FYI November

north harbour business association member news and information

Manufacturing a solution Economics, exporters and the intervention question to there 10 Ibet pays

Supporting staff affected by family violence

www.nhba.org.nz

you like piùa up your business 15 Ifcoladas‌ 18 Speed The truth about business travel

Ultra-fast broadband is here

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from the chair

In this issue 3 4–5 6–7

From the Chair In Brief Sector Focus: Manufacturing 8–9 Advocacy: Updates, AGM 10 Crime Prevention: Family Violence, The Blue Line 11 What’s New: Mighty Ape, RapidPro 12–13 Out & About 14 Events: NHBA Business Breakfast Sponsor 15 Professional Development: Business Travel 16 Business Report: Raising Capital 17 Transport & Infrastructure: Regional Public Transport Plan, Free Transport Passes, Potholes 18 Web 2.0: Ultra-Fast Broadband 20–21 Success Story: EDGE Employment, Outbox 22–23 Business & Pleasure: Associate Members, Wine Club 24 Gold Sponsors: Secom Guardall, Vision Accounting

GOLD SPONSORS 2012

trade colour print

From the Chair

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elcome to our early summer edition of FYI for 2012.

We trust the year so far has been productive for you and your teams. We appreciate that the market environment is challenging in many areas, but there is growth and confidence evident in a number of sectors that will continue to fuel growth in Auckland and North Harbour in the near term.

In October we had an excellent NHBA Business Breakfast, at which we featured guest speaker Wayne ‘Buck’ Shelford, who spoke on leadership with significant parallels to business from the focus on leadership skills, team selection/ development, communications and performance management. We will build on this theme with the new Business Capability Programme that we are planning to launch next year, which will focus on the development of leadership skills for owners and senior managers.

At the breakfast we also learned much about the development of the Chorus fibre optic network, with North Harbour being the first area to roll out the government’s ultra-fast broadband network. We would recommend all business owners and managers evaluate the opportunity to transition to the new fibre network. Information on the network and the retail partners that sell connectivity to it are available at www.chorus.co.nz.

Our sponsor for this Business Breakfast – ManpowerGroup – was represented by NZ/Australian MD Lincoln Crawley. He highlighted the shortages in skilled staff, and discussed developing business opportunities to service the Australian market, leveraging our current exchange rate differential, which has become entrenched over recent years and is a cost advantage in New Zealand’s favour. Lincoln also saw the opportunity to identify and connect with skilled people in multiple countries using the technology now available.

The recipient of our sponsored Massey University scholarship, Matt

Jillings, also gave us an update on his studies, with straight A results demonstrating his commitment to his studies and his sponsors. Our ongoing thanks go to these sponsors – Actionmail, LinkPlas, Roofing Industries, Sealegs International and Speedy Signs – who are supporting Matt over his three-year course of study.

We have a significant competitive advantage in well-qualified people, access to advanced systems, and many successful businesses and leaders in our local community. We look forward to showcasing the capability of our local businesses and educators in the year ahead.

Following the business breakfast we held our Annual General Meeting, at which we presented our Annual Report of activity and financial results to 30 June, along with our three-year Business Plan. The meeting was well supported by members. Our results for 2012 were in line with budget expectations, and our drivers going forward over the next three years are aimed at becoming financially self-sustainable, without reliance on local and central government grants to fund our core services (including the Crime Prevention and Transport programmes). We will also be building on our advocacy services and regional economic development activities. To achieve this, we will be undertaking a survey of potential members in the adjacent commercial area on the eastern side of the Northern Motorway early next year. Full details of our Business Plan are available at www.nhba.org.nz/AGM2012.

Best wishes for the summer period ahead. We trust that those businesses that experience summer peaks make hay while the sun shines and those that have seasonal lows take the opportunity to recharge and invest time in planning their business strategies for the year ahead.

On behalf of your voluntary Executive Committee and your operational team, our thanks for your ongoing support.

Yours sincerely,

Warren Kitchin CA Dip NZIM Chairman www.nhba.org.nz FYI november 2012 3

in brief

New Albany retail centre for 2013

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ooking to meet ongoing demand for tenancies in the Albany area, Kea Properties is constructing a new convenience retail centre at 329 Albany Highway. The modern, single-level retail project has been specifically configured to ensure maximum exposure to passing traffic along the busy highway. The development consists of 11 retail units, ranging in size from 62 to 198m2, with 57 unallocated car parks for customers and clients. Vehicle access is off Albany Highway, and pedestrian access from John Glenn Avenue. Three out of the 11 units have been leased to a variety of tenants, including an Asian supermarket, yoghurt ice-cream parlour and butcher, and several more are under contract.

If you would like any more information about the centre – to be completed in January 2013 – please contact Sarah McAlpine at Kea Properties, on 021 421 573.

Free JP service in Albany Do you need papers certified or witnessed by a Justice of the Peace, or an Affidavit completed?

A free Justice of the Peace Service Desk has been trialled at the Upper Harbour Local Board Office, in Kell Drive, Albany, on Thursdays from 3 to 5pm. With an average of 4 to 5 requests a day, it’s been decided to continue the service indefinitely. The Citizens Advice Bureau service, including a Justice of the Peace, will continue at the same place on Mondays from noon to 2pm.

4 november 2012 FYI www.nhba.org.nz

North Harbour’s shops are tops Congratulations to Wine and More and Naturally Organic, NHBA businesses who were finalists in the 2012 Top Shop Retail Excellence Awards, run by the NZ Retailers Association.

David Prescott from Wine and More (nominated in the Food and Beverage category) runs the NHBA Wine Club, and is well known to NHBA members and North Harbour locals for his excellent range of local and international wines, as well as his insightful recommendations for wine lovers.

For anyone who has specific dietary needs or just wants to eat healthily, Karen and Neil Thomas at Naturally Organic (nominated in the Sustainability category) provide a onestop shop. They’re famous for their great service – including delivery of their organic fruit and vege boxes – and helpful staff, who will even carry your groceries to your car.

A nomination in these prestigious awards is something to be celebrated. NHBA echoes the thoughts of all Naturally Organic and Wine and More customers, in acknowledging our good fortune to have such quality businesses in the North Harbour area. www.wineandmore.co.nz www.naturallyorganic.co.nz

in brief

Doing our homework

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lose to 30 percent of employees in New Zealand now do some sort of work from home occasionally or on a regular basis.

Teleworking is a valuable part of a flexible and productive workplace.

Comprehensive business surveys in the UK, USA and Canada have shown measurable benefits to business, including increases in productivity, less absenteeism per person per year, time saved from the daily commute, and up to NZ$12,000 in bottom-line business savings per employee who teleworks two days per week. There are a range of technologies available to make teleworking easier – but most staff will require nothing more than a computer compatible with their workplace system and a broadband connection.

In New Zealand, Telework Week runs from 12 to 16 November, encouraging individuals and organisations to give teleworking a go.

For more information on the week and teleworking in general, visit www. teleworknz.co.nz or www.aucklandtransport.govt.nz/moving-around/ workplace-travel-plans/teleworking.

Thank you as cabling project winds up

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ranspower and Downer would like to thank all the residents and businesses affected by the underground cabling works on the Albany to Wairau Road section of the project. They are currently in the final stages of reinstatement works throughout this section, and should be finished by the end of the year.

As a way to give back to the community, Downer and Transpower are donating unused material from the works sites to the North Harbour Softball Association. They are using the material to construct an earth bund that will effectively be an amphitheatre around diamond 2 for spectators (see photo). This will be put to good use by local fans, as well as visitors to the 2013 ISF Men’s World Softball Championships, taking place in March next year. www.nhba.org.nz FYI november 2012 5

sector focus

Manufacturing the economics for success Do Kiwis have to choose between enjoying cheap imported goods, on the back of a high New Zealand dollar, and having a healthy economy?

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s the dollar continues to ride high, some New Zealand manufacturers are struggling, with a reported loss of 40,000 jobs in the sector in the four years to June.

Unions and opposition parties are now calling for the government to cut the official cash rate, to try to force down the dollar’s value and help manufacturers and exporters.

New Reserve Bank Governor Graeme Wheeler acknowledged last month that fiscal consolidation is constraining demand growth, and the high New Zealand dollar is undermining export earnings and encouraging substitution toward imported goods and services. But he left the OCR unchanged at 2.5 percent – a historic low.

“While annual CPI inflation has fallen to 0.8 percent, the Bank continues to expect inflation to head back towards the middle of the target range,” he said. “We will continue to monitor

6 november 2012 FYI www.nhba.org.nz

inflation indicators, such as pricing intention and inflation expectation data, closely over coming months.”

A case for intervention?

After a bid to get the finance and expenditure committee to conduct an inquiry into manufacturing was recently blocked by the government, opposition parties have run with the issue. Labour, the Greens and New Zealand First last month appeared at a ‘Jobs Crisis Summit’ to announce that they have set up their own inquiry.

The New Zealand Manufacturers and Exporters Association (NZMEA), which organised the summit, supports the call for a debate on measures to bring down the New Zealand dollar, such as quantitative easing, claiming that an overvalued exchange rate

has cost exporters $10.4 billion over the past three and a half years.

Its own Survey of Business Conditions, completed during September 2012, shows total sales in August 2012 decreased 2.75 percent (export sales increased by 10 percent with domestic sales decreasing 12.9 percent) on August 2011. The survey sample covered NZ$580m in annualised sales, with an export content of 50 percent.

