At a special ceremony in Auckland today, the Royal New Zealand Navy (RNZN) became the first ever New Zealand public sector organisation to receive an internationally recognised Baldridge Gold Award from the New Zealand Business Excellence Foundation.

His Excellency the Governor General Sir Anand Satyanand today presented the RNZN with the award which, in the past decade, has only been received by two other New Zealand businesses – Vero Insurance and NZ Aluminium Smelters.

While we in New Zealand know that that RNZN is a world-class organisation, this award is national and international recognition of that fact. The award recognises that RNZN's support organisation for its vessels and personnel is as good as that of any business or enterprise, and that it is receptive to change and new ways of doing business.

RNZN personnel are high achievers and I congratulate them on this award.