FYI November 2020

Digital Strategy and Enablement CONNECT | COMMUNICATE | COLLABORATE

BNH News

Meet your new board members Pg 11

AGM 2020

Report and Shore Unity Pg 12

Business Success

Oral care to smile about Pg 27

NOVEMBER 2020 — MEMBER NEWS AND INFORMATION

businessnh.org.nz

SAVE THE DATE

Thursday 25th March 2021

SHOWCASE NORTH HARBOUR HARBOUR HOCKEY, 159 BUSH ROAD, ROSEDALE

F RO M T H E G M

Welcome from the GM Following the general election, some members will be delighted with the outcome, some will be frustrated and some will be very disappointed. Whatever your view of the new government, we need to ensure that sustainable economic recovery, nationally and locally, is a priority on which politicians deliver.

Business North Harbour remains committed to working on behalf of our members to try and influence the decisions made by local and central government that will deliver the best outcomes for our business community.

The latest return to Alert Level 1 will, I trust, signal the beginning of the next phase of sustainable recovery for our businesses, a phase that will hopefully remain uninterrupted.

Make sure that you register to take part in our annual ONE DAY SALE to help kickstart your recovery.

In this issue of FYI, in response to the changes having to be made by many businesses, we have included lots of practical

tips on developing and implementing a digital strategy. We profile a successful business, Grin Natural, who are pioneering sustainable products which are kind to humans and the planet, and, continuing with the sustainability theme, we have a variety of local, national and international news, including everything from Charity Tea in Constellation Drive to drones planting one billion trees in Canada!

Finally, you may already be aware that the companionship of a pet can help with your mental health and wellbeing, so please check out the Community page which profiles two charities, Gutter Kitties and Saving Hope Foundation, who may be able to assist you to find your ideal companion.

Kia kaha.

Kevin O’Leary General Manager, Business North Harbour

In this issue 4

In Brief

6

Events

8

Diary Dates

9

Advocacy

10 Asian Business 11 BNH News

12 AGM 2020: Report and Shore Unity 14 Legal Matters 16 Transport

18 Cover Story: Digital Strategy and Enablement

22 BNH’s Pre-Election Luncheon

Contact FYI Magazine Business North Harbour General Manager Kevin O’Leary kevin@businessnh.org.nz

rofessional Development: P 24 AMPM Marketing 25 Game Over Auckland 26 Maat Group

31 Community: Gutter Kitties and Saving Hope Foundation

27 Business Success: Grin Natural 28 Government

32 Sustainability

36 Property Matters 38 Silver Sponsors

30 Crime Prevention

40 Gold Sponsors

Gold Sponsors 2020/2021

Editor Lizzie Brandon lizzie@writesphere.co.nz Advertising Peter Green comms@businessnh.org.nz Design Lewis Hurst lewis@hurstmedia.nz Printer PrintLounge printlounge.co.nz Business North Harbour, 12 Parkway Drive, North Harbour, 0632.

PO Box 303 126, North Harbour 0751 office

Silver Sponsors 2020/2021

Events Sponsors 2020/2021

09 968 2222 web businessnh.org.nz

The opinions expressed in this publication are not necessarily the views of the publishers. The publishers do not endorse any person, company or organisation that advertises in this publication.

Women in Business Event Series Sponsor N O V E M B E R 2020 F Y I B U S I N E SS N H .O R G . N Z

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IN BRIEF

Business North Harbour members amongst Westpac Auckland Business Awards 2020 (North) finalists!

The following businesses were finalists in the Westpac Auckland Business Awards 2020: Blender Design Excellence in Innovation

Unipharm Healthy Manufacturing Co. Ltd Excellence in Innovation, Excellence in International Trade, Employer of the Year Leading Solutions NZ Limited Excellence in Marketing, Excellence in Customer Service Delivery NZ Muscle Excellence in Marketing

The North & West awards gala dinner was held on 29th October – just as FYI was going to print. Be sure to check BNH’s website to read the full results.

Feeling exhausted? Iron deficiency could be (partly) to blame Research suggests that nearly 10 per cent of Kiwi women and more than 33 per cent of teenage girls are lacking in iron. Dieticians also estimate that as many as 80 per cent of Kiwi toddlers are not getting enough iron.

As well as reducing fatigue, iron also boosts the immune system and improves concentration, so FYI asked nutritionist Steph Mount, of Food for Thought on Apollo Drive, for a simple and tasty iron-rich recipe (that is ideal for barbecue season).

Cumin-spiced BBQ beef skewers with tahini cauliflower (adapted from taste.com.au) Serves: 4 Iron content per serving: 4.0 mg

Ingredients

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Money & business Educational development Health, sports & psychology History & the arts Languages Nature & environment Science, maths & technology Society, politics & law

There are three levels (introductory, intermediate and advanced) and resource lengths (from one hour to 24 or more), and all courses are available to begin immediately.

To find out more, go to open.edu/openlearn/free-courses/full-catalogue

2 garlic cloves, crushed ¼ cup lemon juice 1 tablespoon ground cumin ¼ cup olive oil 2 tablespoons flat-leaf parsley leaves, chopped 800g beef rump steak, trimmed, cut into 2cm pieces Wholemeal pita bread, to serve Tomato, diced, to serve ¼ cup fresh coriander leaves

Tahini cauliflower ¼ cup olive oil 1 teaspoon ground cumin 1 head cauliflower, cut into small florets One-third cup tahini ¼ cup lemon juice ¼ cup water, boiling

Method 1. C ombine garlic, lemon juice, cumin, olive oil and parsley in a large glass or ceramic bowl. Season with pepper. Add beef. Toss to coat.

Thread beef evenly onto 8 metal skewers. Cover. Marinate in the fridge for 20 minutes.

2. Meanwhile, make tahini cauliflower: Preheat oven to 220C/200C fan forced. Line a baking tray with baking paper. Place oil and cumin in a large bowl. Stir well to combine. Add cauliflower. Toss well to coat. Place cauliflower, in a single layer, on prepared tray. Bake for 25 minutes or until golden and tender.

3. Make tahini dressing by combining tahini, lemon juice and boiling water in a heatproof bowl. Stir until smooth and set aside.

4. T ake beef skewers out of the fridge and BBQ until browned and cooked to your liking. (Alternatively, you can cook the skewers using a large non-stick frying pan on medium-high heat. This will take approximately 4 minutes, depending on your preference.)

5. Transfer cauliflower to a serving dish. Drizzle with tahini dressing.

Serve skewers with cauliflower, wholemeal pita bread and diced tomato, sprinkled with coriander.

There are loads more recipe ideas at ironweek.co.nz/recipes

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IN BRIEF

Why do mosquitoes bite some people more than others?

Sometimes there are uninvited guests at summer barbecues. According to various studies (and although it is agreed that more research is required), there do seem to be several factors that prompt mosquitoes to bite some people more than others.

• Blood type –Type O is more popular than Type A. • Body heat, lactic acid release, more CO2 higher metabolic rate – this means that people who have been exercising may be at higher risk, because they are probably warmer and breathing more heavily.

The Ministry of Health NZ offers lots of advice about how to avoid being bitten at health.govt.nz/your-health/healthy-living/environmental-health/ pests-and-insects/mosquitoes However, fans of Marmite or Vegemite may be disappointed to learn that there is no scientific evidence suggesting that Vitamin B deters mosquitoes.

Revive and thrive – doing business online Businesses seeking to start or strengthen their digital presence, can go to business.govt.nz and enter their company details to access a range of free resources.

Depending on a business’ scenario, these include a digital marketing self-assessment (to help identify strengths and weaknesses), advice about how to encourage customer referrals, and tips for creating compelling content.

Mind the skills gap This quick self-assessment is part of a new online toolkit to help small businesses employ people aged over 50. It is designed to help business owners spot knowledge and skills-gaps, and identify opportunities and next steps.

Go to business.govt.nz/hiring-and-managing/ getting-the-best-from-people/assess-skills-inyour-business

How do the experts get a good night’s sleep?

2020 has brought more than its fair share of anxiety. HuffPost UK asked three sleep experts how they get some quality shut-eye.

• Recognise that interrupted sleep is a normal response to 2020. Try to acknowledge the problem rather than immediately getting frustrated.

• Make your bedroom a location for sleep only – not a place where you work, exercise or check news.

• Wake up at the same time each day and only crawl into bed at night when you are ready to go to sleep. Figure out the difference between your body being sleepy and your body being tired.

Your body might feel tired due to mental fatigue from the barrage of negative information. But this does not necessarily translate into being able to fall asleep.

• Move your body a little bit each day in a

way that feels good (bonus points if you do this outside). Exposing your body to sunlight is also important.

• Keep to a routine of regular meals.

Our brains know when it is morning, afternoon and night based on what meals you are eating. When meal patterns become haphazard, it can lessen the distinction between day (waking hours) and night (sleeping hours).

• Get out of bed if you start to have anxious thoughts. These can lead to a stress response, such as increased heart rate and sweaty palms, that makes it difficult to fall asleep.

• Engage in mindless activities, like folding clothes, before you go to sleep. Having a consistent evening routine of pleasant but mindless activities in the couple of hours before bedtime can support sleep.

Meditation and relaxation techniques are another sleep aid.

To read Seraphina Seow’s article in full, go to huffpost.com and search for 8 Tricks Sleep Experts Use When 2020 Anxiety Keeps Them Awake.

N O V E M B E R 2020 F Y I B U S I N E SS N H .O R G . N Z

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E V E N TS

Past Events

To read about these events in more detail, go to businessnh.org.nz/category/events.

Business Recovery Planning: Surviving & Thriving!

9th September Business Capability Workshop Gina Cook, BDO Auckland Every business should have a recovery plan – now more than ever. This is not the same as a business plan or a marketing strategy; it is a short-term (90-day) plan, which is closely monitored, reviewed at least monthly and adapted to suit changing circumstances.

Gina urged everyone to “focus on what you can do”, because, in these extraordinary times, trying to make predictions or secondguess what is going to happen in six, nine, 12 months is just too hard.

Gina Cook

In the Spotlight with Kirsten Patterson 17 September Women in Business, sponsored by Eclipse Recruitment

Kirsten Patterson

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“Who’s looking after your kids’ and other important questions I always get asked…”

This was how Kirsten “KP” Patterson began talking about her life as a #CEOmum. The next 45 minutes were unpretentious and relatable, inspiring and hilarious.

The frustrating reality is that a CEO in the NZX50 is four times more likely to be called Mark or John than to be a woman.

“Australia is ahead of us. That’s not something we ever want to say!” Diversity can bring untold benefits to an organisation.

Decision-making is undoubtedly messier and more complex, but therein lies the value of different perspectives.

A special thanks to our event sponsor

E V E N TS

SEO Fundamentals – How to get your business to succeed online Dale Folland

25th September Business Capability Workshop Gregor Jamieson, Alla Lvovich, Dale Folland of Pure SEO and Digital Popcorn According to searchenginejournal.com: “Organic search is the digital marketing channel with the highest ROI.” 30 per cent of internet users click on the first organic (i.e., non-sponsored) search result. This drops to 17 per cent for the second result, and 11 per cent for the third.

It is important to recognise that SEO is a long-term investment. Acting today will see results in three to six months. This lunchtime session focused on three key elements of SEO (search engine optimisation):

Alla Lvovich

• Content • Technical • Backlinks Gregor Jamieson

Mental Health First Aid Workshop 29th September Brian Blumhardt, St John With one in six New Zealand adults experiencing a mental illness in their lifetime, chances are someone you know or care about may need help. How you respond may determine how quickly a friend, work colleague or loved one gets the assistance they need.

This practical St John Mental Health First Aid course provided participants with the necessary skills and knowledge to recognise and respond to individuals experiencing mental health concerns. With the Health and Safety at Work Act 2015 defining health as physical and mental health, there is much more emphasis on managing risks to mental wellbeing and mental health just like any other health and safety risk.

and included numerous practical tips, that attendees could put into practice immediately.

Mobile Apps – how to benefit from having one!

15th October Business Capability Workshop, Pedro Van Der Ent, The App Company

Pedro Van Der Ent

Mobile apps have become an intrinsic part of our daily lives. 2021 will continue to be a big year for the mobile app industry. Do you want to be an active part of it? Or be a bystander? These were Pedro’s parting words to the small yet enthusiastic group of attendees who were all interested in learning about the mobile app market.

Over a 90-minute presentation, Pedro provided examples of how the mobile app market is developing, along with the disruption trends of traditional business service models including the retail, hospitality, and health industries. For small businesses, Pedro outlined how consumer expectations and behaviour are changing. He also stressed the importance of getting your digital strategy right and having this as part of your overall business strategy.

N O V E M B E R 2020 F Y I B U S I N E SS N H .O R G . N Z

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E V E N TS

Diary Dates November 12 North Harbour Commercial Property Group Property & the Economy Post-Election 2020 with Tony Alexander and Chris Dibble Time: 5.00 pm-7.00 pm Venue: North Shore Golf Club, 51 Appleby Road, Albany Business North Harbour (BNH) is delighted to have Tony Alexander, one of New Zealand’s best economic minds present on what is next for the New Zealand economy and residential property markets following our recent general election and the subsequent formation of a new government. Tony will be complemented by Chris Dibble from Colliers International. Chris will provide specific insights into the North Harbour commercial property market, along with the latest analysis and commentary on our area’s performance, and his thoughts on what to expect for the commercial market in 2021 and beyond.

