A Message from Deloitte

It’s hard to believe it’s been full year
since the last Deloitte/Management Top 200 Awards. new Government, the repeal and reversal of some key legislation affecting business, rising interest rates, rapidly falling New Zealand dollar, weak sharemarket all contributed to cooling relationship between Government and business, which deteriorated to such an extent that Government wisely called summit to address the problem. This combined with the much-discussed brain drain of some of our best young people overseas, leads one to say that it’s been difficult year for business.
And yet, despite those challenges, New Zealand remains relatively good place in which to do business. If we work hard and think innovatively, it is still possible to succeed. We have relatively stable social background, resourceful and energetic workforce (despite the brain drain) and, more importantly, an honest and uncorrupt environment.
We embrace challenges – we don’t shirk from them. We have history of adapting to change as nation, and the same thing applies to our best businesses.
The most important change affecting businesses (and the rest of New Zealand society for that matter) today is how to most effectively embrace the new technological environment in which we operate. Ten years ago, we did not all have personal computers on our desks. Five years ago, email was novelty. Two or three years ago, the Internet was novelty. One year ago, e-business was buzzword used by many, understood by few.
The challenge for business is to cope with that change and, more importantly, adapt to benefit from the change faster than our competitors. The electronic age represents huge threat to those who ignore it; and massive opportunity to those who embrace it. This is particularly the case in New Zealand where our geographical isolation (once an obstacle to business) is now no longer handicap. We are now operating on relatively level playing field with our international competitors.
The key question is this – can we compete as equals? If the quality of the businesses and people who have won awards in the 2001 Deloitte/Management Top 200 Awards is indicative of the quality of New Zealand businesses, then our future is in safe hands, despite the relatively difficult business conditions currently prevailing.
Young innovators like Joseph Thomas and the winner of the Deloitte e-Merging Business of the Year, Foodstuffs (South Island), show that New Zealand entrepreneurs can adapt to changing business environments easily and successfully. They are both worthy category winners this year.
And consider another uniquely New Zealand success story, The Warehouse. Stephen Tindall spotted gap in the market for cost effective no-frills retailing few years ago and has turned it into $1 billion business in very short time frame. The Warehouse is worthy winner of the Deloitte/Management Company of the Year.
All these are winners, but they are not alone. There are many other winners in New Zealand, whether they have won awards or not. When Deloitte first got involved in the Top 200 11 years ago, we did so because we recognised that it was important to celebrate business excellence. We remain committed to that cause today.
Deloitte is proud to continue to be associated with Management magazine and the Top 200 Awards, and Deloitte congratulates every winner and finalist of these prestigious awards. More importantly, we’re delighted that New Zealand business continues to demonstrate excellence which is equal, if not better than that seen anywhere in the world. We at Deloitte have confidence in the future of New Zealand business.