Auckland Today Magazine Issue 120

Issue 120 | September\October 2016

ROD DRURY The sky’s the limit for cloud-based accounting behemoth Xero

The road to Paralympian Sophie Pascoe’s story of iron fisted willpower

How to simplify your busy life

7 TIPS

to achieve happiness in any workplace

BACK TO BASICS Four areas every business should address

TEN TED TALKS

to change the way you work

CREATING GREAT IDEAS Turn your brain into an exploding ideas factory

What to consider before buying a company

News | Initiatives | Interviews | Personalities | Success | Profiles | Finance | Property | Sustainability | Export | Transport | Retail | Solutions | ISSN 1173-1508

Propellor Property Investment

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Is investment property still the solution to your financial future… and does new lending criteria lock you out?

The Reserve Bank’s 60% LVR announcement does not mean you may be locked out of the investment market!

During the last few weeks there have been a number of announcements and many articles around property investment in New Zealand.

After many years in the industry property investment specialists expect this.

But it can be confusing for new and potential investors, so we would like to comment and answer a few of your questions.

You will see that if you continue to take a long term approach to property investment you can pay off your home mortgage faster and secure a future passive income. Nothing has changed - just as it hasn’t changed for centuries around the world.

- Nikki Connors, Principal Here are some of the questions we received and our responses.

Q. A.

Can I still purchase investment property with less than 40% deposit?

Most definitely. Investors are still able to purchase House & Land and Off the Plan apartments at 80% LVR. So at the moment the purchasing of these property types is going crazy. A number of our recommended Off the Plan developments in central Auckland have been selling steadily since the announcement of the restrictions. Propellor recommends that you contact us ASAP if you are looking for investment property.

Remember the requirement is only for 10% holding deposit until settlement. We can organise that deposit for you through our recommended mortgage broker. By the time you need to settle on these properties (up to 3 years in some cases), your own home may have increased in value, giving you more equity to utilise to guarantee the deposit of an investment property.

Q. A.

How do the new regulations affect my investment strategy?

The purpose of this change in lending is to ease house prices without curbing supply. However, please remember investors play a significant part in increasing housing supply. Over 53% of New Zealanders rent. We had an inflow of 160,000 permanent and long term migrants arriving in New Zealand during the last 3 years. We have made a commitment to immigration.

As we should.

A diverse culture is a healthy culture. And this country needs more people for continued growth.

The Government cannot house these people alone. They need property investors.

Winston Peters believes that 130,000 new homes must be built in Auckland alone every year to meet demand. Labour’s plan to build 100,000 affordable homes has been described as “fanciful” by the Government, which says that the party has failed to appreciate the costs and planning constraints involved in housing. I agree.

The Government’s own forecasts show this magical affordability catch-up is not going to happen - and is expected to get much worse. Fact: There is no housing plan in place that is working.

Plus, new, high quality apartments and houses that Propellor recommend are at the lowest risk of vacancy and significant rent drops.

Q. A.

The Government is trying to reduce the prices of property.

What does that mean?

Propellor believes that government intervention on property prices will simply not work. Are you going to lower the value of your home simply because the Govt. says so? If the huge demand for housing continues to outgrow the availability, surely it becomes a premium and prices reflect that?

We are not Australia. We do not have millions of acres of land that can be zoned for residential development. The cost of building doesn’t go down. Most of the materials required for builds

comes from offshore. We have no control of the economies or consumer price index of other countries.

The Government is pressuring the Reserve Bank to drop the value of the New Zealand dollar to ease inflation and to aid our export industries.

However, a reduced dollar means a great cost for imported building materials and that cost will be passed on to the consumer… in this case the property purchaser.

Experience and history has shown us, even when property growth is slowed down, investors can be confident the Government will go to great lengths when the market is colder to ensure there is some growth.

So, instead of procrastinating, see this as an opportunity to move forward in a strategic way.

Review your current interest rate on your home.

Review the capital growth in your home – you may now have more equity than you realised to guarantee the deposit of an investment property.

Propellor can organise this for you.

Finally, more than ever, it is important that you proceed with investment property through known and trusted experts in this industry. Propellor is arguably New Zealand’s most respected property investment company. We have the knowledge and the huge purchasing power to ensure that you have the right investment for you at a price not one cent more than its worth.

We can ensure that each investment property includes curtains, blinds, dishwashers, landscaping and, in some cases, free furniture packs. We ensure that you are dealing with the right professionals for the right financial structure, as well as for the protection of your own home.

Call us today on 0800 WEALTH (932 584) OR email info@propellorproperties.co.nz

www.propellorproperties.co.nz

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Viewpoints AUCKLAND TODAY | ISSUE 120 SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2016 HEAD OFFICE

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10 | The 10 roles of a CEO

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The many hats modern leaders need to wear

ENTREPRENEURSHIP

Kevin Vincent explains four primary areas every business should address

12 | Creating great ideas

6| Growth by acquisition

12 | Good ideas alone aren’t enough

Martz Witty on what to consider before you buy another company

Without action, even the most brilliant concept is just daydreaming

7 | Do you really need an accountant?

IDEAS

Richard O’Brien on why it pays to seek out the right advice

13 | Take inspiration

Jane Cowan-Harris on striking the right balance between personal and impersonal work spaces 7 | The sailing of the three ships Even in a technology oriented world, Debra Buckley says the greatest power comes from our ability to connect with people

Turn your brain into an exploding ideas factory

Ten TED Talks that will change the way you work 13 | Bright sparks Six winning concepts from hot young entrepreneurs

COVER STORY 14 |Rod Drury The sky’s the limit for cloud-based accounting behemoth Xero

MOTIVATIONS

8 | How to simplify your busy life

Sophie Pascoe’s been readying herself for Rio 2016 from the moment the London Paralympics ended… because that’s what it takes

Robyn Pearce’s guideline for embracing simplicity in all aspects of life 8 | Events diary

16 | The road to Rio

PROFILE 18 | Items of desire Where to get the best bling for your buck

FOR ALL ADVERTISING ENQUIRERS

20 | Health & Wellbeing The battle against breast cancer; how businesses can support Breast Cancer Awareness Month this October 24 | Property & Construction Everything you need to know about the Auckland Home Show, how Roofers Auckland get on top of any roofing issues, Cliff Hanger Shelving’s floating shelves, decorative glass specialists Graphic Glass, Dream Doors’ amazing kitchen facelifts, natural wastewater treatment from Waterflow NZ, Solar Chem Roofing, Westferry Property Services, Footings & Floors, Watertight Plumbing, Smith and Sons Franklin and RJM Construction 35 | Focus MS Engineering’s complete range of engineering services and solutions, and how Sea Services ensures vessels have everything they need 39 | Education Mount Albert Grammar School’s new maths block marks the start of a major building programme to cater for the Auckland school’s growing roll 40 | Goods & Services Noticeboard Products has advanced the humble noticeboard in leaps and bounds, offering custom made versions for a wide variety of uses 41 | Transport & Motoring EC Mercedez was created for and specialises exclusively in Mercedes-Benz

Mary Casey’s simple strategies for achieving personal happiness at work

This is where you find out what’s on near you

PRODUCTION

Pages 20-46

John Key outlines the Government’s comprehensive plan to tackle Auckland’s housing issue head-on

NEWSROOM Jonathon Taylor EDITOR Laura Baker JOURNALISTS Lydia Truesdale Marie Sherry

Pages 10-18

LEADERSHIP

8 |Seven tips to achieve happiness in any workplace

Phone: (03) 961 5176 Email: sales@academy.net.nz

Feature sections

6 | The PM’s desk

7 | Will hot desking work for you?

Phone: (03) 961 5050 Fax: 0800 555 054 Email: admin@academy.net.nz

Management

Pages 6-8

6 | Getting back to basics

MANAGING DIRECTOR

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46 | Landscaping Paradise Landscapes is transforming outdoor spaces to make the most of any garden and exterior living area 46 | Hospitality If you’re in the mood for some Mediterranean flair, then the place to go is Pescado Café & Tapas Bar

Contact the sales team on (03) 961 5176 | sales@academy.net.nz

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Management | Viewpoints

Rt Hon John Key

Kevin Vincent

Martz Witty

Prime Minister

Managing director of Vincent Consulting www.vincentconsulting.co.nz

Head of the Martz Group www.martz.co.nz

Tackling Auckland housing head-on

Getting back to basics

Growth by acquisition

Improving housing supply and affordability is important for New Zealand families and communities, and the National-led Government has a comprehensive housing plan to tackle the issue.

Business in New Zealand continues to be demanding and when it is, we must get back to the basics.

Looking for a quick fix to grow your business?

Got the infrastructure ready but simply need a sudden influx of raw sales?

Norman Vincent Peale said “In every difficult situation is potential value. Believe this and then begin looking for it.”

It’s a challenge we are facing head on and our plan is delivering results. We’re now in the middle of the biggest building boom New Zealand has ever seen. There are 40 houses being built every working day in Auckland – four times the number when we were elected.

There will be companies in any environment that due to their positioning and competencies can capitalise on any silver lining.

Well then maybe growth by acquisition is the answer for you.

I highlight maybe it is the answer because it is certainly never a ‘one size fits all’ solution.

We’re on track to build 85,000 new houses in this term of Parliament – that’s nearly twice the number of existing houses in all of Dunedin. But we need to press on.

There are four primary areas in any business that I consider the basics. These are strategy, action plans (and execution), the organisations culture and its structure.

Recently I announced the next step in our plan – a $1 billion Housing Infrastructure Fund to speed up housing development in the high-demand areas where it’s needed most, like Auckland.

This new one-off contestable fund will focus squarely on financing the roading, water and other important infrastructure needed to support new housing.

The ultimate success of most company’s will always depend on the skills (competencies) and experience it has developed and the commitment of its people.

Modern infrastructure is essential to support our growing economy into the future. The Productivity Commission and Councils have already pointed to the cost of infrastructure as one of the issues preventing new houses from being built.

I also announced we are considering setting up Urban Development Authorities for specific areas of high housing need.

They will have streamlined powers to override barriers to large scale development and have proved successful in many other countries. We’ll have more to say on this later this year.

We’ve created 154 special housing areas in Auckland to speed up the development of an estimated 63,000 homes. We’re freeing up Crown land for housing development in Auckland and we’re redeveloping Housing New Zealand properties to build around 2,000 new dwellings over the next two years.

Another $100 million was announced in Budget 2016 to develop housing on surplus Crown land in Auckland. Four Auckland sites with the capacity for 940 homes have already been bought with the $52.2 million allocated to the programme in Budget 2015.

We’re also reforming the Resource Management Act to make it easier for developers and councils to get houses consented and built. To keep up the momentum, Councils will be required to ensure land supply for housing keeps pace with population and economic growth under the National Policy Statement on Urban Development we’ve released.

On the demand side, last year we tightened the rules to ensure people buying and selling property for profit pay their fair share of tax. There are no quick fixes to this issue, but National’s comprehensive housing plan is delivering results and we are committed to building on this momentum.

Decision makers need to take decisive action. It is essential that they combat the pressures and respond to market and economic conditions in a way that minimises negative effects.

Your strategy needs to be clearly understood, well communicated and be developed around a sound value proposition for your clients. Business success is always rooted in value. When your capabilities match your clients' needs, both parties achieve value. When that value is equitable both companies can prosper.

Think about where you are today, where you want to be in the near and long-term future and how you might get to that future point. Ask yourself what and why questions. What is it we are trying to achieve and why?

Action planning is the tool to make your strategic intent happen.

You need to clearly define clear objectives.

What is the required action and why is it being done? When will the action point be completed and by whom? What resources are required in time and money to make this action happen? Are there any other considerations? And how will we achieve this?

Inspire your team through being the strong leader they desire and need.

Ensure you have people around you that have the ability and desire to make things happen. Your best chance of success will come from your team, clients and colleagues who understand the situation and share the will to achieve the vision and goals.

Keep your structure simple. Have less layers of management and more degrees of empowerment.

Promote communication, co-operation, teamwork and knowledge sharing. Ensure your sales teams are equipped with the best selling skills available. Make sure they know how to sell value though benefits and not compete on price. Discounting is a one way street to oblivion.

Upskill your company; match and develop your skills to your clients' needs. Look for new ways to meet your client’s issues and concerns.

Growth by acquisition has been around for many years and has served many businesses, but it has tripped up a good many too. The typical pitfalls and traps include (but are not limited to): Insufficient time spent on due diligence I can’t express enough that the time checking the numbers before acquisition will reap magnificent returns later. Run the numbers through your financial models, check capacity; can you actually produce enough output to support the additional sales you will achieve from the merged party?

People power What staff are coming with the organisation? Are they key to the success, or is there a need to trim excesses as part of the merger? What holiday pay entitlements are being taken over, sick leave, long service leave? Or is it a fresh employment agreement in which case you might not secure the staff retention.

Company culture Is there a different culture in the incoming party? Will this enhance or detract from your own? What is your control mechanism to ensure it doesn’t turn into a reverse takeover?

Have you got the skills in-house, or at least hired in change management assistance? Will the new and improved version of your business be “This is the way we do things around here” or open to improvements? Have you got a system for submitting suggestions for improvements?

Cashflow Cash is always king. Have you assessed inflow and outflows in the interim while the new people (let’s call them mergettes) come up to speed with new surroundings, systems and bosses? What are new overheads going to look like, what savings can be obtained through economies of scale?

Duplication We see all too often where parties merge through acquisition, that some positions simply double, whereas they could be better served by a structural change. Managing the people is always harder than managing production, sales and even distribution. The human element has emotions and feelings, the rest is pure mathematics.

Natural attrition It’s inevitable that in any merger there will be a fallout of clients.

The key is to manage the fallout and minimise the impact.

So growth by acquisition is great if you work it. The option is organic growth which can be even better, but typically takes a lot more time. Either way – happy growing!

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gary@fatweb.co.nz | 0800 444 090 | www.fatweb.co.nz 6 |September/October 2016 www.aucklandtoday.net.nz

Part of the

Management | Viewpoints

Richard O'Brien

Jane Cowan-Harris

Debra Buckley

Director of operations at NZbizbuysell www.nzbizbuysell.co.nz

Head of WorkSpace IQ www.workspaceiq.co.nz

CEO of the New Zealand Institute of Management and Leadership www.nzimleadership.co.nz

Do you really need an accountant?

Will hot desking work for you?

The sailing of the three ships

You might think that a start-up or small business isn’t big enough to warrant using an accountant and it’s just another cost you can do without. But unless you’re an expert in business structures, tax and finance, then using an accountant or better still, a Chartered Accountant, to get expert financial advice is money well invested.

One of the most popular topics in workspace design at the moment is hot desking.

Entrepreneurship, relationships or leadership?

Which one steers the mainsail?

With its ability to service a variety of users and situations, the main advantages of hot desking are the savings made due to the need for less furniture and less floor space.

Much like the principal sail on a ship, entrepreneurship is seen as the driver for many new business leaders and innovators.

It’s the passion or belief in an unexplored destiny that drives an entrepreneur to seek.

So do you really need an accountant? Too often small businesses fail to seek the right advice due to time and budget constraints, but this is important to ensure you are on the right path.

Hot desking has also been used overseas in organisations that are encouraging a more mobile workforce, moving teams around the whole office space on a regular basis to keep perspectives fresh and get people thinking outside the square.

If you are starting or buying a business or franchise your accountant will take the form of another business advisor.

They will review the financials, help with recasting figures and doing forecasts, and give advice on your business plan and the tax issues when registering or buying your new business.

For some people though, the idea of hot desking is all a step too far. For those who may be working with physical files – for example, accountants, lawyers, architects and engineers, the practicality of moving to another location in the office is simply not realistic. Also, there are always going to be some people (whatever their role or profession), that like to have their ‘own’ workspace, with their personal photos, images, plants, and furniture; ‘their space’.

Most accountants will also offer book-keeping services, but if they don’t, or if you wish to handle this yourself, you can get help with setting up manual or computerised bookkeeping systems.

Today there are several online packages like; Xero, MYOB and Quickbooks to mention just a few. Most accountants will be able to assist you in getting these set-up and working for your business.

When buying or starting a business you need the expert advice and guidance to ensure you get it right.

Your accountant can potentially help with valuing a business, calculating the EBPIDT (the total cash surplus or sellers discretionary cash), and help with due diligence if you are purchasing an existing business.

They can also offer advice on your best business ownership structure, provide guidance on the best way to handle your day to day cash and accounting, advise on tax and IRD requirements, and ensure your cash-flow forecasts and budgets work for you and any other interested parties.

Business tax is a large expense for most businesses. When calculating company tax there are a lot of factors to consider; depreciation, losses carried forward, deductible expenses etc.

Your accountant will consider all these factors and how best to manage and minimise the tax you pay.

A good accountant will provide your business with essential support. They will understand the rules and regulations and how they apply to you, and help you manage your financial risk, minimize your costs and steer your business to success.

This concept is fine for organisations where people only require occasional computer access throughout the day (or week), such as those with sales staff or shift workers sharing spaces in call centres.

So with the corporate demands leaning more towards people moving into open plan offices, how do we strike the right balance between personal and impersonal work places?

Unless carefully and thoughtfully implemented, businesses run the risk of appearing like ‘big brother’, making wholesale decisions with little input from staff members.

Organisations need to prepare well to hot desk successfully.

Research from overseas shows that a hot desking environment only really works in a paperless office and that – as businesses work through the process of scanning documents and getting electronic document transfer and storage systems in place - can take up to three years.

Regardless of whether or not we like it, it seems that this more fluid use of space is becoming more common place; so, if hot desks are going to be a part of your office space, what can you do to make them a more welcoming place to be rather than a soul-less pit stop?

Be sure to keep in mind the functionality of your office space, and be mindful of the tasks your staff members perform in that space, so you can get the best outcome for your business, and be sure to allow some flexibility as your business and all these technology systems evolve.

Overall, do your homework; size it all up well before you start moving to get a better idea if hot desking will be a good fit for your business.

That being said, it is relationships that provide entrepreneurs with the opportunity for collaboration, funding, innovation and eventually selling an idea or product. Even in a world primarily driven by technology, the greatest power comes from our ability to connect with people.

Can an entrepreneur be an effective leader if their focus is on an outcome or an achievement?

In my view, they can - providing they have capability in the final ‘ship’.

Leadership is like the anchor holding vision and relationships together. Achieving results or advancing in an organisation will depend more on your ability to lead others and build a relationship, than to just come up with a new idea.

In a recent conversation I had with a new leader, he was challenged in his own thinking. Should he focus on innovation and support the long term company objective, spend more time connecting to industry experts where he could build on his own intellectual property, or focus on building his ability to lead and delegate? I had to pause for a moment before responding.

I asked him “why can’t you do all three?”

Prioritise them for sure, and remember you have a day job which you need to perform however, you may find that if you are focused on innovation, your peer experts may provide you with an insightful sounding board.

If you focus on improving your ability as a leader, the increase in your communication skills will in turn enhance your ability to build professional relationships.

He pushed again, “yes, but which ‘ship’ carries the most weight?”

I took a moment to reflect; for me the big win is in relationships; being the person who identifies and removes obstacles and is known as the one who fosters an environment where others excel, wins every time.

Developing your talent to deepen relationships is a mechanism to self-improvement, because when your focus is on listening and gaining information, you are seen as a team player.

When you strive to build relationships and don’t view people as a resource, you will be seen as the connector of all three ‘ships’.

