FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
(Auckland – 31 March 2022)
Workplaces from across Aotearoa came together tonight for the 2021 HeadFit Awards – a celebration of the people and teams who are helping transform how we talk about and address mental health at work.
Air New Zealand dominated, taking home an impressive three awards – with Darren Evans winning ANZCO Foods Employee of the Year, and the company taking out both the Xero Innovation and Technology Excellence award and the coveted WorkSafe Supreme Award for the organisation’s outstanding leadership and work to support the mental wellbeing of staff. The judges described Air New Zealand as “a true leader in this space, demonstrating dedication and commitment to the mental health and wellbeing of its people – heartfelt, heart led, thoughtful and intentional.”
Ground-breaking surf therapy programme Surfing for Farmers – took home the Ember Innovations Provider of the Year award. Over 4,000 farmers have benefitted from the programme, which gets farmers away from the intensity and isolation of the farm — connecting them with surfers and the wider community for weekly learn-to-surf evenings. The judges remarked that “this programme has been wide-ranging, innovative and impactful – a fun, friendly and connective away to strengthen the mental wellbeing of farmers.”
A key theme of the awards nominations was the power of staff with lived experience to lead and make a big difference within their workplaces. From Xero Managing Director Craig Hudson winning the Russell McVeagh Leader of the Year, to Fonterra’s Michelle Ortega taking home the PwC New Zealand Lived Experience Leadership award – it is clear that staff with lived experience of mental distress, mental illness and neurodiversity are playing a crucial leadership role within the workplace. Finalists and winners had differing degrees of seniority, showing that leadership and positive change can come from many different levels in an organisation.
The construction industry in New Zealand was well-represented at the awards, with multiple construction industry finalists. Cook Brothers Construction won the nib New Zealand Best Emerging Programme award and franchisee G.J. Gardner Homes Manukau Major Projects took out theSpark Small Workplace of the Year award, with Leigh’s Construction being recognised as Highly Commended by the judges. In an industry experiencing poor mental health and high rates of depression and suicide, it is heartening to see companies of varying sizes taking this topic seriously and working hard to support and improve mental health at work.
Kiwi sports icon and mental health advocate, Sir John Kirwan, was also honoured tonight – being awarded the AIA Vitality Legend Award for Lifetime Achievement for his outstanding leadership and contribution to the improvement of mental health within the workplace and beyond.
“At a time when mental illness was shrouded in secrecy and weighed down by stigma, JK led the way — giving us permission to open up and seek help,” says HeadFit Awards Convenor Grant Pritchard. “He hasn’t stopped leading either. JK has worked tirelessly to help workplaces face into mental health challenges and start taking action. Perhaps more than any other New Zealander, Sir John Kirwan has helped change the conversation and smash the stigma on mental health in this country.”
Other winners on the night included Ross Larson from Flight Centre New Zealand, who was named All About People Specialist of the Year; 2degrees, which won The Warehouse Group Best Targeted Programme; Simpson Grierson,which took home the EMA Learning & Development Excellence award; Aurecon,which was awarded the Benestar Engagement & Communication Excellence award; Beca, which was presented with the Ministry of Health Large Workplace of the Year award; and Waka Kotahi NZ Transport Agency, which scooped up the Woo Wellbeing Public Sector Workplace of the Year Award.
“A huge congratulations to our 2021 finalists and winners,” says Pritchard. “We are so proud of the aroha and mahi they’ve shown in improving mental health within their organisations. These awards are just the icing – the cake is the positive difference that they’re making in their workplaces and beyond. We’re only just getting started when it comes to mental health in the workplace, and I can’t wait to see the nominations rolling in for this year’s awards.”
“The HeadFit Awards would not be possible without the generosity and support of Principal Sponsor WorkSafe, and sponsors AIA Vitality, All About People, ANZCO Foods, Benestar, Business Leaders’ Health & Safety Forum, EMA, Ember Innovations, Groov by Mentemia, Ministry of Health, nib New Zealand, PwC New Zealand, Russell McVeagh, Spark, The Warehouse Group, Whittaker’s, Woo Wellbeing and Xero. The last 12 months has been an incredibly challenging time due to COVID disruptions, and we’d like to particularly acknowledge the patience and kindness of our sponsors – who have been accommodating and supportive at every turn.”
