Port of Auckland has won the ‘Most Improved Performance’ award at the Deloitte Top 200 Business Awards.
Leaders from the 27 finalists gathered in Auckland on Wednesday night for a gala dinner where the winners were announced.
The port was named a finalist in its category, along with Sky TV and Westland Dairy, which recognises an outstanding change in business performance.
The judges said the company’s turnaround was achieved “by establishing effective strategies, the port has improved its financials, union relationships, health and safety practices and operational performance. Profits and revenue have skyrocketed.”
Port chief executive Roger Gray says the award win is further recognition a company-wide strategy that was put into action 18 months ago is working.
“We are thrilled to receive this award. Safety, profitability, providing a great service for our customers, and delivering for Auckland Council and the region is at the core of what we do. The Port is in its second year of a transformational journey and the results so far are impressive,” Gray says.
“There have been significant changes across the port, and to the company culture, which has lifted everyone. Our staff are the heart of the company and it is a credit to every single one of them, who collectively, bring our Regaining our Mana strategy to life. It goes to shows that if you look after people, the rest will follow.”
The three-year ‘Regaining Our Mana’ strategy has seen the port achieve substantial successes in the first year. A strong recovery in last year’s financial performance saw the port pay a $30 million dividend to its owner, Auckland Council, in the last financial year – almost double what it paid in the year before.
In June this year, the port won the collaboration category at the Safeguard New Zealand Workplace Health and Safety Awards, recognising its collaboration with Maritime Union of New Zealand and stevedoring companies C3 Limited and Wallace Investments to develop New Zealand’s first Stevedoring Code of Practice.
“It has been a fantastic year and I’d like to acknowledge and thank everyone for all their hard work in helping us achieve our goals through positive collaboration while also looking after each other. I’d also like to thank all the unions for their support through our turnaround,” Gray says.
The Deloitte Top 200 Awards are held annually to recognise and celebrate outstanding individual and management team performances among New Zealand’s largest companies and trading organisations. This year’s Top 200 judging panel included Fran O’Sullivan, Jonathan Mason, Neil Paviour-Smith, Ross George, Liam Dann and Hinerangi Raumati-Tu’ua.
