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West Coast businesses gathered Friday night, October 18, in Greymouth at Shantytown to celebrate excellence and innovation at the 2024 Development West Coast Leading Light Business Excellence Awards.
The awards recognised outstanding businesses across multiple categories, highlighting the region’s talent and entrepreneurial spirit.
The DWC Supreme Award was presented to MBD Contracting Ltd, honouring it as the overall standout business, selected from among the category winners.
MBD Contracting specialises in earthworks, river protection, civil construction, roading, and more, delivering top-quality services and innovative solutions for more than 17 years. With 30 skilled employees, the company has built a reputation for excellence and reliability across the West Coast.
DWC chair Renee Rooney praised all the participating businesses.
“From the moment you submitted your entry, you committed to putting yourselves out there, opening up your business – and in some cases your personal situation – to be judged and critiqued.”
She thanked the entrants for their contributions to both the economy and the community, highlighting the resilience and adaptability that define West Coast businesses.
“Coasters are well known to punch above their weight, to be problem solvers, to be innovative, to show determination, to be adaptable – and this rings true with our award entrants.”
Chief Judge Tony Cadigan from NBS also commended the high standard of entries. “All of the category winners were truly outstanding businesses in their own right and all worthy of the top prize in my view. Reading the applications really reinforced to me that the good people on the Coast are doing great things.”
In addition to securing the Supreme Award, MBD Contracting Ltd took home the Duncan Cotterill Large Enterprise Category award. The other category winners were:
Gallagher Insurance Medium Enterprise Category: Glacier Country Helicopters
NZME Small Enterprise Category: Paradise Vets
DOC Sustainability Award: Westpeak New Zealand
ACC Employer of the Year: Franz Josef Glacier Guides
Greymouth Star Rising Star Award: Paradise Vets
Renee emphasised the importance of celebrating the region’s achievements. “We Coasters have so much to celebrate and be proud of – but we can be quite a humble bunch. Coasters tend to just get on with the job and don’t like a lot of fuss. It’s important that occasionally we take the time to come together, make some fuss, celebrate success and showcase excellence.”
The Leading Light Awards provided an opportunity for businesses and the wider community to come together, share success stories, and celebrate the positive impact these enterprises have on the region’s economy and community life.