“We have seen the impact of long run problems in the economy over the past couple of months,” says NZMEA Chief Executive John Walley. “While our international competitors take steps to support their export industries, largely through currency devaluation, and as long as our politicians continue to deny the obvious, our export decline will continue… This approach is causing New Zealand’s current ac-

sector focus

ue of the dollars that make up our wages and savings, and reducing the purchasing power of the dollars we do have – and enjoy spending on imported electronics, appliances and clothing.

It’s a last resort measure, likely to result in interest rates being higher, as foreign funding sources raise the risk premium already built into interest rates on the credit we import to make up for our own low savings rate.

Each element of the economic equation impacts on the others – interest rates, inflation and the exchange rate are all linked, and part of a greater global financial environment.

The local impact

count deficit to grow and threatens economic growth and job prospects in the longer term.”

A complicated equation NZ Herald economics editor Brian Dallow has said that there are problems presented by each of the suggestions for Reserve Bank intervention: a cut in interest rates (ruled out by the Bank for now); direct intervention in the foreign exchange market, through selling New Zealand dollars; and buying government debt – effectively printing money, or its virtual equivalent.

He has also pointed out that there are two sides to the high dollar. While it does cut exporters’ incomes, it also reduces the cost of imported oil, plant, machinery, components and raw materials. Quantitative easing, he says, is inherently inflationary, diluting the val-

North Harbour companies are as affected as any throughout the country, but continue to focus on working through the downturn and creating opportunities where they can. Whether direct exporting or selling under license in other countries, distance from market is no longer a limiting factor for New Zealand firms.

The key, as always, is a quality, strongly-differentiated product.

Alto, one of New Zealand’s leading rigid plastic packaging companies, has eight plants in New Zealand and four sites in Australia.

This award-winning company specialises in extrusion and thermoforming, blow moulding and injection moulding, for customers from major FMCG companies through to industrial clients – and has recently won a contract to supply food trays to all Coles Supermarkets in Australia.

In 2006, KEA Manufacturing became the first New Zealand campervan manufacturer to export to Australia, sending complete motorhomes from the plant in Auckland. This year, Kea Manufacturing formed a joint venture manufacturing business with Tourism Holdings Ltd, called RV Manufacturing Group LP (RVMG).

Now, a merger between KEA Campers & Sales and Tourism Holdings Ltd (Motek Vehicle Sales) and United Campervans & Sales has been approved. The combined businesses are operating at the Auckland RV Super Centre in Albany, the current site for KEA Sales Auckland and home of RVMG’s primary manufacturing facility – the largest motorhome manufacturer in New Zealand.

In 2011, Autogrow Systems Ltd received the $10,000 ANZ Export Assistance Prize.

The company designs and manufactures automated greenhouses and hydroponics systems that control the climate and irrigation of crops.

Founder Jeff Broad says that the prize has assisted them to develop a relationship with a distributor in China, who is involved in the development of a large New Zealand-themed agri-park near Beijing. The park – designed as an exemplar of efficient, chemical-free growing – represents an unprecedented export opportunity for Autogrow Systems.

Assa Abloy is a global leader in door opening solutions, with sales of NZ$16.5 billion and operations in more than 50 countries. Original-

Distance from market is no longer a limiting factor for New Zealand firms. The key, as always, is a quality, strongly-differentiated product.

ly Interlock Ltd, Assa Abloy New Zealand has been part of the Assa Abloy group since 2001.

From its Albany base, the company designs, manufactures, tests and markets high quality door and window hardware, covering both the commercial and residential markets within the building industry. In addition to maintaining significant market share in this country, where it employs over 240 people, Assa Abloy New Zealand exports New Zealand-made products throughout the world.

FYI asked General Manager Ken Dick for his insight into the current situation.

“In the first quarter of this year we noticed a downturn in the economy that forced a restructure, and in the second half of the year we are experiencing growth in some market sectors,” he says. “Our plans are to grow the export side of our business whilst fully supporting the local customers. Our R&D investments in the local markets are starting to pay off.”

He is not convinced of the need for government action. “I believe it is our responsibility as manufacturers to improve our businesses by becoming more efficient – I don’t believe government intervention will help,” he says.

“The most important thing is to keep control of costs and understand the ratios that indicate where your business is strong, and use that information to manage areas of weakness.”

It’s a complex issue, and It’s clear that some voices in the discussion are driven by ideology as much as economics. But for New Zealand manufacturers and exporters, one other thing is clear – it’s not ideology, but ideas and innovation, that will bring success.

What do the figures say?

Statistics New Zealand’s Economic Survey of Manufacturing reported a slight rise of 0.3 percent in manufacturing sales volume for the June 2012 quarter. Figures for that quarter (seasonally adjusted and compared with the March 2012 quarter) show that exports fell 1.6 percent to $11.3 billion (led by a fall in the value of milk powder, butter and cheese), and the trend for exports fell in the previous three quarters. Imports fell 1.9 percent to $11.9 billion, while the trend was 2.6 percent lower than its peak, in the September 2008 quarter. There was an overall trade deficit of $664 million (5.9 percent of exports). www.nhba.org.nz FYI november 2012 7

advocacy

Growing business, growing Auckland The recent Auckland Plan set out Auckland Council’s vision of Auckland as the world’s most liveable city, with an economy that delivers opportunity and prosperity for all Aucklanders and New Zealand. The council acknowledged that this can only be realised if it is underpinned by an internationally competitive, prosperous economy. In September, Mayor Len Brown launched the council’s new Economic Development Strategy (EDS), a document that sets out the steps the council will follow in pursuit of this goal over the next ten years.

Five priorities have been identified: • Grow a business-friendly and well-functioning city.

• Develop an innovation hub of the Asia-Pacific rim.

• Become internationally connected and export driven.

• Enhance investment in people to grow skills and a local workforce.

• Develop a creative, vibrant

international city.

The strategy highlights three key economic goals that the council believes are necessary to achieve this vision: an average annual increase of regional exports greater than six percent; an average annual real GDP increase greater than five percent; and average annual productivity growth greater than two percent.

Auckland Council says that a core focus of the strategy is to create favourable conditions where business can grow, in order to attract innovators, investors, business, visitors and residents.

To see what this could mean in practical terms for you, read the EDS at www.aucklandcouncil.govt.nz/eds.

One plan to rule them all Auckland Council is developing New Zealand’s most comprehensive single resource management plan, known as the Auckland Unitary Plan. This will be a key tool in delivering the Auckland Plan: it will be the rulebook that sets out what development can happen, and where, as well as how our natural resources can be protected.

It will have a direct impact on the shape of the city and the quality of Auckland’s built and natural environment, and will be the principal regulatory tool to turn Auckland into the world’s most liveable city. It replaces the existing district and regional plans and policies of the former councils (with the exception of the recently

approved Hauraki Gulf Islands District Plan) with a single set of rules for the whole city.

The council is proposing an in-depth engagement programme throughout the drafting of the proposed Unitary Plan to achieve the best plan possible in a way that will allow it to become operative early. This will provide clarity over the council’s planning process in delivering the aspirations of the Auckland Plan. Some targeted engagement with key stakeholders – including NHBA – has already taken place, and a much wider engagement programme is planned for March 2013.

Further details are available at www.aucklandcouncil. govt.nz/unitaryplan.

Have your say on the proposed non-domestic wastewater tariff

Customer Information Sessions Watercare is proposing a single, region-wide tariff structure to replace the range of wastewater charging regimes put in place by the former councils and water companies. The new tariff structure will take effect from 1 July 2013.

Watercare is putting forward three wastewater tariff proposals. Between 1 November 2012 and 18 January 2013, we are seeking feedback from our commercial and other non-domestic customers.

To find out more about Watercare’s tariff proposals, you are invited to attend one of the following Watercare customer information sessions: North Shore Belmont Rose Centre, School Road 4.30pm to 6.30pm Tuesday 27 November 2012 For enquiries, email: WatercareSurvey@water.co.nz or call Watercare on 09 442 2222

Rodney Silverdale Hall, 7 Silverdale Street 4.30pm to 6.30pm Friday 30 November 2012

advocacy

North Harbour Business Association Annual General Meeting

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he NHBA Annual General Meeting took place on 24 October 2012, at North Harbour Stadium. NHBA Chairman Warren Kitchin and General Manager Janine Brinsdon presented the year’s achievements and plans for the future, outlined in the Annual Report 2012 and Business Plan July 2012– June 2015.

NHBA members were thanked for the positive result of the ‘Vote Yes Again’ campaign in March this year – evidence that we are delivering measurable benefits to members, staff, visitors and property owners. The voter turnout indicated the strength and importance of a collective voice within North Harbour, and proved that the confidence stakeholders, external funding agencies and sponsors have in North Harbour BID programmes is well-founded.

Their support enables us to enhance member programmes and services beyond the resources of the targeted rate.

NHBA continues to support efficient business infrastructure through advocacy and education programmes: for example, crime prevention seminars and surveys, transport management consultation, and business capability and personal development programmes.

Throughout the Business Plan, we detail the importance of providing practical solutions, such as increased access to real-time transport information (like the Look Before you Leave camera network and public transport signage). Education and advocacy during key projects – such as the Albany Highway redevelopment – will improve local transport infrastructure and reduce congestion. Our Crime Prevention initiatives reflect changes in member demand from predominately a physical and environmental focus (forensic property marking and CPTED surveys) towards also recognising the human cost of crime. The crime prevention training programme will develop skills and awareness across a broad range of topics such as personal theft, safety and CCTV, which will support the ongoing security patrol and advocacy benefits to members.

In terms of our economic development programme, the annual NHBA Business Expo has become a showcase for the North Shore and beyond, and demand by local businesses to establish significant relationships is evidenced through stand bookings received eight months in advance of May 2013’s expo.

