Lifetime achiever

Jeweller Doug Erkkila, 83, has won the inaugural Jewellers Association of New Zealand’s (JANZ) Hall of Fame and Lifetime Member Award. When accepting the award, the jovial and popular Erkkila was, unusually, lost for words saying only “I really don’t know what to say. For me to have won such an award is such an honour, especially when you look at the calibre of the other four nominees. The list is a Who’s Who of the jewellery trade”. Erkkila first entered the jewellery industry in 1949 as a representative of watch supplier Mitchell & Co.