Auckland Today Issue #87

Issue 87 | January/February 2011

Broadly

ambitious Annette Presley has stamped her mark on the business community‌ and is still

driven to make a difference

Hot Spots 2011

Trade trends for the coming year

Leadership

Tools & tactics to unleash the leader in you

Virtual Shopfronts

Are online stores the face of our future?

Face Value

Making first impressions count News | Initiatives | Interviews | Personalities | Information | Success | Profiles | Finance | Property | Sustainability | Export | Transport | Retail || Solutions Solutions || ISSN ISSN 0113-8340 1173-1508

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8/11/10 3:37:54 PM www.aucklandtoday.net.nz January/February 2011 |3

Issue 87 | January/February 2011

Broadly

ambitious Annette Presley has stamped her mark on the business community… and is still

driven to make a difference

Hot Spots 2011

Trade trends for the coming year

Leadership

Tools & tactics to unleash the leader in you

Virtual Shopfronts

are online stores the face of our future?

Face Value

Making first impressions count News | Initiatives | Interviews | Personalities | Information | Success | Profiles | Finance | Property | Sustainability | Export | Transport | Retail || Solutions Solutions || ISSN ISSN 0113-8340 1173-1508

Auckland Today

Issue 87

20,162 ABC circulation as at 30/06/10

www.aucklandtoday.net.nz Head office Academy House 818 Colombo Street PO Box 1879 Christchurch managing director Gary Collins General manager Rebecca Harris administration Kylie Moore Kelly Clarke Rebecca McQueen Kimberley Wells Craig Mills Hanna Broadhurst sales & advertising Robert Cochrane Jane Watson Janet Campbell Colin Morais Peter Johnson Mike Burke Luke Finucane John Somerville Grant Williams

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Hot Spots 2011

Virtual Shopfronts

Cover Story

Trade trends for the coming year

Are online stores the face of our retail future?

Annette Presley, co-founder of Slingshot, always knew she wanted a different life — the one she got

News

Leadership

Business features

6 Destination downtown the commercial value of foot traffic

18 Defining leadership how does leadership play out in the corporate arena? Simple — it can make or break a business

24 Celebrating Heritage Tiles’ 21st birthday, Health & Herbs marks 20 years while Jonel Hydraulics reaches the quarter century. Alsco NZ and Masport Foundries make century milestones while Cowperthwaite Roofing edges past that marker, notching up 104 years in business

6 Mega mall Westfield St Lukes gets the green light to grow admin manager

sales executives

newsroom Jonathon Taylor Marie Sherry Melinda Collins Kate Pierson Bridget Gourlay

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7 Peak productivity deferred public holidays and productivity

18 Studying leadership style options what are the leadership traits needed to walk the talk in the 21st century?

8 Legging it one woman’s self created hosiery niche

27 Leadership v management leading and managing are not the same thing

36 Business Development Criterion Group and Spice N Easy

10 Corporate party guidelines how not to regret the company Christmas do

28 The right advice gems of wisdom from masters of the craft

40 Property and Construction Tainui Auckland Airport Hotel/Novotel and Parfoot Engineering

Viewpoint

45 Goods and Services Europlan Industries, Jenkins Group and Finest Food Products

11 Face value making first impressions count 14 Events diary find out what’s on near you 23 Lifestyles the sunny season’s best treats

14 Financial management following through on financial resolutions 14 Rebecca’s rant cashing out annual leave

50 Motoring Kelvin Armstrong Auto Repairs, Transport Diesel and Marine, North Harbour Hyundai 54 Agribusiness Status Produce and Punchbowl

editor

Phone: 03 961 5050 Fax: 0800 555 054 Email: editor@academy.net.nz

production Fleur Hall Carolynne Brown Melanie Stanbury CJ McKay Hayley Brocket Ryan Carter Ian Knott Kirsty Opie Jarred Shakespeare

manager assistants designers

Phone: 03 961 5050 Fax: 0800 555 054 Email: production@academy.net.nz

A-Mark Publishing expressly disclaim all and any liability and responsibility to any person in respect of anything and of the consequences of anything done, or omitted to be done, by any such a person in reliance, whether wholly or partially upon the whole or any part of the contents of this publication.

Advertising feature articles are classified as advertising content and as such, information contained in them is subject to the Advertising Standards Authority Codes of Practice.

Contents Copyright 2010 by A-Mark Publishing (NZ) Ltd. All rights reserved. No article or advertisement may be reproduced without written permission.

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Leadership

Products 4U

Motoring

Force of personality alone isn’t enough to lead successfully in the workplace

Twenty years in the making, office items then and now

Audi’s big, bad and beautiful Q7 makes a definite statement

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www.aucklandtoday.net.nz January/February 2011 |5 16/11/10 10:39 AM

News

mega

… the commercial value of foot traffic …

mall

By Melinda Collins

For some it’s the thrill of the hunt, for others it’s therapy and for many, it’s a way of life. Shopping, once devoted to procuring necessities, has come to fill multiple emotional needs — be it entertainment, bonding, a form of self-expression or a means of solace.

So it’s little wonder the concept of shopping has morphed into that of ‘retail therapy’ and the modern mall become a commercial triumph. But as we are enticed to shop, acquire, hoard and collect, our malls are growing, and growing.

Opened in 1971 on St Lukes Road, Westfield St Lukes is one of the oldest shopping precincts in New Zealand.

With an estimated six million shoppers annually to the 4.5 hectare mall, current owner the Westfield Group applied for a change in the District Plan in December 2008 to allow the shopping centre to be extended to 9.2ha — more than doubling the size and making the mall the largest in New Zealand.

It’s been a long time in the making, but in its first big decision since its inauguration in November, the new Auckland Council has given the green light to the development.

Fact file:

➩ Built in 1971 as New Zealand’s first fully enclosed shopping centre

➩ Westfield purchased it in 2000 and renovated in 2003

➩ The mall has an estimated six million visitors every year

➩ It includes a Foodtown, Kmart,

127 specialty shops, five banks, a 644-seat food court with nine food shops, a 1640-seat multiplex cinema and 2018 car parks

➩ Westfield is currently 4.5ha and is set to increase to 9.2ha

➩ The expanded mall will eclipse Sylvia Park’s 7ha size and be the biggest shopping mall in New Zealand

➩ The expansion was recommended by independent commissioners established under the former Auckland City Council

➩ Key concerns cited by neighbours and

groups are extra traffic, noise, nuisance and the urban environment

➩ The new Auckland Council voted to go with the mall expansion by 16 to 5

➩ The expansion will build up areas north towards Exeter Rd and east towards Aroha Ave

➩ Westfield owns much of the housing around the mall where it wants to build out to the north and east

➩ Expansion will not start immediately.

It will be carried out in stages and dependent on market demand.

Destination d

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By Kate Pierson

It is now common practise for people to let their fingers to do the walking when it comes to shopping.

It’s what could be described as a blessing for the busy, mall-phobic and unashamedly lazy.

As a heavily populated environment enticing people to blow cash left, right and centre with the click of a button, the online marketplace has revolutionised the way people purchase their goods and services.

As they say though, what one hand giveth, the other taketh away and this is palpably true when it comes to the impact the online shopping sphere has had on bricks and mortar retail centres, particularly in central cities.

And as consumers continue to become more and more click-happy when it comes to purchasing goods, regional councils across New Zealand have been contemplating how to reinvigorate city centres and draw foot traffic back to commercial retail zones.

World renowned Danish architect and urban designer, Jan Gehl has provided Auckland city with a glowing report card on its ongoing work to create a more pedestrian friendly city centre, with initiatives that could be replicated across the region.

The data generated and collated from this survey will inform recommendations to the new Auckland Council and relevant council controlled organisations (CCOs).

6 | January/February 2011 www.aucklandtoday.net.nz

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Having conducted Auckland’s first Public Life Survey predicated on pedestrian surveys and observation research on how people interact and behave in public spaces, Gehl’s survey concluded Auckland has made great progress, but there is still work to be done.

City Development Committee chairperson, councillor Aaron Bhatnagar said the report indicated that projects recently undertaken were contributing to a transformed city centre. “The high calibre upgrades of Queen street, Vulcan lane, the Viaduct, St Patrick’s square and the soon to be re-opened Aotea square exemplify the benefit of the council’s investment to improve the city centre experience for residents, businesses and visitors alike.”

In a report to the City Development Committee, urban design group manager Ludo Campbell-Reid maintained it is critical to encourage more cycle lanes, markets, playgrounds, skate parks and athletic spaces and children should be welcome to visit the city centre. “Children are a litmus test. If you design for children, you create a city for all,” he said. “People, not vehicles, are the economic lifeblood of a successful, vibrant city.”

In an additional report, Campbell-Reid acknowledged the council had acted efficiently to remove street clutter, dramatically reduce the visual and physical paraphernalia of redundant signs, road markings, billboards, bollards and parking holes.

These successes to date have produced benefits of increased visual amenity, pedestrian safety, improved business

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patronage and cost savings to ratepayers in reduced maintenance for street signs and other street assets.

Examples include: ■ The Kingsland regulatory parking zone trial (reducing signs in New North road by more than 50 percent) ■ Targeted enforcement of commercial street signage ■ CBD shared space and Queen Street streetscape upgrades ■ Wynyard Quarter redevelopment where the North Wharf promenade and Jellicoe street will be free of clutter

CBD streetscape guidelines ■ Newmarket upgrades in Teed and Osborne streets reducing logos and commercial signage on outdoor screens and other outdoor furniture.

■ Despite the significant progress, Campbell-Reid also commented in his submission that Auckland’s streets still generally fell short of an internationally competitive world-class city. He called for the formation of a “clutter-busting” taskforce to champion clutter removal, working with the new council, local boards, utility companies and the Transport Agency across the newly combined region.

For more information about changes to Auckland’s city centre visit the Auckland Council website at www.aucklandcouncil.govt.nz

A

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News

k

Zealand ays in New d li o h c li b Pu aland are

p e r f o r m a n c e

By Bridget Gourlay

There’s nothing like a holiday.

Whether it’s lying by the beach on Waitangi Day, enjoying the last of the good weather in Easter or hitting the slopes on Queen’s Birthday, a day off can be a chance to recharge the batteries.

And that’s what some are calling for over here.

“The way these holidays fall at the moment is unfair to workers,” Bill Newson, EPMU assistant national secretary says.

“Annual leave and public holidays, taken together, make up the overall leave provision.

It’s simply illogical that nine of our annual public holidays are Monday-ised, yet both Anzac Day and Waitangi Day are not.”

But in the first half of 2011 there won’t be as many. Waitangi Day is on a Sunday and Anzac Day falls on Easter Monday. This means once we’re back in the office following Christmas, there will be four days off at Easter in April and then two months until the Queen’s Birthday three day weekend in June. Followed by a long slog until Labour Day rolls round at the end of October, it may feel to some like a tough year.

Business NZ CEO Phil O’Reilly says this is a matter for government to decide. “Successive governments have considered this issue, and all have elected to keep the status quo.

February 6 is the foundation day of our nation — the event it celebrates happened on that precise date and to have it conveniently ‘Monday-ised’ and the date of its celebration as a result changed — would be considered by some to offend against the importance of the day.

If we lived in Australia it would be different. In several states across the ditch, when a holiday falls on a weekend or clashes with another, the day after the usual holiday is also taken as a holiday. So if Australia Day was on a weekend, the following Monday would be a day off.

“ANZAC Day has a similar kind of significance.

Again, the event it commemorates, the Gallipoli landing, happened on that precise date, April 25, and many would feel that its commemoration should not be changed to a different date just for convenience.”

Bill Newson says the EPMU does respect the special nature of Anzac Day and Waitangi Day. “Our union wants workers to be able to mark these days when they fall on a weekend and to be able to take their full entitlement to a public holiday on the following Monday.”

Ze lidays in New a weekend All public ho on ll fa ey th if day.

Monday-ised and ANZAC aitangi Day ay except for W D stmas in 2010 Chri d For example, Saturday an a on ll fe ay D e g in er w ox s B d ay an lid the public ho Sunday. But day 27 and Tuesday 28 on M back in the moved to ’t have to be dn di rs ke or off. so w st a weekend office after ju d in certain ployee worke , And if an em as emergency services ch me industries su ality, they were paid ti it retail or hosp a day in lieu. d an lf ha and a

Neighbouring German workers get Friday afternoons off but also have higher productivity levels than New Zealand.

O’Reilly says productivity has “no doubt” also been part of the reason why successive governments have chosen not to ‘Monday-ise’ these special days.

Industrial psychologist Crispin Garden-Webster says productivity is complex. “The drivers tend to be more related to people’s engagement in what they’re doing and the degree to which leadership behaviour engages people’s discretionary effort.

“There will always be arguments that more holidays mean less productivity although the effects will be felt differently in different sectors — for instance a day off for an office worker will have less impact say than a day off for a production worker who is not replaced.”

“There are three key questions. What’s the big picture? How do I contribute? How will I know how I’m going? If managers have effective meaningful answers then that’s crucial and productivity levels will reflect this — even if there’s less actual time spent at work.”

However, it can be argued that productivity levels aren’t necessarily achieved by spending more time at work. French workers do a 35 hour week, get six weeks of annual leave and numerous public holidays.

There are many changes to working conditions coming about at Governmental level, but plans to Monday-ise Anzac Day or Waitangi Day aren’t on the agenda.

Productivity

However, their productivity levels are some of the highest in the world — sixth in a 2009 OECD report, which ranked New Zealand as ninth from the bottom.

However, in 2012 Waitangi Day falls on a Monday and for the next five years it will be a day off for most workers. And the clash between Easter Monday and Anzac Day? Well, that won’t be happening again until 2095.

www.aucklandtoday.net.nz January/February 2011 | 7

News

By Melinda Collins

She’s got the tights, not sure about the the cape and although she doesn’t wear her underwear outside her pants, superbusinesswoman Corinne Callinan has taken on the big boys — and won.

Callinan waged a corporate war against an Australian giant and today is standing on her own two nylon clad feet with a million dollar hosiery empire of her own.

The businesswoman always had an entrepreneurial streak. With a background in corporate blue chip multinationals in senior marketing management roles, Callinan spent two years actively searching for the stand-out which would entice her to leave the corporate world.

It never came… but she did receive a lot of compliments for the high fashion tights she had been sent from overseas. “After the third compliment the penny dropped and I realised there could be something in this.”

That something was hosiery. The downside, she soon realised, was going head to head — or toe to toe — with Australian giant Pacific Brands, which owns most of the hosiery brands in New Zealand supermarkets and Farmers stores.

new shoppers into the supermarkets and diversified the supermarket offerings.”

It was a success; all of the country’s 340 Foodstuffs and Progressive Enterprises supermarkets now stock her range and annual turnover exceeds $1 million. “Do the research well and then be prepared to put your balls on the line and do it.

It’s hard work,” she says of the journey.

“It’s about being very clear about the market opportunity and the product offering, making sure it really did have a number of points of difference — they were the key things.”

Growth was rapid but not without sacrifice.

Continuing to work full time in her first year of business she would arrive home at 6pm, work on her venture from 6pm to 10pm, sleep, work from 2am to 4am, sleep and then work 6am to 7.30am before making it back to the office for a full day of work.

“I didn’t come up for air for a number of years. I didn’t socialise, I had no Christmas, no New Year.

“My friends thought I was having some mad, passionate affair. It had to be that intense or I wouldn’t have got there.”

“Looking at the market, they dominated in New Zealand and Australia in all channels.

But in my view, they were complacent with that. There had been no product or packaging innovation or advertising in a long time.

“The consumer deserved better and I was confident I could deliver better than the market leader was.”

High end to mainstream brands She established a high end fashion brand and a mainstream brand simultaneously under the umbrella of her company CXC, established in 2003. Then it was off to the market.

Callinan targeted supermarkets because they would give her critical mass. Previous employment in fast moving consumer goods meant she was familiar with the inner workings. “With the supermarket trade, relationships are very important. I was confident that myself and my team could do better than others were.”

She went straight to one of the biggest New Zealand trade customers before starting product development to discuss what the category was doing well and where improvement could be made. However, while sizing up the market, she quickly learned that size mattered in more ways than one.

Hosiery, like many other products, she discovered was under increasing pressure for space, particularly with the rise of new categories, such as alcohol and ready meals. A trend towards using bigger packaging for brand impact was exacerbating the problem.

Space, packaging solutions In response to the supermarkets’ space issue, Callinan shunned the traditional envelope style pack for StepOut and developed a square box that requires a third less shelf space.

The proposition was compelling; not only did Callinan have a solution to the supermarkets’ space problem, she was able to present an opportunity to expand the category through greater variety and higher value product.

Corinne Callinan modelling some of her innovative leg-wear

Legging it “Bringing the new segments (premium and fashion products) improved value in the category, brought

8 | January/February 2011 www.aucklandtoday.net.nz

News

… trade trends for the coming year

By Melinda Collins

Europe, the Middle East & Africa What sectors align well?

New Zealand Trade and Enterprise regional director Anne Chappaz says austerity measures in Europe represent opportunities for ICT and services sectors.

Chappaz, whose areas of responsibility oversee Europe, the Middle East and African territories, says austerity will prompt efficiencies in the public sector, telecommunication and energy fields. Improved performance goes hand in hand with improved efficiencies.

“Health remains of particular interest, as does security. Education reform is a new area of opportunity in the UK. Across all sectors, a product that tells a credible and compelling sustainability story will gain traction more easily,” she says. “In the Middle East, public sector reform is also creating opportunities for consulting, education and IT companies.

Construction is showing signs of regaining strength and the wealthy local and expat consumers are welcoming new quality food and beverage products.”

Who should steer clear?

Both Europe and the Middle East are complex regions that Chappaz says are likely to have a market for all industries.

“The challenge is finding the niche and the channel where a specific New Zealand product can be competitive and deliver value and unique benefits.”

Australia

There’s a lot to be said for free trade and its economic covenants. But flipping a coin

and throwing product at a reluctant country is unlikely to bode well for anyone. To celebrate a new year and new horizons, Auckland Today went seeking trade trends for 2011. on sectors such as export education, tourism and agriculture. “The bottom line is you need to have done your homework on the market to ascertain how your product or solution is going to perform. There are opportunities but you need to find the most profitable and sustainable one,” Templer concludes.

Investments equivalent to more than New Zealand $200 billion will be made in energy, telecommunications, sanitation and logistics.

Investments equivalent to more than New Zealand $300 billion will be made in areas such as public transportation, drainage, energy, logistics, roads and civil construction.”

South & Southeast Asia

Who should steer clear?

What sectors align well?

NZTE regional director South and Southeast Asia Alan Koziarski says there are a variety of specific opportunities in these areas. “There is growing demand in the clean technology sector, specialised manufacturing sector and in food and beverage.”

The region is home to a growing middle class, who are increasingly interested in premium products and services that New Zealand is well positioned to supply. “The growth in infrastructure also presents numerous opportunities, particularly in the aviation sector — such as in airport development.”

Who should steer clear?

While there are numerous opportunities available, short term won’t work. “Those who cannot take a long-term approach to developing the market need not apply.

Research also needs to be done when considering a market — in some cases tariffs and taxes may preclude companies from exporting such as with meat products to India.”

United States What sectors align well?

NZTE regional director Marta Mager says the NZTE regional director Australia Pacific Michelle affluent United States sets global trends critical to the success of non-commodity based New Templer says Australia aligns well in general.

Zealand companies. “We are already seeing “The resources and mining boom have generated unprecedented capital infrastructure. traction for New Zealand technologies in the US security and public safety markets. New The numbers are staggering but the ability to “slice and dice” these large scale, complex and Zealand companies working with NZTE have had significant success with deals secured long time frame projects is critical,” she says. with the Department of Homeland Security, US “Sectors that should be looking closely at Navy, and the US National Guard.”

Australia include, road, rail, port infrastructure Mager says increasing pressure for federal and ancillary services, high value and state governments and private healthcare manufacturing, and logistics management. providers to address rising healthcare costs There are specific niches around safety and offers opportunities for the New Zealand security as well as these continue to be top of healthcare and technology sector. mind for investors.”

“New investments in energy, water, NZTE offers a special subscription service, infrastructure, housing and other sectors ProjectLink, to help connect New Zealand of the economy are incorporating longer-term business capability with Australian opportunity sustainable development principles in manufacturing sectors. and offer opportunities for the right New Zealand companies.

“We are also seeing real opportunities around

What sectors align well?

processed food products. In 2009 these were valued at NZD$877 million (excluding wine) but they are also growing rapidly.”

Who should steer clear?

Often described as a ‘two speed economy,’ the mining and resources boom contrasts the many independent small business operators finding the vibrant economy challenging.

Additionally, the Australian dollar at parity with the US dollar has had a significant impact

Again, there is no right or wrong industry when it comes to South America, but the market is challenging and still relatively unexplored from a New Zealand perspective.

“New Zealand businesses looking towards South America tend to be stepping outside their traditional markets. Companies should seek informed advice before entering the South American market. Don’t underestimate the difficulty and commitment needed for this market but equally don’t underestimate the rewards!”

“The emergence of a more thoughtful US consumer interested in quality, sustainability and affordable luxury predisposes the market well to many New Zealand consumer product and food and beverage offerings.”

Who should steer clear?

Rather than appraising sectors themselves, in the US, it’s about evaluating the capability of a given New Zealand company and the appropriateness of their offering, Mager says.

China

What sectors align well?

It’s a large and diverse market, but you must have a unique product/service to compete.

“New Zealand companies should make sure they are prepared to commit fully to their market development. This is not a place for a New Zealand company seeking a short term win. The US market requires long-term investment and capital to reap significant rewards and results.”

South America What sectors align well?

Mager says the South American market is also one of enormous potential and strong economic growth. New Zealand agritechnology companies (and sub sectors including dairy, sheep meet and pasture management) hold a competitive advantage in South America due, in part to our reputation as a world leader.

Mager says increasing family income levels and strong domestic currencies are opening up opportunities for our consumer goods — primarily in the biggest market Brazil, with its growing middle and upper income population.

Significant opportunities are present with the Brazilian Government’s infrastructure investment preceding hosting of the Football World Cup 2014 and the 2016 Olympic Games.

