Export award presented to Taupo firm

Taupo Times, Volume 23, Issue 47, 13 June 1974, Page 1

Export award presented to Taupo firm

An ayvard for outstandipg contributions to New Zealand's export drive was presented to a Taupo firm of forestry consultants this week by the Minister of Forests, Mr Moyle, on behalf of the Trade Promotion Council.

J. G. Groome and Associates is the first firm in the Taupo area and the first forest consultants to win the award. Established in 1962, the firm is now known nationally and internationally, particularly for its projects in South-East Asia. In the last 12 years its staff in Taupo has increased 12 times and overseas it has grown from nil to 25 in four years. The Mayor, Mr C. S. Currie, said that in the last five years Groome's clientele had more than doubled. "Overseas it has trebled in the same period," Mr Curried told members of the borough and county councils and a number of visitors and representatives from other centres at the presentation held at the Taupo Golf Club on Tuesday. "Over the past three years, two-thirds of the firm's time has been taken up in servicing overseas clients." Aid project participation included operations in

West Irian, West Malaysia, the Philippines and Indonesia. The MP for Taupo, Mr J. W. Ridley, said Groome's had been of tremendous benefit to Taupo and New Zealand. Mr Moyle, who deputised at short notice for Mr Walding who was to present the award, said it was fcspecially significant that it was the first time the award had been presented to a consultant firm for expertise rather than for its products. "The Government is interested in developing the Pacific and South-East Asian areas and its. aid programmes are designed to enable countries to stand better on their own," he said. "The work of Groome and Associates is in line with this concept." On behalf of his associates, Mr J. G. Groome presented a Polynesian club to Mr Moyle for standing in at the presentation.