Productivity Commission and the Wellington Gold Awards

This collaboration is a significant one in our ongoing efforts to promote the important link between productivity and wellbeing.  A well-functioning and productive business ecosystem is integral to lifting productivity and improving wellbeing. The success of productive businesses and the wellbeing of their people are intrinsically linked. This award category aligns well with our people, place, and productivity perspective, and our vision of improved productivity and wellbeing for current and future generations.

Recognising and celebrating entrants in this category, we can promote the importance of collaboration, innovation, and a healthy workplace – businesses that create productive places of work for their people.

The Wellington Gold Awards have a long-standing record of profiling and acknowledging the work of individuals, organisations, and businesses in the Wellington region. This year, as the awards celebrate 25 years, it is appropriate that we work with them to emphasise the significance of long-term perspectives on productivity.

Productivity matters for wellbeing and improving productivity requires a long-term commitment to investment to maintain, enhance, and improve the capabilities and qualities of the range of productive factors, institutional factors, and resources on our watch. This applies equally for businesses – success and sustained growth dependent on continuous improvement, adaptability, and forward-thinking strategies that recognise the importance of the wellbeing of people and communities.

These awards provide a valuable opportunity for us to expand our reach, particularly within the business community, allowing us to engage with a wider audience and connect with organisations and individuals who are passionate about productivity and wellbeing. By generating discussion and debate, sharing knowledge, and building on our expertise in research and analysis we can support businesses in their pursuit of enhanced productivity. We will use this opportunity to increase awareness of the important role that the Commission plays in informing policy changes and decision making as well as influencing behaviours that will lead to lifting productivity and improving wellbeing for all New Zealanders.

Many national and global brands have featured in the awards over the past 25 years –  as past winners and sponsors. These include BECA, Downer, Datacom, Weta Digital, Icebreaker, Xero, JH Whitaker, and the Malaghan Institute, to name just a few.

We are looking forward to working with the Wellington Gold Awards to reinforce our message that a long-term approach to productivity is integral to improve productivity and wellbeing for current and future generations.

Finalists for the 2023 Gold Awards will be announced at an event to be held at the Wharewaka Function Centre on 19 July 2023, with winners to be announced at the 2023 Gold Awards Programme on 23 August.

About the GOLD AWARDS

The GOLD AWARDS are a Private/Public Sector partnership of Wellington region entities, with excellent Central Government support and involvement, that has mirrored and profiled the significant changes that have occurred in the economy and wider community since the inaugural Awards in 1999.

The TEAM GOLD category was introduced in 2008 to recognise the importance of “Wellbeing and HR programmes” that have become increasingly critical competitive advantages for businesses. The award recognises businesses whose work in this area has contributed to their success. Profiling the work and programme of these businesses supports others who are keen to learn about and emulate these programmes.

The winner of the 2022 TEAM GOLD award was Downer NZ. See here for a full list of finalists in the TEAM GOLD category.

This annual celebration of our job creators, innovators and risk takers has been a highlight of the Wellington business engendering a sense of pride and identity across the whole community. There are eight main industry categories and three best practice awards:

Main categories
CREATIVE GOLD – film, media and creative content
INNOVATION GOLD – inventive new products and processes
EMERGING GOLD products – small businesses, 10 or fewer staff
EMERGING GOLD services – small businesses, 10 or fewer staff
GLOBAL GOLD – exporters
TECHNOLOGY GOLD – digital creators
SUPPORTING GOLD – infrastructure and professional service providers
VIBRANT GOLD – events, hospitality, and tourism facilities

Best practices categories
ACC WORKPLACE SAFETY GOLD – workplace safety

GREEN GOLD – sustainability practices and products

TEAM GOLD – investment in people, HR and wellness programmes