NZTE regional director China Tim Green says key New Zealand industries such as seafood, wine, other safe and high quality food types (especially dairy and kiwifruit) have opened up due to increased food hygiene awareness.

Greater focus on agricultural processing and its role in the food supply chain and an increase in farm/herd sizes (particularly dairy and beef) have opened up opportunities in agricultural technology, he says.

High value technology and manufacturing industries have opened due to China’s insatiable appetite for technology and innovation, and a government focus on “pillar” industries (aviation, telecoms and resources). Key growth sectors which match New Zealand include aviation services, airport infrastructure, telecommunications equipment and services, communications and geospatial technology, supporting software, electronics, environmental products and services.

Who should steer clear?

Green says any industry that fails to offer Chinese consumers something to distinguish itself from local (or foreign) competition should steer clear. “While there are opportunities for pretty much any industry in China, it’s still highly competitive and homework needs to go into defining the specific target — usually niche — that New Zealand industries can compete in.”

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www.aucklandtoday.net.nz January/February 2011 | 9

News

The Corporate Socialising Guide …

Drink & the office downfall…

By Kate Pierson

It’s just a jingle past lunch time and Tiffany and Roger from accounts are snogging like teenagers under the mistletoe, Bob from IT is declaring his love for Mike in management and Samantha and John from the design department have been locked together in the bathroom for a suspiciously long time.

Ah, yes, the infamous Christmas work do; drunken debauchery against a backdrop of raucous laughter, shattered glasses and ‘I’m going to regret this in the morning’ revelations. It’s that so-called wonderful time of the year that sees everyone spending the entire Christmas holiday recovering from the alcohol fuelled antics, before it’s back to the daily grind. Well, at least that’s what the stereotypical Hollywood comedies depict will happen.

Now, of course we are all far too sophisticated to descend into that kind of churlish behaviour come Christmas 2010, but as a goodwill gesture for the holiday season, we’re offering you the ultimate corporate gift; the opportunity to brush up on your Christmas party etiquette and save yourself the professional hangover with these ‘must remembers’ for your holiday Christmas party.

Meanwhile, normally mild mannered Sue’s liquid lunch of Dutch courage on the rocks has made her just a bit too honest and her diplomacy’s gone right Party politesse out the window, along with Pat We’re not the party police here to rain on the accountant’s pants, who’s now your parade; we’re your gig guide offering loudly announcing how liberated he some valuable tips about party politesse, with the help of Enthuse owner and operator, feels sans clothing.

John McKenzie.

Then before anyone can say ‘ho, ho, ho’ Sue’s telling Mary from reception just how much her habitual idiosyncrasies have ticked her off this year, and fur starts flying in a female frenzy.

A media and event business that has scored itself the title of New Zealand Entertainment Company of the Year, not once, but twice, Enthuse specialises in public relations, marketing communications activity, television and corporate events. McKenzie has some words of wisdom for those getting ready to board the celebratory train this silly season.

And, as if the celebratory chaos couldn’t get any worse, the Christmas carnage is all captured by incriminating photographs that go viral in the New Year.

So, we’ve established and emphatically so, that having a party where inebriation is rife is not good for your brain or your business. But, in the spirit of Christmas, you also don’t want your colleagues standing round a bread and butter spread of savouries and soft drinks where intermittent awkward throat clearing is the only sound permeating the deafening silence.

It’s all about a healthy balance really — finding the perfect party formula that promotes respectful decorum in a relaxed atmosphere.

We’d hope by now you’ve well and truly booked if you’re looking at taking your party off-site. But if you haven’t, get cracking.

Getting the right vibe When it comes to the logistics of workplace festivities, McKenzie says the first thing to decide is what type of party you want it to be.

Ultimately, the time of day you host the event will establish a certain vibe.

For example, if you hold a midday BBQ at a staff member’s home, it’s more likely to promote a feeling of togetherness and relaxation, whereas if you take the party off-site to a bar or a nightclub in the evening, 10 | January/February 2011 www.aucklandtoday.net.nz

“You don’t have to drink

at a work function… moderation is always important.” it’s like to set the precedent for a big night out. “Whatever location the party is at, people should still behave professionally. It is after all a work function and people need to remain aware of that,” McKenzie advises.

The first ‘to do’ on the list of priorities should be to think about the budget. “It is good to work with one company that can package it all up for you creatively and save you time and money.”

The second priority should be getting staff home post-party. “You don’t have to drink at a work function — that’s a given and moderation is always important,” McKenzie says. “I always stress to clients though that they need to think about transport for their staff and often things like providing them with taxi chits works best.”

While sending out a memorandum to staff with regimented rules and instructions is not necessary, McKenzie says it is also important to open the communication channels before and during the function.

“General communication is always important when people are going to be letting their hair down.

“At the party it is important managers don’t just focus on themselves. They should acknowledge others, be gracious and remember to thank their co-workers for their help throughout the year.

“It is important to let them know you value their effort. A Christmas function is also a good time for people to network as it is more of an

even playing field where senior management is interacting with other departments.”

All in all, McKenzie says a good dose of common sense should be on the menu at any Christmas bash and some light entertainment can really liven things up.

For ideas on entertainment for your corporate Christmas function and how Enthuse can help you and your party people be merry this Christmas, visit www.enthuse.co.nz

News

fa¢e

v a l u e

By Kate Pierson

While personality is always a professional plus, looks in business are everything. And no, we’re not talking about looks in the superficial sense, but more about the image you are presenting to your customers.

Having an attractive and appealing corporate image spells professionalism and is the vehicle for you to gain some traction on revenue road — something that is critical when the commercial highway gets bumpy.

Fact is, when you’re taken at face value and consumers are comparing you with your competitors, having a clean cut image and ensuring you’re business body is in tip top shape could be the defining factor between you or the opposition securing the sale. It’s that age old adage; first impressions count.

In business, as in any domain of life, your image is made up of a number of key constituents: your brand, product, and last, but certainly not least, your people. Problem is, to give their business the thick skin required to withstand the economic chill of the slowly easing financial storm, companies have concentrated their efforts into streamlining their operation. In the process, these businesses have forgotten and neglected the face and frontline of their operation — their customer service constituents.

Bell says during the recruitment process it is essential for employers to identify the right candidates for the job and when they have found these employees, treat them like gold.

Too many business fail to see when they have Customers Experiences is a acquired an asset to their organisation. “These business entity specialising are unique people, difficult to find and keep in the development of high if you are not providing the right supportive quality customer experiences culture. Unfortunately many organisations don’t via four main activities; even know they have such a person. They are customer experience working in business cultures that don’t have a strategic development, total focus on their people and customers.” game plan seminars, skill development workshops and Bell cites statistics from a Right Management report which indicates that companies with a business speaking. higher rate of employee engagement: Customer Experiences ■ Have on average 29 percent managing director Chris Bell more revenue says the number of customer ■ Are 56 percent more likely to have above service staff who feel their average customer loyalty work is undervalued and ■ Have 50 percent higher productivity unappreciated is significant.

“It’s estimated that 67 ■ Are 33 percent more profitable percent of employees go to ■ Have 44 percent higher employee work every day disengaged retention rates. and this is having a dramatic Whether your forte is sales or software, the effect on business performance, growth In business, the frontline always faces customer service division is fundamental and opportunities and profitability. the music and in the professional arena, should be treated that way. the market is not always marching to a “When you read the numbers it becomes clear A united and engaged customer service force harmonious tune, meaning your customer why very few organisations are delivering a is not just something that should be a focus service representatives need to be cool, calm consistently high quality customer experience for businesses when consumers are tightening and regularly put through their professional and why there is a lack of creativity and an their purse strings, but a professional precedent paces to ensure they have the skills and the even bigger gap between New Zealand’s in economic rain or shine. solutions to rise to any challenge. productivity performance and the rest of the For more information visit There’s two dimensions to establishing a united Organisation for Economic Co-operation and www.customerexperiences.co.nz Development (OECD).” customer service network; identifying those

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News

Cashing out annual leave It seemed like an ok(ish) idea at the time when four weeks annual leave was announced.

Good for employees in that they have more opportunity to refresh and enhance their work/ life balance which clearly is now at the top of employees’ priorities lists.

The impact of four weeks annual leave has been huge on us this year. It took a while to figure out why we were running round chasing our tails, not getting far and also “feeling” understaffed. The writing was on the wall even prior to the disruption of the September quake.

Even though we close down for two weeks and statutory holidays over the Christmas period the impact of the remaining leave owing on, for example a 12-person department, is that potentially every second week of the year they will be one person down.

This, especially during the colder months, coupled with the increases in bugs flying around air conditioned offices and (what appears to be) lower immune systems results in increased sick leave, making our temporary staff and short term contract expenses go through the roof. Never in my 12 years with this group of companies have we had so many temporary staff.

And, might I add (in case you didn’t think about it already) this skyrocketing expense is on top of paying the staff to not be here! Don’t get me wrong — I’m not saying at all that employees shouldn’t be entitled to this amount of leave. (I’m an employee myself and need this amount of leave myself especially after a year of worrying about this stuff.) What I’m saying is, and it has been said before, not much consideration of the expense to businesses was given at the time of the decision.

Even a little more flexibility to cash out annual leave (if requested), rather than taking the actual time off would be a really big help.

As I understand it, the proposed Holidays Amendment Bill provides for this. Having passed through its first reading and now with the select committee, if passed the bill will come into force on April 1, 2011. Personally, I can’t wait!

This decision will take the pressure off the extra expense of hiring additional staff to sit in all the empty chairs. Next step is to then try and deal with the hygiene and the winter coughs, colds and runny noses.

You can only tell people so many times to put their hands over their mouths, use hankies and wash their hands, but whether they do it or not is a different story. I see three and four year olds who are more adept at coughing into their bent arms than most adults, who should understand and know better.

Talking with other employers, it’s pretty common for the first thing mentioned when a cold goes around the office for the company to cough up (excuse the pun) and provide sanitisers or flu shots. Better yet, why don’t we wrap everyone up in cotton wool. Some things just can’t be controlled!

Here’s hoping the decision is made early in the year for the cash out of annual leave, and that the flu season doesn’t give us a double dose as it appeared to this year! It would be nice to be able to function normally next year, with the required level of staff!

See ya 2010 — it’s been a blast!

Bring on 2011.

Rebecca Harris is the General Manager of the Academy Group of Companies.

All correspondence regarding this column to: Email rebecca@academy.net.nz Post ’Rebecca’s Rant’,

PO Box 1879, Christchurch 8140

Vir tual s h o p f r o n t s

By Kate Pierson

You wouldn’t need to wander far in your neighbourhood to find a handful of households who are moving with the times and riding the World Wide Web wave to destination convenience. If you haven’t been to this commercial paradise, it’s what modern society likes to call the ‘online store’.

Whether it’s a mum going hell for leather 24 hours a day that chooses to do her grocery shopping online so she can grab five minutes each day to work on her sanity, the music junky looking for their next lyrical fix, or the shopaholic taking their addiction to the privacy of their own home — online opportunities for shopping are endless.

With the number of internet users set to reach more than two billion globally before the year’s end, the attraction between consumers and their keyboards is heating up and it’s not just those with time deficiencies or shopping compulsions that are getting among the online action. It’s your every day Joe Blogs and Tom, Dick and Harrys who are exploring the infinite online abyss.

But while the opportunity for New Zealand businesses to capitalise on the online economy is red hot, their response to these evolutionary changes has been lukewarm at best. In a Business Monitor survey of more than 1000 New Zealand businesses conducted

by Colmar Brunton and commissioned by MYOB NZ Limited, it was found that only 34 percent of participants owned a website and only 20 percent are selling their products and services online.

Three times annually, MYOB commissions Colmar Brunton to undertake statistically 12 | January/February 2011 www.aucklandtoday.net.nz

representative Business Monitor surveys, which market which means they have to find are designed to look at New Zealand’s key new markets in which they can grow their areas of performance profitability. business,” Smith says.

The recent survey results documented in a media release titled New Zealand business missing opportunities of online revolution, revealed that while there are more New Zealand retailers online than our Aussie counterparts, few New Zealand businesses are taking full advantage of the online economy.

“As the furthest flung OECD nation, this is an opportunity we could embrace that could provide immediate productive benefits to New Zealand. And without doubt, aiming to become one of the world’s most connected economies would provide a very significant advantage to Kiwi businesses of all kinds.”

With the manufacturing sector leading the way as the fastest adopters of the internet with 50 percent owning a business website, retail and hospitality businesses were hot on the manufacturing sector’s tail with 48 percent of organisations online.

Smith adds that while many New Zealand businesses are yet to realise their online potential, he has observed New Zealand’s resilience and when times get tough, Kiwis are good at diversifying their operations.

“This is an attitude adopted when the economy changes.”

Getting engaged MYOB general manager Julian Smith says the results of the survey highlight an attractive opportunity for Kiwi businesses to become more engaged in the global online market.

“When we look at ways we can boost the productivity of the whole economy — helping more businesses get online would achieve real results.

“Businesses who are online say their sales pipeline is higher and their revenue is higher.

When businesses expose themselves to the online economy, they are able to get their fair share of online consumers.”

According to the Business Monitor, 44 percent of businesses with a website have more sales or orders in the pipeline compared to just 30 percent of businesses that don’t operate online.

Looking back on the last 12 months, 37 percent of businesses with a website reported an increase in revenue, while only 28 percent of businesses without a website saw revenues rise.

Beyond the statistics which speak for themselves, why is investing in e-commerce a logical step for many businesses? “New Zealand businesses are working in a smaller

So who are the best candidates when it comes to linking into the online economy? “It really depends on the nature of your business,” Smith says. “If you are going to participate, what are you there for?

“As a general industry trend, we find that 30 percent of business websites are what we call “billboards in the desert”. In short, this means that their existence is seemingly futile.

“Businesses need to ask themselves ‘How am I going to attract customers, transact sales and get value from this investment?’ This is an emerging capability in the online market which is about how to sell and promote a business in the online community,” Smith adds.

“New Zealand has an amazing opportunity to be one of the most successful online economies in the world where it is not restrained by the tyranny of distance. For 2011, businesses should think about the commercial potential of being online, put it on their radar and explore the potential of the internet.”

For more information on MYOB surveys and how MYOB can help your business get online visit www.myob.co.nz

GlobalBizpro Better software. Better business.

See live business results – act on them When a person shows up to a business red-faced and jaw clenched, the staff swallow, take a deep breath and brace themselves for a dissatisfied customer.

Until recently, First Assistance had been using an accounting and payroll package which struggled to integrate with other programs.

GlobalBizpro see this type of person every day. They’re not customers though – they’re people so sick of their current software systems they need something new before they explode.

It’s 2011 and business owners are fed up with the out-dated way they get financial information about the health of their businesses.

It wasn’t until First Assistance signed up for a trial on GlobalBizpro’s MYOB EXO Business software that they realised what they’d been missing.

Even though EXO has only been fully in use at First Assistance a few months, it has already made a real difference. They are elated to have their in-house systems and business financials properly integrated.

First Assistance love receiving real time information about their company’s performance, getting on-demand in-depth analysis, and has noticed efficiencies in administration and distribution. All this has driven costs down. GlobalBizpro is integrating the case management software First Assistance is using which creates an automated and seamless dataflow within the organisation.

You can send an email in an instant and read breaking news online. Why can’t you see how your finances are going at the same click-of-a-button speed?

You can. At GlobalBizpro, there’s the software that enables this to happen.

Sales Director Grant Harwood explains.

“Traditionally, a business owner would have to wait until the processing has been completed well after the end of the financial month to see how his company had been performing. The accountant would come out of his office, with a printed report and hand it to him.

“In the current business climate that is an acceptably outdated model. With our software and total solution, no one has to wait anymore. You will receive information in real time about how your business is performing financially. So there’s no waiting for weeks to see that a branch isn’t making a profit – any issues can be identified early and dealt with promptly.”

A growing stream of satisfied customers is testament to GlobalBizpro’s success.

Take First Assistance, as an example, a multi-national New Zealand-founded company that specialises in supplying first line assistance services.

The GlobalBizpro Directors George Martin, Grant Harwood and Kanu Kesry are used to turning irritation into elation.

GlobalBizpro used techniques such as having a case number linked to all transactions to provide a unique reference across all aspects of the business from customer service to creditor payouts, along with financial analysis.

So if your blood is boiling while you wait for data a month old to come through to your desk, give GlobalBizpro a call. They’re experts in turning irritation into elation.

“Just seeing the live business dashboards that they’ll have on their desktops always brings an instant smile to any manager,” Sales Manager Alan Parker says.

Since the recession, the businesses that survived are looking for anything that will identify their problems at first instance, which is why so many companies have been turning to GlobalBizpro.

GlobalBizpro has doubled its staff in the last year because of the demand. But they’re still happy to grow.

The business supplies its clients with the personnel, technology and solutions they need to keep in touch with their customers 24 hours a day, seven days a week, 365 days a year. First Assistance has to work hard to stay on top of every job and the only way to do that successfully is to ensure that internal processes are as seamless as possible.

“No business owner should be fretting about what their weekly profits were because they can’t see their numbers immediately and act on them.

At GlobalBizpro we have the technology to solve this problem and we want to help as many companies as we can.”

To discuss how the GlobalBizpro team can equip you with live results at your desktops Ph 0800 249 776 for a FREE consultation with Grant or Alan.

PO Box 99-305, Newmarket, Auckland, 1149.

3 Margot Street, Newmarket, Auckland.

Ph: 0-9-5229800 Fax: 0-9-5229801 Email: info@globalbizpro.co.nz Website: www.globalbizpro.co.nz

www.globalbizpro.co.nz

3 Margot St, Newmarket, Auckland

info@globalbizpro.co.nz www.aucklandtoday.net.nz January/February 2011 | 13

Events | Diary

business | events ▲ Wednesday & Thursday, January 19-20

Effective Recruitment — New Zealand Institute of Management Every organisation faces the challenge of attracting the best people, ensuring they perform and encouraging them to stay. An estimated 70 percent of performance problems can be linked to recruitment issues. To register visit www.nzim.co.nz

Viewpoint | Financial Management

Lisa Martin and her Go Fi8ure team

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Monday & Tuesday, January 24-25

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Thursday, January 25

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Thursday, February 10 Emotional Intelligence — New Zealand Institute of Management EQ is a measure of emotional intelligence. This course explores EQ being more important for business and personal success than IQ. To register, www.nzim.co.nz

▲

Following through on

Monday, February 14

financial resolutions

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Monday, February 21

▲ ▲

Dealing with Difficult, Demanding and Prickly Personalities — Auckland University Learn practical ways of defusing hard to please people and learn how to get positive outcomes that will work for you. To register visit www.shortcourse.auckland.ac.nz Speed and Power Reading — New Zealand Institute of Management This course is designed to help you deal confidently with large amounts of written material. As a fast reader you can expect considerable time savings in getting through your reading load. To register visit www.nzim.co.nz

Effective Communication Skills — Auckland University Mastering the art of one on one relationships is fundamental to good management.

This course examines a number of practical aspects of effective interpersonal communication. To register visit www.shortcourses.auckland.ac.nz Outperforming Finance Function — New Zealand Institute of Chartered Accountants Do you want an outperforming finance function? Using research and examples, explore the new challenges facing finance and how outperforming finance functions have achieved their success. To register visit www.nzica.com/events/

Tuesday, February 22 Accelerated Strategic Planning — The Icehouse Put together a strategic plan chart for three to five years, put together a 12 month strategic action plan and get templates for creative problem solving. All this and more at The Icehouse seminar. To register visit www.theicehouse.co.nz

Tuesday, February 22 Governance Essentials — Institute of Directors Writing board papers and need some guidelines, been asked to sit on a board and unsure of your duty, or want to know about governance from both a management and director perspective? This is the course for you. To register visit www.iod.org.nz

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Wednesday, February 23

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Wednesday, February 23

Finance Essentials — Institute of Directors Need to reacquaint yourself with financial statements, lacking knowledge in financial discussions around the board table, or wanting basic skills for financial analysis, investment appraisal and valuation? To register visit www.iod.org.nz

By Lisa Martin

With the new year under way, what should small and medium businesses be doing to make good on their financial resolutions?

A lot of business owners might have decided they’d like to improve their financial transparency and stop doing their accounts badly.

One of the first steps to take is getting some expert advice from an external accountant or specialist bookkeeper. Consider it an investment in your business intelligence.

There’s no excuse for not understanding — or learning how to understand — what’s happening on your business’ bottom line.

Training investment

Best Practice Credit Management — NZ Institute of Chartered Accountants Optimise your business cash-flow with effective credit and collections strategies. This seminar will provide practical tips to assist your business effectively manage your risk and debt recovery. To register visit www.nzica.com/events/

Organising some training for the person who’ll be keeping your books and giving them a robust system to follow is also a worthwhile investment.

▲

Thursday, March 3

▲

Monday, March 7

A specialist bookkeeper can work with you to set up a standard operating procedure for managing your accounts. This will save you time and money over the long term. It’s much better, and cheaper, to be proactive than waiting for a problem to build up and then trying to untangle it 12 months later.

Business Essentials, Finance for Managers — The Icehouse Learn to apply management accounting tools to business problems, link financial objectives to strategy, identify key value drivers to help manage the value of your business and more. To register visit www.theicehouse.co.nz Conducting Effective Meetings — New Zealand Institute of Management Designed to help participants develop their meeting skills, either as the chair or the facilitator, or even as a participant. To register visit www.nzim.co.nz

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Wednesday & Thursday, March 9-10

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Monday, March 14

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Business Skills for New Managers — Auckland University In today’s business environment, managers must lead and manage both the people and the task. Making the transition from being one of the team to leader/manager can be challenging. To register visit www.shortcourses.auckland.ac.nz Finance for the Public Sector — Auckland University This course is specifically aimed at non-financial managers in the public sector, including local government, who are responsible for preparing or managing budgets and need to understand the numbers to make effective business decisions.

To register visit www.shortcourses.auckland.ac.nz

Sometimes business owners feel threatened by someone looking at their books. That’s usually a sign they’ve got a problem.

External accountants and bookkeepers offer a professional, confidential service. Facing up to a professional who can have a look at what you’re doing and tell you how to improve is important.

Even if you’re on the right track, an external provider can give you confidence that you’re doing things right. A good accountant wants to save you money and make your business perform better.

