Ngai Tahu leader Mark Solomon has been named the Visionary Leader of 2012 by a national magazine.

Christchurch retirement village operator Ryman Healthcare was also among the top eight winners in the Deloitte and Management magazine's national business awards.

Solomon, kaiwhakahaere (chairman) of the iwi authority Ngai Tahu, was awarded the Visionary Leader title and Ryman Healthcare was named the Company of the Year last night.

The judges said Solomon was ''unquestionably one of the most constructive players involved in trying to deliver a positive, fair and enlightened future for New Zealand".

Investment returns from Ngai Tahu's substantial businesses were outstanding, the judges said.

''But while commercial success is critical, from Solomon and the iwi authority's perspective that success is simply the means to secure financial, cultural, physical and spiritual well-being for future generations.'' 

The judges said Ryman Healthcare deserved its Company of the Year title because it reported a record profit on top of a decade of record profits.

The feat of consistent double-digit growth was not only remarkable in New Zealand but was achieved by few companies worldwide, the judges said.

The Executive of the Year title was awarded to Mark Cairns, chief executive of Port of Tauranga, and Fonterra's chairman Henry van der Heyden was named Chairperson of the Year.

- © Fairfax NZ News

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