The promotion of business excellence will continue through our communication platforms and networking events, with quality speakers covering topics including business leadership, innovation and expertise.

The full Business Plan is is available online at www.nhba.org.nz/AGM2012.

Current NHBA Executive Committee board members re-elected for a further twelve months were: Warren Kitchin (Enlightenz), Geoff Ashenden (Vital Health), Brent Mackway-Jones (Pacrite Industries), Kevin Moore (Crown Business Services), Les Probert (ePromotionz) and Jenny Watson (Clendons Barristers and Solicitors, representing MacEwans Pumping Services). Our thanks go to them for their ongoing contribution.

NHBA would also like to thank outgoing board members Graham Boult (CMI), Richard Ede (BNZ Partners) and Vivienne Scott (EmbroidMe) for their valued contributions to the continued growth and success of the North Harbour Business Improvement District.

New NHBA Executive Committee board members Chris Baker, Heather Stonyer, Richard Blamey and Janet Marshall. Absent: Greg Frittelli and John Kerridge.

At the AGM, NHBA also welcomed new Executive Committee board members Chris Baker (Action Coach), Richard Blamey (representing Hot Spring Spas), Greg Frittelli (Insurance and Lending Group), John Kerridge (West Tec Commercial Furniture), Janet Marshall (representing North Harbour Travel) and Heather Stonyer (Unitec Institute of Technology). Profiles of these new board members will appear in the next issue of FYI.

How are we progressing against the June 2012–June 2013 Business Plan?

Highlighted below are key measurable results against each of our main areas of activity and responsibility, as at 30 June 2012.

Provided a

voice for business

8%

5,600 fewer daily school traffic journeys

300 74% crime prevention surveys completed

reduction in overall burglaries

$168k

economic benefit from current bus patronage

Effective financial management

voted Yes Again in 2012

120% increase in NHBA Business Expo exhibitors

$222k

of additional revenue to supplement targeted rate attracted

www.nhba.org.nz FYI november 2012 9

crime prevention

Good for staff, good for business

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considerable amount of research has $36.6 million for rehiring or replacing these been completed throughout the world same staff. on the issue of family violence and The good news is that businesses can be the economic impact that it can have on soci- of great assistance to staff who are victims of ety. In a study completed in 1994 in New Zea- family violence, by playing a supporting role for land, it was estimated to have cost between these staff, and by doing this reduce the im$1.2 and $5.8 billion, pact on their business. which in today’s figures To support businessis approximately $8 es to do this, the North billion. The study also Harbour Business Assofound that the likely ciation, in conjunction cost to businesses was with the Ministry of Social approximately $2.9 milDevelopment, Police, the lion (1994) in lost workFamily Violence Networks Good for STAff ing days and productiviof the North Shore and Good for ty alone.

Rodney, Shine and the buSineSS Staff affected by North Shore Women’s family violence can be Centre, are enabling easy fAmily violence distracted and fearful access to information how employerS cAn help at work, leave their job and resources at no cost. as they are hiding from Training for businesses their abuser, or have a is also currently being protection order that planned and will be availcould impact on their able in 2013. workplace. The perpeThe resources and trators could also be information can be aca threat to other staff cessed directly through at the victim’s work, or the NHBA website’s Crime could be using work time and resources to en- Prevention page. It includes various docuable them to continue to threaten the victim. ments (including helpful contact information The figures mentioned above did not include for local support agencies) that can be either other costs such as the possible requirement downloaded (and printed) or read online. The to replace a staff member, including loss of page also has contact details for Anna-Louise Crane (NHBA Crime Prevention Specialist) if you would like any assistance, advice or help The good news is that businesses to easily access the free resources you can can be of great assistance to staff use in your business. who are victims of family violence.

To ensure that it is as easy as possible for you to take action, we have also designed a expertise and re-training. Australian research ‘two action system’ that is quick and easy for undertaken by Access Economics (2004: The businesses to utilise. By taking some action Cost of Domestic Violence to the Australian to raise awareness in your business and ofEconomy), found that the cost for Australian fer support to anyone who wishes it, you will businesses to deal with absenteeism (i.e not only reduce the potential impact on your enabling staff time to deal with court hearings, business, but also enable staff to gain support time off for medical attention, counselling when they need it. etc) equated to $14.2 million in 2002–03 – somewhat less than the calculated cost of www.nhba.org.nz How employers can help

Contact: areyouok@msd.govt.nz or visit www.areyouok.org.nz

1

SAVE THE DATE

Personal Safety Course

This presentation is being undertaken by Fearfree, who specialise in personal safety training.

Date: Wednesday 5 December, 7–8.30am Venue: Network Pro, 100 Bush Road, North Harbour RSVP: anna.crane@nhba.org.nz or 09 968 2222 Two people free for NHBA member companies ($25 per person for guests and non NHBA members). Breakfast is provided. Numbers are limited, so reserve your place now.

10 november 2012 FYI www.nhba.org.nz

In every issue of FYI, Senior Sergeant Mark Fergus will answer your questions relating to crime prevention and safety. If you would like to ask a question, please email crimeprevention@ nhba.org.nz.

Another P lab has been in the news – how do we know if this activity is going on in our area?

The two most problematic illicit drugs in New Zealand are currently cannabis and methamphetamine (also known as ‘P’ or ‘ice’).

In commercial estates throughout the country, Police regularly locate hydroponic cannabis growing operations in small industrial units. When we speak to the landlords, we invariably find that the tenant paid the rent on time (often in used $20 bills). But once the premises are exposed as a cannabis growing operation, the bills quickly start to mount up, and repair costs usually well exceed the income derived from rent. The drug growers will have trashed the inside of the premises to set up walls, vent the smell of cannabis, divert the electricity and, on occasion, set up man-traps to ward off other criminal types. In the case of methamphetamine manufacture, the health authorities often require the landlord to complete an interior rebuild to remove the dangerous chemicals present.

Signs you should look for as a landlord, or neighbour, include blacked-out windows, with light seeping around the edge all night.

The installation of new vents is a giveaway. Often you won’t see the tenant for days on end, and the doors and windows will be constantly closed. Who operates a profitable business like that? Drug dealers, that’s who.

If you become aware of suspicious activity in your area, let us know. You can contact the North Shore Police personally, or provide information with a complete assurance of anonymity by calling Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.

If you would like to find out more about how the NZ Police deal with illicit drug activity, or learn more about how to recognise a methamphetamine lab, visit www.police. govt.nz/service/drugs.

what’s new

A mighty successful ape In a world where you can buy anything, any time, how do retailers stand out from the crowd? Easy – be the coolest kid on the block.

Mighty Ape’s ‘coolest online store’ tagline is more than proven by a browse around their website, and visits to their Facebook page and Twitter profile. But, as in any successful business, there’s substance behind the image. The company scored four significant awards at the 2012 NetGuide Web Awards, including Best Online Shopping site and the top award, Best Overall Site.

The awards were decided by votes from the public, with over 225,000 New Zealanders casting their vote.

From their new distribution centre at 221 Albany Highway, Mighty Ape’s team of ‘Gorillas’ and ‘Monkeys’ process thousands of online orders per week. Customers can choose from over 6 million products, including games, books, movies, home and office products, toys and collectibles, music, electronics and computers. The best sellers are held in stock in the Albany warehouse, with back catalogue products ordered as required from over 120 different local and international suppliers. Overnight delivery is guaranteed within New Zealand on over 173,960 products.

Social Marketing Gorilla Che Kamariera (who manages a hip-hop artist in his spare time), say the company culture is built around the customer.

“We put the customer first, and always put ourselves in the our customer’s shoes,” he says.

“We think about what they want, and how we can improve the service for them. We find that when our customers are happy, they recommend us to their friends and our business continues to grow. We invest in services for customers before we invest in advertising.”

In 2010 an Australian website was launched. And a new service, Mighty Ape Marketplace, began last year to allow users to sell pre-loved games, movies, books and music.

There are no listing fees, and the payments are handled by Mighty Ape, with a standard commission on each sale.

Che says this service was introduced to give their customers a safe and convenient way to buy and sell their pre-loved goods. “As we already have detailed descriptions for the products on our site,” he says, “listing products for sale is quick and hassle free.”

The online testimonials from satisfied customers around the world show how Mighty Ape’s strategy of style plus substance has equalled success.

www.mightyape.co.nz twitter.com/MightyApe www.facebook.com/ MightyApe

RapidPro opens in Rosedale Rapid prototyping and additive manufacturing services are sweeping the world by storm, and New Zealand is no exception. To cater to the growing needs of the local market, RapidPro has opened a locallyowned and operated specialist prototyping and low volume manufacturing service bureau in Auckland.

Offering the full range of rapid prototyping and additive manufacturing technologies, RapidPro NZ is fully equipped to handle your prototyping requirements.

RapidPro NZ can build what you create in Objet, SLS, FDM and ZCorp, creating models and prototypes in plaster, thermoplastic, plastic, nylon, rubber-like plastics and the full spectrum of digital materials.

With links to Redeye On Demand Australasia, the largest FDM build centre in the Southern Hemisphere, RapidPro NZ is also able to produce parts and prototypes suitable for functional testing in a full range of circumstances. Fused deposition modelling is just

one of the additive manufacturing technologies RapidPro uses to make projects come to life. Objet Connex 3D printing is used to create products with various different materials in a single build, from soft rubber to hard plastic. Able to print in 107 different digital materials in a single build, Objet printing removes the limitations of complex geometries, producing fine detail parts in a single build. EOS SLS additive manufacturing combines strength and surface suitable for one-off parts to small production quantities. The most affordable prototyping technology is ZCorp plaster printing. Cost effective and ideal for form models, ZCorp is best suited to projects like large architectural models, full-colour maps and conceptual form studies.

