Puzzling World scoops top Wanaka Business accolade

World-famous Wanaka tourism attraction Puzzling World has been judged the supreme winner at the inaugural Ignite Wanaka Business Awards, held on November 4.
 
Puzzling World – an iconic destination at the entrance into Wanaka for more than 40 years – also won its category of Outstanding in Tourism during a night of celebrating business success at Rippon Hall.
 
Newly-elected Queenstown Lakes District Mayor Jim Boult presented Puzzling World’s general manager Heidi Landsborough and marketing and operations manager Duncan Spear with the supreme award.
 
Simon Telfer, convenor of the independent judging panel says: “Puzzling World is a high-performing, unique and sustainable Wanaka business that continues to grow year on year. It invests in new attractions, has very low staff turnover, a strong health and safety focus and uses technology to drive efficiencies and customer experience.
 
“Judges were impressed that this iconic Wanaka business has stood the test of time. Puzzling World has stuck to its core business and continues to derive great benefits for its shareholders, staff, customers and the Wanaka community.”
 
The Awards evening’s other top accolade was presented to Wanaka resident Mark Verbiest – recipient of the Outstanding Individual Award (supported by Milford Asset Management). Verbiest is chairman of Spark, a director of ANZ Bank NZ, Frieghtways and on the commercial advisory board of the NZ Treasury. 
 
In the Wanaka community, Verbiest donates his time as a voluntary Trust board member of the Southern Lakes Arts Festival Trust, which runs the hugely successful Festival of Colour. He is also a financial supporter of the Festival, as well as assisting McKinsey & Co establish what has become an annual corporate retreat for major CEOs and directors, based around Aspiring Conversations, in Wanaka. Mark provided strategic advice to the Wanaka Gigatown
committee, and he is a member of the Wanaka Angel Investor Network, which aims to support new and entrepreneurial start-ups in town.

Photo: Puzzling World – the Supreme winners.
  
Winners of the Awards categories:
•    Outstanding in Infrastructure/Trades supported by Ray White Wanaka: Aquasystems Australasia.
•    Outstanding in Professional Services supported by Queenstown Airport Corporation: Eyes on Ardmore.
•    Outstanding in Tourism supported by Lake Wanaka Tourism: Puzzling World.
•    Outstanding in Retail/Hospitality Supported by Rippon Hall: Mons Royale. 
•    Outstanding Innovators supported by Chorus: Revology. Highly commended to kin2kin.