To choose a good accounting or bookkeeping firm, look for client testimonials from a variety of sources. A reputable, established business should have no trouble providing them. Speak to your local bank manager and ask their advice. Good accounting firms will have positive relationships with most bank managers in town.

Keeping an eye on the mail is important.

Everything that comes into the business should be opened, date-stamped, and seen by the managing director or owner. Business owners must sight all IRD correspondence and bank statements.

Don’t be afraid to open those envelopes.

I once worked with a client who missed out on a $3000 payment because they hadn’t bothered returning a form the IRD had sent them.

You would be surprised how many business owners hide from what they think will be bad news.

Putting money aside is another regular piece of advice that always bears repeating.

Whether you’re earning $15,000 or $150,000 a month, one third of that should be going straight into your savings account. That’s the minimum you need to put aside to cover GST and income tax. It’s not your money.

If you’ve reviewed your business books over the holidays and realised that there are some shortfalls, get in touch with the Inland Revenue Department (IRD) sooner rather than later. Let them know you’re going to have problems and need to put a payment plan in place. This will usually reduce interest charges and any other penalties they levy.

You should also have a plan in place to make sure your PAYE and GST returns are filed on time and can’t be delayed by last minute events.

Lisa Martin is the managing director of Go Fi8ure. www.gofi8ure.co.nz

Wednesday, March 16

The Accountants’ One Day Business and Tax Update — New Zealand Institute of Chartered Accountants The theme for 2011 will be New Zealand on the world stage and high calibre business leaders and experts will be presenting on a range of technical topics and business issues. To register visit www.nzica.com/events/

If you have events you would like featured in the Events Diary, email newsroom@academy.net.nz at least two months before the date of the event.

Or, if you have held an event and would like to supply photos for the Been Seen section (along with 100 words about the event and a caption for each image), send to newsroom@academy.net.nz 14 | January/February 2011 www.aucklandtoday.net.nz

Get expert advice from an external accountant or specialist bookkeeper.

Consider it an investment in your business intelligence.

www.radiolive.co.nz

www.aucklandtoday.net.nz January/February 2011 | 15

News Profile | Annette Presley

broadly Do I look back and want to change anything, even the worst things that ever happened to me? The things that were real crises?

No, because out of every bad thing that happens you learn something and you learn about yourself and even the really bad things are the ones that change you the most.

16 | January/February 2011   www.aucklandtoday.net.nz

News Profile | Annette Presley

ambitious

By Bridget Gourlay

Most little girls dream of becoming princesses. Or famous actresses. Or having hundreds of puppies. Annette Presley dreamed of owning her own company at the age of 25. The famous entrepreneur, now a multi-millionaire, grew up in an underprivileged house in South Auckland. Many of her friends, she remembers, were third generation beneficiary families.

From a very young age she knew she wanted a different life for herself. And that is exactly what she has created.

A call to Australia In 1992, Australia de-regulated its telecommunications industry and Presley and her then husband Malcolm Dick saw an opportunity. They moved across the ditch and on April Fool’s Day started Call Australia.

Despite their successes in New Zealand, starting up wasn’t easy. A few weeks beforehand Presley broke her leg and their third investor backed out.

She may be famous for her catchphrase ‘feel the fear and do it anyway,’ but it’s not just a cheap slogan. Presley has walked the walk.

“Every day we thought that we were going to fail. Because people were telling us that, our suppliers were telling us that. Then, there was no such thing as a telecommunications re-seller. We were one of the first.

“It was the fear of failure. We didn’t want to go back to New Zealand and tell everyone we’d failed. So we didn’t.”

In 1998 Call Australia was turning over $100 million a year with 200 employees. But home is where the heart is, and the pair sold it, moved home to New Zealand and began a similar company, now known as Slingshot.

Beginnings

Public face

At about 22 Presley and a friend set up a small company that ran seminars on female business success, called Women on the Move. In the mid 1980s, this was a move almost unheard of.

The rest is history. Presley became the very public face of the company. She appeared in all of its advertising. She challenged Telecom.

She sued Telecom. She famously offered to do Theresa Gattung’s job for one dollar. Appearing on shows such as Dragon’s Den cemented her face as part of Slingshot’s brand.

“In my generation, there was no such thing as a female business leader. Let alone, as we have now, the fortune to have the number of prominent women leaders in business and society today — women prime ministers, and a female leader of the legal counsel (Chief Justice Sian Elias).”

Women on the Move was a small venture, one she did largely for philanthropy and the sheer fun of it. It wasn’t until the ripe old age of 24 she started IT recruitment firm, Stratum.

Presley didn’t know anything about starting her own company. She remembers living in a small apartment, struggling to pay the rent and eating tomato sandwiches for every meal. But she’d done the sums and knew Stratum would soon turn a profit.

And it did. When she sold it four years later in 1992, it was one of the leading IT recruitment firms in the country. “The fact that it succeeded was a bit of a miracle, but anything can happen with hard work and dedication and a bit of passion — as I’ve discovered in my life.”

Each time, Presley found the capital to back herself as getting a bank loan was out of the question. “I’ve never had a bank fund any of my companies. Not even today does a bank fund my company which is turning over more than $140 million. Banks don’t fund entrepreneurs, in my experience. Banks don’t like to take risks, although sometimes they take stupid risks, as we’ve seen.”

… anything can happen with hard work and dedication and a bit of passion — as I’ve discovered in my life.

In 2006, a very public stoush came about, dragged through the media and exploited by the tabloids, when Presley and Dick separated and Presley was stood down from the day to day running of the company.

But despite all of this very public pain, despite the early days of tomato sandwiches and the very real possibility of going broke, Presley doesn’t look back with regrets.

She says she wouldn’t change anything that has happened to her.

“It’s like sliding doors. If you made a different decision at that point you would have gone down a different path and be a different person. Would it have been a better path?

“Nobody will ever know. You’ve got the path that you’ve chosen so you either make lemonade or you live with lemons.

“Do I look back and want to change anything, even the worst things that ever happened to me? The things that were real crises? No, because out of every bad thing that happens you learn something and you learn about yourself and even the really bad things are the ones that change you the most.”

tall poppy syndrome “exists 100 percent” and is holding the country back.

The year ahead

“People like me don’t necessarily want to put their head up because the media of New Zealand is so keen to chop it down again… I know many successful people who have either left New Zealand or who will not do an interview like this and have no interest whatsoever, because they know for an absolute fact it will just bring more focus on them and just give the media more opportunity to rip them to shreds the minute they see a crack.

Presley may have stepped back from the day to day running of her business, but she’s still involved, and has also got her finger in a few pies across the Tasman too.

“I think that’s sad because so many role models and icons just will not stand up. And I’ve had this conversation with many very successful people.”

Charity queen She’s made her millions. And she’s stood down from the day to day running of her business.

So what does a successful, glamorous woman do now? Relax on the beach? Go on luxury holidays? Not this one. She spends a good portion of her time in the poorest schools in south Auckland.

But her number one priority are her children, she stresses. It seems it’s not just hers who are getting her guidance and support. She says 2011 will be a “big year” for her, as her many charity projects in south Auckland kick into gear. She’s in talks about starting a camp for underprivileged children, which she’ll organise with a charity or off her own bat.

Because despite her success, her money and her fame, she knows where she’s from.

“I want to make a difference,” she tells me several times.

“South Auckland has certainly changed since I grew up there and it’s not for the better.

I’d love to see the children who don’t have opportunities and don’t believe in themselves look at life differently.”

That’s where she grew up. On behalf of charities, the multi-millionaire speaks to teenagers about making the most out of their lives. Dress for Success, Violence Against Women, the Sensible Sentencing Trust, the Stellar Trust (against the drug P) and the Casper foundation (about youth suicide) are some of the varied causes Presley supports.

She’s also involved in mentoring — from business leaders to teenagers, she receives emails and phone calls nearly everyday asking her for advice; something she’s happy to give.

“Whether they’re kids leaving school or business leaders (me included), sometimes we lose our path and we can’t see things clearly.

Being the public face of anything comes with We just need someone to stand back and say its detractors. And Presley feels New Zealand hey let’s have a look at it, where do we want has more than its fair share of them. She thinks to go and how are we going to get there.” www.aucklandtoday.net.nz January/February 2011 | 17

News Feature | Leadership

Qualifying leadership

Qualities

By Melinda Collins

Leadership is the quality of spirit that enlists the aid and support of others in accomplishing a common task. It is a way for people to contribute to making something extraordinary happen; empowering those around you to achieve.

Some people have leadership ability. Some don’t. But how does it play out in the corporate arena?

Simple — it can make or break an organisation.

Good management is vital for any business organisation — whether it is an SME or a multi million dollar corporate. But in addition to basic management skills, managers require leadership skills as well. In fact, leadership is the key quality which every manager must acquire to become an effective manager. A manager may develop a perfect strategy to make an organisation successful – but to drive that strategy to fruition takes leadership.

Leadership then takes on a bigger, broader and more important role.

Internationally renowned leadership coach and speaker Dr Myles Monroe offered this insight in his bestselling Spirit of Leadership in 2005, after personally training thousands of business

leaders around the world.

“Leadership is the capacity to influence others through inspiration, motivated by passion, generated by vision, produced by a conviction, ignited by a purpose.”

Leaders may be found in boardrooms, he says, but they may also be found in families, schools, and organisations of all kinds — anywhere people interact, nurture, create, or build.

“Contrary to popular opinion, leadership is not meant for an elite group of people who — by fate or accident — are allowed to be leaders while everyone else is consigned to being lifelong followers.”

A summary of his key leadership traits:

Influence Leadership is not about being in power, it’s about empowering others. While it does involve influencing a group or team of people, leadership is not about power and coercion.

Influence is creating the want and desire in others to do what you want and desire them to do.

/

Passion

Conviction

A leader is most effective when he or she is passionate about the team, organisation, and the work thereof. Passion has to be genuine and cannot be faked. But it is contagious and when team members can sense the passion of leaders, they too will become passionate.

Leaders believe that what they do is important and purposeful. The belief is the conviction that drives the leader’s actions and passion. The conviction is communicated in the vision and nearly every statement of the leader.

Vision

Leaders have purpose for their actions and what they influence. Leaders seek what is best for the group, not the individual. Leaders are inherently selfless and hardworking. They are driven by their conviction and purpose and resonate the passion in their vision statements.

Leadership is all about action. The vision is the articulation of the action to get to where the group needs to go. The vision should be well defined and effectively communicated.

Purpose

Studying the styles exploring the options

By Melinda Collins

The study of leadership traits has been ongoing for centuries; history’s greatest philosophical writings from Plato’s Republic to Plutarch’s Lives have explored leadership and its underlying traits.

It is something we’ve learned a lot about as time has gone on. Heading a successful company today is a lot different to 50 years ago — barking orders at your subordinates won’t get staff on your side. Likewise, a hang loose, buddy-buddy management style won’t win you any points in the leadership stakes either.

But in a constantly changing business climate, leadership archetypes of the past will do nothing to ensure you meet the challenges of today’s workplace. So what are the leadership traits needed to walk the talk in the 21st century?

One of the few of its kind was a comprehensive leadership study, undertaken

by Daniel Goleman, Richard Boyatzis and Annie McKee, published in Primal Leadership in 2002, classifying leadership styles and effectiveness for the 21st century.

The following six styles they identified are listed in order of preference, with the “best” style of leadership first, and on down the list to the least effective style which is listed last.

1 Visionary Leadership Leader sets direction by creating a vision that engages people. And the people share the dream. The authors concluded that this leadership style is probably the overall most effective style, especially the higher in the organisation one progresses.

2 Coaching Leader connects individual needs and wants with the organisation’s goals. Coaching explores the person’s life and values beyond

18 | January/February 2011 www.aucklandtoday.net.nz

just the work. Such leaders help employees forge long-term goals and develop plans to meet those goals. Paradoxically, while this style does not focus specifically on the bottom line, it delivers bottom line results. In their findings, it was the second most effective style in driving results.

3 Affiliative The leader connects people to each other, thereby creating teamwork and harmony. This style promotes collaboration and relationships which indirectly drive better performance, loyalty and commitment.

The two least effective leadership styles in the 21st century…

5 Pacesetting Leader sets and achieves challenge goals.

Often executed in a highly competitive way, this style is less effective in most situations because it promotes the good of one person or department with little regard for the good of the entire organisation. It can be useful sometimes with a confident and highly motivated team, but should be used sparingly.

4 Democratic

6 Commanding

Inclusion and participation show that each member is valued by this leader. This is particularly effective when the leader is genuinely looking for ideas or seeking to secure buy-in for a potential change. At some point, however, if consensus cannot be reached, the leader must make the decision and move ahead.

Leader provides clear direction and makes all decisions. A frequently misused and overused style, this was shown to be minimally effective in the 21st century organisation. It can be useful temporarily in a crisis, to jump-start a new initiative, or with a problem employee, but use of the commanding style should be very limited.

News Feature | Leadership

Management Leadership

By Kate Pierson

There have been many great men and women who have gone before us. Some have led, others have managed and some have done both. While the terms ‘leader’ and ‘manager’ may be perceived as mutually interchangeable, there is a fundamental difference between the two concepts. There will be some who can lead but not manage and others who can manage but not lead.

Knowing the difference Management has often been described as an authoritative and transactional process whereby a manager has authoritative power instilled in them by a company to govern subordinates. Leadership, on the other hand, has been described as having voluntary followers and a leader’s ability to attract this support is said to lie in their ability to inspire, or deliver personal transformation for the party who follows.

But what about management and leadership in business? To understand the difference between these two institutions within a professional capacity, a return to first principals is required, as is the knowledge of a management and leadership expert.

Throughout the past 25 years, Terry Pierson has worked in directorial and chief executive roles. Having spent significant periods of time applying and studying Sixth Sigma and Lean Manufacturing methodologies, Pierson says during his career his approach to management has been profoundly influenced by the management philosophies of W. Edwards Deming.

Of the distinction between management and leadership he says, “It’s interesting because you tend to get much better definitions of the word management than you do of the word leadership.

“When you have a look at those definitions or you ask people for them, you can get a succinct definition of management, but you’re much less likely to get a succinct definition of

leadership because it is a subjective question and people provide responses that are subjective.

“I would answer the question about the difference between management and leadership by firstly distinguishing the terms and then comparing them once they are distinguished.

“You have to have an understanding of these words in their own right before you can consider the relationship between the two.”

Pierson believes management is the art of making things happen and in order to make things happen, you have to have people that are capable of managing. “The question then is how you find those people,” he says. “They are the rarest people in the world and that’s why they are the most highly paid because of supply and demand – they are so hard to find.”

Pierson says whenever he is looking for someone with management capability he asks them five simple questions. They are always the same five questions and have been the same for the past 25 years.

The first question is, ‘What is the most important attribute and characteristic a manager must possess?’ “This is a deal breaker,” Pierson asserts.

“If they don’t have this, there is no point in continuing the interview. The attribute I’m looking for is about being organised, because people running any form of enterprise are running an organisation and it is not going to be organised if the person running it is not capable of being organised.”

Pierson says the third question is, ‘Can you handle pressure?’

“If you are organised and understand the nature of accountability, you must be able to deal with pressure,” he maintains.

The fourth question is obvious — ‘Do you want to be a manager?’ And the fifth question is, ‘Why?’ “The answer to that is, ‘Because I want to make a difference; I want to organise an organisation’.”

Pierson says it is that want and drive that is the very nature of leadership. “The person that possesses that desire; the person who wants to organise the organisation and to make a difference because they have the innate capability and resolve to do so, is the leader.

“Fundamentally, when you boil it all down — and this may sound a little bit oblique, but I’m firmly of the view, that in any walk of life, the application of leadership in practical and professional circumstances can be defined in one word and that is encouragement.

“What you’re doing when you provide people with better systems to work with and guide those people to help evolve and further improve the systems, is encouraging them. You are leading by example.”

Management philosophy

Having a management philosophy that holds true in times of crisis is also as important as the manager managing and leading in these circumstances.

Rudyard Kipling said, “If you can keep your head when all about you are losing theirs and blaming it on you. If you can trust yourself when all men doubt you, but make allowance for their doubting too.”

While the eternally relevant poet Kipling wrote these words for his son, they resonate with compelling conviction in the professional sphere too.

Because when the proverbial hits the fan, as it always does in business in some way shape or form, and everyone is losing their cool, looking for guidance, or playing the blame game, the manager needs to be the leader of the professional pack and, most importantly, lead by example.

So how do you manage and lead in a crisis?

“Remain organised, keep cool, don’t crack under pressure and maintain your resolve,” Pierson says.

“Resolve is the counter to pressure — one deals with pressure through resolve. There is no person who doesn’t feel pressure. Everybody feels pressure, like everybody feels fear and every man feels fear in combat.”

Pierson says the thing that defines a crisis, is the lack of time available to consider the information to substantiate decisions that will be made.

Pierson believes having a management philosophy which is comprehensible, applicable “You have to the use the time that is available to you, to collect the data that you can shape and effective is critical when managing and into information that will support and inform leading in business. good decisions.”

The second question is, ‘Do you understand And while most management philosophies accountability?’ “The Deming view of what In order for a business to fulfil its potential, rotate in fads and are embraced briefly you’re accountable for as a manager is about Pierson maintains it is the role of the manager before they fail, he says that when a business providing the people that work for you with a to lead staff towards fulfilling their own. adopts its own philosophy, it should be better system,” Pierson says. comprehensible and most importantly, endure “A leader in a management capacity brings “Eighty-five percent of the result that anybody because it works. out organisational capability and creates produces is a function of the quality of the the systems which enable people to fulfil “In many cases, if you were to go into an system in place. You are the architect of the their potential. Because a business won’t organisation and take a cross-section of system so really what you should be saying as the board, executive management, middle fulfil its potential, unless the people within it a manager to your staff is, ‘What can I give you management and frontline staff and ask them fulfil theirs.” to help you do a better job?’ to describe their company’s management philosophy, chances are you will not get any “Deming’s philosophy here is straightforward; a business produces results and the results are consensus. That’s because, if anybody has a sum of the processes. You improve the result cooked up a view on that subject, they haven’t effectively disseminated it and anyway, it’s too For more information on the Deming by improving the processes and this can’t be complex for people to comprehend.”

Philosophy visit www.deming.org achieved without systems.” www.aucklandtoday.net.nz January/February 2011 | 19

News Feature | Leadership

‘right’

The

a All the leadership institutes, courses and handbooks in the world can only do so much. Sometimes you’ve got to live it to know what it’s like.

Bridget Gourlay talks to some of New Zealand’s most famous leaders about what they think separates the men from the boys.

Be accountable Ngahihi Bidois was a successful businessman by the age of 26. Instead of continuing with a seriously corporate career, he started working as an inspirational speaker, so others could benefit from his knowledge.

Bidois believes leadership is ultimately about being accountable.

“A fish rots at the head and if the head is not being accountable to the people they are leading, and if the head is not willing to be accountable to the people they should be servicing, it’s like rearranging deck chairs on the Titanic. Until that leader leaves, things are just going to get worse.”

d

v

crucial thing is communication. People need to know what they need to do and get regular feedback on how they are doing.

“As managers we need to realise people will be motivated by different things from what motivates you or me, or anyone else. The key to successful communication is knowing and understanding people. I don’t believe you can help a person grow, or motivate the person, or create the environment for growth unless you actually know the person.”

Admitting mistakes Sam Knowles, CEO of Kiwibank, says part of being a good leader is admitting when you’re wrong. And he’s walked the walk. In May 2006, several New Zealanders from a range of banks were scammed by e-criminals.

Knowles was the only bank CEO who broke the deafening silence. He told the media New Zealand’s banking sector had ignored the need to invest in electronic payment support while they enjoyed unprecedented profits.

Good environment John Hart has spent a good part of his life being the man in the hot seat. He coached the All Blacks twice, but his lesser known accomplishments include senior roles at Fletcher Buildings.

Everyone remembers the 1999 World Cup semi-final shocker. It was almost as painful as 2007’s crushing quarter-final.

But in 1995 when Hart became the All Blacks’ coach, two successful seasons followed. The ABs won 10 of 11 tests and our first ever series victory in South Africa in 1996, plus all of our Tri-Nations tests in 1997.

So Hart’s seen his fair share of good times and bad, and believes leaders must create an environment where every individual can flourish. “I believe people will do so if they are well-led and self-motivated and I think the

20 | January/February 2011 www.aucklandtoday.net.nz

i

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e

“I’m sure it did ruffle some feathers, but it was not the intention to ruffle feathers. I think it is just symptomatic of the fact that most of the other CEOs don’t talk to the media — they have people who do that. Certainly for Kiwibank it is important the CEO stands up and says what the bank means to say. If you are leading the organisation you have to do that.”

Humour Mark Orams was a close friend and team mate of Sir Peter Blake. In his book Blake: Leader, he says one of Sir Peter’s greatest leadership qualities was his ability to make everyone laugh.

“Some events became traditions. One example was the ‘dick of the day’ award. In the evening, around sundown and usually at change of watch time, nominations would be called for the ‘dick of the day’. Crew members

who had done something stupid or who had made a mistake or had done something annoying would be nominated. The accused would be encouraged to ‘fess up’ and to acknowledge — or try to explain away — the issue. There would be much laughter, a lot of exaggeration and accusation, and then the crew would all agree on who was the worst offender for that day.”

Orams says the tradition’s purpose was that it got things out in the open in a non-threatening way. Because the yacht was small and the crew were cooped up together for weeks, it was a much-needed tension release. It also taught the crew a lesson — if you were nominated, even for something frivolous, you made sure you weren’t nominated for that again.

Leadership in a crisis Leadership in good times requires skill, guts and charisma. But at times of crisis it needs so much more.

Murray Burton knows this first hand. He is the principal of Elim Christian College, where in 2008 six students and a teacher were drowned while spending a week on a school camp. Burton had to guide his shaken and distraught students, staff and parents through the tragedy.

“In my experience leadership is not just about one person; it’s not just about you or me. It’s about being part of a team.

“You have to have a balanced view of your abilities. Be quietly confident and have emotional intelligence.

“It’s also important to have self-esteem…in times of tragedy, you have to put yourself in other people’s shoes. Sometimes you have to wear different hats. Whether it’s the principal’s hat, the confidant hat, the friend hat or the parent hat.”

