Bouncing Back How fast can you get back to business-as-usual when disaster strikes?
Have your say On the Auckland Council Budget Pg 4
Business Expo 2017 Register now! Pg 8
MARCH 2017 — MEMBER NEWS AND INFORMATION
Save a Life Special Member rates for St John training courses Pg 27
businessnh.org.nz
NORTH SHORE GOLF CLUB SEMINAR/MEETING FACILITY Whether you are entertaining colleagues or clients, a product launch, seminars, training sessions, fundraising, auctions or presenting the most important sales pitch, North Shore Golf Club understands the importance of your event. NSGC is located less than 20 minutes form the CBD and has free onsite parking. Our staff are professionally trained and can provide as much or as little service as you like.
51 Appleby Road, Albany (09) 415 9924 ext 2 www.nsgc.co.nz
admin@nsgc.co.nz
VENUE FACILITIES INCLUDE: • A friendly, dedicated event team • Natural light and shade blinds • Retractable walls • Wifi and Sky TV • Whiteboard
• Flip charts • Projector and screen for hire • HDMI & VGA • Water, notepads and pens available
OUR VARIOUS EVENT SPACES INCLUDE FUNCTION ROOM - Customised room layouts that suit your needs hosting up to 100 people. There is a break out area on our large furnished balcony with wide sweeping views of our prestigious golf course. BOARD ROOM - Hosting up to 10 people, ideal for smaller meetings, training etc.
We can happily tailor our catering packages to suit your needs, with options ranging from a simple espresso on arrival through to a plated or buffet style meal. Prices subject to review.
FROM THE CHAIR
From the Chair Welcome to the first FYI of 2017. Whether you’ve returned to the North Shore after spending time abroad, or simply took advantage of what’s on offer right on our doorsteps, I hope you enjoyed some time with friends and family. As one of the fastestgrowing business areas in the country, with a low crime rate and a real commitment to keeping traffic and transport flowing, I’m sure it’s a unanimous opinion that the North Shore is a great place to live, work and play. We’re a stable area enjoying steady growth – and long may it remain that way! Unfortunately, the shocking devastation in Wellington and Kaikoura last spring was a sharp reminder of just how quickly things can change, and how we need to be prepared for disruption and stoppages. With my background in the insurance industry, I’ve seen just how important it is for business owners to take the lead in providing certainty in uncertain times. Whether your company is big or small, has a local focus or is part of an international conglomerate, you have responsibilities - to your staff, to your customers and clients, and to the partners who rely on your goods or services for the continuation of their own businesses.
Ensuring business continuity involves planning, training and staying connected. The first step is establishing emergency, recovery and continuity plans. From there, follow with ongoing staff training. In order to have a speedy return to ‘business as usual,’ it’s vital to constantly anticipate and mitigate risks. Check – does your building have the right earthquake rating? Is your insurance up to date? What plans are in place for sudden changes, such as a key member of staff leaving? If you don’t know the answers to these questions, now’s the time to start planning ahead. Business North Harbour functions to connect, communicate and collaborate. We are committed to providing support and assistance to all our members, and the wider Shore community. If there are changes to the transport infrastructure, roll-outs from the Unitary Plan, or new information given to us by local councils, we’ll alert you immediately. We provide regular platforms where business owners, staff members, property owners and service providers can share ideas, make new relationships and stay informed. Take advantage of the opportunity and enjoy our business lunches, After 5’s, and of course, the
Business North Harbour Expo: a wonderful chance to represent your business. The new Business North Harbour Board blends continuity and forward-thinking to create a stable foundation for innovation to flourish. Six members carried on from the previous Board, bringing their experience and vast local knowledge, and the balance of new members throw new ideas and fresh perspectives into the mix. The group encompasses legal, finance, business and property expertise, and much more! Use this issue of FYI to get you thinking about planning, staying connected and keeping your business moving through uncertain times. It’s all here in the North Harbour Improvement District – goods, services, travel and transportation, business networks, advice, support and information. We’re a great community. Let’s work together to keep it that way – no matter what lies ahead. Greg Frittelli Chair, Business North Harbour
In this issue 3 4 6 7 8 11
From the Chair In Brief Dates for your Diary Events Business Expo Business Success – Revera
13 16 18 20 21 22
Breakfast with Google Bouncing Back Crime Prevention C3 Cyber Security Transport
24 25 26 27 29
Waste minimisation Community – Plunket Member offer – St John training Professional Development Gold Sponsors
BUSINESS NORTH HARBOUR GOLD SPONSORS 2016–2017
Partnership Category Sponsors 2016-2017
Contact FYI Magazine Business North Harbour General Manager Janine Brinsdon janine@businessnh.org.nz
Editor Carolynn Day carolynn@realspark.com
Advertising Shirner Kenny shirner@businessnh.org.nz
Design Lewis Hurst lewis@hcreative.co.nz
Printer McCollams Print mccollams.co.nz
Business North Harbour, 12 Parkway Drive, North Harbour, 0632. PO Box 303 126, North Harbour 0751 office 09 968 2222 web businessnh.org.nz The opinions expressed in this publication are not necessarily the views of the publishers.The publisher does not endorse any person, company or organisation that advertises in this publication.
MARCH 2 0 1 7 F YI BUSINE SS N H . O RG. N Z
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IN B RIEF
Auckland Council Budget 2017-18 Auckland’s rapid growth is the most significant factor influencing Auckland Council’s budget. More people and houses create additional demand for public transport, roads, water, sewage, parks and community facilities, along with all the other services the council provides. In the 2017/18 budget, council have allocated $1.4 billion for assets to support this growth. Aucklanders want rates to be kept affordable, and find other ways of covering Council’s costs. In Auckland Council’s 10 year budget (2015-2015) they proposed a 3.5% percent increase in rates for 2017/18. However under the new mayor, council officers have reviewed the basis of that information and now seek to reduce the level of increase. This is our collective opportunity to have our say and to influence the level of investment across Auckland in 2017/18.
The five core issues we need to consider • • • • •
Rates Increase Levels Business vs Residential Rates Stability Paying for tourism promotion Paying for housing infrastructure Paying council staff a living wage
Have Your Say Business North Harbour is preparing a formal submission. To have your views included, go to www.businessnh.org.nz/ aucklandcouncilbudget2017 In addition to providing feedback to Business North Harbour you can also make a personal submission at shapeauckland.co.nz Business North Harbour will host an information event. For details, please visit businessnh.org.nz/calendar Submissions close: 4pm, 27 March 2017.
Rubbish Day Collections Albany Stadium Pool now open The exciting new leisure pool is open for family fun, seven days a week. Go and enjoy fantastic interactive water features like the over-the-pool climbing wall, splash pad, inflatables and water cannons. You can relax in the adult spa and sauna or get active in the state of the art fitness centre. The Pool is a great destination for people of all ages and abilities and has disabled access to the gym. Pool hours Monday-Friday 5.30am-7pm Weekends/Public holidays 8am-7pm Gym hours Monday-Friday: 5.30am-9.30pm Saturday: 8am-9.30pm Sundays and Public holidays: 8am-7pm Visit the Auckland Council website for details, or follow the link on the Business North Harbour website 4
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There were a lot of changes to rubbish collections last year. Here’s the current situation for clarification. Auckland Council offers a commercial rubbish collections three times per week on Mondays, Wednesday and Fridays. Use the pre-paid orange bags. Commercial recycling is collected fortnightly in the new yellow-lidded recycling bin, which is supplied free of charge by the council and the service is included in your Rates. The recycling collections in the Albany/Greenhithe area, including Rosedale, are fortnightly on a Monday or Thursday (depending on the address). At the moment, there is a free commercial cardboard collection twice weekly on Monday and Wednesday. There are proposals to change this service, so be sure to make a submission on the Annual Budget Consultation from 27th February at shapeauckland.co.nz If your usual collection is on or after a public holiday, it will be collected one day later that week. Visit the Business North Harbour website for links to the relevant sections of the Auckland Council website to find out when your next rubbish collection is, and what can/can’t go in your recycle bin.
