Hawke’s Bay takes title

Hawke’s Bay Toyota has taken out the Toyota Supreme Award at the hotly contested Toyota and Lexus Business Excellence Awards held over the weekend.

The locally owned company has been operating for more than 30 years, and prides itself on providing customers with an exceptional level of service across its five locations in Hastings, Napier, Taupo, Rotorua and Gisborne.

The Toyota Supreme Award is awarded for overall excellence in branch operations, market leadership and branch facilities. 

There is fierce competition each year for the honour among New Zealand’s 64 Toyota and Lexus stores, which are spread from Whangarei to Invercargill.

Neeraj Lala, Toyota NZ’s chief executive officer, says the business excellence awards celebrate the achievements of dealerships and their contribution to keeping it as the country’s leading mobility brand.

Angus Helmore, chief executive officer of Hawke’s Bay Toyota, is pictured above with the supreme award flanked by Lala and Andrew Davis, vice-president of Toyota Mobility Group.

The citizenship award went to Rutherford & Bond Toyota in Wellington for a leadership programme it co-developed with its ambassador Ardie Savea to inspire and influence 10 emerging leaders from low-decile high schools in the city, with one taking home a $2,500 scholarship. 

It has had a significant impact on the lives of participants, giving them a renewed sense of dedication. Many gained scholarships to tertiary institutions, achieved regional or national honours in their sports or gained academic awards. Rutherford & Bond Toyota also won the used-vehicles excellence award.

The citizenship award was introduced in 2022 to recognise the commitment to supporting community activities from Toyota Stores. After receiving 18 entries in 2023, there were 36 entries in 2024 reflecting the amount of work supported by the stores to give back in a meaningful way that aligns with the things Kiwis value.

Most Toyota Stores support more than one community group. The projects recognised at this year’s awards ranged from environmental causes to mobility services, sports clubs, mental-health programmes, youth employment initiatives and emergency services, such as surf lifesaving and regional rescue helicopters.

“Our store staff care deeply about the communities they operate in and they’re actively doing things they feel are worthy of recognition,” says Lala.

“This award highlights a growing trend among businesses, including those outside the automotive sector, towards prioritising social impact as we all grapple with how to grow the economy at the same time as protecting things we value – people and nature. 

“It’s up to business leaders to highlight examples where business is not just achieving sales growth, but also achieving sustainability targets. It turns out there’s a strong link between corporate success and social responsibility.

“In 2023 we not only held onto our number-one slot against some tough competition, disruption from Cyclone Gabrielle and regulatory challenges, but we also broke our own records and sold more vehicles in one year than ever before.”

“2023 was a very good year for our stores, and the Toyota and Lexus brands. Our store network came together to deliver 33,640 new-vehicle sales during the year, 52 per cent of which were electrified, and achieved 36 years of market leadership. 

“Most importantly, this reflects the utmost respect we have for customers, and for delivering the right vehicle and right service for them.”

As well as taking out the top award, Hawke’s Bay Toyota was a finalist for the president’s award, which was won by Valley Toyota in Thames.

It was also a successful night for Manukau Toyota, which was awarded two titles – the new-vehicles excellence award, and Toyota’s finance and insurance award.

Lexus of Queenstown won the Lexus sales and marketing award, while the marque’s supreme award went to Lexus of North Shore.

Blenheim Toyota won the leadership award, and the service excellence award went to South Canterbury Toyota. Other awards went to Pacific Toyota for parts and accessories, while the branch of the year award to Rutherford & Bond Toyota Kapiti.