HITO hairdressing awards

New Zealand’s up and coming hairdressing talent was on display at the Hairdressing Industry Training Organisation (HITO) Annual Awards, held on 31st October in Wellington.

HITO CEO Erica Cumming believes that the Awards are a great opportunity to see what the future of the hair and beauty industry will look like. Hairdressing and apprenticeship training is the ultimate winner from the evening as it is a time to celebrate the professionalism of the industry. The key focus for the evening was about recognising people for their great achievements.

The evening commenced with the launch of the Champions book that showcases 22 salons who are providing recognized apprenticeship training and support. Lyndsay Loverage and Ann Millar were also announced as HITO Ambassadors. These two people are contributing to training within the industry beyond their salon with a real purpose of helping people get qualified.

A major highlight of this year’s Awards was the inaugural presentation of the HITO Training Salon of the Year Award. This award has been created to recognise salons with an exceptional commitment to apprenticeship training and workforce development.

“Salons that embrace training by taking on apprentices and supporting them to become the stylists of the future are key to successful training and the development of a professional industry. It’s exciting that this year, for the first time, the efforts of these champion salons are being celebrated,” says Erica Cumming.

In a very close race, the HITO Training Salon of the Year Award was won by Spectra in Palmerston North. Spectra fought off fierce competition from four other finalists - Headquarters Hair by Design (New Plymouth), Reds Hairdressing (Pukerua Bay), Rodney Wayne Hairdressing (Chartwell, Hamilton), and Ursula Harris Hair Design (Nelson).

According to Spectra owner and ‘visionary stylist’ Gabrielle Bundy-Cooke, “training is the backbone and future of my business”. Gabrielle Bundy-Cook was out of the country so not able to attend the awards, but was absolutely delighted when we spoke to her on the night and blow away with the award.

The judges were impressed by Spectra’s innovative approach to training and strong focus on literacy. Training is based on the development of a look’n’learn environment, followed by hands on practical workshops. Nationally recognised stylists come in and train staff, while Spectra stylists travel to top salons around the country to observe and be inspired by what they see. As part of Spectra’s commitment to training, once apprentices complete their national qualification they can have their airfares, accommodation and admission for Hair Expo in Sydney paid for.

Ria Wikio from D’or Hairstylists in Arrowtown won the prestigious HITO Apprentice of the Year. Ria’s employer Rosemary Chalmers describes Ria as a ‘rockstar’ with a ‘heart of gold’ who ‘committed to being an outstanding stylist’. Ria spoke of the salon having goals and winner this award was one of them achieved. All the signs point to Ria having a very bright future in the hairdressing industry. Mary-Ellen Orchard from Yahzoo in Lower Hutt hot on Ria’s heels as the runner up.

Apprentice of the Year Regional Finalists.



The Jasmine McBeth Memorial Scholarship is for apprentice whose commitment and passion has allowed them to overcome the odds and achieve their goals. This year’s winner was Louise Webb (below), who after nearly dying from meningitis when she was 17, and losing most of her motor skills following two strokes, is now back doing her hairdressing apprenticeship at MaD in Levin. Louise’s goal is to have a salon of her own and to “be able to offer apprenticeships to young people who have a disability or illness which they have managed to conquer and have a passion and talent to become hairdressers”.

Other winners on the night were Wanda Menchi from the Wellington Institute of Technology who won the HITO Tutor of the Year, and Stephnie Winter from Bettjemans Auckland who won the Hairdressers in Training Photographic Competition. Hanna Latimer also from Bettjemans took out the People’s Choice photo.

Erica Cumming said “All and all it was a fantastic night with the recipients of the awards most deserving and a group of people who will certainly represent apprenticeship training and hairdressing well in the future.”

By Cynthia Greep, November 2009.