Bus Tracking Update School buses recently joined AT’s real-time tracking system. The travelling public can now: • Track the next departing bus at bus stops with a Passenger Information Display (PID) • Use the free ‘AT Metro’ app to check the real-time bus arrivals and plan your journeys
IN BRIEF
Business North Harbour honors Geoff Ashenden and Les Probert Our honorary award recognises long service and commitment to our voluntary board, and we were delighted to hand out two wellearned and much appreciated awards at the Members’ Christmas party on the 8th December 2016. Geoff Ashenden and Les Probert have contributed time, brain-power, encouragement and enthusiasm over many years, helping our business association grow and expand. Les can remember when he relocated his business to Albany 2 0 y e a r s a g o , t h e o ff i c e w a s surrounded by green fields – “It was 10 days by camel and 2 days by canoe to find a decent coffee... My how that’s changed!” And the largest part of that change has come about because of the talent, dedication, resourcefulness and sheer determination of Members like Geoff and Les. Our thanks!
Discover Albany by Bike February was cycle month, with Business North Harbour organising three leisurely 1-hour events exploring different areas of Albany. All three were fully booked and greatly enjoyed!
MARCH 2 0 1 7 F YI BUSINE SS N H . O RG. N Z
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54
DIARY DATES
6 3 By the numbers
This issue we have stats from the Wellington Chamber of Commerce on the impact of the November earthquake on local businesses
62% of Wellington
businesses surveyed were interrupted
10% were still not back
9 March Women in Business Kathryn Wilson established herself as New Zealand’s premier footwear designer in just a decade, becoming an influential business woman with a brand that is constantly in high demand. Hear Kathryn talk about her journey, juggling work with her young family commitments. Learn about the fashion industry and the role of women behind the scenes. Find out how she handles the media, branding and online advertising - and what it means to be a brand ambassador. businessnh.org.nz/calendar/kathryn-wilson-footwear-designer/
16 March Westpac Auckland Business Awards Information Session Make 2017 an awarding year! If you want to enter the Westpac Auckland Business Awards North this year, Business North Harbour is hosting an information session over coffee and croissants. Find out more on page 30. Venue: Business North Harbour, 12 Parkway Drive Date: 16 March 2017 Time: 8 – 9am RSVP: www.businessnh.org.nz/calendar *No charge to attend, but RSVP’s required for catering purposes
17 March Registrations close: Recycle, Upcycle and Inorganic Collection Reduced rate for Business North Harbour Members! So head to www.businessnh.org.nz/inorganiccollection now! See page 24 for full details.
to business-as-usual after
6 April
two months
NSCP group event with Chief Economist, Tony Alexander
86 businesses had
damage to their premises
60 had damage to stock 237 had some sort of
staff disruption
64% said they were
sufficiently prepared for the event
18% said they were not 6
Diary Dates
MAR CH 2 0 1 7 F YI B US I N ES S NH. ORG. NZ
Tony delivers his presentation, Outlook for the NZ Economy in an Uncertain World, to our North Shore Commercial Property group from 4pm to 6pm. He’ll talk about why: • the NZ growth outlook is very positive, especially in Auckland • labour shortages will worsen and margin management will remain difficult • borrowing costs look set to rise for the next two to three years Please note: This event is open to all Members, so register to attend now! businessnh.org.nz/calendar/chief-economist-tony-alexander/
25 May
see page 8 for more details
EVENTS
Christmas Business After Five – imake
North Shore Commercial Property Group – Stephen Town
MARCH 2 0 1 7 F YI BUSINE SS N H . O RG. N Z
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BUSINESS EXPO
9.30am-3pm • 25 May • QBE Stadium
Registrations are open now!
8
A tried and tested recipe for success Our Business Improvement District has grown!
We’re expecting this year’s Business North Harbour Expo to be another sell-out event. Book your exhibition space early to avoid disappointment. We have a limited number of premium stands available, so be quick!
The region now has 28,000 employees and 4,500 property and business investors committed to the success of the North Harbour area and Business North Harbour.
The Expo runs from 9:30am to 3pm on 25th May 2017 at the QBE Stadium in Albany. Business North Harbour is committed to helping you present your products, services and solutions to a local and regional audience in the most advantageous way possible. In addition to the exhibitors’ hall, the Expo also has a seminar and keynote segment. This year’s topics were chosen from requests made in our annual Member’s survey.
Increased scale, scope, reach and impact
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New partners, new customers North Harbour is the postcode of choice for business growth and investment, which means new businesses getting involved and new opportunities to connect.
We’ve upped the regional exposure for exhibitors through the NZ Business Magazine and even more online and social media coverage.
BUSINESS EXPO
This is THE opportunity to find new suppliers, customers and partners and expand your business options – Shirner Kenny, Business North Harbour Marketing Manager
Why you should be involved
The Business North Harbour Expo is unique!
• Visitors get to see and experience products and services first hand • The invaluable face-to-face factor – because people do business with people • Delivers an understanding of just how big and diverse the North Harbour Business District area is • Delegation appeal – says more about a business than a presentation ever can Our Business Expo has consistently delivered tangible value to exhibitors and visitors – the number of repeat and forward bookings is evidence of this. Previous exhibitors report outcomes exceeding their expectations, successful new business relationships and new development opportunities among the event’s many benefits.
This is the only expo of it’s type in Auckland and we are committed to delivering a one-stop platform to build new supplier, partners and customer relationships.
800+ visitors expected! Put your company in front of people actively seeking new suppliers and world-beating products and services.
Align your brand with other leaders in your field Lift your profile. You’ll be among the very best North Harbour has to offer, making the Expo the ideal place for your business to shine.
Extensive reach We’re marketing the event through local and national magazines, newspapers and business publications, and via direct marketing and digital media.
Save the date Business Expo 2017 Date: 25 May Time: 9:30am–3pm Where: Level 1, QBE Stadium, Stadium Road, Albany Go to businessnh.org.nz/ businessexpo2017 to book your stand and for more information
North Shore’s newest hotel conveniently located for business and leisure
AL BANY
Opening 1st April 2017
Ramada Suites Albany - 254 Cornerstone Drive, Albany, Auckland (p) +64 9 974 4568 (w) ramadaalbany.co.nz (e) albany@ramada.nz
BUSINESS SUCCESS
Revera are always on – so you’re always there Revera has always had an honourable aim – to democratise cloud technology and make it available to everyone. Founders Roger Cockayne and Wayne Norrie saw large and complex technology systems arriving in New Zealand, but realised that most companies were too small to take full advantage. Wouldn’t it be better, they thought, to have a fantastic system with the latest features that allows local people to pay for the parts they need, when they need them, at an affordable rate? “It’s like buying electricity from a power company,” said Keith Archibald, Revera’s chief innovation officer. “Someone else builds the dam and the power station and lays the cables to your door. You just pay
available. Having specialist data centres in different geographical locations meant Revera could easily provide cover during natural disasters, or if power or connectivity issues arose. Their successes led to the company’s appointment to the All of Government Common Capability Provider Panel seven years ago. This small, select group of NZ providers are accredited to deliver utility compute capability to any government department or agency. “Small agencies get an especially good deal,” said Keith, “because they get access to the same level of tech, support and security as the big guys. But their budgets would never cover setting things up from scratch.”
