Defence Industry Awards Announced

The 2008 Minister of Defence Awards of Excellence to Industry dinner was held at the Duxton Hotel in Wellington, on Wednesday 8 October.

The Chief of Defence Force, Lieutenant General Jerry Mateparae, presented the awards to the winners on behalf of the Minister of Defence, Hon Phil Goff.

The awards are an annual event promoted by the Defence Industry Committee of New Zealand and sponsored by the Ministry of Defence and the New Zealand Defence Force, to highlight and reward the contribution made by commercial industry to the New Zealand Defence Force.

There are three award categories:

• Category A: For the supply of equipment or provision of services in excess of $7 million.
• Category B: For the supply of equipment or provision of services below $7 million.
• Category C: For New Zealand-based subcontractors providing services to overseas prime contractors.

2008 Nominations

Category A

Transfield Services (New Zealand) Ltd – Nominated by NZ Army for logistic and range management services for the NZ Army.

Yakka Apparel Solutions Ltd (YASL) – Nominated by JLSO, NZDF for the provision of apparel management for the NZDF.

Category B

Aeromotive Limited – Nominated by the RNZAF for CT4E Airtrainer support to RNZAF flight training.

Atlantic and Pacific Business Travel (APX) – Nominated by JLSO, NZDF for the provision of travel management services to the NZDF.

Elteco – Nominated by JLSO, NZDF for provision of services in technical electrical systems to the NZDF.

GHD and Fulton Hogan Ltd – Joint nomination by JLSO, NZDF for services in the design, development and installation of the Moving Target Range Project for the NZ Army.

Lyttelton Engineering – Nominated by JLSO, NZDF for services in the installation of the heating system at Waiouru Military Camp for the NZ Army.

SOS Marine – Self-nominated for the supply of Boarding Party Life Jackets, Inflatable Life Vests and Divers Recovery Vests to the NZ Navy.

Unique Technical Solutions Limited – Nominated by the RNZAF for services in the development of the Aeromedical Evacuation (AME) capability for the Boeing 757.

Category C

Heron Technology Ltd – Nominated by NZ Army for the provision of Muzzle Velocity Radar Systems (MVRS) user and technical support and assistance with user and maintenance training courses.

SMI Group Ltd – Nominated by BAE Systems Australia (formerly Tenix (NZ) Ltd) for services in the design, construction and installation of the interiors of the inshore patrol vessels for Tenix under Project Protector.

2008 Winners

Category A Winner

Transfield Services (New Zealand) Limited – Transfield Services (New Zealand) Limited provides Base management services to the New Zealand Army at Waiouru. This is a wide-ranging contract covering management of all repair tasks, Base catering, the Base water, electricity and heating systems, the vehicle pool, and other services. Transfield Services conducts these duties in an exemplary manner and is clearly seen by all Base personnel as an integral part of their community.

Category B Winner

Elteco – Elteco is a family company based in Sanson, and is contracted to manage electrical supply systems on NZDF (predominantly Army) Bases. The principal, Peter MacMillan, is seen as providing a service second to none in terms of responsiveness to problems, identifying causes of faults and providing solutions.

Category C Winner

SMI Group Ltd – SMI Group Ltd, based in Whangarei, provided the interior fit-outs for the Project Protector inshore patrol craft. The workmanship was excellent and the company proved exceptionally flexible in its approach to working around the myriad of other contractors working on the vessels at the same time. SMI were particularly commended for their method of overcoming the shortage of skilled labour, by arranging a special short course for young people at the local polytechnic, after which they were employed to work on the project in the manufacture of the furniture for the fit-out. A number of those staff members remain with the company and others have continued their training.

Certificate of Industrial Security Accreditation

At the recent Defence Industry Forum, CDF LTGEN Jerry Mateparae, together with Mr W.E. (Bill) Rawiri, BEM Manager of the Defence International and Industrial Security, acknowledged and congratulated Mr David Duffy, Business Manager, Guttheride, Haskins and Davies (GHD) Ltd, on receiving the NZDF Certificate of Industrial Security Accreditation.

This certificate represents a significant achievement. It means that GHD have met all the security standards, required of them by the Defence Industry Security Programme (DISP), to enable them to provide the NZDF with goods or services. DISP requires commercial industry to meet these standards because this type of work undertaken by industry involves classified, sensitive or strategically important information. In return, DISP provides its members with guidance, information, and the assistance they need to protect Defence assets.

Commercial industry has a long history of providing the NZDF with development, production, and supporting services, which have improved the NZDF capability significantly. GHD, in particular, has an impressive history. Mr Duffy has been involved with numerous Defence Projects for RNZN, NZ Army and RNZAF, dating back to 1991 with the ANZAC Ship Programme. The GHD Deputy Facilities Security Officer, Mr Neil Garnet, has been associated with Defence for 30 years - both in and out of uniform.

The achievement of GHD attaining the NZDF Certificate of Industrial Security Accreditation was formally recognised recently with the signing of the Security Agreement contract. This formalised the legally binding responsibilities and obligations - on both Defence and GHD - to maintain and enforce the security standards under the Defence Industrial Security Programme.

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