MEDIA RELEASE

Auckland, New Zealand: Wednesday 16^th May 2018

Newmarket is getting set to celebrate the best of the best from across its precinct – from bars and cafes, to designer retailers, shoe stores, accountants and everything in between – with today’s announcement of the 2018 Newmarket Business Awards finalists.

The announcement comes in the wake of a rigorous first-round judging process, to whittle down almost 100 entries across 12 categories – excluding the Supreme and People’s Choice titles – with the competition promising to be hotter than ever before.

This year’s independent judging panel includes some of New Zealand’s most prominent business leaders and influencers. Among the line-up is Andy Hamilton (Icehouse), Anne Norman (James Pascoe Group), Stewart Sherriff (2degrees), Anthony Hoy Fong (Celebrity Chef), Michael Barnett (Auckland Chamber of Commerce), Michelle Vogt (Mint Consulting), Sarah Dunn (NZ Retail Magazine and The Register), Wendy Thompson (Socialites) and Wynnis Armour (Armour Consulting). Sponsor judges include Rachel Dovey from Bayleys, Tim McFarlane from FlexiGroup, as well as a panel from Rotary Newmarket.

NBA’s CEO, Mark Knoff-Thomas, comments: “Newmarket is home to over 1,400 businesses and 20,000 employees and these awards are our annual celebration of their success. This year, more than ever before, the judges had their work cut out for them. “In fact, in one category, after the judging process, we had a dead heat and ended up with five finalists. Once again this year entrants underwent additional scrutiny with the incorporation of a ‘mystery shopper’ component in some categories,” Knoff-Thomas concludes.

The category winners, as well as the People’s Choice and Supreme Winner, will be announced at a gala dinner evening to be held at the Cordis Hotel on Thursday 14^th June. The awards are proudly sponsored by Bayleys and Q Mastercard.

Voting for the People’s Choice Award is open until midnight on Sunday 3^rd June – and votes can be submitted at www.newmarket.co.nz/vote-and-win-2018.

The Newmarket Business Awards 2018 finalists (in alphabetical order):

‘Best Café of the Year’ sponsored by Newmarket Business Association

‘Best Bar / Restaurant of the Year’ sponsored by ParkMate

‘Retailer of the Year’ (NZ only) sponsored by Hayes Knight

‘International Retailer of the Year’ (NZ & overseas) sponsored by Westfield Newmarket

‘Best Innovation of the Year’ sponsored by Vector

‘Employer of the Year’ sponsored by ANZ

‘Best Customer Experience’ sponsored by Recognise & Reward

‘Best Small / Medium Business of the Year’ (non-retail) sponsored by 2degrees

‘Best Medium / Large Business of the Year’ sponsored by Multi-Media Systems

 ‘Young Business Person of the Year’ sponsored by Rotary Newmarket

 ‘Best use of Social Media’ sponsored by ellen&company

 ‘Most Sustainable Business of the Year’ sponsored by Chow:Hill Architects

ENDS

 About the Newmarket Business Association

The Newmarket Business Association was incorporated in 1937. It is one of the largest business associations of its type in New Zealand. The association delivers strategies to promote the precinct and advocates on behalf of all the business sectors within the defined boundary.

For more information or interview requests, please contact:

 Alex Harman, One Plus One Communications

021 044 5226 or 09 971 3946

alex.harman@oneplusonegroup.co.nz