Keith Archibald
Revera was providing cloud computing from Day One
for what you need to power your business.” Roger and Wayne bought out Hitachi Data Systems’ New Zealand business in 2005, after the tech giant realised selling ‘big iron’ systems directly to customers wasn’t suited to the New Zealand market. The North Shore duo knew the technology would benefit local businesses, and set about making it available on this ‘utility basis’. They started off building specialist data centres, later developing service and management platforms to make cloud services more readily accessible to businesses. “Revera was providing cloud computing from Day One – but the name hadn’t been invented at the time!” said Keith. Business continuity was a driving factor for Roger and Wayne’s evolving cloud services business. A key early customer was the North Shore City Council. Because data protection was paramount, they needed the best options 10
MAR CH 2 0 1 7 F YI B US I N ES S NH. ORG. NZ
Their growth in the public sector saw Revera spread their reach to Wellington and Christchurch. And people noticed. In 2013 Revera was acquired by Spark. The family and North Shore ties remain strong, however. Roger’s son Robin is now CEO, and of the 220 staff the company now employs, over half work in their two Albany locations.
things have to be up and running in an hour. It may not matter if other functions are out for a day. So you buy services that specifically match to your priorities – if you don’t need it, you don’t pay for it.” Revera also help business do regular testing. It’s not helpful to have your data up and running in another location if your staff don’t know how to get to it. So Revera creates virtual desktop environments that work on any PC or tablet – and they make sure staff can use them at home or on the move. “We make clients think about how they’ll get hold of staff, and how their people will contact each other during a business interruption. We take the people aspects into account and make sure everyone feels reassured and confident.”
So how can Revera help Business North Harbour members ensure business continuity? “We start by talking customers through which factors are most important to keeping the lights on for their business.” Revera ‘weight’ their services towards those areas, so clients never spend more than they have to. “Our clients know better than us about customer impact if something isn’t available. Some
Kristian.Cook@revera.co.nz 09 442-8605
Ideas Served Hot For design and communication that can put the heat on your competitors, call Managing Director Sam Allan on 09 480 2036.
weareonfire.co.nz
Accelerating success.
Reach more people - better results faster.
colliers.co.nz
EVENTS
Breakfast with On 23rd February, Business North Harbour hosted three innovative speakers, and explored three different approaches to the future of doing business on the North Shore. Close to 150 attendees packed the QBE Stadium for the breakfast seminar, and weren’t disappointed. Business North Harbour General Manager, Janine Brinsdon; CEO of Interactive Advertising Bureau New Zealand, Adrian Pickstock; Google’s Managing Director SME’s for Australia & New Zealand, John Ball; Business North Harbour Chair, Greg Fritelli and Massey University Lecturer, Dr.Rebecca Gill
Innovation corridors Dr Rebecca Gill representing our Event Category Sponsor, Massey University, introduced us to some of the faces in the Grow North Project, and laid out some of the questions currently being asked. Since their first report was released last May, the researchers, innovators and advocators
involved have been looking at areas such as closing the skills gap between education and industry, creating a working and truly collaborative steering committee, and building a effective communication and marketing platform for Auckland North. There is no doubt in anyone’s mind that North Harbour and the wider area have all
“I was surprised by the huge jump in growth of video mentioned. It’s really interesting to consider and I’ll suggest it to our Director.”
Lauren Mayne, Eclipse Recruitment
40% of customers abandon a website that takes more than 3 seconds to load 29% of smartphone users immediately switch to another site or app if it’s
too clumsy or slow
1 in 5 dissatisfied visitors never return to a website where problems occurred 76% of people use a smartphone 81% of people use a computer
More than half of all web traffic now comes from smartphones and tablets. When people use their phones to do things like check the weather, as a GPS, to send emails, for news, as a calendar, for online shopping, with a fitness app, to watch videos and to do online banking, they can be checking their phones 150 times a day.
the necessary ingredients to create a vibrant and productive innovation ecosystem. Now the planning starts on how to make it work. If you’d like to know more about the Grow North project and smart Innovation districts, visit the Grow North homepage on the Massey University website.
Innovation driving change John Ball, Managing Director SME’s for Australia & New Zealand took Members through simple ways to begin or boost their online presence, now that visual marketing technology has transformed the way people do business. John described companies who realised the advantages of putting yourself where people can find you, just when they MARCH 2 0 1 7 F YI BUSINE SS N H . O RG. N Z
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EVENTS
need you. And how they use current, easily available, and often free technology to reach target customers not just in New Zealand, but globally. The statistics show unequivocally that where the customers are for a big part of their day is online. 80% of Kiwis access the internet daily, via the current average of 3.2 devices, with 61% using Search Engines at least once a day. John suggested getting into the mindset of seeing yourself as the solution to the problem. That way hundreds of options for keeping your customer happy, engaged and coming back are suddenly much more available. The three key terms John used were: be there, be useful and be quick. Google offers a wide range of applications that are free to use to help you get going - and keep going - online without making you feel overwhelmed or bewildered.
Innovative Marketing Finally, Adrian Pickstock, CEO of Interactive Advertising Bureau New Zealand, took Members through the fundamentals of effective digital marketing, the L.E.A.N principles in particular (Light, Encrypted, Ad Principles Supported, Non-Evasive/ Non-Disruptive). Adrian talked at length about the standards
and best-practice guidelines IABNZ produce on creating pleasant and productive customer experiences. Poor advertisers are the reason 22% of global online users install ad-blocking software – a figure online advertisers obviously want to see going down, not up. While IABNZ is a not-for-profit trade organisation aimed at media owners, advertising agencies and publishers, 44% of its membership is made up of companies who simply use advertising as part of their marketing mix. If you’d like to join IABNZ and get access to research, surveys and trends, you can email admin@iab.org.nz for details.
“The Google information was a particularly interesting reminder to keep updating even when you have the core basics in place. Using a proper landing page and not just a home page, minimising friction in the user experience and so on.” Hady Wenham, Frome Spa
Massey University Lecturer Dr. Rebecca Gill
“Great info and insights from both (marketing) speakers. I think there are a lot of misconceptions in the market on how well social media can work.”
Kathryn Dunn, Spruik
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Free resources Find out how well your site works across mobile and desktop devices testmysite.thinkwithgoogle.com Get your business hours, phone number and directions on Google Search and Maps google.co.nz/business Consumer behaviour tracking consumerbarometer.com Australasian research, insights and inspiration thinkwithgoogle.com Google trends google.com.au/trends Market finder translate.google.com/ globalmarketfinder
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Albany, Auckland 0632
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FEAT URE
Bouncing back How fast can you get back to business-as-usual when disaster strikes?
