Albert-Eden Local Board has launched the first Albert-Eden Business Awards elebrating the success and excellence of local businesses. Local people have until 29 February to nominate their favourite business.

‘Vibrant villages and local businesses are vital to the well-being of our Albert-Eden communities’, says City Vision’s Glenda Fryer, Deputy Chair of Albert-Eden Local Board. ‘Thriving local businesses provide a base for a sense of identity and community. We need to support and celebrate the best of them.’

The Local Board has worked over the past two years to give support and advice to its village centres—Sandringham, Point Chevalier, Mt Albert, Balmoral, Dominion Rd, Kingsland, Mt Eden and Greenwoods Corner—including funding for capacity building projects. Now it is embarking on local Business Awards to showcase the business owners who enliven town centres, employ local staff and give excellent service.

Board Chair Peter Haynes says, ‘We’re so lucky to have some of Auckland’s best character village centres and a growing variety of businesses, including many that are spilling out of the CBD.’ ‘We’ve strategically funded resident, social enterprise and business associations in our village centres to ensure they are strong and resilient for the future. It’s especially timely, with St Lukes’ expansion into New Zealand’s largest shopping mall, to provide this recognition and support,’ says Dr Haynes.

Nominations must be made here (link to the awards website) before the end of the month, with finalists decided by the number of nominations. Nominations are open to the public for five categories: Retail, Hospitality, Health and Beauty, Business and Professional Services, and Manufacturing and Trade. Public voting for the finalists runs 15 March–29 April.