Sponsored by:

19

Women in Business Beyond the Kitchen with Nadia Lim Time: 10.00 am-12.00 pm Venue: North Shore Golf Club, 51 Appleby Road, Albany It’s been an exciting ride for the former MasterChef New Zealand winner.

Nadia Lim has 10 best-selling cookbooks, is one of the founders of My Food Bag (“a genius recipe and meal kit delivery service”), and recently hosted and produced the highly acclaimed TV series “Nadia’s Comfort Kitchen” – and of course is the proud mum of two sons, Bodhi and River!

Nadia will share her early life story, the stepping outside of her comfort zone, the creating of a successful career and business along with her learnings on leadership, entrepreneurship, innovation and life as a working and travelling mum. Nadia will also talk about the importance of food and nutrition. Sponsored by:

21 ONE DAY SALE Time: 9.00 am-4.00 pm (Individual retailers’ hours may vary) Venue: Across the North Harbour business district Black Friday is so passé! ONE DAY SALE is the most exciting shopping day of the year in our area! It’s open to all BNH members (and is especially suited to retailers, wholesalers, and distributors) who wish to: • Get great pre-Christmas exposure.

• Maximise pre-Christmas sales.

• Move excess stock or end-of-line products.

• Attract new customers.

This extremely popular and eagerly anticipated event consistently attracts thousands of shoppers to the North Harbour business district. Don’t miss out on being part of our biggest ONE DAY SALE ever!

25 Women in Leadership Mentoring Programme Time: 9.00 am-3.00 pm Venue: Business North Harbour, 12 Parkway Drive, Rosedale BNH is excited to launch our Women in Leadership mentoring programme.

The programme has been developed in conjunction with Dr Patricia Bossons, leadership and coaching lead, Massey Executive Development, and is very different from the array of business skills mentoring opportunities which already exist. It offers a distinctive opportunity for female mentees to be mentored on leadership skills, rather than topics like budgets or marketing, by successful female business leaders from within the BNH business community.

30 North Harbour Asian Business Group Networking Event Time: 4.00 pm-6.00 pm Venue: Harbour Hockey, 159 Bush Road, Rosedale BNH is hosting a special networking event for members of our Asian business community. This event will incorporate business networking along with three guest speakers who will each provide a 25-minute presentation on a specialist topic that is of

significance to the Asian business community, including: • Business profitability • Marketing and social media • Cyber security For more information about this event, turn to page 10.

December 02 Business After Five hosted

by Ministry of Social Development (MSD) Time: 5.00 pm-6.30 pm Venue: Ministry of Social Development – Albany Service Centre, 44 Corinthian Drive, Albany The Ministry of Social Development (MSD) is hosting a Business After Five event and invites all BNH members to attend. In particular, MSD is keen to meet business owners from within our area and have the opportunity to discuss with them the wide range of training and employment assistance that is available to their businesses, including wage subsidies and post-placement support and training.

February 17 Business Capability Workshop: Exit Planning – How to extract the greatest value when you sell Time: 5.00 pm-7.00 pm Venue: North Shore Golf Club, 51 Appleby Road, Albany Recent research from Xero indicates that three out of four New Zealand business owners are expecting to sell their businesses in order to fund their retirements – and yet 30% don’t believe their business would survive without them, and 47% don’t have an exit plan in place (business.govt.nz).

Exiting without a plan means these business owners are unlikely to get the best sale price for their business and, as a result, their post-retirement standard of living will be less than they’d expected.

Business owners who have put in time, money, blood, sweat and tears into building their business, and who want to extract the greatest sale value when they sell, should not miss this event.

For more information and to register for any of these events, please go to businessnh.org.nz/whats-on/ 8

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A DV O CACY

Realising the potential of positive working relationships

In the September edition of FYI I noted that advocacy comes in many guises and, whilst recently the opportunities to make formal written submissions on topics relevant to our members have been scarce, we have been very busy making the most of other opportunities, some of which I previously highlighted may become available.

Business North Harbour (BNH) was able to take the opportunity to highlight the impacts on local businesses due to the traffic chaos caused by the recent damage to the Auckland Harbour Bridge. We collaborated with our colleagues at Takapuna Beach Business Association (TBBA) to issue a joint statement to a variety of media outlets to raise awareness of the problems that businesses were facing and seeking some reassurance that contingency plans were being developed to soften the blow in the unlikely event of a recurrence.

One of the main topics of discussion within BNH has been how we can leverage our positive working relationships to collaborate with key stakeholders, and thereby support our members and drive local economic development in our area. To this end BNH has been proactive in seeking meetings with Upper Harbour Local Board (UHLB), our two ward councillors (John Watson and Wayne Walker) and Auckland Tourism Events and Economic Development (ATEED) to discuss how we can all work together to achieve positive outcomes for our members and help grow the local economy.

One of the main topics of discussion within BNH has been how we can leverage our positive working relationships to collaborate with key stakeholders, and thereby support our members and drive local economic development in our area.

Another topic which members continually highlight as being of great importance to them is access to and movement around the area for business owners, staff and consumers.

We have again been proactive in organising a meeting with UHLB and Auckland Transport (AT) to discuss a collaborative approach to identifying and – wherever possible – mitigating, travel and transport issues, which as everyone knows are a growing problem right across the city, not just in our neighbourhood.

The overarching reason for any conversations with all of these key stakeholders is to enable BNH to be in a position to influence decisions which have an effect on the economic development and prosperity of our members. Unfortunately, we don’t always get the outcomes that we are looking for. The recent decision by independent commissioners to allow the development of Rosedale Bus Station to go ahead without public

notification, despite the numerous potential problems that this will cause, being a prime example. However, we will not be deterred by this or any other disappointing decisions as we owe it to our members to continue to have a say in their best interests. I assure you that this is exactly what we will continue to do, even if, at times, our words fall on deaf ears.

This example further highlights the need for a consolidated, collaborative approach to advocacy, where many voices come together as one, forming a far more influential group.

Our Shore Unity Final Report, which was approved for implementation by members at our recent AGM, outlines how this can be achieved. I will keep you informed as BNH looks to bring such a group together, but in the meantime please view the full report here businessnh.org.nz/shore-unity/

Kevin O’Leary General Manager, Business North Harbour N O V E M B E R 2020 F Y I B U S I N E SS N H .O R G . N Z

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AS I A N B U S I N E SS

North Harbour Asian Business Group Networking Launch Event

Asian business owners account for up to 15 per cent of BNH’s membership. And yet, this important sector of our North Harbour community is consistently under-represented at events and workshops.

Therefore, BNH is launching a series of networking opportunities specifically for Asian business owners, employees and property owners.

The first networking event is set for Monday, 30th November at the Harbour Hockey stadium and, as well as being an excellent chance to connect with potential partners and customers, three guest speakers will be sharing their expert advice on the following topics: • Profitability: Franky Wang, head of Asian business activation, BNZ • Marketing and social media: Shannon Xu, business development manager, Pure SEO • Cyber and payment security: Peter Wei, CEO at LatiPay

All of our guest presenters are fluent Chinese speakers and will be presenting in Chinese. In addition, handout materials will be provided and translated for our Korean attendees.

North Harbour Asian Business Group Networking Event 30th November | 4.00 pm-6.00 pm Harbour Hockey, 159 Bush Road, Rosedale Plentiful, free on-site parking Light refreshments will be served.

This event is FREE to attend for BNH members and associate members. To register, please go to businessnh.org.nz/whats-on 10

N O V E M B E R 2 02 0 F Y I B U S I N E SS N H .O R G . N Z

在Business North Harbour的会员中，亚洲（主要指中国、韩国及日 本）企业约占15%，是North Harbour地区相当重要的成员。 然而，我 们以往并没有特别为他们举办相关的活动。 今年起，Business North Harbour推出“亚洲企业会员交流”系列活动，为企业负责人、 员工及 业主们提供一个互相交流学习的平台。

第一场活动将于11月30日（星期一）下午在Harbour Hockey举行。 这将是一个绝佳的交流机会，您将接触到有可能成为商业伙伴或 客户的其他会员。界时，三位来自不同商业领域的演讲嘉宾将分享 丰富的内容，包括： • 盈利机会（Franky Wang ，BNZ亚洲商业开发负责人）

• 市场营销与社交媒体（Shannon Xu ，Pure SEO业务发展经理） • 网络付款安全（Peter Wei，LatiPay首席执行官)

三位嘉宾将以中文进行分享。 同时，我们也将提供韩语版文字资料。

North Harbour亚洲企业交流活动 11月30日|4.00 pm-6.00 pm

地点：Harbour Hockey, 159 Bush Road, Rosedale （场地有充足停车位） 敬备茶点供候。

此活动免费向会员开放。 请到我们的网站 businessnh.org.nz/whats-on 登记参加。

B N H N E WS

Thank you

Farewells and Welcomes – your BNH board members 2020/21 Katheryn Chivers

As referenced in the AGM report (pages 12-13), there have been some changes on the executive committee.

Kate Chivers, Robert Elcombe and Neil Tuffin have retired from the BNH board after six, three, and four years’ service respectively.

On behalf of the BNH team and our members, we say a sincere thank you to them for their hard work and commitment.

At the same time, we are delighted to welcome three new board members.

Alisha Abercrombie, Ashley Baldry and Bronwen Newcombe join our retained executive committee members: Peter Lamberton (Primacc Systems Ltd, chair), Ketien Chuor (ASB Bank Ltd), Greg Cramond (Cramond Electrical Services Ltd), Ryan de Zwart (Black Matrix Ltd), Samantha Mills (Phone Plus 2000 Ltd), and Terry Ottow (AMPM Marketing Ltd).

Representing: Parkway Motors

Robert Elcombe

Neil Tuffin

Representing: Accounting North Ltd

Maat Group

Welcome

to our new board members

Alisha Abercrombie Trio Events

Ashley Baldry

High Performance Profiling

Bronwen Newcombe Davenports Law

Congratulations Romane on mastering your studies!

Warmest congratulations to BNH’s digital marketing coordinator Romane Duvivier who has just completed her Master of Management, majoring in human resources management, at Massey University. This qualification follows on from her Bachelor of Business Studies degree from the same university where she studied management and marketing.

Romane first joined BNH in July 2019 as Romane, helping with members’ our part-time marketing and administration enquiries at the 2020 business expo. support analyst. In her current role, Romane is responsible for most of the social media, e-newsletter and website content that is produced by BNH, along with hands-on project management of ONE DAY SALE and the business expo.

In common with many students this year, her graduation ceremony has been delayed due to COVID-19, so we look forward to seeing Romane graduate from her master’s degree next April!

BNH Parkway Drive premises update BNH was recently informed that the landlords at 12 Parkway Drive will not be renewing their lease in May 2021 as they are seeking new premises. This means that BNH’s sub-lease automatically ends on the same day. We have therefore spoken to representatives of the property owners to explain that we would like to remain in our section of the premises.

The risk for BNH is that the owners could be approached by someone wanting to occupy the whole building which would mean that we would be displaced.

We will keep you fully informed of any developments.

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AG M 2020 R E P O RT

AGM 2020 Report Business North Harbour (BNH) would like to thank the members, associate members and all interested parties who attended the 2020 Annual General Meeting of BNH Incorporated on 22nd October at 4.00 pm. Attendance was such that the AGM had to be held at the new hockey stadium on Bush Road, as our own office venue could not cater for the numbers registered to attend – which was a great problem to have.

Peter Lamberton as chair and Kevin O’Leary as general manager both reported back on the challenges and highlights of the 2019/20 financial year as BNH navigated its way through the challenges of COVID-19.

They also outlined the overarching strategy and business plan for the current year through to June 2023.

The 2019/20 financial year proved to be unique in nature, as BNH, like all our members, grappled with the pandemic and experienced unprecedented challenges including lockdown and a variety of Alert Levels. Prior to the unforeseen global pandemic BNH was on track to put the trials and tribulations of the previous year, outlined at the 2019 AGM, behind us. Our organisation grew as we introduced two part-time BNH ambassador roles to improve member awareness of and engagement with BNH. The appointment of a new marketing and events manager and a part-time digital marketing coordinator meant that we were better placed to improve our communications across a variety of platforms.

October 2020 FINAL REPORT

STAGE 2

Creating a single, focused North Shore business development organisation

Despite the unforeseen challenges of the pandemic, the 3 Cs - Connect, Communicate, Collaborate – continued to drive programmes and services, and we delivered a full calendar of events and workshops, tailored to the identified needs of members based on feedback form our annual members survey.

BNH was and remains very proactive, devoting a great amount of time and resource to supporting all our members during the pandemic. We were able to make a series 12

N O V E M B E R 2 02 0 F Y I B U S I N E SS N H .O R G . N Z

Peter Lamberton

The chair and general manager both noted that, despite our best efforts, as a lone voice our influence will always be limited, so the formation of a collaborative, businessled advocacy group is important if we are to have any influence in the corridors of power. of informative videos with experts covering financial and legal implications, business implications, working from home, and mental resilience. Our new and much improved website had a page dedicated to COVID-19, containing all the videos, the latest business news, and links to all the government initiatives and resources available, both nationally and regionally.