An earthquake, tornado or flood. A server crash, ransomware attack or virus infection. Accidental damage, a break-in or a fire. A key supplier goes out of business, a power outage hits the region, there’s a stock market crash. A lot of things can happen inside and outside your business to knock you off track. Will your Business Continuity Plan get you back on your feet quickly and keep things running as smoothly as possible? How you operate under pressure and manage a disruption can make the difference between survival and business failure.
What is a Business Continuity Plan? It’s the framework your business puts in place to bounce back from an emergency or unexpected disruption. The planning and preparation you do in advance lets you carry on delivering products or services in spite of a serious incident. The backups, alternatives and contingencies you put in place make sure you’re fully operational in the shortest possible time. A business continuity plan is designed to protect all your business assets – staff, equipment, facilities, IT systems, your reputation, your market-share, everything. Use this quick checklist to make sure you’ve covered all the basics.
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MAR CH 2 0 1 7 F YI B US I N ES S NH. ORG. NZ
FEATURE
Be aware Not all disasters are preventable. But you can see some coming over the horizon. Take some time to identify potential changes in technology and customer buying trends in your industry and prepare for them. Make sure you’re looking out for global impacts coming from world events and money markets as well as changes in local trading laws and infrastructure improvement programmes. Be certain you know what you need to know.
Be connected Who are you going to call if the worst happens? If there’s a chance you might fail to meet contractual or legislated obligations, you need to out-source production or service delivery to someone you know and trust. Everyone needs reciprocal stand-by arrangements with other businesses to keep supply chains operating. And plans developed co-operatively with allies in local and national markets that outlining clear roles and responsibilities are far more likely to be effective.
Be clear Take a good look at your business and get a clear picture of risks and vulnerabilities. Pinpoint issues that would seriously impact your operation - like losing key staff members, being hit by IT or information blackouts, getting cut off from power and other essential services, and so on. Tenants need to be clear on where their responsibility ends and when the Body Corporate’s and Property Manager’s starts. Put response plans in place for the highest risks first, but make absolutely sure you have processes and actions for every eventuality. You can’t risk losing customers, money or your reputation.
Be prepared Not only do you need the expertise and everyday understanding of your staff to create a workable business continuity plan, you also need everyone backing it when it’s in place. So run a test simulation. It’s better if shortcomings and mistaken assumptions show up during a drill, rather than scrabbling for alternative solutions during a real, live emergency. Change and improve the plan, test it again, and keeping testing it.
Be imaginative
Don’t delay – this may be the most important thing you do this year.
Be backed up Make sure you have an IT systems backup plan in place that restores your files. So if your network goes down your staff still invoice clients, check your receivables, and pay your people on time. All your systems and processes need to be documented and available – not just living in the heads of a few individuals! If payments need authorising, or a system needs a password, make sure you have back up people in place. And it goes without saying that your insurances need to be up-to-date.
You can get creative around building redundancy and spare capacity into your business in case of a crisis. Perhaps you need to have a generator at the ready. Solar cell phone chargers are relatively inexpensive and could be your saviour in a long-term power outage. How quickly could you set up a satellite office somewhere else? Can you access your company records and software online? Talk to you staff. Talk to other people in your industry. Talk to fellow Business North Harbour Members. Get ideas. Your business continuity plan needs to become part of your business culture. Invest in making evacuation plans (for staff and goods), buy spare machines and servers, assign responsibility for your business survival processes, run drills, educate staff and be vigilant. Do it! Put someone to work on it now. Don’t put it off!
Take it from the Experts As an emergency response organisation, it is critical for Red Cross to know what to do and how to carry on with our work when a disaster happens. When our National Office in Wellington was evacuated during the recent earthquake, we were in the middle of co-ordinating an emergency response on the ground in Kaikoura and launching an appeal to raise money for the people affected. It was vital this work continued. Luckily, we were well prepared and our staff are flexible and resilient. Our IT systems meant we could connect and work remotely and our planning meant we were able to sign the lease on a temporary office the day after being evacuated. We started working from our relocated National Office only a few days later. This shows why it’s so important for all businesses – and individuals – to be prepared for a disaster. New Zealand Red Cross has been working with Business Continuity Planning experts to ensure we are always able to continue our work, implementing a Business Continuity Management Framework and Plan which is in line with International standards – ISO 22301. We also encourage our staff to make sure they are prepared at home. Civil Defence has great resources, including handy checklists, to help families get prepared and Red Cross’ First Aid app can also help you get ready. Hanna Butler, Wellington Red Cross For more information visit www.redcross.org.nz
Visit the Business North Harbour website for other helpful planning guides including: getthru.govt.nz aucklandcivildefence.org.nz/get-ready/at-work business.govt.nz – emergency and continuity planning section resorgs.org.nz – ‘Shut Happens’ pdf MARCH 2 0 1 7 F YI BUSINE SS N H . O RG. N Z
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CRIME PREVENTION
CRIME PREVENTION UPDATE: Holiday break 2016/2017 We all did a great job of complying and being vigilant when locking up premises over the holiday break we all just enjoyed. I’m really pleased to say there were very few crime incidents reported during this period – due to ALL our efforts with crime prevention. With businesses now back and preparing for 2017, you can be assured that our Business North Harbour area continues to be security patrolled every night of the year, keeping our “patch” as crime free as possible.
Remember to contact me for any advice on premise security, and support will be provided. Dave Loader Crime Prevention Specialist - Business North Harbour david@businessnh.org.nz
During an emergency Some simple, practical advice from North Shore Police to keep your business safe during a local or national emergency.
Family first Always remember that the first priority for your staff will be their own family’s safety, or telling family members that they are safe. They won’t be able to concentrate on their work or supporting your business until that happens. Giving your staff the opportunity to contact family members for confirmation will ease their own level of anxiety.
Security issues If you rely on an electrical security system, make sure you have battery backup that can last for over 48 hours (in case an incident happens over a weekend, for example). You need to be sure your alarms will still work if the power is off for a few days. Test your back up system on a regular basis. You don’t want the test to happen during an actual emergency, when you most need it to work. Make sure you include non-electrical security measures at your business or property, such as lockable gates, security screens and security latches on windows.
Opportunist crime If you suffer a burglary or theft during an emergency, please call Police as you would under normal conditions. At the same time, you also need to be vigilant of your security, so if you need to secure windows/doors before Police get there - do so. 18
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Damage limitation
And whatever happens…
Fixing and repairing damage in a timely manner will help keep your property and staff safe. For example, vandalism or breakages from offenders breaking in or property damage from falling trees in a storm. Quick repairs also mean further damage is less likely, as you won’t be seen as an easy target. Having a good network of reliable and honest trade people to call upon for property repairs either at short notice or for ongoing maintenance should be a network you build and share with others.
When you are the victim of a crime, calling Police is a priority, either for yourselves or your security firm. Leaving it for several hours to call reduces the opportunities for Police to locate the offenders and secure any potential evidence.
Accelerating success.
Reach more people - better results faster.
colliers.co.nz
C3
Connect, Communicate & Collaborate Programme Could you do with an extra pair of hands? Do you have a list of ‘when we can get to it’ projects?