If you can connect the person with a great idea to the person who can lead it to fruition, you will build a relationship that lasts and that will be your greatest achievement.

www.aucklandtoday.net.nz September/October 2016 | 7

Management | Viewpoints

EVENTS DIARY

Dr Mary Casey

Robyn Pearce

Founder and CEO of the Casey Centre www.caseycentre.com.au

Time management expert www.gettingagrip.com

Seven tips to achieve happiness in any workplace

How to simplify your busy life Is it just my noticing, or are you also seeing an increasing commentary and focus on decluttering and simplifying? It’s not just things: it could be activities or even people.

Started a new job only to discover it’s a minefield of gossip and negativity? Is your workload causing your social life to shrivel up? Or is management leaving you feeling micromanaged or, worse, neglected?

Even though many of us think we could never be content at work, we aren’t powerless and can achieve satisfaction. A large part of what we can control is how we respond to the culture, colleagues and the work.

Choose your job carefully: Establishing a feel for a work environment early on can save you later. It is hard to know beforehand the office culture, but it is essential to not focus solely on salary when making a decision. In the interview, ask questions about management style and culture.

Don’t take anything personally: For your sanity, it is worth developing some emotional and mental detachment – especially from any individuals that radiate negativity. It is a skill that takes time to develop, but being detached in the workplace means you are able to judge and make decisions rationally and impartially.

Don’t let negative emotions control you: When you feel like you are losing control to anger, stress or fear, take a short walk around the block. Never get emotional in front of managers or colleagues.

In a negative work culture it may be used against you in the future.

Disengage from manipulators: Manipulation is about controlling another person’s behaviour, so make it clear what you will and won’t accept both verbally and behaviourally. When confronting a manipulative co-worker, they may play emotional games to make you feel guilty or discredit you. Don’t be pulled into their tactics – take the discussion back to the issue you are trying to confront.

Create positive allies: You can create a positive workplace “subculture” by developing friendships with like-minded co-workers.

Identify positive, supportive colleagues and go to lunch or drinks with them to develop the relationship.

Can you reduce driving time?

I know many working professionals who get clients to come to their offices, but since I moved to the country nearly an hour out of Auckland, I’d been in the habit of going to my clients’ premises. I realised how much time was being wasted driving around Auckland. From that day on I started to shift all my clients to Skype or an equivalent medium – and no one minds!

With Skype’s video camera and screen sharing functions you can still read the body language and see anything they want to show you.

• What unnecessary driving are you doing?

• Could more of your meetings be done online?

• How else can you get information?

I’m not suggesting that we forego all ‘in the same room’ meetings, but let’s save them for the times we really need to.

Reduce space and you’ll find you don’t need so much stuff One of my tenants sold her large four bedroom home and shifted into my small one bedroom rental flat while she looked to buy another property. ‘Do you miss your big house, Donna?’

I asked her.

‘Not at all,’ she replied. ‘It’s amazing how much more simple life is now. I’ve realised I don’t need anything like the size of the old house. My things have been in storage for six months and I haven’t even missed them. My next place will be small.’

The following clever wardrobe de-clutter trick was popularised

by Oprah Winfrey, although she didn’t dream it up. Reverse all your hangers. When you wear something, place it back with the hanger facing in the normal direction. After six months it will be obvious what you can let go.

Find fulfilment elsewhere: Sometimes we think work is the cause of our unhappiness, when it is actually another area in our lives – such as a relationship or our health – that we are unhappy with, and which is spilling into our work. Taking up a sport, hobby or volunteering can also create a sense of fulfilment in our lives.

Committing yourself to something you really enjoy will help with your mindset when at work.

When something new comes in to your office, home or garage, remove two things you don’t now use. Put them in the recycle bin or donate to a charity shop.

Treat yourself: Do good things for yourself throughout the day. If you find your morning is turning into a disaster, organise dinner with a friend, buy flowers for your desk, anything that makes you feel good.

If that valuable real estate is cluttered, it slows down your thinking. At a sub-conscious level, you’re constantly sifting and sorting to seek the next task.

Office de-cluttering The space closest to you is your most precious. Think of it as your ‘interruption zone’.

If possible shift everything you’re not working on to a desk, shelf or table to the side or behind – out of your direct eye line.

Keep in front of you only the task you’re engaged with and your focus will significantly increase.

What’s happening on the business and entertainment front

WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 14

What Would a Property Market Correction Mean for Business?

Senior business leaders are predicting that the property market has overheated and will correct. If there is a correction, what will it mean for the wider business community? This question and more, including who is most at risk and how imminent a correction might be, will be answered.

To register, go to: www.business-intelligence.co.nz

TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 20-21

Grow your Sales Skills This two day workshop will help business owners and senior leaders develop innovative sales strategies, a comprehensive understanding of consumer behaviour, and a confident sales pitch which differentiates them from their competitors.

To register, go to: www.theicehouse.co.nz

THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 29

Westpac Auckland Business Awards 2016 - Gala Dinner North Be part of the excitement as the as the Auckland Chamber of Commerce announces the winners of the Westpac Auckland Business Awards for 2016 at this black-tie gala dinner and awards evening. This is a premium networking opportunity with key sponsors, stakeholders and business leaders looking to extend their profile and contacts.

To register, go to: www.aucklandchamber.co.nz

MONDAY, OCTOBER 3

GST Workshop This workshop is a hands-on interactive session where you learn to complete a mock cashbook and GST return. It is ideal for sole traders, partnerships and other small businesses. This workshop covers GST registration, record keeping, basic adjustments, GST filing and payment, online services, and how to use the interactive “Tool for business”.

To register, go to: www.ird.govt.nz

THURSDAY, OCTOBER 6

Thrive Thrive is a full day business conference aimed at inspiring and entertaining SMEs. It features international business leaders, New Zealand heroes and world class future thinkers – all ready to share their triumphs, lessons and ideas to shape your business for success.

To register, go to: www.thrivenz.co.nz

TUESDAY, OCTOBER 18

Advanced Leadership for Project Managers Workshop This two day interactive workshop will give delegates the tools they need to effectively guide and support their team through complex projects and reinforce healthy practice. Delegates will learn how to tailor their communication and behaviour and will gain an insight into how this affects their team’s capability.

To register, go to: www.liquidlearninggroup.com

TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 15

Preparing to Raise Capital This half day workshop explores the financial options for raising capital to fund succession. Business owners will learn the steps needed to get a business ready for a new shareholder and outright sale.

To register, go to: www.theicehouse.co.nz

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You’ll be greeted at the airport with a warm welcome, refreshing hand towels and drinks followed by a comfortable 20 minute drive across the Island to the South Coast, renowned for its beautiful white sand beaches.

The 60 room, four star resort features four pools that open onto the beach that is impossibly beautiful when the sun is out and just stunning at sunset cocktail time.

The snorkelling is amazing and recently 75 baby turtles hatched on the beach.

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Impress with only the best

The menu, created by international chefs, has a mixture of Pacific fusion and European food, but if you prefer something more simple try a wood fired pizza under the palms right on the beach.

The resort is fully equipped to host either small or large gatherings with conference facilities fitted with the latest technology. The facilities are perfectly suited for product launches, incentive programmes, team building, sales training and annual meetings.

And located just 20 minutes from the international airport the resort is easily accessible.

Paradise Kitchen are proud winners of the Prime Minister’s Cup in the recent annual Culinary Association National Awards

Effortlessly host an unforgettable conference that delegates will undoubtedly rave about at Return to Paradise Resort.

Return to Paradise recently hosted the Gilligan Shepard Chartered Accountants conference.

The firm’s partner, Bruce Sheppard, had this to say about their experience: “Return to Paradise Resort is authentic. You feel that they care, they really want to make your time with them memorable and they take the time to know you. All 21 of our teams’ feedback to me is that they felt privileged to be able to spend five days with each other in this very special place.”

Say ‘I do’ in paradise Say ‘I do” on a kilometre long private beach or amongst romantic oceanfront tropical gardens filled with lush palms, frangipanis and over 20 varieties of hibiscus.

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Return to Paradise Resort | T Call via Hangouts +685 35055 | E info@returntoparadiseresort.com www.returntoparadiseresort.com www.aucklandtoday.net.nz September/October 2016 | 9

Management | Leadership

TEN ROLES a CEO must play Today CEOs are expected to serve as experts in a wide range of areas – by their investors, their boards, their employees and the public.

“The CEO position is more complex than it ever has been, and CEOs must have a much broader and deeper skill set to tackle this complexity,” Stephen says.

“The incredibly fast paced and demanding market means that leaders must take on different roles to address the needs of multiple stakeholders – and that’s not easy.”

1. Strategic multi-tasker The biggest challenge for CEOs in 2016 is being able to deliver on the company’s core business – where the earnings and cash come from – while also transforming the business to be relevant in the future. So while CEOs must maintain the core base of their revenues, they have to adapt to whatever the macro factor is that is affecting their business, including changing customer preferences, technology shifts, disintermediation, and more.

2. Futurist We have entered a world in which even the best and the brightest cannot predict the biggest things happening around us: crude oil dropping below $40, the Arab Spring, currency fluctuations, what Russia and China will do next. Even if CEOs cannot predict events and trends, the market still demands that they react immediately and opportunistically in the face of incredibly complex and surprising events – and to be prepared before they happen.

3. Tech CEO Tech pundits have been saying for at least the last 10 years that every company is a technology company – and this is now becoming a reality. Every CEO is now a ‘tech CEO,’ or at least must act like one. Whatever sector you’re in, technology is the future of your business.

CEO roles are more complex than ever, requiring a broad and deep skill set

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Stephen Miles, CEO of The Miles Group, which advises global organisations, their boards, and leadership teams, looks at the many hats CEOs must wear in today’s environment.

4. Growth hacker Since 2008, we have been trying to respond to the world in crisis by focusing on taking out cost. But where is the growth? It’s still elusive. We have trained a huge cohort of people since 2008 to be bottom-line cost-out executives and this is the playbook everyone is still using. But what the market is now demanding is growth, which is a different skill set. Many companies are still void of high performing growth-oriented executives, and the CEO must help create a whole new growth agenda for his or her company.

5. Activist investor handler Activist investors are redefining the landscape and what it means to be a CEO and a board member. They are very smart, well read, and usually have a good perspective on the challenges and opportunities facing a company. CEOs must figure out how to best engage with them, as well as when to hold their ground on what is truly unreasonable.

6. Inspiring storyteller In a world full of data, nothing speaks to people – even investors looking at your hard numbers – more powerfully than a story. A leader who brings along stakeholders on the company’s journey is able to help define how the ‘audience’ is reading the data.

Developing a compelling strategic narrative becomes the bridge from today’s reality to tomorrow’s opportunities.

7. Inclusive leadership We now have four very different generations in the workforce, and each is distinctive in terms of how they want to be led and

what they value in a leader. CEOs and their leadership teams need to be good at developing and leading high performing and inclusive teams.

8. Crisis manager As a CEO, you are going to be constantly stress-tested by events inside and outside your company, and how you respond to that stress will define you as a leader. It is important for a leader to understand their response to a stress event so they can define their leadership in a strong and powerful way rather than being run out of the company.

9. Information seeker The days of being a high performing company that is focused internally are gone, as are the days of being led by a CEO who stays too inwardly focused. The world demands a CEO who is always looking outside and bringing new insight and ideas back into the company – and challenging everything the company is doing every day.

10. Board engager The days of six easy board meetings per year are gone. Directors are working harder than ever and the issues facing companies and boards have gotten more much complex. So the CEO must develop a meaningful relationship with his or her directors and develop a trusting and transparent dialogue. The number one way a CEO gets fired is by losing control of his or her agenda, and the boardroom is typically where this happens. CEOs must be prepared for this and engage with the board at a much deeper level in this new era of board governance.

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www.aucklandtoday.net.nz September/October 2016 | 11

Management | Entreprenuership

Good ideas alone aren’t enough

By Jody Boshoff

A friend is now a verb and numbers serve as 1daful substitutes for words altogether.

But just before you think the corporate environment is above the #trending hype, think again.

We also use our share of buzzwords like one-up wonders around the boardroom table. Let’s take this one for example: creative. “He’s a creative,” we’ve heard it said. The mere sound of it puts a confident swagger in your step. Who doesn’t want to be known as that?

But here is a thought. Creative is not always innovative!

Creativity isn’t necessarily innovative…there’s actually a difference between the two. While invention requires creativity to come up with new things, innovation is about applying those new things in different ways.

Creativity is essentially an ‘inward’ trait. It’s murkier and harder to define. Ideas within the creative realm are often judged more by their novelty than by their potential usefulness, either to consumers or to the company.

Innovation however, is ‘external’, attached to a sense of value, utility, or productivity that has been measured and tried. “Often, in common parlance, the words creativity and innovation are used interchangeably,” states Robert B Tucker, author and consultant.

“They shouldn’t be, because while creativity implies coming up with ideas, ‘it’s the bringing ideas to life’ … that makes innovation the distinct undertaking it is.”

Creativity must aim for innovation It’s not enough to daydream inspiring and original ideas within our field; it’s imperative to action them.

Take Velcro, for example. The concept for this prolific fastener was born under the microscope, when the Swiss electrical engineer observed a single burdock burr that had clung to pants and dog’s fur on a walk through the woods.

The engineers saw how the little seed acted like a hook that attached to loops in material and hair. But because they saw value in the concept and went on to repeat it synthetically, they invented one of the most useful products in the past century.

They didn’t just think up a good idea; through trial and error, adaptation and experimentation, they perforated imagination and brought the idea to life.

Innovation is not overnight The gap between creating and innovating can be wide.

Even a proverbial scrum of the greatest minds can have a bad game sometimes.

Aerospace engineer Adam Steltzner refers to it as the Dark Room. “There comes a moment in every creative or innovative

Without action, even the most brilliant idea is just daydreaming

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Winged cupcake emojis and Donald Trump tweets are not the only ‘creative’ contributions to social media these days. Platforms such as Facebook and Instagram have acted as global chalkboards on which the English language has been tweaked, tinkered with and at times overhauled.

process,” he says, “when you’re not only lost, you’re not even sure where to find a map... You have to stay calm, hold on to the doubt, listen to the problem, and keep thinking of solutions, while avoiding the mind-locking panic that you won’t find a solution.”

We’re often uncomfortable with staying in the problem long enough to innovate.

In another case, the solution was a rather serious one. A debut of the Mars Expedition Rover mission was scheduled for departure in June 2002 and Houston had a problem. The team of rocket scientists could not figure out how to make this Rover land intact, impervious to the piercing rocks and debris on Mars’ surface.

One strenuous year later, they found their answer. “There is a virtue in staying in the Dark Room until you completely surrender - not give up but completely surrender your ego, and stop trying to force the existing solution. That’s when a breakthrough occurs.”

Creativity is the launching pad. But it requires innovation and sometimes teeth-gritted determination, sheer panic and a whole lot of guts to launch the mission.

Creating great ideas

By Laura Baker

Have you ever heard of a new business model or invention and kicked yourself for not thinking of it first?

Some ideas seem so incredibly simple you wonder how you didn’t think of it first, while others are so ingenious you wonder how anybody could’ve thought of it at all.

But those great ideas don’t come on command. And that leaves a lot of would-be entrepreneurs asking the same question: How did others get inspiration to strike—and how can I work the same magic?

Engage your mind Generating a winning idea doesn’t come to you on demand while sitting at a desk twiddling your thumbs or staring at a computer.

Inspiration comes from all sorts of sources and is unique to every individual. The eureka moment for some might come when their mind is engaged and hard at work, while for others it might appear out of their subconscious mind while relaxing.

What’s important is discovering what gets your brain ticking over be it a passion, work or puzzles – get thinking.

Find a solution Start-up ideas are often found within a problem. Rather than accepting a problem, think about how it can be solved and find a solution to the things that frustrate and niggle at you.

BookRenter founder, Colin Barceloux, was frustrated with the high cost of textbooks, paying over $500 each quarter while at university. Two years after graduating he decided to take action and founded Bookrenter.com, a business that offers text book rentals at about a 60 percent discount.

It’s worth noting that, surprisingly, when it comes to money, people really don’t know how much things are worth. A number of businesses have made their big break by capitalising on people’s inability to accurately estimate what a fair price for an item is.

What began as a one-man operation created out of frustration now has 1.5 million users and 200 employees. “You just have to look at what frustrates you,” he says. “There’s your business idea right there.”

It isn’t the idea that matters – it’s you.

Look for a new niche You don’t have to reinvent the wheel - a simple tweak might be all that is needed to hit gold. Study companies in your field of interest and ask yourself what you can do better or differently that isn’t already on offer.

Driven people will eventually succeed, not because their ideas are groundbreaking, but because of their ambitious attitude and their willingness to try and try again. The greatest factor that’ll determine success is not necessarily an idea, but it is what you decide to do with it that counts.

Quick tips:

Open at a new price point

Talk to new people - strike up conversations with people different than yourself. You never know how your view on the world can evolve without opening oneself up to new ways of thinking.

Formulating a successful business doesn’t necessarily mean you have to come up with a new product or idea. Your winning idea might be something as simple as recreating an existing product already on the market, but at a different price point than currently offered.

Make sure your idea can fail fast and cheaply. No matter how passionate and confident you are about your business idea, you need to be prepared for the possibility it might not be a hit with customers. Don’t waste your time and money where there isn’t any payback.

There are customers with open wallets at every price point, from the cheap and cheerful to high-end luxury. If you identify an area that isn’t being catered to, jump on the opportunity to serve this sector of the market yourself.

Find inspiration in existing products. Just because there is already a product on the market similar to yours, doesn’t mean you can’t take it on. In most cases you can probably execute and market it better.

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Management | Ideas

Bright sparks Ever heard of an invention that’s taking off and thought ‘what a brilliantly simple idea… why didn’t I think of that?”

SafeDriver – a mobile application that provides audio alerts to drivers about what they need to look out for while driving, as well a audio messages about upcoming hazards and high risk areas.

Inventor: Isaac Mercer.

Sentinel –a self sustaining system that allows rainwater tank owners to view the water level of their tank from their smartphone. Inventor: Zach Preston.

I think we all probably have. Well here are six more you can add to GirlBoss NZ – is a ‘for youth by youth’ organisation with a the list of great ideas you wish you’d had. mission to inspire, empower and equip kiwi girls to develop their science, technology, engineering and maths (STEM), These are the six winning concepts from some of our hottest leadership and entrepreneurial skills, to become the change young entrepreneurs who entered 2016 IDEA Starter youth makers of the future. Inventors: Alexia Hilbertidou, Kayla Turner entrepreneurship contest - a competition for 15-24 year olds and Sayurie Naicker. which backs young people to turn their business ideas into action.

Fulcrum – an online platform aiming to solve the disconnect The winning ideas all centered around technology – including between textbooks, classroom learning, homework and tutorials, an app which helps young people share their feelings through utilising an optimised memory curve. Inventor: Vivek Kumar. colours, a water meter in your pocket and an idea to attract GreenLightGo – an app that allows people to share their more girls at school into science, technology, engineering feelings/state with their support network through a customisable and maths (STEM).

traffic light spectrum, such as green for good, orange for watch out, red you need to call me/pick up I’m having a panic attack or not feeling good. Inventor: Caitlin Smart.

NoBS Ratings – an all-encompassing social and ethical impact system for businesses. NoBS Ratings will assess and rate a business on their impact in five main areas: 1. Environment 2.

