Mark Weenink accepts the supreme award from Acting Minister of Defence Annette King.
10 April 2008
The support shown by Minter Ellison Rudd Watts for their employee Nick Jones has earned the law firm the Territorial Forces Employer Support Council (TFESC) Employer of the Year Award.
The inaugural award, which recognises employers who are committed to supporting Territorials in their workplace, was presented to the winner by the Acting Minister of Defence Annette King at a special function at Parliament last night.
Minter Ellison Rudd Watts was chosen as the supreme winner as they had shown the greatest support for their employee in his military duties.
“We are delighted to receive this award. Our firm has benefited enormously from Nick’s experience with the Territorials. He is a highly motivated young man who has actively taken leadership roles both within his team and across the firm in a way which distinguishes him from this peer group,” said Minter Ellison Rudd Watts Managing Partner Mark Weenink.
Minter Ellison was chosen from 12 finalists across New Zealand. Other awards made were: the small private sector award – Puha Nursery, the large private sector award – Crowne Plaza Christchurch and the wider state sector award – Wellington Institute of Technology (WELTEC).
TFESC Chairman John Allen is encouraged and delighted to see employers supporting their staff members’ involvement in the Territorial Forces and said, “Employers can only gain from encouraging their employee’s involvement in the TF. In return for their support they get highly motivated and energised employees that are confident team players with problem solving and effective communication skills.”
The Territorial Forces are the reserve forces of the New Zealand Defence Force (NZDF) and are made up of the Royal New Zealand Naval Volunteer Reserve (RNZNVR), the Territorial Force of the NZ Army (TF) and the Territorial Air Force (TAF). Currently there are over 2,200 territorial reservists serving in the NZDF.
ENDS
Background: Territorial Force personnel carry out regular training, are deployed on overseas operations and fill vacancies in the Regular Forces. A 32-strong platoon made up primarily of territorial force soldiers from the 5th Wellington West Coast Taranaki and 7th Wellington Hawke's Bay battalions provides New Zealand's current contribution to the Regional Assistance Mission to Solomon Islands (RAMSI).
For further information about the TF visit http://www.army.mil.nz/our-army/territorial-force/default.htm.
For information about the RNZNVR visit http://www.navy.mil.nz/naval-reserve/default.htm
For further information please contact Ally Clelland, Defence Public Relations on 04 496 0273 or 021 569 130.