Landmark gender discrimination ruling

Speaker of the House Hon Margaret Wilson MP presented the awards at a gala dinner in Auckland on Thursday 30 August 2007. The dinner followed "The Diversity Effect", a day-long symposium exploring the challenges and opportunities posed by New Zealand's diverse working population.

The EEO Trust Work & Life Awards have recognised employers which support work-life balance since 1998. EEO Trust Chief Executive Philippa Reed says they have been instrumental in raising awareness of the business benefits of work-life balance.

"Over the past ten years New Zealand employers have faced a range of employment challenges, largely relating to the increasingly diverse workforce and the tight labour market," she says. "As the demands of work change at an ever increasing pace, so does the need to find the right balance with life outside of work. It is striking this balance that provides the energy, resilience, tolerance and creativity we need to become most effective in all areas of our lives."

Winner of the Large Organisation Award is Franklin Kindergarten Association and the runner-up is South Island firm Anderson Lloyd Lawyers. The judging panel chose two winners of the new Diversity Award - the Beca Transporation Group at Beca Infrastructure and the New Zealand Defence Force.

Winner of the Manaki Tangata Innovation Award is Southern Cross Healthcare for its staff health and wellness programme.

First Steps Award winner is South Auckland business support agency, Enterprising Manukau, and winner of the Small to Medium Organisation Award is Phoenix Inc Supported Employment of Palmerston North.

Winners of the Walk the Talk Award for CEOs or senior managers who exemplify and support work-life balance are Ministry of Research, Science and Technology, Helen Anderson, and Northern Regional Manager of the ANZ National Bank rural banking team, Matt Pickering.

IBM New Zealand supported the EEO Trust Work & Life Awards 2007. "IBM is deeply committed to fostering diversity, inclusiveness and flexibility in our own company, which is why we are proud to sponsor the annual EEO Trust Work & Life Awards," says IBM Managing Director Katrina Troughton.

"Dramatic shifts in the demographics of the modern workplace, coupled with increasing expectations from employees, are creating huge challenges for employers trying to attract, retain and motivate the best people. In this fierce 'war for talent', the organisations that offer truly inclusive, flexible and innovative workplaces will come out on top. IBM congratulates the winners of this year's EEO Trust Work & Life Awards for demonstrating the vision and leadership that will be required in the winning workplaces of the future."