Labour 3. Fair Trade 4. Local Community Engagement 5. Proconsumer behaviour. Inventors: Mildred Wong and Sam Yoon.

Take inspiration

By Lydia Truesdale

Business conferences offer many benefits, but if you find yourself slight on advice and battling a tight budget, these 10 TED Talks are a free and easy way to gain insight into some of the best minds in the business world.

becoming horizontal, and the ‘horizontalisation’ of industries implies fundamental changes to how we think about strategy.

If you can handle the density of this discussion, it turns out to be truly fascinating.

7. A smart loan for people with no credit history (yet) – Shivani Siroya Some 2.5 billion people worldwide don’t have a credit score.

So how do these “untrustworthy” people get their start? Forget banks, micro loans, loan sharks and inflated interest rates: InVenture is a new credit-scoring app that looks beyond income when assessing someone’s credit status. It has delivered finance to more than 200,000 people in Kenya in the past year – and has repayment rates above 90 percent. This is a timely topic that will intrigue any budding businessperson.

1. Profit’s not always the point – Harish Manwani As the COO of Unilever, you stop and listen when Harish Manwani takes the stage. In this perceptual talk, Manwani elucidates that 21st century businesses are “doing well by doing good”. There’s no place in the modern market for just economic value; this has to be coupled with social value too.

2. The single biggest reason why startups succeed – Bill Gross Bill Gross has been founding businesses since junior high. He’s since formed over 100 companies – some major successes, some major failures. It got him thinking: why do some companies boom and some bust? He’s developed a systematic theory as to what matters the most for start up success and found that timing is everything.

3. Where good ideas come from – Steven Johnson After watching this video, chances are you’ll rethink the dynamics of your entire office. Steven Johnson traces the origins of the ‘innovation revolution’ back to the days of the coffee house. He speaks of ideas as “liquid networks,” spawned over time by a stimulation of socially chaotic experiences. We are lacking that level of stimulation from social settings today, believes Johnson, and he sets out suggesting how to bring controlled chaos back.

4. How too many rules at work keep you from getting things done – Yves Morieux Yves Morieux eloquently explains that we are responsible for creating the conditions to succeed; what successful conditions look like (hint: throw the rule book out the window); and that despite our culture being somewhat blame-happy, one can only truly be blamed for failing if one failed to ask for help along the way.

5. Two reasons company fail, and how to avoid them – Knut Haanaes Knut Haanaes’ Darwin-esque adapt or die business philosophy is precariously balanced between exploration and exploitation.

He believes the two reasons companies fail are if they: 1) only do the same thing, or 2) only do what’s new – a complex issue that many established businesses in a modern market are facing.

6. How data will transform business – Phillip Evans Evans outlines the 21st century relationship between strategy and technology. Technology, he details, has been driven beyond institutional boundaries. Vertical business structures are

8. Why the best hire might not have the perfect resume – Regina Hartley Regina Hartley identifies two categories of qualified applicants – the silver spoon (those Ivy League graduates apparently destined for success) and the scrapper (those who’ve fought adversity to reach the same point). In her enlightening talk, Hartley explains why she’d pick the scrapper over the silver spoon.

9. Why you will fail to have a great career – Larry Smith In this funny and frank presentation, Larry Smith focuses on what to avoid in the quest for career success. Basically, Smith surmises that if you lack the purpose and motivation to truly commit to your passion, you’ll be as useful and successful as a sack of potatoes.

10. How to live before you die – Steve Jobs What better person to take advice from than the founder of two of the biggest and most successful companies of the 21st century? Steve Jobs’ Stanford University commencement speech is broken down into three parts – connecting the dots, love and loss, and death – and illustrates how our personal life and career overlaps more than we realise. Even if you’re not a Jobs fan, it’s worth the watch.

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www.aucklandtoday.net.nz September/October 2016 | 13

Management | Cover story

ROD DRURY The sky’s the limit for cloud-based accounting behemoth Xero

By Laura Baker

One in four New Zealand SME business owners reading this story will be users of Xero accounting software. It’s statistics such as this, and many more just like it, that are useful when it comes to describing the mammoth size of Xero and how it is truly dominating the cloud-based accounting software industry.

14 |September/October 2016 www.aucklandtoday.net.nz

Management | Cover story Critical infrastructure Ten years on and Xero has skyrocketed. “It’s crazy now… we have a global team of more than 13,000 employees.” Driving that growth is its subscribers, of which it now has more than 700,000 worldwide. “For me, coming from a small set of rocks in the South Pacific and seeing the momentum we are having overseas is completely humbling, we are so proud.”

Getting accounting software off desktop computers and into the cloud was phase one of the game plan and linked to that aim was growth at all costs. He excitably describes Xero’s position as “near the end of the beginning” and on the verge of a transformation.

Equally impressive is that Xero is the number one accounting provider in New Zealand by a long way, and number one in Australia too - so much so that “the Aussies’ are trying to claim us,” Xero founder, Rod Drury says.

“The growth in these markets is unbelievable and it is looking like we’ll achieve the same result in the UK too.”

Xero has 700,000 subscribers, who are predominantly SME’s, based in 180 countries. In the last financial year its operating revenue grew 67 percent and its subscriber growth was up an impressive 51 percent.

“And what is freakishly exciting is in the last 12 months we saw 450 million transactions pass through Xero totalling a trillion dollars; the numbers were so staggering we had to go back and double check them.” All of these monumental achievements have been accomplished in just ten years of business.

The warm up Rod has had a knack for computers since he was first introduced to them at Napier Boy’s High School. He saw the great potential in these new machines and became enamoured.

After passing School Certificate and simultaneously becoming the highest qualified member of his family, he followed his passion onto higher education at Victoria University.

Successfully completing his Bachelor of Commerce and Administration (BCA) majoring in Accounting from Victoria University, he took up his first job at Ernst and Young. It was the place he learnt his foundation skills and started thinking about more efficient business systems. Once this apprenticeship was over, he knew he wanted to work in software development. “There were no software development companies to work for – so we just had to start our own. We created the jobs we wanted.”

Having successfully established the cloudbased platform it is ready to change tack and accelerate the industry. “The speed of change is really going to pick up over the next few years and new technologies are going to gas-up.”

“

We are years ahead technically than any of the other main players.

Our competitors now have the challenge of innovating to keep up with us and I think that will be very, very difficult.

”

Now with the funds, skills and a well-known name, he had the tool kit he needed for his pièce de résistance – Xero, an accounting software company which gives small businesses a realtime accounting, invoicing, billing, bank system and more.

In 2006 he and fellow Xero founder, Hamish Watson (who worked as the virtual CFO with him in AfterMail), launched Xero. The company started out small, quite literally, with just five people squashed into a tiny apartment, but progress quickly accelerated and just a year later the company listed on the New Zealand Stock Exchange.

With more than $200m in the bank its focus is now on investing in innovation, managing its cash and growing sustainable margins.

Xero is now inextricably tied to its users, and considered ‘critical infrastructure’ for the hundreds of thousands of businesses the world over that rely on its services for the day to day operation of their businesses.

To stay on top of its game Xero is continuously evolving the software with three to four updates a day, tuning the machines, adding new features and making little fixes.

Lengths ahead Xero didn’t even exist a little over 10 years ago, but already it’s outmanoeuvring the giant incumbent competition in the industry. “It’s not that we’ve snuck up on them,” Rod says, “We’ve had the incumbents throwing the book at us for the past three or four years, but they really haven’t moved the needle.”

He says Xero’s strength is attributed to being an Internet native company. “Being technology savvy just isn’t in the last generation of providers’ DNA,” he says.

Accounting software provider Intuit is Xero’s biggest competition globally, and Xero’s beaten it in every market they both operate in outside of America. “Last year we added more customers globally to our brand than Intuit added to theirs and they spent $1.2b on marketing – so something we’re doing is working.”

Looking at the share of industry revenue among cloud-based accounting software, Xero is miles ahead of the competition. Why? Because “People will pay for value,” he says.

The move was regarded by many as gutsy, but Rod says it was a necessity to execute the long term vision. “We wanted to be a global business from day one. The only way we could do that is if “We are years ahead technically than any of the we had some big venture capital.” other main players. Our competitors now have

the challenge of innovating to keep up with us and I think that will be very, very difficult.”

A global economy The services industry is globalising everything, Rod says. Netflix has globalised television, WhatsApp has globalised text messages, Amazon has globalised retail and Xero is at the forefront of globalising accounting software.

“The globalisation of this industry is something that is absolutely taking off and the numbers we are seeing are absolutely nuts.”

Coming from a small, isolated country, exports are of a big importance to New Zealand, but exports don’t need to be a physical product you can ship off. He says SME businesses need to change their way of thinking. “Now, thanks to technology, services can be exported as well.”

It’s time to look beyond the customers you can see in your local area he says. “Your market is no longer who you can see, your market is global and it’s important for businesses to understand these new trends because there are massive opportunities out there.

“Businesses need to think big, learn about technology and then get online and get into the big global markets.”

The future is here The future has arrived and artificial intelligence will very soon be a part of people’s everyday lives. Xero is harnessing the power of machine learning and artificial intelligence to apply to its products. “Basically every small business now has a super computer working for it.”

Users of Xero can expect a huge amount of innovation in the next five years, with some exciting new products in the line-up and following in Xero’s trademark style, they will be kept beautifully simple for the end-user.

Simple products that work while you sleep is the future of Xero, Rod says. Products that will be seen in action as early as this year include an up-grade that’ll automatically categorise and reconcile bank transactions for the user and a system that will automatically pay the payroll seamlessly in the background.

“Accounting and payroll go hand in hand - small businesses need these things together - so it’s important to us we bring these worlds together.”

These improvements represent a massive upgrade as “It’s going to free businesses up to focus on the things that matter.

“We are working on these products today and we’ll start delivering later this year. We are making change happen and it is super exciting.”

Having mastered cloud-based accounting the sky is truly the limit for Xero. AT

Creating the job he wanted saw him go on to create the software development and consultancy company Glazier Systems, in partnership with Tony Stewart. The company was sold in 1999 for $7.5m and still runs today throughout the country with more than 300 employees – something he is extremely proud of.

But for Rod his first start-up was merely a warm up - a testing ground for things to come. The follow-up act was AfterMail email software, a well-publicised development that allowed users to capture, archive, retain and preserve as well as search for emails.

It was bought by California-based Quest Software for a multi-million dollar sum. “It was designed to be built up and sold quite quickly.

The great thing about it was that it won the best exchange product at Microsoft TechEd, proving it was world class technology, developed in New Zealand.”

Rod speaking at the San Francisco Xerocon in August this year. Photo provided courtesy of PJ Warren

www.aucklandtoday.net.nz September/October 2016 | 15

Profile | Sophie Pascoe

The road to

By Lydia Truesdale

Standing on the starting blocks at the Rio 2016 Paralympic Games, Sophie Pascoe won’t be thinking about the four long years she’s spent preparing for this moment; neither will she be thinking about the competitors lined up beside her, nor the spectators filling the stands.

The only thing on Sophie’s mind at this exact point in time will be the finish line and her chance at that prestigious gold medal.

came away with three gold medals, one silver, one world record and the title of youngest ever New Zealand Paralympian.

Sophie Pascoe has long had the Paralympic dream. Born in Christchurch in the early nineties and raised on a rural lifestyle block on the fringe of the city, Sophie enjoyed a typical Kiwi upbringing alongside elder sister Rebecca. Apart, perhaps, from one factor.

Now 23 her CV reads something like this: 10 Paralympics medals, 21 IPC World Championship medals, two Commonwealth Games medals, winner of the Halberg Disabled Sportsperson of the Year award on numerous occasions, and made a member of the New Zealand Order of Merit in 2009 for her services to swimming.

A fateful accident with a lawnmower when she was a toddler changed her life instantaneously, resulting in her left leg being amputated below the knee and severe scarring on the back of her right leg. To this day Sophie believes it was “the best thing that ever happened to me.

Not to be deterred from living an adventurous and ambitious life, she began swimming at the age of seven and by the age of 10 had set herself the goal of not only representing her country, but winning a gold medal – a promise she made to her beloved Gragra (Granddad) before he passed.

She’s delivered tenfold on that.

She currently holds the world records for the women’s 200m individual medley, 400m individual medley, 50m butterfly and 100m butterfly. She’s ranked world number one in 200m individual medley, 100m butterfly and 100m backstroke, and world number three in 50m freestyle S10.

A medallist in the making It was as a youngster at one of her first ever meets where Paralympians Roly Crichton and Graham Condon recognised Sophie’s talents and enticed her to join the QEII Swim Club with Roly as coach.

This unification was a wise move; under Roly’s guidance Sophie’s unquestionable ability emerged on the international stage.

She competed in her first IPC World Championships at the tender age of 13 where she bagged a bronze medal. Then at her first Paralympics, in Beijing as a 15 year old, she

Asked what her most memorable career highlight thus far would be, she doesn’t draw on the world titles or gold medals, nor the first time she donned the silver fern, rather, she says, it’s been making her family, friends and support team proud every time she races.

“My whole team, all my supporters… everyone’s support contributes in some way towards my achievements.”

A Kiwi through and through she’s as down-toearth as ever did exist. Evidently you can take this girl out of New Zealand but you can’t take New Zealand out of this girl.

The road to Rio Heading into the 2016 Paralympic Games, Sophie feels her qualification runs went “really well” and she is peaking exactly when she needs to be.

In order to gain a spot on the New Zealand team for the games she had to achieve no lower than second place at the 2015 IPC World Championships in Glasgow. Check.

She followed this up by qualifying herself an individual Paralympics spot at the 2016 NZ Championships in March.

When asked whether or not she’s messed with her winning formula from the last games, it turns out the ‘don’t fix what isn’t broke’ approach is as applicable to athletes’ training programmes as it is to life itself.

16 |September/October 2016 www.aucklandtoday.net.nz

Sophie wins bronze in the 100m breaststroke at the IPC World Championships in Glasgow, 2015

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“I was very fortunate to have a supportive family who bought me up like my sister who is nine years older and never treated me differently,” Sophie recalls.

She says there’s no secret to her success, rather a good old-fashioned approach of “process and hard work. And also keeping mentally and physically healthy and having a great support team around me.”

Sophie’s been preparing for Rio 2016 from the moment the last Paralympics ended, following the same programme as usual only with changes to the day to day regime. In quantifiable terms that’s four years, or 47.5 months, or 202 weeks, or 1,483 days of grounding.

She and coach, mentor and friend of 15 years, Roly Crichton, are “like an old married couple” – or a well oiled machine, depending on which way you look at it.

“We have to adapt to how my body has changed in that time and we are constantly coming up with ways to stay ahead of the competition,” she says.

“Every four years we re-evaluate, but everything I’ve done leading up to this point will contribute on the day. It’s now [two months out] all about fine-tuning.”

Outside swimming Sophie does have other interests, namely fashion and movies. A selfconfessed “girly girl”, she studied part-time at fashion school and in 2015 was a judge for the Westfield Riccarton Style Stakes at Addington Raceway during New Zealand Cup and Show Week.

She believes it’s important to have a good work/ life balance in order to keep a happy athlete training, even if only to better focus on the end goal of being the best in the world.

Like every sport there are challenges to overcome both along the way and within that sport, whether these are rules and regulations, drug doping or geographical, financial or logistical restrictions.

Five hours a day, six days a week, including gym workouts, massages, physiotherapy and a lot of swimming - that’s the kind of dedicated training regime it takes to become a world champion.

In Para-Sport the biggest challenge is disability classification. Para-Swimmers are divided into 14 functional classes. Sophie is classed as S10, SB9 and SM10, which means physical and/ or motor impairments of a lesser deficiency (the greater the impairment the lower the class number).

“I don’t feel like I’ve sacrificed anything because this is exactly what I want to be doing. But I definitely took a different path to my friends who went to university and were going out most weekends while I was at home getting an early night.”

This classification procedure intends to provide a structure for “fair and equitable competition according to how much their impairment affects their ability to carry out the fundamental activates in a specific sport,” as stated on the Paralympics New Zealand website.

“

Profile | Sophie Pascoe

To listen to that national anthem after winning a race is a proud moment for you and your country.

“It’s not really something that concerns me because I can’t control it anyway. I just focus on what I can control - my own performance and being the best in the world in my class.”

Let the games begin The Rio 2016 Paralympics run from September 7-18 in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. International Paralympic Committee (IPC) president Sir Philip Craven said they are expecting a record 4,350 athletes from around 170 countries to compete across 22 sports.

Sir Philip also notes more broadcasters than ever before have signed up to cover the games, including a number of new territories. He is “fully confident” they will break the four billion cumulative TV audience figure for the first time, compared with the London 2012 Paralympics cumulative TV audience of 3.8 billion.

Although only a small portion, a portion nonetheless of said cumulative audience will be the many Kiwis huddling under blankets, fingers clawed around hot drinks, tuned into their tellies at all hours of nightfall in a solid showing of support.

”

every race final. Quite the opposite of her demeanour outside the pool, her performance in finals is formidable.

“I’m looking forward to just getting out there and competing. I love it and I’ve been training so hard for so long to get there. I can’t wait for that adrenaline rush.”

Sophie’s first heat will take place on September 9 with the 50m freestyle, and the support from home is duly noted.

“Athletes love when we get any kind of backing or support of any kind. It would be great to know New Zealand is behind us, tuning in and watching the games. It always helps to know you have that support at home.”

Despite the fact her tunnel vision is set firmly on the games, Sophie takes the time to offer advice to the budding young athletes out there: “always follow your dreams and goals.

“You’ve got to do it – got to get up for the job.

There are days that I hate it and days I love it. Those days (when you hate it) make you stronger. You realise if you miss a session you can’t make up for it – that’s the life of being an athlete. You’ve just got to get through those harder days and push yourself.

Sophie has five possible chances at a gold medal in this year’s Games: in the women’s 50m freestyle, women’s 100m freestyle, women’s 100m backstroke, women’s 100m butterfly, and “Once you’ve finally achieved that goal the women’s 200m individual medley. Naturally she’s emotional relief and space after that is unreal. aiming for five out of five.

“To listen to that national anthem after winning a race is a proud moment for you As far as pre-race rituals go she’ll slip into and your country.” AT a brand new suit, just as she does before

www.aucklandtoday.net.nz September/October 2016 | 17

Management | Lifestyles

Lifestyles

1.

By Lydia Truesdale

2.

1. Glerups indoor shoe With the late arrival of winter it’s not too late to buy yourself a pair of Glerups - Danish designed felted indoor shoes. Made from 95 percent fully traceable New Zealand wool and five percent Gotland wool, their therapeutic qualities are the ultimate in indoor footwear, and are available in five colours.

RRP: $189 www.designdenmark.co.nz

2. Coravin wine access system Wine lovers, rejoice. This advanced design by Coravin allows you to pour your wine without ever removing the cork, meaning you can now savour your favourite drop weeks or even months after your first sip.

RRP: $675 www.ballantynes.co.nz

3.

3. Hurom H22 cold press juicer Specifically designed for commercial use, this is the crème de la crème of slow juicers. The Hurom H22 is ‘whisper quiet’, BPA free and guaranteed to produce the highest yield of any slow juicer on the market. It was a righteous winner of a German iF Design Award in 2015, so if there’s one juicer that should sit on your bench, it’s this.

4.