We introduced consistent messaging about supporting local business by shopping local, buying locally produced goods and utilising locally available services. We also started a BUY NORTH HARBOUR Facebook page where all members can post details of their goods, services and offers.

Advocacy was again high on our list of priorities as BNH provided feedback to Auckland Council and Auckland Transport on a variety of topics including the Annual Budget and Emergency Budget 2020/21, Auckland Climate Action Framework, Food Safety Information Bylaw and a variety of specific transport initiatives, the most significant once again being the Rosedale Bus Station project.

The chair and general manager both noted that, despite our best efforts, as a lone voice our influence will always be limited, so the formation of a collaborative, business-led

advocacy group is important if we are to have any influence in the corridors of power. This is one of the key objectives as explained in the Shore Unity final report, which supersedes the initial Bridge to the Future discussion document. This is an extremely important piece of work moving forwards which members fully supported, the full details of which can be found on the BNH website.

The Annual Financial Reports to 30th June 2020 were presented to the satisfaction of attendees, along with key performance measures for the current financial year. Additionally, the draft budget for the 2021/22 financial year was approved, as was the motion to re-sign the BID Programme Agreement with Auckland Council, effective to 30th November 2023.

There were three changes to the executive committee as Kate Chivers, Neil Tuffin and Robert Elcombe all stepped down from their positions to be replaced by Bronwen Newcombe (Davenports Law), Alisha Abercrombie (Trio Events) and Ashley Baldry (High Performance Profiling). BNH sincerely thanks the retiring members for their work and contributions to the organisation and extends a warm welcome to our new executive committee members.

AG M 2020 R E P O RT

How did we do?

MEMBER COMMUNICATION BUSINESSNH.ORG.NZ

E-NEWSLETTERS

26 e-newsletters sent 24% average open rate

There are nightly security patrols, 365 days a year. Special attention is paid to “hot spots” – premises that have previously been targeted by criminals and/or at risk of trending crime.

16% returning visitors 84% new visitors 6% decrease in users 4% increase in pageviews 13% i ncrease in session time $4,951 online advertising income

3,500 Reports received on

SOCIAL MEDIA

191 Visits to North Harbour

21% growth on LinkedIn 12% growth on Facebook

CRIME PREVENTION PATROLS

security “hot spots”

commercial premises, resulting in: 50 Information packs distributed 43 Physical assessments of premises to try and avoid future criminal activity

40% Members who rated vehicle security as “important” or “very important” in BNH’s annual survey

diverted from landfill each year

82.9 T onnes of greenhouse gas

40% Increase in stolen cars. The

Harbour and stakeholders, such as NZ Police, Auckland Council, UHLB, NZTA, Westfield Mall Albany, St John, North Harbour Stadium, Massey University

32 Reported incidents of shoplifting, an increase of 77% on 2019

KEY ADVOCACY AND SUBMISSIONS ON: •Council Budget 2020/21 Council Emergency Budget 2020/21 • Council-Controlled Organisations • (CCO) Review Auckland’s Climate Action Framework • Food Safety Information Bylaw • Landfill Levy • •29 transport projects

5 surveys sent 316 responses

31.168 T onnes of food waste

in the last 12 months

18 Meetings between Business North

SURVEYS

FOOD WASTE COLLECTIONS

23% Increase in vehicle break-ins

COMMUNITY SAFETY

4 copies 15,600 printed copies 768 online reads 7,593 online impressions

CORPORATE SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY

VEHICLE CRIME

majority of these crimes occur at the overflow parking at Albany park and ride during the day. We shall continue to pressure AT to increase secure parking for commuters.

FYI MAGAZINE

emissions removed from landfill

EVENTS 20 events and workshops 1,324 total event registrations 93% speaker quality rating 98% of members said content was beneficial to their organisation

STAND OUT SPEAKERS

238 attendees for Mike King 123 attendees for Laurie Sharp 103 attendees for Cassie Roma BUSINESS EXPO

45 exhibitors ONE DAY SALE

46 participating businesses ST JOHN WORKSHOPS Mental health and first aid

3 workshops 55 attendees

$4,800 Funding extension carried over from 2018/19, received from the Auckland Council Waste Minimisation and Innovation Fund

32 Organisations having weekly

collections, including cafés, catering companies, sports clubs, churches, and commercial businesses

6 FREE food waste collections plus FREE kitchen bins offered to BNH members

INORGANICS COLLECTIONS

2 Inorganics collections 59 Businesses that participated 104m3 Total amount collected 92.25m3 Recycled by Abilities Group

11.75m3 Sent to landfill 53% Members who rated landfill reduction as “important” or “very important” in BNH’s annual survey

1,032 Pallets recycled – reducing

roadside waste, and upcycling to companies that require additional pallets N O V E M B E R 2020 F Y I B U S I N E SS N H .O R G . N Z

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L E GA L M AT T E R S

Privacy law reform New Zealand’s privacy laws are about to change. Our current law has struggled to keep up with the rise of extensive technological advances which have transformed the way in which we collect and use personal information. Any organisation that gathers customers’ details for any reason (e.g., newsletter database, payment purposes, repeat bookings, loyalty programmes) is affected by this long overdue law change.

This update comes in the form of the Privacy Act 2020, which strengthens privacy protections and requires “agencies” (which includes any business or organisation) to actively manage their privacy obligations. It will also provide the Privacy Commissioner with increased powers to address privacy law breaches.

Some of the changes include:

1. Mandatory notification of a privacy breach Probably the most significant change is that agencies will be required to notify the Privacy Commissioner, and any affected individuals, of any “notifiable privacy breach” as soon as practicable after becoming aware of the breach. A notifiable privacy breach will occur where it is reasonable to believe that the breach has caused, or is likely to cause, an affected individual serious harm.

When determining whether a breach has or may cause serious harm, agencies must consider the following factors: • What action has been taken by the agency to reduce the risk of harm following the privacy breach • Whether the personal information subject to the breach is of a sensitive nature • The nature of the harm that may be caused to the affected individuals • If known, who has obtained, or may obtain, the personal information subject to the breach

Concerns about misuse of personal data Percentage of internet users aged 16 to 64 who say they are worried about how companies use their personal data: UK 43% USA 42% NZ 40% AUS 40% Worldwide 33% Credit: datareportal.com/reports/ digital-2020-october-global-statshot

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• Whether the personal information is protected by any security measures • Any other relevant matters Failure to notify the Privacy Commissioner of a notifiable breach under the act may result in a fine of up to $10,000. The Privacy Commissioner will also have the power to publish the identity of the agency subject to the breach where the Privacy Commissioner believes it is in the public interest to do so – which could have far-reaching implications for an agency’s credibility and reputation.

2. Privacy Commissioner can issue and publish compliance notices The Privacy Commissioner will have the ability to issue a compliance notice to an agency requiring them to take action, or stop taking a particular action in order to comply with privacy laws.

If the Privacy Commissioner issues a compliance notice to an agency, the act requires the Privacy Commissioner to publish the following information in relation to the compliance notice: • The identity of the agency • Other details about the compliance notice or the breach that the Privacy Commissioner considers should be published • A statement or comment about the breach that the Privacy Commissioner considers is appropriate in the circumstances

The publication of such notice may only be avoided if an agency can satisfy the Privacy Commissioner that it would suffer undue hardship as a result, and the Privacy Commissioner believes that such hardship outweighs public interest in the publication.

3. Disclosure of personal information outside New Zealand Additionally, a new principle will be introduced concerning the disclosure of personal information outside of New Zealand. This will put more limits on foreign disclosure by requiring an agency to satisfy one of six requirements before disclosing the personal information overseas.

For example, an agency may disclose the personal information to an overseas person or entity only if that person or entity is subject to privacy laws that provide comparable safeguards to those contained in the New Zealand Privacy Act.

4. Identifying information cannot be collected unless requested The new act will also prohibit an agency from obtaining more identifying information from an individual than is necessary for the purpose for which it is collected. This addition is likely to have a significant impact on agencies, as it will require them to carefully consider what identifying information they are collecting from an individual and ensure that they can justify why that identifying information is required or necessary for their particular purpose.

Undoubtedly, the Privacy Act 2020 will place an additional compliance burden on all manner of Kiwi businesses. They will need to consider what personal information they have, why it is held and how long to retain it.

Organisations of all sizes (including sole traders) should seek advice about how to comply, and have their privacy policies and information collecting processes reviewed to ensure that they are appropriate.

Jeremy Parsons is a director at Davenports Law, and specialises in commercial and business law.

SERVICE STILL OPERATING AT ALL COVID-19 LEVELS

REDUCE LANDFILL & HELP SAVE THE PLANET

SIGN UP TO OUR FOOD WASTE SERVICE TODAY

BIN + FIRST 6 COLLECTIONS FREE! TERMS & CONDITIONS APPLY

businessnh.org.nz/foodwastecollection Contact Dave on 021 560 287 to find out more

T RA N S P O RT

Controversial new bus station gets green light in Rosedale BNH’s general manager Kevin O’Leary writes: We are disappointed to inform members that, despite our best efforts, which included engaging a Queen’s Counsel to act on our behalf, commissioners have decided to process Waka Kohati New Zealand Transport Agency’s (NZTA’s) application for the construction of Rosedale Bus Station without notification and have approved the application for consent. This basically means that construction will go ahead without offering anyone the opportunity to raise for consideration any concerns or objections that they may have.

BNH wanted to raise awareness of this decision and the project itself to members and the wider North Harbour community, as we are sure that many residents would have welcomed the opportunity to have their say on the subject.

BNH has several concerns regarding the impacts of this project, which will reduce the number of on-street carparking spaces in the area that are already at a premium. Additionally, we believe it will further increase the traffic

chaos which already exists along Rosedale Road, Tawa Drive and Triton Drive. Thus, construction of this new facility will not only have a detrimental effect on local businesses, but will also add to the significant problems

Detour for walkers and cyclists in Unsworth

2 | Northern Corridor Improvements

Project Update September 2020

A detour for walkers and cyclists will be in place for the next couple of months in Unsworth Heights. The route is from Barbados Drive to the Alexandra Stream Underpass to Paul Matthews Road. Access for pedestrians along SH18/Upper Harbour Highway from Caribbean While the place, people should closed This during this This will enable A detour for walkers cyclists will be in this be Drive will be and closed during time. willtime. enable the final shift ofdetour Paulis inMatthews Road leave extra time to travel around the area and the final shift of Paul Matthews Road to join place for the next three months in Unsworth to join the Caribbean Drive intersection.

The intersection will feature three lanes plus a follow the signs.

Caribbean Drive intersection.

Heights. The route is from Barbados Drive to the Alexandra Stream Underpass to Paulpath to new walking and cycling tofeature Meadowood All and of cycling this work A new walking path will will also bebe The connect intersection will three lanes plus Reserve.

Matthews Road. built along the new section of the road. a new walking and cycling path to connect to completed by the end of the year.

While theAlldetour iswill inbeplace, people should leave extra Meadowood Reserve. of this work Access for pedestrians along SH18/Upper completed by the end signs. of the year.A new walking and cycling path will also Harbour Highway fromaround Caribbean Drive time to travel the will area and follow the be built along the new section of the road.

To stay up to date with NCI works, visit businessnh.org.nz/northern-corridor-improvements

Detour for walkers and cyclists in Unsworth

ROSEDALE PARK

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UPPER HARBOUR HIGHWAY DRIVE BARBADOS

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BEA N CAR IB

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that commuters in the area already experience on a daily basis, and yet no one will be able to express an opinion on the matter – a decision which BNH finds somewhat perplexing to say the least.

Calculating the cost of car ownership A car’s purchase price tag is just the start… There are after-purchase costs, including loan repayments, petrol, vehicle registration fees, warrants of fitness, insurance, and maintenance.

Your Money Blueprint published an interesting article which lays out all the expenses. It comes with a disclaimer: there is a lot of maths! To help you do the sums for your vehicle, go to the blog on yourmoneyblueprint.co.nz and search for How to calculate the cost of car ownership.

T RA N S P O RT

2020/21 bus and ferry changes

Auckland Council is required to make cost savings following the COVID-19 pandemic and, as part of this, AT is reducing its public transport expenditure. This requires a reduction in some public transport service operations.

When these changes are implemented, AT will also make planned improvements to some bus and ferry services “providing better services to areas in need”.

New timetables for affected services will be available later in 2020, but some local changes include: • Removal of 890 bus service on Corinthian Drive, Albany from Monday, 25 January 2021. Having lobbied AT to provide this service, BNH is very disappointed with the decision to cut the service. There are legitimate

concerns that, with the ongoing development, this area will become increasingly congested, especially since no additional parking is planned.

As the situation develops, BNH would welcome comments from members.

• A reduction in frequency for 842 (Smales Farm station to Crown Hill via East Coast Road) bus services from Monday, 25 January 2021 • Additional ferry services for Hobsonville and Beach Haven from Sunday, 24 January 2021

HOPping on and off Auckland Transport Auckland is divided into 14 “fare zones”, and public transport costs are calculated on how many zones you travel through rather than the number of journeys you take.