Burton believes leadership involves the ability to serve. “I’m not afraid to get in there and help out at working bees and get my hands dirty. You should never trade on your title and you are never defined by your title. When you start to think something is beneath you; that is a slippery slope indeed.”

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www.aucklandtoday.net.nz January/February 2011 | 21

Living | Today

By Bridget Gourlay

techo evolution

products

In 1990 big hair was in, Paula Abdul was hot and New Kids on the Block were top of the pops. If you remember grooving to them on your walkman while wearing acid-washed jeans, you’ll certainly remember the gadgets of the day.

Comparing ‘then’ with ‘now’ shows how far technolgy has come in a realtively short space of time.

Computers Then The foundation stone of the computer revolution, the PC had styling to match. Blocky and brutish, much like fake fur collars and neon MC Hammer pants, the desktop PC increasingly became an anachronism as the decade unfolded. In the early 1990s home and office computer technology was cutting edge with a machine packing a 250mb hard drive, floppy disc and a megabite of memory, running an early Microsoft operating platform such as Windows 3.1. All this lead to the now infamous ‘blue screen of death’ when the machine crashed.

Now By contrast, today’s best offering is light, simple and effortlessly chic.

Unlike most computers even today the iMac’s hard drive is in its screen meaning there’s no external features to knock your knees against. A one terabyte hard drive and four gigabytes of ram means you can go crazy downloading documents, movies and music. A bluetooth mouse and keyboard completes the minimalist look.

Available: Apple shops and stockists RRP: From $3065

Portable Info One thing that hasn’t changed over the years is the desperate panicky feeling when, after hours of work, your computer throws a hissy fit and you haven’t backed up your data.

Then Back in 1990, floppy discs were the saviours in an accidentally-deleted situation, although they could only hold a laughable 21 megabytes. But even then the format wasn’t stable and every time you inserted a disc you had your fingers crossed as well…

Now Sony Mirco-Vault CLICK Today’s Sony Mirco-Vault CLICK pen-drive holds eight gigabytes and is sleek and stylish. Put it on your keychain and with just one ‘click’, the hidden USB connector is ready for action — no cap to be lost.

You can store movies, songs and thousands of files with this amount of memory.

Available: Sony shops and stockists RRP: 59.95

Tape USB For those who like the vintage look, check out this USB from musichype.com. A bit of vintage and Kiwiana in one.

Available: www.musichype.com/ nz-indie-mix-tape-usb/ RRP: $25.00

Recording Then

The mobile phone Then When the cellphone was invented it was revolutionary. Being able to call anyone anywhere and not be reliant on payphones meant a quicker, more productive business model. These days “the brick” — unable to send a text, let alone go on the internet — would only be snapped up by a museum or nostalgia buffs.

Now Today’s iPhone does it all — go on Google Maps when you’re lost, Skype the office from overseas and read your hometown’s newspaper from an airport in Japan.

You can even make a phone call!

Available: Apple shops and stockists RRP: From $1123

22 | January/February 2011 www.aucklandtoday.net.nz

Back in 1990, a secretary would have been frantically typing up letters and meetings, in between fetching cups of coffee for the boss. Tape recorders certainly existed but everything still had to be transcribed afterwards.

Now Now there’s software that does it all for you. The hours and manpower spent on transcribing are gone with Dragon speech recognition software. It turns your voice into text three times faster than most people type, with up to 99 percent accuracy. It learns to recognise your voice instantly and continually improves the more you use it.

Available: Available from Nuance authorised resellers throughout New Zealand or contact the New Zealand distributor Mistral Software Limited (09) 271 4661 sales@ mistralsoftware.co.nz or visit www.mistralsoftware.co.nz RRP: $379

Living | Today

By Kate Pierson

summer starters

lifestyles

The quintessential Kiwi ideal is said to be “BMW, boat and bach”. Add a jet ski and super deluxe BBQ into the mix and you may be getting close… for some.

Here’s grab-bag of the best, baddest and most beautiful tools and treats to put the topping on wherever and whatever you’re doing this summer.

Must have

Moving on

Jute Shapla Hammock

Yamaha FX HO Cruiser

If summer for you is all about R&R, here’s the perfect accompaniment for lazy days. It’s good looking, strong and — best of all — doesn’t talk back. Trade Aid’s Bangladesh-made Jute Shapla Hammock wants to be the way for you to enjoy a snooze fest over summer.

Whether you’ve got a need for speed that must be appeased or you’re a lazy-day cruiser, the Yamaha FX HO Cruiser will satisfy your needs.

This bad boy is the great white shark of jetskis — big, tough and ferocious in the water when you want it to be.

Available: www.tradeaid.org.nz RRP: $89.99

With a 1812cc high output engine, the FX HO Cruiser has a reverse with traction control feature, which allows for smooth maneuvering during launching and docking by limiting RPM’s and reducing cavitation. It’s quite the show pony with waterproof storage, a reboarding step and cruise assist mode.

Available: www.aucklandyamaha.co.nz RRP: $22,990

Simply Super Deluxe Electrolux Jeppe Utzon BBQ When something seriously impresses a colleague he cranks out the expression “super deluxe”. His signature lingo sums up the Electrolux Jeppe Utzon BBQ. This fine looking model is the product of a two-year collaboration between superstars Electrolux and designer Jeppe Utzon, grandson of legendary Sydney Opera House designer, Jom Utzon.

Destination Kimi Ora Spa Resort You can have your slice of paradise at Kimi Ora Spa Resort this summer. You can also have your Christmas cake and eat it too, because Kimi Ora is a revitalisation for mind and greedy bodies.

A minimalist interpretation, this sleek and sexy design in marine grade brushed stainless steel will have your mouth watering.

Available: www.electrolux.co.nz RRP: $15,499

Nestled at the top of the South Island, the clean, green accommodation and health spa is perched above Kaiteriteri beach and takes the meaning of relaxation to a whole new level — literally. There’s even a rock grotto.

Top Drop Stoneleigh Marlborough Pinot Gris

With an infrared sauna, steam room, indoor and outdoor pools, a vegetarian restaurant and organic beers, wine and juices on tap, we’ve got a feeling you’ll never want to leave.

Everything is fine in moderation — but good luck putting that into practise once you’ve wrapped your laughing gear around this little viticultural gem.

Available: Visit www.kimiora.com for more information.

Stoneleigh’s Marlborough Pinot Gris is quite a complex character.

Suit up Lover that style If you want to “freestyle it” this summer, you and your birthday suit are probably best to venture to a place that doesn’t mind if you show off what nature gave you. We’re a bit of a conservative ol’ bunch in New Zealand and unless you want a criminal conviction for indecent exposure, you’re best to cover up at the beach this summer.

Do it in style with these swimsuits by Lover, which set hearts aflutter with uber-sweet one and two piece bathing suits. Gents can get prim and proper with ATG’s ‘Sailor Stripe’ Swim Shorts or get ghetto on it with Ksubi boardies.

Available: www.superette.co.nz RRP: Lover Underwire Tube and Trunk $399, Lover Square Neck One Piece $389, ATG Sailor Stripe Swim Shorts $119, Ksubi Ghetto Boardshort $149

With a warm richness and subtle fruit aroma, this top drop has a tropical essence and like its counterparts,is made with the magic of Stoneleigh sunstones decorating the land on which the vines are planted.

Available: www.stoneleigh.co.nz RRP: $22.95

www.aucklandtoday.net.nz January/February 2011 | 23

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Celebrating | Heritage Tiles

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Thinking outside the square …

Tourists in Tunisia, Iran or Greece visit awe-inspiring ancient buildings decorated with floor tiles. Sometimes purely aesthetic, sometimes telling a story, the beauty and art tiles can add to a building has been recognised for thousands of years. The combination of charm and durability means tiles are still popular today, thousands of years after their first documented use. From commercial buildings looking to turn a floor into a work of art to DIY-ers wanting to spruce up a bathroom or kitchen, tiles are still the answer.

Heritage Tiles is your one-stop shop. Originally a terracotta tile-making business, this Penrose company was bought by Gordon Roberts 21 years ago. Gordon has now passed away, but the business remains in the family.

network across the country, it has tiles to suit anyone, anywhere. Check out the gallery or video at www.tiles.co.nz or visit any of the 45 Heritage Tiles stockists from Kerikeri to Invercargill to get an idea of the range in stock.

Today Heritage Tiles, owned by his son Peter, is a leading distributor and retailer of ceramic tiles and porcelain tiles in New Zealand.

With 21 years experience, five tile stores in Auckland, one in Wellington and a distribution

“Tiles are extremely versatile in terms of design. You can take the same tiles as your neighbour and design a space with them that looks completely different. Everyone can have unique look if they want to,” Peter Roberts says.

“On a more practical side, tiles are really easy to keep clean and to maintain. Longevity is also a plus. You don’t have to repaint every five years, for example.”

Connections Twenty-one years in the tiling industry has built up partnerships with major ceramic tile and porcelain tile manufacturers in Italy, Australia, Spain, Turkey, Brazil, the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and across Asia. Heritage Tiles is able to offer the latest tile trends, colours, design ideas and prices to match any budget.

“The Italians are the innovators,” Roberts says.

“Just like clothing, Italy is at the cutting edge of tile design and developing technology to make them.

“The Italians have started using inkjet digital processors to make tiles — the flexibility and versatility in production is amazing. It’s been revolutionary in the industry.”

Mosaic examples A key Italian supplier is Bizazza which makes ornate glass mosaic tiles for bathrooms, splashbacks or swimming pools.

Heritage Tiles’ biggest supplier, Rak, hails from the UAE. “They are one of the largest tile-making businesses in the world.

We are the only tile business in New Zealand to stock their products — they offer a good range for good value and are the backbone of our company.”

SUPPLIERS OF : DTA TILING TOOLS & ACCESSORIES, ALUMINIUM TILE TRIMS, TECHNISEAL SILICONES, DIAMOND BLADES, BATHROOM ACCESSORIES, MOVEMENT JOINTS, MONTOLIT, RUBI. Phone: 09 274 9112 Fax: 09 274 6661 sales@tileaccessories.co.nz 24 | January/February 2011 www.aucklandtoday.net.nz

Celebrating | Heritage Tiles

coverage options

Closer to home, Heritage Tiles also stocks New Zealand-made tiles, created by the team at Middle Earth. This terracotta tile supplier, originally part of Heritage Tiles, split off to become a separate company in the 1990s.

It is now run by Roberts’ brother Jeff.

Green tiles Heritage Tiles is committed to providing environmentally friendly tiles. Tiles can help with passive heating and cooling options and almost always outlast alternative flooring.

Heritage Tiles stocks several ranges which meet European Eco-Label “flower” certification requirements. Established in 1992, the scheme helps consumers identify greener, environmentally friendly products and services.

All products bearing the flower symbol have been checked by independent groups which ensure ecological and performance criteria compliance.

Heritage Tiles is also listed on the New Zealand Greenbuild website, an information bank that

gives architects, designers, specifiers and construction industry professionals instant access to its comprehensive online building products database.

It enables specifiers to easily search and compare product specifications and provides information about environmental assessment and environmentally rated building materials.

Major projects Heritage Tiles has strong professional relationships leading interior designers and architects and has supplied tiles to a number of Auckland’s most important buildings.

It recently supplied tiles for Auckland Airport and SkyCity bathrooms, as well as tiles for Westpac in Britomart. Additionally, Heritage Tiles is the chosen tile supplier for new KFC stores and renovations nationwide.

For those with creative flair who want to transform a bathroom or kitchen, Heritage Tiles has grouts, tile cutters, adhesives and all the tools necessary to complete projects.

Feature continues on next page >>

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For all your tiling, tool, and accessory needs.

www.aucklandtoday.net.nz January/February 2011 | 25

Celebrating | Heritage Tiles

Heritage Tiles is also able to help with ‘retro requests’. If you’re looking for tiles to match those purchased ten years ago, chances are that the business can help. It carries the largest stock of tiles in New Zealand with at least 200,000 square metres of materials covering over 500 different styles in its warehouse.

Ten year guarantee

To give customers even more confidence, Heritage Tiles offers a ten year product guarantee, covering the performance of the tiles from the date of purchase. The guarantee covers the cost of the product and reasonable installation costs. Heritage Tiles is not liable for loss of profit or any consequential damages. To Peter Roberts advises DIY-ers to bring in photos qualify for a guarantee the selection and laying of the room or a sample of the curtains, carpet, of tiles should be in accordance with current bench top or cabinet colours. Customers are standards and accepted practice. encouraged to take tile samples home to judge how they work in with existing lighting and Peter Roberts says he’s proud of the progress fixtures before making a final decision.

Heritage Tiles has made in the 21 years since

Chelsea Diamond specialised in manufacturing and distributing the best quality industry diamond tools & equipment for cutting, drill, grinding & polishing Nature Stone, Tiles, Concrete & Masonry.

P: (09) 41 555 05

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his father bought it and in the 10 years he has been the owner. However, he doesn’t want to rest on his laurels.

“My number one goal is to be the very best in tiles in New Zealand. To do this we must continue to listen to our customers. We already have a very strong focus on customer service and that’s something we will continue to do.”

Product feature Heritage Tiles has a new product in store created with ink-jet printing technology.

La Faenza’s Collection in Evolution continues the trend of porcelain tiles mimicking natural stone. Manufactured using the Colour Definition System digital printing technique, which allows the simultaneous display of several graphic solutions, the porcelain tiles have a realistic marble effect without the cost

or handling issues of real marble. This saves on transportation and installation. Unlike natural stone tiles, porcelain tiles generally don’t require sealing, do not stain, yet are durable and easy to maintain.

Heritage Tiles stocks four designs in the series — Arabesco, Bardiglio, Rosalia and Reale.

Each design mimics a different type of marble and are available in large format floor and wall styles.

Heritage Tiles PO Box 12378 Penrose, Auckland T (09) 270 7970 F (09) 270 6314 E info@tile.co.nz www.tile.co.nz — Advertising Feature

Proudly supplying Heritage Tiles with Hebel Supercrete shower thresholds for tiled showers and celebrating their 21 years of success in the industry.

Hebel Supercrete is not just an easy to cut and safe solution for all tile substrates but also provides the finest panel cladding systems and solid block construction homes worldwide with thermal performances second to none.

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Mapei NZ Ltd is proud to provide Roberts Heritage Ltd with Adhesives, Grouts, Silicones, Waterproofing Systems and Sound Control Systems suitable for all tiling installations.

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Congratulations on your 21st Anniversary!

26 | January/February 2011 www.aucklandtoday.net.nz

Unit 2B • Aviation House • 12 Orchard Road PO Box 14226 • Christchurch 8544 • New Zealand T +64 3 357 3970 • www.tollglobalforwarding.com

HAVE YOU HEARD OF THE DANGERS OF DRINKING FROM PLASTIC? HAVE YOU EVER ASKED YOURSELF...

• What’s causing the early onset of female puberty?

• Why are there more pregnancy issues, infertility, or miscarriages?

• Why do more kids have ADHD now?

• Is male sexual dysfunction more prevalent now?

• What damage are we doing to our planet by using plastic?

• Is there more cancer around these days?

100 MILLION plastic water bottles are used each day. 86% of those bottles AREN’T recycled. In New Zealand it’s 78%.

Bottled water costs more than $3.50 per litre.Petrol costs approx $1.70 per litre. Tap water is FREE It takes approximately 4 litres of water to make just 1 plastic bottle.

Worldwide that’s 272 BILLION litres of water wasted per year just to make the EMPTY bottles!

The United Nations Environment Programme estimates there are 46,000 pieces of FLOATING plastic in every square mile of the ocean. However 70% of all plastic actually sits on the ocean floor!

On average we each use 168 plastic bottles per year costing more than $580.

They also estimate more than 1 MILLION birds and 100,000 mammals die every year from plastics - by poisoning, entanglement and choking.

Your health can be damaged by toxic chemicals such as Bisphenol-A (BPA) and other chemicals which can be leached from bottled water. BPA intake can also cause Cancerous Cells in your body.

40% of Albatross chicks die from their mothers feeding them plastic.

The environment is tainted by the Production, Transportation, Packaging and Disposal of plastic water bottles.

The following are quotes relating to BPA and chemicals found in plastic water bottles.

Taylor suggests that when pregnant women are exposed to the oestrogen mimicking properties found in BPA, it can impact the reproductive tract development and the future fertility of female foetuses. In essence this research shows that BPA may prevent the embryo from attaching to the uterus for further development.

In men the oestrogen mimicking effects of BPA have been known to block some of the more important effects that testosterone has on sexual functioning.

Those who were exposed to BPA were four times more likely than those who were not exposed to report some sort of sexual dysfunction. Associate Professor of Department of

And ironically we’re poisoning ourselves, as when fish ingest it, the plastic goes through the complete cycle of the food chain.

There are over 200 independent scientists, not in conflict financially with this chemical (BPA), saying we find it relating to obesity, prostate cancer, breast cancer, diabetes, brain disorders such as attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, liver disease, ovarian disease, disease of the uterus, low sperm count for men and the list goes on. David Gutierrez Natural News Environmental Health Perspectives found that detectable levels of BPA leached into liquids at room temperature.

This means just having your plastic water bottle sitting on your desk can be potentially harmful. The best thing to do is to avoid plastic altogether. C W Randolph, MD The latest study showed that women with a history of miscarriages were found to have higher levels of BPA in their bodies. The women who had miscarriages were found to have BPA levels on average about three times higher than women who had successfully given birth.

Reproductive Sciences - Yale

David Steinman

Like BPA, these chemicals leach into the water more quickly when the plastic is heated, so don’t leave these water bottles in a hot car or out in the sun. A potentially deadly toxin is being absorbed into bottled mineral water from their plastic containers. And the longer the water is stored, the levels of poison increase, research reveals. Jo Knowsley

There are enough warning signs to show the need to act sooner rather than later. There are growing concerns about bottled water in particular in plastic bottles.

The safest option is stainless steel. Breastchek.co.nz The National Toxicology Program of the National Institutes of Health concluded that there is “some

Do you keep bottled water in your car? You thought it was convenient, didn’t you? But consider this...

The heat in your car on the plastic bottle can cause it to leach out chemicals that can lead to BREAST and other types of CANCERS. And even though you might not keep it in the car, do you know what extreme temperatures it has been though BEFORE you bought it?

Stored in warehouses where temperatures vary from -3C to 29C Transported in trucks where temperatures vary from 37C to 65C Loaded and unloaded where temperatures vary from 7C to 37C Distributed to stores where temperatures vary from 12C to 37C

Finally to you.

concern” that BPA may cause problems in foetuses, babies and children, including breast or prostate cancer early onset of female puberty, attention deficit disorder and other problems of the reproductive and neurological systems. David Gutierrez Bisphenol A is such a dangerous chemical that I have no doubt it will one day be banned from all food and beverage products. Frederick vom Saal High concentrations of antimony can cause nausea, vomiting and diarrhoea. Evidenced by the recent study which was also highlighted here at Natural News where 90% of cord blood from babies was found to contain BPA.2. Aaron Turpen To see each of the quotes in full and the source please go to www.safebottles.co.nz

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I Various sizes and colours available I Designed to last I 100% recyclable I No plastic liner I Free sports lid I Bottles from $23.95 www.aucklandtoday.net.nz January/February 2011 | 27

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In pursuit of

optimal health…

New to the market ManukaGuard Nutralize®

Kid’s Vitamin C

This fast acting digestive comfort is a 100 per cent natural remedy that supports healthy digestion, stomach function and gastric comfort.

It brings together the benefits of two traditional remedies wrapped in 21st century technological advances, combining Apple Cider Vinegar (ACV) and medical grade NZ manuka honey in an effective yet palatable formula that even the fussiest adult will love.

Over time it allows you to regain control over digestive health and also means you eventually only need to use it when “trigger” foods cause occasional upset.

Mango-orange flavoured chewable all kids will love, Radiance® Kids Vitamin C is a deliciously easy way to get vitamin C into kids.

Digest Gluten Supporting the efficient digestion of gluten, this digestive aid helps those with gluten sensitivity or coeliac disease and is a 100 per cent vegetarian formula.

Radiance® Digest Gluten provides digestive enzymes to help enjoy the pleasures of dining out without the side-effects of suffering a little gluten in your meal.

Hydraplenish Serum Ultra Potency Moisture locking therapy for the skin, this maximum potency serum contains 88% hyaluronic acid for ultra-intense, moisture locking therapy that frees skin from the visible signs of dryness.

After years working alongside the pharmaceutical industry for one for the world’s largest medical publishers, Brett Edmonds became increasingly disillusioned with the “ambulance at the bottom of the cliff” western healthcare model.

“As a medical science graduate I felt treating the symptoms of illness alone was inherently misguided, and became drawn towards a natural dietary supplementation approach which included lifestyle and nutritional changes.” He hasn’t looked back.

Today he is the owner of Health & Herbs International, a business committed to being part of the wellness revolution and providing the New Zealand community with the highest quality natural health solutions. “We Brett believe that ‘health Edmonds, is much better kept owner of than regained’ and Health & continually strive to Herbs deliver both quality education and support within today’s

The high molecular weight hyaluronic acid absorbs more than 1000 times its weight in water and helps to rapidly smooth away the appearance of fine dry lines.

society on the importance of maintaining optimal health and wellness,” he explains.

Health & Herbs is celebrating its 20th anniversary. Edmonds has worked for the company for 12 years and owned it for four. The 24 employees work in sourcing and formulating products, sales, marketing, customer services and distribution.

“As an industry, pharmaceuticals are fundamentally in decline and the newer drug treatments are inhibitively expensive” Edmonds says. “They are struggling to come up with side-effect-free effective treatments and the rush to market is resulting in drugs being recalled, banned, or carrying significant use-warnings. There haven’t been any new broad spectrum antibiotics in decades now.

The situation is that bacteria have evolved to become resistant.

“Given this age of information, the consumer now knows there are safer and more effective healthcare alternatives. This is undoubtedly driving the trend towards the scientific fraternity re-looking at natural substances.

“The finds being made are fascinating.

Every day there’s a bigger and bigger library of information available, in terms of man rediscovering the often amazing benefits of mother earth’s natural resources.”

