2025 finalists
We’d like to acknowledge all the nominations we received from across New Zealand and congratulate our 2025 finalists. All of you are creating pathways that will lead to a meaningful culture of wellbeing within, not only your organisations, but also Aotearoa – and doing so under challenging times.
STAR WAYFARER AWARD FINALISTS
Tracey Chaplin, Ceres New Zealand LLC
Jen Southan, ORIX New Zealand
Corrina McIndoe, Spectrum Consulting Limited
Caley Stevely, Outerdawn
TRUE NORTH AWARD FINALISTS
Lorraine Bryant, Spectrum Consulting Limited
Dominic Quin, Foodstuffs New Zealand
SMALL BUSINESS AWARD FINALISTS
ICIB Financial Independence Ltd
Ceres New Zealand LLC
Content&Co NZ Ltd
Netsafe
MEDIUM BUSINESS AWARD FINALISTS
ORIX New Zealand
Christchurch Casino
StraitNZ Limited
SBS Bank
LARGE BUSINESS AWARD FINALISTS
Foodstuffs North Island
Douglas
WSP NZ
ASB
NEW HORIZON AWARD FINALISTS
Waikato-Tainui
ASB
Eliot Sinclair & Partners Limited
Find Recruitment
Te Wānanga o Aotearoa – Tau Ora
2023 winners
STAR WAYFARER AWARD
GOLD: Nadene Winchester | Dynamic Controls
Nadene Winchester has redefined wellbeing in the workplace for the global team at Dynamic Controls. With a knack for identifying creative solutions and a genuine desire to support her colleagues, Nadene has made a monumental impact on team culture.
SILVER: Matthew Walker | Te Rūnanga O Ngāi Tahu
BRONZE: Jen Southan | Orix
FINALISTS: Claire Runtzler (Primero Profiles), Sophie Newstead (GSK)
TRUE NORTH AWARD
GOLD: Rob Holmes | PaperKite
Rob Holmes’ impact at PaperKite is perhaps best exemplified by the mantra he lives by – “what’s best for our people is best for our business”. The positive impact of this approach was so apparent that PaperKite ultimately adopted it as part of the core brand strategy.
SILVER: Richard Schorfield | Spectrum Consulting
BRONZE: Joseph Zermatten | CS Roofing Canterbury
FINALISTS: Dan Bradley (Bradley Project Management Ltd), Jo Mathieson (Total Life)
SMALL BUSINESS AWARD
GOLD: Thankyou Payroll
Thankyou Payroll has a wellbeing philosophy that runs deep. By placing employees at the heart of their business model, they’ve achieved financial success, a stable and positive working culture, and higher than ever customer satisfaction. Their holistic approach encompasses four key areas of physical, mental, environmental and financial wellbeing, and existing policies have also been reviewed and adjusted to reflect this commitment.
SILVER: Maynard Marks
BRONZE: Find Recruitment
MEDIUM BUSINESS AWARD
GOLD: Marlborough Lines
Marlborough Lines are on a mission to keep employee voices front and centre, evolving a strategy through consultation and input from the people who matter most. Recognising the need for change, Marlborough Lines created a unique programme tailored to the needs of their predominantly male workforce.
SILVER: Christchurch Casino
BRONZE: DHL Express
NEW HORIZON AWARD
GOLD: Spark
At the close of 2021, Spark launched an innovative new wellbeing strategy for their people – Mahi Tahi. Meaning ‘partnership’ in te reo Māori, Mahi Tahi recognises the need for business working in partnership with people to support them to achieve their goals in work and life. This ground-breaking programme addressed the pressing needs of staff post-Covid, but also created a long-term structure of holistic support.
SILVER: Find Recruitment
BRONZE: Profile Group
FINALISTS: CS Roofing Canterbury, Stratum Consultants Ltd