If you are planning to explore Auckland over the summer, it is worth remembering that you can transfer between Auckland Transport (AT) buses, trains and ferries and pay just one fare for your entire journey with your AT HOP card.

There is no limit to the number of transfers you can make between buses, trains and ferries, you just need to make sure that you tag on within 30 minutes of tagging off your previous service and complete this journey within four hours.

For more information, including about zone overlap areas and how to calculate journey costs, go to at.govt.nz/bustrain-ferry/fares-discounts/fare-zonescalculating-how-much-you-pay . You may also wish to compare these with the price of commuting: at.govt.nz/driving-parking/ commute-calculator

$ Fare Zones and Boundaries Wellsford

Check at.govt.nz/bus-train-ferry/serviceannouncements/202021-bus-and-ferrychanges-and-improvements for news and updates.

Auckland’s busiest bus station gets an upgrade

Omaha

Matakana

Warkworth

Warkworth

Waiwera

Helensville

Hibiscus Coast

Orewa Wainui

Kaukapakapa

Hibiscus Coast

Gulf Harbour

Waitoki

Upper North Shore

Riverhead

Waiheke

Lower North Shore

City

Westgate Waitemata Harbour

Swanson

Hibiscus Coast

$

Upper North S

$

Lower North S

$

Helensville

$

Huapai

$

Waitakere

$

City

$

Isthmus

$

Waiheke

$

Beachlands

$

Manukau North

$

Manukau Sout

$

Franklin

Adult

C

CityLink

$0.50

$0

1 Zone

$1.85

$0

2 Zones

$3.15

$1

Rangitoto Island

3 Zones

$4.85

$2

Isthmus

4 Zones

$6.10

$3

5 Zones

$7.50

$4

Hauraki Gulf

Takapuna

Huapai

Warkworth

$

AT HOP Fare

Albany

Constellation

$

Beachlands

Britomart Newmarket Kingsland

Cash Fare

Henderson

Waitakere

Adult Panmure New Lynn Onehunga

Waitakere Ranges

Manukau Harbour

Otahuhu

Botany

Manukau

Airport

Manukau South

Manukau North

$3.50

2 Zones

$5.50

3 Zones

$7.00

4 Zones

$9.00

5 Zones

$10.00

Each coloured a the map is a diff fare zone.

Franklin

Visit AT.govt.nz for more inform including curren

Pukekohe Waiuku

$1.00

1 Zone

Fares are based number of zone travel through.

Papakura

Port Waikato

CityLink

Tuakau

Download the AT Mobile app from the App Store or Goog For more information visit ATmetro.co.nz or call 09 36

Work has started on a major $15 million upgrade to Constellation Station which will see the bus station expanded and completely refitted. The station is the busiest hub of all the stations along the Northern Busway. Foundations are now in place for the new northbound platform and a pedestrian bridge. The bridge will span the busway, so people can access both platforms for the north and the city. The steel canopies and materials for the bridge are being produced and will start to go up at the end of the year. This work is being delivered as part of the Northern Corridor Improvements (NCI) Project.

Business North Harbour welcomes constructive feedback from members.

If you have a query about public transport, roading or car parking in the North Harbour district, please contact Sarah de Zwart at transport@businessnh.org.nz.

N O V E M B E R 2020 F Y I B U S I N E SS N H .O R G . N Z

FARE ZONES A

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CO V E R STO RY

Connecting, communicating, collaborating How COVID-19 crunched years’ worth of digital adoption into a few short months Jason Paris, C EO of Vodafone New Zealand, has a favourite Winston Churchill quote: “Never let a good crisis go to waste.”

This year, he has observed that small and medium-sized businesses – “who are the backbone of New Zealand’s economy” – have been “super impressive and inspiring”, as they have realised the essential role of connectivity.

What trends has he witnessed and what lessons can be learned?

In general terms, businesses have (thus far) survived and thrived when they: Prioritised aggressively This is the time to reset your prioritisation.

Figure out exactly what is valuable to your business, and focus energy and investment here. When we start a business, the key goals are really well-defined. Then as time goes on, there is the daily distraction of debtors, operational matters, and employee issues.

That “noise” can cloud what was a clear vision.

Acted early Take the opportunity to bring forward decision-making. In the vast majority of cases, no-one regrets acting early. I think it is Jeff Bezos of Amazon who talks about business decisions being either one-way or two-way doors. Very few of them are truly one-way; you can nearly always come back. It is better to try a belief in the market than to keep kicking that can down the road. The worst thing is to sit on it, debate, and not to make the call.

At Vodafone, we put decision-making into either rapid or reinvention. Rapid are the decisions that would give us zero regrets if we made those changes today. Reinvention are those with a two to three times higher risk.

We could place a bet on them, but they could transform our trajectory. COVID-19 gave an opportunity to act on the reinvention ones, and seriously consider what is really important, and could truly add value.

What has been most impressive has been the pivot to contactless click and collect – across all types of industry. Innovative thinking ensures that a business can safely provide its products or services, and keep its doors open, even when its doors are not physically open.

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Maximised customer experience (CX) Work hard to ensure client retention. Your existing customers are your strongest advocates – being able to recommend you to a friend over a cup of coffee is far more powerful than any paid-for ad placement – and potentially your most profitable marketing channel.

Avoid the too easy temptation of becoming addicted to customer acquisition.

Customer behaviour and expectations have changed quickly. Possibly the best example of this is the NZ COVID tracer app.

Everybody of any age now knows how to take a photograph of a QR code. This was not the case six months ago; it might possibly never have been the case for some potential customers – but now we’ve got grandparents using House Party!

SMEs are stronger together, and you have to work out when to collaborate and when to compete.

Customers have become much more comfortable with a complete end-to-end digital experience. They no longer have to drive and pay for expensive parking to visit a business, when they can experience that online. This is a massive opportunity that every business needs to embrace. It expands your potential marketplace and keeps money coming through promptly (if people are paying with credit cards).

Customers are opting for low-risk, trustworthy brands with a long-term track record.

They are looking for consistent quality of service and product, in that order. Except for very cost-conscious consumers, I personally don’t believe that product advantage exists much anymore. The true difference is the experience you provide for your customers.

And, if you can provide that great experience, it is an opportunity for data capture so that you can start to build enduring, ongoing relationships.

Vigorously adopted digital options

The likes of Webex, MS Teams, and Zoom have helped employees and employers feel connected and function cohesively.

Knew when to collaborate and when to compete Look at your industry’s value chain more broadly. SMEs are stronger together, and you have to work out when to collaborate and when to compete. If smaller businesses can combine resources on areas where they do not have a competitive advantage or are not creating value, that is a great way to save costs and reduce risk.

Realising the tangible benefits of 5G The first steps that businesses can take The benefits of 4G and smartphones were arguably more for the consumer. Now, 5G and fibre bring real advantages and opportunities for business. On a purely practical basis, 5G is

CO V E R STO RY

A common sense guide to social media As recently as September, Influencer Marketing Hub published a blog called “75+ social media sites you need to know in 2020”.

When used wisely, social media can be a hugely successful way to bolster a brand’s reputation, build a business’ community of customers and followers, and – ultimately – drive sales. However, it clearly also has the potential to be a proverbial black hole, sucking in endless time, money and energy.

Snapshot of New Zealand in January 2020 Information from datareportal.com #Digital2020 New Zealand

5G, what’s the big deal?

4.47 million Internet users 6.49 million M obile connections 93% Internet penetration 135% Number of mobile connections to New Zealand’s total 3.6 million S ocial media users equivalent population 75% Social media penetration How does New Zealand compare?

Higher speeds Up to 10 x faster than 4G

Lower latency A round trip possible in under 20ms

More efficiency and reliability resulting in increased capacity

Higher density IoT – tens of billions of connected devices

Fixed internet speeds, in MBPS (figures represent average download speed for September 2020) USA 161.1 New Zealand 135.9 Worldwide 85.7 UK 75.0 Australia 56.0

Mobile internet connection speeds in MBPS (figures represent average download speed for September 2020) Australia 72.4 New Zealand 56.5 USA 47.1 UK 36.0 Worldwide 36.0

Facebook monthly ad clicks (median number of times each month that the typical Facebook user aged 18+ clicks on a Facebook ad) Australia 23 New Zealand 21 UK 20 USA 20 Worldwide 12

HOOTSUITE /WE ARE SOCIAL /DATAREPORTAL.COM/REPORTS/DIGITAL-2020-OCTOBER-GLOBAL-STATSHOT

at least as secure and offers at least as much capacity and resilience as fibre. This means it can be a cost-effective back-up, ensuring business continuity. If the fibre goes down, you should not even notice. That is the first thing that any business should consider.

The other opportunities offered by 5G vary from the most basic (the ability to save energy) to the most extreme (remote brain surgery).

There are already schools that have added smart sensors to their switches – at a cost of less than one dollar each – so that heating and lighting only come on when they are needed rather than at a prescribed daily time. Energy bills are being halved, and, of course, it is good for the environment.

Travel and logistics are the next things to consider. Vehicles will be able to “talk” to each other and to the transport networks, meaning that travel should be both safer and more efficient.

Jan 2020: Percentage of internet users in New Zealand aged 16-64 who report using each social media platform in the past month YOUTUBE

88%

FACEBOOK

84%

FB MESSENGER

72% 52%

INSTAGRAM 35%

PINTEREST

33%

WHATSAPP

29%

LINKEDIN

25%

TWITTER NEIGHBOURLY WECHAT

21% 10%

DATA FROM GLOBALWEBINDEX (Q3 2019). FIGURES REPRESENT THE FINDINGS OF A BROAD SURVEY OF INTERNET USERS AGED 16 TO 64. SEE GLOBALWEBINDEX.COM FOR MORE DETAILS. COLLATED DATA FROM HOOTSUITE, WE ARE SOCIAL AND GLOBAL WEB INDEX CAN BE VIEWED AT DATAREPORTAL.COM/REPORTS/DIGITAL-2020-NEW-ZEALAND

N O V E M B E R 2020 F Y I B U S I N E SS N H .O R G . N Z

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CO V E R STO RY

Catherine Arrow i s the executive director of PR Knowledge Hub, a Fellow of the Public Relations Institute of New Zealand (PRINZ), a Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Public Relations, the facilitator of PRINZ’s Social Media Strategy workshop, and a digital advisor helping people and businesses with their online communication. Here she shares some downto-earth advice and insights about how BNH members can make social media work for them.

First tip – don’t be scared of social media.

For a small business – even a big one – it can seem a daunting place to be but, with a good strategy, social media engagement is an investment of time that can grow your enterprise.

Keep in mind, social media is one part of a business’ digital transformation, not the whole thing. It helps you build relationships with your customers and supports your broader digital strategy, but it needs a plan of its own. And remember, in our online world, if you don’t talk about your business, someone else will, so better that you are the one to develop your presence.

Think of your digital marketing like a tree.

The roots are in your website – that’s your space where you can anchor your digital presence and grow. Your social channels are the branches connected and linking back to your site. Start with your website and do some basic discovery. Ask: is it mobile-friendly?

Is it Google-friendly? Are your images optimised so they are fast to load? There are plenty of free online tools to help you find the answers. Get it working well. If not, you are going to scupper the opportunities you create elsewhere.

Focus on your goals, and don’t spread yourself too thin. Before you start any kind of social media strategy, ask yourself these six questions: 1. Why are we doing this?

2. Who do we want to talk to, and why?

3. How will we be helping them connect and do business with us?

4. Where shall we build our community?

5. What’s the style and tone of our business?

6. Are we listening well?

Carve out some time Do not just plough ahead, hoping for the best. Do your research and develop a plan. Finding the time to work on this is possibly the hardest task, especially this year, when we are all pretty exhausted – but it will reap dividends.

Research the different networks You are distinctive and so is your business.

So, while you might look at your competitors’ pages and profiles during the course of your research, view them through a customer’s eyes. Do not get distracted or try to emulate them. Decide what you might do better but with your eyes firmly on what is appropriate for

Social media is...about growing a community, genuinely engaging with people, and is far more rewarding...when it is a two-way dialogue. your customers – and ignore the rest. Decide which social platforms you will use, based on where you know your customers are, and be prepared to move if and when they move.

Building a community takes time and can be hard, especially from scratch, so don’t be afraid to invite your friends and family to like your social media pages/feeds – and encourage your team to do the same.

Avoid single action bias Do not think of social media as broadcasting to an audience – aim to involve people. Don’t

just “send stuff out” - posting a photo and caption in the same place at the same time every week will not generate amazing results.

Social media is personal; it is about growing a community, genuinely engaging with people, and is far more rewarding for everyone when it is a two-way dialogue.

Turn your idea into something relevant for your followers. You can use online design tools to help you put images together so that you can illustrate your content or use your phone and create some video – you don’t need to be Stephen Spielberg to get some good shots.

Think visually, even if your business appears – at face value – not to be particularly visual.

Ask a few trusted people (such as those in your network group) what images pop into their head when you describe your business.

Share your day-to-day experiences with your community. For example, if you have been to a good networking event, share a picture of you with other local business owners and say something like: Great workshop with Business North Harbour today – talked all things social media with... and tag those people and their businesses (but check with them first they’re happy to appear). Give people a “behind-the-scenes” look at what you do, and encourage them to get involved.