RapidPro NZ provides a local solution for all your rapid prototyping needs. Whether you have a prototyping machine of your own and just need help to clear the backlog from time to time, or you are looking at decreasing time to market by prototyping models or parts for form, fit and functional testing and tooling, call RapidPro NZ and speak to their experienced engineers about your project requirements. They will use the complete range of experience and expertise from their New Zealand and international offices to ensure the most suitable solution to your next project. www.rapidpro.co.nz 09 443 6413 www.nhba.org.nz FYI november 2012 11

out & about

2.

1.

4.

3.

5.

1. Matt Jillings, NHBA scholarship recipient. 2. Robin Kelly from Chorus. 3. Lincoln Crawley from ManpowerGroup.

4. Wayne ‘Buck’ Shelford 5. The 2013 NHBA Executive Committee board (not complete).

A sporting business breakfast It was two-for-one on Wednesday 24 October, as both the NHBA Business Breakfast and Annual General Meeting took place at North Harbour Stadium.

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or the more than 110 NHBA members and guests who got up early to attend, it was an entertaining and informative business breakfast. Matt Jillings, the NHBA Bachelor of Business Scholarship recipient and ‘A’ student, reported on how

12 november 2012 FYI www.nhba.org.nz

his studies are going. Robin Kelly from Chorus provided an update on the roll-out of ultra-fast broadband, and the exciting new business platforms this provides for North Harbour businesses.

Lincoln Crawley, Managing Director of event sponsor ManpowerGroup Australasia, inspired the guests to look at their industry for opportunities for ‘near sourcing’ of talent – especially those companies with links to Australia.

Lincoln also provided an insight into how to release human potential within the ‘Human Age’ (see page 14 for more).

And the highlight of the event, for many, was the appearance by Wayne ‘Buck’ Shelford, a legend of North Harbour and New Zealand rugby. Buck shared his views on leadership, team building and motivation, and answered a great many questions from guests.

Buck’s parallels with business and sport were not only entertaining but also very

relevant. He referred to the importance of the whole team turning up ‘ready to bleed for your game’. The importance of innovation, and being prepared to change your game plan as required, was also a consistent message. Buck stressed the importance of using every edge we can to win, and how important it is to generate team confidence and ensure the skills are there to support the game plan.

There have been significant milestones achieved during the past twelve months across NHBA member programmes and initiatives. At the Annual General Meeting that followed, NHBA Chairman Warren Kitchin and General Manager Janine Brinsdon shared those achievements, and presented the Business Plan for the next three years. The NHBA Executive Committee board for 2013 was also confirmed. See page nine of this FYI for more details on the AGM.

out & about

Confidence through communication

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Top: Cheng Ooi from NetworkPro. Bottom: Albany Toastmasters NHBA Speechcraft course participants.

peechcraft courses supported by North Harbour Business Association, and run and managed by Albany Toastmasters, have been a great success this year. The third course of the year is currently running, hosted by Network Pro New Zealand, who have kindly made their premises available. Some 25 participants, many from NHBA member companies, will have completed the course by the end of the year, with more courses planned for 2013.

Rob Wightman, who is helping to run the courses, says it’s amazing how quickly people adapt to the idea of speaking to a group when they have a plan to follow.

“We give them the building blocks of public speaking over a six session period,” he says. “With these newfound, or in some cases rediscovered, skills, it is possible to banish that fear most of us have when suddenly confronted with the idea of speaking to a group. Knowing what needs to be done, and doing it in a user friendly environment, makes it happen.”

A number of the participants in the courses have commented on how much easier it is to make a presentation or a short speech now that they have useful guidelines to follow. Cheng Ooi of Network Pro New Zealand was a participant who was so impressed, she enrolled her staff and made

her work premises available to Albany Toastmasters to ensure that the courses continue to be available.

Rob says that in this day and age, everyone will, at some stage, be expected to give a speech or presentation either at work or at home.

We train hard to learn our jobs, yet think that speaking to a group comes naturally.

But it’s a skill like any other – so be prepared. Course details for 2013 will be at www.nhba.org.nz/event as dates are confirmed.

Contact Rob at rwightman@ xtra.co.nz or visit www. albanytoastmasters.org.nz or www.toastmasters.org.nz for more information about Toastmasters.

North Harbour Club honours rising stars

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ayes Knight director and president of the North Harbour Club, Matthew Bellingham, presented the AIMES Emerging Talent Awards to six inspirational individuals at a special cocktail function held at the Spencer on Byron hotel on 31 October.

As part of the prestigious AIMES Awards, the Emerging Talent Awards were established by the North Harbour Club in 2005 to recognise individuals who display considerable promise in any of the AIMES Awards categories (the Arts, IT, Innovation & Science, Music, Education, Sport and Service to the Community).

“I am constantly blown away by the talent that continues to emerge from our shores, and the amazing feeling that comes with knowing our future is in good hands,” says Matthew, an advocate and long-time sponsor of the awards.

“This year’s winners are, once again, a credit to our region, to

their families, and to the schools, universities and community groups who have all had a role to play in their journey to this point. We have great pleasure in congratulating them.”

This year’s recipients were musician Petra Bullock (18), musician Nick Hall (23), sprint kayaker and surf lifesaver Teneale Hatton (22), mechanical engineer Sarah Mitchell (23), community ambassador Mattea Mrkusic (17), philosopher Jeremy Reid (23) and author Ben Sanders (23).

The North Harbour Club, with the help of its sponsors, has awarded over $1.3 million worth of AIMES Awards to the region’s rising young stars since 1995.

Previous recipients include The Naked and Famous, Jacko Gill, Will Martin, Terenzo Bozonne and Cam Calkoen.

Simon Lamb is chairman of the judging panel and principal of Takapuna Grammar School.

“The great thing about the Emerging Talent Awards is that

Matthew Bellingham with AIMES

our recipients are being awarded in the early part of their careers, and will often come back to us in later years and go on to win an AIMES Award,” he says. “We are particularly proud of our connection with these young people, and it is great to see them continue to grow and achieve and for us to be a part of that. We also really

Emerging Talent Award winners Petra Bullock, Teneale Hatton, Ben Sanders and Mattea Mrkusic. Jeremy Reid, Sarah Mitchell and Nick Hall could not attend, so their parents accepted the awards on their behalf.

appreciate the support from Hayes Knight to enable us to continue to reward these outstanding winners.” www.nhba.org.nz FYI november 2012 13

events

The power of business in the ‘Human Age’

easier, the use of strategic migration can enable companies to find talent when sources nearby are stretched.

• Training offers a logical way to grow a larger, sustainable supply of talent ready to step into any opening. New training initiatives designed by employers in tandem with workers will achieve this goal.

• Companies must build the skills, experience and mindset which are needed in each individual to deliver results. Addressing the skills mismatch, which is at the root of the global talent shortage, will require a sweeping change of approach – a real training revolution.

L

incoln Crawley joined ManpowerGroup in 1997, following a successful career in IT and telecommunications. In 2001, he moved to Australia, where he established Manpower’s successful Managed Services and Recruitment Processing Outsourcing business, and was subsequently appointed Director of Sales. Following a successful twoyear assignment with Manpower Asia Pacific as the Regional Sales Director and Head of Manpower’s Managed Services business, he returned to Australia in September 2008 as Managing Director, ManpowerGroup Australia and New Zealand.

Lincoln is president of the Recruitment and Consultancy Services Association (RCSA), and publishes Mining for Skills, an online forum to promote discussion and innovation on employment issues facing the resources sector. To find out more, visit www.miningforskills.com.au.

At the recent NHBA Business Breakfast, Lincoln discussed how businesses can build the capabilities of today’s workforce, through leadership, motivation, and building and supporting the right team.

‘Talentism’ is the new capitalism When looking at the changes in global economic dynamics, it is clear that the world is moving into a new phase – a phase that ManpowerGroup identified two years ago at the World Economic Forum as the ‘Human Age’.

In the Human Age, converging macro-economic forces and demographic shifts mean skilled individuals are in short supply. In this volatile, complex new era, access to talent has replaced capital as the competitive differentiator. ‘Talentism’ is the new capitalism.

According to ManpowerGroup’s 2012 Talent Shortage Survey, more than one third of employers surveyed globally said they are having trouble finding the talent they need. Unfortunately, organisations have got used to doing more with less, and a crisis of complacency has gripped employers; ManpowerGroup’s survey also found an astonishing 56 percent indicated that unfilled positions were expected to have little or no impact on key constituents, such as customers and investors, up from 36 percent in 2011.

As skills shortages become more acute this approach is short-sighted: employees who feel under pressure to wear multiple hats to make up for talent shortages in the workforce may become disengaged and leave, further exacerbating the company’s talent situation.

Leaders must understand the implications of the workforce shifts that are underway. The pressure to drive productivity in volatile market conditions is intensifying. Companies that 14 november 2012 FYI www.nhba.org.nz

Recommendations

Lincoln Crawley

aren’t able to quickly tap the right talent to execute their business strategy will inevitably lose their competitive edge. A clear, robust workforce strategy, providing visibility to challenges and shedding light on innovative workforce solutions, must form a core part of every organisation’s business plan.

Advancing the capabilities of today’s workforce Many companies still don’t recognise the return on investment offered by training, compared to the incidental cost of not hiring or training new workers to replace retiring workers. A 2012 ManpowerGroup survey on this issue found that 43 percent of Australian and 53 percent of New Zealand companies don’t have formal training or apprenticeships. ManpowerGroup encourages employers to adopt “build-versus-buy” mentality; however, companies don’t entirely own this burden. Bolstering the employability of today’s workforce is a responsibility that should be shared with today’s individuals, educators and governments.

