Mayor's Speech - Gold Awards

Good evening and welcome to the 2009 Gold Awards. It's an absolute pleasure to be here tonight to help celebrate the best in our business community.

Yesterday I was in Japan, and now I'm in an Indian-themed arena, looking out over this splendidly dressed audience. Please forgive me if at any point I forget which country I'm in.

To stick with the Indian theme for a few moments, there is far more to this idea than an opportunity to dress up, though that is very welcome in itself. Readers of In Business magazine may have spotted that I'm not averse to a bit of dressing up myself.

India has always been a fascinating place. Its ancient civilisations, diverse population and vast resources have bewitched and tempted westerners for centuries.

But now we are seeing India in a new light. Sixty years after its hard-earned independence, India is emerging as an economic powerhouse, realising its potential as a global giant.

The challenge for New Zealand as a country, Wellington as a city and you as
business leaders is how to harness India's success as it reinvents itself as a 21st century economic superpower.

The potential benefits to New Zealand of a Free Trade Agreement with the world's second-most populous country are worth billions.

New Zealand's exports to India are set at about US$350 million a year - and that doesn't include our cricketers. It is thought that is our work towards a Free Trade Agreement is successful that figure could double.

I am confident that whatever opportunities arise, Wellington's business community - you - will be ready to seize the moment.

So, the theme of this evening is India, but the real theme of the Gold Awards, since their inception 11 years ago, has been the excellence of Wellington business.

Once again the awards have thrown up a tremendously strong field of candidates from across all sectors.

Yes, times are hard. Businesses are feeling the pinch. Your customers are feeling the pinch. Wellington City Council is feeling the pinch. But we must not allow ourselves to stagnate because the going is tough.

At Wellington City Council we started planning for the recession early.
We decided not to slash and burn, but to maintain a level of investment which would nurture the economic flame despite the cold winds blowing through the world in 2009.

As for the City Council, so for city businesses. Hard economic times call for creative thinking. And from creative thinking can come a whole new direction for a business.

Wellington City Council is proud to sponsor the two Absolutely Creatively Wellington awards, in recognition of the contribution of two outstanding individuals.

This year our theme is urban design which, according to one definition, is "the art of making places for people".

Wellington is a fantastic-looking city with, in many cases, superb buildings and designed open areas which enhance the beauty of the natural setting.

I am delighted to be presenting the Absolutely Creatively Wellington Award and the Absolutely Creatively Wellington Ambassador Award to two people who have made a very visible difference to life in the Capital.

The Absolutely Creatively Wellington Award is for an individual who has demonstrated creativity and innovation through their work in the Wellington region, with a specifically local impact.

Tonight's winner was Wellington's first appointed urban designer. He laid the foundation for urban design in Wellington in the 1990s before being headhunted by Melbourne.

But his legacy is that urban design has now become de rigueur in Wellington, and the city has long been respected as an example to others.

His work in Wellington - and he has always acknowledged that this work was part of a collective effort - has allowed others to pick up the baton and run with it. Other New Zealand cities are only now starting to catch up.

Ladies and gentlemen - Stuart Niven.

[Applause]
[Video clip plays]

It is my pleasure to invite Stuart Niven to the stage to receive his award.

[Stuart Niven speaks]

The Absolutely Creatively Wellington Ambassador Award goes to an individual who has demonstrated creativity and innovation overseas and gained international recognition for themselves, their product and Wellington.

Tonight it goes to someone whose name will be linked to that of Wellington for generations to come.

He is known around the world but is absolutely, positively a Wellingtonian. His creativity and innovation have given us some of our most iconic buildings - too many to list.

He has won many awards, for projects both in New Zealand and abroad. He is a Companion to the New Zealand Order of Merit, and has been awarded the New Zealand Institute of Architects Gold Medal for his outstanding contribution to architecture.

I hope there's some room left on his mantelpiece for this.

Ladies and gentlemen, the one and only Ian Athfield.

[Applause]
[Video clip plays]

It is my very great pleasure to invite Ath to the stage to receive his award.

[Ian Athfield speaks]

My very warmest congratulations to Stuart and Ian and to all the nominees and award winners tonight. Enjoy the rest of your evening - and keep up the good work. Thank you.

The speech delivered may vary from this text.

Department Details:
Mayor's Office