Keep the content flowing. It does not have to be hourly or even daily but do be consistent.

Nor is it all about consumer-facing businesses; social relationships are just as important for business-to-business.

And, celebrate your people!

Put your plan into action

The Big Five: Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, LinkedIn, and Twitter – with Google as the “one ring to rule them all”, which is why you need your owned base (your website) which must be mobile-friendly.

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Once you’ve answered the questions, done your research and developed your content, it is time to get moving. You are building relationships, connections, loyalty – and that means you need to talk to people. So, don’t be shy and, if it all seems a bit overwhelming get some independent help and advice.

Useful tools and resources: search.google.com/test/mobile-friendly developers.google.com/speed/ pagespeed/insights/

CO V E R STO RY

Mailchimp for beginners E-newsletters are a proven way to stay in touch with prospects, existing clients and lapsed contacts. With more than 12.3 million active users worldwide, Mailchimp is one of the most popular e-mail marketing platforms.

The basic account is free, it is straightforward to customise templates, and it provides useful campaign analytics – but that does not mean that it is without its pitfalls.

When creating your own template, campaign or automation e-mail, watch out for the following:

Images First of all, check that you can legitimately use these. It is not acceptable to simply grab an image from someone else’s website. Make sure you own the appropriate rights or licence; perhaps consider a subscription to an image library such as iStock or Shutterstock. The images also need to be sized properly to display correctly: 600-1200 pixels wide. Avoid small text on these; it will not be easy to read.

Use styles to format your text This ensures consistency and is far more reliable and less time-consuming than individually formatting different sections of text.

Look carefully at your “sign form” Ensure it is named appropriately, and hides fields you do not wish your readers to see.

(For example: a database list called “Old & Lapsed” will not do anything to improve your credibility.) For maximum effect, design it with your branding.

Think about accessibility Add a plain text version of your campaign before sending, and remember to add alt tags, so these can also be read by those not viewing images.

Don’t use PDFs as graphics PDFs can be used as campaign downloads (e.g., price lists) but do not always work effectively if the images are detailed as a graphic. It is far better to create a new hi-resolution PNG or JPEG that is properly sized for the template.

Lindsey Carroll of Outbox Ltd is a BNH associate member, and a Mailchimp Pro Partner (its highest partner status).

Does your business require better accounting and ERP business software?

2020

Overall Winner Australia and NZ

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E L E C T I O N 2020

Business Lunch Series VOTE 2020: Pre-election luncheon 1st October, North Harbour Stadium

A memorable snapshot of an election in unprecedented times

Hon Phil Twyford

New Zealand Labour Party Labour’s five-point plan for economic recovery: invest in people; invest in jobs; “build back better”; support SMEs and entrepreneurs; pivot globally.

To comply with COVID-19 Alert Level 2 protocols, North Harbour Stadium’s main lounge was divided by a clear acrylic wall, with no more than 100 people on either side.

Nearly 170 small business owners and their guests heard from representatives from the five main political parties.

MC Mike McRoberts did a splendid job of corralling the candidates and asking questions on the audience’s behalf.

Hon Paul Goldsmith New Zealand National Party

Jobs come from investment in the private sector. Short-term tax cuts will stimulate the economy, because people not government should decide how to spend their money.

David Seymour ACT New Zealand

New Zealand must get “Taiwan-smart” with its public health response to COVID-19, and take a pragmatic “risk weighted approach”.

We must get the regulatory/tax environment right so that innovation and investment can “take off like a rocket”.

What’s your opinion of a second Waitematā Harbour crossing?

A rare chorus of unity! Everyone recognised this as a priority, albeit with slightly different solutions (bridge or tunnel, road and/or rail) and timescales. BNH board chairman Peter Lamberton quipped, “It could start anywhere between the next three years and the time of my death!”

What would be your priorities for your first 100 days in government?

Winston Peters: “It’s the economy, stupid.”

Chlöe Swarbrick: Focus on the “three Cs”: collaboration, communication and creativity.

Chlöe Swarbrick

Green Party of Aotearoa New Zealand Three crises are facing the country right now: climate change, biodiversity, and deepening poverty. We cannot afford not to invest in a green economy.

David Seymour: Certainty, which is about safely reconnecting with the world

Paul Goldsmith: Job creation, temporary tax cuts, and making it easier to employ the staff required

Phil Twyford: “Build back better”. New Zealand can export its way out of this crisis. Putting money back into the hands of low-income earners is a more effective stimulus than tax cuts for the well-off.

To read about this event in more detail, go to businessnh.org.nz/category/events 22

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Rt Hon Winston Peters New Zealand First

“The 1935 approach” helped to set up long term access to housing, employment and welfare, and provided some policy stability for the next 50 years.

E L E C T I O N 2020

Results: how 2020 compares to 2017 EAST COAST BAYS

NORTH SHORE

2017 Official Result STANFORD, Erica (National Party) 22,731 CHEN, Naisi (Labour Party) 6,441 Majority 16,290

2017 Official Result BARRY, Maggie (National Party) UDANGA, Romy (Labour Party) Majority

23,564 10,848 12,716

2017 Official Result BENNETT, Paula (National Party) AN, Jin (Labour Party) Majority

19,857 10,301 9,556

2017 Party Vote Lead National Party Labour Party

2017 Party Vote Lead National Party Labour Party

57.7% 26.0%

Party Vote Lead National Party Labour Party

54.0% 32.3%

2020 Preliminary Count STANFORD, Erica (National Party) 17,789 HERNANDEZ, Monina (Labour Party) 9,718 Majority 8,071

2020 Preliminary Count WATTS, Simon (National Party) UDANGA, Romy (Labour Party) Majority

16,731 12,749 3,982

2020 Preliminary Count WALTERS, Vanushi (Labour Party) 14,142 BEZZANT, Jake (National Party) 12,727 Majority 1,415

Party Vote Lead Labour Party National Party

Party Vote Lead Labour Party National Party

40.4% 35.2%

Party Vote Lead Labour Party National Party

62.8% 23.2%

39.4% 39.2%

UPPER HARBOUR

47.0% 32.1%

N O V E M B E R 2020 F Y I B U S I N E SS N H .O R G . N Z

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P RO F E SS I O N A L D E V E LO PM E N T : A M PM MA R K E T I N G

New Zealand websites see visitor increase since COVID-19 lockdown Data also showed the most popular words included in recent domain name registrations included “online”, “kiwi”, and “shop”.

You want a new or upgraded website – but who cares?

A client came to AMPM with a website which was poorly hosted. The hosting company didn’t care, and the website was hacked so that the same information appeared on each page. It was an embarrassing disaster!

We fixed this by building a quality new website with a focus on prospect conversion, using current best practice, strategy, quality content, professionally.

In just three weeks they were back in business!

Are you up to being a digital warrior… or just a digital worrier?

didn’t know you didn’t know and now have to learn.

There is an art to making great design, form and function look simple

What we offer is a solution that is perfectly tailored to you. We do not simply do a pretty template with dysfunctional qualities that will not provide you with what you need. AND, we do care about our clients’ outcomes.

If you can solve their problem, they will buy – but only if they trust you.

• A great online strategy and presence = efficient lead conversion

• Beat the COVID-19 challenges! Adapt to contactless, click & collect service and product delivery.

Website – You must get the basics right.

• Good quality and secure website hosting.

What’s it like to work with the AMPM web development team?

When we build a website, we ask questions, we listen and follow a trusted process of discovery and analysis. The budget is a direct outcome of the strategy required to successfully meet the primary goals and objectives.

There is a comprehensive checklist to ensure your website is built correctly. Grabbing a “free” website comes at a cost – wasted time, money and frustration on things you 24

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• Ensure your site is properly maintained.

• Goal orientated with a well-structured and a “conversion top of mind” strategy.

• Quality imagery and copywriting.

CRM – Once you have them don’t let them go! (Unless you want to…)

Collect your visitors’ details if you can, ensuring that you are properly adhering to the new Privacy Act, and then be their very, very helpful friend until they are ready to buy.

Offline and online marketing • Offline: signage, clothing, sponsorships, etc PUSH your prospect to your website to be filtered and converted.

• You need clear, distinctive branding designed carefully for you and your business – that is suitable for web and print.

• Online: SEO, paid or just hope like hell?

Only two of these require strategy and budget, but they should bring you far better results.

Social media – Why not simply put all your efforts into Facebook, Twitter or Instagram?

Social media platforms are not your real estate. Unlike social media profiles, a website is the part of the internet that a business can own – and therefore control.

Whichever platforms you do choose, just like paid advertising, you’ll need a sound strategy and decide how much resource (your time and money) you are willing to invest to get an ROI. Email: terry@ampm.co.nz Call: 09 300 5132 ampmweb.co.nz

P RO F E SS I O N A L D E V E LO PM E N T : GA M E O V E R AU C K L A N D

An electrifying team building experience 2020 has been a tough year for employers and employees alike. Staying connected and taking care of our mental and physical wellbeing remain top priorities – which is why a visit to Game Over Auckland could be just the ticket!

Based in Arrenway Drive, Game Over is an indoor adventure centre with a variety of attractions and activities. “We believe we’ve got something here for everyone,” smiles co-director Dan Gaunt. “You can get out all of that competitiveness on the kart track, release some adrenalin with laser tag in the jungle, or just take a leisurely stroll through the Jurassic themed mini-golf course. We promise the dinosaurs are friendly!”

Game Over’s karts are electric, which, as well as the lower overall environmental impact, means that guests are not breathing in any nasty exhaust fumes. There are other exhilarating advantages too. “The karts produce more torque and acceleration than their petrol-powered rivals,” Dan says. “So, enjoy that rush – guilt-free!” Plus, of course, Game Over has strict health and safety protocols in place: helmets and visors are treated with antibacterial sanitiser in between uses, and all other equipment is thoroughly cleaned on a regular basis.

Business North Harbour members Koda Technology recently enjoyed their third visit to Game Over. Office manager Lisa Wood explains why. “When we first chose to go there for our social club outing, we were trying to find something everyone would enjoy – and they definitely did! The location is great and it’s easy parking. We love the venue and the

view from inside. It’s very cool and the staff are always willing to help in any way. It’s an awesome place for a Christmas [corporate function] venue. You have the entertainment (even if the kids join in) and plenty of space to organise some food as well. The whole package!”

Game Over has also put together some top tips for business owners in these very challenging times.

1. Allow your employees to truly unplug.

Especially now, there are feelings of burn out and stress. Encourage your team to switch off and take time for themselves outside of work hours. The same is true for employers too!

2. Get to know your employees on a personal level.

Make an effort to understand their goals and aspirations, and you’ll be rewarded with greater engagement and motivation.

3. Have an open-door policy.

Create an environment of open communication, trust and respect, and encourage ideas and suggestions.

4. Allow time for what is important.

Give your employees time to do what is important to them. Where possible allow flexible working, provide networking opportunities, and support family time.

5. Reward them with some team building fun! Well, obviously…

“Ultimately, we’re here to help business owners, employees, families and friends relax, rewind and take a well-earned breather that’s safe and tons of fun,” says Dan. “Whether you’re a group of two or 50, it’s our pleasure to create your perfect time out.”

35 Arrenway Drive, Albany 0508 426 368 | (09) 973 4020 info@gameover.co.nz gameoverauckland.co.nz

What our clients say: “We had a team building corporate event at Game Over. The staff were friendly, professional, super-helpful, and our team had a great time. I would highly recommend!”

“A great place for friendly competitive fun with family and friends.”

“I’d recommend to anyone. What an awesome place – friendly staff, and so much to do. Cheers for all the fun and laughter. We’ll be back!”

“The staff were amazing! From our initial phone consult to our day of fun they displayed exceptional customer service.”

“Awesome facility and amazing staff. They catered really well to our large group and were very accommodating of our requirements.”

N O V E M B E R 2020 F Y I B U S I N E SS N H .O R G . N Z

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P RO F E SS I O N A L D E V E LO PM E N T : MA AT G RO U P

Maat Group: Growing Investors’ Wealth Creating a passive income through investing in commercial property With residential property prices reaching new heights, a shortage of listings, and interest rates at an unprecedented and forecasted long term low, commercial property investment is an interesting alternative to the traditional forms of residential propertyinvestment.

Successful commercial property investment requires an understanding of the complex market factors at work, unique financing requirements, property management options, leasing arrangements, and an appreciation of the potential risks.

While it would be nice to be wealthy enough to buy an office building or industrial warehouse outright, for the majority of first-time commercial property investors this goal is unattainable. The reality is that the entry level to purchase a commercial property is usually higher than that for a residential property. This is partly because the price of a good commercial property is substantial and partly because banks require larger deposits as the loan to value ratio requirements are significantly lower for commercial property.

Successful commercial property investment requires an understanding of the complex market factors at work Realistically, how much would I need to invest?

An easy market entry option is an investment in shares in a company that purchases a large value, premium commercial property with the intention of holding it over a longer term for capital gains. That is exactly what Maat Group does. It provides the commercial opportunities for investors to purchase a shareholding in a company that owns commercial property.

Collectively, the company shareholders own the property from as little as $50,000 per share parcel.

How often will I receive a return on my investment?

