KiwiRail’s resilience and ability to adapt to disruption saw it take home the supreme award at the AUT Business School Excellence in Business Support Awards.
The Excellence in Business Support Awards recognise and celebrate organisations and individuals that deliver quality products and services to help small, medium and large businesses maximise their potential.
KiwiRail, which also won the AUT International Business Export Support and Advanced Security Group Government categories, was acknowledged for its partnership with Port of Tauranga and Fonterra, aimed at boosting export growth.
The three-way alliance has resulted in an improved supply chain, productivity, regional development, reduced CO² emissions and lower costs.
“Helping to grow New Zealand’s economy is at the heart of all we do, so we were thrilled to be recognised with this award,” says Chief Executive Peter Reidy.
Strong partnerships
“We have built strong partnerships with New Zealand’s ports, which help us to efficiently and reliably deliver our customers’ goods to New Zealand and the world.
“The award also recognises our ability to quickly respond to events such as the Kaikoura earthquake, which had a significant impact on the national supply chain.
“It challenged us to find ways to continue to support our customers and to provide strategic resilience options.”
KiwiRail moves 18 million tonnes of freight each year, its network is used for 32 million commuter journeys and it transports more than one million tourist passengers on its scenic trains and inter-island ferries.
“KiwiRail is a vital part of the transport and multi-billion-dollar tourism network,” says Professor Kate Kearins, Dean of AUT Faculty of Business, Economics and Law.
“Its resilience and ability to quickly establish alternatives to disrupted networks is part of what makes it a deserving supreme winner of the Excellence in Business Support Awards.”