Health & Herbs specialises in nationwide wholesaling to health shops, pharmacies and health practitioners. It imports and distributes premium and international market leading brands and also has two own brands — Radiance Nutritionals and PharmaSports. “Radiance, with its 127 different products is now a serious premium New Zealand brand and is really taking off,” Edmonds enthuses.

New store now open at Sylvia Park next to Countdown

“We’ve just started exporting to Asia and have a joint venture in the USA,” he says. “ We’ve also got a broking company representing us internationally, in markets as diverse as Korea, Bulgaria, UK and Poland. We are on the brink of explosive growth.”

Quality Advice | Qualified Staff | Quality Products

Five-fold increase

St Lukes 8464477 | Pakuranga 5765843 | Sylvia Park 5730310

Health & Herbs is celebrating its 20th anniversary with a five-fold increase in its product research and development activities, to ensure an ongoing stream of unique and effective natural remedies for its customers.

“Despite the recession, we’ve launched heaps of effective new products,” Edmonds says. “We are very proud that our research is paying off, and that we are delivering healthcare options that Kiwis want.”

St Lukes: hardysstlukes@xtra.co.nz Pakuranga: hardyspakuranga@xtra.co.nz Sylvia Park: hardyssylviapark@xtra.co.nz ALWAYS READ THE LABEL AND USE AS DIRECTED. SUPPLEMENTARY TO A BALANCED DIET

Health & Herbs PO Box 302347, North Harbour North Shore City T (09) 415 8624 F (09) 415 8593 www.healthandherbs.co.nz

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CSC Plastics ltd is proud to be a supplier to Health and Herbs ltd.

28 | January/February 2011 www.aucklandtoday.net.nz

Phone: +64 9 427 8445 Fax: +64 9 427 9446 chris@cscplastics.co.nz www.cscplastics.co.nz

Celebrating | Jonel Hydraulics

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A simple focus on customers and good service keeps Jonel Hydraulics in good stead.

needs under the guidance of George Pavletich, who leads the division. A qualified mechanical engineer with a solid 20 years experience working with hydraulic tools, Pavletich is passionate about the Enerpac range of Known throughout the industrial sector for its expertise in the niche field of hydraulic cylinder industrial tooling. servicing, Jonel Hydraulics is increasingly “Enerpac is a global force in hydraulic tooling. growing its reputation as an industrial They are renowned for their hydraulic industrial tooling business as well. Its recent move into tooling, hydraulic cylinders, hydraulic pumps; the hydraulic tool hire business to support all that type of equipment used in applications customer demand is the latest example of this. typically for lifting, bolting, stressing and over Established 28 years ago, Jonel Hydraulics the years Enerpac has become synonymous started out with a primary focus on hydraulic with quality and reliability in the hydraulic cylinder repairs. While this remains a significant tooling industry,” Pavletich says. portion of the business, the company Jonel Hydraulics is the Authorised Distribution has diversified during the last six years to and Service Centre for Enerpac range of incorporate the vast range of hydraulics products. Ongoing dialogue with Jonel services to meet customer needs. customers highlighted a need for a hire The company has grown significantly with operation, so the company started the more than 75 percent of business coming from Hydraulic Hire operation to meet temporary repeat customers. “While the recent years have requirements for cylinders, pumps, hoses and been tough the fact that we have grown year many other crucial items. So Jonel’s customers on year is a testament to our team’s expertise now enjoy the flexibility of being able to hire and focus on resolving the hydraulic headaches project by project, or buy the same equipment. of our customers. We are ever so grateful to “We are thrilled with the response to our hire our customers,” says one of Jonel’s directors, initiative,” adds George Pavleitch.

Suren Surendran.

The Hydraulic Cylinder Servicing division It’s a story which involves the simplicity of remains the largest division for the company good product, good people and good service. and is headed by Graeme Cook, a qualified As hydraulics has become the preferred power mechanical engineer with more than 25 years source, Jonel has met the emerging need for a of experience in hydraulic related industries. “one stop hydraulic shop” by developing three “We’re very well known for handling very large cylinders and we pride ourselves on a very fast distinct areas of expertise; hydraulic cylinder turnaround of cylinder repairs,” Cook says. repairs, industrial tooling and equipment hire and mobile hydraulic repairs.

“We manufacture a lot of chrome shafts here — usually about five or six a day — ultimately The Industrial Tooling and Equipment Hire we’re offering a comprehensive cylinder repair division has become a very important area service and a rapid turnaround.” for Jonel and has grown to meet customers’

Jonel also operates a Mobile Repair Service under the guiding principle ‘we will do whatever it takes to fix the customers’ hydraulic headaches’. The team specialises in repairing hoses, pumps and valves.

equipped facilities set up to deal with all aspects of hydraulic servicing. Continual investment in plant, training and systems ensure customers find dealing with Jonel is an enjoyable and professional experience.

A qualified aircraft engineer, the division’s team leader Steve Trobridge is an expert in hydraulic connectivity and systems with experience in a wide range of hydraulic repairs.

Jonel Hydraulics 91 Lady Ruby Drive East Tamaki, Auckland T (09) 274 9296 E admin@jonel.co.nz www.jonelhydraulics.co.nz

Jonel Hydraulics prides itself on delivering top quality technical expertise from its well

— Advertising Feature

AUCKLAND • HAMILTON WELLINGTON • CHRISTCHURCH Proud to be associated with Jonel Hydraulics 657 Great South Road, Penrose, Auckland Phone 09 579 3646 Fax 09 579 6689 Email auckland@sealimports.co.nz www.sealimports.co.nz

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It all comes out in the …

Alsco New Zealand has uncovered the secrets of corporate longevity.

The business has succeeded where many have failed and is celebrating an anniversary most can only dream of emulating — the centennial milestone.

“It’s simply about the people,” CEO Tony Colenso says of the company’s success.

“They give us the quality product and the quality service and when we implement new products and services, they are the ones willing to absorb those changes and get on with the job. So it is all about our people — they have made this company.”

But success is rarely reliant on just one factor. Alsco has met commercial challenges by diversifying and reinvigorating its operation and aims.

New Zealand Towel Service (NZTS) traces its roots back to 1910, years before the term “outsourcing” was coined.

The company started out washing towels in an Auckland home laundry, then pioneered uniform and linen supply and cleaning services, relieving merchants, restaurateurs, tavern operators and factory owners of the responsibility.

From being a laundry rental company, NZTS also moved into introducing new products including the continuous towel cabinet, rental mat systems and rental uniform systems.

Alsco New Zealand CEO Tony Colenso stands beside just some of the modern fleet of delivery and service vehicles.

The company has come a long way from 1910 when it was started by G W Plowman. Towels were washed at an Auckland home laundry and delivered by handcart around the central city. The move to horse and cart delivery was the first major step-up for a business that has since been at the forefront of growth

Hard work, loyal people and a strong service ethos built the company.

In the 1980s NZTS branched out to supply sanitary hygiene equipment, air fresheners and WC/urinal sanitisers. Around the same

time NZTS acquired Premier Packaging, a paper products wholesaler. This positioned NZTS as a serious player in the washroom and consumables market.

Alsco NZ was formed in 1998 when NZTS was acquired by Steiner Corporation. The skills and talent of the combined entity have allowed the company to go from strength to strength.

“We operate under Alsco New Zealand, trading as NZTS,” Colenso says. “When we became

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Alsco we didn’t want to lose the NZTS identity which meant a lot to us.

“For the last 12 years we have been trading under both names. During that time we have expanded substantially by taking advantage of market conditions and aggressively getting out there and pursuing opportunities.”

Further growth was achieved by the 1999 decision to split off the washroom business, for greater focus and enhanced customer service.

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Phone: (09) 274 3131 30 | January/February 2011 www.aucklandtoday.net.nz

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Celebrating | Alsco New Zealand

The NZTS/Alsco New Zealand vehicles have become familiar sights around the country over the years

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It was a resounding success, resulting in the company rebranding the washroom business unit as Fresh & Clean. Launched in Auckland and Christchurch in 2002, it has now gone nationwide. The formula of focusing on improved washroom solutions and cost effective business consumables has continued to expand the customer base.

“We’ve always been aggressive in finding new products and services we can pass on to our customers — diversification which aligns with our core services, which bring added benefits to our customers’ daily working lives,” Colenso says.

While the final word on physical immortality may remain in the hands of science, the longevity of corporate entities relies on hardworking and dedicated individuals. A business which has survived and thrived for 100 years is a testament to the hard work, passion and dedication of all the individuals who have worked together to create a corporate identity.

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Alsco has remained focused on growing and developing service requirements for existing customers. In 2006 the company introduced managed rental first aid systems.

The range now covers vehicle kits to supplying Civil Defence needs.

Tony Colenso, with more than 41 years of service under his corporate belt, says the longest serving staff member has completed 55 years, another has notched up 50 years, and a number of staff members have been with the company for 25 years-plus. “That in itself has been a major contributor to the success of the company.”

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Masterful approach to Commercial enterprises, like anything in life, must be sustained in order to survive. Hence their longevity depends on the investment of time, energy and resources.

It’s a lot like the age-old expression, you are what you eat. In short, if a business is not fed the right balance of business fundamentals, its poor internal health will inevitably affect how it functions and how it looks to customers from the outside. To achieve longevity, businesses need to function according to the key principles of professionalism. This means a strong organisational structure is key as is the employment of committed staff and the integration of effective practises.

Founded in 1910, New Zealand’s largest metal casting production plant — Masport Foundries Ltd, has its operation down to a fine art. From infancy through to its centenary, the business has been fed the right industrial nutrients in order for it to become a sustainable, profitable and reputable organisation.

casting

In 2010, Masport Foundries celebrated 100 years of being there for domestic and international customers.

Masport Foundries Ltd’s sister company Masport Ltd is a world renowned manufacturer of consumer durables including Masport lawnmowers.

Since inception, both companies have undergone a number of ownership changes and are now part of a privately owned concern, the Tiri Group, whose portfolio includes a number of iconic New Zealand businesses such as A&G Price, Thames, NZI of Temueka, Pacific Wallcoverings Porirua and RH Freeman.

With a century of metal casting experience, Masport Foundries continues to focus on utilising proven, flexible and high technology based processes

to maintain the highest quality standards. It also adheres to strict environmental standards as indicated by its Telarc accredited ISO 9001 and ISO 14001 management systems.

Masport Foundries staff utilise a high speed Disaforma green sand moulding system, high efficiency electric furnaces and ‘shell’ and ‘cold-box’ core making.

In-house tooling and heat-treatment furnaces, as well as the latest spectrographic alloy analyser, are part of the foundry equipment and recent new technology includes Magmasoft solidification simulation software.

The castings are produced by the business in all grades of grey cast iron, ductile iron, nihard iron, niresist iron and high chromium iron.

Castings are also made with Cast In Carbide (CIC) for wear-resistance.

Specialised products include suspension arms, brake drums, hubs, cylinder heads and brake discs.

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Happy 100 th Birthday PO Box 900 | 123 Carlton Gore Road | Newmarket, Auckland P. 09 368 2700 | F. 09 368 2710 | www.orica-chemnet.com

32 | January/February 2011 www.aucklandtoday.net.nz

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Celebrating | Masport Foundries

Masport Foundries also has machining capability and specialises in machined cylinder heads, brake drums and rotors for trailers and caravans as well as semi trailers and trucks.

Core capabilities Running a double shift operation for some 20 plus years, Masport Foundries employs approximately 85 staff led by general manager Wolf Schmahl, who has been with the company since 1986.

Manufacturing high integrity iron castings, Masport Foundries supplies a wide range of castings into the agricultural, automotive/ transport, structural and mineral processing industries, as well consumer durable products.

Approximately 60 percent of what is manufactured by the business is exported to customers in America, the United Kingdom and Australia. “We manufacture a wide range of different castings and are approaching 2,000 live products,” Schmahl says. “We pride ourselves on output and make sure everything we ship is manufactured to a high standard.”

Schmahl adds that flexibility is a core element of the business and being in close physical proximity to the key markets Masport Foundries exports to, means the company can make rapid responses to requests.

“We have also got very unique equipment that no other business in New Zealand has replicated. This means that what we

manufacture can’t easily be duplicated. We sell our products on the basis of quality and technical capability and while there are other small foundries within the New Zealand industry, people come to us because of our consistency in design and production capability.

Our production capability is what enables us to be world competitive in costing.”

And while Schmahl concedes Masport Foundries’ costs are not on par with those of China, he says customers are happy to pay a slightly higher premium when they have the assurance of quality.

“We never stop looking for new and better ways to do things. We work to add value to machinery through machining and subassembly. From my perspective, the future of the industry is looking tough but positive.”

Services Masport Foundries offers a number of services including the manufacture of iron and iron alloy castings, composite carbide ductile mining wear parts, automotive castings, cast iron construction components and in-house technical support.

Masport Foundries high performance/ high integrity castings for the automotive and transport industries include automotive suspension brackets and steering knuckles, car cylinder heads and truck cylinder heads.

Feature continues on next page >>

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specialist Types of roofing The Cowperthwaite name is Roofing is equally dedicated synonymous with roofing. Founded Cowperthwaite to both commercial and residential customers, in 1906, the company is not only whether the customer needs small budget refurbishments or large new-builds. one of the oldest businesses in Auckland but also the longest Commercial Whether for your office, your stockroom or your established roofing specialist in shop, a professionally designed and installed New Zealand. roof not only protects you and your business

Masport Foundries offers in-house technical support services from initial concept to production casting.

These services include: ■ In-house design assistance with CAD — Solid Works and 3D Design — Solid Modelling ■ Magmasoft solidification simulation with material selection assistance ■ In-house patternmaking which includes complete pattern and corebox making in wood, plastic and fully machined metal ■ In-house prototyping in wood, plastic and polystyrene ■ In-house toolmaking which includes complete tooling and toolmaking facilities for wood, plastic and fully machined metal ■ In-house heat treatment which includes stress relieving, annealing, air-quenching, hardening and tempering, and austempering ■ In-house metallurgical service which covers spectrographic alloy analysis, metallographic analysis, mould sand and core sand testing.

What is metal casting?

Metal casting is the process whereby metals such as aluminium, stainless steel, copper-base alloys, iron and steel are poured into a mould and left to solidify.

A 6000 year old process, casting is an ancient technique and was among the earliest of American industries. The first casting produced on United States soil was the Saugus pot cast in 1642 at Saugus Iron Works located near Lynn, Massachusetts.

The oldest surviving casting is a copper frog from 3200 BC and casting materials utilised throughout the years have generally been metals or various cold setting materials that cure after mixing two or more components together. These materials include concrete, clay, plaster and epoxy.

Castings are generally roughly finished due to the nature of their production and the casting process involves pouring a liquid metal into a mould which contains a hollow cavity of the desired shape and then this liquid is left to solidify. Solidification occurs in two steps: nucleation and crystal growth.

Metal casting technology encompasses casting, moulding and patternmaking skills. There are thousands of markets worldwide that utilise metal castings and the largest in terms of tonnage include automotive, construction, railroad equipment, farm machinery and municipal castings. Metal casting is also utilised for military vehicles.

World Leaders in Metals Technology Proud to be associated with Masport Foundries Ltd

FOSECO TM Ph. 09 267 7658 | Fax. 09 267 9135 PO Box 72059 | Papakura

www.foseco.com.au

Casting is most often used for making complex shapes that would be difficult or uneconomical to make by other methods.

Masport Foundries Ltd PO Box 14349 Auckland 1741 T (09) 571 5867 F (09) 571 5865 E wolf@masport.co.nz www.masportfoundries.co.nz

— Advertising Feature

34 | January/February 2011 www.aucklandtoday.net.nz

assets but also reflects your organisation’s The company is run by Richard Andrew who quality standards. has been associated with Cowperthwaite Roofing for more than 30 years and purchased “It speaks volumes to your clients about the the business in 2008. calibre of your company,” Cooper says.

For more than a century, Cowperthwaite Cowperthwaite Roofing will work on projects Roofing has built and maintained a reputation big or small — it doesn’t matter if it’s one for quality, and from diverse beginnings the small office or a refurbishment of every unit company has adapted to better serve the on a large industrial park, the company still needs of today’s clients. guarantees attention to detail and diligence.

“Having monitored the marketplace over time, The choice of roofing and cladding products to suit your needs and budget is extensive. we now offer a boutique service,” financial controller Shelley Cooper says. “These days But best of all, Cooper says, is the staff. “All we specialise in long-run metal roofing, work is carried out by our skilled and reliable cladding and membrane roofing.” installers. We’re business people too so we know that keeping disruption to you and your Furthermore, in this difficult economic workforce to an absolute minimum is really climate Cooper feels strongly that customers important. We keep you informed as to when deserve to get the best objective and roofers will be on site.” professional recommendations for their precise requirements.

However, Cowperthwaite’s commercial work This is why Cowperthwaite Roofing continues extends far beyond offices, retail outlets and warehouses. The company is also wellto offer free advice and quotations. It also regarded for its work on churches and schools, pledges that these will be comprehensive, where respect, discretion and sensitivity are of supported by photographs (where paramount importance. appropriate) and written in plain English.

e s i l a i , c g e n p fi s o .’ e o ‘… w run metal r ane roofing r b g n m o l e m in d n a g n i d d cla

Shelley Cooper financial controller Cowperthwaite Roofing

ALUMINIUM SCAFFOLDS (NZ) LTD Aluminium Scaffolds based in Auckland are specialist suppliers of fencing and scaffolding equipment for any occasion. Aluminium Scaffolding have an extensive range of scaffolds and lifting equipment available for sale or for lease. Aluminium Scaffolds is a member of Scaffolding and Rigging New Zealand and Site Safe and we are more than happy to do free site inspections to help you make sure you get the right scaffolding and fencing solutions to suit your needs and requirement.

proud to be associated with cowperthwaite roofing ltd Our range of scaffolds and products include: Mobile Towers • Static Towers • Cantilevered Platforms • Swinging Stages Trestles - Planks - Ladders • Trestles • Planks Ladders Cherry Pickers • Boom Lifts

For all of you scaffolding and fencing requirements please contact us on 09 525 3123 or visit our website www.scaffold.co.nz for further information.

Celebrating | Cowperthwaite Roofing

Above: Apia, Samoa, where a Cowperthwaite team is working with Fletchers Southpacific on a new roof for the Ministry of Education Sports and Culture headquarters

Residential Remember, Cowperthwaite Roofing has been sheltering Kiwis at home for than 100 years.

As an independent specialist, it offers homeowners a comprehensive range of roofing solutions to suit all architectural styles.

“We understand that no two people and no two projects are the same, so you’ll enjoy being treated as an individual by a team who will show the utmost consideration to you,” Cooper says. “Again, disruptions to property and neighbours will be kept to a minimum.”

Left: Maori TV in Newmarket where Cowperthwaite Roofing replaced the wall cladding

EuroLine Cowperthwaite Roofing was the first — and for a considerable time, the only — certified installer of the prestigious EuroLine profile for the greater Auckland area. Being the original specialist, it has the most expertise with this product and can offer clients informed and proven opinions.

“EuroLine has the classic style of European standing-seam roofing,” enthuses operations manager Geoff Silvester.

“It combines traditional elegance with modern durability. The range is available in three graceful styles — BattenLok, SeamLok and DoubleLok — and a selection of materials: colorsteel, aluminium, copper or zinc. Highend commercial or residential customers who demand sophistication, panache and resilience absolutely should consider EuroLine.”

Commercial projects Cowperthwaite Roofing has just finished a month-long project for Maori TV. The broadcasters’ building in Newmarket contains the offices and studios from which Maori news and programmes go to air in Te Reo. Cowperthwaite’s staff replaced the wall cladding at these premises.

Currently a Cowperthwaite team is over in Apia, Samoa, working with Fletchers Southpacific on a new roof for the Ministry of Education Sports and Culture headquarters.

Going forward, Richard Andrew plans to further grow the business. “We want to be well-placed to carry on helping residential and commercial clients and, of course, we want to ensure that the Cowperthwaite name continues to stand for quality and reliability. That way, the company will be here in another 100 years.”

Cowperthwaite Roofing Ltd Private Bag 92835, Penrose Auckland 1061 T (09) 525 3095 F (09) 525 3284 E enquiry@cowperthwaites.co.nz www.cowperthwaites.co.nz — Advertising Feature

Proud to be associated with cowPerthwaite roofing residential • commerical • rainwater • claddinG

30 Business Parade North | Highbrook | Auckland Ph. 09 274 4056 | 0800 427 663 www.stroofing.co.nz

As suppliers of quality Skellerup roofing and waterproofing systems, we are proud to have Cowperthwaite Roofing as one of our Approved Applicators

www.vikingroofspec.co.nz

0800 729 799

Showroom: Unit G, 5 Cain Road, Penrose 09 525 3095 Email: info@cowperthwaites.co.nz www.cowperthwaites.co.nz

www.aucklandtoday.net.nz January/February 2011 | 35

Business Development | Criterion Group

Functional

luxury

The hundred-mile-an-hour approach most of us take in our daily lives indicates our state of play is busier than it’s ever been before. But when we go into hibernation mode at the end of each day and our minds and bodies need to be recharged, we’re attracted to furniture that has functional luxury written all over it.

Home is a haven and one global enterprise operates with this understanding in mind.

Based on a design philosophy that adapts the latest trends in furniture style and functionality to specific customer needs, Criterion Group is all about ‘organised bliss’.

Isn’t it great that we still have substantial companies that are prepared to manufacture furniture in good old NZ. WHITEHALL TECHNICAL SERVICES LTD Salutes them for their courage, technical and design innovation, and promotion of “green” manufacturing by use of UV technology.

Whitehall Technical Services Ltd The UV and environmentally friendly coatings specialists www.whitehalltech.co.nz

and Sanyo, in countries as diverse as America, Japan, Australia and New Zealand.

In the late 1980s the business concentrated its professional focus on functional furniture for the home and office and these products were marketed under the brand name Criterion.

Today the manufacturing plant located in New Zealand has the capacity to manufacture more than 500,000 pieces of furniture per annum.

“Our core competency is ready to assemble furniture,” board chairman and acting chief executive Ralph Marshall says. “It is about making furniture that helps people have tidy homes and tidy operations.”

