“It’s our people that make the difference” says ORIX NZ General Manager Barry Nicholson. ORIX NZ recently achieved Gold in the 2025 Southern Cross Medium Business Wayfinder Awards. These annual awards recognise Kiwi businesses with 101 – 500 staff who put their people first and actively support their health and wellbeing.
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“We are guided by the principle of creating value for all”, says Barry, “and our focus on workplace wellbeing is one aspect of this. We have implemented many new initiatives to support our people and are truly honoured to be recognised by this prestigious award.” said Barry.

ORIX NZ recognises the importance of holistic wellbeing and the positive impact this has on staff engagement, retention and productivity and it starts from their very first interaction - welcoming and onboarding new employees in a warm and thoughtful way.
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ORIX NZ’s initiatives to support wellbeing include:
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·    Southern Cross Medical Insurance

·    Income Protection Insurance

·    Comprehensive EAP Services

·    Motivational speakers offering insights on resilience

·    Mindfulness activities for the team

·    Promoting physical wellbeing through initiatives like Steptember

·    Peer-nominated Values Awards

·    Cultural celebrations like Diwali, Matariki & Māori Language Week

·    Two Volunteer Days off each year to support a community charity

·     Fundraising events & donation drives, where everyone gets involved

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Jen Southan, ORIX NZ’s People & Culture Business Partner, is incredibly passionate about wellbeing and has led the efforts to enhance workplace culture at ORIX through holistic wellbeing initiatives that reflected the diverse ways people experience wellbeing.
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Jen’s genuine care and personal commitment to wellbeing was also recognised at the 2025 Southern Cross Health Insurance Wayfinder Awards. She was presented with the GOLD Star Wayfarer Award in celebration of her outstanding commitment to wellbeing in the workplace. “Being acknowledged by this award is very humbling” said Jen, “We genuinely wanted to build a positive culture where people enjoy coming to work, feeling valued and supported."


ORIX NZ’s focus on workplace wellbeing was driven by the desire to challenge the status quo, enhance employee engagement, and promote diversity and inclusion. They wanted to build a vibrant team culture where people enjoyed coming to work and actively engaged in creating value for their customers.
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Since implementing their comprehensive wellbeing strategy, there’s been significant improvements in the workplace culture which include:
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A more inclusive and supportive culture with ORIX’s inaugural Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) Survey showing that 92% of employees believe the company allows them to "be themselves," and 91% feel actively valued.


Employee participation in wellbeing initiatives has surged. Almost 50% of employees took part in Steptember, collectively walking 11 million steps, showing higher engagement in physical wellness activities.


The uptake of benefits has also grown, with 82% of EAP usage now dedicated to personal issues such as financial, family, and mental health, indicating that employees feel supported to seek help when needed.


Through prioritising workplace wellbeing, ORIX NZ created a supportive environment where employees can thrive both personally and professionally.
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"At ORIX NZ, we genuinely care about our people and celebrate the diversity that makes our team stronger." says Barry. "We’re committed to creating a workplace where everyone feels a sense of belonging, purpose, and support — a place that feels like home. When our people feel valued and empowered, they bring their best selves to work which flows through to how we support each other and how we create value for our customers. It’s this culture of care and purpose that drives us to go the extra mile — and it’s what sets ORIX NZ apart.”

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