There are hundreds of students right on your doorstep who can help build your business and increase profitability. They have skills and specialisms vital to today’s market, and need real-life work experience to test, mould and direct their careers. The programme has already helped businesses looking for: • Website maintenance, social media promotion, creating an email newsletter, email marketing campaigns • Help with building websites with Korean, Mandarin and Japanese options, search engine optimisation and other forms of Asianlanguage marketing and sales query handling • Logistics support, updating inventory systems, implementing warehouse systems, customer service and purchasing support • International best business practice bench marking, marketing review, PR and media, customer engagement
• Building contracting, property maintenance, gas fitting, drain laying and plumbing Whether you need help with a particular project, or are looking for new employees, the students have knowledge and drive to contribute to your team. The C3 programme is a perfect opportunity to give local students valuable work experience while providing the ‘human resources’ your business needs. A true win–win for all. Student assistance comes at no, or low, cost depending on the project and how it fits into their study programme. Please register your interest by emailing sarah@businessnh.org.nz
We are going digital! To meet the increasing demand from our Members for student help, Business North Harbour has invested in an online portal.
C3 recruitment expos and events have delivered fantastic results, but you asked us for a quicker, easier way for your business to find the help you need, when you need it. The go-live date for the portal is May 2017, so think about projects you’ll need help with around that time. We are extremely grateful for Upper Harbour Local Board’s collaboration on this investment. We’re pleased to be supporting local employment – and for young people in the North Harbour area in particular.
Business North Harbour will be hosting another C3 expo before June 2017. Keep checking our calendar for more details.
Students are offering a huge range of skills and subject knowledge, including:
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Architecture Technology
Community Services
Health Services
Audio Visual Technology
Conservation and Biodiversity Management
Maori Culture and Language
Automotive Engineering
Construction Management
Public Relations
Building and Carpentry
Education
Production Design and Management
Business Administration
Electrical and Electronics Engineering
Real Estate
Civil Engineering
Event Management
Retail Sales
Communication
Graphic Design and Animation
Welding and Fabrication
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CYBER SECURITY
Beware the enemy within… Ian Forrester and his team at Plan B have always been national specialist Business Continuity solutions providers. Since they set up on the North Shore in the 1990s, they’ve supported New Zealand businesses through three earthquakes in Wellington, three in Christchurch, and a tornado in Auckland. Ian believes they’re the only company in the world who can make this claim. Business Continuity is one of the fastest changing industries globally, and Plan B has adapted and grown with every new demand. While natural disasters make up only 3% of disruptions to service – commonly in the form of fires, storms and lightning strikes – they can be the most devastating. Plan B has a deserved reputation for success, taking on these significant events and coming through with flying colours. However, as Ian will tell you, it’s not usually external events like these that are the biggest threat to your business operations. “It’s not what’s coming in from outside, the risk is often from your own staff,” he says. “And what people often forget is that cyber security is a business risk, NOT an IT risk.” Plan B does research. A lot of research. It’s what’s kept them at the top of the game. You just have to look at the Fortune 500 companies as examples. In 1975, on average, 83% of their market value was made up of tangible assets. Today it’s 16%. That’s an almost exact reversal, with the bulk of a company’s worth now intangible. Intangible assets by their very nature are much harder to protect, it takes more than
a wall or an electric fence. Intangible assets include our IP, systems, processes, customer information and so on – and it’s mainly stored electronically. Our use of computers and the internet has driven this change, and businesses have changed the way they operate accordingly. “But the very technology that enables our businesses is now being used to target our businesses,” says Ian. Staff accidentally clicking on phishing links is far too common. “A classic scam is using the name of a local coffee shop, and making it look like a promotion. ‘Click here for free coffee!’ And bang, your system
It’s not what’s coming in from outside, the risk is often from your own staff. is compromised.” And it doesn’t happen often, but it can happen – a disgruntled staff member can be bribed to pass on log–in details or steal data. You need to know what to watch out for, and your staff need to know. Building up your human firewall is vitally important. It all comes down to education. What you put in is what you get out. “If you don’t take the time to educate your staff on the risks and spell out the impact of risky actions – you only have yourself to blame,” warns Ian. There are other simple and effective routines
to adopt to keep your data and other online assets safe. When a patch or system update comes out – use it. Make sure your anti-virus software is up to date. Regularly change your passwords and use dual-factor authentication or log-in tokens for remote access. “And test your security and business continuity plans,” Says Ian. “And keep testing them! Continuously. There’s a whole new industry in cyber criminals whose day job is to catch you out and hold you to ransom.” Think of guarding against cyber-attack in the same way you think about insuring your house or car. And it doesn’t have to be expensive, but it does need to be the right solution for you. “You have to talk to an expert to get it right,” says Ian. “If you think the price of good advice is expensive, wait until you see the price of bad advice…” Cyber security – Take Ian’s advice and talk to someone today. Check out the Business North Harbour Directory for Members ready to help you deal with the unexpected, recover and carry on.
Plan B provides a full range of ICT services through a team of 75 staff, mostly located at their Albany Head Office, as well as facilities in Auckland City, Wellington, Hamilton and Christchurch. Plan B’s goal is to be the most recommended ICT provider in NZ. They are proud to be big enough to be meaningful, but small enough to care. www.planb.co.nz 0800 266 846
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TRANSPORT
Are you up for the Auckland Walk Challenge? Auckland Transport is giving everyone the opportunity to ‘virtually’ walk the length of New Zealand during March. Plug in your walking activity each day to make your way from Cape Reinga to Bluff. This free and friendly walking challenge is open to teams of work colleagues, friends and families in Auckland. There are awesome prizes, including two Fitbit Charges. Email Sarah for details transport@businessnh.org.nz or visit auckland.walkertracker.com
Electric buses on the Northern Expressway With Auckland’s population expected to swell by more than a million people in the next few decades, public transport will become increasingly important. Especially in the north where much of this expansion is happening. A grant from a low-emission contestable fund, topped up by Auckland Transport, will pay for the trial of two E-Buses, starting in mid-2017.
“Great news for Auckland as we do our part to reduce emissions and combat climate change. Whether it is trains, buses or cars, electrification of our transport network is key to making Auckland a cleaner more sustainable city,” said Auckland Mayor, Phil Goff. The buses are fully battery-operated and can travel around 200km between charges. There’s also funding for 60 charging stations
Supporting your resolve! Many of us made New Year’s resolutions to get fit/lose weight. So here’s some alternative ways of getting to work that can help you achieve your goals.
Benefits of Walking and Cycling • Commuting by bike can save an average of $2,550 per year compared to a car • 30 minutes of cycling burns 280 calories • Walking for 30 minutes a day can lower blood pressure and reduce stress • Cycling 3 hours a week reduces heart disease by 50% • Get fresh air – clear your head • Stop worrying about finding a parking place • Avoid traffic jams
Benefits of Public Transport • Commuting by public transport can save an average of $2,210 per year compared to a car • You can read a 300 page book a fortnight on a 30 minute public transport commute • Walking to and from public transport adds valuable minutes to your daily exercise total • Use your commute time to check emails, catch up with a friend or sit back and relax • Stop worrying about finding a parking place • Avoid traffic jams
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at AT parking facilities around Auckland. The buses will be used on different routes to test them out fully over a year, including the Northern Busway. With 80% of our electricity coming from renewable sources New Zealand’s particularly well suited to electric vehicles. So watch out for the E-Bus in the lane next to you – and tell us what you think of the idea!
