Small organisations named as diversity awards finalists

A Te Puke chartered accounting firm and Dunedin-based research institute are among four small organisations named as finalists in the 2020 Diversity Awards NZ™.

The Business Results Group Ltd – BRG, based in the Bay of Plenty, was selected as a finalist in the Work Life Balance category, while the Donald Beasley Institute was one of three finalists in the Breaking Barriers category, which celebrates innovative responses to creating positive employment opportunities for people with lived experience of disability, chronic health, mental health, accessibility needs and neurodiversity.

Downlights New Zealand, a social enterprise supporting young adults with Down syndrome and intellectual and learning disabilities to make soy candles, was another company with fewer than 50 employees named as a finalist in the Breaking Barriers category.

The fourth small organisation recognised by the judges was Tuputoa, an internship programme that provides professional opportunities for Māori and Pacific tertiary students into corporate, government and community organisations.

The awards, run by Diversity Works New Zealand, are in their 23rd year and attracted 85 entries across 10 categories, including 13 in the newly created Impact category.

Judging convenor Kirstin Te Wao says the judging panel was impressed to see a number of entries that demonstrated a clear link between the organisation’s diversity and inclusion initiatives and the overall business strategy.

“The judges saw some very well-designed programmes that evidence businesses are making a significant investment in the future sustainability of their workforce,” she says.

Another theme was the increase in organisations drawing on external expertise or partners to design and deliver initiatives, contributing to the uplifting of economic outcomes for broader Aotearoa.

“It was also wonderful to see organisations demonstrating inter-generational and collective thinking through initiatives that benefit an entire industry, not just one organisation, and have a broader impact on the wider community. These are all positive signs as Aotearoa reimagines what the future holds in a post-Covid-19 environment.”

The full list of finalists are:

Breaking Barriers – Celebrates innovative responses to creating positive employment opportunities for people with lived experience of disability, chronic health, mental health, accessibility needs and neurodiversity.

Donald Beasley Institute
Downlights
Yellow NZ Ltd

Cultural Celebration – Showcases authentic responses to cultural and ethnic engagement in the workplace.

Department of Internal Affairs
Heartland Bank
Jasmax
MAS

Emerging Diversity and Inclusion Award – Honours a diversity and inclusion initiative that is less than two years old.

AA Insurance
New Zealand Police
OMD New Zealand
Synlait Milk

Empowerment Award – Celebrates innovative responses to empowering women in the workplace.

Deloitte
DLA Piper New Zealand

Impact Award – Recognises organisations that provide a service that is having a measurable impact on the diversity of New Zealand workplaces and our workforce.