Unemployment in New Zealand is not as dire as in Europe, yet we are facing a changing world of work. The overall population is aging and younger generations lack the skills, experience and mindset to fill the shoes of workers who are ready to retire. New Zealand companies need to step up their efforts to better prepare candidates, by structuring more robust, innovative training initiatives.

Building a flexible workforce strategy

• Approach workforce management with flexibility. Use a wider range of talent sources and work arrangements, including new combinations of contingent and project-specific talent, research networks and crowd sourcing. [For more on outsourcing, see page 21 of this FYI.] • As sources of talent have become more dispersed, and travel for work has become

Anticipate: Successful companies forecast their talent needs years in advance and build a robust workforce strategy to ensure they’ll have the talent they need to win.

Communicate with employees: Employees have a larger say in the terms of their employment. If a company doesn’t deliver the training and development they seek, employees are more likely to go elsewhere.

Target all levels and areas: Training is still largely focused on managers and the most skilled workers. With the right training, many lesser-skilled workers may have the potential to assume higher-level positions. Look for the Teachable Fit, ManpowerGroup’s term for workers who can fill positions that might otherwise remain vacant to the company’s detriment.

Start with students: Many schools, colleges and universities simply haven’t kept pace with business needs. Companies should focus some part of their training activities on schools and post-secondary institutions, to increase the likelihood that future candidates will have the skills they need.

Make training accessible: The nature of work gives people little time for professional development. Companies have to work with this reality, giving employees the time to work on their skills, or at least the option of accessing training resources through mobile learning applications.

Be innovative: The complexity of the labour market and scale of talent shortages in the Human Age is unprecedented. A new and innovative approach to training and development will be needed to overcome these challenges.

ManpowerGroup, the world leader in innovative workforce solutions, creates and delivers high-impact, outcome-based, talent-driven solutions that enable clients to achieve their business goals and enhance their competitiveness. With over 60 years of experience, ManpowerGroup creates unique time to value through a comprehensive suite of innovative solutions that help clients win in the Human Age, where talent has replaced capital as the key competitive differentiator. To learn more, visit www.manpowergroup.com/humanage.

professional development

The business trip – business or pleasure?

Making training work for you Throughout November, local business people will be asked to take part in the NHBA Business Capability Programme Member Survey. The survey aims to establish ways in which your business could

Photo: Delphine Ducaruge

I

recently returned from a twoweek study tour as part of the Massey University Executive MBA program. During this fastpaced and challenging 12-day trip, we visited companies such as ABInvBev, ECCO, Lego, SKF and Husqvarna across Belgium, Netherlands, Germany, Denmark and Sweden.

The reader will be aware of the growth opportunities for New Zealand businesses in the global marketplace. It is important for business owners or managers to consider the role that international business travel plays in developing such opportunities, and the importance of managing the execution of successful business trips. If poorly prepared and executed, busines s travel may not contribute to business success.

For those who have had little exposure to international business travel, the mention of a business trip may conjure up images of drinking Long Island iced teas poolside while wooing potential clients or strategic partners – but the reality is that a successful business trip often demands long hours and a lot of hard work.

Ensuring the trip starts off right is all about good preparation. The planning process lies somewhere between art and science. Close consideration of the purpose and objective of the travel is essential. Selection of the appropriate candidate for travel may involve assessment of the fit of their functional or technical skills, along with other capabilities such as mental agility and problem

Grant McIvor

solving, ability to manage uncertainty, responsiveness to change, and relationship-building skills.

One point heavily emphasised within the MBA study tour was the importance of defining networks during the preparation phase, in order to connect with the right people in each meeting.

Where possible, confirmation of key meetings with target companies or key contacts should be secured in advance.

Development of an international network could be considered a long-term strategy. Network creation is about research and identification of potential partners, growing or maintaining the value of the relationship with international contacts, and, on occasion, shedding those who have become redundant.

In its simplest form, a network may comprise contacts who are able to provide office space for prospective client meetings in a country where you currently have

benefit from enhanced learning and education, right across your team.

As a local business owner, this is your chance to help shape the content, methodology, timing and scale of NHBA’s Business Capability Programme, which will be launched in 2013.

This survey is being undertaken by staff and

no physical presence. It is important to recognise the time and investment required to develop such networks. Social networking platforms which overlap with business networks, e.g. LinkedIn, may be leveraged to assist with speeding up the development of a powerful international business network.

Something for new players is to be aware of is that key contacts may come to expect a visit when you are next travelling in the region. So it is helpful to plan buffer time for such meetings to avoid a relational gaffe.

Once the trip is underway, it is time to execute the prepared plan. Elements that could potentially derail or undermine the effectiveness of the trip should be identified in advance and monitored continuously throughout.

“If poorly prepared and executed, business travel may not contribute to business success.”

Expect logistical challenges and be prepared. Planes break down, connections are missed, bags go missing, scheduled meetings get cancelled, etc. You need to be light on your feet, adapting as events unfold and always looking more than one step ahead in the trips schedule, confirming the next day’s meetings, checking potential flight issues, etc.

On returning, the final task is the follow-up. Your personal and business credibility depends on this step. Failure to follow through on agreed actions can

senior students from Unitec’s Northern campus. There are a number of different sections in the 30-minute survey interview, covering things that are happening in your own industry, as well as specifically within your own company.

However, the information

mean failure to ‘bank’ all the hard work and money invested in the trip.

Finally, a few practical tips: • Start each day by reviewing the itinerary, ensuring you have all the details for the day’s meetings. Check ahead and confirm.

• Stay healthy, eat well and try to fit in some exercise.

The excitement, tension and stress will usually keep you going, but push it too far with late nights socialising and it’s game over at half time.

• Pack some toiletries and a few spare clothes in cabin baggage. Should your bag go missing, that first meeting off the plane will be less stressful to manage.

• Be very careful what you eat.

Sometimes local hospitality will dictate that you gain the full culinary experience...pack your Diastop and electrolytes!

• On returning home, be prepared to crash, through a combination of relief and jetlag.

This recent experience has sharpened my focus on our company business travel protocol, particularly highlighting aspects related to candidate selection (and development) for travel, as well as networks and implementation of processes to enhance the effectiveness and value of travel in the future.

Grant McIvor is Business Manager at Postec Data Systems and a student of the Massey University Executive MBA Program. Feel free to contact him on 021 415 808 or at grant@postec.co.nz.

gained remains the exclusive property of NHBA and is being used solely for the purpose of determining what our members require in terms of business capability and development training. It will be kept confidential and will not be made available to third

parties, and none of the survey questions identify either you or your business.

If you have any questions or wish to take part in the survey, please contact Janine Brinsdon, NHBA’s General Manager, on 09 968 2222 or 021 212 4942, or via email at gm@nhba.org.nz.

www.nhba.org.nz FYI november 2012 15

Business report

Raising capital: what do businesses need to do?

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t ANZ it seems to us that most business owners have accepted that the current economic conditions are here to stay – the phrase ‘the new normal’ is used a lot for a reason.

There are no signs that consumers will return to their pre Global Financial Crisis (GFC) spending habits, so business owners are realising that they need to be smarter at what they do and have a unique proposition. New Zealand is a finite market and business owners are recognising that they can’t grow by selling more of the same stuff to the same customers. Either they need to offer something different to the local market, or they need to be looking at international markets.

A lot of this growth is either evolution of their existing products and services, or it’s about finding new markets for an existing product. For many, this means looking at international markets. But whether you’re internationally or domestically focused, understanding what’s happening in the global economy is important.

The European economy remains subject to uncertainty and while the US looks to be out of the worst, they are a long way off returning to their dominant economic position. Similarly, it is becoming apparent that Australia’s economy cannot run on resources alone.

Meanwhile Asia, particularly China, is managing exponential growth in an otherwise subdued global landscape.

16 november 2012 FYI www.nhba.org.nz

The global situation does have an upside for New Zealand. We have good assets to invest in, we came through the GFC relatively cleanly and our bank ratings are still relatively strong.

This makes us a good destination for investment capital.

On the downside, the GFC has put pressure on banks, because banks are now required to hold more capital and liquidity. It is important for banks to balance their funding between the local market and the offshore market.

“The global situation does have an upside for New Zealand. We have good assets to invest in, we came through the GFC relatively cleanly and our bank ratings are still relatively strong.”

This doesn’t mean that the banks don’t have money to lend, but it does mean there is pressure on banks to manage their portfolios sensibly.

Despite what many people think, lending criteria have not changed significantly from five years ago. We continue to support businesses that are well-managed, have a clearly defined goal and a tangible strategy to achieve that goal.

We continue to look at the fundamentals of the business including cash flow management, customer and supplier arrangements and the experience of the owners and management team.

For businesses looking to raise capital, the more information they can provide, the better.

Having a really good understanding of the opportunity allows you to identify the risks and put strategies in place to maximise the chance of success.

Lynda Mann, ANZ Auckland Regional Manager, explains. “Historical financials gives us a good sense of where you have been and demonstrates your ability to execute,” she says. “Forward information, however, like cash flow forecasting and budgets, gives a clearer view of where you want to go and how you are going to get there. A good understanding of your cash flow cycle, stock holdings and debtor payments provide a good picture of cash management needs. With any plans for growth that requires funding, it’s important that we see a process of due diligence having been followed and that you have a good governance structure in place. We also encourage businesses to engage with appropriate professionals to provide advice on these plans.

