A night out at the Wellington Gold Awards

Packaworld International was at the Wellington Gold Awards finals in Wellington, New Zealand, on Thursday night as a finalist in the ‘Innovation Gold’ category.

The finals appearance recognised Packaworld’s bocce court project, which saw the introduction of new materials and an improved manufacturing technique for Packaworld’s Competition Packabocce courts. The project also included changes to the court’s disabled access gate so players in wheelchairs could access the playing area more easily.

Packaworld Chief Executive Peter Roberts said the Wellington Gold Awards finals recognition was another high-profile honour for the company.
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“Innovation is integral to what Packaworld is all about,” he said. “In less than a decade, our bocce courts have gone from being a concept to becoming the court of choice for the Special Olympics and many other bocce ball leagues around the world. We’re immensely proud of the way the courts are helping people to take the sport to new communities and places to grow participation.”

Awards director John Dow said 2020 had been an extraordinary year with the coronavirus pandemic, lockdown and restrictions bringing unique challenges.

“It is quite remarkable what our Wellington businesses are achieving, many on the international stage, despite the obstacles inherent in global markets this past year,” he said.

More than 850 people attended this year’s final dinner, which was held at the TSB Arena on Wellington’s waterfront. The Wellington Gold Awards were established in 1999 and celebrate excellence and enterprise of businesses in Wellington Region.

A list of all of this year’s finalists and award winners can be found on the Wellington Gold Awards website.

​Hear from Mike Ryan - Technical Bocce Delegate, Special Olympics International, on why Bocce is such a popular sport in the Special Olympics.

"Unlike a lot of other sports where you have to be a certain size or shape, Bocce is a sport for all. It's a sport that anyone can play..."