Kea has been awarded the Supreme Award at the 2007 Vero Excellence in Business Support Awards. The category award for the most significant contribution by an organisation to the high growth sector was also won by Kea.

"We are thrilled to receive both the supreme and the high growth category awards.  It is recognition of the huge commitment shown by our team locally and internationally to achieving world-class standards of excellence. This award endorses the importance of connecting with our diaspora for the benefit of New Zealand's long-term economic prosperity," says Simon Brown Acting CEO - Kea.

The Vero Excellence in Business Support awards 2007, were presented by Hon. Liane Dalziel, Minister for Small Business, at a black-tie gala dinner attended by nearly 600 VIPs, influencers, media and business support guests. She said she was in awe of the tremendous talent, energy and passion in New Zealand's small and medium enterprise (SME) sector.

Winners were selected by evaluators from the New Zealand Business Excellence Foundation, a 'not-for-profit' organisation committed to improving the performance and capability of organisations by promoting and utilising a best practice business performance excellence framework, based on established international criteria.

"We wholeheartedly believe the future competitiveness of New Zealand business lies in quality and a key 'point of difference'," Roger Bell, CEO Vero, the awards' principal sponsor said. "The calibre of this year's winners is outstanding."

Evaluators this year were looking for companies with a track record in making New Zealand business owners more successful, says the event's creator and small business support sector specialist, Sarah Trotman.

The Vero Excellence in Business Support Awards are now in their third year. "The awards continue to attract more applications and following a rigorous evaluation process, provide valuable recognition to pre-eminent business support organisations," says Mike Watson from the New Zealand Business Excellence Foundation which provides the independent judging process for all entries.

"We congratulate Kea as the supreme winner and the category winners for showing international levels of best practice in their businesses," says Roger Bell, CEO Vero.

We are honoured to both be acknowledged by Vero and the New Zealand Business Excellence Foundation and to be in the company of leading New Zealand businesses. We owe an enormous debt of gratitude to our enthusiastic volunteers around the world who are essential to Kea's success," says Simon Brown.

The 12 award categories and their winners are listed below:

Business <$5M T/O One on One Offering
WHK Gosling Chapman Business Growth Team - training and coaching services for SMEs

Business <$5M T/O One to Many Offering
BNI - Business referral organisation

Business $5 - 10M T/O
Dispute Resolution Services - conflict management and dispute resolution services

Large Business >$10M T/O
wotif.com - online booking accommodation service

Not for Profit
Canterbury Employers' Chamber of Commerce - business support agency

Local Government
Positively Wellington Business - economic development agency

Government Department
Ministry for Social Development  Work and Income - income support and employment services

Education Provider
The Open Polytechnic of New Zealand -tertiary education provider

Individual
Murray Cleverley (Aoraki Development Trust)

Public - Private Sector Partnership
The NZ Venture Investment Fund Ltd - venture capital and seed co-investment programmes

High Growth Sector
Kea - business network organisation connecting New Zealand's global talent community

Export Sector
Better by Design - (NZTE) - design advocacy and integration programme.