“The most important factor to remember is that banks make decisions based on the information they are given, so the more information you can provide, the better placed we are to make an informed decision.”

To discuss your funding requirements, contact Lynda Mann on 09 252 5006 or at Lynda.

Mann@anz.com. www.anz.co.nz ANZ lending criteria apply.

ANZ Bank New Zealand Limited

transport & infrastructure

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Waikowhai to play a greater role in the travel choices of more people.

Auckland Transport says that while public transport patronage is now at its highest level since the 1950s, we need to build on the momentum being delivered by recent improvements such as the Northern Busway, new LINK services, the new Manukau train station, and ferry terminal improvements at Birkenhead and Stanley Bay. Major investment and work on rail electrification, new electric trains due to arrive in 2013, and integrated ticketing will benefit passengers soon.

The shortcomings in Auckland’s public transport network are acknowledged. The existing network of bus routes is complex, with around 350 different route variations, many of which operate at low frequencies and involve long and indirect trips. The existing transport network needs to be improved in order to meet the varied daily travel needs of more Aucklanders.

The Draft Auckland Regional Public Transport Plan (RPTP) 2012–2022 describes the public transport services that Auckland Transport proposes for the region over the next 10 years, and the policies that apply to those services.

The areas of focus are: • a new public transport network structure • fares and ticketing • funding and prioritisation • procurement and commercial services.

The proposed new network structure (pictured) is a simpler, more integrated network

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Panmure Westmere Massey er range of trips and is the mode of choice Belmont Waterview Mt Albert Te Atatu Southto Belmont Pt Chevalier Beach Some lines with run additional late night service on Friday and Saturday nights Rosebank supplement or replace Night Rider services.

Te Atatu Shops Sandringham Shops for an increasing number of Aucklanders.

Botany Sylvia Park Triangle Rd Penrose Hobsonville Pt Chevalier Shops Te Atatu The network is service based and not mode dependent: lines will be operated by EastInterchange Tamaki Heights To achieve this, they say, Auckland’s Narrow Neck bus, train and ferry using a range of vehicle types and infrastructure.

Lincoln Rd Waterview Te Atatu South public transport services need to support Te Papapa Rosebank Onehunga The network has been designed to operate using Auckland’s existing public Howick Otahuhu Town Centre Highland Park West Harbour Waikowhai Auckland’s future growth and align with the transport resources by utilising the efficiencies of an integrated connective Ormiston Hernenet-Bay Otara Otahuhu Station work model. This networkPeninsula can be achieved with broadly the same number of Glen Innes Mangere Bridge Te Atatu Auckland Plan; meet customer needs and Lynfield Westmere Hunters Corner Remuera Station Middlemore Mangere Westgate Victoria Park Clover Park Devonport Herne Bay Pt Chevalier Beach connect people with where they Paptoetoe Papatoetoe Ponsonby Te Atatu Peninsula Westmere Massey Greenlane Station Manukau K’ Rd want to go, when they wantRapidto Airport Oaks Pt Chevalier Beach Servicego; (railway and busway) Te Atatu Shops Glen Innes Puhinui Grey Lynn Panmure Te Atatu Shops increase passenger numbers; and Auckland Airport Remuera Station Homai Triangle Rd Reduced frequency extension of Rapid or Frequent Service Pt Chevalier Shops Pt Chevalier Shops provide good value for money.

Bucklands Te Atatu Interchange Te Atatu Interchange Manurewa Greenlane Station N Rapid Service (railway and busway) Lincoln Rd The Auckland Plan identified the Shops Sandringham Waterview Mt Albert Te Atatu South Botany Panmure Frequent Service Major interchange point Penrose transport network as crucial to Waterview Mt AlbertSylvia Park Rosebank Te Atatu South Reduced frequency extension of Rapid or Frequent Service Sandringham Shops Note: This map shows only the main suburbs, town centres and stations serviced by Weymouth East Tamaki Heights achieving the vision for each Auckland line. Not all stops are shown.as Suburb locations are approximate only.

Rosebank To To Pukekohe Pukekohe Te Papapa Sandringham Shops the world’s most liveable city, and Local centre or suburb Connection between lines Major interchange point Penrose Sylvia Park recognised that a transformational Note: This map shows only the main suburbs, town centres and stations serviced by each line. Not all stops are shown. Suburb locations are approximate only.

Highland Park Onehunga shift is needed for public transport Otahuhu Town Centre Waikowhai

which enables improved access to more destinations through better connections. The frequent service network includes the Southern, Eastern and Western rail lines, the Northern Busway, and high-frequency bus routes connecting major centres.

NHBA Transport Projects Administrator Brigid Rogers says that having more frequent services will be a big help and encourage people to look again at public transport. “Creating a hub at Constellation Drive is a good idea, but we also need to ensure it serves the North Harbour BID area as well as links into the city,” she says. “Next year the network will be reviewed, and this will aim to identify any gaps. If anyone has examples of gaps in bus provision or comments on the Draft Plan I would like to hear about them.”

The full Draft Auckland RPTP is available at www.aucklandtransport.govt.nz/rptp.

Public submissions on the proposed network system as a whole closed on 5 November, and hearing dates will follow. There will be opportunities for public input on specific service proposals at a later stage, as the service implementation programme is rolled out. If you have any queries about the draft plan or the submission process, please call Auckland Transport on 09 355 3553.

Free public transport passes

NHBA is giving away 100 free public transport passes to its members. This is your chance to try public transport for two weeks, for free, including most trains, buses and ferries. The free pass is only valid for the last two weeks of November, and will be allocated to NHBA members on a first come, first served basis. Email Brigid at transport@nhba.org.nz and request your pass today.

A pothole lot better

Brigid Rogers, NHBA’s Transport Projects Administrator, recently contacted Auckland Transport about a number of potholes in the road in the NHBA area. Auckland Transport were quick to respond, and the potholes were fixed within a few days. Thanks to Auckland Transport for responding so quickly. Dave Purdy, director at Lifetech Laboratories on Albany Highway, also expressed his thanks to Brigid for ‘giving the pot hole person a nudge on our behalf’.

If you know of any potholes, contact transport@nhba.org.nz and we can get them sorted for you. www.nhba.org.nz FYI november 2012 17

web 2.0

Ultra-fast broadband – available now The Government’s ultra-fast broadband (UFB) policy is to accelerate the availability of improved broadband services for New Zealanders. Albany is one of the first areas completed, and local businesses can connect now.

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he Crown is co-funding the roll-out of UFB (broadband delivered via optic fibre instead of traditional copper phone lines) to 75 percent of Kiwis by the end of 2019. The focus in the early years to the end of 2015 is on providing access to priority broadband users: businesses, schools and health services.

Through UFB, the Government hopes to increase the efficiency and productivity of the New Zealand economy, support improvements in education and health delivery, and meet or exceed the capability of our key trading partners.

The Government is investing up to $1.5bn over 10 years in the project under a public-private partnership model. Four partners have been contracted to build UFB, providing co-investment to match the Crown.

UFB will make broadband available at a minimum speed of 100 Megabits per second (Mbps) downstream (from the Internet to the user) and a minimum of 50 Mbps upstream (from the user to the Internet). By comparison, according to Akamai the average Internet speed in New Zealand is currently just 4.0 Mbps.

UFB delivers data over optic fibre cables using light, enabling much greater data speeds than traditional copper broadband, which sends data using pulses of electricity. It is these higher speeds which can help businesses operate more effectively, for example through being able to send and receive large amounts of data.

Science and Innovation Minister Hon Steven Joyce at the commencement of the Auckland ultra-fast broadband build, on Paul Matthews Drive.

UFB delivers data over optic fibre cables using light, enabling much greater data speeds than traditional copper broadband.

Potential business uses for UFB include high definition video conferencing, cloud computing, improved collaboration with suppliers and customers, remote back-up and storage. UFB can also help businesses to reduce costs, for example on local servers and storage (which can be served ‘in the cloud’, i.e. via the Internet) and ISDN lines (as UFB services can deliver telephony over the Internet).

The UFB network is ‘future proof’, with two fibres per premise to support future growth, and has a projected lifespan in excess of 40 years – so it is the future of New Zealand telecommunications.

Chorus, formerly the networks division of Telecom and now a separately listed public company, is the Crown’s partner covering Auckland – and has recently completed construction in the Albany area. Chorus is now well into its second year of construction, with deployment underway in locations such as Glenfield, Wairau Valley and Takapuna.

Chorus, like the Crown’s other partners, is a wholesaler and

does not deliver services to end users such as homes and businesses. The network is open to all service providers on equal terms, and customers can choose more than one service provider on their fibre connection if they wish.

Prices for fibre are low, encouraging service providers in turn to offer customers competitive and attractively-priced products. UFB services for the home (offering broadband and telephony) are available now from providers such as Orcon, Slingshot and Snap from as little as $72 per month, with others trialling services at present. For businesses, UFB products are available from $110 per month, again offering lightning fast broadband and high quality telephony.

So Albany businesses can get ultra-fast broadband now. What should you do to find out more?

Ask your service provider for their UFB plans, and check availability at your location at the Chorus website: www.chorus.co.nz/network-upgrade-map.

Rohan MacMahon is Strategy Director at Crown Fibre Holdings (www.crownfibre.govt.nz), the Crown-owned company established to manage the UFB initiative.

See the next issue of FYI for more information on how you can use UFB to enhance your business.

