New Zealander Melissa Moon achieved third place in the 2006 Taipei 101 Run-up on Sunday 22 October, a race up the stairs of the world’s tallest building in Taipei.

Sponsored by New Zealand natural health products company Comvita, Melissa conquered the 91 Floors and 2046 steps with a spectacular time of 14.52 minutes and was the third woman to finish the race.

Two times World Mountain Running Champion - Italy 2001, Alaska 2003 and World Stair racing Champion in Kuala Lumpur in 2002; Melissa was one of 6 professional athletes invited from overseas to compete in this year’s Taipei 101 Run-up. The actual distance raced is 390 metres, higher than the top of Auckland’s Sky Tower.

Melissa also holds 21 New Zealand Athletic Titles in Mountain, road, track and cross country running. She says that Comvita Manuka honey has always been an essential part of her diet and performance as an athlete.

“I selected Comvita as a sponsor not only for the healing properties of UMF Manuka honey, but because they produce such a wonderful range of products that can improve all aspects of health. When I am in those intense phases of training or travelling and racing, I will always have a couple of teaspoons of Active UMF10+ or 20+ Manuka honey daily to help keep my resistance up.”

The race began at eight o’clock in the morning and the runners started their 390-meter ascent to the top of the tallest skyscraper in the world.

Melissa was delighted to find her favourite Comvita products in the Market Fresh store located in the lower levels of Taipei 101. Not only a fan of New Zealand’s famous Manuka honey, Melissa also takes the Comvita Lemon and Honey Lozenges and uses the Comvita Therapeutic Skin Care range.

October 13 2006

Taking an active role in their community, hybrid cars, planting trees and keeping an eye on enhancing their environment is reaping rewards for Comvita.

On October 12 Comvita won the IAG Trail Blazer Award at the Westpac Sustainable Business Awards ceremony, ahead of five other firms from throughout New Zealand.

Although chief executive Brett Hewlett is elated at winning the provincial award recently, winning the national award is even more exciting and winning the ‘Peoples Choice Award’ on the night, totally unexpected.

The Westpac People’s Choice Award gives businesses involved in sustainability an opportunity to choose one of their peers as a winner.

Those who attended the Sustainable Leadership Forum voted for Comvita as a company who demonstrates leadership in sustainability.

“We were delighted to win particularly against such well qualified entries and it is a proud time for the company to be so well rated by our peers,” says Mr Hewlett.

A core element of the business is looking for ways to integrate environmental, social and economic best practice into our systems and culture, he says.

“Sustainability is at the core of what we do,” he says. “The principles behind what is now called the triple bottom line report were championed by our founders, long before the phrase itself was invented.”

Mr Hewlett says Comvita’s international brand is built heavily on New Zealand’s image as an unspoilt source of natural health products.

Consumers across the world increasingly judge companies on their social and environmental commitment, and buy products accordingly and investors follow similar principles.

“We want to spread the word that good practices in economic, social and environmental sustainability can make a significant positive contribution to commercial, bottom-line results.”

“Comvita has long been a stand out example of a sustainable business,” says Sustainable Business Network chief executive Rachel Brown. “It has always had sustainability as a core principle in its business, has been a role model and mentor to many, and is a worthy recipient of the Westpac Peoples’ Choice Award.”

The finalists and winners of these awards show that sustainability is not a fringe element in business but is becoming mainstream.

“These businesses are to be commended for being an example to others and most importantly for achieving financial and business results, as well as making a contribution to society and the environment.”

“Comvita apply a systematic and cost effective approach to addressing sustainability issues,” she says. “Year after year it makes strong progress and continue to be a benchmark for others to measure progress against.

Retaining the founders’ philosophy that business must put something back into the community means Comvita is involved in a number of environmental initiatives both nationally and globally.

This year in Tauranga, Comvita donated $10,000 worth of native trees to the K Valley planting programme and $5000 to the Birds, Bees, Kids and Trees programme

Sport and primary school sponsorships, beekeeper scholarships, Otanewainuku Kiwi Trust, Project Green Fleet, the Waste Exchange, The Life Foundation in India, Ben San Leprosy Centre in Vietnam and Green Globe 21 are just some examples of social and environmental initiatives they support.

Comvita has been the recipient of many awards including the Environment Bay of Plenty 2004 Sustainable Business Awards for large businesses, the Food and Beverage Category NZTE Exporter of the Year in 2005.

It was announced recently that the company was announced as a finalist in the NZTE Agri-Tech, life sciences bio technology category for 2006.

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August 4, 2006
Comvita has purchased New Zealand based natural health products company NZ Vitalife in a deal aligned with Comvita’s strategy to expand the proportion of non-bee natural health products in its overall product range.

In acquiring NZ Vitalife, Comvita is adding new intellectual property and a focused range of New Zealand sourced herbal products with markets established in New Zealand and the UK. The $250,000 purchase involves a mix of cash and Comvita shares.

Comvita’s Chief Executive Brett Hewlett says NZ Vitalife’s trademarked brand names and product range will be marketed under the Comvita umbrella brand and sold into Comvita’s international marketing channels, adding significant value to the acquisition.

“As well as export potential, the business will contribute significantly to Comvita’s New Zealand retail health market sales, with minor incremental cost.”

The deal will also add supply chain capability. Comvita will now directly source bulk echinacea for its range of Winter Wellness elixirs, resulting in lower costs and increased control over quality.

NZ Vitalife founder, Dr Caroline Davy, will join Comvita in a global training and technical support role. Dr Davy, a former practising GP, brings an important medical dimension to Comvita’s global marketing team.

“Whilst not of significant size within Comvita’s overall business, the fit with NZ Vitalife is excellent from a business and marketing perspective. The products meet our stringent quality standards and fit perfectly into our health solution categories,” says Hewlett.

Comvita will introduce an initial range of herbal products into the New Zealand market by the fourth quarter of 2006, and then begin the global rollout early in 2007.
NZ Vitalife won the 2002 award for New Organic Exporter of the Year. The company was founded in 1998 by Dr Caroline Davy and Andrew Fowler.
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