The Mental Health Foundation of New Zealand has been appointed as charity partner for the awards, with HeadFit Foundation directly supporting the Mental Health Foundation and running a high-profile fundraising event the week of the awards. “We’re so glad that the HeadFit Awards is allowing us to shine a light on workplaces that are leading in the mental health space, as well as supporting the Mental Health Foundation,” says Pritchard. “It has been a tough season for them, with fundraising levels significantly eroded due to COVID. We’re working to raise $50,000 for the Mental Health Foundation, and have matched all donations on our fundraising page in the leadup to the awards, up to a total of $25,000 in matched donations.”
Mental Health Foundation CEO Shaun Robinson adds “We’re so grateful for the support of the HeadFit Foundation team during this challenging time. Workplace mental health matters, and our staff are working hard to create practical tools and resources to help workplaces prioritise mental wellbeing and improve their culture, policies and processes. We congratulate every winner and finalist for making a positive difference to the world around you at work. We can’t wait to share your good work and encourage you to keep going and keep sharing what’s working for you so that other workplaces can be inspired. Thank you for doing your part and helping create a more mentally-healthy future for all New Zealanders.”
ENDS.
The complete list of 2021 HeadFit Awards finalists and winners is below and at www.headfitawards.org/winners/. Award winners are available for interview.
Individual Award Winners
| Award Name | Award Description | Finalists | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|
| All About People Specialist of the Year Award | Recognising an individual in a formal HR, Health & Safety, Wellbeing or Diversity & Inclusion role who has demonstrated excellence and leadership in workplace mental health. | Sarah Bulkeley Simpson Grierson Ross Larsen Flight Centre New Zealand Nicky Primrose Mitre 10 | Ross Larsen Flight Centre New Zealand |
| ANZCO Foods Employee of the Year Award | Recognising an individual staff member or manager who has gone above and beyond to help improve mental health within the workplace. | Saphal Acharya Giesen Group Darren Evans Air New Zealand | Darren Evans Air New Zealand |
| PwC New Zealand Lived Experience Leadership Award | Recognising an individual with lived experience of neurodiversity, mental illness or mental distress, who has demonstrated leadership by role modelling, reducing stigma and driving positive mental health conversations. | Jason Haitana Northland DHB Michelle Ortega Fonterra Hannah Young Parallaxx (Highly Commended) | Michelle Ortega Fonterra |
| Russell McVeagh Leader of the Year Award | Recognising a senior leader (eg. director, CEO, direct report of CEO) who has demonstrated leadership in improving mental health within their workplace. | Craig Hudson Xero Mark Lewis Lane Neave Dr Tony Smith St John Heidi Walker Flight Centre New Zealand | Craig Hudson Xero |
| AIA Vitality Legend Award for Lifetime Achievement | This lifetime achievement award recognises an individual who has devoted much of their working life to improving workplace mental health in New Zealand. It is not open to self-nomination. | Sir John Kirwan |
Programme & Excellence Award Winners
| Award Name | Award Description | Finalists | Winner |
| nib New Zealand Best Emerging Programme Award | Recognising a new workplace mental health programme that is showing significant potential to improve mental health within the workplace. | Cook Brothers Construction Parallaxx Refining NZ | Cook Brothers Construction |
| The Warehouse GroupBest Targeted Programme Award | Recognising a workplace mental health programme demonstrating significant positive mental health impacts for a targeted group of staff. | 2degrees nib New Zealand St John | 2degrees |
| Xero Innovation & Technology Excellence Award | Recognising the outstanding use of innovation or technology to improve workplace mental health outcomes and culture. | Air New Zealand | Air New Zealand |
| EMA Learning & Development Excellence Award | Recognising excellence in the design and delivery of learning resources and programmes aimed at improving mental health awareness and capability. | Beca Leighs Construction (Highly Commended) Simpson Grierson | Simpson Grierson |