RRP: $2,195 www.huromslowjuicer.co.nz

4. Intel Compute Stick This nifty little creation is designed to transform any TV into a completely functioning computer with Windows 10 operating functions. Being the size of a stick of gum, it’s easily transportable and is revolutionising accessibility to smart technology.

RRP: $750 www.dragonpc.co.nz

5. Mr Fox rug Brighten up those wintry days with this sweet Mr Fox rug

by Scion. The animal theme and grey and orange colour combination are wickedly on trend, though there are four different colours and two different sizes to choose between.

RRP: $899 www.aladdinrugs.co.nz

6. Copper wire basket A stylish yet affordable storage solution, this copper wire basket measures 30x32cm making it ideal for bathroom storage. Roll up some clean towels or fill it with loo paper – whatever the case, copper is an understated and timeless design feature that’s the perfect accompaniment for any home.

RRP: $49.90 www.cravehome.co.nz

18 |September/October 2016 www.aucklandtoday.net.nz

6.

5.

THE RISE AND RISE OF

LINDEN ESTATE

BOUTIQUE WINERY FINDS FLAVOUR Despite its comparative size and geographic isolation, New Zealand has always competed well on the international stage, with quality a cornerstone of the “New Zealand made” offering. It’s not unlike the story of our boutique wine producers who compete against large multi-national enterprises with exclusive, quality focused wines.

In New Zealand, the 10 largest companies are making around 50 percent of the country’s wines.

Boutique wineries, in contrast, have become widely regarded for their individuality and the champions of diversity, with an end product which reflects the time and dedication put into its development.

Linden Estate, an innovative Hawke’s Bay winery just 15 minutes north of Napier, is one such boutique winery that is commanding attention on the global stage.

The Linden Estate story began in 1971 when Holland immigrant, Wim van der Linden and his wife Maria planted 12 hectares of Palomino and Riesling; the unique microclimate of the area lending itself to an equally unique wine flavour.

Eight years later Wim and Maria began making wine and building their reputation, as well as the Linden Estate brand.

After purchasing in 2001, a subsequent owner was unable to maintain the reputation the van der Lindens had built and, in 2006, the present owners (local businessman Bruce Jans and his business partner, Jim Bishop) took over, dedicating the following 10 years to re-establishing the brand as a quality producer.

“Since the new owners took over, they have worked hard to reinvigorate the brand, investing

heavily in the vineyard to produce quality wine, and in the winery on wine techniques with the winemaker and viticulturist – Trevor Shepherd,” a spokesperson for the company says.

“They have added new refrigeration units, new tanks, new health and safety precautions with gangways instead of crawling up ladders; just a lot of effort and time transforming Linden Estate into a modern winery but we have maintained the rustic charm and boutique look.”

With a completely new and passionate team, the company’s aim is to make premium boutique wine headed by a passionate team of young people who have one goal – to bring Linden back.”

enjoy food or coffee at Valley d’Vine restaurant, within the same building.

Linden Estate will be looking to increase the current capacity of 300 tonnes, during the next two to three years.

Linden Estate are in expansion mode with new additions of a barrel hall planned, increasing our barrel capacity, part of the new development on the site over the next 12 months.

“The opportunities are huge and as we grow our export business we will be looking to further expand our production capabilities.

We’ve got some very exciting developments in the pipelines.” says Trevor Shepherd

Grape varieties grown today on the 12 hectare Linden Estate are Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc, Gewurztraminer, Syrah, Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon and Pinotage.

While you won’t be able to pick up a bottle of Linden Estate from the local supermarket, it’s now even easier and more efficient than ever before to get access to this premium drop. “The beauty of being a boutique wine maker is the ability to experiment and innovate, to be trend setters.”

Available direct to the consumer via the online store, Linden Estate wines are a great option for corporate gifts and staff functions. An online wine club enables access to seasonal news and special offers on wine, events and new releases.

The unique setting of Linden Estate also makes it well placed for functions and events, tastings at the Cellar Door, located alongside the winery, or

Premium Boutique Wines to your doorstep - Freight Free

VISIT and ORDER ONLINE to WIN

www.lindenestatewinery.co.nz BOUTIQUE WINE SINCE 1971 | VINEYARD - WINERY - RESTAURANT

347 State Highway 5 - Eskdale - Napier - Hawke’s Bay E. info@lindenestatewinery.co.nz | T. 06 836 6806

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Health & Wellbeing | New Zealand Breast Cancer Foundation

The battle against breast cancer How businesses can support Breast Cancer Awareness Month this October The NZ Breast Cancer Foundation (NZBCF) is challenging New Zealand businesses to take action against breast cancer this October and help raise funds for awareness and education programmes, potentially life-saving research, medical equipment and services to support women with breast cancer.

Around 3,000 women (and around 20 men) will be diagnosed with breast cancer this year.

Funds raised this October will be used to support all areas of the NZBCF’s work. This includes educating women about signs of breast cancer and how to check their breasts, and informing women over 40 about the importance of early detection through mammograms.

The NZBCF also funds medical equipment for New Zealand’s public hospitals, training of doctors and other medical professionals, the Pink Caravan (taking breast care nurses to small

Get your team together, fundraise, volunteer at one of the NZBCF events, make a donation to the cause, or support an individual or group activity.

Choose from the activities below and see what you can do this October to support the cause: PINK RIBBON STREET APPEAL October 14-15 Volunteer your staff Collectors are needed across many sites and you could get your team involved, perhaps even outside your building! A great team bonding experience and you’ll be helping the thousands of other volunteers who will be out and about throughout the country over the two days. Just register your group and choose a location that suits via www.pinkribbonvolunteer.org.nz Or call the NZBCF Fundraising Team on 0508 105 105 for more options.

PINK STAR WALK Auckland October 8, Christchurch October 29, Wellington November 12 Represent your company and get a group together at one of these fun twilight walks. Dress up in pink if you dare and join in the festivities – register your group and fundraise for the cause.

Visit www.pinkstarwalk.co.nz

20 |September/October 2016 www.aucklandtoday.net.nz

A group co-ordinates their Pink outfits for the Pink Star Walk

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The NZBCF is one of the largest funders of breast cancer research in NZ, including research into new treatments, studies of how breast cancer grows and spreads, and improving access to clinical trials.

towns), services to support women recovering from or living with breast cancer, and the 0800 BCNURSE advice line.

PINK FOR A DAY Pink For A Day is an opportunity for workplaces across New Zealand to go pink any day in October as part of Breast Cancer Awareness Month. Last year 600 organisations took part in Pink For A Day, dressing their offices in pink, sharing pink themed morning/afternoon teas and wearing pink to the officeto fundraise for NZBCF.

For more information on how your workplace can take part visit www.PinkForADay.co.nz COMMUNITY FUNDRAISING EVENTS Get your team together and create your own event or choose a group to support from the registered activities. Check out the events calendar at www.takeaction.org.nz

Health & Wellbeing | New Zealand Breast Cancer Foundation Mammograms: what you need to know Whether or not you should be having mammograms, and how often, depends on your age. Here’s the New Zealand Breast Cancer Foundation’s guide to what action you should be taking at each stage of your life.

On average, eight women are diagnosed with breast cancer every day in New Zealand.

Breast cancer is most treatable when it’s found early, and the best way to do that is through screening mammograms.

Thanks to new data from Breast Screen Aotearoa, New Zealand’s national screening programme, we know that regular mammograms decrease your chance of dying from breast cancer by 39 percent. Perhaps even more significantly, if your cancer was diagnosed through a mammogram, your risk of dying from that cancer is 45 percent lower than if it was diagnosed after ‘finding a lump’.

The NZBCF doesn’t recommend mammograms under 40 unless you have a strong family history of breast cancer at a young age. “Instead, the best prevention for young women is to know the shape and feel of their breasts,” says NZBCF nurse Sarah Munro. “If you notice any changes, see your doctor as soon as possible.”

If you’re aged between 45 and 50 Women aged 45-50 are eligible for free mammograms every two years. We recommend that you consider paying for a mammogram in the years in between, so that you’re being screened every year.

“Cancers tend to grow faster in younger women,” explains Sarah. “At this age, it’s beneficial to be screened every year.”

If you’re aged between 50 and 69 Women in this age group are also eligible for free mammograms every two years. Cancers can still pop up in between mammograms, so visit the NZBCF website to see a video showing how to effectively check your breasts for signs of cancer.

If you’re older than 69 Older women (those aged 70 and above) actually have a higher risk of breast cancer than women in their fifties, but in New Zealand mammograms are only funded up to age 69.

The NZBCF recently presented a petition to parliament requesting the screening age be raised to 74. Ten thousand kiwis signed the petition and they’re hoping the Ministry of Health may soon extend screening to this age bracket.

In the meantime, Sarah recommends paying for mammograms in your 70s if you can afford to, and you’re still in good health.

NZBCF CEO, Evangelia Henderson can’t stress the importance of mammograms enough.

“Regular mammograms are absolutely the best protection you can give yourself against breast cancer. October is breast cancer awareness month, so if you haven’t had a mammogram yet - now’s the perfect time to start.” AT

Taking part in Pink for A Day

<

If you’re aged between 40 and 45 If you’re in your early 40s, the NZBCF recommends you consider paying for annual mammograms. Your risk of getting breast cancer is steadily rising in your forties, but mammograms aren’t free for this age group.

Crowds at the Auckland Pink Star Walk event

<

If you’re under 40 Women under 40 are at risk of breast cancer, but that risk is much lower than in women over 40. Mammograms aren’t funded for young women, because they typically have dense breast tissue, which makes tumours harder to spot on a mammogram.

A radiographer conducting a mammogram

<

In New Zealand, mammograms are free for women aged 45 – 69, which means all women of this age can benefit from a mammogram every two years. But what about women younger than 45, or older than 69? Here’s the New Zealand Breast Cancer Foundation’s (NZBCF) guide to what action you should take during each age bracket, and why.

New Zealand Breast Cancer Foundation 11 York Street Parnell Auckland T (09) 304 0766 T 0800 902 732 E breasthealth@nzbcf.org.nz www.nzbcf.org.nz — Advertising Feature

MERCY BREAST CLINIC

Proud to support NZ Breast Cancer Foundation Our boutique clinic was designed by women for women with your comfort in mind. Located in a quiet street with plenty of parking.

We have adopted a style of practice which is holistic and caring where our team are focused on making your experience with us special.

Our clinic’s warm, natural hues and natural light create soothing surrounds. The private waiting room and change facilities situated away from the busy reception makes the whole experience less daunting and enhances the interaction between patients and our clinic team.

After your examination you will be able to talk to the radiologist who will show you your mammogram and answer any questions you may have.

Our team look forward to welcoming you to our clinic where you will enjoy the difference.

Contact us on 09 623 0347 or visit our website www.mercybreastclinic.co.nz www.aucklandtoday.net.nz September/October 2016 | 21

Corporate venues | Jet Park Airport Hotel and Conference Centre

INCREASING PROFITABILITY THROUGH INSPIRED INTERIOR ENVIRONMENTS Commercial interior design specialists Yellow 6 Design have made their name creating innovative and contemporary environments for businesses and their employees to truly thrive in.

“The interior is the backbone of a company… It’s the first impression and it has to talk to both the staff and clients – sometimes in very different languages.

Space can also help to retain your staff, and if an interior spaces works well it can be a really big asset,” says director Suz Miller.

When directors Suz Miller and Reg Doria established Yellow 6 in 2012, they did so with ample design experience and knowledge behind them.

Reg hailed from a background in architecture and interior design, and Suz came with a broadened understanding of emerging global design concepts after having worked overseas for several years.

The name Yellow 6 comes from a type food colouring that Suz’s son is allergic to, but being a somewhat distinctive name it also reflected the team’s memorable and unique design disposition, and so the name stuck.

Based locally, thinking globally Yellow 6’s close-knit team is made up of seven expert yet diverse

interior designers, technicians and administrative personnel, that together ensure a smooth, personalised and professional experience for each and every client.

“We wanted to offer something a little more personal, to really listen to the client” says Suz. “The fact we design collaboratively with our client and our team and that we like to keep ahead of the curveball when it comes to design would be our point of difference.

“We don’t like to stand still… We try to look for new design aspects and weed out fads and go with what’s going to stand the test of time and work best for each individual client.”

The design process As commercial, retail, education and hospitality design specialists, Yellow 6 focuses on conceptual interior design, furniture consultation, procurement and custom joinery design.

Traditionally, when a client comes to Yellow 6 they will develop their brief and complete initial concept planning, before that concept is developed into 3D design. From there a detailed set of drawings will be produced in-house to enable full pricing and consent to be obtained.

result means the client can fully envisage their design and make any changes while it’s easy to do so. Then Yellow 6 will deliver the fit out – if required.

How involved the client gets is completely up to them. While Suz and Reg encourage clients stay involved throughout the whole process, they are equally as happy for the client to step into the background and sign off when they need to.

Yellow 6 has completed projects as large as 4,000sqm and as small as 44sqm, and ranging in price from thousands to millions of dollars, but generally the projects they take on are medium in size and take three to four months to complete.

Don’t delay it any longer; increase the appeal and value of your company and its workplace productivity by transforming your interior environment into an aesthetically and ergonomically engaging space for clients and employees to enjoy.

YELLOW 6 DESIGN UNIT 65 VICTORIA PARK MARKET AUCKLAND T (09) 215 7986 E SUZ@YELLOW6.CO.NZ WWW.YELLOW6.CO.NZ

Visualisation is a major strength for Yellow 6. Producing 3D concept designs that look exactly like the intended end

GET THE MOST FROM YOUR EXISTING COMMERCIAL SPACE EXCLUSIVE LIMITED OFFER FOR AUCKLAND TODAY READERS Do you know how your space is working for you?

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Property & Construction | Roofers Auckland

Property & Construction | Auckland Home Show

Getting on top of any roofing issues When was the last time you got on top of your roof? Chances are you haven’t thought about the health of your home or commercial building’s roof in quite some time.

Roofs are often the first feature of a building to be pushed to the side when it comes to the maintenance of your biggest asset. But in reality they should be at the top of everyone’s list.

A poorly maintained roof could be susceptible to leaks and water damage – creating a much bigger problem. You can stay protected from the elements and ensure your home is weather-tight with the help of Roofers Auckland.

Owner and operator of Roofers Auckland, Igor Gubani says the warmer months are the perfect opportunity to take stock of your roof’s condition and assess if it needs minor repairs or a complete overhaul.

The experienced roofing contractor is the premier roof, re-roof and repair firm in Auckland. “We’ll ensure your biggest asset is correctly flashed and roofed, protecting it from the elements. We know the importance of having a watertight home or office so when customers choose us they get the very best job because we don’t cut corners.”

If your roofing nails are bleeding rust and areas are blistering, capping is lifting, flashings are loose or if water has seeped in and is rotting beams, then it’s time to get it looked at by the experts. Dealing with these issues before they become a costly problem is the best course of action.

Igor says his team can carry out commercial roofing of industrial buildings along with new homes and re-roofing of existing houses. “We can handle tricky bungalows and character homes along with large commercial buildings.”

Roofers Auckland can also install and repair gutters and help with the selection and installation of skylights. AT Roofers Auckland 86 Sunset Road Unsworth Heights North Shore Auckland T 0800 766 328 E roofing.ig@gmail.com www.roofersauckland.co.nz

Everything for house and home New Zealand’s largest home and renovation event returns to the ASB Showgrounds from September 7 - 11 for five big days showcasing the latest products, services and trends in home improvements, building and outdoor living.

With home ownership retaining its position as the number one topic of conversation for the majority of Kiwis, it’s little wonder that the Auckland Home Show has again broken its own records, completely selling out of exhibitor space more than six months prior to show opening.

Now at absolute capacity, event organisers have this year come up with ingenious ways to make the most out of their available space at the ASB Showgrounds.

“Maximising space is a recurring theme for our exhibitors and this year we’ve had to take some of those lessons on board ourselves,” laughs exhibition marketing manager Jenny Murfitt.

“So, expect an Auckland Home Show with more innovation, products and surprises than ever before,” she says.

— Advertising Feature

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Where better to start than the Designer Living Pavilion - a fabulous showcase of interior products, furniture and furnishings that will bring a little affordable elegance and organisation into any home.

This year the Designer Living Pavilion focuses on living stylishly in smaller spaces, a global trend driven by the high prices of homes and the desire to downsize without losing important lifestyle features.

A notable trend in 2016 is a renewed focus on outdoor renovation and landscaping, as seen in the Walk of Gardens, presented by Auckland Landscape Supplies – featuring six leading landscape designers showing off their talents with innovative garden displays, and all ready to offer advice to the show visitor.

With homeowners desperate to incorporate or revitalise their ‘indoor-outdoor flow’ in readiness for the coming summer months, the Walk of Gardens should be the first stop on the Home Show journey.

Service Greater Auckland from Bombay through to Mangawhai

Phone 021 764 535

Email: adroitbuilders@gmail.com | Web: www.adroitbuilders.co.nz 24 |September/October 2016 www.aucklandtoday.net.nz

“Kiwis love their outdoor spaces, it’s a real part of our culture” Jenny says. “From decking to paving, spa pool options to lighting, or upgrading the family BBQ, we’ve covered it all at this year’s show.”

Where outdoor spaces were once the domain of the Kiwi bloke, the 2016 Auckland Home Show welcomes the She Shed; the female equivalent of the Man Cave.

“Kiwi women are jumping at the chance to kit out their own private hideaway at home,” Jenny says. “She Sheds are the perfect little haven to retreat to and escape the world,

whether it’s to relax and read a book, put your green thumbs to good use with some potting and gardening, or entertain your girlfriends in your very own outdoor wine bar!”

The She Shed feature will be located in the foyer area of the Logan Campbell Theatre (between Halls 4 and 5) and will showcase just a few of the reasons why the trend is fast growing in popularity.

The Jones Family Business is the event’s largest and again is proud to bring the SMEG Cooking Theatre, led by Vanessa Baxter (Kitchens Without Boundaries) supported by celebrity chefs Simon Gault and Lauren Bavin, creating a multitude of delicious family meals across the event.

They’re also adding a touch of the exotic, with the new ASKO Cooking Theatre featuring renowned Asian cuisine chef Sachie Nomura of Sachie’s Kitchen, demonstrating a fusion of dishes with the help of the newly released ASKO Volcano Wok. The Auckland Home Show is renowned as the place to get the latest Kitchen technology on one hand, and the very best Home Show deals and discounts on the other. And this year’s show is no exception, with a huge line-up of kitchen appliance brands including Fisher & Paykel, SMEG and ASKO, Classique and Baumatic, to name a few.

And the bathroom and laundry are likewise places to innovate and save as well. Look for leading brands Whirlpool, Kohler, Aquatica and Methven all showing the best new ways to improve the smallest room of the house.

And for energy saving and green options, the show features dozens of ways to reduce consumption or even go off-grid.

“It is exciting to see energy efficiency becoming an important conversation in every part of the show. Where once we’d only have a few special green exhibitors, now we’re seeing thousands of products that take the environment and cost of energy into account.”

Show visitors wanting guidance, but not sure where to start, can bring their plans to speak directly to the experts from Finesse Residential in the Ask the Experts area. And the ever popular FREE Design, Renovate, Decorate Seminars presented by Resene are an ideal way to see where home décor trends are heading.

Working smarter is another important trend how to make your home do the work for you, freeing up your leisure time.

