Concrete company cements top award

Topcare Early Childhood Learning Centre founder Jacqueline Hui with Auckland Chamber of Commerce chief Michael Barnett. Photo / NZME

The second of Westpac's four Auckland business awards was a glitzy black tie affair last week, held at the Vodafone Events Centre and emceed by Frankie Stevens - whose jokes were on point as usual.

The supreme winner of the night was manufacturers and suppliers of precast concrete components Nauhria Precast, who were finalists in last year's awards.

This year, the company took the Excellence in Innovation and Supreme Business Excellence awards, with its chief executive, Rakesh Nauhria, winning the Excellence in Business Leadership award.

Highlight of the evening was Nauhria's father jumping onstage to add his congratulatory speech, saying how proud he was of his son's achievements.

Michael Barnett, the chief executive of the Auckland Chamber of Commerce, which hosted the event with the support of Auckland Tourism, Events and Economic Development, said that the awards identified a mix of factors behind successful companies.

"In the South, innovation and customer service feature strongly with finalist businesses such as manufacturers Nauhria Precast Ltd, Palladium Homes and Rayglass Boats, and professional service providers like Jet Park Hotel & Conference Centre, Harcourts Preet & Co and Topcare Early Childhood Centre," Barnettsaid.

The awards showed that great businesses achieved a combination of competitive pricing with prompt servicing and a quality product, he said.

"Our winners pay attention to fast turnaround times, thoughtful suggestions and improvements saving their customers time and money - and to a strong focus on creating a memorable customer experience."