Rod Drury, Selwyn Pellett Join Kiwi Hi-Tech High Flyers

 

Two new Flying Kiwis enter the Tait NZ Hi-Tech Hall of Fame

Serial hi-tech entrepreneurs Rod Drury and Selwyn Pellett, were today named as this year's recipients of the Tait Radio Communications' Flying Kiwi Awards at a breakfast in Wellington. The pair gain immediate entry into the Tait NZ Hi-Tech Hall of Fame, joining founding member Sir Angus Tait and previous recipients Neville Jordan, Sir Woolf Fisher & Maurice Paykel, Sir Peter Maire, Bill Gallagher, Trevor Eagle, Ian Taylor, Dennis Chapman and Sir Gil Simpson.

"It is the highest honour our high tech industry bestows upon an individual," says NZ Hi-Tech Trust chair Wayne Norrie. "You need to have shown inspiration, innovation and leadership over a sustained period of time to be considered. This year over 150 industry leaders were asked to put forward their nominations for the Tait Flying Kiwi award, resulting in some 30 individuals being nominated of whom the two recipients were considered to be most deserving of the title."

In making the announcement, Frank Owen, Managing Director of Tait Radio Communications said, "Rod and Selwyn are both truly inspirational business leaders and are making an enormous, ongoing, contribution to New Zealand's technology industries. They are deserving of this award and will continue to inspire young entrepreneurs to even greater heights."

"The Flying Kiwi Award holds a special place in the heart of Tait employees; Sir Angus Tait was the inaugural winner of the Flying Kiwi Award in 2003 and it meant a lot to him because the award came from his peers", he says. "Celebrating high tech company excellence was always close to Angus's heart."

Key Contacts:

Wayne Norrie, Chair NZ Hi-Tech Association
Mobile: 021 437 259
wayne.norrie@revera.co.nz

Gareth Richards, Tait Radio Communications
+64 3 358 0405,
Mobile : +64 21 358078
gareth.richards@tait.co.nz

About NZ Hi-Tech Trust

Established in 2009, The New Zealand Hi-Tech Trust is a not-for-profit, voluntary organisation following on from the work of the NZ Hi-Tech Association, the former governing body for the Awards Programme.

The objectives of the Trust are:

  • To organise, promote and advance education and sharing of knowledge in the high tech sector in New Zealand (comprising companies producing software, hardware, electronics and related services);
  • To implement a series of educative initiatives and events to further grow and develop individuals, companies and New Zealand's hi-tech sector as a whole;
  • To organise industry forums for the high tech sector in New Zealand,
  • To organise high tech sector showcases to show the wider New Zealand population the opportunities for employment and growth available from the high tech sector, and
  • To grow and develop New Zealand's high tech sector through the delivery of awards and similar programmes to benchmark achievement and promote and celebrate success.

The founding Trustees are:

  • Wayne Norrie (Chair)
  • John Fokerd (Treasurer/Secretary)
  • Wayne Hudson
  • Andrew Plimmer
  • Owen Scott

      • About Tait Radio Communications

      Tait Radio Communications is a global leader in designing and delivering radio solutions which are the right fit for a variety of industries including; public safety agencies, government services, utilities and urban transport providers. Across the world, users of Tait products and services are better able to protect themselves and the public, be more responsive and more efficient.

      While several corporate functions are based in Christchurch, New Zealand, the company prides itself on its international customer base and global support network. The company works with a network of sales/ support offices, dealers, system integrators and consultants that spans the globe.