The rental income is used to cover the costs of the property. The monthly dividend payment to investors is allocated from this rental income.

This means as an investor you can expect a dividend each month provided the property is tenanted and managed correctly. Maat Group completes the accounting requirements for the company on the behalf of each shareholder investor and pays tax under the Portfolio Investment Entity (PIE) rules directly to IRD. 26

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What happens when a tenant isn’t able to pay rent or during emergencies like an earthquake or COVID-19 lockdowns?

While dividends paid are derived solely from rents collected, the company’s cash reserves increase too due to rental growth following tenant rent reviews, careful management of expenses, and recovery of expenses from tenants. This provides each investment company with a “rainy day” fund to ensure that unforeseen eventualities can be covered by these cash surpluses. As managers of the investment companies, Maat Group seeks to build and retain cash reserves to deal with challenging and unforeseen circumstances.

During the recent COVID-19 lockdowns Maat Group was able to continue to pay all dividends to its investment companies at the expected rate of return because it had been fiscally sensible by building up extensive reserve cash surpluses in all its investment companies.

Additionally, Maat Group was able to meet the needs of its tenants to provide fair and reasonable rental abatements during the lockdown periods as a result of these cash surpluses. Working positively with our tenants is one of the fundamentals to the Maat Group approach. Maat Group was happy to be able to support our investment companies’ tenants to achieve pragmatic and positive outcomes for both parties in what has been an unprecedentedly difficult year.

A good investment in commercial property will provide a reliable income stream backed by tangible assets. This includes consistent returns, passive income, and growth potential. While an investor will not achieve ownership of the full commercial property asset, investment of this type provides a bite-sized entry into commercial property investment.

Maat Group is a New Zealand owned company with a proven track record of stability, continuity and performance.

Contact us to register your interest to attend our next Investors Seminar in Albany and/ or to receive further information on current opportunities.

Neil Tuffin, Director (021) 481 441 ntuffin@maat.co.nz Office (09) 414 6078 info@maat.co.nz www.maat.co.nz

Three examples in Maat’s portfolio of investments

Walton Plaza, Whangarei.

Purchased in 2010, investors receive a pre-tax 10.5% per annum return. Many investors have received monthly dividends on this investment for over 10 years. The investment has continued to be a solid performer for investors, with the ability to provide the required mix of a high cash return and increasing capital value, whilst still maintaining cash reserves for the future.

Cameron Road, Tauranga.

Purchased in 2018 with a pre-tax return on investment of 7.8% per annum.

F r e d T h o m a s , Ta k a p u n a .

Purchased in 2017 with a pre-tax return on investment of 8.1% per annum.

The returns on each investment are dependent on the purchase price, valuation and the bank interest rate on offer.

Each offer presented to the market differs due to these variations on each particular property.

B U S I N E SS S U CC E SS

Grin Natural – making oral care something to smile about From day one, Grin Natural’s founders, Tara Tan and Leo Liu, were focused on creating a different kind of oral care range – one that was in-tune with nature, without compromising on efficacy. In just five years, Grin has evolved into a globally recognised, award-winning, consumers’ choice oral care brand. The company won Best Emerging Business (for Export Goods) at the 2019 Air New Zealand Cargo ExportNZ Awards, and its launch into the US market earlier this year is proving hugely successful, seeing it featured on the Today Show, America’s most popular morning TV programme (see FYI September 2020).

“For Grin, making effective and sustainable products is just the foundation. Customers are choosing Grin as our products align with their values - they want to be able to provide their family with products that are safe and effective, and that are better for the community and the environment” says Tara Tan. That means using only high quality natural active ingredients including New Zealand mānuka oil and propolis, and keeping out the common “nasties”. All Grin toothpastes have no sulphates, no preservatives, no artificial colours or flavours, no fragrance, no harsh abrasives – and no palm oil derivatives.

“We found out palm oil is surprisingly common across toothpastes, hidden under one of approximately 200 different names,” Tara confirms. “To the very best of our knowledge, Grin Natural is the only toothpaste range to be Certified Palm Oil Free.” It took about 18 months, and at least 30 different formulations, to source suitable alternatives, such as glycerine (derived from soybean and/or rapeseed) and lauryl glucoside (derived from coconut).

Not only is Grin toothpaste missing the nasties, its formula is arguably more effective than the mainstream “big players”. “Industry research confirms that natural hydroxyapatite is an excellent alternative to fluoride. It makes up about 90 per cent of your teeth’s enamel and 60 per cent of your bones, and provides all the necessary minerals to remineralise subsurface areas of your teeth.” So why is it not used more widely? “To be sustainably sourced, it’s several times more expensive than fluoride,” Tara explains.

In 2019, Grin formed a partnership with e-commerce giant Alibaba, after Tara met its New Zealand director at an overseas trades

Toothbrush handles, floss dispensers, flosser handles, and PLA packaging can be easily composted.

Early October, at the company’s New Zealand headquarters in Triton Drive, celebrating five years of Grin Natural. “Yes, we did all brush our teeth after eating the cake!”

show. She recalls that he was “quite taken with our story” and excited about the changes that Grin was bringing to the domestic and international markets. “Finding the right partnership doesn’t automatically give you success,” she remarks. “Understanding how you can create value for each other is what’s important. Some businesses believe they need to be very sales focused and only look for a distributor who can generate sales. But what’s actually important is understanding the value that each party brings to the partnership and how you can both continue to provide it.”

Grin uses its digital presence to raise brand awareness and build an online community.

“Our community is a great way for us to better understand what our customers are wanting and the pain points they have.”

As oral care is a “must buy” category, the consumer feedback loop is generally low across the board, so Grin has invested in software to pull together all customer comments and queries (from across the web and social media) to identify wishes and pain points.

“COVID definitely sped up our adoption of this system! For every five people expressing a view, you’ve probably got 200-plus who also feel that way,” Paul Stokes, Grin’s marketing manager says. “We have to be able to add genuine value and, to do that, we need to understand what our community wants.”

For example, it was the community which insisted an extra colour choice for the children’s toothbrushes – which is why there is soon to be a blue as well as pink and orange brush offering.

“We are excited to collaborate with Grin to provide consumers natural and palm oil free choices in the oral care category. The Grin range is a great example of great product innovation that combines quality with ethical brand values.” – Maria Abadilla | Chairperson, Orangutan Alliance N O V E M B E R 2020 F Y I B U S I N E SS N H .O R G . N Z

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GOVERNMENT

Time to pivot?

COVID-19 has pushed many businesses to seriously reconsider what they offer and/or how they operate. This can mean looking for unmet customer needs and thinking about how the business could address these. According to the New Zealand Business Performance Panel, it helps to break this down into four steps: • Identify what customers want or value — including their attitude to price vs quality.

• Decide on a new offering likely to appeal to target customers, e.g., a service that complements existing products or vice versa.

• Check the business is set up to deliver this new product or service.

• Figure out how to position the business in the market.

The resources at business.govt.nz/news/business-plans-up-in-theair-tools-to-help-you-pivot may help with each stage of this process.

Mana in Mahi, Strength in Work Mana in Mahi is a Ministry of Social Development (MSD) initiative designed to help support young people into a career. The employee is paid while they gain a recognised qualification in a job that they love, and the employer can develop well-skilled, knowledgeable people for their business – so that they can achieve more and stay longer.

When a business chooses to employ someone through Mana in Mahi, MSD will: • Help them recruit the right person.

• Assist with costs for pre-employment training and industry training courses (not covered by other government schemes).

• Provide a wage subsidy to recognise the time being invested in the employee.

• Help the employee set achievable goals, and keep in regular contact with them to check on their progress.

To apply to be part of this scheme, a business must:

• Have a permanent full-time or part-time position (new or existing) that they wish to fill.

• Offer to pay at least the adult minimum wage.

• Commit to supporting the new employee on a training pathway towards an NZQAapproved industry qualification.

To find out more about helping someone start a new career through Mana in Mahi, talk to your local Work and Income work broker, e-mail Mana_in_Mahi@msd.govt.nz (giving your name, the name and address of your business, and your preferred contact phone number) or call 0800 778 008.

SafePlus: free health and safety self-assessment tool Every business needs to involve its people in keeping everyone safe and healthy. The free SafePlus online tool can help. A short survey identifies what your people think works well and where there may be room for improvement. Then you get a report with advice and guidance links tailored to your business.

The assessments are: • Repeatable – so you can do follow-ups to check progress and identify new or changing priorities (for 28

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example, if you move premises)

• Anonymous and secure – so people feel comfortable about answering honestly SafePlus is backed by the government agencies WorkSafe, ACC and the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment, but none of these can access your information or results.

You can find SafePlus at online.safeplus.nz

Skills match report changes Changes to the rules for employing migrant workers are taking effect in stages and will be completed in 2021.

Effective 7th October, the skills match report process has been streamlined so employers can find out more easily if New Zealanders are available for jobs.

The MSD has created lists of occupations and regions where there is a clear oversupply or undersupply of New Zealanders on Jobseeker Support. Immigration New Zealand is now considering these lists when assessing Essential Skills work visa applications for positions paid below the national median wage.

Employers still need to advertise their vacancies and demonstrate they have made genuine attempts to attract and recruit suitable New Zealanders.

If an employer is trying to fill an occupation that is undersupplied in their region (North Harbour falls under Auckland Metro), they no longer need to get a skills match report to support a work visa application, even if the job is paid below the New Zealand median wage ($25.50).

To read more about hiring someone from overseas, and to find out about the roles which are oversupplied or undersupplied, visit workandincome. govt.nz/about-work-and-income/ news/2020/skills-match-reportchanges.html and immigration.govt. nz/about-us/media-centre/newsnotifications/employers-can-find-outmore-easily-if-new-zealanders-areavailable-for-jobs

A DV E RTO R I A L : PAC K & S E N D A L B A N Y

PACK & SEND Albany doubles down to win back-to-back Franchisee of the Year award PACK & SEND New Zealand is pleased to announce that its 2019-2020 Franchisee of the Year award winner is Robert McDowell from PACK & SEND Albany.

Robert was previously a business customer of his own service centre and, in a similar vein to Remington’s Victor Kiam, he “liked it so much he bought the company”. In just four years with New Zealand’s most reputable courier and freight services network (based on Google reviews) he has scooped up PACK & SEND New Zealand’s Franchisee of the Year award twice – a first in the award’s history.

Robert is the quintessential brand ambassador and runs the very successful store at 33 Constellation Drive. While specialising in third party logistics, he’s also made time for charity work including providing overseas freight to Africa consisting of donated rugby gear for a struggling women’s Zimbabwe rugby team.

Speaking about the challenges of 2020, Robert says, “Our client base ranges from individual retail clients right through to small and medium sized business clients looking for hassle-free logistics support. In the international logistics space, one of the key channels has been via commuter aircraft, but with COVID-19 virtually eliminating this channel, the options have been significantly reduced.

deliver goods around the world faster than we could get items across Auckland!”

PACK & SEND Albany’s customer support doesn’t begin and end with only the shipping.

“One of the challenges with international transport is having an understanding of the various customs regulations and the paperwork required,” Robert explains. “Customs regulations vary considerably around the world and it’s important to educate our clients before sending the items so there are no unpleasant surprises.”

Seventeen PACK & SEND service centres vie for the coveted award every year, and selection criteria is based on overall sales and performance, contribution to the brand and network, administrative compliance, level of reputation, customer care and store presentation.

We’ve been able to work through this period by assessing the available options and monitoring delivery times to ensure we matched the service with our clients’ needs. Some of our key partners operate their own fleet of aircraft so we were able to secure space for regular, reliable transit times. During Alert Level 4, we were surprised that we could seemingly

PACK & SEND Albany is a one-stop-shop for sending anything anywhere – offering the widest range of courier, freight and packaging services under one roof in the Albany area. The company specialises in providing professional packing solutions, courier services and freight solutions to consumers, corporations, government departments, and small to medium sized businesses.

CRIME PREVENTION

Anti-theft precautions to help prevent the summertime blues As we move ever closer to the holiday season we also welcome in the warmer weather, and this means that we will potentially see an increase in theft and burglary offences from our commercial spaces.

Some of these offences are completely preventable if simple precautions are taken.

The summer months see many more boats, jet skis, kayaks and other pleasure craft being used. This means an increase in trailers being brought out of winter storage, some of which will be left in commercial spaces, yards and around the back of buildings. Some people seem to think that these are safe, but in essence, without other preventative steps being taken, these are a perfect target for thieves. And, with a large “black market” in such property, they are a high-risk commodity.

We all know how much it can cost to replace a trailer. But, like any other property you own, there are a few things you can do to prevent trailer theft, that would also assist Police should an item be taken.

1. Always use wheel clamps.

2. Tow ball locks can also provide a good level of security.

3. Chaining the trailer to a strong anchor point is effective – but only as effective as the quality of the chain and lock.

4. Try not to leave your trailer unattended in obvious locations, such as enclosed or vacant yards.

5. Install good lighting (and check that it is working properly) and ensure that fences and gates are always locked securely.

Taking steps to secure [trailers] now will not only prevent you and your family from becoming victims of crime but make the community safer.

One trailer can look very much like another, so please make sure that you have a number of high-quality photographs on file. If items are stolen, photographs are an especially

helpful resource for our investigations’ teams.

