Woolworths Upper Hutt’s Bronson Orr has won the coveted title of Store Manager of the Year at Woolworths’ annual Team Awards ceremony.
The prize was awarded at the annual Woolworths Experience trade show and conference, held at the Auckland Showgrounds.
Sally Copland, Woolworths New Zealand Managing Director, said that Store Manager of the Year was the Holy Grail for store managers.
“Bronson is a builder of people. Through coaching, accountability, and developing talent, he is creating the next generation of Woolworths leaders,” she said.
Orr is Upper Hutt-born and raised and started his Woolworths career in 2010 while still at Upper Hutt College, working checkout and trolley collection. He was incredibly humbled and honoured to have received this award.
“When I started 16 years ago, I never saw this being a possibility. I would like to thank the leaders who supported my career journey, most importantly, my store team in Upper Hutt! Lastly, thank you to Meg and Millie, my rocks at home,” he said.
The keenly contested Checkout Operator of the Year award went to Constance Tanoa of Woolworths Whitianga. Copland said the award is about speed and accuracy, but more than that, it’s about making customers feel valued and respected.
Tanoa scored the highest marks of 18 regional winners in a checkout challenge held at Woolworths Auckland City in August, and she's also active in the Whitianga community, serving on her school committee and helping coordinate student breakfast programmes.
“To stand here today and receive this award is something I never imagined. I’m incredibly grateful, but more than anything, I’m incredibly humbled. Thank you for seeing me, and thank you for believing in me,” she said.
This year’s national awards event featured a new award, Community Store of the Year, which went to the Dunedin Central team, led by Store Manager Marty McKenzie, who was proud to receive the award.
McKenzie previously managed Woolworths Mosgiel, where he also showed an outstanding commitment to supporting communities and building strong connections with local sports teams, community clubs, and organisations.
“I always try to bring people together in everything I do. Helping others live a little better every day is so powerful, and I'm so proud to work alongside people who feel the same way,” said McKenzie.
Copland said that Woolworths’ 185 stores have become important focal points for communities across the country.
“So much of what our store teams do is unsung, and by elevating this award to our national awards we want to celebrate the support they offer, from sausages for a fundraiser, to sponsoring a school sports team so they can get to a tournament,” she added.
“Investing in New Zealand isn’t just opening new stores and delivering value to our customers. It’s doing our bit to help our schools, sports clubs, community groups and others.”
Woolworths Team Awards 2026
- eComX People's Choice - Kasun Dahanayake
- Safety - Yasmin Folekene, Woolworths Kelston
- Brand Marketer of the Year - Kate Littlejohn
- Distribution Centre of the Year - Auckland Fresh Distribution Centre
- Online Driver of the Year - Daniel Tavelu, Woolworths Amberley
- Online Personal Shopper of the Year - Samuel Whitehead, Kai Woolworths Masterton
- Checkout Operator of the Year - Constance Tanoa, Woolworths Whitianga
- Category Manager of the Year - Haydn Jones (Wine)
- Store Manager of the Year - Bronson Orr, Woolworths Upper Hutt
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