VTNZ named New Zealand’s 2014 best workplace

Vehicle Testing New Zealand (VTNZ) beat 228 New Zealand organisations to receive this year’s top award as the best place to work in New Zealand.   

VTNZ also received the award for the Best Enterprise Workplace (750 or more employees). 

The awards were based on the employees’ ratings in a confidential online survey. 

VTNZ's 750 plus employees graded their workplace and employers across 12 key categories, including leadership, culture, recognition and engagement. The success this year follows VTNZ’s Most Improved Enterprise Workplace award in 2013.

Leighton Abbot, senior consultant, IBM Smarter Workforce for New Zealand, has congratulated VTNZ on its continued success and commitment to provide a great working environment. 

“VTNZ has demonstrated that through clear leadership and communication staff will remain motivated and engaged through significant change," he says.

"The review of vehicle testing and licensing requirements has stimulated innovation in their business, and the increased commitment that their people have to the company speaks volumes about how they have turned a challenge into an opportunity.”

This year more than 32,000 employees from 228 New Zealand organisations representing private and public sectors participated in the survey.

Forty-two companies reached the finals across the five employee-size categories: Small, Small-Medium, Medium-Large, Large and Enterprise. Three category winners received top place for the second year in a row.

Best Workplaces winners in each size category were: Hyundai Wairarapa – Eastwood Motor Group (Best Small Workplace), Giltrap Audi (Best Small-Medium Workplace), Mars New Zealand (Best Medium-Large Workplace), Overland Footwear (Best Large Workplace) and VTNZ (Best Enterprise Workplace).   

IBM also presented awards for the most improved organisations in each size category to CityLink, New Zealand Cricket, TSB Bank, Russell Group and Ballance Agri-Nutrients.

Overland Footwear, 2013’s overall winner, joined Flight Centre (NZ) in the 10-year league, the two organisations which have ranked consistently as a finalist in the survey year-on-year for 10 or more years.

Eleven companies were recognised in the five-year league: AA Insurance, ADInstruments, Brother International NZ, FMG, Hyundai Motors New Zealand, Inspire Group, Maven International, Mars New Zealand, South Taranaki District Council, Trade Me and Warehouse Stationery.

The IBM Kenexa Best Workplaces Survey and Awards is New Zealand’s largest and longest-running study of workplace climate and employee engagement. The annual programme identifies the best places to work in New Zealand as rated by their employees. Employees grade their workplace and employers across key categories including leadership, development, recognition and employee engagement.

IBM Kenexa Best Workplaces 2014 full list of winners: