Neudorf Vineyards into the Hall of Fame is so well deserved. Fifty years ago, Hermann and Agnes Seifried, and a few years later, Tim and Judy Finn, pioneered Nelson’s wine industry. There were sceptics questioning whether the region could grow good grapes. Their business models are quite different. Both required innovation, hard slog and risk.
It is exciting that both these iconic wine businesses now have a second generation at the helm. Family businesses are at the heart of so many of our successful enterprises. We need to nurture and celebrate this multi-generation success.
SnapIT Group was this year’s supreme winner. This nimble company has grown in just a decade to be a world leader in camera technology to support sustainable fisheries. Nelson’s future lies with the Blue Economy and the growing cluster of businesses supporting our seafood and marine industries. My ambition is for Nelson to be a global centre of excellence in marine industries, technology, sustainability and science.
I congratulate the other award winners including Boost Your Learning, Aroha Chocolate, CNX, Tasman Environmental Trust, Kimer Med and Multicultural Nelson Tasman. I thank the sponsors such as Nelson Pine Industries and the Nelson Weekly, which are themselves amazing business success stories.
It is a concern that there was only one entry in the small business category, the fewest ever. It reflects the huge pressure they are under with acute skills shortages, hikes in interest rates and increased compliance costs. Some have already closed shop. Many are just hanging on. Nelson has also recently lost two large enterprises with PHI (previously Helicopters NZ) leaving for Perth and Air NZ relocating its turboprop maintenance facility to Christchurch.
We are in for tough economic times this year. We can learn much from these award winners. We need to work harder at making Nelson a great place to do business.
