MEDIA RELEASE
01 December 2009
‘The inaugural Radio Network and Taupo District Council ‘Choice As’ business awards culminated last night with an awards and recognition evening for the winning businesses.
The Choice As awards is a 6 week competition on Classic Hits 96.7 Lakeland FM , in which the public nominated their favourite local businesses from any of the eleven categories including best dairy, best hairdresser, and best plumber. Nominations were made by text, email or phoning in.
The winners of the eleven categories gathered at the Radio Network studio to celebrate their success, with Taupo District Mayor Rick Cooper handing out the awards.
Mayor Rick Cooper was pleased to be celebrating the success of local business and happy to be handing out the awards. “Some other councils will tell you that all we are supposed to do is supply clean water and take the dirty stuff away, but I think we can do much more than that. We can support local business and really help to make our district thrive.
The awards went to: Best Fish ‘n Chips – Eurasia, Best Dairy - Praters 4 Square, Best Bakery – Brumbys, Best Lotto Outlet – Paper Plus, Best Hairdresser – Lisa’s Barbershop, Best Electrician – Scotty’s Electrical, Best Restaurant – Mole & Chicken, Best Plumber – Graeme Carrick Plumbing, Best Café – Fusion, Best Mechanic – McPhail-Graham Motors and Best Chemist – Taupo Health Centre Pharmacy.
“Well done to all the winners. It just goes to show, if you look after your customers, they will look after you,” said Mayor Cooper. All winners received a plaque to display in-store, and a $500 advertising voucher for the Radio Network stations, which include Classic Hits, Newstalk ZB, Radio Hauraki and Radio Sport.
Classic Hits Lakeland FM morning DJ Brendon Weatherley says the interest the awards have generated has been amazing. “We’ve had over 2,000 nominations over the last six weeks, 1,600 alone were texts, which for a town of our size is amazing. I think it just goes to show how passionate people in our district are about supporting local business.”
Radio Network Taupo Manager Brian Jennings says that they look forward to running the competition again next year. “We have run similar competitions in the past, but this was the first time as the ‘Choice As’ awards, and with the Council on board. Unfortunately we had to limit the categories to eleven, but I’m sure there are plenty of other deserving businesses out there. Next year we might change it up a little. A big thanks to Taupo District Council for the support in making it happen, and also to 1st Choice Engravers for supplying the awesome plaques.”
Mayor Rick Cooper (centre), and Brendon Weatherley (far right) with the winners of the Choice As Awards ’09.