“Developments in home technology mean that our homes are now a vibrant hub of connectivity,” Jenny says. “From integrated lighting and security, through to setting the ambient temperature of the floor of your house from your phone, the advancements in technology are so amazing, they can overwhelm.

“Whether you’re a technological novice, or whether you’re establishing your own data network within your lounge, we have all the experts on hand to answer your questions.”

For more show information, tickets and a list of daily seminars and topics, head to www.aucklandhomeshow.co.nz

AT

HANGER Shelving FLOATING TIMBER & GL AS S SHELVES FOR LOUNGE, BEDROOM, BATH ROOM OR BOARDROOM The simplicity of shelving belies the innovation behind its development.

But local firm Cliff Hanger Shelving has taken the concept one step further, with an exciting 100 percent New Zealand made range of striking architectural timber and glass floating shelves.

Cliff Hanger Shelving was developed and patented in the UK some 30 years ago, before being purchased and brought to New Zealand. During that time, it remained simply as a shelving bracket, before Dave Padfield purchased the company three years ago, further developing the end product.

“Traditionally, shelving brackets will be horizontally positioned on the wall, supported on the left and right hand sides however, there is no support in the middle. Our brackets run along the full length of the shelf, so they are strong enough to sit on, which is extremely unusual for shelving brackets.”

The 6mm toughened glass shelving is also able to hold up to 10kg and is available in clear or bronze glass, which makes it a striking option for more decorative use.

LED lights can be fitted inside your shelf to either shine light up, illuminating your products on the shelf, or down over a workbench highlighting the work area, which is great for bars and shop fitouts.

In the last three years the company has grown in excess of 440 percent by adding value to the original product by incorporating timber and glass shelving, as well as LEDs which can be inserted into the timber or glass shelving for display purposes.

The brackets are available in white, black, off-white and silver however, as the product is powder coated, specific colours are available by request, such as a recent custom bracket system for Vodafone which was powder coated in purple.

“Architects love the slim-line look of our shelving brackets because there’s no vertical lines up the wall.

So it really does look like the shelf is floating without brackets,” Dave says.

“Because we are a bespoke firm, we can do whatever the customer wants. If they want a 633mm shelf, then we can make them a 633mm shelf, or a 2440mm X 600 mm floating desk without any legs, we can do it,” Dave says.

The 16mm bracket is available for timber shelving and a 6mm bracket is sold with glass shelving.

Both products can be used in residential applications such as the laundry, kitchen, lounge, bedroom, study and even the garage.

Because the timber brackets can hold up to 100kg per metre, the timber shelving is an increasingly popular option for commercial applications, such as shop fitouts and warehousing.

“We get that weight capacity because of the unique purpose built design of our brackets,” Dave explains.

“Every component is made locally, even down to the plastic end caps, which are made in Onehunga. So this further enables us to control the production process.”

Cliff Hanger Shelving products are available online from the easy to remember www.floatingshelves. co.nz and from a number of selected wholesalers throughout the country. The company recently secured the multinational distribution rights for an Australian contract which will see container loads heading off into the Australian market.

About 15 percent of the company’s current production is exported around the world. “As a result, we have recently had to increase our production capabilities, so we have designed, engineered and manufactured a unique multi-head cutting/drilling machine to handle the workload.”

R&D is an ongoing component for the company, which Dave says is focused on creating add-on value for the end product. “There are no other floating shelf manufacturers in New Zealand,” he says.

“There are vertical brackets but not horizontals.

What sets us apart from overseas products is our 100kg rating on the timber products, which they can’t even get close to overseas. Police, hospitals and government departments demand Cliff Hanger Shelving for its strength.

“Our success is based on the quality and strength of our product.”

To purchase, stock, or simply find out more about floating shelves, visit the website or phone Dave directly to discuss your needs.

Cliff Hanger Shelving T (09) 889 8187 Freephone 0508 Shelving E info@floatingshelves.co www.floatingshelves.co www.cliffhangershelving.co.nz

AMAZING KITCHEN FACELIFTS BEFORE

AFTER

Amazing kitchen facelifts is what Dream Doors is all about, and you will find them at the Auckland Home Show showcasing their expertise in affordable yet swish, customised kitchens.

Many believe the kitchen is the heart of the home; it’s a space where the family come together and it can make or break the sale or purchase of a house.

BEFORE

look, but one that is affordable, opting to re-use as many original materials they can.

accurate and graphic depictions of their intended end result.

Typically they will repurpose the kitchen cabinetry and then install new bench tops, doors and drawer fronts, increasing the value of the home in a similar way to an entirely new kitchen but at a fraction of the cost.

Design your dream kitchen with the help of the experts at Dream Doors, or visit their stall at the Home Show to find out more.

They also offer a variety of top grade kitchen appliances, lighting and storage solutions to choose between, most of which are backed by their 10 year warranty.

New kitchens

Thankfully, renovating or building the kitchen of your dreams is easier – and perhaps cheaper – than you might think.

For those building from scratch, the team takes an equally economical and eco-friendly approach without compromising on overall quality.

Specialising in both new kitchen design and kitchen renovation, Dream Doors has made its name as one of New Zealand’s most trusted kitchen design companies offering its services nationwide.

They understand that many clients want to visualise and play around with their kitchen ideas and designs, to see what works aesthetically and cohesively before going ahead with installation, which is why they’ve adopted advanced 3D software for their clients to make the most of.

Kitchen renovations

The team at Dream Doors is dedicated to providing service with a point of difference. They work alongside their clients to create an entirely new

AFTER

Using the 20/20 Design Software – which has more than 20 years’ experience in kitchen design software – clients have access to incredibly

Dream Doors at a glance: • Custom-designed kitchens • Specialising in new kitchens and kitchen renovations • Eco-friendly design solutions • Door designs, bench tops, lighting, appliances, storage, sinks and bins.

Dream Doors T 0800 998 054 | M 021 998 054 E brett@dreamdoors.co.nz www.dreamdoors.co.nz

From a complete new kitchen installation to a simple door swap, Dream Doors have the kitchen solution for you.

Visit our website to discover the vast range of doors, bench tops, kitchens and design ideas Dream Doors have to offer.

Dream Doors can supply innovative kitchen storage solutions, top-brand appliances, quality sinks and designer bench tops.

Dream doors are there to help you turn your tired old kitchen into a fantastic new kitchen.

Phone: 0800 998 054 E: brett@dreamdoors.co.nz BEFORE

AFTER

www.dreamdoors.co.nz

TRULY NATURAL WASTEWATER TREATMENT The Home Show is the place to discover leading products and services for the home and this year won’t disappoint. Waterflow NZ will be showcasing its natural, power-free and cost-effective wastewater system, NaturalFlow.

The NaturalFlow wastewater system is revolutionising domestic wastewater and sewage treatment processes in New Zealand.

How it works

Using a power-free aerating process – as opposed to mechanical pumps –NaturalFlow harnesses Mother Nature’s recycling properties, by using an enclosed eco-system that breaks down and treats wastewater, until it is safe to be reintroduced into the environment.

First is the separation of black water, which comes from the kitchen sink and toilet, from grey water, which comes from the laundry, baths, showers and hand basins.

Waterflow NZ spent almost a decade researching and developing the NaturalFlow system before integrating it into the New Zealand market. Home owners from Cape to Bluff now have access to advanced water treatment solutions that are synonymous with clean, green 21st century ideals.

“We are very much working with nature in our processes, keeping it simple, using power-free natural aeration processes,” says marketing manager Dean Hoyle.

NaturalFlow is essentially a large-scale worm farm; a machinery-free vermiculture system that simulates the forest floor and reduces solids by up to 95 percent without using any power.

“No other system has the capacity to reduce solids by this amount,” says Dean.

Both types of water are then treated separately before being blended together for final disposal into the soil as per council regulations.

There are two types of NaturalFlow models – one designed to cater to one to two bedroom dwellings and the other to cater to homes of three to eight bedrooms.

Benefits in abundance Being natural and power-free benefits the client – and the environment – in more ways than one.

Unobtrusive: The system is passive, odourless and better yet... it’s silent, unlike its alternative, mechanical pumps.

Sustainable and environmentally friendly: NaturalFlow was designed to work with nature, not against it. Relying on natural bio-systems instead of machinery, the system is highly sustainable and environmentally friendly.

Manageable: Intentionally simplistic by design, NaturalFlow requires little to no ongoing maintenance. Treatment processes can sustain extended periods of inactivity, clients can let their system sleep while they are absent – something they are unable to do with mechanical-based systems.

Cost-effective: Unlike with mechanical processes, there are no costs relating to maintaining and repairing machinery. In fact, apart from installation, harnessing nature’s power through bio-processes is essentially free to do.

Waterflow NZ can handle the entire installation process – from initial site assessment and proposal, to engineering, council consent, project management and sign off – and all installers are certified drain layers authorised by Waterflow NZ.

NZ’S LEADERS IN

ECO SUSTAINABLE SEWAGE SYSTEMS ARE YOU WANTING POWER FREE SEWAGE TREATMENT? No Power in treatment processes Natures Active ‘Bio-system’ Odourless, quiet operation Extremely low maintenance needs Modular with low site impact Free Onsite Assessments

s at u e e S land k c u A Show e m Ho e No: Sit 0 51

Call us now for a free info pack

0800 628 356

Waterflow NZ, HEAD OFFICE | Montre Vue Estate, 1160 State Highway 12, Maungaturoto T (09) 431 0042 | E dean@waterflow.co.nz | www.naturalflow.co.nz To find out more about the advanced NaturalFlow wastewater system, visit Waterflow NZ’s stall at the Auckland Home Show, September 7-11, ASB Showgrounds, Greenlane.

“Understanding roofs since 1976”

BEFORE

AFTER

OUR 40 YEARS OF EXPERIENCE HAS GOT YOU COVERED A roof is structurally simple, yet architecturally integral, with its role in keeping a home’s inhabitants warm, dry and comfortable an essential one.

Despite its importance, we often don’t think about our roofing until things go wrong and, when they do – as they say – it doesn’t rain, it pours.

Repairs for an unmaintained roof often prove significantly more costly than the maintenance itself, while insurance companies won’t cover repairs for damage caused by neglect.

“People don’t generally do anything about their roof until it’s leaking,” Solar Chem Roofing managing director, Steve Ryan explains.

“Often at that point it’s too late and you may need a re-roof. Roofing should be checked every two years, every three years at a stretch and most will require some maintenance at the 15 year mark. If you catch it early enough, it’s generally not a major repair job and any issues can be pre-empted.”

third of the cost of a new roof, with a 10 year warranty, which we would generally expect to give you another 20 plus years.”

If you have an older roof that has been out of sight, out of mind, but want peace of mind, Solar Chem can provide a free, no obligation inspection report with recommendations for any remedial work required, to prevent internal damage from a leaking roof in the future.

Like many industries, the roofing market has been plagued by ‘fly-bynighters’ but Solar Chem has been in business for 40 years - with managing director Steve Ryan in the industry himself for 32 years after starting on the tools – and the company has one of the strongest warranties in the industry.

“We even cover manufacturer’s faults under our own warranty.

Our professionalism and honouring our warranties is what sets us apart from the competition.

“That’s where 40 years in business really speaks for itself. We’re not going anywhere.”

Solar Chem is this year celebrating 40 years in business. But don’t be fooled by the name – it’s not about solar heating. Solar Chem was established 40 years ago as a specialist in roof coatings to protect against solar damage before moving into roofing maintenance.

As well as the long established Auckland branch, Solar Chem has a Bay of Plenty branch servicing as far as Waikato and plans to open another North Island branch.

“We were a leader in the market for doing any sort of roofing maintenance, especially programmed maintenance,” Steve says.

“Over the years we’ve evolved to meet the market’s requirements and pushed for changes that benefit the homeowner to get the best durability and lifetime out of their roofing,” Steve says.

“The old state houses started coming of age where they required maintenance work, especially on a lot of the old tiled roofs after 20 years.

So we began maintaining the roofing, adapting to meet the needs of the market.”

Out of sight, out of mind is a fairly accurate saying when it comes to roofing, with many home renovators interested in more visual improvements, including the kitchen and carpets. “There’s also a very real perception that roofing work is more expensive than it actually is,” Steve says.

“Nobody wants a leaking roof, so we give our customers peace of mind, with a professional service and products delivered at a competitive rate.”

If you’ve got a 20+ year old roof that’s out of sight and out of mind, contact Solar Chem for a free, no obligation inspection report to give you peace of mind.

“For the average 150 square metre home, you might be looking in the vicinity of $10-12,000 to replace a 30 year-old roof, but if your roof is suitable, we can extend its life, bringing it back up to scratch for just a

Solar Chem Roofing | 4/123 Target Road, Glenfield, Auckland

0800 12 11 11 | Email enquiry@solarchem.co.nz | www.solarchem.co.nz

Property & Construction | Westferry Property Services

Innovation and dedication wins award Westferry Property Services’ recent win at the BSCNZ Clean Sweep Awards reflects the company’s commitment to looking after its staff and shaking up the cleaning industry.

Operations manager Karen Scott won the Outstanding Contribution Award at the awards, which company owner Dominic Drumm says was fully deserving.

Westferry Property Services offers a range of high quality services, including:

“Karen has been in the industry for almost 30 years. She and I started this business about eight years ago. We have grown it to a fairly sizeable entity now, due to her knowledge in the industry and mine in business. We’ve tried to shake the industry up a bit.”

Focus on supporting staff Karen has been involved in shaping the direction of Westferry Property Services, which offers a wide range of professional cleaning and property maintenance services.

She and Dominic head a company that is heavily focused on looking after and supporting its staff, many of whom are part time or work at Westferry as a second job.

Westferry Property Services’ success in the Clean Sweep Awards is an indicator of the company’s commitment to its staff and the cleaning industry. Pictured are, from left: director Dominic Drumm, Karen Scott and Robyn Parakoti

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• Contract cleaning • Initial cleaning • Waterblasting • Exterior building cleaning • Window cleaning • Painting • Carpet and upholstery cleaning • Floor care • Washroom hygiene • Pest control • IT cleaning • Industrial sweeping and scrubbing • Consumable supplies.

“The award for Karen was for her outstanding contribution to the industry,” Dominic says.

Westferry Property Services, which also operates in Wellington, runs a programme called ‘Becoming a Better Person’ which involves improving workplace and financial literacy for their staff.

“We’re trying to do things a bit different to our competitors and are trying to manage some of the challenges we have in the industry and challenges our staff have in their own lives,” Dominic says. “Often that sparks a chain of events in their own lives that lead to issues in the workplace.”

“We can’t put everyone through it but for those who do it we’ve seen a huge increase in their confidence levels. A lot of those people have left school at 15 and English is a second language.”

This emphasis on people is evident throughout Westferry Property Services’ offering to customers, with the company working hard to raise standards within the cleaning industry.

Congratulations to all the BSCNZ winners of The Clean Sweep Awards Westferry Property Services operations manager, Karen Scott receives her award for outstanding contribution at the 2016 BSCNZ Clean Sweep Awards

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Water Blasting Window Cleaning High Access Cleaning Lawn Care Landscaping

“We’re gearing up to challenge the status quo out there and roll this out to bigger customers,” says Dominic.

Call 0800 55 KIWI www.kmgroup.co.nz

Health and Safety for property service contractors Safety Work Kits supplies a range of workplace safety kits specifically developed for property service contractors.

Our kits have been specifically developed to meet the expectations of the Health & Safety at Work Act 2015 (HSWA)

Our Range of Health and Safety Kits CleenSafe: For all types of cleaners and carpet technicians TrimSafe: For lawn mowing contractors, gardening contractors PestSafe: For pest control technicians SelectSafe: For service/tradesmen For more information call 0800 25 33 67 or visit www.safetyworkkits.co.nz

30 |September/October 2016 www.aucklandtoday.net.nz

“It’s about working for clients who understand what we’re trying to do. They’re going to get a better level of service and our values match those of our clients.”

Karen and Dominic would like thank their staff, all the company’s clients, suppliers and supporters on this page: Staples Rodway, Safety Work Kits and Kiwi Maintenance Group. AT Westferry Property Services PO Box 11027 Ellerslie Auckland 1542 T (09) 580 3121 E dominic@westferry.co.nz www.westferry.co.nz — Advertising Feature

Goods & Services | Footings & Floors

The preparation and pouring specialists When appreciating the end result of a stunning new build you might admire the architecture or compliment the sleek finishing, but regardless of how good the builder or the sub-contractors are, if the foundation isn’t right then their hard work and your money will be spent in vain.

Owner and operator, Dean Grice says he and his efficient team can eliminate any hassles associated with getting out of the ground. He says he affords every job, big or small, with the same commitment. “We are committed to finishing every job in the time promised for the price quoted and to the highest standard of accuracy and finish possible.”

A strong, accurate, well constructed foundation is essential for a high quality outcome on any building project.

Footings & Floors understands that all great projects start from the foundation up, which is why it has specialised tools, systems and equipment to make its work more accurate and efficient. But it also looks beyond the foundation stage to see the whole project and the flow-on result of its work.

To start a build off on the right foot, engage the foundation specialists, Footings & Floors Ltd. The local contracting firm can take on residential or commercial concrete projects of any description, from concrete foundations, floors, driveways, retaining walls, tilt panels, concrete architectural features and more.

Its cliental are both residential and commercial, including builders, property owners, architects, engineers and developers. The business operates Auckland-wide having travelled as far south as Hamilton and up to Kerikeri, but Dean says he ideally prefers to stay closer to his local area, Warkworth.

The Footings & Floors advantage: • Fixed price • Handles the council and engineer compliance • Takes care of booking concrete pumps and placing concrete • Supplies the boxing and profiles • Cuts the concrete • Leaves the site tidy. AT

Footings & Floors Ltd 73 Jones Road RD 6 Warkworth North Auckland T 021 123 1013 E footingsandfloors@xtra.co.nz www.footingsandfloors.co.nz — Advertising Feature

Wharehine ReadyMix A division of Fletcher Concrete and Infrastructure Limited, producers of certified ready mix concrete from standard, high-performance to architectural concrete.

We are Proud to be associated with Footings and Floors HEAD OFFICE : Ph 09 423 6044 | E info@wharehine.co.nz

www.wharehine.nz

www.aucklandtoday.net.nz September/October 2016 | 31

Focus | Watertight Plumbing

Get it done right – get it Watertight Watertight Plumbing has a great deal on Rinnai Infinity continuous gas hot water heaters to mark its second year at the Auckland Home Show in September.

The Home Show will be held at the ASB Showgrounds, Greenlane, from September 7-11 and features more than 500 exhibitors. Watertight Plumbing is taking part in the show for a second time and is located at stand number 314 opposite the Rinnai stand.

Upgrade to Rinnai gas hot water at the Home Show

“One of the most popular products we install is the Rinnai InfinityVT26, an external gas hot water heater. It's energy efficient because it only heats hot water when you need it, and provides a continuous 26 litres of hot water per minute,” Matt says.

“A lot of people are moving to a Rinnai Infinity and away from the traditional hot water cylinder because they are easy to install, offer continuous hot water and allow you to free up space by removing your hot water cylinder, and is an instant upgrade for those on low pressure systems.”

UNBLOCKING ALL DRAIN ISSUES PLUS LOCATING & CCTV

0800 4 NINJA 64652

CONGRATULATIONS TO OUR STRATEGIC PARTNER

WATERTIGHT

If you are looking at LPG bottles and sign up with Watertight and Contact Rockgas, you can get the first two bottles credited on your account, saving you from $195.50 (conditions apply).