Digital Leadership Forum

Auckland Council has brought together a forum of local stakeholders – including NHBA – to work collaboratively to realise the benefits of the government’s UFB programme and rural broadband Initiative. The forum is developing and implementing a series of targeted initiatives and actions to accelerate the take-up of UFB in urban areas and broadband in rural areas. The forum consists of representatives from key business sectors and community groups, and works closely with staff from key partners Crown Fibre Holdings and Chorus. NHBA is representing the interests of its members, so if you have any comments or questions, contact General Manager Janine Brinsdon on 021 212 4942 or at gm@nhba.org.nz.

18 november 2012 FYI www.nhba.org.nz

Do you have a spare car park at your work place?

Do you or your staff spend hours looking for a car space?

FIND A PARK

Calling All Business Owners!

Want to increase your sales?

Yes? Call us now on 09 476 4278

North Harbour Business Association might be able to help.

We are offering an online service matching those who have a space with those who are looking for one.

This service is completely free and could be just what you have been looking for.

GO ONLINE TO

www.nhba.org.nz/findapark AND REGISTER TODAY

New Zealand’s leading specialist sales & marketing training company.

Please be sure to check with your building owner before entering into any new sub letting arrangements. NHBA accepts no responsibility.

Any questions:

We LOVE what we do, and it shows!

Come and see what the best have to offer.

Brigid Rogers 09 968 2222 029 771 1731 transport@nhba.org.nz www.nhba.org.nz

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success story

Mainstream award for help on the EDGE

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he North Shore’s EDGE Employment have seen their own agent Philip Walley receive the Runner Up award in Mainstream’s 2012 Supported Employment Agent of the Year, from a national field across all disability sectors.

To be recognised in a national programme as prestigious as Mainstream is an outstanding achievement. “We are so proud of Philip and the team, who all work so hard to assist people who have suffered mental illness find genuine and lasting employment,” said Emma Carreon, Team Leader for EDGE Employment.

Philip himself takes a modest view of the achievement. “We couldn’t do what we do without the support of the North Shore community.

Of course some employers can be a little reluctant to talk with us initially, but just being open to what we can offer makes a huge difference – especially to our candidates,” he said.

In her speech at the awards event, held at Parliament Buildings in Wellington, Associate Minister for Social Development Hon Tariana Turia paid tribute to the employers and agents alike. “Meaningful employment can affect our self-esteem, our sense of independence, it can lead to lifelong relationships, new journeys and of course enhance our quality of life,” she said. “Of course, it also breeds hope.”

Hope is exactly what EDGE Employment inspires in their clients and the companies they work with. “Through supported employment, everybody is given a leg up,” says Philip. “Our candidates are good workers from all walks of life, and businesses on the North Shore need their skills. Programmes like Mainstream make it financially viable for us to bring the two together for the right result for both parties.”

Up to 40 percent of all Kiwis experience mental illness in their lifetime. The high-profile advertising campaigns you will have seen aim

20 november 2012 FYI www.nhba.org.nz

“We couldn’t do what we do without the support of the North Shore community.”

to reduce discrimination, because that is still one of the biggest barriers to recovery. EDGE Employment offers a free recruitment service for employers in the North Shore and Rodney districts, to assist people affected by mental illness back into work.

What is Mainstream?

The Mainstream Employment Programme is a fourway partnership between Work and Income, supported employment agents (disability employment experts), employers, and people with disabilities. It provides a package of subsidies, training, and other support (such as adaptive technology or specialised assistance costs) to help people with significant disabilities get work.

Emma Carreon sums it up: “The North Shore and Rodney communities are amazing. They have a real sense of fairness – of giving the little guys a go. It’s a privilege to be a part of it.”

As Philip Walley puts it, ‘without community support, we couldn’t do what we do’. If you’d like to be part of the growing business community actively promoting diversity, then it might be time to find out more about what EDGE Employment can offer you. In the meantime, we can all take great pleasure in supporting their achievement in this award. www.edge.org.nz 09 414 6044

The programme provides employers with the opportunity to make a positive contribution to their community and build a workforce reflecting the make-up of the people they serve. They are able to create a new role to get necessary, but non-priority, tasks done, freeing up existing staff to focus on tasks that require greater experience.

At the same time, they discover the benefits of employing people with disabilities, learn how to accommodate disabled

clients and customers, and increase the supervision skills of existing staff as they learn to work with a disabled person.

Mainstream is available to be used in most private sector organisations, and placements are negotiated with employers by supported employment agents. This is where EDGE Employment comes in.

If you would like to know more about the programme, contact Emma Carreon, Philip Walley and the EDGE team for information and assistance.

success story

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he recent inaugural Virtual Assistant Conference NZ in Wellington brought together virtual providers from all over the country to share ideas and technologies in this fast-growing industry.

The virtual industry was established some years ago, but has undergone enormous growth in New Zealand during the last couple of years. Covering a range of skills, from administration and accounts to social media and website design, virtual professionals, or VPs, work remotely and only charge for the services required by their clients. Outsourcing to a virtual assistant or VA, as they are also sometimes known, offers enormous time and cost savings, which particularly appeals to the SME market.

At the conference, which was sponsored

by Xero, BeMyVA.com and Private Box, NHBA member Lindsey Carroll of Outbox was awarded the ‘Virtual Provider of the Year Award 2102’.

Lindsey says she offers any service where she can use online (cloud) software, allowing SMEs to outsource the online tasks they don’t have time for, or would rather not do.

“VPs work virtually, often from home or a small office,” she says. “We are highly skilled in our chosen areas, and often have many years experience. Areas can include accountancy and book-keeping, transcription, website design, social media management, documen-

tation, copywriting, e-newsletter creation and sending, general administration, diary management, graphic design and telesales.”

VPs offer businesses a very affordable option in return for highly-skilled services. By using a VP service, a business doesn’t need to employ staff, pay overheads such as Kiwisaver, maternity or sick leave, or provide office space, contracts, equipment or training. VP services can be used as little or as often as needed, and provide a range of specialists to choose from, whereas to employ a marketing manager, secretary, webmaster, and so on would be too costly and impractical. Some companies even use VPs in different time zones to increase productivity.

Lindsey says the increase in online technologies has made it easier for businesses to share their work with VPs. “They can be set up with an email signature and appear to be part of a company,” she says. “The use of smart phones, tablets and mobile broadband has allowed for faster communication, and it’s now possible for a whole team to work together ‘virtually’. I know of some that have members in five different countries and rely on Skype,

“VPs offer businesses a very affordable option in return for highly-skilled services.”

Photo courtesy Gavin Brunton, Photos Inc, Ponsonby

Local business winner a VP VIP

email and mobile communications – their customers are none the wiser.”

The recent conference led to the establishment of the Virtual Professionals Organisation of NZ, which aims to register those working in the industry, share knowledge, and provide a directory for those wishing to use VP services.

A second conference is planned for next year.

VP is the way of the future, says Lindsey.

“The Christchurch earthquakes demonstrated how businesses using cloud technologies could move easily and continue to work uninterrupted. As office space and commuting becomes more expensive, roads more congested and demand for sustainability increases, it can only boost the VP industry.”

Lindsey adds that more and more business owners know they need to keep up with technology, but some areas may be outside of their traditional skill set. “For example, a butcher who created a business ten to fifteen years ago was best at being a butcher,” she says.

“But now they need to have a website, appear on social media, and send out e-newsletters as people turn to phones and computers to look for services. Customers demand online shopping, delivery and more information on products. They can now look at competition from the comfort of their own home, and business has to change to compete in that field.”

The arrival of ultra-fast broadband in the Albany area (see page 18) will make the use of offsite providers like Outbox even easier.

To contact Lindsey and find out more about the service that Outbox provides, phone 09 413 6555 or visit www.outbox.co.nz. www.nhba.org.nz FYI november 2012 21

business & pleasure

New associate members 2004, they have helped over 3000 businesses find prospects and turn them into profits. Their training is approved by NZTE for Business Capability Development Funding for SMEs. Call them today for an appointment to discuss how they can help your company fly!

Workplace People Limited Workplace People is a consultancy offering assistance on employment matters. They can advise on recruitment, employee relations, training and development, workplace layout, ergonomics and safety, and relocation planning.

They primarily work with small to medium sized businesses who need specialised professional advice and assistance from time to time. Owner Glenn Harris has had a long career in business, specialising in human resource management. He has held positions with trade unions and with public and private sector companies, and has also been involved in property management. Work is a journey – and Workplace People offers all the services you need along the path. www.workplacepeople.co.nz 021 251 3234

www.themarketingcompany.co.nz 09 476 4278

Oncore

In every business there is something unique; Oncore call it genius. They rebuild the company strategy, exploiting that genius and looking for new opportunities to express it. They build processes to continually reduce costs and explore revenue generation opportunities, and ‘wire’ them into a robust reporting and performance incentive system.

They set up ongoing projects to reduce costs and enhance revenue. The resulting business has a transparency that enables opportunities to be identified and managed. Standard operating processes are improved, and key person risk reduced. Oncore can also assist with implementation of succession planning. Their business-to-business consulting service delivers measurable results, every time. www.oncoreunlimited.co.nz 09 973 5034

The Marketing Company The Marketing Company offers world class sales and marketing training for small to medium businesses, at an affordable price. They believe that many companies in NZ are expert ‘technicians’ but not always the best sellers or marketers.