Business Auckland Transport Hop Card - Member offer A HOP card is ideal if: • having a company car parked up most of the day seems like a waste • you can use the bus direct to the city to get to work or appointments • you want to save money on parking and like saving time, especially in rush hour • rather than stressing about the traffic, you want to relax, read or carry on working on the bus with the free WIFI available 20 cards available now! Email sarah@businessnh.org.nz
Why are you sitting in that queue? Are you paying attention to the Clearway/T2/T3 times on your driving routes? Most only apply on weekdays, and many are only for peak times. So before you pull up behind the person in front – see if you can switch to another lane!
NZTA UPDATE
Planning ahead – Auckland’s new alternative transport route Western Ring Route and Waterview Tunnel open in April
Auckland is about to experience the biggest change in daily travel patterns since the Harbour Bridge opened in 1959. The Western Ring Route (WRR) and the $1.4billion Waterview Tunnel provide an alternative route through Auckland, bypassing the SH1 through the city.
Improved options for freight By re-routing goods and services via SH18 to and from the WRR, North Harbour and Albany businesses can benefit from more efficient links to Auckland Airport, Ports of Auckland and inland freight hubs like Onehunga. The WRR also reconnects back to SH1 in south Auckland for goods travelling on through the Waikato. The route will reduce traffic volumes on key roads through the central Suburbs, giving you a viable alternative when the city is congested. H o w e v e r, w h e n t h i n k i n g ahead about using the WRR, it’s important to check that your goods or vehicles are permitted in the tunnel, and that your drivers are aware of the new rules and prohibitions.
Permitted use
Moving goods safely
• N o D a n g e r o u s G o o d s Vehicles. This includes all vehicles requiring a placard. • No vehicle over 4.3m in height. • No uncovered loads. Any liquid-based or loose bulk loads (such as soil or green waste) must be appropriately covered to prevent leaks and spills.
The tunnel is equipped with state-of-the-art communication and safety features including electronic sign boards, public address and radio sound systems, CCTV cameras and high-powered ventilation and fire sprinkler systems. The tunnel and traffic inside it is monitored 24/7 by dedicated Tunnel Operators via CCTV and computerised systems.
Prohibited vehicles must use the detour route (clearly sign-posted with a red State Highway 16 or 20 shield, or an orange triangle). Any HPMV (over-weight) vehicles will require a permit.
Traffic updates You can stay informed and be ready to change your route if congestion or a crash affects traffic. The NZ Transport Agency
updates its online travel planner tools in real time 24/7, and you can set up email alerts. Wa t c h o u t f o r Va r i a b l e Message Signs (VMS) along the motorway, which will advise you of traffic ahead and compare current journey times along either SH1 or SH18.
Future access via the Northern Corridor The Northern Corridor Improvements project is due to start in
2018. The new motorway will directly connect the SH18 and SH1 heading north and west. There will be improved local road intersections at Paul Matthews Drive, Caribbean Drive and Constellation Drive, including new on and off-ramps to SH18. It will also extend the Northern Busway and provide over 5kms of new shared walking and cycling paths (see FYI issues October and December 2016 for more detail).
To find out more about the Western Ring Route and the Northern Corridor Improvements project, visit www.nzta.govt.nz/projects/the-western-ring-route and www.nzta.govt.nz/auckland- northern-corridor MARCH 2 0 1 7 F YI BUSINE SS N H . O RG. N Z
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WASTE MINIMISATION
Recycle, Upcycle & Inorganic Waste Collection 23rd and 24th March 2017 Do you, like most businesses in North Harbour, occasionally have bulky waste items to dispose of that don’t fit into your standard waste bins? Or do you have waste goods you no longer want, but are still in good working order, and wish you could pass them on to someone who could use them? Business North Harbour are pleased to offer our business and property owner Members an inorganic collection that solves these problems cheaply and with the minimum of fuss. It’s an opportunity for Members to collaborate in a way that benefits the whole community as well as your company. On the 23rd and 24th March 2017 you can have inorganic waste removed from your site at a reduced cost of $35 (plus GST) per cubic metre. This is even cheaper than last year’s $39 (plus GST) per cubic metre!
How does it work? 1. Go to the Business North Harbour website and complete the simple webform by 17th March 2. Separate your items ready for pickup at the start of business on 23rd and 24th March 2017 3. Get on with your day!
Sort your items into three piles: • Reusable items • E-Waste • General inorganic waste, not reusable After the collection local community organisations are invited to collect items they want and can use. Anything left over is recycled or disposed of appropriately. So taking part in the scheme means you’re supporting local community organisations, as well as benefitting your business and the environment. Please note – you must be registered to use this service. If you leave items on the street without making a booking, it will not be picked up and risks a fine of up to $400 for illegal dumping. Register now on the Business North Harbour website businessnh.org.nz/inorganiccollection Or email david@businessnh.org.nz if you know of a school or community group who could benefit from the scheme.
Hobbs Global Logistics Solutions Ltd are able to create an exceptional experience for our customers, they remain loyal, and most importantly they are inspired to tell others about us, assisting us to grow our business. Our head office is based locally, right here on the North Shore, our professional, senior staff – with over 30 years experience, complemented by a worldwide agency network, our own 3PL Warehouse and Distribution Centre based at Auckland International Airport are your key to a flawless Customs Brokerage, International Freight Forwarding – we are “Your Local that keeps you Global”.
P. 09 275 3199 F. 09 275 3054 E. info@hobbsglobal.co.nz W. www.hobbsglobal.co.nz
COMMUNITY
1000 Days to Raise a Bundle How can you and Plunket make the difference of a lifetime to Kiwi kids?
“The best research shows that what happens to a child in their first 1000 days will influence their entire life,” Plunket Chief Executive Amanda Malu says. “The type of care that a child receives in that critical time can be the difference between a life of happiness, or a life of hardship. It will influence the adult that he or she will become and the path that child will follow.” Plunket is in the unique position of being able to provide that all-important care in the first 1000 days, with nurses visiting the homes of 90% of all children born in New Zealand. They are committed to making sure that all children, and their families and whanau, thrive. But as a charity, they can’t do it alone. They need Kiwis to help make the difference of a lifetime. Ms Malu says, “Our 1000 Days to Raise a Bundle campaign will help us to raise the $4 million that we need each year to continue our work in the community, and to ensure we’re able to provide these important services when and where they are needed.”
Get involved S t a ff m e m b e r s c a n c r e a t e t h e i r o w n fundraising page, or your company can run
a page for a special event or a whole range of fundraising activities. You can use your own ideas, or join in with a Plunket campaign. Simply create your page, then share it far and wide and watch donations roll in! Individual Bundle raisers around the country are doing activities like: • Sponsored pushchair walks • Busking • Getting everyone to donate the price of a coffee for a week or a month Companies and organisations are getting people together for fundraising events like:
“Plunket only exists today thanks to the generosity of New Zealanders in making donations and giving their time as volunteers. By investing in our children, we are investing in our future.”
