Survey shows no flies on New Zealand Post, but plenty on Telecom
The numbers have been crunched, the Kiwis have been canvassed and the companies that consumers believe are the best—and worst—have been announced, with New Zealand Post coming out on top and Telecom bringing up the rear.
The 2010 Corporate Reputation Index, which was conducted in New Zealand for the first time this year, measured how New Zealanders aged 18-64 scored the country’s 20 largest employers, giving them an overall ranking using seven criteria: products, innovation, workplace, citizenship, governance, leadership and financial performance.
Produced by research consultancy AMR Interactive, the Australasian associate of the worldwide Reputation Institute, the study follows the same methodology that is used in 32 other countries around the world.
AMR’s reputation practice director and general manager, Oliver Freedman, says New Zealand Post’s high performance across all criteria resulted in it achieving the overall top ranking, beating Air New Zealand, Farmers, Progressive Enterprises and Fonterra. Telecom New Zealand rated far below any other company in the independent study.
“Although NZ Post did not receive top ranking in any of the individual areas, it was ranked within the top three for all seven, unlike any other company in the study,” he says. “It shows NZ Post’s consistent service in difficult economic times has clearly had a strong impact on how the company is regarded among the New Zealand public.”
At the opposite end of the spectrum was Telecom: its overall score was lower than any of the 60 companies measured in the equivalent Australian index.
Air New Zealand ranks second overall, topping the poll in terms of products, innovation and workplace. The Warehouse ranks first in the remaining other four areas (financial performance, leadership, citizenship and governance) and second for its innovation, but drops to fourth overall due to only ranking 13th in terms of its products. Farmers is ranked third overall, with its workplace, governance and products all rating highly.
Also of note is the high ranking of banks in New Zealand, particularly given the global financial crisis.
“ASB and Bank of New Zealand rank 3rd and 4th for their citizenship and 7th and 9th overall,” says Steve Grbic, managing director of Core Communications, the Reputation Institute’s New Zealand communications associate. “This differs from results in Australia and around the world where banks generally struggle to be perceived positively, particularly in the area of citizenship. It shows how established, strong reputations can help protect organisations in a challenging time.”
Earlier this week NZ Post confirmed a net profit after tax of $NZ1.3 million for the financial year to the end of June. While first overall on the Corporate Reputation Index, the company ranks second for its financial performance, products, workplace, citizenship and governance and third in the areas of leadership and innovation.
A breakfast seminar takes place on Tuesday, 21 September, where businesses will have the opportunity to learn more about their rankings and improving company reputation.
Notable findings / comparisons with Australia:
- New Zealand Post has a higher rating than that received by Australia Post in Australia
- Air New Zealand rates higher than Qantas does in Australia
- The Warehouse ranks first in terms of leadership, performance and governance (being honest, open and transparent) but only 13th in terms of products. Internationally, this is one of the first examples of a company that has managed to establish a good reputation without a strong foundation of positive product perceptions
- ASB’s score is also higher than any of Australia’s major banks (in Australia) – NAB, Westpac, ANZ, CBA) and on par with Australia’s number one ranked bank – ING Direct
- ANZ Bank in Australia is on par with ANZ in Australia. Westpac is rated slightly higher in New Zealand as is Bank of New Zealand
- McDonald’s has a much stronger reputation than Burger King – this is mainly based on more positive perceptions of its Innovation, Workplace, Citizenship, Governance and Financial Performance
- SkyCity is rated more positively in New Zealand than Crown in Australia
Buck
August 31, 2010
Any reason Fletchers isnt on this list? Would have thought they were one of the top 20 employers here.
Kiwigixxer
August 31, 2010
No National Bank? Or does it rate lower than Burger King? Most helpful.
Microman
August 31, 2010
The results of this survey just don't tally with reasonable expectations. The supposed 'worldwide methodology' used must be a load of crap
Akl11
August 31, 2010
Scoop.co.nz:
The list of Top 20 New Zealand companies studied in the Corporate Reputation Index is compiled by AMR Interactive by using a list of the top 100 companies on employment published by Kompass (a business search engine providing business users with comprehensive information about companies, people, products and services.)
Companies are excluded if they are not national, or only have a regional presence, or have a ‘Business to Business’ focus.
Duncan Stuart
September 1, 2010
These results have to be taken VERY cautiously. No doubt the survey was conducted professionally – however one of the remarkable things about reputation is – as Cadbury found, or Tiger Woods, or Toyota (all topping various reputation surveys) your reputation can be rated highly…until one incident. So this survey shows no sense of how resilient these reputations are, or how thin is the ice on which these organisations skate. Without such measures, these kinds of survey are a bit meaningless – though I'm sure there are a few puffed up CEOs preening themselves over these figures, and a few agencies taking all the credit. Heaven knows, we all need a little good news. But as a strategic piece of information these surveys are NOT useful.
Duncan Stuart FMRSNZ
Chris Pescott
September 2, 2010
Totally agree with Duncan. Approach these findings with caution.