Their intensive two-day Essential Marketing Boot Camp events are designed to help businesses develop an effective marketing plan for the year ahead. Since 22 november 2012 FYI www.nhba.org.nz

North Harbour Hyundai North Harbour Hyundai offers new and used cars, finance, leasing, parts, services, WOF, tyres and wheel alignments. North Harbour Hyundai is a privately owned and operated franchise that has been servicing the needs of vehicle owners in Auckland for six years. Their sales team has the knowledge and experience to help you with your vehicle needs,

while the service department is fully equipped with the latest Hyundai diagnostic and service equipment, alongside a well stocked parts and accessory department. As a 100% Kiwi-owned company, Hyundai New Zealand is deeply involved in community sponsorship – from surfing, to youth sailing programs, to elite athletes – supporting the people and organisations that make our country a great place to live. northharbour.hyundai.co.nz 09 444 7777

Massey University Massey University Albany has an established reputation as the innovation and business campus, supported by excellent connections with industry and local government, and with strong international links. The campus encourages original and innovative thinking. The unique e-centre business incubator, which fosters innovative start-up companies, is a prime example of the ground-breaking approach linking research to industry. The university sees itself as the ‘engine of the new New Zealand’, embracing the formidable and emerging global changes of the 21st century, from financial turmoil to sustainable food production, renewable energy and poverty reduction. This means staff and students understand the need to make a difference, nationally and globally, through research producing innovative ideas and knowledge that can be transformed into meaningful marketable products, services and solutions. Massey’s aim is to shape the future of our nation and take what is special about New Zealand to the rest of the world. www.massey.ac.nz 09 414 0800

Active Physio

The Albany branch of Active Physio is a spacious, modern physio and Pilates clinic located in the heart of the Albany retail precinct, just up the hill from the Westfield mall. The post-graduate trained therapists offer a holistic, professional and friendly and open approach to your rehabilitation.

The clinic has convenient parking out the front, with disabled parking, and extended opening hours.

They treat all musculoskeletal conditions, both through ACC and privately, and offer Pilates, acupuncture, sports massage therapy, health and wellness programmes, certified breathing and respiratory rehabilitation, ACC-funded work hardening gym and rehabilitation programmes, nutritional advice and planning, and an onsite podiatrist clinic. www.physio.co.nz 09 444 1925

Jim Hopley

For anyone running a small to medium enterprise, good financial management is essential. But the cost of employing a full-time person may be too great. Jim Hopley offers an affordable, convenient solution. Jim and his family have recently arrived from South Africa, where his experience included owning his own successful appliance and furnishing company, consulting in accounting, and developing web accounting software. With this broad business background, Jim is able to provide administrative, accounting and management services to suit your needs – contact him to discuss how he can help you. jim.h3011@gmail.com 022 061 1557

business & pleasure

GSL Glassguard

GSL Glassguard Ltd are leaders in the protection of glass, polycarbonates, aluminium, steel and acrylics from graffiti, etching and forced entry. They specialise in etching and graffiti protection, printable safety films, existing scratch removal or minimisation, shatter control for safety, security laminates and solar protection.

They supply and install unobtrusive clear or printed film to protect glass and other surfaces from vandalism, for clients including shopping centres, banks, schools, libraries and museums, medical centres and high-risk institutions. They will take ownership of glass/security etching protection throughout specified areas, and deliver a successful programme combining the best technical solutions at fair prices. www.gslglassguard.co.nz 09 525 7652

Auckland Chamber of Commerce Auckland Chamber of Commerce has been supporting Auckland businesses for more than 150 years, from New Zealand’s bread and butter – small and medium businesses – to large corporations. The Chamber offers Business Support Packages to suit your business – for sole trader/ partnerships, and small and medium businesses.

• Gain new clients though networking • Learn business skills that deliver success • Get advice on trading internationally • FREE business advice

and HR support so you employ with confidence • The voice of business – they’re your advocate on issues And, if you’re new to business or thinking about starting a business, the Chamber also has a Start-Up Business kit and holds regular free Start-Up seminars.

Find out more by emailing membership@chamber.co.nz or phone Louise Smart on (09) 374 2262. www.chamber.co.nz

NHBA Wine Club Here are the latest fantastic wine deals for NHBA members and staff, available only at Wine and More.

Red Metal Hawkes Bay Rose 2011 The 2011 rosé is a lightly coloured, fresh and fruity wine made from Cabernet Franc, and is loaded with juicy wild berry flavours with a long, dry finish. A versatile and food-friendly style of wine, best served lightly chilled.

NHBA Wine Club price $13.50

2degrees

2degrees arrived on the scene in 2009, determined to give Kiwis the mobile phone company they deserved. With 2degrees Business, you’ve got a choice when it comes to mobile for your business. You can enjoy smart products like Carryover Minutes, Free Calling Groups (allowing all team members on the same account to call each other for free) and Shared Data, which means you can now share your 2degrees Business data across any of your gadgets and also with your team. You can mix and match the business plans that are right for your business. You can even bring your existing number with you when you switch to 2degrees.

To find out more, get in touch and they can come to see you at a time that suits. www.2degreesmobile.co.nz 0800 022 BIZ (249)

Find out the benefits of becoming an Associate member by simply talking to Cheriette Ede on 09 968 2222, or emailing admin@nhba.org.nz.

Lone Goat Canterbury Burnham School Road Chardonnay 2008 Quince and peach aromas, with a touch of lemon zest, compliment a creamy palate with notes of vanilla and nutmeg.

NHBA Wine Club price $18.99 Kowhai Point Auckland Pinotage 2010 Deep complex aromas both savoury and fruity, with notes of blackcurrant, spice, prune and a hint of soy, olive, oak and the slightest touch of rose. Works fantastically with a wide range of red meat and vegetable dishes. Is expected to cellar for three to four years if you can keep your hands off it!

NHBA Wine Club price $14.50 Jip Jip Rocks Padthaway Shiraz 2010 Lifted spice and ripe mulberry/ blackberry aromas are complimented with chocolate, cedar and cinnamon on the nose. Well-integrated oak tannin provides flavours of clove and supple texture, which supports the rich plum, blackberry and mocha. The overall structure is supple and generous, with fine-grained tannin and a lingering finish.

NHBA Wine Club Price $18.00 Mixed cases are available. Please email orders to david@wineandmore.co.nz, and mention the NHBA Wine Club. Free delivery to any NHBA business or staff member, or your order can be collected from Wine and More at Rosedale Mews, corner Rosedale Rd and William Pickering Drive. www.nhba.org.nz FYI november 2012 23

Gold Sponsors

Securing your peace of mind

A shared vision of success

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he Guardall business was established in New Zealand more than 50 years ago. Already a New Zealand leader in the security industry, their proven experience was further enhanced with Secom Australia Pty acquiring 80% of the Guardall business in April 2011.

Secom Guardall is a fully-integrated security organisation, specialising in the design, supply, integration and maintenance of Intruder Alarms, CCTV systems, Access Control, BMS (Building Management Systems) and integration and Retail POS interface technology. Furthermore, they have a certified and Grade B Alarm and remote CCTV monitoring station.

Their staff can tailor customised security systems to meet the needs of any facility, no matter how complex. Since starting as a security provider for the ANZ bank, they have built ongoing partnerships with large financial institutions, large format retail chains, and national footprint companies.

The aim is to add value to the client’s business, practicing a personalised management approach, whereby the client is more than just a name and a number on a database.

No matter what size the client, the experienced Secom Guardall team offers a complete turnkey solution – from system design, engineering, project management, installation and commissioning, through to maintenance and servicing.

Secom Guardall is a member of the New Zealand Security Association, and all their security staff are licensed with the Private Security Personnel Licensing Authority, through the Ministry of Justice. The company is in the process of gaining the Australian/New Zealand Quality Assurance Certification ISO 9001:2008, and their alarm monitoring system is certified to NZSA and Australian graded standards.

Staff training and certification is a priority too. As well as supporting staff to gain specialist NZQA qualifications, Secom Guardall is participating in an apprentice programme, to continually develop high-quality technical support personnel.

This commitment to quality reflects the philosophy of the company – to provide the highest possible standard of both product and service, and continue to raise the bar in the industry. For businesses, this guarantees an unmatched level of service and quality, with measurable, cost-effective results.

In partnership with the NHBA, Secom Guardall is pleased to announce a special alarm monitoring offer.

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he perceived wisdom Virginia Stallard about business varies depending on who you talk to. Some say business is all about the bottom line.

Others say business is about people. Vision Accounting Solutions brings the two together, with the service depth and breadth of a medium accounting firm, and the personal touch that only a locally-owned firm can deliver.

Vision Accounting Solutions provide real accounting for all businesses, while being approachable and communicating as real people rather than ‘number crunchers’ or ‘bean counters’. It’s not only about the numbers, they say, but also about assisting you to grow and protect your asset base and gain the maximum result from your business – both in income and lifestyle.

They are dedicated to professionally and ethically meeting their clients’ business, financial, taxation and accounting requirements, while maintaining a friendly and personalised environment where clients feel welcome and listened to.

Owner Virginia Stallard has more than fifteen years of chartered accounting experience, as well as expertise in the corporate field of accounting. Her experience ranges from banking to property investment and management, import and retail and even farm accounting.

Vision Accounting Solutions provides business and taxation services including accounting for all types of businesses and entities, and strategic planning, as well as specialist services such as business acquisitions, property investments, trusts and succession planning.

They help you manage every aspect of your business, and because they establish a one-on-one relationship with every client, their advice is tailor-made for your business. They’ve developed traditional accounting practices into innovative, client-focused services. Their flexibility and adaptability ensure you get the best results.

This enables you to spend your precious time working at your business instead of doing the bookwork. And the result is maximized return on the time and effort you invest to meet your business, family and personal financial goals.

They like to say “we do your tax, so you don’t have to!” www.visionaccounting.co.nz 09 415 0319

trade colour print

Contact the NHBA: PO Box 303 126, North Harbour 0752 Mobile: 021 212 4942 Phone: 09 968 2222 Email: gm@nhba.org.nz Web: www.nhba.org.nz