“

One of the most popular products we install is the Rinnai InfinityVT26, an external gas hot water heater. It's energy efficient because it only heats hot water when you need it.

- MATT MCDERMOTT, MANAGING DIRECTOR

The company employs a qualified and experienced team, who undertake plumbing, gasfitting, roofing, drainage and electrical work

A full range of services Watertight Plumbing offers a complete range of services, including plumbing, gasfitting, roofing, drainage and electrical work.

”

It's plumbing work includes everything from blocked drains, burst pipes, hot water cylinders, infinities, renovations and new builds.

Watertight Plumbing offers a seamless service and takes care of the entire installation process.

Watertight will remove your old hot water cylinder, install the Rinnai Infinity on an outside wall, and connect it to the existing plumbing and electrical.

Gas connection is made to existing natural gas or LPG. Where there is no gas connection, Watertight can arrange LPG bottles to be supplied. “We can also look at upgrading their home to gas cooking and heating at the same time if the customer chooses,” Matt says.

Watertight Plumbing would like thank all its clients, suppliers and supporters on this page: Drain Ninjas, Plus 4 Insurance Solutions and FreeFlow Drain Specialists. In fact the support and expert advice from these specialists aids Watertight Plumbing’s operation. Take Plus4 Insurance for example, who specialise in personal and business insurance solutions.

Watertight Plumbing has a special on Rinnai Infinitygas hot water heaters at the Auckland Home Show

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DRAIN NINJAS

Watertight Plumbing has a special deal for the Auckland Home Show of $2,999 inclusive of GST, for the supply and installation of the Rinnai Infinity VT26, including the electrical work.

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Watertight Plumbing managing director, Matt McDermott, says the Home Show was a great success for the company last year, and one of the most common questions they received was about upgrading to gas hot water.

Home Show special on Rinnai Infinity

CHOOSING THE BEST OF THE BEST FOR YOU Specialises in insurance for self-employed people and business owners – helps small business owners structure their ACC correctly, so they can reduce their costs and gain certainty at claim time.

MATT THOMSON PRINCIPAL Phone 021 923 019 Email matt@plus4.co.nz

MATT THOMSON & PLUS4 INSURANCE SOLUTIONS ARE PROUD TO BE SUPPORTING WATERTIGHT PLUMBING

Visit: www.plus4.co.nz/insurance-auckland-matt-thomson/

24/7 Rapid Emergency Response Toll Free: 0800 Overflow / 0800 683 7356 DDI: 09 391 0170 Mobile: 022 043 5375 www.freeflowdrains.co.nz Eftpos & Major credit cards accepted

Blocked Drain? Call 0800 OVERFLOW 32 |September/October 2016 www.aucklandtoday.net.nz

Freeflow Drain Specialists are proud to be associated with Watertight Plumbing

By reviewing Watertight Plumbing’s ACC structure, Plus4 was able to save Watertight Plumbing a considerable amount on their ACC levies. Watertight Plumbing then decided to reinvest in their staff by putting in place a staff medical scheme, aiding staff retention and reinforcing their commitment to their most important asset, their people. This is what mutually beneficial commercial relationships are about and the end result is clients of all the companies involved benefit from such partnerships. AT

Watertight Plumbing 49B Station Road Penrose Auckland 1061 T 0800 426 444 E info@watertightplumbing.co.nz www.watertightplumbing.co.nz — Advertising Feature

• Drain Unblocking • Drain Laying • Unblocking of Toilets / Sinks / Showers / Gutters • Suction of Grease Traps / Cesspits / Interceptor Traps / Septic Tanks • CCTV Drain Installations • Drain Locating • Root Cutting • Civil Works • Trained Technicians with 28 Years Combined Experience

Property & Construction | Smith and Sons Franklin

The renovation experts Smith and Sons Franklin can help you create the home of your dreams – whether you’re building an architectural design from scratch or making improvements to the home you’re already in.

Their core business is renovations and extensions, but they also undertake high-end architectural new builds. It leaves the standard mid-range new builds to its sister company, GJ Gardner Homes.

The company is owned by Lane and Melissa van den Brink and is part of a network of franchises throughout New Zealand.

“We aim to see every project, no matter how big or small, completed to the highest of standards,” Lane says.

“We can take care of the entire process for you, from the architect to the council, through the construction process to completion.”

• Project management • Alterations and renovations • Architectural new builds • Kitchen and bathroom renovations • Total home makeovers • Decks and pergolas • Property maintenance • Interior and exterior living areas • Retail fitouts.

Smith and Sons Franklin is currently undertaking a large renovation worth more than $1 million in Takanini, which involves adding a second storey to an existing home.

Lane enjoys the challenge of turning a client’s renovation vision into a reality with an eye for the little things in detail and design. He takes pride in being able to translate a client’s brief into a practical and cost-effective solution that also looks great.

High quality new builds Smith and Sons Franklin has a number of architectural new builds currently under construction, including a new home at Mangatawhiri and a new two-storey childcare centre in Manurewa.

Lane and Melissa aim to supply their own qualified builders for every job, using subcontractors only when needed. This is done to ensure a high quality of workmanship on every job.

The team at Smith and Sons Franklin specialise in renovations and architectural new homes

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Smith and Sons Franklin undertakes a wide range of renovation work, from kitchen and bathroom updates through to major extensions and renovations. Its team of professional builders and project consultants can help you make your renovation project an easier and more enjoyable process.

Smith and Sons Franklin offers a range of high quality building services, including:

Lane says clients who choose Smith and Sons Franklin receive a high level of service and communication at every stage of the build process. They deal directly with the business owners, who employ a fantastic team and have strong relationships with their suppliers. AT

Smith and Sons Franklin 19 Manukau Road Pukekohe T (09) 947 9533 E franklin@smith-sons.co.nz www.smithandsonsfranklin.co.nz — Advertising Feature

Designing & manufacturing the highest quality kitchens in the greater Auckland area for over 20 years.

Our experienced team can work with you from design or from your architect’s plans, to bring your dream kitchen to life.

Call us today for an appointment with one of our team.

Counties Aluminium 2010 Ltd proud to be the official supplier of quality windows & doors for Smith & Sons Ph 09 298 2995 | Mob 021 581 859 | E info@countiesaluminium.co.nz No. 3 / Unit 2 Markedo Place, Papakura, Auckland | www.countiesaluminium.co.nz

PLACEMAKERS PUKEKOHE PROUDLY SUPPORTING SMITH AND SONS FRANKLIN Prestige Home Groomers can offer you a specialized cleaning service for all your R Builders cleans R Show homes R Window cleaning R Scheduled Grooming WE DON’T JUST CLEAN WE “PRESENT”

0508 HOMEGROOMERS

Contact Angela on 021 022 60453

PO BOX 202081 TAKANINI, AUCKLAND

www.homegroomers.co.nz

Call us for all your electrical needs.

PROUD SUPPORTERS OF SMITH AND SONS FRANKLIN

3 New Homes 3 Renovations 3 Re-wiring 3 Electrical Maintance 3 Underground Mains

Please phone us or see the PlaceMakers website for our business hours WWW.PLACEMAKERS.CO.NZ PLACEMAKERS PUKEKOHE 4 COMRIE PLACE, PUKEKOHE (09) 237 0020

3 LED Lighting 3 TV Cabling 3 Phone 3 Data 3 New Power Points

Proud to be supporting Smith & Sons Franklin.

Director

Vishnu Powar

NZ Registered Electrician

PO Box 1372, Pukekohe 2340 M. 027 200 4961 | E. info@vpelectrical.co.nz www.vpelectrical.co.nz www.aucklandtoday.net.nz September/October 2016 | 33

Property & Construction | RJM Construction

Quality set in concrete best practise together with its highly qualified, centralised labour force.

“One of the biggest challenges in our industry is reliable staff and finding the right people to come on board,” says Ray. RJM is meticulous about whom it hires, but Ray notes there is always room in the team for the right person – someone with the right attitude and work ethic who is reliable and self-motivated.

Ray Menzies established RJM Construction in 2010 to connect those in the wider Auckland region with superior residential construction services.

While RJM’s personnel are its biggest strength, another asset is the fact the company owns all its own machinery. Not having to rely on others for equipment makes for a smooth Capable of all the main construction components experience and increases the chance of completing the job on time. in concrete construction and light civil work, RJM Construction doesn’t just specialise in Further to their commitment to provide a one area, but all areas, thanks to its strong seamless and satisfying experience is their understanding of construction codes and focus on behind-the-scenes management.

COMPANY FOUNDER AND DIRECTOR, RAY MENZIES

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“Quality set in concrete” is the motto they live by at RJM Construction, a company that specialises in concrete work, form work, reinforcing and earthworks.

And that quality is carried across the entire project, every project.

RJM has in place effective technologies and digital programmes to simplify everything from timetabling to invoicing.

It comes as no surprise that RJM has been entrusted to complete projects for nationally renowned companies like Jennian Homes and Mike Greer Homes.

Ray and his team pride themselves on the timely and high quality services they deliver and they’re

on a mission to solidify themselves as the go-to construction company in Auckland. AT RJM Construction 14 Long Street Torbay Auckland M 021 334 481 E raym@rjmconstruction.co.nz www.rjmconstruction.co.nz — Advertising Feature

We provide top Quality Service with a Personal Approach!

We supply the following: • Aggregate Material Ex-Yard or Supply and Deliver • 4 Wheeler and 6 Wheeler Truck Hire • Truck and Trailer Hire (Bulk Haulage) • Cleanfill & Uncleanfill Tipping www.albanytransport.co.nz

13 Henry Rose Place Albany | P: 09 448 1106 | E: albanytransport@xtra.co.nz

PREPARE TO BE FLOORED...

RESIDENTIAL | RETAIL | COMMERCIAL | HOSPITALITY Polished Concrete Solutions • Crack & Repair Products

LESA Systems Ltd has a wide range of products manufactured by specialists all over the world.

We offer floor finishing systems for nearly every circumstance and can assist in every selection of the most suitable floor finish for any building, commercial or residential, new or repair.

LESA Pentra Floor 0800 74 LESA www.lesapentrafloor.co.nz

E N V I R O N M E N TA L LY S U S TA I N A B L E D U R A B L E P O L I S H E D C O N C R E T E F L O O R S

34 |September/October 2016 www.aucklandtoday.net.nz

Focus | MS Engineering

Where expertise delivers performance MS Engineering Limited is a privately owned engineering business located in Warkworth, North Auckland, offering a range of services including jobbing, steel and aluminium fabrication, precision CNC machining and a full blast and paint booth for completing material coatings.

ISO9001 quality assurance The company achieved ISO9001 accreditation this year after improving systems throughout the organisation.

HR contracts manager Graham Buchs says achieving the accreditation shows MS Engineering now has the documented systems in place to back up company processes.

“Through the implementation of ISO9001, in conjunction with our specifically tailored computerised business system, we have been able to give our customers the confidence that their work is being completed to the highest of standards, with all relevant documentation and certifications recorded on each job and supplied at the jobs completion if requested.

“The ISO accreditation, along with accredited ACC at tertiary level, shows our commitment to providing a safe environment for work to be completed.”

MS Engineering is a full service company offering a wide range of engineering services, which Graham says is one of its main strengths. “There is not much we don’t take on with enthusiasm,” he says.

MS Engineering’s portfolio of successful projects recently includes all the structural steel for the new Grange shopping complex in Warkworth and the structural, architectural and stainless steelwork for top-end residential projects.

The company employs a team of more than 35 dedicated tradesmen, with a management and supervisor structure to ensure the company’s underpinning qualities of innovation, technology, service and satisfaction are met consistently.

MS Engineering’s six divisions undertake a range of work, and these include: MS Jobbing: A complete jobbing service, including design and build, production of machine tools, factory fit-outs, hydraulic hoses and systems and plant maintenance

As a full-service company MS Engineering offers a wide range of engineering services

<

“It is all about quality assurance and ensuring that what the customer desires is what the customer gets,” he says.

Diverse range of engineering services

MS Precision: Seven CNC machining centres, four CNC lathes and a CNC wire cut, as well as grinders, manual lathes and milling machines.

MS Cranes: Large site cranes to support MS Steelfab and the Rodney district. AT

MS Steelfab/Truckbuild: From small fabrications to large structural and architectural steelwork, truck alterations and improvements.

MS Engineering Limited 24 Morrison Drive Warkworth Auckland T 0800 4257116 E mse@mseng.co.nz www.mseng.co.nz

MS Blast and Paint: Blast and paint bays for meeting coating specifications.

MS Alifab: Close tolerance heavy and light aluminium fabrication work.

— Advertising Feature

Engineered Solutions in plastic with over thirty years in the plastics industry • Acetal • Acrylic • Machined Parts • Nylon • Performance Plastics • Pet P • Polycarbonate • Polyethylene • Polypropylene • Polytetrafluoroethylene • PVC • Composite Bearings • Reverse Engineering • PEEK • Torlon Balls

Ph 0800 506 407

www.macplas.co.nz

NORTH ISLAND | M: 021 506 407 | E: sales@macplas.co.nz SOUTH ISLAND | M: 021 922 473 | E: ch.sales@macplas.co.nz

<

MS Engineering gained ISO9001 accreditation this year, ensuring quality at every level of its operations

Proud to provide transport services to

MS Engineering

Transcon provides general, container, and specialised transport service between Auckland and the Silverdale, Warkworth and Wellsford areas.

P. (09) 423 9300 E. blake@transcon.co.nz www.transcon.co.nz www.aucklandtoday.net.nz September/October 2016 | 35

Focus | Sea Services

Ensuring vessels have everything they need Dedicated ship supply company Sea Services looks after international, ocean going vessels, supplying the products required to keep them operational, including food and beverages, charts and navigation equipment, spare parts, appliances, crew welfare items, cooking chemicals, cleaning and operations, and safety equipment.

Customers include cargo vessels, fleet vessel managers and operators, cruise liners and the occasional super yacht.

Cargo vessels are serviced 24/7 year-round, with Sea Services servicing these clients in Northport, (Whangarei), Auckland and Tauranga. But the company is also called upon when customers visit Taranaki (New Plymouth), Gisborne and Napier. Cruise liners visit from spring to autumn and Sea Services arranges supplies for them in

major NZ ports, and as far afield as Papeete, Rarotonga and Noumea.

Sea Services can trace its origins back to the 1970s when two young men became involved in the ship supply industry after leaving high school. Tony Pak, now Sea Services’ managing director, was employed by Weddel Meat Processors in their ship supply operation, while founder Brian Hewitt began his career with Gillman and Watson, also supplying vessels.

BLUEBIRD FOODS LTD ARE PROUD TO BE SUPPORTING SEA SERVICES (2002) LTD www.bluebird.co.nz

Suppliers of Quality Food Solutions

Ph 09 918 8470 Dried Fruits • Tree Nuts • Canned Fruits • Beans & Pulses • Vinegar Confectionery • Condensed Milk • Tomato Products • Flour & Starches Canned Beans • Fruit Purees • Rice • Grains & Seeds • Tropical Fruits Peanut Butter • Mrs Ball’s • Peppadews • Yes You Can Summer Harvest Pre-Pack Range

www.brookefinefoods.com

Groenz are a proud supplier to

SEA SERVICES

We distribute and supply majority of Asian Supermarkets throughout New Zealand.

You can visit our retail branch/showroom at 52 Queens Road, Panmure, Auckland.

NZ’s Best Producer of Quality Gourmet Poultry

Proud to be associated with Sea Services (2002) Ltd

FREE RANGE TURKEY, DUCK, QUAIL AND POUSSIN Canter Valley are proud to be supporting Sea Services (2002) Ltd Phone 03 312 9805 admin@cantervalley.co.nz www.cantervalley.co.nz

The leading importer and distributor of Filipino goods and services within New Zealand.

www.groenz.co.nz

36 |September/October 2016 www.aucklandtoday.net.nz

Ph. (09) 570 8981 (retail) Ph. (09) 274 7595 (wholesale) Email: info@tresmarias.co.nz

Focus | Sea Services

“

Whether supplying a cargo vessel or a cruise ship, it’s all about service.

On every ship coming into New Zealand, the crew is a multi-national team, nothing is NZ standard and they rely on Sea Services to get all the equipment required for a ship to operate.

- DARRELL LINES, OPERATIONS SUPERVISOR

”

Back in the 1970s, most vessels visiting NZ were bulk carriers, refrigerated vessels and cargo ships. Containerised transportation was in its infancy. Railway lines ran along Quay Street as far as Princes Wharf and constantly in use. Most vessels called into port for days as loading/unloading operations took time.

Brian says “In 1977, when I started Sea Services, Columbus New Zealand, Columbus America and Columbus Australia were the biggest container ships to visit. At 1200 TEU, today they would barely be considered adequate as coastal feeder vessels.”

Very few cruise liners called back then and a visit from a liner was an occasion which would draw onlookers down to the port to catch a glimpse of an elite ocean-going ‘greyhound’.

“The average cargo vessel had 35 crewmen and would be in port for three to four days. Sea Services used to supply three or four ships a day. Back then, an oil tanker visiting the Marsden Point oil refinery would have 50 to 60 crewmen, including maintenance teams, and an order for 1,000 cases of beer was not out of the ordinary.

“In the 70s and 80s most ships did their maintenance on board, not in a dry dock like

today. In 1977, Auckland still had two ships a week bringing in phosphate and sulphur for the fertilizer works. The pipeline from Marsden Point wasn’t built and Sea Services supplied smaller oil tankers, bringing product from off-shore and down the coast every week.

division and McCallum Trading was born.

There was plenty of business to go around.

Freight containerisation, equipment advances and computerisation have made freight movement more efficient. Vessels visiting NZ are now much larger and require, on average, only 22 crewmen “There was always a ship in port bringing in to operate. Today a container ship will be in and crates of CKD (completely knocked down) cars. out of Fergusson terminal in 12 hours or less.

Auckland was visited by a far wider variety of In the mid-1980s the volume of business in the ships and many more of them than we see today.” industry shrank, resulting in fewer ship supply companies. In 2002 McCallum Trading acquired While Brian formed Sea Services, Tony took Sea Services and both business operations his employer, Weddel Ship Stores, up on the opportunity to purchase the ship servicing combined under Sea Services (2002) Ltd. >

American Flavours Win Over Kiwi Taste Buds When Kiwis taste American confectionery for the first time, they’re usually hooked by the authentic taste.

It’s the real thing.

“The flavours are so different,” says co-owner of International Foods, Leigh Sartin, who with husband Steve, imports 800 lines of mainly North American products which are tickling Kiwis’ tastebuds.

Leigh, a Kiwi, was beginning her OE in the United States when she met Steve Sartin, from Houston, Texas. They ultimately returned to Hamilton, married, had children and went into business together.

Now she’s a convert to the American flavours.

They distribute across shops and supermarkets around the country and have a dozen visitors a day to their Maui St warehouse and retail store. They want plenty more.

As well as a massive range of American confectionery, groceries and drinks, International Foods imports variations on well known global products which provide kiwis with a more diverse range of offerings.

“We wouldn’t bring in a normal Snickers bar,” says Steve.

In 2007 they brought their first container, despite the fact that at that stage they had no real customers.

scientist Gary Broome aren’t shareholders but act as mentors for Steve and Leigh.

