Christchurch, May 8, 2003 -- Niche Software has won a Trade New Zealand Export Award for its export achievements.

Each year Trade New Zealand's Export Awards recognize those who are "courageous, creative and determined enough to get out there and achieve outstanding export success".

Niche's achievement is a result of the software tools it has designed and developed to maximize the health and productivity of computer users.

The company's flagship product is WorkPace, a breaks and exercise software package that monitors computer use and reminds users when to take micropauses, rest breaks and leads them through regular stretches and exercise. WorkPace enables companies to analyse computer use, meet regulatory health and safety requirements and reduce the risks of computer-related injuries, such as repetitive strain injury (RSI).

The company was started in 1995 when Dr Robert van Nobelen and co-founder Dr Kevin Taylor saw the potential of commercializing the software program they had developed to help people afflicted with RSI. Their first sale was made two years later.

"Our original motivation in developing WorkPace was the personal experiences of Kevin's own battle with RSI when he was a PhD student," explains Dr van Nobelen. "He was looking for a product to help him take regular breaks when using the computer, but there was nothing available. We developed the program and then found other people were interested in it."

Dr van Nobelen says that initially the company focused on the domestic market, but saw potential to export through the large number of downloads of its trial version from its website.

He says Niche Software now has almost a million users around the world, and a blue-chip international client list. The company has responded to market demand by establishing one of the few multi-platform, multi-lingual software packages of this nature.

"Because work-related musculoskeletal disorders from computer use are now one of the most significant and costly work-related injury in western countries, we've found an increasing interest by larger companies in finding ways to mitigate, monitor and regulate the effects of computer use on their employees.

"Companies want to be able to meet regulatory requirements, reduce insurance costs and avoid litigation. In the USA, it's been estimated that musculoskeletal disorders such as RSI account for US$30 billion in work injuries and lost work time each year," says Dr van Nobelen.

Trade New Zealand Account Manager Cate Hlavac congratulated Niche Software on its Export Award win, saying the company is at the cutting edge of an emerging market.

"Niche Software is a leader in its field and is investing considerably in ongoing research and development to maintain its position and increase its product range and revenue further. The company has a number of competitive advantages, including smart use of technology, high expertise and a proven sales process."

Rachael Drummond
Marketing Communications Manager
Niche Software Limited
Ph +64 3 365 3040
Fax +64 3 365 3045

About the Trade New Zealand Export Awards:

The Trade New Zealand Export Awards, sponsored by DHL Worldwide Express, recognize outstanding achievement and growth by New Zealand exporters in international markets. Winners become contenders for the Exporter of the Year in their sector category, and category winners (with the exception of the Emerging Exporter Category) then vie for the Supreme Exporter of the Year Award, announced at an annual dinner on 12 June 2003 in Christchurch. For more information visit: www.exportawards.co.nz.

About WorkPace®

WorkPace monitors all aspects of computer use. It helps users 'pace their work' with micropauses, regular breaks and exercises. WorkPace is proven to reduce eyestrain, neck and shoulder discomfort and wrist pain. Used by many Fortune 500 companies and users worldwide, WorkPace is a proven tool for achieving healthy computing. WorkPace is available in Windows, Macintosh and Unix versions, and supports English, Dutch, Spanish and Portuguese languages.

About Niche Software Limited

Niche Software is a leading worldwide provider of computer software for the prevention of work-related computer injuries such as Repetitive Strain Injury (RSI). The company's headquarters are in Christchurch, New Zealand.