Juken New Zealand Ltd [JNL] has secured a place in the ‘Team Gold’ Category of the 25th Wellington Gold Awards [TWGA].
The awards celebrate business excellence in Greater Wellington and the Horowhenua District.
Karl Burling, general manager of Masterton’s JNL mill, told the Times-Age that it feels amazing to be selected as a finalist, particularly as a Wairarapa business, and it’s something he attributes to “our people” – from “all the staff who keep the mill running to the support staff who are always looking for solutions to issues as they arise”.
But “this is not just a JNL effort,” Burling said.
“Partnerships with Youth to Work Wairarapa, MSD, Mayoral Task Force for Jobs, The Red Cross Refugee programme, and local community organisations have all contributed.
“Our place in the community is extremely important to us all, so working with other local businesses and organisations is essential. We have been here for over 30 years and intend to be here for a lot more.”
Taking out the prestigious award would mean a lot to JNL because the company and its staff have been “putting in a lot of hard work over the past few years, and this would certainly reward our efforts”, Burling said.
TWGA winners will be announced at the Embassy Theatre in Wellington on August 23.