So what is unique about Criterion; a business that is participating in an extremely competitive commercial environment? “The essence of our business is capability and capacity,” Marshall says. “It is about our design — in this sense we make things that people Whether you are heading home to spend find appealing. Our manufacturing capability an evening with loved ones, or a quiet time in New Zealand and our automated processing by yourself to relax and unwind, it will always uses the best equipment in the Southern be a pleasure to experience the harmony of Hemisphere that would be on par with what Criterion furniture in your home. you would see in Italy.”

In the beginning As the largest manufacturer of ready to assemble flat pack furniture in Australasia, Criterion had humble beginnings. It all began in 1964 when a young university student, Walter Smaill, was asked by his mother to make a cabinet to house his home-made stereo that was residing in the family living room. Little did either of them know this request was going to lead to something much bigger for Walter Smaill.

It was his aesthetically pleasing and functional craftsmanship that drew the attention of visitors to the house, and, before long, Walter had a business up and running to deal with the influx of demands for his work. Soon after, his brother Brian came on board to help and became an integral part of the venture.

A small business of two, the operation steadily grew and become a major supplier to electrical giants including Technics, Panasonic, Toshiba

Importing - Sea / Air Freight Exporting - Sea / Air Freight Customs Clearances Customs Consultancy Warehousing / Distribution Coastal Shipping IT Solutions

PO Box 53-004, Auckland International Airport.

Tel 09 256 4111 • Fax 09 256 4139 • www.mondiale.co.nz 36 | January/February 2011 www.aucklandtoday.net.nz

With 30 percent of the business’ sales attributed to imports and 70 percent attached to its own manufactured products, Marshall says there have been many significant achievements by the business since inception.

“The growth from being a two person business to one which has approximately 140 employees based here and in Australia, highlights the foresight of the Smaill brothers and their ability to build a business that delivers organised bliss across different home use furniture categories.”

Marshall adds that the investment in modern equipment and machinery for the business has also allowed it to function efficiently and productively while delivering exceptional product standards.

Criterion is also a company that recognises its products and processes can impact the environment. In alignment with its commitment to responsible manufacturing

for the wellbeing of society and the environment, the business has embarked on an Environmental Manufacturing Programme.

And while Marshall acknowledges the market is affected by the high dollar at present, the company will be pressing forward to maintain its leading position in its home markets of New Zealand and Australia and looking to build on the foundations developed in new markets in Mexico, Ireland and the USA. “This is what the future is about. We’ve also got very sophisticated drilling and paint line operations and we will be looking for opportunities to use these for other products,” he adds.

From its early beginnings, Criterion has held to the principle that there is a place for everything and everything can be put in its place. The business creates furniture that complements lifestyles, unlocking a home’s potential. It lets you bring life into your living spaces. Criterion calls this ‘organised bliss’.

Criterion Group PO Box 58646 Botany Auckland 2163 T (09) 274 6039 F (09) 274 7685 www.criterionfurniture.com

— Advertising Feature

Business Development | Spice N Easy Awards 2010

A recipe for success For nine years Vibha and Sanjay Soni owned a spice shop on the North Shore.

Their customers, from many different ethnicities, kept asking them the same question: ‘How do I cook delicious Indian food?’ The customers had tried butter chicken, tikka masala and rogan josh in restaurants and wanted to make these dishes at home.

their products and the packs flew off the shelves.

The packs are now sold all over the country in supermarkets such as New World, Pak’n’Save, Woolworths, Countdown and Foodtown. Originally just four varieties were available but within six months of products being launched, the range grew to 10. Now there are 14 varieties available.

Without the capital to fund extensive research into likes and dislikes, the Sonis organised Indian cookery workshops based on the authentic family recipes they ate at home. They collated the feedback and turned the most popular recipes into pre-packaged spices, which retail for only a few dollars per pack. All the customer has to do is add fresh vegetables and meat at home.

The Sonis have patented their concept and trademarked the brand. With the success of Spice N Easy in the last two years, Vibha says she and her husband are now looking at overseas markets and have already registered the trademark in Australia and Canada.

“Spice N Easy is primarily for the busy customer who wants to eat good food but doesn’t have hours to spend in the kitchen,” Vibha says. “It’s healthier than other pre-packaged Indian food on the market as there’s no preservatives, food colouring or MSG. The customer also has control over the amount of oil and salt they use.”

The Sonis found a way of packaging the spices by using the least amount of plastic possible, to make their products environmentally friendly.

From the top: A range of Spice N Easy options and some of the results — Chicken Jalfrezi, Rogan Josh, Shimla aloo and Chicken Tikka Masala

Path to success At first the Sonis sold the spice packs to North Shore greengrocers and butchers. The sales were so successful that local supermarkets took them on. The Sonis began offering in-store tastings of

While the spice packets are affordable and easy to use, there is no compromise on quality.

Spice N Easy meets stringent NZFSA and HAACP standards.

Winner of the Enterprise North Shore ‘Committed Optimist’ award

✧

Sanjay and Vibha Soni receive an award from Terry Hoskins of Enterprise North Shore (centre)

✧

Finalist in the Indian Business Awards ‘Best Business Woman of the Year’ category

✧

Finalist in the Indian Business Awards ‘Best Business Innovation’ category

“We want to grow our presence in supermarkets, by selling our other ranges. We’re not just about curries, we’ve got new products like rice and dahl, and a snacks and starters range. Indian cuisine is varied and we know it’s important to keep consumers interested.”

Spice N Easy 2A 77 Mokia Road Birkenhead Auckland T (09) 449 2229 F (09) 449 2159 E info@spiceneasy.co.nz www.spiceneasy.co.nz — Advertising Feature

www.aucklandtoday.net.nz January/February 2011 | 37

Have you ever asked yourself...

Is there more cancer around these days? Why are there more pregnancy issues, infertility, or miscarriages? Why do more kids have ADHD now? Is male sexual dysfunction more prevalent now? What damage are we doing to our planet by using plastic? What’s causing the early onset of female puberty? Read on and you may find the answers...

What is BPA (Bisphenol A)?

BPA is widely used to make polycarbonate plastics such as those in baby bottles, water bottles and compact disc cases and is an ingredient in the resins used to line food cans. The chemical has been shown to leach into food or water. To see a complete definition of BPA, please go to www. safebottles.co.nz. The following is a direct quote from Food Standards Australia New Zealand (FSANZ). As you will see they acknowledge that BPA and other chemicals do leach into food and liquid. However, they also say that it’s not proven to be harmful and doesn’t cause cancer.

“In some circumstances, chemicals in food packaging can migrate into the food product and vice versa, depending on the nature of the packaging and the food contained within.”

Food Standards Australia New Zealand “the most toxic chemical known to man.”

Dr Frederick Vom Saal

The facts on BPA The following are quotes relating to BPA and chemicals found in plastic water bottles. To see the full quote and source, please visit our website, www.safebottles.co.nz In men the oestrogen mimicking effects of BPA have been known to block some of the more important effects that testosterone has on sexual functioning. Those who were exposed to BPA were four times more likely than those who were not exposed to report some sort of sexual dysfunction. Associate Professor of Department of Reproductive Sciences - Yale

But even though PETE (used in many plastic bottles) doesn’t contain BPA (as seen on 60 Minutes 9/6/2010), it does contain other chemicals called phthalates - which are also believed to be endocrine disruptors. Mindfood.com Like BPA, these chemicals leach into the water more quickly when the plastic is heated, so don’t leave these water bottles in a hot car or out in the sun. A potentially deadly toxin is being absorbed into bottled mineral

water from their plastic containers.

And the longer the water is stored, the levels of poison increase, research reveals.

There are enough warning signs to show the need to act sooner rather than later. There are growing concerns about bottled water in particular in plastic bottles. The safest option is stainless steel. Breastchek.co.nz

Jo Knowsley

Our findings suggest that exposure to low-dose BPA may have widespread effects on brain structure and function. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) continues to classify BPA as safe, basing its ruling only on the findings of two industry-funded studies.

There are over 200 independent scientists, not in conflict financially with this chemical (BPA), saying we find it relating to obesity, prostate cancer, breast cancer, diabetes, brain disorders such as attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, liver disease, ovarian disease, disease of the uterus, low sperm count for men and the list goes on. David Gutierrez Natural News After years of insisting Bisphenol-A (BPA) posed no threat to the health of babies, six larger manufacturers of baby bottles have announced they will stop shipping new baby bottles made with the chemical. Mike Adams, Natural News A 2007 review of 700 studies involving BPA, published in the journal Reproductive Toxicology, found that infants and foetuses were the most vulnerable to adverse effects from this toxic substance. C W Randolph, MD The researchers indicated that such damage is a possible predictor of reproductive diseases in women, including fibroids, endometriosis, cystic ovaries and cancers. Earlier studies linked low dose BPA to female reproductive-tract disorders, as well as early-stage prostate and breast cancer and decreased sperm counts in animals. Andreas Moritz In 2004, one researcher counted up all of the studies done to date on just BPA. Of 104 studies done by independent researchers, 94 found adverse effects.

Donna Jackson Nakazawa

The latest study showed that women with a history of miscarriages were found to have higher levels of BPA in their bodies. The women who had miscarriages were found to have BPA levels on average about three times higher than women who had successfully given birth. David Steinman

The National Toxicology Program of the National Institutes of Health concluded that there is “some concern” that BPA may cause problems in foetuses, babies and children, including breast or prostate cancer early onset of female puberty, attention deficit disorder and other problems of the reproductive and neurological systems. David Gutierrez Bisphenol A is such a dangerous chemical that I have no doubt it will one day be banned from all food and beverage products. Frederick vom Saal The following are countries which have taken action against BPA - Canada, Denmark, Belgium and France - so far.

Those with the most BPA in their urine had nearly three times the risk of heart disease more than twice the risk of diabetes, as well as signs of liver damage.

Unfortunately, the levels of BPA that were associated with disease are within the EPA’s industry-friendly levels of safety.” Byron Richards The following research is by world expert Dr William Shotyk - who has vowed never to drink bottled water again - “I don’t want to shock people but here’s what I know: Antimony is being continuously released into bottled drinking water. The water in PET bottles is contaminated”.

Antimony finds its way into water by ‘leaching’ from the plastic in the same way that water absorbs flavour from a tea bag. Jo Knowsley If you have a baby that you are formula feeding, you are likely to be exposing your child to BPA through the formula itself, which is almost assuredly packaged in a BPA-lined can. Aaron Turpen In most countries, BPA is legal in food storage including baby bottles, containers and so forth. Very few companies are using BPA-free containers for anything. Aaron Turpen To see each of the quotes in full and the source please go to www.safebottles.co.nz

Call 0800 777 444, text SAFE to 244 or go to our website www.safebottles.co.nz to order your SafeBottle today P.S. There’s an iron-clad, lifetime money-back guarantee on all bottles.

18/8 food grade quality stainless steel

BPA-free, toxin-free and eco-friendly 38 | January/February 2011 www.aucklandtoday.net.nz

Gary Collins Managing Director

I Fits most cup holders I FDA approved I Fits ice cubes I Doesn’t retain or leach flavours I Dishwasher safe

I Various sizes and colours available I Designed to last I 100% recyclable I No plastic liner I Free sports lid

The effects of plastic on the environment are already well documented...but what about the effects of plastic on our bodies?

Research is showing that under special circumstances, certain chemicals from plastic bottles and containers are able to leach into the water (or food) held within. One such culprit is a toxic chemical known as Bisphenol A (BPA), a chemical with estrogen mimicking effects that is linked to obesity, diabetes, breast cancer and hyperactivity. Another two common toxic chemicals present in plastic bottles are antimony and phthalates.

Make a change for the better. Buy stainless steel BPA-free SafeBottles and reduce the impact of plastic on the environment and our bodies.

For more information and to see the full range of SafeBottles, please visit www.safebottles.co.nz or call our friendly team on 0800 777 444 or text SAFE to 244.

www.aucklandtoday.net.nz    January/February 2011 | 39

Property and Construction | Tainui Novotel

A place to stay with a

unique Kiwi flavour There’s something about New Zealand’s raw beauty that has been bringing tourists here in ever greater numbers.

timeline

No matter how comfortable airlines are making their planes, after any long journey, there’s nothing better than sinking into a soft warm bed.

“In the selection of sustainable natural materials, design and infused narratives, we want the hotel to capture and embody the essential qualities of New Zealand, its culture and people.”

Surrounding the hotel is a New Zealand inspired landscape including regional basalt paving contrasted with lush indigenous coastal planting and iconic Pohutukawa. The natural landscape extends into the foyer as a ‘living wall’ designed by Natural Habitats. At over six metres high, guests, after a long flight, will have a direct encounter with indigenous flora and fauna.

▼ July 2009

Until now, tourists and business people arriving in Auckland had to make another trip to get to a four star hotel in the city.

▼ December 2009

But comfy beds and a hot shower will be literally no more than a stone’s throw away when the $65 million Novotel opens right next to Auckland Airport’s international terminal next July, just in time for the Rugby World Cup.

The area is steeped in history. Tainui was one of the first waves of Polynesian migration who landed and settled in this area. Near the airport, archaeologists have found tools in the historic stone-fields, now a protected area, used by Maori 800 years ago.

▼ May 2011

The hotel is a joint venture between Tainui Group Holdings, Auckland International Airport and Accor Hospitality with Greenstone Group doing the project management.

To celebrate this heritage, a taniko pattern symbolising the Tainui waka path making its way through the sea to Aotearoa will be used frequently around the hotel.

Taste of New Zealand

Infused within design elements such as the external columns, foyer ceilings, steel and glass screens will be patterns and motifs symbolising New Zealand plants, marine life and birds including regional references such as waves of the Manukau harbour.

A joint venture is signed between Tainui Group Holdings, Auckland International Airport and Accor Hospitality to develop and operate a four star 260 room hotel Construction begins on the hotel after Kiingi Tuheitia officially breaks the ground The hotel is planned to be completed and open to guests.

So far, everything is running on time and on schedule

▼ September 2011

The Rugby World Cup begins

the n e e b have o t d n the u o o s r Pr e anag M t c e j Hotel l e Pro t o v nui No i a T rt. e o h t p r i A kland at Auc

The Novotel Auckland Airport is being designed by national architectural practice Warren and Mahoney. Design principal and project architect Jonathan Hewlett, describes the hotel as a first encounter for visitors with New Zealand.

History

Develo pm Projec t Mana ent & gemen Projec t t Cost Analys Proper is ty Con sultan ts

Greenstone Group Limited | 235 Parnell Road | PO Box 37493, Parnell, Auckland Telephone 09 379 3888 | Facsimile 09 379 3889 | Email greenstone@greenstonegroup.co.nz | www.greenstonegroup.co.nz

DICKSON-GRAY ELECTRICAL LTD

STRUCTURAL STEEL SPECIALISTS GGE are proud to be associated with Hawkins Construction Ltd. and the Tainui Novotel Hotel project.

P. 09 295 0550 F. 09 298 9909 Email. info@gge.co.nz Web. www.gge.co.nz Address. 62 Hunua Road, Papakura. PO Box 142 Takanini, South Auckland 2245

40 | January/February 2011 www.aucklandtoday.net.nz

Electrical Contractors & Engineers Industrial & Commerical maintenance and installation Proud to be associated with Tainui Novatel Hotel Auckland Airport

Phone. 09 309 6783

Property and Construction | Tainui Novotel

Here and previous page: An artist’s impression of the finished Tainiu Novotel

Cutting edge technology

to meet the strict standards of Green Globe, an international compliance standard for The Novotel Auckland Airport will be using a brand new access control system currently only environmentally sustainable projects. used in a few hotels in the world.

A prominent example is the selection of timber used extensively throughout. “A signature Their access control system which uses Near feature of the hotel interior is the extensive use Field Communication (NFC) technology, will of Forestry Stewardship Council (FSC) certified allow guests to check in online, at which time Southland Maple Beech sourced exclusively they will receive an encrypted room key and from Lindsay and Dixon, Tuatapere, Southland, room number to their NFC ready cell phone.

This means travellers can check in as they wait the only forestry and processing operation to clear immigration, or for their bags, and can of native forest to hold such a high and internationally recognised certification in New just walk from the international terminal to Zealand,” Hewlett says. their rooms without needing to get a hard key. Once they check in online, they will “In selecting a timber, FSC certification was be able to use their cell phone to open the essential. We worked directly with Bernie electronic lock.

Lagan, director of Lindsay and Dixon, to ensure the quality and selection was managed from Sustainable design the forest on its final journey to the room.”

New Zealand is renowned for its unique and pristine natural environment — that’s what will be luring many of the tourists to stay in Tainui Auckland Airport Novotel once it’s built.

To ensure the hotel aligns with New Zealand’s commitment to sustainability, it is being built

New Zealand on display

Feature continues on next page >>

Proud suppliers of pre-cast to Hawkins Construction on their Tainui Novotel Hotel project.

250 Oruarangi Road, Mangere, Manukau | PO Box 107114, Auckland Airport, Manukau 2150 | Phone 09 275 9906 Fax 09 275 9907

It’s not just New Zealand art and history on display in this hotel, it’s the tangible everyday items too. Project manager Nigel Cooper, from the Greenstone Group, explains.

B&W CONSTRUCTION LTD SPECIALISING IN: ✓ All concrete construction ✓ Light commercial to multi storey ✓ Pre-cast ✓ Installation of pre-cast components ✓ Construction of Tilt Panes ✓ Any concrete requirements 64 Firth Street, Drury. PO Box 434, Drury, Auckland Phone: 09 294 6602 Fax: 09 294 6603 Email: b.wcon@paradise.net.nz

PROUD TO BE ASSOCIATED WITH HAWKINS CONSTRUCTION AND THE TAINUI NOVOTEL HOTEL PROJECT

Architects + Designers

Novotel Auckland International Airport www.warrenandmahoney.com Auckland

Wellington

Christchurch

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www.aucklandtoday.net.nz January/February 2011 | 41

Property and Construction | Tainui Novotel

An artist’s impression of the finished hotel (above) and a work in progress, with the beginning stages to the structure in April 2010

“In public spaces throughout the hotel we have sourced furniture manufactured and designed in New Zealand.

“We really want to showcase the best of New Zealand design. We’re using a number of designers from all over the country that capture our culture and way of seeing the world.”

The menus for the restaurant have not yet been decided but Nigel Cooper says they will also reflect New Zealand in its cuisine.

Conference and meeting facilitates The 12-level, four-star Novotel Auckland Airport will have 263 rooms, a gymnasium, a 150-seat restaurant and bar, 11 meeting

rooms, a conference/function room for 300 people and an airline crew lounge.

Nigel Cooper says the hotel will be the perfect spot for local Auckland businesses to have conferences and meetings, but the facilities will be such a high standard, any company in the Asia Pacific region will want to use them.

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www.woodbenders.co.nz 42 | January/February 2011 www.aucklandtoday.net.nz

Property and Construction | Tainui Novotel

During early September when the pool matches are being played around the country, Martin Snedden, CEO of Rugby World Cup 2011 believes New Zealand will have no problem accommodating all the tourists.

Pressure points will occur, however, during the last three weekends of the tournament in the cities and regions hosting the knockout matches. This 17-day period, which includes the finals weekend in Auckland, is the timeframe the organisers are concentrating hardest on in terms of facilitating accommodation solutions. Because there won’t be enough accommodation on land, three RWC-dedicated cruise ships will be in use.

features

Construction underway

▼ Sustainably sourced FSC Certified Southland Maple Beech feature timber

▼ Indigenous external and internal landscape ▼ New Zealand designed and manufactured furniture ▼ Taniko pattern symbolising the Tainui waka path making its way through the sea to Aotearoa

▼ Infused patterns and motifs embodying aspects of New Zealand and regional history

▼ Environmentally sustainable design in keeping with the 100% Pure New Zealand brand.

On December 1, 2009, the Maori King Te Arikinui Kiingi Tuheitia broke the ground just outside the international terminal as a symbolic gesture to mark the start of construction. Construction is due to finish in April 2011 and will be well commissioned by the start of the Rugby World Cup. Nigel Cooper says the project is running on time and on budget, and the team is doing an excellent job.

Rugby World Cup readiness New Zealand is a small country and doesn’t have a surplus of accommodation — particularly when we are gearing up to hold a world class event. That’s why the Novotel Auckland Airport will be a much needed solution to any accommodation shortage problems during the Rugby World Cup. It will be finished by May 2011, well before the first games which will be in September.

But many RWC tourists will be arriving late at night and be wanting to crash, which is where the Novotel Auckland Airport steps in. Enough tourists to fill 263 rooms will be able to crash in a comfortable bed as soon as they get off the plane, leaving them refreshed and awake for travelling into the Auckland CBD, stadium or other parts of the country the next day.

Greenstone Group PO Box 37493 Parnell Auckland T (09) 379 3888 www.greenstonegroup.co,nz Warren and Mahoney PO Box 91517 Auckland 1142 T (09) 309 4894 F (09) 309 2671 www.warrenandmahoney.com — Advertising Feature

SHARP DECORATING SERVICES COMMITTED TO THE ENVIRONMENT

PAINTING & DECORATING SPECIALISTS Sharp Decorating Services ltd proudly contracted to Hawkins Construction for the Painting, Stopping and Exterior coatings of the Tainui Novotel Hotel Auckland Airport.

Sharp Decorating is family owned and has been in business for over 28 years Phone: 09 6345601 | Email: cole@sharpdecorating.co.nz | sharpdecorating.co.nz

THERMOSASH Thermosash Commercial Ltd is proud to support Hawkins Construction (Main Contractor), Warren & Mahoney (Architects) and Greenstone Group (Project Managers) on the Airport Hotel (Novotel) project.

• ONE guarantee • ONE total solution • Totally integrated facades • Unitised curtainwall • Twin skin façade • Integrated fire / acoustic separation • • High performance acoustic glazing solution • Feature cantilevered glass at corners • Graduated architectural performance glass aesthetic solution • 13m unsupported span podium curtainwall • Total vision main entrance revolving door • Feature glass canopy •

Talk to us for your Thermosash solution: Auckland Ph 09-444 4944 Wellington Ph 04-939 4500 Christchurch Ph 03-348 4004

www.thermosash.co.nz

WINDOW • CURTAINWALL • ALUMINIUM / STEEL CLADDING • ROOF LITES • DESIGNERS • MANUFACTURERS • CONTRACTORS www.aucklandtoday.net.nz January/February 2011 | 43

Property and Construction | Parfoot Engineering

Putting the right foot forward

Left: Parfoot Engineering specialises in heavy fabrication and site welding, as well as some structural steel work Right: Most of Parfoot Engineering’s work is on large commercial and infrastructure projects

It doesn’t matter what the greater state of an economy may be, if you provide quality workmanship for an essential service, demand will remain. Point in case is Parfoot Engineering Limited, a specialist heavy fabrication and site welding business that has grown during the recession due to its wide range of skills and the quality of its work.

