World Class NZ: Richard Taylor
With world acclaim for his career in special effects, multi-Oscar winner Richard Taylor was last night celebrated on his home stage – as the Supreme Winner in the 2009 World Class New Zealand Awards.
The awards, presented by Kea New Zealand and New Zealand Trade and Enterprise, recognise New Zealand’s tallest poppies, as nominated and judged by their peers.
Chief executive of the Kiwi Expats Association, Ivan Moss, says the awards, now in their sixth year, celebrate the success and talent of New Zealanders on the world stage – something Kea seeks to promote through its global network of Kiwi expats and other friends of New Zealand.
“Richard Taylor is a wonderful example of a world-renowned New Zealander whose achievements, creative talent and entrepreneurial skill place him amongst the world’s best,” says Moss. “With outstanding ability to create unique concepts and turn them into stunning reality, he is a true champion of New Zealand.”
Richard Taylor’s talent spans a range of media from puppetry to animation. He has won five Oscars® in his career, working on movies such as The Lord of the Rings trilogy; King Kong; The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe; Master and Commander: The Far Side of the World; and Heavenly Creatures.
Illustrating the high regard for Richard Taylor’s work, the World Class New Zealand “Tall Poppy” statuette, which Taylor received last night, is his own creation. It depicts a stem-like human figure reaching up to carry the weight of a blossoming poppy.
Richard Taylor is a co-founder and director of Weta Workshop, the special effects company best known for its work on The Lord of the Rings films. Weta Workshop was established in 1994 with Taylor’s partner Tania Rodger and with Jamie Selkirk and Peter Jackson. Richard Taylor has been working with Peter Jackson since the low-budget cult classics Braindead and Meet the Feebles.
The World Class New Zealand Awards also recognised seven category winners.
They are: (in alphabetical order by surname):
Ray Avery: Biotechnology
(Sponsored by Ernst & Young) Founder and CEO of Medicine Mondiale Auckland, Kathmandu
John Buchanan: Finance, Investment and Business Services
(Sponsored by BDO Spicers) Chairman UK Friends of the University of Auckland, Chair Smith & Nephew, Chair UK International Chamber of Commerce UK
Jane Hunter: Manufacturing
(Sponsored by Enterprising Manukau) Owner, Managing Director, viticulturist of Hunter Wines New Zealand
Peter Hunter: Research, Science, Technology and Academia
(Sponsored by the Foundation for Research, Science & Technology) Director of Bioengineering Institute at University of Auckland, head of Physiome Project
Phillip Mills: New Thinking
(Sponsored by Gen-i) Founder, Les Mills International Auckland
Craig Nevill-Manning: Information and Communications Technology
(Sponsored by Orion Health) Engineering Director, Google New York
Karen Walker: Creative Industries
(Sponsored by Wellington City Council) Fashion designer Auckland
Last year’s Supreme Award winner, Peri Drysdale from Untouched World, sat on the judging panel for this year’s awards alongside Stephen Tindall (chair of judges), John Stace, Professor Peter Gluckman, Craig Norgate and Geoff Ross.
Stephen Tindall, co-founder of Kea New Zealand, says the World Class New Zealand Awards have a key role to play in identifying and celebrating leaders who are successful on the world stage.
“As Kiwis we need to embrace success and encourage our young people to strive for it,” he says. “What better way than by showcasing and honouring world class New Zealanders?”
Judging follows a rigorous selection process. Nominees are evaluated against five main criteria with a strong focus on promoting New Zealand internationally, building global connections with New Zealand, and facilitating the exchange of information, knowledge and skills from and about New Zealand.