“That’s important to us,” says Leigh. “That we’re not competing and selling the same brands that are already here. We bring in what they don’t do.”

“Leigh and I had a competition and called every speciality and video shop in the country. At first it was really slow and then all of a suddenly it went crazy.

Business took off.”

“They are a great team,” says Steve.

“They have taught us a lot of stuff. And it’s nice to have a third party to bounce ideas off, I think, especially when you’re a husband and wife team in business together.”

The Sartins appear to be on the cusp of a real breakthrough and it’s been an interesting path to get to this point. Both are former teachers, and when Leigh was pregnant with their first daughter back in 2001, Steve bought 20 vending machines to supplement their income.

A natural salesman, he built that up to 250 machines and started setting up licences around the country on behalf of an Australian company.

He then changed tack and started importing machines from the US, again building up licensees around New Zealand. It was during this period in 2004 that the Sartins became frustrated with the limited variety of confectionery for machines and started bringing in their own product – often based on customer requests.

“One day Leigh and me were talking and she said ‘why don’t we just bring in food?’”

A key was when the owners of United Video wanted the product for all their stores. For a while it was boom times. But then a number of customers starting importing themselves and videos stores started dying.

Steve and Leigh had to rebuild, finding a whole new line of distributors, including dairies, specialty shops and supermarkets. Steve now does the sales himself and spends a week a month travelling the country. There was a lot to learn about dealing with supermarkets and earning respect.

But the hard work is paying off as International Foods gains a foothold in supermarkets with more and more product on the shelves.

The couple made other improvements to the business, approaching people they respected to be on an advisory board. Leith Oliver from Auckland’s Icehouse business development school and a food

As the business grows, Steve and Leigh have exciting plans for the future focusing on developing their own product lines for retail and export.

After two years building a recipe, International Foods has released its first product of its own - Hartley & Valentino Chocolate Truffles. There are five flavours available and the time spent on perfecting the taste was well worth it. The truffles are already proving a winner and there are more products to come.

In the meantime, International Foods’ has just started bringing Mexican food specialties for the food service industry. They are now bringing in a range of products like dried chillies, canned jalepeno peppers, and other ingredients for those restaurants that want an authentic taste of Mexico.

If you are looking for something different and products that sell well then contact Steve on 021 598 256 or steve@internationalfoods.co.nz

International Foods, 36 Maui St, Hamilton | www.internationalfoods.co.nz www.aucklandtoday.net.nz September/October 2016 | 37

Focus | Sea Services

“

We work 24-7, 365 days a year to service our customers’ needs, so the level of dedication of staff, suppliers and the company itself required to meet those needs is what has made the company such a success over the years and we expect to keep meeting those needs moving forward.

”

- DARRELL LINES, OPERATIONS SUPERVISOR

Today, Sea Services is the largest dedicated ship supply company in NZ, with a committed team of 20. Deliveries are made to vessels around the clock from a warehouse in Penrose and investment in state of the art equipment and facilities ensures they meet customers’ needs, including purpose built freezer and chiller units, computerised ordering systems, substantial warehousing and stock on hand, and a fleet of delivery vehicles.

Being based in Auckland, NZ’s busiest port, linked to Tauranga, the second largest port, has given the company opportunity to grow to its current size. And with a third of the population, Auckland offers the widest range of products, at the most competitive prices, so taking stores is cost effective and convenient for customers.

Whether supplying a cargo vessel or a cruise ship, it’s all about service. On every ship coming into New Zealand, the crew is a multinational team, nothing is NZ standard and they rely on Sea Services to get all the equipment required for a ship to operate. Sourcing and logistical supply involves working around tight timeframes and jumping through hoops to

meet customers’ needs to ‘make it happen’, operations supervisor Darrell Lines says.

“Our reputation in the industry stands us in good stead,” he says.

A team of trusted suppliers enable the company to provide the products required. “We deal with customs, bio security, stevedores, port operations, the ships themselves and we utilise our knowledge and expertise to ensure the products are delivered to the vessels at the scheduled time.

“But we need to source the right product to deliver and that’s where our suppliers come in, ensuring we have the right product, ready to go. We have very strong relationships with our suppliers; we’re extremely pleased to have their support.”

Filipino product importer Tres Marias Trading Ltd and Mexican and US importer International Foods Ltd are two of the company’s long standing supporters, along with Canter Valley, Acton International Marketing, CM Trading, Brooke Fine Foods, Tegel Foods and Verkerks.

“We work 24-7, 365 days a year to service our customers’ needs,” Darrell says. “So the level of dedication of staff, suppliers and the company itself required to meet those needs is what has made the company such a success over the years and we expect to keep meeting those needs moving forward.” AT

Sea Services (2002) Ltd 192 Station Road, Penrose Auckland T (09) 379 4217 E sales@seaservicesltd.co.nz www.seaservices.co.nz

— Advertising Feature

C.M. Trading Co. LTd.

Authentic Quality Products

from Around

the WORLD

Proud supplier to Sea Services (2002) Ltd www.acton.co.nz

Importers, wholesalers and retailers of quality Indian goods in New Zealand • Nuts & Seeds • Dhals & Lentils • Whole and Ground Spices • Fresh Fijian Vegetables • Frozen Vegetables from India • Cooking Oils and Clarified Butter (Ghee) • Prayer Items and Decorative Temples • Variety of Pickles and Poppadum’s • Ready to Eat Meals • Indian Musical Instruments • Small and Large Tandoor Oven • Kitchen Utensils 14 Virginia Avenue, Eden Terrace, Auckland, 1021 (Mahatma Gandhi Centre) P.O. Box 56413, Dominion Road, Auckland Email: cmtradingltd@yahoo.co.nz Phone: 09 377 4553 | Fax: 09 303 0597 | Mobile: 021 930 227

We offer a broad range of poultry products from fresh and frozen whole chickens and portions.

Tegel supplies Free Range Chicken and also Turkey.

Proud to be associated with Sea Services

Phone 0800 730 850 www.tegel.co.nz

Premium POTATO & KUMARA Products

Supplying Premium Potato and Kumara products to New Zealanders and all around the world.

MR CHIPS ARE PROUD TO BE SUPPORTING SEA SERVICES (2002) LTD

100 KERWYN AVE, EAST TAMAKI, AUCKLAND • PHONE (09) 274 5455 • FAX (09) 271 1749 • WWW.MRCHIPS.CO.NZ 38 |September/October 2016 www.aucklandtoday.net.nz

A Verkerks Ltd (AVL) are proud to be supporting Sea Services (2002) Ltd www.verkerks.co.nz

Education | Mount Albert Grammar School

Mount Albert Grammar’s stunning new space Mount Albert Grammar School’s new maths block is proving a huge success and marks the start of a major building programme to cater for the Auckland school’s growing student roll.

The new Maurice Hall Building, named after former headmaster and head of maths, Maurice Hall, opened at the start of this year.

“The creative part of the building is the atrium; it’s become a real community centre,” Patrick says. We have our 1st XV after matches in there and staff professional gatherings. It works as a common-use area for the school and it’s working very well.”

Maurice Hall made a significant contribution to Mount Albert Grammar during his 27 years there, first as head of maths and later as headmaster.

“It’s mainly a maths block and there’s been a refurbishment of the student services centre in the existing building as well,” says Patrick.

“

The creative part of the building is the atrium; it’s become a real community centre. We have our 1st XV after matches in there and staff professional gatherings. It works as a common-use area for the school and it’s working very well.

- PATRICK DRUMM, HEADMASTER

The student reception, guidance counsellors, careers advisors, deans and health clinic are now all contained in the new building. “We’re on a massive growth curve here in Auckland and providing this new and modern facility for students is critical.”

A guided tour of the new facilities

<

Headmaster Patrick Drumm says the new building is a big asset for both staff and students at the school. The two storey, 12 classroom block features a large atrium connecting it to an existing building.

” <

Some of the maths teachers who will benefit from the Maurice Hall Building

Mount Albert Grammar School has a current roll of 2750 students, a figure which has grown considerably in the past 10 years. The school has plans for a new 13 classroom science block next, followed by further new facilities.

“It’s exciting. When you have a new building it sends a very strong message to your community about where you’re heading as a school and the priority of the school board.

We’ve had great support from the Ministry of Education, the construction company NZ Strong and the architects and we’ve ended up with a fantastic facility.”

Successful construction process Mount Albert Grammar School’s new maths block was built by NZ Strong, which has considerable experience in education projects.

NZ Strong construction manager Don Young says the project started in November 2014 and was completed on schedule in February this year.

Construction was undertaken in a live school environment, with the company operating alongside working classrooms and navigating continued logistic difficulties, access limitations, school holidays and exam timetable programming constraints.

PHONE US ON 09 820 9133 COMPOSITE STEEL FLOORING SYSTEMS Concrete Saver 60

Tray-dec 300

Nelson Stud Welding are proud to be supporting Mount Albert Grammar School

E info@traydec.co.nz | www.traydec.co.nz

Mount Albert Grammar School Alberton Avenue Mt Albert Auckland T (09) 846 2044 E esarney@mags.school.nz www.mags.school.nz

— Advertising Feature

Headmaster Mr Patrick Drumm

You might not have seen our work, but you’ll have walked on it!

Ultra Span 80

The NZ Strong team involved in the project included Don Young, Susie Macleod, Thomas Ryan, Lyndon Evans and Hayden Debenham. AT

<

<

Associate Education Minister Ms Nikki Kaye spoke at the official opening

“It was an interesting project with a small footprint that needed a high level of planning, communication and working with the school,” Don says.

E info@nelsonstud.co.nz | www.nelsonstud.co.nz

w Bulk excavation w Drainage w Driveways w Retaining Walls w Road Contractors w Carparks w Maintenance

City Siteworks Ltd were proud to support NZ strong in constructing Mount Albert Grammar School 2/31 Victoria Street, Onehunga P. 09 636 6385 | F. 09 636 4454 E. greg@citysiteworks.co.nz

www.citysiteworks.co.nz

NZ STRONG

LEADING CONSTRUCTION

Our ability to deliver practical solutions has made us the ‘go to’ construction company for projects that have a tight timeframe, difficult site and/or complex design.

NZ Strong are proud to be supporting Mount Albert Grammar School PHONE 09 630 7324 EMAIL info@nzstrong.co.nz WEB www.nzstrong.co.nz

www.aucklandtoday.net.nz September/October 2016 | 39

Goods & Services | Noticeboard Products

Make sure everyone gets the message There are seemingly countless ways to communicate with people in today’s world, from phone calls, emails, text messages, radio, television, online advertising and more.

It can be easy to get swept up in the wave of noise and often your message can be missed, lost or deleted. But it’s important not to forget one of the original forms of communication – the noticeboard.

A corkboard, which you could stick tacks into, was patented as the first noticeboard in 1924 in Kansas, America. The idea quickly spread and become a mainstay in offices and homes worldwide.

Whether you are communicating with staff, customers, team or family, they serve as an effective tool to speak directly to your audience and convey your message. They’re useful in a wide range of settings including offices, retail stores, schools, café, bars, restaurants, sports clubs, homes and the sidewalk or front yard.

Noticeboard Products Ltd has taken the humble noticeboard leaps and bounds offering custom made noticeboards for a wide variety of uses.

25th anniversary. “We are proud of our success to be one of New Zealand’s larger manufacturers of noticeboard products and proud to be a part of Buy NZ Made,” Chris says.

With a complete range of noticeboard solutions, Chris says they pride themselves on their ability to custom-make products to suit its customers’ needs.

Ullrich

Aluminium We are proud to be associated with Noticeboard Products Contact Us Today!

Ph 0800 500 338 118 Wiri Station Rd, Manukau City www.ullrich-aluminium.co.nz

It designs and manufactures a full range of quality noticeboards including whiteboards, corkboards, chalkboards, lockable indoor and outdoor glass fronted noticeboards, laser etched planning whiteboards, sports coaching boards, mobile noticeboards, glassboards and office screens.

Owned and operated by Chris and Angie Wallace, the pair are proudly celebrating their businesses

The company imports and manufactures original noticeboard products, providing a broad price point and options. Boards are available with a choice of standard pine frame, stylish anodized aluminium frame or any other type of custom frame or colour.

There is a huge range of fabric colours available which allows its customers to match the decor of their office or home when selecting their pinboards.

Vendor Refill Management are proud to supply merchandising services to Noticeboard Products in Bunnings throughout New Zealand for the last 9 years. We congratulate them on achieving this great milestone.

Free Phone 0508 876 876 (VRM VRM)

www.vrm.net.nz

“

We are proud of our success to be one of New Zealand’s larger manufacturers of noticeboard products and proud to be a part of Buy NZ Made.

”

The businesses successful longevity can be put down to creating successful commercial partnerships with companies such as Vendor Refill Management, Ullrich Aluminium and Harts, and of course the scores of happy customers.

“Product was packaged the best I have ever seen, delivered quickly, clearly and very well marked to be handled with care and received in very quick time. Thanks guys, another NZ company taking pride in their work! No hesitation recommending or trading again. Thanks heaps!” reads just one of the many customer testimonials on its website. AT Noticeboard Products Ltd 42 Ben Lomond Crescent Pakuranga Auckland, 2010 T (09) 576 4830 E sales@noticeboardproducts.co.nz www.noticeboardproducts.co.nz — Advertising Feature

Congratulating Noticeboard Products on their 25th Anniversary CHARTERED ACCOUNTANTS & BUSINESS ADVISORS

• Accounting • Taxation • Rental Properties • Business Start-Up • Company Formations • Cashflow Forecasting • Xero Level 1, 320 Ti Rakau Drive, East Tamaki T. 09 272 4000 | E. harts@harts.co.nz | www.harts.co.nz

40 |September/October 2016 www.aucklandtoday.net.nz

Transport & Motoring | EC Mercedez

The Mercedes specialists Owners of Mercedes-Benz cars know to trust in EC Mercedez when their prized vehicle needs servicing or repairing.

That’s because EC Mercedez’s team of spe cialist technicians have more than 80 collective years’ experience training with and working alongside the Mercedes-Benz brand.

Service like no other Established in 2001, EC Mercedez offers a full-service workshop catering only to the requirements of Mercedes-Benz vehicles.

Directors Chaminda Wickramasinghe and Emil Tolich are well-qualified when it comes to all makes and models of Mercedes-Benz, having both grown up with and around Mercedes vehicles.

Emil’s father owned several Mercedes’ and Emil quickly developed a passion for race and high performance cars, specifically Mercedes’ luxury models.

Chaminda’s late grandfather was founder chairman of Mercedes Sri Lanka and Chaminda grew to love the brand. He furthered his training with Mercedes as one of only 16 people accepted into Mercedes-Benz’s training school in Sri Lanka each year.

EC Mercedez at a glance: • Mercedes-Benz trained technicians • Full servicing to Mercedez-Benz specifications • All mechanical and engine repairs • All electrical repairs and fault diagnosis, transmission servicing and rebuilds • All air-conditioning servicing and repairs • Performance enhancements • Mechanical breakdown extended warranty insurance work • Pre-purchase inspections.

The company’s biggest strength lies in the expertise of its personnel. Chaminda says it’s a great relief to have such trust in his team, who share a wealth of specialist knowledge and experience working on unique, high-tech engines.

In fact, every technician at EC Mercedez has trained directly through Mercedes – and one even has experience at one of the largest workshops in the world, the Emirates Motor Company in Abu Dhabi – giving them an edge above other performance engineers and enabling them to offer Mercedes-specialist services not otherwise offered on New Zealand’s automotive market.

Not only does EC Mercedez keep up to date with the latest Mercedes advancements, but they import only the best Mercedes technologies and product lines for their repairs, servicing and performance enhancements, including Kleemann and Brabus.

Clients deal directly with the technicians for an intimate and personalised service that ensures their requests aren’t filtered through a chain of people and misinterpreted. Instead, the end result exceeds expectation.

If you are a Mercedes owner and you want to give your car the ultimate treatment, call the team at EC Mercedez to find out more. AT

EC Mercedez 11a Tawairi Street Mt Eden Auckland T (09) 623 3133 E info@ecmercedez.co.nz www.ecmercedez.co.nz — Advertising Feature

EC MERCEDEZ

Independent Mercedes-Benz Service and Repair Specialities Ø Ø Ø Ø Ø Ø Ø

Full Servicing According to Mercedes Benz Specifications All Mechanical Repairs All Air-Conditioning Servicing and Repairs All Electrical Repairs and Fault Diagnosis Transmission Servicing and Rebuilds Mechanical Breakdown Extended Warranty Insurance Work Pre-Purchase Inspections

Phone : (09) 623 3133 | Fax : (09) 623 3134 | E-mail : info@ecmercedez.co.nz

WWW.ECMERCEDEZ.CO.NZ

Proud Supplier to

E C MERCEDES

YOUR APPROVED MERCEDES-BENZ COLLISION REPAIR SPECIALIST We use the latest technology and techniques to provide an efficient, high quality service - certified by your Mercedes-Benz dealer.

APPROVED COLLISION REPAIRERS enquiry@rayhaslar.co.nz www.rayhaslar.co.nz 9 Virginia Ave East, Eden Terrace, Auckland Tel. 09 373 5294 www.aucklandtoday.net.nz September/October 2016 | 41

Titirangi RSA

Fun and enjoyment at the hub of the community The Titirangi RSA is a warm, welcoming, familyfriendly club in the heart of the local community.

The club was formed more than 75 years ago and serves as a meeting point for all within the greater Titirangi area. It is often frequented by friends and family looking for a fun night out in a safe and affordable environment.

It offers live entertainment, a safe place to socialise, superb bar and restaurant facilities, a members only gymnasium, pool and snooker, raffles, cash membership draws, conference facilities, 10 gaming machines and so much more.

So the club really is the ideal location for wining and dining with family and friends.

Members, as you’d expect, receive exclusive benefits however visitors are equally welcome and treated as such. So pop along for a meal and a drink – or visit the beautiful Waitakere Ranges located on Titirangi’s doorstep.

Women’s section The club’s dedicated women’s section is hugely respected and performs an important function.

Their services are often called upon to perform duties from hosting events right through to the highly sensitive area of catering at funerals – all services they undertake with the highest degree of care, compassion and professionalism.

This wonderful, close-knit group of people often share adventures around Auckland and many times further afield. They might hire a bus and seek out destinations, or simply get together and have a wine or fish and chips on a sunset West Coast beach.

The ladies conduct their monthly meetings at the RSA on every 2nd Monday, and you’re welcome to attend, as there will often be an interesting guest speaker.

To join the women’s section you will need to be either a current member of the Titirangi RSA, or have a direct affiliation with your husband/partner being a member of the RSA.

NEW LYNN

® Homemade Award Winning Sausages ® Award Winning Bacon & Ham ® Gourmet Serve Over ® Aged Steaks ® Free Range Chicken ® Corporate Orders 10a Margan Ave, New Lynn

Ph. 827 8827 | E. shop@aussiebutcher.nz www.facebook.com/AussieButcherNewLynn

Titirangi RSA’s family-friendly restaurant is a great place to enjoy tasty, quality meals at an affordable price.

The chef, Sally, provides a fabulous menu selection, with regular specials, so remember to check the website to see what’s on offer.