Weld Tech

The company was formed three years ago by Ken Parfoot, who employs eight staff from premises in Andromeda Crescent, East Tamaki.

Skills and services Parfoot Engineering specialises in heavy fabrication and site welding, as well as structural steel work. The company works with leading construction and engineering companies to achieve demanding objectives on heavy fabrication and infrastructure projects. Staff can fabricate to specification or design and build, with the majority of work on construction and piling projects.

MT WELLINGTON

SUPPLIERS OF WELDING EQUIPMENT

ENGINEERING

LT D

Proud to support Parfoot Engineering SALES - REPAIRS - HIRE

Suppliers of Welding Equipment and Welding Machines

In addition to its heavy fabrication and welding service, Parfoot Engineering’s diverse range of skilled tradespeople can cater for most engineering disciplines, including tungsten carbide hardfacing, heavy plant repair and servicing, inhouse NDT, fitting, machining, sandblasting and painting.

Phone: 09 274 1246 Fax: 09 274 1213

Te l : 0 9 2 7 0 0 0 1 4 Fax: 09 270 0064

Significant growth Ken Parfoot has advanced trade certificates in three disciplines — heavy fabrication, welding and light fabrication — and has managed to establish and grow the business through the tough economic period of the past three years.

“We do what we say we’re going to do and if we can’t do it we’ll say so. We’ve got some really good guys working for us now and it’s a good work environment,”

Impressive work portfolio

Parfoot is pleased with the success of the company to date but says it is still a difficult economic environment. “We’ve had it hard the whole time — it’s never been an easy run.

We’re sticking to our heavy fabrication and site welding focus but we’re also doing more structural work. We’re looking at diversifying more in that area. And we’ll continue upgrading our gear to stay competitive and make sure our work is top notch.”

Ken Parfoot says most of the company’s work is on large commercial and infrastructure projects, including the Newmarket Viaduct Bridge, the Manukua harbour crossing (new bridge), the Victoria Park Tunnel and the Kawakawa Bay Wastewater Treatment Plant.

Parfoot Engineering hires out heavy duty piling equipment and associated parts from rigs and tooling to vibros and hammer equipment.

0800 PILE HIRE - FOR ALL YOUR PILING & RETAINING HIRE NEEDS - AUGERS - CLEANOUT BUCKETS - BELLING TOOLS - CORE BARRELS - VIBROS - SHEET PILES - STEEL SECTIONS - MAINTENANCE - REPAIRS 44 | January/February 2011 www.aucklandtoday.net.nz

The company has a range pendulum borers and a selection of 50 augers and buckets for hire. These include core barrels and heavy duty buckets from 300-1200mm diameter, heavy duty augers from 300-1200mm diameter, and light duty augers from 100-1200mm diameter.

The company manufactures custombuilt tooling to suit ground conditions and machine capabilities, including conventional augers, buckets, core barrels, groovers, bailors, vibros, displacement augers, lances and other ground stabilising tooling. A full after-sales service is available, as well as modification and repairs to existing tooling and site repairs and problem solving.

“We do a lot of small projects and we do work on cranes and drill rigs,” he says. “Our core clients are the big construction and civil companies such as the Fletchers Group and Fulton Hogan Civil. There wouldn’t be many piling companies in New Zealand that wouldn’t have heard of us.”

1 Highbrook Drive East Tamaki Auckland

info@weldingtechnology.co.nz www.weldingtechnology.co.nz

“Piling work involves casing splicing and supply, sheet pile and wailor welding and cutting, beam supply and site works. We also manufacture a large amount of piling and drilling tools and equipment.”

“It’s about the quality of our work and our ability to get it done. We’ve got a lot of resources we can rely upon and we know a lot of people in the industry.”

Parfoot Engineering Limited 12N Andromeda Crescent East Tamaki Auckland 2013 T (09) 272 3674 F (09) 272 3671 www.parfoot.co.nz — Advertising Feature

Goods and Services | Europlan Industries

Getting storing needs sorted

Storage systems are an organisational, institutional and residential necessity. They allow for maximisation of space and create order in environments that thrive on systematic organisation.

With roots planted as far back as 1963, one New Zealand company has been meeting New Zealand’s storage needs for many years. Europlan Industries Ltd has become a leader in its field in New Zealand and Australia.

A market leader Exporting throughout the world including Australia, the Pacific Islands and Asia, the business offers design and prototyping services for the commercial office fit-out and personal storage markets.

Europlan has a team including engineers, installers and dispatchers, as well as sales and customer service staff and accountants. General manager Tony Moore says providing a customisation service is at the heart of the operation.

By recently contracting a local business, Metal Skills, to undertake its manufacturing processes, Europlan can retain this service. “We are responsive to our customers’ design needs.

When we promise something we deliver it and we work to keep costs under control so we can keep product costs sharp,” Moore says.

“We outsourced our manufacturing to access new technology and we had a philosophy that we needed the manufacturing to stay in New Zealand. Customers don’t get the service and variety they want and need if our products are only imported and our ability to develop products would be severely limited.”

Of the competitive nature of the industry, Moore comments, “We’ve got local based competitors who specialise in steel and wooden imports but our business is based around the relationships we build with clients.

Office Max is our largest reseller client.”

Europlan won the Most Valued Supplier Award from Office Max in 2009.

Since inception, Europlan has implemented various strategies to address issues relating to the environment. The company’s commitment

to sustainability was evident in its launch of the Verde Tambour Cabinets — the first office storage cabinet to secure the Environment Choice NZ label.

The company also has ISO 14001 accreditation for its Environmental Management System and removed all PVC from its products in 2006.

WHERE FORM FOLLOWS FUNCTION...

Wirth an emphasis on sustainability, Europlan has taken a number of initiatives in regard to energy management, waste minimisation and utilising environmentally sensitive materials.

Having established a product stewardship programme for all its products in order to minimise the impact on landfills, Europlan organises to either refurbish a cabinet if suitable, or recycle it to be used as raw materials. This applies to Verde Tambours, forte filing cabinets, lockers and other storage products the company sells.

Europlan Industries Ltd PO Box 15390 Waitakere 0640 T (09) 304 1586 F (09) 368 7486 E tony@europlan.co.nz www.europlan.co.nz — Advertising Feature

M S

M E TA L S K I L L S LTD

PRECISION SHEET METAL ENGINEERS

LASER CUTTING • TURRET PUNCHING PRESS BRAKE FOLDING • ROBOTIC WELDING

In early 2011, Europlan Industries will have a hard launch of the Haworth brand which will coincide with the official opening of a new Parnell showroom.

Europlan — the New Zealand agent for Haworth, which is the third largest commercial furniture company in the world — will be focussing its initial attention on Haworth’s Zody chair.

The carbon positive Zody is the result of more than two years of research to provide a unique system that supports the body ergonomically when seated. For the future, the business will be evaluating the up and coming generations and what preferences they have within the workplace. The business will be working to accommodate new trends and keep pace with changing consumer wants and needs.

PH: 09 272 3474 • FAX: 09 272 3475 100 LADY RUBY DRIVE, EAST TAMAKI EMAIL: MS@MSKILLS.CO.NZ WWW.METALSKILLSLTD.COM

global logistics solutions

Proud to be associated with Europlan Industries Ltd. Since 1981 our goal has been to provide exemplary service, providing our customers with an intelligent, solution based consultative approach

Tel: 09 275-3199 • Fax: 09 275-3054 • Email: info@hobbsglobal.co.nz Website: www.hobbsglobal.co.nz www.aucklandtoday.net.nz January/February 2011 | 45

Goods and Services | Jenkins Group

A business with stickability While innovation and technology go hand in hand with contemporary society, for some of the most dynamic businesses, this is nothing new. Born from the foresight and professional creativity of industrial pioneers, many of these businesses have stood the test of time and participate in the modern market with the advantage of reputable longevity and astute business knowledge and wisdom.

One New Zealand company that originated from the aspirations of Jane Elizabeth Jenkins in 1883 has continually diversified to become the successful operation it is today. Jenkins Group Limited is a company proud of its heritage and as a supply partner to businesses here and abroad, it has years of knowledge, experience and innovation.

A total solution Jenkins Group’s fields of expertise include the food, beverage, industrial, horticulture, logistics, promotional and health and pharmaceutical industries. Originally established to provide bag solutions to banks and later paper packaging, stationery, general book printing and label products in the 1940s, Jenkins Group has become a leading self adhesive label printer.

Sorma manufactures machinery for all aspects of packaging and handling for virtually all fresh and vegetables. Jenkins Group provides the installation, service and support for Sorma Equipment and many consumables to compliment the range.

As a financially strong, family owned business, Jenkins Group revels in its organisational autonomy and is defined by its flexibility and capacity to continually invest in new technology, its people and new business.

“We have a service network throughout New In the 1980s the company pioneered automatic Zealand and we understand the importance of flexibility and reliability,” general manager fruit labelling in New Zealand and was appointed as the Australasian agent for Sinclair Cameron McInness says.

International in 1983.

Independent TNS TRI*M benchmark research based on an evaluation of 122 existing and Jenkins Group expanded into Australia in the potential customers, showed that Jenkins late 1990s and now holds the Australasian Group demonstrated superior performance “far agency for Sorma S.P.A of Italy, a company above average” for quality. The research also known in the horticultural industry for its indicated the company was outperforming quality precision packaging equipment.

its competitors for solutions oriented, and excellence in, problem solving.

Jenkins Group’s key attributes are: ■ Solutions oriented problem solvers ■ Technology and innovation leader in the labelling industry ■ Consistently delivering quality ■ Understanding customer business.

“These are the key fundamentals of business and these are what we drive towards,” McInness says.

“We try to deliver ‘wow’ through our services and quality and we are continuously looking at international trends and trialling new material.

“We tailor products which are designed to meet specific customer needs and we work to develop products with an environmental advantage.”

Committed to protecting the environment, Jenkins Group was among the first self adhesive label printers to participate in the

Enviro-Mark NZ programme — a health, safety and environmental management system, through Landcare Research. Bronze certification was achieved in June 2008 and the company is now working towards Gold.

With a diverse portfolio of environmental substrates and consumables, Jenkins Group is leading the market.

The introduction of enviroSense has heralded a new era for manufacturers wanting to utilise composable packaging for their products and this material conforms to both industrial and home composting situations.

With good gloss and transparency, enviroSense has a naturally high gas barrier and moisture permeability can be tailored to the needs of a variety of different packaged products.

It is also resistant to greases, oils and fats and can be associated with other biodegradable packaging materials to create eco friendly packs. EnviroSense was awarded the Innovation award by the Institution of Packaging.

1977 Ltd Electrical Contractors and Engineers • All Classes of Installation and Repairs

Proud to be associated with the Jenkins Group 147 Station Road, PO Box 12253, Penrose Email: admin@tsbishop.co.nz Web: www.tsbishop.co.nz Telephone: 09-579 8376 Fax: 09-579 5135 Mobile: 021-886 337

Two Stage Cutting Formes Ltd Proud to be associated with Jenkins Group Ltd PHONE 09 634 8339 | FAX 09 636 7823 Email: brett@twostage.co.nz 12 Patrick Street, Onehunga 46 | January/February 2011 www.aucklandtoday.net.nz

stage

Goods and Services | Jenkins Group Memory lane ■ 1883 — J.E Jenkins founder Jane Elizabeth Jenkins arrives from England, sets up business ■ 1895 — The business moves to premises in Albert Street and focuses on chemist labels ■ 1935 — John Parkinson, who was on the ship with Jane Elizabeth Jenkins, becomes a principal shareholder. Business relocates to Victoria Street

■ 1983 — Centennial year. Jenkins appointed as Australian agent for Sinclair International, pioneering fruit labelling in New Zealand ■ 1990 — Jenkins’ current premises in Mt Wellington are purpose built ■ 1991 — Australian subsidiary, J Tech Systems Pty, established

■ 1994 — ISO9002 accreditation gained ■ 1940s — The diversified professional portfolio includes paper packaging, stationery, book ■ 1998 — New look and new logo for the printing and label products company at the dawn of the millennium ■ 1948 — Tom Parkinson joins the business, succeeding his father John

■ 1999 — An extension of the building to house an additional 12,500 square foot wing

■ 1969 — John Parkinson dies, aged 92

■ 2000 — New machinery is commissioned giving Jenkins an entrance into the film market offering shrink sleeve labels

■ 1972 — Jenkins continues to grow and relocates to Great South Road in Penrose.

■ 1973 — Tony McInness joins his father-in-law Tom in the business ■ 1980 — The company becomes known as Jenkins Labels Ltd and focuses on the self adhesive market

The company also understands the importance of scanability and provides assurance that barcodes manufactured consistently confirm to international guidelines.

As Australasia’s first BRC (British Retail Consortium) packaging compliant printer, Jenkins Group is also a registered member of associations which allow the business to stay abreast of, and involved with, progress in both materials and processes in the printing industry. These associations include.

■ 2004 — A new name – Jenkins Group Ltd is adopted along with a new brand image ■ 2008 — Jenkins celebrates 125th anniversary

Proud to be associated with the Jenkins Group and wish them all the best for the future.

Award winning standards Having achieved ISO9002 accreditation, Jenkins Group went beyond ISO by introducing Process Mapping which utilises Lean principles to continuously improve processes, products and the services provided to customers.

■ 2003 — RipeSense launched

Jenkins Group 5 Tiri Place Mount Wellington Auckland T (09) 270 2160 F (09) 276 4720 www.jenkinsgroup.co.nz— Advertising Feature

Amcor Kiwi Packaging Contact Sales & Customer Services: 09 980 5610 Kiwi Packaging

PML

Packaging Materials (NZ) Limited

■ FINAT, the International Printing Federation ■ International Label Group ■ Printing Industries New Zealand ■ Self Adhesive Label Manufactures Association (SALMA) ■ Packaging Council of New Zealand ■ NZJBA — New Zealand Juice and Beverage Association

PROUD TO SUPPLY & SUPPORT JENKINS GROUP WITH THEIR INNOVATIVE

Reel Papers, Proud suppliers to Jenkins Group

LABELING SOLUTIONS.

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■ 5 + A Day. Jenkins Group has also collaborated with organisations to achieve significant innovations.

“RipeSense was developed in conjunction with Crown organisation Plant and Food Research. In 2004 Time magazine listed it has one of the best inventions of that year,” McInness says. The RipeSense sensor label also won gold in the World Label Awards at the Pride In Print Awards.

23B Rennie Drive, Airport Oaks, Mangere, Auckland.

Phone: 09 257 3104 Fax: 09 257 3107

PROUD SUPPLIERS OF KSL SPRAY POWDER PO Box 54-023 The Marina, Manukau 2144, 1/22 Industry Road Penrose 1061 Auckland New Zealand Telephone: 09 525-5490 | Facsimile: 09 525-5495 | Email: info@gibsonpacific.co.nz www. gibsonpacific.co.nz www.aucklandtoday.net.nz January/February 2011 | 47

Goods and Services | Finest Food Products

The formula for

fine food

The skill of resuscitation isn’t only important within the medical industry, it’s a talent which can also prove highly valuable in the field of business. The act of revitalising a company whose commercial heartbeat is dangerously near to flatlining is an extremely complex exercise.

It’s a process that requires intuition, instinct and an ability to revive potential. Bob and Lorraine Harman possess such qualities.

Looking to buy one more business in the lead up to retirement, the Harmans were attracted by the challenge of reviving a struggling enterprise — Finest Food Products Limited, generally known as Finest Foods.

Finest Foods, located in East Tamaki, was established in 1986 as a manufacturer of high quality beverage syrups. “We bought the business because we were looking for something to do and I had a desire to take on a business that was struggling,” Bob says.

In the five years since the business has gone wild — well, sort of. The Wild Rhino range has been developed as a selection of premium flavouring syrups and essences for the hospitality industry.

Supreme, the original Finest Foods brand, has been extended to include slush syrups, soft serve concentrates and dessert toppings, as well as a wider range of the milkshake syrups, cordials and soda syrups which have been enjoyed by thousands since 1986. This success was acknowledged at the Manukau Business Excellence Awards in 2009, where Finest Food Products was a finalist.

“The business had operated well since it was established but there had been a number of ownership changes in a short period which led to a decline in its fortunes,” Bob says. “While we had never been involved in the food service industry, we had plenty of experience and knew that success was dependent on getting the fundamentals right.”

‘… we are looking to grow at a manageable rate…’

This included hard work and reconnecting with the existing distributors of Finest Foods’ products. “We also created some valuable relationships with our suppliers which allowed us to expand and work on the product range.

“It was a matter of reconnecting with suppliers as well as customers. Wherever possible we work with suppliers that are also owner

operated businesses. They tend to have empathy with us and can make things happen when needed,” Bob explains.

“Being a small business means customer’s can also contact management directly. In my experience, they really like being able to talk to the owner and operator, rather than having to work their way through layers of management.

We really enjoy this aspect of the business.” and able to work with any company looking to develop their own range of syrup products.

Smart Investments

The company’s purchase of a thermal printer to overprint on generic labels is something which the Harman’s credit as being one of the best decisions they have made. “We have achieved sustained growth and our purchase of the thermal printer gave us huge flexibility and the confidence to try new things,” Bob says.

Are you wasting product by pouring when you could be accurately pumping or decanting?

See us first for your dispensing solutions: • Dispenser Pumps for syrups, sauces or chutneys • Taps for plastic containers from 1L - 200L We also stock Valves & Fittings for 1000L IBC Tanks, drum bungs & adaptors and vented closures.

13 Sycamore Pl Hamilton, 3200 www.3swans.co.nz info@3swans.co.nz

Ph: 07 850 9581

Finest Food Products Ltd PO Box 54143 The Marina Throughout the last few years, Finest Foods Auckland 2144 has invested significant time and expertise in T (09) 274 4495 the research and development of private label F (09) 274 4212 products. As the manufacturer of such products E bob@finestfoodproducts.co.nz for several significant players in the hospitality www.finestfoodproducts.co.nz and foodservice industry, Finest Foods is willing — Advertising Feature

12 Aranui Road (Apex Duo) Mt Wellington, Auckland 1060 PO Box 9387, Newmarket Auckland 1149, New Zealand

Phone: +64 9 574 5080 Facsimile +64 9 574 5023

www.msugar.co.nz

Supplying the food manufacturing industry throughout New Zealand with their sugar requirements.

48 | January/February 2011 www.aucklandtoday.net.nz

“For the future we are looking to grow at a manageable rate and get the Wild Rhino brand established in the New Zealand market. We will also be looking at export opportunities.”

www.aucklandtoday.net.nz January/February 2011 | 49

Transport and Motoring | Test Drive

is beautiful — Audi’s Q7

By Jonathon Taylor

I want you to think of something really big. No — bigger than that.

In fact, think of biggest thing you can possibly imagine, then double it, and you’ll still only be about half way to the size of a Q7. I’m not joking, this thing’s practically got its own weather system.

This however, is nothing to be concerned about. The trick is not to be intimidated by her size — it just means there’s more of her to love. Because, in the case of Audi’s Q7, big is beautiful.

She’s got curved haunches and sprinkles of bling, which lend proportion and style to her not inconsiderable substance.

But what Audi’s engineers do so well, and the Q7 is no exception, is make vehicles fit for their task.

This thing’s got space on a galactic scale, but is still designed to be a driver’s car — which it is. If this is motoring’s magic formula, then it’s one Audi seems to do better than pretty much anyone.

For a family you’d struggle to find a finer friend and you can call it a family car because that’s how it drives. The Q7 manages to hustle with the best of them thanks to, well… air.

This kind of car has to deal with massive road surface differences to the point where roads 50 | January/February 2011 www.aucklandtoday.net.nz

are optional — so suspension is a bit critical.

What the Q7 has is air suspension and an electronically controlled damper system, sitting it like a saloon at speed and sucking up the bumps and humps.

It passed the pothole-handling test with a flying five stars. This simple yet effective test (of course, adhering to the rigorous edicts of scientific method), is to find the biggest pothole you can, drive over it as fast as you dare and measure how much coffee exits your cup in the centre console holder. This five star rating is as good as it gets — it means the Q7 is essentially an ultra hi-tech living room (only with better seats) that moves.

And move it does; nought to 100kph takes 7.9 seconds thanks to a fuel injected, three-litre six diesel, delivering 176 kW/240 bhp.

This is delivered courtesy of the full time quattro power train and 8 speed S-tronic duel clutch transmission.

Fast and fluid And it must be said — Audi’s S-tronic transmission is a gem. Changes are fast and fluid and if you want to really rumble, then there’s a pair of flappy panel shifters. It’s here where you’ll have the most fun, peeling up and down through the gears with the flick of a finger.

As you’d expect, there are more hi-tech toys onboard than an AWACS — all controlled via Audi’s driver information system (DIS); an intuitive, easily laid out and user friendly system. You name it and it’s here, but what matters most is the cool stuff.

The parking aid might not be sexy, but it is cool because it’s useful. A rear view camera shows what’s behind you with a digital guideline displaying your path, based on the steering angle. It’s the kind of thing that makes large vehicles small and worth its weight in gold in tight spaces.

I love, and I mean love, the automatic boot opener. With a truant child under each arm and shopping bags in both hands, all you need is the keys in your fingers and then the whole lot can be thrown in the massive boot in one smooth motion. Perfect!

But coolest of cool is it’s got KERS. You know, the kinetic energy recovery system from Formula One. In basic boffin speak, it converts kinetic energy into electrical energy under breaking, then when the car accelerates, the battery directs the temporarily stored energy back into the vehicle, to relieve the load on the alternator, thereby saving fuel. Of course this is hugely environmentally friendly, but who cares — what’s important is it’s seriously cool because it’s from F1.

Simply put, if you need space, want style and demand quality, then the Q7 should sit right at the top of your hit list.