– Kiwi icon and proud Plunket Foundation member, Sir Graham Henry
• Quiz nights and bake sales • The Warehouse is Pedalling for Plunket • For every H2Go water sold at Z Energy, 10c goes to Raise a Bundle The possibilities are endless! Creating a fundraising activity is a great way to engage your staff, connect with your local community, meet new people, forge new relationships – and do your bit to help Plunket support the development, health and wellbeing of Kiwi children under-5.
Spread the word online You can also link to the Plunket Facebook page to follow the progress of babies born in September 2016 (when the campaign launched) as they benefit from the services Plunket provides over their first 1000 days. Social media and online collateral is also available to sponsors who want to promote the campaign through their own channels. Go to www.raiseabundle.org.nz to set up your fundraising page or join in a Plunket campaign. The links are also on the Business North Harbour website. Or txt BABY to 2448 to automatically donate $3 to Plunket. MARCH 2 0 1 7 F YI BUSINE SS N H . O RG. N Z
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HEALTH & SAFETY
Ready to Save a Life?
Course details First to Respond Workshop When: 10th May, 12pm – 2pm Where: Business North Harbour offices Spaces are limited to the first 20 people to apply
Brand new initiative. Unbeatable price. Business North Harbour have teamed up with St John to deliver yet another fantastic Member benefit! Because safety in the workplace is vital, we’ve negotiated Member rates for two essential St John courses. If the worst happens in your workplace, you want the knowledge, skills and confidence to deal with the situation and keep your colleagues safe.
A customer or one of your staff needs urgent medical assistance. You are the first, and possibly the only person there, to respond. You’ve rung 111. The St John Ambulance is on its way. What you do in the next 4 –12 minutes? This two-hour workshop teaches you how to deal with the five most common emergency situations in a workplace environment, including cardiac arrest, a falling injury, or a person cut and badly bleeding. The workshop up-skills staff to compliment or assist your fully trained first aiders. The workshop covers: • Adult CPR (including a demonstration on an AED defibrillator unit) • Managing an unconscious patient • Best positioning, airway management, creating a safe environment • Managing a conscious patient • Dealing with strains, fractures or broken bones • Dealing with life threatening bleeding
Basic Life Support Workshop When: 17th May, 12:30pm – 4:45pm Where: Business North Harbour offices Spaces are limited to the first 20 people to apply You probably know that a severe heart attack can cause the heart to stop. But did you know drowning, electric shock, poisoning, overdose and serious injury can too? This course teaches you essential life-saving skills.
First to Respond Course
Price
Business North Harbour Members Non-members
only $30 plus GST $50 plus GST
Basic Life Support Course
Price
Business North Harbour Members Non-members
only $50 plus GST $80 plus GST
Priority is given to Members and Associate Members, before accepting bookings from non-members outside of the Business Improvement District. Book your space today by emailing admin@businessnh.org.nz or via our online calendar businessnh.org.nz/calendar
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For resuscitation to be successful, a person’s heart needs to be started as soon as possible after it stops. Cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) is a life-saving technique and this course is ideal for anyone who wants to learn. It also covers the management of choking, bleeding and shock, and helps your workplace to meet current health and safety standards. The 4¼ hour course is a mixture of theory and practice and covers: • Knowing when and how to apply CPR for an adult, child and baby • Knowing what to do if someone is choking • Managing serious bleeding until medical help arrives • Scene safety and calling an ambulance This course includes assessment and gains you NZQA unit standard 6402 (or by special arrangement 26551). The NZQA unit 6402 can earn you a certificate towards Health and Safety.
PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT
Life mantra: Treat people like fruit Laura Quilter, New Zealand Swimmer and Surf Lifesaving World Champion, shares her sanitysaving tip for successful relationship management. When you’re a member of the New Zealand Surf Lifesaving national team, you talk about values. A lot. Concepts like accountability, honesty, integrity and heart are toyed with, dissected and discussed. Why they’re important. How they can make both yourself and the team more effective. What they mean to you. If I’m honest, I hadn’t given much thought to values until I was a part of that team. Now they’re ideas I take beyond the sports field. I try to live a life free of judgements, but what happens after the tinsel is taken down and a person’s true self is revealed?
Treat people like fruit. Collaborating, conversing and cooperating with a variety of people is quintessential to success. But there’s no way I’m going to enjoy the company of everyone I meet. At some point, I’m going to grate against those who have different viewpoints, values and
Collaborating, conversing and cooperating with a variety of people is quintessential to success. lifestyles. Those same people will most likely have unsatisfactory opinions of me – that’s life. Every person on this planet, every human that zips in and out of your space, has incredible attributes. Issues arise when we can’t appreciate the greatness in others. We’re blinded to these points because they are expressed in viewpoints, decisions and characteristics which do not align with our own.
Fruit are like people, they vary. I love apples. I’m partial to cherries. I can’t
stand grapefruit. Although I have my opinions of each, I know they’re full of good stuff: vitamins, antioxidants, fibre. Despite their differences, I can appreciate that they are filled with greatness and others enjoy them. These fruits will crop up in areas of life, added to salads or mixed in to lunches. Sometimes we can’t avoid fruit we don’t like, they’re forced in to our environment through friends, family and occupation. When I meet someone I don’t gel with, I try to treat them like a grapefruit. I don’t have to like them, but I can appreciate the goodness they have inside.
Laura Quilter is a former New Zealand swimmer, Commonwealth Games athlete and member of the World Champion Surf Lifesaving New Zealand Black Fins team. Find out more: www.lanelinesnz.com MARCH 2 0 1 7 F YI BUSINE SS N H . O RG. N Z
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PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT
Not if, but when… Robert Elcombe asks: How long will it take your company to recover from a total loss of primary computer systems and data?
Up to 80 percent of companies without wellconceived data protection and recovery strategies go out of business within 2 years of a major disaster.
Recent news and events show just how much IT systems are at risk of terminal failure for reasons beyond our control, be they geological, political or criminal. Natural disasters in the North and South Islands devastated companies who stored all their essential data in critical locations. The unannounced Government shut down of file sharing and storage sites caused the irretrievable loss of legitimate data. Criminals holding companies, institutions and governments to ransom through various technical means is increasing. Did you know that up to 80 percent of companies without well-conceived data protection and recovery strategies go out of business within 2 years of a major disaster (US National Archives and Records Administration)? Luckily, fully managed cloud options are a viable and popular solution for many New Zealand small businesses. With the level of back-up provided by a well-managed, hosted system, your company isn’t relying on a single location or a single copy of your critical data. And you have the priceless advantage of accessing your company data from anywhere in the world as long as you have a working internet connection. Take the example of a local company affected by a recent Friday afternoon 28
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Vodafone internet outage. By accessing the cloud, the accounts manager completed the pay roll from home, and the sales team submitted a proposal ahead of that afternoon’s deadline from the comfort of a local café. Everyone was back in the office in time for Friday afternoon drinks! And compare three companies who were attacked by an encryption virus. One uses a managed cloud service and the other has their own onsite server. Immediately switching over to their cloud service when the virus hit, Company A were up and running within 40 minutes and lost only one day’s data. Their package has back up built-in, so they didn’t need to worry about any data recovery costs. On the other hand, Company B was down for three days trying to save data on their corrupted back-up tapes. Plus they lost an additional four days of data, and they had to pay labour and data recovery costs. Company C lost everything to ransomware and was forced into purchasing the encryption key. The perpetrator was open to negotiation, and we managed to reduce the ransom from the initial 5 bitcoin demand to 2 bitcoins (one bitcoin is currently valued at NZ$1,562. Thankfully the encryption key was provided and the server was duly decrypted. However, the client suffered three days of major inconvenience. Email is an essential aspect of many employees with data stored in their local
Outlook email client. A solicitor was able to retrieve corrupted email from an offsite managed cloud backup and save the day. The potential embarrassment and loss of professional reputation for this company could have been catastrophic. Moving to ‘the cloud’ is simple when you partner with the right provider. A managed ‘cloud’ service gives you access to enterprise grade systems and expertise at a fraction of the cost of in-house resources, and it’s accessible to all small businesses. A fixed migration fee and a small monthly subscription transfers all the stresses and complexities of secure, resilient IT systems to dedicated professionals. If you want to find out if a remote computer system is the ideal solution for your business, look for a provider who offers a free 30-day trial.
