As Sir Angus Tait celebrated his 85th birthday recently, the radio communications company he founded marked its own milestone - 35 years in business.

Tait Electronics commemorated these two birthdays with a significant celebration event in its home town of Christchurch.

During the celebrations Sir Angus was presented with a book that depicts a visual and written history of the company, and a copy was given to the almost 1000 Tait staff from the company's New Zealand headquarters and overseas offices. A giant 1 metre squared cake was baked for the occasion and was shared around all staff during the celebrations.

The Tait book, called The Best is Yet to Come, has been researched and compiled over the past five years, with significant contributions from current and previous Tait staff as well as prominent personalities within New Zealand business, industry and government.

Tait Electronics Chief Executive Michael Chick says the Tait book is "a story of commitment, innovation, the overcoming of obstacles and about 1000 people sharing one man's vision."

"In 1969 Sir Angus created a company that has now become Christchurch's largest commercial employer, the largest electronics research and development facility in Australasia, and a leading global industry player with products exported to about 160 countries.

"Not only that, our company founder and chairman has demonstrated the incredible capability of this country's hi-tech industry, and with his selfless business philosophies, has built a legacy for the future," Mr Chick says.