There are four Q7 variants: The 3 litre TDI quattro tiptronic for $125,500, 3.0 TDI quattro tiptronic S-line (the model reviewed) for $133,500, the 4.2 TDI quattro tiptronic S-line at $158,500, and for the more adventurous in both spirit and pocket, there’s a six litre V12 quattro tiptronic for $281,000.

Transport and Motoring | Kelvin Armstrong Auto Repairs

Kelvin and Karyn Armstrong accept the award for their business, Kelvin Armstrong Auto Repairs, which won Best Small Business at the Waitakere Business Awards in October

award winning formula In today’s business environment, delivering outstanding customer service is essential and it is a maxim Kelvin Armstrong Auto Repairs is acutely aware of. It is something the company’s always known, but recently the team has been publicly recognised for this commitment by winning a series of awards.

Kelvin Armstrong Auto Repairs was formed in April 1994 and today operates from a large modern site at 357 Rosebank Road, employing eight qualified and skilled staff. It offers a full range of mechanical and electrical repairs, servicing and valet services, with customers coming from all around Auckland.

Kelvin Armstrong accepts the awards for his business being voted the MTA Best General Repairer prize for Waitakere, voted by customers, and the Judge’s Choice, awarded by the panel, the Auckland MTA

Owner Kelvin Armstrong believes his company is the largest and most reputable car mechanic workshop in the west Auckland area. The business deals with all makes and models of cars, vans and light trucks. It undertakes a range of services, including WOF inspections, vehicle servicing, electronic engine tuning, transmission servicing, diagnostics scanning, gearbox and diff overhauls and tyre sales. It will also repair almost anything.

An additional service offered by Kelvin Armstrong Auto Repairs is its car valet service, which can be done on site. A range of valet packages are available, as well as removal of tar, bitumen, concrete, graffiti and overspray.

The company is MTA approved and an AA licensed repairer, as well as being a member of the Auto Super Shoppes group, an association consisting of about 60 premium auto repair shops throughout the country. “There are only a limited number of Auto Super Shoppes in

each area that are allowed or even qualify to join. It’s a group of premier workshops.”

was very clear that at Kelvin Armstrong Auto Repairs, the customer always comes first.”

Kelvin Armstrong Auto Repairs underwent an extensive renovation and upgrade in May 2008. “We’re always working on improvements, whether it be customer service, staff training and investing in new equipment,” Armstrong says.

Armstrong puts the awards success down to his staff. “We are a team and have a culture.

All my team like what they do, they’re not here just for a job. They really enjoy doing what they do.”

The company has grown every year since formation and, despite the economic downturn, business has remained steady for the past two years. Five qualified technicians are on the team and Armstrong is guiding two other staff members towards completing qualifications which were started under previous employers.

The awards In September, the Kelvin Armstrong Auto Repairs won the MTA Best General Repairer for Waikatere, as voted by customers. The business was also awarded the Judge’s Choice by the panel, the Auckland MTA. “It was amazing to be recognised by both our clients and our industry peers,” Armstrong says.

ALL MAKES

cars, trucks, tractors, commercial vehicles

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A few weeks later the company was awarded the Best Small Business at the Waitakere Business Awards. “We were extremely surprised. There was very good competition in our category and we were feeling honoured just to be nominated and then become a finalist. Winning — again — was amazing!”

SAME DAY SERVICE Ph: 836 1287 Or: 836 1440 Fax: 09 836 1719 email: radserv@ihug.co.nz 12B Moselle Ave, Henderson

The judges said they liked the holistic approach taken by Kelvin Armstrong Auto Repairs to include all the stakeholders, suppliers and association members. The panel noted: “With a strong focus on monitoring and management of standards, great staff that are encouraged by training and excellent use of technology, it

Wynn’s are pleased to support Kelvin Armstrong Auto Repairs

www.wynns.co.nz

Kelvin Armstrong Auto Repairs 357 Rosebank Road Rosebank 1348 T (09) 828 0080 F (09) 828 0070 www.kaar.co.nz — Advertising Feature

OPEN

MON-FRI 7.30am to 5.oopm SAT 8am to 1.oopm

Pryors Apparelmaster is proud of our association with Kelvin Armstrong Auto Repair Rental • Mats • Hand Towels • Shop Towels • Roller Towels • Embroidery design

With over 70 years experience you can confidently rely on Wynn’s

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Kelvin Armstrong • 12 Months 20,000km Warranty • AA Licensed Repairer • NZ Qualified Technicians

• Authorised for all Warranty Companies • Mechanical & Electrical Repairs on site • Authorised for lease companies

CALL US NOW

P. 828 0080 | www.kaar.co.nz

PULL THIS ADVERT AND GET $20 OFF AT YOUR NEXT VISIT (CONDITION APPLY, SEE IN STORE) www.aucklandtoday.net.nz January/February 2011 | 51

Transport and Motoring | Transport Diesel and Marine

Transport Diesel and Marine (TDM) services all makes and models of trucks and trailers with five branches throughout Auckland. While it is an Isuzu service agent, it carries out service and maintenance and supplies parts for all makes and models of trucks and trailers

Trucking on: One-stop shops for expert repairs Transport Diesel and Marine can offer any truck or fleet owner a one-stop shop, with an extensive inventory of spare parts and a team of qualified technicians who can travel anywhere throughout Auckland.

Transport Diesel and Marine (TDM) services all makes and models of trucks and trailers and undertakes major rebuild work, routine service and electrical repairs. It is a parts and service agent for Isuzu Trucks in the North Island. The company was formed 30 years ago by Jim Johnstone and Brendan Morron, who operated a mobile diesel service out of two vans.

“Where the service is more reliable than your old blue jeans”

Specialising in all forms of tyre maintenance • All major brands supplied • Nationwide 24 hour callout assistance • All work carried out onsite or at our workshop

Proudly supporting Transport Diesel and Marine

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engine rebuilds and transmission rebuilds, together with a large inventory of parts,” Johnstone says. “We’re a 24-hour operation, six days a week and have a dedicated night “TDM is a dedicated truck workshop,” shift, allowing us to offer our clients quick turnJohnstone says. “We specialise in looking arounds. We can arrange for panel and paint after fleets for large companies — both lease work to be carried out. We are able to carry companies and large fleet operators. We have out whatever work is required and will always established workshops to specifically meet tailor something to suit. We’ve gone to the the needs of some keys customers, such as market and listened now we are able to deliver Winstone Aggregates, where we have a branch what is required.” next to their depot.” Other key customers Johnstone and Morron have worked hard to include Works Infrastructure, TR Group, Lease be a one-stop shop for all truck servicing and Plan, Fleet Lease and Custom Fleet. maintenance requirements.

Johnstone says while TDM is an Isuzu service “We specialise in a wide range of agent, the company can carry out service and transmissions, carrying a large stock, both maintenance and supply parts for all makes used and new. We have an excellent exchange and models of trucks and trailers. programme,” Johnstone says. He attributes TDM’s five Auckland workshops house a the success of TDM to good old-fashioned hard range of specialty machinery, placing a work. “We never say we can’t do something. huge emphasis on training and upskilling If somebody wants it done, we do it. It’s really their qualified and experienced workshop about giving the customer what they wants.” technicians. The company operates a comprehensive mobile service, with a dozen Transport Diesel and Marine Limited mechanics that travel from yard to yard PO Box 12-050 carrying out on-site service work.

Penrose, Auckland 1642 T (09) 525 3856 “General fleet maintenance is our specialty, encompassing all truck and trailer engineering, F (09) 525 6161 — Advertising Feature Today TDM employs 60 staff in five branches across Auckland — three in Penrose, one in Papakura and one in Otahuhu.

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52 | January/February 2011 www.aucklandtoday.net.nz

Transport and Motoring | North Harbour Hyundai

Revamped luxury statement The equation for a successful vehicle brand is simple — good cars at great prices. A bargain is a bargain.

While that’s not rocket science, completely reinventing a brand comes close.

Twenty years ago the Hyundai brand represented cheap, starter cars. Today it represents affordable luxury and that goes well beyond its vehicles.

The brand’s latest dealership model has been designed to combine the efficiency, performance and luxury the brand itself has become known for in its vehicles. Combining visionary architecture with sophisticated construction, the Korean automaker has established an architectural hub to rival that of its pricier adversaries. And if its increasing marketshare is any measure of success, the dealership concept is one.

As ailing North American carmakers lean on governmental bail-outs, Hyundai’s marketshare has reached an all time high despite the recession and corresponding collapse in new vehicle demand.

Born and bred in Auckland, Bonniface has been in the motor industry all his working life and developed a strong affinity for Hyundai and all it represents.

“The brand quality is outstanding. People finally are taking notice and starting to associate Hyundai with quality.

“The Hyundai brand is going from strength to strength and its model line-up is as exciting as it is innovative. The brand has grown so much, both in looks and stature.”

The significant investment in the refurbishment of the brand’s North Shore dealership is an Family values indication of both its dedication to the luxury But it’s the brand’s strong family values which car market and the value Hyundai places is one of the most compelling draw cards of on the Auckland market. The dealership encapsulates the Hyundai philosophy, representing progressive technology, significant R&D and advanced design along with the brand’s methodology in product leadership and Proud to supply servicing customers.

“We are proud to bring this elevated level of premises and service to the North Shore,” North Harbour Hyundai dealer principal Dave Bonniface says. “We are making a significant commitment to the future of Hyundai in this region, one which our customers already recognise.”

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Refurbished during a 10 month period and completed in July this year, the dealership has been designed to such a high standard it has been lauded outside the industry. “It’s been featured in prominent non-automotive magazines for the quality, shape and design.

“It aligns itself well with the Hyundai brand.

The company is about people and product and with our new dealership we have the best of both worlds, showcased in a building which meets the high standards the brand strives for. It’s contemporary and open plan featuring modern timber joinery — there’s just nothing else like it in anywhere in Auckland.”

both North Harbour Hyundai and the brand itself. “Hyundai is the only large automotive brand in New Zealand that is fully owned by New Zealanders and that includes our entire dealer network.

technology, vehicle design, brand loyalty, or even the engine thrust — but then Hyundai has so much to offer, it’s hard to choose.

“We’re not some massive corporate, we’re 100 percent family owned and operated and the business is run with those same family values.” This includes the company’s community sponsorship such as the Spirit of Adventure, allowing children, who may have otherwise not had the means, to go on the adventure trip.

North Harbour Hyundai 175 Wairau Road Wairau Valley Auckland T (09) 444 7777 E dave.bonniface@hyundainz.co.nz www.hyundainz.com

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0800 LAWFIRM www.aucklandtoday.net.nz January/February 2011 | 53

Agribusiness | Status Produce

powerhouse The apple of love Apples, kiwifruit and tomatoes — The apple of love to the French, the apple of they are some of New Zealand’s paradise to the Germans, the apple of gold to most popular produce and make up the Italians — the origins of the tomato can be the production landscape of one of traced back many years. With many exciting new varieties hitting the market, the humble New Zealand’s largest and longest tomato has become one of the top selling running distribution networks. fresh produce items in the western world.

Turners and Growers has a distinguished history stretching back to 1897 and is recognised as New Zealand’s leading distributor, marketer and exporter of premium fresh produce.

A network of more than 41,000 m2 of storage facilities, a global distribution network covering sales, marketing and logistics, and a passionate, experienced team have ensured Turners and Growers one of the most recognisable names in New Zealand produce.

And the produce powerhouse is going from strength to strength thanks to a vertical integration strategy allowing it to manage all elements of the supply chain.

Turners and Growers is among those reviving ‘vertical integration,’ a 100 year old strategy in which a company controls materials, manufacturing and distribution.

The history of the tomato itself bears a strong resemblance to the colourful history of Status Produce. What began as just a vision by second generation tomato grower John Becroft and packhouse manager Garry Hemmingson has become a leading New Zealand tomato producer at the forefront of the industry.

Becroft and Hemmingson were joined by three equally visionary tomato growers and a glasshouse builder. Under the Status banner, the team brought in world advanced growing technologies and glasshouse designs. Within a short time, the first five hectare project was under way. By 2002 the venture had grown to 10 hectares with further plans for expansion.

The Tregidga family, led then by Percy, had led the way in innovative greenhouse cropping through PTO Growers Ltd since the 1930s. Percy was followed in the business by two of his sons, Mark and George, who are still actively involved to this day.

The improved insights and controls in the production process resulting from this has led In 2000, PTO and Turners and Growers formed to higher quality fruit and ensured a secure a joint venture under the name Sholto supply base, enabling the produce powerhouse Investments to build the new 4.2 hectare to honour its commitment to key customers. glasshouse operation at Favona Road. The Tregidga brothers retained ownership of the Power in numbers Part of the vertical integration process included packhouse operation under the name PTO. bringing one of New Zealand’s leading produce brands under the Turners and Growers umbrella. As New Zealand’s largest tomato grower, packer and exporter, producing 30 percent of the country’s tomato production, Status Produce was a natural candidate.

Horticentre Limited is proud to support and supply Status Produce Ltd with horticultural supplies and services.

As well as packing and marketing all its own produce under the Status label and Beekist — the company’s premium product range, Status Produce packs product for independent New Zealand growers.

Operating substantial state of the art glasshouse facilities located just south of Auckland, the company is capable of growing more than ten million kilograms of produce every year. And it’s not just our little corner of the globe which has an affinity to the ripe redness of Status’s produce, with up to 2000 tonnes per year exported to Australia, Canada and Asia.

During 2002, but still keeping the Status name, Sholto Investments purchased Status Produce and, finally, Turners and Growers purchased 100 percent of Sholto along with the PTO packhouse. The entirely merged operation became wholly owned by Turners and Growers Fresh Ltd. The newly structured entity remains a stand-alone company and continues to grow and improve under the skilled auspice of Colin Lyford, general manager of Status Produce Ltd.

Current operations Today Status is New Zealand’s largest tomato grower, packer, and exporter, which grows tomatoes in more than 20 hectares of state of the art, environmentally controlled glasshouse facilities in and around Auckland.

The company employs 150 people at three locations — the head office, packhouse and a four hectare glasshouse at 42 Favona Road, Mangere Bridge; and two larger glasshouses But like many of our favourite success stories, it located on Harrisville and Geraghty Maber all began with a couple of Kiwi entrepreneurs.

Roads in Tuakau, South Auckland.

54 | January/February 2011 www.aucklandtoday.net.nz

Agribusiness | Status Produce

The packhouse itself is a high tech, streamlined facility, utilising state of the art machinery and computer controlled equipment. Tomatoes are picked, packed, distributed and delivered to most New Zealand stores within 12 to 24 hours of picking, and 24 to 36 hours for some of its export markets.

The same stringent quality control is evident throughout the entire Status Produce operation. It ensures products are of the highest quality, grown in environmentally friendly conditions, and picked and packed using only the best methods and health safety systems. Status prides itself on using biological controls and other natural methods to encourage pesticide-free growing conditions.

Status strives to be pesticide free by using bumblebees to pollinate its 20 hectares of tomatoes naturally. An integrated pest management approach is designed to produce the highest quality product for consumers. This system ensures the tomatoes are grown in a natural environment. In conjunction with the high standards adopted through the supply chain post harvest, the tomatoes that arrive on the shelves are of the highest standards to deliver a fantastic taste experience.

Many tomatoes available in New Zealand fail to meet these standards, Lyford says. “Most New Zealanders don’t realise they are often consuming imported tomatoes,” he says.

While supermarkets are doing their bit to display country of origin labelling where products are sold, it is the pros and cons of local tomatoes versus imported tomatoes that consumers often don’t know about — and that can make all the difference. “Imported tomatoes are field grown in Australia and have been heavily treated with pesticides prior to exporting. Generally this is a winter issue in New Zealand, when local tomatoes are quite high in price to cover the cost of producing in a heated glasshouse.

“Australian outdoor tomatoes can seem a cost effective alternative, but it is wise to know the history of the product.”

Not only is Status striving to be pesticide free, but its produce is some of the best tasting around, he says.

“Each year we travel to find the best tasting varieties. We trial those in our glasshouses to find strong varieties that perform well. From these we pick future varieties.

“Our food must first be safe and wholesome, but also taste great.”

None of this is possible without great people and Status has a goal of becoming the best by attracting the best growers and technical people. “We want to be so good that horticultural graduates come to us first when seeking a career. We want our reputation to be so strong that talent seeks us out.”

Sullivan PACKAGING LTD

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Green tomatoes Despite the distinct lush red of its produce, Status Produce is going green with sustainability measures adopted as standard procedure by the company.

Status collects rain water from the glasshouse and uses every drop of it. All irrigation water and nutrient supply excess to crops is collected and returned to tanks for sterilisation and recirculation. The glasshouse captures and uses all the CO2 produced when running boilers for heating the glasshouse. This CO2 is pumped into the glasshouse, to help the tomato plants grow and they convert this via photosynthesis into growth. All Status plant material is recycled into compost.

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www.aucklandtoday.net.nz January/February 2011 | 55

Agribusiness | Status Produce

While rising costs resulting from the Emissions Trading Scheme have placed substantial pressure on the horticultural industry, Status Produce is able to utilise a strong global supplier network to ease the cost. Most energy that is in part or wholly based on extraction and consumption of fossil fuel is now priced inclusive of a carbon tax based on that fossil fuel’s CO2 emission rate.

To mitigate the tax costs, Status obtains quotes from global suppliers to obtain the highest quality ingredients at the most competitive pricing. “This scale of our operation helps in this area. Holland is the real center of expertise for tomato production, so much of the highest quality inputs come from Holland,” Lyford says.

It’s also a big positive for the variety available in New Zealand. “Our growers travel to other countries like France and Holland and look at the best there is in the industry. They are able to obtain the best seed they can and bring back with them, not only the new varieties

available, but also the skills, knowledge and experience available.”

While the skills and experience represented in Status Produce, as part of the Turners and Growers group, place it in a prime position for expansion, Lyford says better trumps bigger.

“In the next five years, we will continue to develop Status to be the best tomato growing business in the southern hemisphere.

“From that standpoint, we may also become the biggest, but it is first important to be the best and to have product that you are very, very proud of.”

Status Produce 42 Favona Road Mangere Auckland T (09) 275 1819 E statusmail@turnersandgrowers.com www.statusproduce.co.nz

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56 | January/February 2011 www.aucklandtoday.net.nz

Agribusiness | Punchbowl

Punching above its weight to service the kiwifruit sector…

Pick pack

SUCCESS In the 100 years since kiwifruit came to New Zealand, it has been enjoyed as a delicious snack, an addition to fruit salads or adorning pavlovas.

It’s loved by mums and nutritionists for its super-hit of vitamin C, and loved in general for its taste. The world is catching on to to this fruit, Punchbowl owner Rob Craig says.

Punchbowl general manager Colin Davies, and owners Maree and Rob Craig

“In coolstorage, Punchbowl has demonstrated an ability to perform at the highest level with Punchbowl is a medium sized integrated kiwifruit grower and packer based in Pukekohe. respect to fruit storage performance and this is clearly demonstrated in our Orchard Gate Started 20 years ago by Craig, wife Maree Returns (OGR) for our growers.” and four Auckland investors, it now has other family members and growers as shareholders.

Export

Employing up to 200 people during the picking season, both locals and backpackers work in a variety of jobs, boosting the local economy.

This coming summer it is estimated Punchbowl will pack 1.6 million trays of kiwifruit.

Punchbowl not only picks, packs and cools its own kiwifruit but will pack and cool kiwifruit for other growers too. “We service a family of growers and we are now highly dependent on the dedication of a great team of permanent staff,” Craig says.

The company prides itself on its excellent service. “We focus on maximizing packing, coolstorage and financial outcomes to our kiwifruit grower customers.

“We employ leading edge technologies in the form of In-vision electronic fruit grading systems and this ensures we can achieve the best possible export fruit recovery for our growers.

The majority of the kiwifruit is Class 1 product destined for export via Zespri. Zespri, of which Rob Craig is also the director of innovation for, wants to double New Zealand’s revenue in the next 15 years. An ambitious task, but something Craig says is very achievable.

“The Asian market — in particular the middle classes in China and India — is growing.

We are marketing and promoting heavily to their growing wealth. They are especially enjoying our gold variety, because of their sweet palate.”

New varieties of kiwifruit are being created all the time. Two gold ones called G3 and G9 have just been launched, as well as a new early sweet green variety called G14. “These three new varieties have enormous export potential,” Craig says.

Kiwifruit is found in supermarkets across the continent.

Other than wanting to play its part in doubling New Zealand’s kiwifruit revenue in 15 years, Craig has other important future goals. He wants to ride out the problems surrounding PSA, a bacterial vine-killing disease found recently in orchards around Te Puke. He is reasonably confident this will be achieved.

In the long term, Craig wants to make the business an attractive place for young people

to want to be. “Exciting things are happening in this industry. The future looks vibrant with great career opportunities for the young and quality sustainable earnings for investors.”

Punchbowl 646 Glenbrook Road RD4, Pukekohe 2679 T (09) 236 3818 F (09) 236 3819 E rcraig@punchbowl.co.nz www.punchbowl.co.nz

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58 | January/February 2011 www.aucklandtoday.net.nz

REVOLUTIONARY DESIGN EXTENDS AL FRESCO LIVING

A welcome change to outdoor heating If you are looking for a safe, reliable robust and cleanburning patio heater to replace the rusted out, dented, hard to light old thing you might currently own, then look no further than Heatmax NZ’s newest design in radiant outdoor heating.

Constructed of 304 and 316 high grade stainless steel, the cutting edge design, low gas consumption and clean burning nature of the Heatmax HM450 radiant gas heater, makes it the heater of choice for discerning home owners who have spotted it in use in cafes and restaurants across the nation.

Honed to perfection by the grueling demands of the hospitality industry who require that their heaters are easy to light, easy to move, and will operate for many hours unattended, the Heatmax HM450 has piezzo ignition, no pilot light and really goes the distance, with 40 hours of burn time from a 9kg gas bottle.

When approving this heater for use outdoors and under cover, plus indoor commercial use, the Australian Gas Association test laboratory commented on the high output and low input of the HM450. With its efficient gas usage (1/4 that of conventional patio heaters) and an emission level of almost zero, it is a responsible eco friendly choice, conserving both money and fuel and making a minimal environmental impact.

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