Enjoy the famous lamb shanks, green Thai chicken curry or perhaps one of the sensational home made pizzas. Bring the kids along and let them choose a kids size meal from the appealing menu. The snack menu includes burgers, toasted sandwiches

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Personalised Home Visits and House calls for the Older Adult Servicing North & West Auckland

Ph 021 607492 www.cjpodiatry.co.nz

R Wills R Enduring Powers of Attorney R Contracting Out Agreements R Relationship property R Estates and Family Trusts R Residential sales and purchases R Commercial/Business matters R Retirement Village Agreements R Employment and ACC R Planning and Environment

Phone: 09 817 7591 Email: law@davidjbrown.co.nz

www.davidjbrown.co.nz

and much more – simply ask and if it can be done, it will be.

Fine wines, a wide selection of beers, soft drinks and non-alcoholic drinks are all available.

When the club is hosting entertainment the kitchen remains open later than 8pm and offers snack food and lunch is available for groups outside these hours by prior arrangement.

Restaurant hours Lunch: Wednesday-Friday, 12noon-2pm Dinner: Wednesday-Sunday, 5.30pm-8pm

“Creating tools to build a healthy mind and body” • Group Fitness Equipment • Free Weights • Machines • Boxing bags and gloves • Accessories for aerobic and cardio fitness

Ph 09 620 2648 www.donoliver.co.nz

Design, Installation, Testing, Service and Maintenance F A I R Y

FLOWERS

of Fire Alarms, Sprinklers, Hose Reels, Extinguishers & Emergency Lighting

24-HOUR CALLOUT Face and Body provides boutique style professional Beauty Therapy and Hairdressing treatments for men and women.

An award winning Salon that provides exactly what you want!

Trading for 25 years in the heart of Titirangi at 298 Titirangi Road. www.faceandbody.co.nz

42 |September/October 2016 www.aucklandtoday.net.nz

We are passionate about our flowers and creating wedding flowers that make your day as special as you deserve.

First Fire Systems Ltd F.P.A Certified, IQP Registered, Producer Statement Author & ISO 9001 Certified

Fairy Flowers Titirangi are proud to be associated with the Titirangi RSA

Ph: 09-636-7113 • Fax 09-636-7114

423 Titirangi Road Titirangi, Waitakere Ph (09) 817 3780 | www.fairyflowers.co.nz

Email: info@firstfire.co.nz www.firstfire.co.nz

Titirangi RSA Venue hire Titirangi RSA is the ideal venue for birthdays, anniversaries or just that special day and can cater for up to 180 seated persons.

Because of this, many locals take advantage of the magnificent affordable facilities by hiring the club for their special occasion - be it a wedding, birthday or anniversary.

Facilities and services at a glance: • Kid friendly • Perfect venue with space and rooftop deck area • Licensed bar facilities with large range of alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages at club prices • On site caterers able to work with you on your menu design • No charge for groups of 50+ (even smaller number may be exempt) • Club staff will work with you on a case by case basis to make it happen if they can.

Plus, the club is always interested in hearing from people who would like to extend the range of activities available by organising a new group.

So if you have something you’d like to do, don’t hesitate to contact a committee member who will be only too willing to assist you in any way they can.

The club’s sports and social clubs include: pool, snooker, fishing, golf, darts, bridge club, over 60s club, 500 club, women’s section and a gym.

Sports Bar You can hire the sports bar for your special occasion. The area includes the pool tables and other forms of entertainment for your guests.

Lounge Bar The lounge bar area is attractive and welcoming and the perfect venue for all types of occasions.

Sports and social clubs

OPTOMETRISTS

Titirangi RSA’s sports and social clubs are a great way to have fun and make new friends.

Eyewear • Contact Lenses • Eye Care

Opening hours Monday-Saturday – from 11.15am Sunday – from 2pm Closed Christmas Day & Good Friday

Membership Membership is open to everyone over the age of 18. Joining the Titirangi RSA is a great way to meet new people and you can make use of all the facilities.

• Under 60 years old – annual fee $50 • Over 60 years old – annual fee $20 • Returned & Service members under 60 years – annual fee $30 • Returned & Service members 60-69 years – annual fee $20 • Over 70 years – annual fee $7.50.

Being a member entitles you to cheaper drinks, meals and show tickets, and it’s a safe and friendly environment to chill out and socialise with your friends. AT Titirangi RSA 502 South Titirangi Road Titirangi T (09) 817 6415 E titirangirsa@xtra.co.nz www.titirangirsa.co.nz

Lewins Electrical LTD

NEW ZEALAND’S PREMIUM AND COST EFFECTIVE DOG AND CAT FOOD.

Electrical & Air Conditioning Services

We specialise in air conditioning & refrigeration installation & repairs.

FREE SAMPLE PACK

021 795 661 09 837 3239

Hunt & Gaunt Titirangi are proud to be supporting Titirangi RSA

Email Your Enquiry at info@lewinselectrical.co.nz

Ph (09) 817 4380 | www.huntandgaunt.co.nz

www.lewinselectrical.co.nz

www.canidae.co.nz

Is your website costing you money or making you money?

Our websites start from $997+gst

for a standard business sitE - full e-commerce siteS also available, which means your business can sell products 24/7.

PROFESSIONAL AND COMPASSIONATE FUNERAL ARRANGEMENTS Morrisons Funeral Home are proud to be supporting Titirangi RSA P. 09 836 0029 E. enquiry@morrisons.co.nz W. www.morrisons.co.nz

120 day money back

guarantee

0800 444 090 |

www.fatweb.co.nz

www.aucklandtoday.net.nz September/October 2016 | 43

Hibiscus Coast Community RSA

Part of a proud tradition The Hibiscus Coast Community RSA is your friendly neighbourhood club. Everyone is welcome to come along and enjoy the modern facilities, fabulous bar and restaurant, live entertainment and much more.

The Hibiscus Coast RSA started its life in February 1948 as the Kaipara Returned Services Association (Silverdale Branch). It became the Silverdale & Districts Returned Services Association in October 1964.

A relaxed neighbourhood social club

The original clubrooms were in the heart of old Silverdale, close to the Rugby club on the Hibiscus Coast Highway.

Everyone can belong to the Hibiscus Coast Community RSA. Joining is easy, just pop into the club and ask one of the friendly team. Today the Hibiscus Coast Community RSA is a busy hub at the heart of your neighbourhood.

In April 1985 it moved to the present site in Vipond Road and had a slight name change at that time to the Silverdale and Districts Returned Services Association. In October 2015 the current name of the Hibiscus Coast Community Returned Services Association was adopted to reflect or geographical position on the coast, as well as the radical restructuring of the business to encourage the community to become a part of it.

People join RSA clubs because they want to connect with the values they foster, because it’s a great place to socialise and bring the family, and because they want to keep New Zealand communities, safe, fun, healthy, and inclusive.

If you’re looking for a fun, relaxed, familyfocused social environment, then the Hibiscus Coast Community RSA is the place for you.

You’ll love the atmosphere. Live bands and entertainment, fantastic restaurant, sports showing live on the seven big screens, and the gaming machines. You can also join one or more activity clubs, which include 8 Ball/pool, snooker, darts, indoor bowls, golf, outdoor tournament and roll up bowls, fishing, dance classes, women’s section, kings empire veterans and more.

ANZAC Day, Armistice (Remembrance) Day, are not to be missed to remember and pay your respects to the brave men and women

that fought for our freedom. Celebrate in style in our fully equipped function rooms – Melbourne Cup and New Year’s Eve, weddings, 21sts, anniversaries etc.

Heroes Restaurant Heroes Restaurant serves sumptuous meals at a great price. A family-friendly restaurant, Heroes’ menus cater for people of all ages, including the kids.

It serves delicious meals that appeal to all members of the family and is fully licensed with a great wine list.

Heroes is open to members and nonmembers and groups of up to 200 can be catered for, or up to 150 seated. Hire of the venue is free, with Heroes providing the catering. Talk to the catering team so a menu can be designed to suit your budget and your tastes.

Entertainment Regular live entertainment, raffles, member draws, pool and snooker tables, and dartboards make the Hibiscus Coast RSA a lively place to visit. Bands, comedians, singers and other live entertainment are a regular feature on Friday and Saturday evenings, so keep an eye out for what’s coming up.

Membership Full membership is open to anyone aged over 18. Plus there is family membership, youth membership and couple membership. AT Hibiscus Coast Community RSA 43a Vipond Road Whangaparaoa T (09) 424 9026 E reception@hbcrsa.org.nz www.hbcrsa.org.nz — Advertising Feature

Bridal & Ball NZ FOOD HYGIENE, PROPERTY HYGIENE, TRANSPORT AND VEHICLE MAINTENANCE, INDUSTRIAL AND WORKSHOP, AND WASHROOM HYGIENE Applied Hygiene Ltd are proud to be associated with the Hibiscus Coast Community RSA Email: terrym@appliedhygiene.co.nz www.appliedhygiene.co.nz

OCEANZ SEAFOOD SILVERDALE

Cnr Hibiscus Coast Highway & East Coast Road

An affordable touch of class Proud to support Hibiscus Coast Community RSA

Wedding, bridesmaid, ball, pagean, evening and cocktail dresses with accessories available for hire and purchase at very reasonable prices.

0800 BRIDAL | 0800 274325 E. bridalandball@live.com

www.bridalandball.co.nz

Independent living Villas, townhouses & apartments.

Open 7 days | 10am to 4pm 441 Whanaparoa Rd. Stanmore Bay, Whangaparaoa

09 424 8228 www.arenaliving.nz

STANMORE BAY FRUIT AND VEGE

UNDER NEW OWNERSHIP

family owned & operated let our family care for your family car

ORGANIC FRESH PRODUCE

(Next to Plant Barn)

RETAIL AND WHOLESALE SUPPLIER

OPENING HOURS

FRESHER. FIRMER. FASTER! THAT’S WHAT WE MASTER!

Sun to Thurs 9:00am - 7:00pm Fri & Sat 9:00am - 8:00pm

Stanmore Bay Fruit and Vege are proud to be associated with the Hibiscus Coast Community RSA

Ph 09-427-0740

Unit 8 707 Whangaparaoa Road, WHANGAPAROA 0932 Ph: 022 318 3320 Email: peasandcarrotsltd@xtra.co.nz

44 |September/October 2016 www.aucklandtoday.net.nz

The Podiatrist deals with the prevention, diagnosis, treatment and rehabilitation of medical and surgical conditions of the feet and lower limbs.

THE PODIATRIST IS PROUD TO BE ASSOCIATED WITH THE HIBISCUS COAST COMMUNITY RSA

Ph 09 426 1122 | www.thepodiatrist.co.nz

A "one stop" automotive service centre that has been looking after drivers on the Hibiscus Coast and surrounding area for over 25 Years.

Phone 426 3559 • 45 Foundry Road (Corner of Foundry and Forge Roads) www.wademotors.co.nz

Ellerslie Bowling Club

Roll on in The Ellerslie Bowling Club is a place for all and every kind of player - be they social and/or competitive players.

WE ARE DEDICATED TO THE SAFETY OF YOUR STAFF, CONTRACTORS AND THE PUBLIC. With more than 50 years’ experience in the construction sector we are well aware of the needs of the industry. This means we realise how important the safety of your best asset – your staff – is to you and your company’s future.

Also more than welcome are those wanting to play social bowls and corporate groups looking for a fun activity.

Bowls are played on the natural grass greens, coaching is available one night a week during the season, and the premises includes fully licensed club rooms plus a BBQ area.

So, as a local company servicing Aucklanders in the construction industry, we are committed to the safety of your staff.

“

Opening hours

Membership

• Bowling Season runs from the end of September to 1st week in May

Associate Players: $50 for 12 months. This includes full access to the club facilities and you can have free coaching if you choose.

Full Membership: $175 for 12 months. This entitles the member to take part in competitions and tournaments, and includes membership in Auckland Bowls and Bowls NZ. Social Membership: $30 per year.

Events The club runs a variety of special club events and tournaments for men and women. The date and time for entries are displayed once an event has been organized, with the season from September to April.

Our extensive construction knowledge ensures we understand local compliance issues and we realise how critical your deadlines are and we guarantee to be on time – check out our Secureguarantee.

”

The fully licensed club rooms are a great place to relax after a game of bowls and catch up with friends, get a drink at the bar and grab a light snack. What’s more, they have been refurbished and provide an attractive, welcoming environment.

Membership is open to everyone - and everyone is welcome!

And when you deal with us you’re dealing with the owner, which means you receive a superior and speedy service – every time.

Also more than welcome are those wanting to play social bowls, and corporate groups looking for a fun activity.

• Monday - Sunday from 3pm – midnight, 7 days a week

Secureguarantee • We guarantee to beat any written quote by 10% • We guarantee to return all quotes within 48 hours otherwise you will receive the first week rental FREE of charge!

Securescaffold covers all NEW Worksafe working height requirements providing fall protection for builders, painters, home handyman and roofers on new and existing home constructions. * Terms and conditions apply to the Secureguarantee

• Club rooms are fully licensed and open 7 days a week.

“

Future members are welcome to ring up and book a time to be shown around the premises and have staff explain how everything works. AT Ellerslie Bowling Club 20 Kalmia Street Ellerslie Auckland T (09) 579 6663 / (09) 579 2995 M 027 6044474 E ellersliebowls@xtra.co.nz www.ellersliebowls.co.nz

Ask your builder if he’s using Securefence & Securescaffold – it will save you money.

“

Men and women of all ages are welcome and the club is affiliated to Auckland Bowls and Bowls New Zealand, and teams take part in club, interclub and national tournaments and competitions.

— Advertising Feature

There’s a new Ryman village

coming soon to Greenlane!

 Independent apartments  Serviced apartments  Resthome, hospital, 





Part of the

and dementia care

www.securefence.co.nz www.securescaffold.co.nz 5921

For more information call Chrissie on 0800 080 117 or Taryn on 0800 400 306

Sales office:

0800 66 00 22

2 Ivan Jamieson Place, Christchurch Airport, Christchurch 8053, NZ

754 Manukau Rd, Royal Oak www.aucklandtoday.net.nz September/October 2016 | 45

Landscaping | Paradise Landscapes

Hospitality | Pescado Cafe & Tapas Bar

Creating your own slice of paradise

Flavour of the Mediterranean

As we edge closer to spring we find ourselves spending or at least wanting to spend more time outdoors, and in seamless, functional and aesthetically pleasing spaces no less.

Kiwi’s traditional desire for outdoor living is reviving the landscape industry and expanding the horizons of al fresco aesthetics. Imagine a garden inviting you into its outdoor living areas creatively designed as a dynamic extension of your home; this is exactly what Paradise Landscapes can create for you.

For Paradise Landscapes’ Shannon Chisnall this is exactly what he loves to do… encourage people to transform their outdoor space so they can get the most out of their gardens and living areas.

Shannon set up his own company in landscaping after following his lifelong passion for nature. “I was motivated to work for myself. Sometimes I like to spend extra time getting things just right.

“I think a garden should look like it’s always been there and the house has been built amongst it. It should look like the setting was there first, not the other way around.

“I’ve seen some stunning scenery in New Zealand national parks and in a number of other countries. I’m inspired by these landscapes and the different types of plants in them. I want to create a similar environment in people’s outside spaces by using New Zealand influences such as tropical looking New Zealand plants: cordyline, large tree ferns, puka, pohutukawas (particularly miniature ones). I thought it would be good to combine plant and landscaping knowledge to create these effects.”

For Shannon, the aesthetic appeal of a newly finished landscape is the reward. “I like making a huge change to a property. Homes look so much nicer with a better garden and I gain a real sense

of satisfaction from this. I enjoy seeing a huge transformation and the delighted looks of the owners when they come home.”

A lot of landscaping is having the right eye to choose the right plants for the right spaces; getting the right mixture of colours, textures and forms.

Shannon feels he plays a big part in assisting in the preservation of Kiwi culture. The benefits of a well designed garden are that it adds value and improves the quality of our lives.

Whether you want a commercial landscape, a residential garden, or a child’s playground, Paradise Landscapes will work with you to create a space that is tailored to your specific requirements. No matter the size and location of your plot, Paradise Landscapes will help you realise its potential. AT Paradise Landscapes Ltd 88 Ararimu Road RD 3 Drury Auckland 2579 T (09) 294 6413 M 027 531 6399 www.paradiselandscapes.co.nz — Advertising Feature

If you’re in the mood for some Mediterranean flair, then the place to feel right at home is Pescado Café & Tapas Bar. Its food is made with love and served up in a warm, rustic atmosphere.

Pescado offers an authentic taste of southern Europe’s fabulous cuisine, delivered in a warm atmosphere, featuring the freshest local fare.

The more the merrier

This is a stylish slice of food heaven where the dishes are freshly prepared by excellent chefs and the atmosphere is chilled. The rustic environment is filled with the warmth of all day sun and is a place where you can treat yourself to delicious meals, or enjoy friends’ and family company with a glass of New Zealand and Spanish wine, or freshly made Sangria.

While the Pescado seven or eight course tapas menu will satisfy all appetites, just let the team know what your budget is, as the set menu can be adjusted to any budget for any kind of occasion.

Experienced chefs use fresh New Zealand products to bring you great tapas filled with culinary riches of Andalucia of Spain.

Open for breakfast, lunch, dinner, dessert and tapas, the menu features a wonderful range of sumptuous dishes. The breakfast menu features the likes of Grilled Haloumi (on Ciabatta, with

Paradise Landscapes wants to help make your dreams become a reality. We guarantee 100% reliability and satisfaction with all aspects of your new gardening project. From garden design through to plantings and outdoor construction.

We do it all!

Whatever the occasion, be it a birthday party, corporate function, a Christmas gathering, or that much needed catch-up, the Pescado is an ideal place to meet, greet, eat and be merry.

With the potential to host a group of 20 to 200 people, the amazing set menu and impressive beverage list will keep you entertained for hours.

Opening hours 7.00 am to late, seven days a week. AT Pescado Café & Tapas Bar North Wharf Jellicoe Street Auckland Central T (09) 379 7576 www.pescado.co.nz — Advertising Feature

“Quality Fresh Meats,Competitive Pricing, Customised Service.”

Proud supplier to Pescado Cafe & Tapas Bar

We’d love to help you with your garden...

Call Shannon now on 027 531 6399

www.paradiselanscapes.co.nz

Lunch offers luxuries such as Spanish Seafood Rice, Moroccan Spiced Chicken and Fresh Beetroot Salad. Evening diners feast on luxuries such as French Cutlets, Cordero Lechal, Crispy Duck, Grilled Cypriot Halloumi and Ricotta and Spinach Tortellini. The desert menu features equally sumptuous flavour combinations and as you’d expect, the tapas menu features something for everyone.

As with wonderful European fare, eating is about more than just fantastic flavours – it’s an experience in itself and Pescado delivers just this; it’s a place where food, people and music perfectly blend.

Pescado prides itself on using fresh New Zealand meat and seafood, making its own breads and desserts in-house, and benefiting from the goodness of vegetables and fruit and dairy products from fresh local produce.

HOW’S YOUR GARDEN?

tomato and cucumber salsa, roasted capsicum and avocado, drizzled with extra virgin olive oil and romesco sauce), or a Spanish breakfast.

Shannon Chisnall, Owner of Paradise Landscapes Ltd

46 |September/October 2016 www.aucklandtoday.net.nz

Call Paul or Alex on 09 634 0597, our City & Guilds Qualified Chefs.

THE MIKE HOSKING BREAKFAST 6AM - 8.30AM WEEKDAYS

GREAT CONVERSATIONS START HERE newstalkzb.co.nz