Also, if you are able to permanently (weld pattern) mark the trailer in some way, a unique, discreetly positioned identifier will also assist Police identify it should it be stolen and recovered. This may seem an odd thing to do, but each year Police seize a number of items that remain unidentified, and we lose the opportunity to reunite them with their rightful owners.

No matter what the application, trailers are incredibly expensive and, when stolen, inevitably their value is not only measured in financial terms. Taking steps to secure them now will not only prevent you and your family from becoming victims of crime but make the community safer.

As always, please contact Dave Loader at Business North Harbour (crimeprevention@businessnh.org.nz or (09) 968 2222) or your local NZ Police for more information and crime prevention advice.

Senior Sergeant Scott Cunningham Area Youth & Communities Manager Waitematā East District 52 Parkway Drive, Mairangi Bay 021 191 4421 scott.cunningham@police.govt.nz

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CO M M U N I T Y

Pawsitively feelgood The many benefits of pet ownership are well-documented. They calm us as we fuss them, they help keep us fit as we walk with them, and they help us socialise as we chat with fellow animal-lovers.

Gutter Kitties (CC47721) and Saving Hope Foundation (CC56091) are two of several local rescue and rehoming charities doing great work in the North Harbour area – thanks to their teams of dedicated, tireless volunteers. In common with every reputable rescue

organisation, both advocate for responsible pet ownership, including “adopt, don’t shop” and the importance of spay/neuter.

Saving Hope Foundation was set up in 2017, after the community rallied around a small pit bull type puppy to get her out of the local pound and off its euthanasia list. Since then, more than 1,185 volunteers (including 200 registered foster families) have rescued nearly 1,600 puppies and dogs from neglect, abuse, and mistreatment around the country.

The charity’s total vet bills for 2019/20 were in excess of $275,000.

Gutter Kitties is Auckland’s largest no-kill cat rescue. “Whether an animal is old, unsocialised, blind, deaf, traumatised or has a treatable illness, [they] are worthy of our compassion, all of them can find homes, and all of them deserve to.” Since 2014, Gutter Kitties has rescued more than 2,430 kittens and cats, and has annual vet bills in the region of $127,000.

Cole “My partner always claimed he didn’t like cats, so when he said I could take one home from Gutter Kitties, where I volunteer, I was very excited. I chose to foster Cole as he seemed like he had a curious and playful personality – traits which I thought would help to win my partner. When we first brought Cole home, he was very shy and spent most of his days hiding. Now, after three months, he’s very confident and loves to play and cuddle up with us on the sofa. We are adopting Cole as we can’t bear to let him go; he’s part of our family now. My partner has been well and truly converted to a cat lover!”

Eleshia “I first met Eleshia as a pup with a view to fostering her. She jumped up, wrapped her two front legs around my knee and hugged me. From that moment, she was a part of our family.

I’ve had several years of trauma, grief and loss in my immediate family, including the deaths of my eldest daughter, my dad, and my mum – whom I nursed through cancer for four years. Eleshia always seems to know when I need her to be with me or need a hug.

She is also a therapy dog in training and has been doing work for Saving Hope Foundation at corporate events, and going into schools, meeting children and teaching about approaching dogs, what’s needed to care for them properly, and how they are for life, not a “throw away” when they get bigger and older.

Eleshia is living her best and fullest life with our other animals (who are almost all rescues), and I feel at peace and loved when around her. She still gives the most amazing hugs, standing on her back legs with her two front legs around my waist and just hanging on now she’s bigger! I can’t really explain the connection, healing and support she has given me.”

Hine “I had some time where I was drowning in depression and unable to do anything. I decided to adopt from Gutter Kitties after meeting a charming cat through them. She needed to have a healthy and clean environment, and so I was able to improve my own situation by focusing on how it would help her. Eventually I was able to address my needs after some time spent in that healthier atmosphere. Having Hine in my life allowed me to get a better handle on my mental health.

Hine loves her cuddles and brings me a lot of joy with her very perky purr!”

Would your business like to financially support Gutter Kitties or Saving Hope Foundation?

Do you want to find out more about volunteering?

Maybe your next family member is waiting for you… gutterkitties.co.nz savinghope.co.nz N O V E M B E R 2020 F Y I B U S I N E SS N H .O R G . N Z

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S U STA I N A B I L I T Y

New Zealand’s first floating solar array unveiled New Zealand’s largest— and only floating – solar array has officially opened at the Rosedale Wastewater Treatment Plant.

It is hailed as a “landmark system” which “signals an important milestone for solar in New Zealand”.

The one-megawatt array covers one hectare, consists of more than 2,700 solar panels and 4,000 floating pontoons, and will generate 1,486MWh per year. This is enough electricity to power a quarter of the total energy needed at the treatment plant.

Auckland Mayor Phil Goff said: “Large solar installations like this are common overseas, and it’s good to see we are now making use of the technology in New Zealand. The one-hectare array will reduce carbon emissions by 145 tonnes each year, helping us achieve our climate change goals and making our city cleaner and more sustainable. It will generate enough power to run the equivalent of 200 average New Zealand homes for a year.”

The array was built by Vector Powersmart over four months. First, 65 concrete ballast anchors, weighing 2.5 tonnes each were lowered into the pond before the solar panels were floated into place. Watercare chief executive Raveen Jaduram says the floating array is the latest in a series of five solar projects and will help Watercare to meet its cost savings and emissions-reductions

By the numbers: September’s inorganics collection

targets: “Rosedale is one of the five most energy-efficient wastewater treatment plants in Australasia. Most of the wastewater is moved around the plant by gravity and almost all of the energy comes from biogas— a by-product of the wastewater treatment process. The array will contribute to our long-term goal of being energy neutral at the plant.”

General manager Vector Powersmart Rogier Simons said: “Given the drive to

21 Companies which requested and received collections of surplus items (including office furniture, e-waste, plastic containers, mats, phones/cabling, fridges, washing machines)

61.5m Total collected 57m Recycled by Abilities Group 4.5m Taken to landfill 3

3

3

Another excellent result – for BNH members and the environment!

Abilities Group hard at work, sorting through September’s inorganic collection 32

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decarbonise and use cleaner forms of energy, this project is a significant milestone for New Zealand. It also demonstrates that solar solutions can be found even in challenging environments like wastewater treatment ponds.”

The electricity will be used for pumping and aeration for the natural bacteria that break down the waste as part of the treatment process.

S U STA I N A B I L I T Y

BNH’s pallet swap

Sounds Air aims for zero-emission regional flights New Zealand could be the first country to offer emission-free regional flights. Sounds Air currently flies approximately 110,000 people around New Zealand every year. The company has signed a letter of intent with Sweden’s Heart Aerospace to make its operations fully electric. “Our ambition is to roll out zero-emission services from 2026 onwards,” says director Rhyan Wardman.

“It’s an exciting time for aviation in particular, if you look at how we’ve adopted electric vehicles as a country, and the work that’s going on with hydrogen propulsion systems for long-haul, electric flight is what’s next.”

He has also indicated that the electric planes would not cost much more than conventional models, which have a range of 400 nautical miles, and take no more than 40 minutes to recharge.

“If you look at the running costs that electric flights offer, we would expect it to be economically sound in proposition [and] environmentally sustainable…too.”

Do you have spare, usable pallets?

If so, go to businessnh.org.nz/ greener-business and complete the “pallets available” form, so BNH can connect you with local businesses that can put them to good use. Or, if your business needs some pallets, please complete the “pallets wanted” form.

“We use this service to acquire pallets. Business North Harbour has been very helpful in connecting us with other businesses in the area for mutual benefit. As a result, we’ve got to know several local companies and we collect pallets from them every couple of weeks.”

– Paul Canavan | Carroll’s 3PL Logistics

A lovely cup of tea There was some unwelcome news for tea drinkers recently, as researchers from the University of East Anglia found that many popular brands (including Tetley, PG Tips and Yorkshire Tea) still have plastic (polypropylene) in at least some of their tea bags.

Fortunately, there is an excellent local alternative! Based out of The Crate in Constellation Drive, Charity Tea is an Ākinacertified social enterprise business selling ethically-sourced organic tea in compostable and refillable packaging. The company is also certified “climate positive”, offsetting 120 per cent of the carbon its business produces. “ We are constantly evolving our packaging and certainly consider what happens at the end of the life of our product. I didn’t want to start a business to solve one problem and create five more!” says Charity Tea’s founder Gill Bredl. “Compostable packaging is quite new to NZ so we had huge issues to

begin with. Our first run of packaging started composting on the way over from China and wasn’t fit for use. The paper containers we started with also got so pricey as the cost of raw materials kept rising. So, we have settled on biodegradable bulk packaging, and recy-

clable and refillable signature tins as they are more hardy than the paper ones.”

Moreover, every packet of tea sold provides a meal for a hungry child, in New Zealand and Haiti.

To find out more, visit charitytea.co.nz.

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S U STA I N A B I L I T Y

ChargeNet’s CEO is an SBN Awards finalist… again!

Steve West, CEO and founder of ChargeNet has once again reached the finals of the Sustainable Business Network’s (SBN’s) awards. This is the fourth year that the company, which has its HQ in Piermark Drive, has been shortlisted. On this occasion, Steve is in the running for Sustainability Superstar. “It’s a great honour to be recognised as a finalist in the SBN awards,” he says.

“We’re all working towards the same goal, and so many of us are making personal sacrifices for the greater good.

As a personal passion, I’m just glad to have helped move the dial for electric vehicles in New Zealand.”

The results of the awards will be announced later in November.

New Zealand’s first plant-based milk bottle Anchor has launched New Zealand’s first plant-based milk bottle. It is 100 per cent kerbside recyclable, and aligns with Fonterra’s commitment to have all packaging reusable, recyclable or compostable by 2025.

The new plant-based bottle started appearing on shelves across New Zealand’s North Island from mid-October, and is made from sugarcane. The sugarcane is a natural, renewable, and sustainably sourced alternative to bottles made from non-renewable sources like fossil fuels. In addition, sugarcane captures CO2 from the atmosphere as it grows, resulting in a bottle that also has a low carbon footprint.

The sugarcane is made into plant-based HDPE plastic in Brazil and the bottle itself is made here in New Zealand.

Fonterra Brands New Zealand managing director Brett Henshaw said: “We know sustainability is important to Kiwis and we want to offer consumers an option to make change for good - to purchase a product that comes in more sustainable packaging.

“This plant-based milk bottle is an important component in Fonterra’s wider sustainability strategy. We have also committed to moving towards renewable energy in transport and manufacturing and finding ways to manage and reduce our emissions over the whole supply chain.”

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S U STA I N A B I L I T Y

FLASH FOREST

Flash Forest is using drones to plant one billion trees

FLASH FOREST

A Canadian start-up is “healing the planet’s lungs” with the help of the latest drone technology. Flash Forest uses UAV (unmanned aerial vehicle) hardware, aerial mapping software, automation, and biological seed pod technology to reforest areas at a rapid pace.

The company aims to plant at 10 times the usual rate and at just 20 per cent of the cost of traditional tree planting methods.

The drones hover over fields and fire seed pods at the rate of one per second into the ground, planting native pine and spruce trees to restore habitat for birds. The drones take care of the pods after planting too, spraying them with nutrients and helping to monitor their health and growth.

In an interview for natureworldnews.com, Angelique Ahlstrom, Flash Forest’s co-founder and chief strategy officer said that the drones could plant 100,000 trees in a day – and the ambition is to plant one billion trees by 2028.

Sustainable Salons – “putting landfill out of business since 2015” Sustainable Salons is a social enterprise that helps its salon members and their clients reduce their impact on the planet, while investing in local communities. Its local members include James Hugh Jackson in Corinthian Drive, Two Hundred Doors in Paul Matthews Road, The Collective Hair and Beauty in William Pickering Drive, and Hype Hair Spa on Albany Highway.

By saving valuable materials from landfill, the Sustainable Salons network of hairdressing, beauty and pet-grooming salons, barber shops, and dermal and cosmetics clinics across Australia and New Zealand helps feed the hungry, protect the planet and grow local communities. “Together we’re on the journey to zero waste!”

To learn more or to get involved, go to sustainablesalons.org .

Celebrating member salons’ positive impact in 2020

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P RO P E RT Y M AT T E R S

Commercial real estate in 2020 It’s a rollercoaster, but it’s not all doom and gloom

As we come to the close of the year, there will be many readers who will reflect on what the effect has been on their own business and industry. As someone who has been in the commercial property industry for almost 20 years, I have been through many swings and downturns, including the Global Financial Crisis (GFC). This year has been unprecedented.

It started out very positively. I had just been awarded Women in Property by the Property Council, and returned from a fabulous trip to Queenstown with family, including my UK based Royal Marine son whom I had not seen for more than four years. Roll on March, and life for everyone was turned around. During Alert Level 4, I had discussions with both landlords and tenants, and also with property experts such as valuers and lawyers analysing the post-COVID market, and how property prices and rentals would be affected. Digital became the norm and everyone’s lifeline was through Zoom and MS Teams meetings.