| Benestar Engagement & Communication Excellence Award | Recognising excellence in engaging and communicating with staff in relation to mental health within the workplace. | Aurecon Northpower Zespri | Aurecon |
Workplace & Special Award Winners
| Award Name | Award Description | Finalists | Winner |
| Ember Innovations Provider of the Year Award | Recognising an external provider of workplace EAP services, technology solutions, consulting or training services that has demonstrated innovation, leadership and positive impact in improving mental health within New Zealand workplaces: | Blueprint for Learning MATES in Construction Surfing for Farmers | Surfing for Farmers |
| Spark Small Workplace of the Year Award | Recognising an employer with up to 200 employees that has demonstrated leadership, innovation and impact in improving mental health within its workplace. | Lane Neave Juno Legal G.J. Gardner Homes Manukau Major Projects | G.J. Gardner Homes Manukau Major Projects |
| Ministry of Health Large Workplace of the Year Award | Recognising an employer with over 200 employees that has demonstrated leadership, innovation and impact in improving mental health within its workplace. | Air New Zealand Beca Flight Centre New Zealand Z Energy | Beca |
| Woo Wellbeing Public Sector Workplace of the Year Award | Recognising a public sector workplace that has demonstrated leadership, innovation and impact in improving mental health within its workplace. | New Zealand Land Search & Rescue Waka Kotahi NZTA Wintec | Waka Kotahi NZ Transport Agency |
| WorkSafe Supreme Award | Recognising the organisation that the judges consider has demonstrated the greatest degree of leadership, excellence and positive impact relating to mental health within the workplace. | Air New Zealand |
About the awards
The HeadFit Awards is New Zealand’s first national workplace mental health awards programme. They were established to celebrate individuals, teams and workplaces who are leading in the area of workplace mental health and have three primary goals:
- raising awareness of the critical role workplaces can play to support positive mental health for staff
- showcasing the work of winners and finalists to inspire and support other workplaces
- supporting the Mental Health Foundation as they work to improve mental health for all New Zealanders
About the livestream
The winners were announced during the 2021 HeadFit Awards Ceremony livestream at 5pm on Thursday, 31 March 2022, which included:
- Watch from your place: The awards ceremony livestream broadcast simultaneously on LinkedIn, YouTube and Facebook, with viewers able to watch the event from any PC tablet or smartphone — or watch it on the big screen via Chromecast or the YouTube app on compatible Smart TVs.
- Insight from guest speakers: We heard insights from innovators and leaders from across Aotearoa, expertly hosted by broadcaster and MC, Wilhelmina Shrimpton.
- Party at your place: Finalists and their supporters wer able to dress up and get together with friends, family or colleagues to celebrate in a way that they were comfortable with.
- Sounds of Aotearoa: Kiwi artist MOHI will performed three original songs, including an exclusive performance of his brand new single Te Aroha Mauroa / A Forever Kind of Love.
- Celebrate, share and win: Thanks to the amazing team at Mitre 10, we’re giving away a $1,000 Gift Card in connection with the awards ceremony. Learn more.
About HeadFit
HeadFit provides mental wellbeing training, development and consulting services to New Zealand workplaces. HeadFit was created to help workplaces take a fresh look at how they do mental health at work. Because if we can change how we do mental health at work, we can change the world.
About the Mental Health Foundation of New Zealand
Mental Health Foundation is New Zealand’s leading mental health charity. It provides resources, information, advocacy and programmes aimed at helping to create a society that is free from discrimination, where all people enjoy positive mental health & wellbeing.
Media contacts
For more information and interviews please use the following contacts or the contact details at https://www.headfitawards.org/contact/:
- Grant Pritchard
Director
HeadFit Foundation
Mobile: 021 343 121 - Mark Wilson
Team Lead, Public Relations & Media Engagement
Mental Health Foundation of New Zealand
Mobile: 021 998 949
