29 September 2026

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.

“Store Manager of the Year is the Holy Grail for our store managers,” said Sally Copland, Woolworths New Zealand Managing Director.

“Bronson is a builder of people. Through coaching, accountability, and developing talent, he is creating the next generation of Woolworths leaders,” she said.

Bronson 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.

“I am 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. She got the highest marks of 18 regional winners in a checkout challenge held at Woolworths Auckland City in August.  Constance (Ngāti Huarere, Ngāti Hāua) is also active in the Whitianga community, in her school whānau committee and helping coordinate student breakfast programmes. 

“This award is about speed and accuracy, but more than that it’s about making our customers feel valued and respected. When a customer arrived without their payment method, Constance found a solution by helping them complete their transaction through the Woolworths app. That’s what helped make Constance our Checkout Operator of the Year,” said Sally Copland.

Constance Tanoa’s first word on accepting the award was “wow”.

“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. It went to the Dunedin Central team, led by Store Manager Marty McKenzie.

“I’m really proud to receive the community award. 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 Marty McKenzie

Marty was formerly the manager at Woolworths Mosgiel, where he also demonstrated an outstanding commitment to supporting the communities, building strong connections with a number of local sports teams, community clubs and organisations.

“Our 185 stores are 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. 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,” said Sally Copland.

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