2025 winners

Congratulations to all our 2025 Wayfinder Award winners and finalists. Your incredible mahi is creating pathways that are leading to a meaningful culture of wellbeing within, not only your organisations, but also Aotearoa.

Star Wayfarer Award

Gold: Jen Southan, ORIX New Zealand

Inspiring at all levels

Jen exemplifies what it means to be a role model through her unwavering commitment to employee wellbeing at ORIX and her proactive approach to fostering a positive workplace culture.

Read Jen’s story

“Jen’s relentless passion has inspired transformative change”

Orix

SILVER: Tracey Chaplin, Ceres New Zealand LLC   |   BRONZE: Caley Staveley, Outerdawn   |   BRONZE: Corrina McIndoe, Spectrum Consulting Limited


True North Award

Gold: Dominic Quin, Foodstuffs

A leader worth following

What truly sets Dominic apart is his ability to challenge ideas robustly while respecting and listening to different viewpoints. He fosters an environment where innovation flourishes and diverse opinions are valued.

Read Dominic’s story

“Can we clone this leader?”

Foodstuffs

SILVER: Lorraine Bryant, Spectrum Consulting Limited


Small Business Award

Gold: Netsafe

Flexible-first culture that drives performance

Adopting a flexible-first culture, Netsafe employees work 80% of their hours for 100% pay, and they’ve increased productivity. This extra day, knowns as the ‘gift of the 5th’ has been described as life-changing by many team members.

Read Netsafe’s story

“Super impressive employee engagement scores!”

Orix

SILVER: Ceres New Zealand LLC   |   BRONZE: Content&Co NZ Ltd   |   FINALIST: ICIB Financial Independence Ltd


Medium Business Award

Gold: ORIX New Zealand

An investment in workplace wellbeing

ORIX NZ is a great example of how investing in your people’s health and wellbeing can lead to an improved business performance, even in a fiscally driven business. Their wellbeing initiatives stand out for their holistic and inclusive approach.

Read ORIX’s story

“11 million steps for Steptember – well done!!!”

Orix

SILVER: SBS Bank    |   BRONZE: StraitNZ Limited   |   FINALIST: Christchurch Casino


Large Business Award

Gold: ASB

Great PX drives great CX

Redefining employee benefits with a data-driven, people-first approach to empower its workforce, ASB’s reimagined ‘Your Benefits’ offers personalisation and flexibility through employee life stages, ensuring sustained relevance for all.

Read ASB’s story

“ASB is leading the way for other large organisations in NZ”

Orix

SILVER: Foodstuffs North Island   |   BRONZE: Douglas   |   FINALIST: WSP NZ


New Horizon Award

Gold: Waikato-Tainui

Innovation in empowering Kaumaatua wellbeing

An innovative wellness strategy that leverages tribal purchasing power to procure healthcare products, including health insurance to build a resilient and vibrant future for all.

Read the Waikato-Tainui story

“Your holistic commitment to kaumaatua wellbeing is lifechanging!”

Orix

SILVER: Te Wānanga o Aotearoa – Tau Ora   |   BRONZE: Eliot Sinclair & Partners Limited   |    FINALISTS: ASB, Find Recruitment


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

FINALISTS: Primo, realestate.co.nz


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

FINALISTS: Ormiston Hospital, SBS Bank


LARGE BUSINESS AWARD

GOLD: Kiwibank

Kiwibank has a strong and clear business purpose: Kiwi making Kiwi better off. Over the past few years, this organisation has been on a journey to bring this purpose to life – kicking off at home with the Kiwibank whānau.

SILVER: RealNZ

BRONZE: Spark

FINALIST: New Zealand & Pacific Steel


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