Recent News and Events

NGC aligns with Plumbing World
Pacific Island and Maori business alliance
Business Confidence in Canterbury

Export award for publisher User Friendly Resources
City East's $50 million boom
Trust fully eases Stage 1 of Northlands

Christchurch beer wins Grand Champion Trophy at the 2003 Australian International Beer Awards
Tait goes into combat training
Arthur Ellis buys Survival Apparel

Christchurch tourism initiative could inject $6million into South Island economy
Multi million dollar month for Navman OEM

Sites Added

CanTech Technology Services Cluster
Cluster of small businesses operating in the Canterbury region. Members are focused on offering specialised technology related services. 
Innerphase Laser Systems
Full colour animated 3D laser light show productions. Laser shows for corporate functions or dance parties. Portfolio of work done. Photo gallery and video clips.
Steelbro Container Handling Solutions
Manufacturers of container handling equipment - trailers, cranes, self-loading trailers. Service backup, also sales of used equipment.
Pharmacy Guild of New Zealand
National pharmacists organisation. Locator list for pharmacies. General information on medicines and safety.

Exporters with Attitude

Over recent months localeye has published a number of stories about the export successes of local companies.  In view of this success its seems very appropriate that Christchurch has just hosted the Trade New Zealand Export Awards  which recognise New Zealand’s best exporters and their outstanding achievements. At a black tie dinner on 12th June, at the Christchurch Convention Centre,  the awards for 2003 were handed out.

Three firms won major prizes at the awards. Pulse Data International, which makes reading aids for the blind and visually impaired, was named exporter of the year in the information, communications and technology sector after earning $50 million from exports to 30 countries. CWF Hamilton, the jet propulsion unit manufacturers, won the engineering section of the awards after earning $40 million in exports of its propulsion systems for high speed work and patrol boats in 42 countries. Allied Telesyn, which ex[prts an Internet switching system, won a Technology Commendation Award from the Foundation forResearch, Science and Technology as part of the same event.

Other Christchurch companies in the running for awards included  User Friendly Resources,  KeyGhost Ltd and   Niche Software.   The success of these companies reflects the strength of the technology and software development industries in Christchurch.
A full list of media releases about all the finalists is available

Preceding the evening's ceremonies a day long symposium was held for exporters and intending exporters. Organised by Trade New Zealand the day featured

• UK-based Simon Anholt, a leading international consultant to corporations and governments that are seeking to build global brands and effectively advertise across cultures;
• Andrew Lark, Vice President, Global Communications and Marketing at Sun MicroSystems in the US, and founding member of Trade New Zealand's ICT Advisory Board in the US.
• Gavin Faull - President of Swiss-Belhotel in Hong Kong and director of the Pacific International Hotel Management School in New Plymouth, which trains hospitality staff for hotel chains throughout Asia;
• Dr Clint Laurent, director and CEO of Asian Demographics. Dr Laurent is New Zealand's foremost authority on demographic change in China and emerging opportunities for trade in the regions.

The programme also featuresd a combination of individual speakers, case studies and panel discussions, including a session lead by Export New Zealand on negotiating export contracts. 

Buried Treasures

In developing their websites a number of firms  have included a short history of their founding and development, often illustrated with interesting photographs. Its a good way to capture and share an important aspect of local history as well as often showing how a firm has built on a strong traditional begining to grow and evolve. In our Heritage and History category localeye has listed those sites we've found with an interesting history aspect under Industry and Shops

A couple of particularly interesting business  history pages include those of the butchery firm Verkerks and the jet propulsion unit manufacturers CWF Hamilton.