I was further intrigued with the commentary regarding an increase in companies wanting to work from home and that offices would be vacated. Whilst businesses have noted that some employees prefer to work from home, there is an acknowledgement that social interaction, camaraderie and brainstorming are positive reasons for the business owner to have premises. Of note, is the increase in 36

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Whilst businesses have noted that some employees prefer to work from home, there is an acknowledgement that social interaction, camaraderie and brainstorming are positive reasons for the business owner to have premises. business owners looking to purchase their own premises. We have seen multiple offers on small office units; clearly the major driver is low interest rates and the preference to own rather than lease.

There has been an increase in start-up businesses – no doubt from those exiting a company restructure and using the opportunity to follow their passion or ambition to run their own business. Rental rates are unlikely to drop as property owners continue to protect the asset value of their investment, however incentives may well increase as landlords wish to attract tenants in the knowledge that long lease terms retain property values.

Investors continue to seek commercial investments, with office yields from 5.5 per cent. These look very attractive in the financial environment of low interest rates. For those looking to purchase, please talk to your bank or mortgage broker with regards to the timeframe to process approval, as this has been

a challenge for many with finance required to purchase. Colliers Research advises that there were a limited number of office sales in the first half of 2020 within New Zealand, totalling $485 million. However, this figure in part reflects a lower number of prime office assets being brought to the market.

There is without doubt much positivity coming from within the commercial industry.

Landlords and tenants have worked collaboratively, and there is a notable collective spirit. I have seen resilience at its peak, and no matter what has been thrown at us, we have found a way to bounce back and overcome adversity.

Janet Marshall Director | Commercial Colliers International North Shore Mob: 021 684 775 E: janet.marshall@colliers.com

Accelerating success.

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Various options available from 300 sqm to a larger floor plate of 900 sqm.

Opportunities for modern office space with generous carparks are rare in Takapuna. This iconic building is in an excellent location, close to CBD, with a cafe on site and minutes to Takapuna beach. Separate car park building providing generous car parking. Customise your fit out and layout, excellent resources to hand. Contact Janet Marshall 021 684 775 for more information.

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A stunning floorplate comprising 760 sqm has become available complete with high spec fixtures and fittings. The tenant wishes to relocate. Nearly new building in the popular Constellation Drive, close to Park n´Ride bus station and Northern Motorway, this is an excellent opportunity to relocate your head office. Viewing by appointment only. Call the Sole Agent for further information.

Janet Marshall 021 684 775 janet.marshall@colliers.com Colliers International Limited, Licensed under the REAA 2008

colliers.co.nz

S I LV E R S P O N SO R S

Working with local SMEs to succeed online!

Over the past five months we have seen and spoken to numerous start-up and small to medium businesses who have had to adapt to a constantly changing environment, and, in other cases, completely diversify. No matter what your budget or situation is, Stealth Media will always help find a way to provide the services that your business requires.

In response to the challenges that businesses are still facing due to COVID-19, Stealth Media has been supporting small and start-up businesses with getting them online, improving their online presence, creating digital marketing campaigns, solving their social media challenges and boosting

their profile, along with providing extended collaboration services.

We have worked hard to help businesses access the support they need. Some of these initiatives have included providing guidance on how to get the best ROI, supplying self-funded interest-free payment packages and becoming a registered provider through the Regional Business Partners network, and interest-free financing through Q Mastercard.

Our approach is to always offer support first and have honest conversations where we separate the truth from the hype. These conversations have led to businesses being able to move forward confidently, improve and

implement their own successful marketing campaigns and transform their social media platforms, and successfully grow their business.

For restaurants, takeaways, bakeries and cafes, we have custom built an economical online payment “Click & Collect” system with no fees or commissions that can be fully self-managed and self-owned. This system can be added to existing websites or be a standalone system.

Sometimes just a friendly, understanding conversation or a kind gesture can make all the difference. Stealth Media genuinely cares about the success of all New Zealand businesses and we want to help your business grow and succeed. Please give us a free call on 0508 STEALTH or email us at sales@ stealthmedialtd.co.nz and we will be more than happy to help you out.

Venessa Minkley is Stealth Media’s senior digital business strategist Ph: 0508 STEALTH M: 021 142 6046 E: venessa@stealthmedialtd.co.nz stealthmedialtd.co.nz

KEEP IT LOCAL: Customer experience at its finest Phone Plus is a locally based business services centre with a vast range of experience and even more heart. We are owned and staffed locally and offer innovative and tailor-made solutions for our worldwide base of clients.

Samantha Mills has been driving Phone Plus since 2012. She has extensive experience in the contact centre and sales industry and is an executive board member on a number of business and customer contact organisations.

Phone Plus has evolved from delivering traditional call centre functions to partnering with businesses to bring expertise and experience in sales, customer service, market research and critical back-office administrative processing.

Samantha says, “We run virtually from two sites in New Zealand. Our main business centre is in Albany and our regional centre is in the Far North. We operate 24 hours a day, seven days a week and have a large number of home based workers to complement our operation.”

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“Quality, continuity, and a genuine care for our people underlines everything we do.

This is reflected in the fact that we invest heavily in training and professional development and all full-time staff receive training to the New Zealand Qualifications Authority (NZQA) standard.”

“Our team live and breathe our values for our clients and their customers every single day.”

“We’re very proud of our reputation and are privileged to work with many top performing New Zealand and Australian companies. We form excellent relationships with all our clients who can always be assured that we will deliver eco-friendly, cost effective and outstanding personalised services.”

Phone Plus is here to help local businesses with a broad range of services, including: • Telesales and lead generation • Social media monitoring • 0800 answer services and emergency recalls • BCP services across NZ • Sales order processing and fulfilment • Recruitment and resource placements Samantha Mills Owner | Director Ph: 0275 392 077 / 0800 681 681 E: info@phoneplus.co.nz phoneplus.co.nz

S I LV E R S P O N SO R S

Introducing…

Teeing off for team building at Harbour Sport Golf Day 2020 On 16th October, High Performance Profiling was one of 19 teams who enjoyed a swinging time at Harbour Sport Golf Day 2020. This event, in its fourth year, raises funds for Harbour Sport’s healthy lifestyle programmes which aim to help all members of the community get active.

High Performance Profiling’s director Ashley Baldry says that there are some parallels between golf and the way in which individuals work. “Even if you’re not a golfer, you probably know that you need to use different clubs in different situations. The driver is great for getting distance off the tee, while the putter is most useful once you’re on the green. None of the clubs are better or worse, they just work differently. Have you ever thought about the people you work with in the same way?

Understanding the behavioural styles of individuals in your team can produce game-changing results through people, processes and performance.”

N O V E M B E R 2020 F Y I B U S I N E SS N H .O R G . N Z

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G O L D S P O N SO R S

Driveline’s SmartFleet: taking care of you, your team, and your business COVID-19 has brought to the fore initiatives and opportunities to rationalise business processes and look for ways to simply do things better.

Vehicle maintenance and management is often relegated to a “will review when I get a chance“-type operating expense, and mostly gets forgotten about. Clients continue to run everything to do with their company vehicles on simple old spreadsheets, potentially missing out on a wealth of information which is available when some critical analysis is undertaken from well-managed data.

It is also quite rare to have a client fully recognise that a company supplied car is as much a workspace as an office or workshop and has similar obligations under H&S legislation.

So, do you know how much your vehicles are costing to run on a cents/km basis?

Do you have automated reminders sent to drivers when a WOF or RUCs are due?

Do you hand on heart recognise a company vehicle as a workplace, and do you carry out regular inspections on those vehicles to satisfy current H&S expectations?

Do you have any exception reporting presented monthly on fuel usage?

If a driver lost their licence over the weekend and failed to inform you, how useful would a nice e-mail from us be first-thing Monday morning?

If the answer is no to most of these then an integrated, straightforward fleet management programme that runs and reports on vehicle maintenance and expenses but also manages all day-to-day administrative functions is something you should be looking at!

Ph: 0800 275 374 facebook Drivelinefleet driveline.co.nz

A great green reason to choose Ramada Suites

by Wyndham, Albany!

00

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t o il e tr i e s

our

om

We re c yc l e 1

Every year, millions of plastic bottles and recyclable. We are thrilled to be contributing tubes from hotel guest rooms are sent to landto this great, sustainable Kiwi innovation.” fill and damage the planet. The Hotel Weka You can read more at thehotelweka.nz is working to help solve this growing issue, and qpod.nz through an end to end recycling programme Ramada Suites by Wyndham, Albany is for New Zealand hotels – and Ramada Suites situated across the road from Albany bus

by Wyndham, Albany is proud to be part of station park and ride, within walking this excellent, eco initiative. distance of Westfield Albany, close Hotel guests can now enjoy to Massey University, and is Weka Par otel tne H not just a luxurious herb-inhandy for the many wedding A r fused shower experience venues on and around the but the feelgood of North Shore. Leisure knowing that the used and business travellers dispensers will be recycan choose from studio cled into something suites, one-bedroom genuinely worthwhile. apartments or two-bed“All our empty toiletry room apartments, all with dispensers are being cooking and laundry facil% fr of made into QPODs for the ities. The conference room p la s tic w a ste building industry,” explains can be booked by non-resigeneral manager, Jacqui Cheal. dents, and is extremely popular “These are components for a pod floor for business meetings, sports awards system that’s manufactured in Hawke’s Bay. It breakfasts, training workshops, and after-work is both 100 per cent recycled and 100 per cent social networking.

Jacqui Cheal | General Manager 09 974 4568 albany.gm@ramada.nz ramadaalbany.co.nz

G O L D S P O N SO R S

Introducing…

Pathfinder Solutions are chartered accountants and advisors bringing you a forward-focused accounting and advisory experience like no other, where you, our client, are at the very heart of everything we do.

With our real world business and investment experience, we’re focused on helping you make the right decisions and that means looking beyond the numbers and always looking forward. With knowledge and experience broader than traditional accounting, we can give you strategies, options and information on which to make the best possible decisions.

Yes, we’re accountants, but we know that the best advice comes from more than just the numbers, that’s why we offer a comprehensive range of products and services, including;

Tax & accounting Optimal tax savings, cloud-based and efficient for your peace of mind.

Advisory that changes lives The right game plan, and an experienced guide. Know which levers to focus on.

Asset structuring for tax & risk reduction Structures that protect your assets, reduce risk and minimise tax

Support on tap Contact us anytime for guidance and support when you need it. We’re here to help.

Kenina Court i s a chartered accountant and advisor with over 25 years of hands-on experience in both investment and business.

Kenina is known for simplifying the complex, giving you practical and actionable advice, and strategies to achieve your financial goals and protect your assets.

With her expert knowledge, Kenina is regularly invited to be a guest speaker at conferences and events. Our clients value Kenina’s pragmatic, practical and progressive approach.

Richard Orsbourn is a chartered accountant and advisor with extensive real-world business and commercial experience.

As a former CFO and business leader across multiple business disciplines including IT and operations, Richard brings invaluable practical advice and strategies that go far beyond the numbers. Our clients value the depth of Richard’s experience which enables them to explore options through many different lenses.

Contact us today for an obligation-free chat. We’d love to help you.

09 869 2356 info@pathfindersolutions.co.nz www.pathfindersolutions.co.nz

We’ve moved... for a sustainable future

Powered by Solar Energy. Supplied, installed and supported by local North Shore company SkySolar.

Now at 5-11 Parkway Drive www.benefitz.co.nz N O V E M B E R 2020 F Y I B U S I N E SS N H .O R G . N Z

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G O L D S P O N SO R S

A 90-hectare haven just a stone’s throw from the office For corporate days, charity fundraisers, family celebrations and sports team prizegivings, North Shore Golf Club offers an exceptional venue in stunning surroundings.

• Seated dining for up to 200 in the Club Room • Impressive views • Wide range of catering options • Well-stocked and staffed bar • Professional DJ available • Live bands – contemporary or “Rat Pack” • Quality in-house AV • Plentiful, hassle-free, off-road car parking

Our events team are at your service! Tell us your wish list and let us co-ordinate your perfect event.

(09) 415 9924 51 Appleby Road, Albany northshoregolfclub.co.nz

E V E N T CAT E G O RY S P O N S O R

We have your temp needs covered Temporary staff are beneficial to business, going well beyond cover for when someone is sick, on holiday or during periods of change, where current staff may be on other projects. This is a smart way to alleviate pressure quickly with temporary support to cover existing roles while your team concentrate on bigger tasks at hand or are in need of extra support.

Our pool of temps is vast and diverse, and we have the ability to match you with a temp who has the appropriate skills required to support your business effectively and fits in with your team.

Our candidates are ready to start in the following positions: • Customer service • Administration • Accounts and finance • Marketing and product management • Logistics and freight, warehousing • Light industrial • … and more!

With our expertise we are ready to discuss your needs and how temps can benefit your company.

Contact our specialised temporary recruitment consultant Logan Slabbert at logan@eclipserecruitment.co.nz or by phoning 09 478 0110 today.

09 478 0110

logan@eclipserecruitment.co.nz

40 Triton Drive, Albany

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www.eclipserecruitment.co.nz

0800 667 278 diamondfusion.co.nz RESIDENTIAL MARKET Save money on harsh cleaners and keep all your glass and glass-like surfaces looking like-new with Diamond Fusion Easy Clean Glass Protection.

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