Robert Elcombe is a director of MiIT which empowers small to medium companies to leverage the efficiencies that cloud based computing can bring to a company. For most NZ companies the productivity gains are significant. Email robert@miit.co.nz or call 09 476 4540 for more information.
Limited time offer Free 30-day remote desktop trial Free Microsoft Office 365 Business 12-month subscription for new Ultra-Fast Broadband (UFB) Internet connections for North Harbour businesses
GOLD SPONSORS
McVeagh Fleming are a local, full service law firm with almost 100 years of service to the people of Auckland. At McVeagh Fleming we know that Results Matter. People are the most important thing to us at McVeagh Fleming. Our clients require a personal, professional, friendly and effective law firm. We will listen to you first, and then help you to achieve your goals. McVeagh Fleming has the expertise to provide a full range of legal services. We’ve been providing sound legal advice and support to a range of clients, from multinationals to owner-operated businesses and individuals, for nearly 100 years. McVeagh Fleming has two offices, located in the centre of Albany and downtown Auckland. We have twelve partners and over sixty professional staff, so no matter who you are, we have the expert who is right for you. So for exceptional service and results that matter, please give us a call. You will be glad you did.
If you want to know more about our services or to organise a consultation, please get in touch on (09) 415 4477 or mail@ mcveaghfleming.co.nz.
Helping out in an emergency Be 1 of the 100 and save lives in Albany Did you know that St John receive 52 emergency calls every hour? The ‘Friends of Albany Rotary’ are raising $180,000 for a fully equipped, new generation ambulance to work out of the St John Rosedale Depot. You may remember Lucy Knight. She was knocked to the ground when aiding an elderly lady who was being mugged. “I was so lucky that the St John Ambulance crews who attended identified a serious head injury, and got me to hospital quickly which made a
huge difference to my chances of recovery. I am constantly grateful for St John.” Some major business sponsors are supporting the project, and there’s an opportunity for a further 100 donors to become a Friend of Albany Rotary by contributing $1000 each. “Every time you see this vehicle, with the ‘Friends of Albany Rotary’ logo on the side, you’ll know that you played a part in providing this vital service,” says David Hall, Chair of the Rotary Club of Albany. Smaller donations are also gratefully received. Contributions of $500.00 or more are acknowledged with a framed certificate thanking you for your gift. Donations over $5 qualify for the taxation rebate of 1/3 of your donation.
St John are always there in an emergency. “They need to replace 15 ambulances in their northern region. This is an ideal project for the business community to demonstrate their philanthropic values,” says David.
Make your donation to the Albany North Harbour Charitable Trust, Registration No CC39715. Contact David Hall on 027 490 9690 for more details. 100% of all funds raised will be used for the stated purpose and the Rotary Club of Albany will meet administration costs from its own resources.
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The North Shore. With its stunning coastline, vibrant urban areas, and supportive community, what better place to have a business? Sharing your success with the local community is a great way to raise your profile and support those less fortunate. The North Shore Endowment Fund is a smart and easy way to help local causes for generations to come. Show your customers and staff you care by making a lasting and positive contribution to the community.
For more information contact Lettie Bright at lettie@aucklandfoundation.org.nz or on 021 818 307
Westpac Business Awards - make 2017 a year to remember! The high-profile Awards celebrate innovation and creativity in the business sector. As well as offering recognition for your organization, the Awards provide the opportunity to benchmark and gain expert advice on how you can continue to grow. The Awards bring together Auckland’s ‘business heart.’ The ceremonies, in conjunction with a Gala Black Tie Dinner, have been a highlight of Auckland’s business calendar for over 10 years, and are widely acknowledged as very special nights of networking, storytelling and celebrating success. If you are interested in entering the Westpac Auckland Business Awards North this year, Business North Harbour is hosting an information session over coffee and croissants. Rebecca Seymour-East will be there from the Chamber to answer any questions you have. Business North Harbour will be sponsoring the Excellence in Strategy and Planning again this year. We are encouraging North Harbour businesses to enter this category, but also to consider the other categories such as, Excellence in Marketing, Innovation, International Trade, Customer Service Delivery, plus Best Emerging Business and Employer of the Year. North Harbour businesses have won numerous awards over the past few years. Make 2017 the year your company scoops the prizes. See you for breakfast to find out more.
Westpac Business Awards Information Session Date: 16 March 2017 Time: 8–9am Venue: Business North Harbour, 12 Parkway Drive Price: No charge to attend but RSVP’s are necessary for catering purposes businessng.org.nz/calendar
Jollands Callander is a niche firm specialising in distressed company restructuring and turnaround. We deal with ordinary people in difficult situations and help them gain clarity and control over their lives and business so they can become extraordinary. Have you considered what could happen in your business because of an emergency or disaster? And we’re not just talking about the initial difficulties caused by things like cyber-attacks, earthquakes, a fire or a prolonged power outage. There are also impacts on your company governance to consider, and your cashflow may be seriously affected too.Your expenses may increase because of relocation, overtime or using alternative resources. A loss of sales may result in a loss of income. Or you might suffer penalties for being unable to deliver on contracts. A business impact analysis is a great place to start planning your recovery from any disaster, be it natural - or Shareholder or Director made. Here are some questions to ask yourself at any stage of your business life cycle: Company Governance - Do you have a constitution and shareholder agreement? How are decisions made when the board disagrees? Defining the priority of repayment of loans/debt - Are your personal loans to your, or another, company secured? Do you understand the difference between a GSA, PMSI and Financing Statements? Do you have security over your debtors? Cash flow - What is your break-even? What is your backup plan for alternative sources of funding? Here are some of the ways we’ve helped Directors and Shareholders: • •
We secured full repayment of a delivery of goods to a company that was put into receivership the day after delivery We resolved issues that arose when a shareholder left, which resulted in the successful continuation of the business and a satisfactory pay-out to the leaving shareholder
•
We dealt with a dysfunctional board and replaced the constitution, which allowed the remaining board members to continue with their primary focus of delivering a new product to the market
•
We helped to successfully restructure a set of businesses with contingent liability to the satisfaction of all parties involved
•
We supported shareholders through a marriage breakup and achieved a successful realisation of assets
Contact info Contact us on 09 4798580 to make an appointment for a free appraisal of your business health. All enquiries are treated as confidential. Peter Jollands peter@jollandscallander.co.nz Cath Jollands cath@jollandscallander.co.nz
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