Franz Josef-based Waiho Hot Tubs took out the Supreme Award at the 2022 Development West Coast Leading Light Business Excellence Awards, held at Shantytown on Friday May 20th.
Adam Haugh’s business also took out top honours for the Greymouth Star Rising Star Award.
The creation of Waiho Hot Tubs was a response to COVID-19. With two other businesses in Franz Josef, having to batten down the hatches during the first lockdown was tough and could have been a very negative journey for Adam.
He took the brave decision to start something new and something that would support other struggling businesses, not just his own.
“Franz Josef’s isolation creates a special community spirit and strong interdependence between businesses. We need each other to be successful in order to succeed ourselves,” he says.
Development West Coast chief executive Heath Milne said: “Our Supreme Winner, Adam Haugh from Waiho Hot Tubs, Franz Josef, is to be congratulated for his deserving win.”
“Adam took the brave decision to start something new and something that would support other struggling businesses, not just his own. This not only meant keeping his own staff employed but provided work for a lot of other businesses in the glacier townships.”
“The last two years has been extremely challenging for business nationwide and last night was a wonderful opportunity to get together and celebrate the hard work, innovation and commitment it has taken to keep running a successful business throughout the pandemic.”
“It was particularly wonderful to see so many tourism businesses from all over the West Coast in amongst the finalists and winners, many of whom, have had to think hard and operate well outside their comfort zone in order to survive.”
“The Covid Hero Award was created to showcase businesses who were inspirational in their efforts to not only survive but to serve the business and wider community during the height of the pandemic in New Zealand.”
Barry and Gemma Hughes from Okarito Kayaks took home the Department of Conservation Sustainability Award.
“Superficially, businesses are valued on their financial metrics, but few of us on the Coast live here to make money as our end goal – we choose to work and live here primarily to support a rich life, in a stunning environment enjoyed by healthy, vibrant and genuinely sustainable communities,” Barry says.
Leading Light chief judge, Stephen Caunter from ANZ made it clear that, unlike previous years, he placed far less weight on the financial section of the entries this time around. “The financial section I placed less weight on due to the impact of Covid. So there was a relatively level playing field for being a financially successful business as opposed to having turnover decimated by the impact of covid and still being in business.”
Photo: Heath Milne (DWC chief executive), Adam Haugh (Waiho Hot Tubs), Renee Rooney (DWC chair), Reuben Levermore (AirNZ)
The Category winners:
• Duncan Cotterill Large Enterprise Award: WestReef Services Limited
• Crombie Lockwood Medium Enterprise Award: Jeff Evans Limited
• NZME Small Enterprise Award: SkyDive Franz and Fox Glacier
• Greymouth Star Rising Star Award: Waiho Hot Tubs
• Isaac Workplace Wellbeing Award: Jeff Evans Limited
• The Great Journeys of New Zealand COVID Hero Award: Rainforest Retreat
• Department of Conservation Sustainability Award: Okarito Kayaks
• Development West Coast Supreme Award: Waiho Hot Tubs
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