Canterbury Today Magazine 125

Issue 125 | April/May 2014

Meet Martin Luff and Danny Squires who’ve brought the genius WikiHouse concept to New Zealand

Returning home

Two years after walking away, what’s it like strolling around the CBD?

White hot sales

Hard earned lessons about empowering a sales team

Keep calm and carry on

Keeping your cool when the heat’s on SAFETY & TRADE SUPPLEMENT INSIDE ISSN 0113-8340 | News | Initiatives | Interviews | Personalities | Success | Profiles | Finance | Property | Sustainability | Export | Transport | Retail | Solutions

Who’s the Boss?

Suing the boss for wrongful dismissal or disadvantage has become a cottage industry in recent times. Managers and business owners are on the backfoot when it comes to discipline or dismissal situations in the workplace beset by baseless and frivolous claims from disgruntled staff looking for some tax free windfall cash.

It’s sad but true that if you are in business and employing people, at some point you can expect to have employment relationship issues and often - a personal grievance. New Zealand’s track record is not good and with no shortage of ‘ambulance chasing’ employment advocates offering workers no win - no fee options, Employers – look out.

The Employer’s justification for discipline or dismissal action is not the problem - it’s the procedure they undertake. Get any part of the process wrong and the Employer comes second in court. The cost of the defence is on the Employer, and generally, losing in the

Employment Court averages at about $35,000 while even a successful defence still costs about $10,000. Either way it’s a lose-lose for the boss.

The real cost on the business - especially the small or medium enterprise can be far greater than the monetary value alone. The expression “It’s business - not personal” doesn’t seem to go very far when faced with an exemployee and their over-zealous representative asking $20,000 for disadvantage because they were made redundant after a downturn in business. It is personal, it is stressful and very distracting to the business as a whole. The boss went into business to make widgets and is very good at this. However they don’t know the complex processes required by law which must be followed to the letter.

When faced with a Personal Grievance the enlightened boss usually bites the bullet and writes the other party a cheque, saving themselves the time, stress, expense and getting back to business sooner.

At Employers Assistance we like to think most issues can be avoided prior to the receipt of the Personal Grievance in the mail. Our aim is to equip the Employer to act fairly

and within the law through education, correct process and tools which starts prior to hiring the employee.

Setting up the employment relationship with staff requires the right Employment Agreement to be correctly implemented. This helps protect the Employer in common dispute situations. Take advice from the experts at Employers Assistance – don’t be disadvantaged from the start; use us, we have the expertise.

Employers Assistance Ltd - the clue’s in the title. We look after Employers, and have done so with passion since 1995. With an extensive nationwide membership base we have been supporting New Zealand business owners, allowing them to focus on what they do best. The team at EAL consists of experienced and qualified employment law experts. We provide businesses with employment law software systems and solutions to take the complication out of the common but tricky areas of employment law.

Be proactive, take care of your core business and let Employers Assistance look after your HR with our Employment Law software; for Employers

by Employers.

EMPLOYMENT LAW SOFTWARE HOW TO DISMISS STAFF Software that will help you manage any and all staff disciplinary issues however minor or serious. Step by step correct discipline and dismissal procedures at the click of your mouse.

The words to use, letters to give and meetings to call ensure the manager follows correct process, acts fairly and within the law to get the desired outcome.

• Simply select the reason that you are dissatisfied with the employee (eg. lateness, misconduct, poor performance...).

• The software then provides you with the steps you need to take to warn and/or dismiss the employee.

• At each step, it gives you comprehensive

explanations of what you need to do, and how to do it.

• All the letters have been written for you, and it gives you the words to use at meetings.

• Extensive help notes.

EMPLOYMENT CONTRACTS CREATOR Up to date compliant Employment Agreement generating software designed with the Employer in mind. Unlimited full or part time, casual or fixed term and contractor agreements are all here at your fingertips. Extensive help files explain what each clause means and the protection it offers the Employer.

R

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IN ONL

Covering the 90 day trial period and the letters to correctly introduce it are provided.

Special offer*

Both software packages for $195.00 - usually $195 each Buy online and download instantly

www.employers.co.nz/software System requirements: PC Windows® XP sp3, Vista, 7, 8

Sign up for our free monthly Employers newsletter and be in to win an HP Slate 7” Extreme Tablet * employers.co.nz/news

*Offer valid until May 31st 2014 Prices inclusive of gst Newsletter signups for HP offer valid until May 31st 2014, one entry per email address

info@employers.co.nz www.employers.co.nz 0800 15 8000

Issue 125 April/May 2014

In this issue...

Viewpoints

Features

In Business

8 The Prime Minister’s desk

14 How valuable is your land?

38 Property & Construction

John Key keeping the nation heading in the right direction

Olly Newland previews what the 2014 real estate market might have in store

8 Money

18 Returning home

Craigs Investment Partners’ Martin FraserAllen says all the talk about the NZX50’s new heights is much ado about rather little

Two years after walking away, what’s it like strolling around the CBD?

Rebuilding assurance – ensuring your new or rebuilt property is watertight, Prestige Brick and Block, 53 Victoria St, No Limit Construction, Karsten Architectural Design, Bushnell Builders, Frame Contracting and Clark Construction

20 Does your brand have a voice?

58 Focus

9 Legal Canterbury Today

Issue 125

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ISSN 0113-8340 (Print) | ISSN 2230-6331 (Online)

15,059 ABC circulation as at 30/06/13

www.magazinestoday.co.nz 4 | April/May 2014 www.canterburytoday.co.nz

A smart, simple way to sort construction sites’ health and safety systems

25 White hot sales Whitehot Jewellery’s Sharron Le Riche shares some hard earned secrets about empowering a sales team

12 Politics

26 Cover story

David shearer says it’s time for power price transparency

Meet Martin Luff and Danny Squires, who’ve brought the genius WikiHouse concept to New Zealand

12 Events diary This is where you find out what’s on near you

29 Ebbs and flows Surviving seasonal fluctuations

30 Getting selective Emma Clarke’s company The Selective turns the marketing paradigm on its head

• Win a HP Slate Extreme Tablet on page 3 • Get free geo-demographic targeting on page 6 • Receive 10% off the unique Salli Chair on page 8 • Get a 10% discount from Prestige Brick & Block on page 43

MediaWorks new broadcasting base

76 Education The Cathedral Grammar School, Rangi Ruru Girls’ School, St Michael’s Church School and Selwyn House

Keeping your cool when the heat’s on

Business consultant Kevin Vincent on the ins and outs of creating a great business plan

Reader rewards in this issue…

72 Media

28 Keep calm and carry on

13 Management

31 On show How to make the most out of expos

32 Lifestyles Everything from gadgets and gizmos to hat stands and baubles

34 Been seen Check out the faces at all the right places

78 90 Hospitality Hurunui River Retreat offers the ideal spot to take time out

92 Goods and Services Signtech, Award Plastics and Displays, and just in time for winter, Central Heating New Zealand

98 Transport and Motoring The new AA Auto Centre Hornby offers west city folks quality car care at a great price

• A free website audit from Treacy Advertising on page 74 • A free night’s accommodation at Hurunui River Retreat on page 91

KNOWLEDGE FOR GROWING BUSINESS SINCE 1985

Disclaimer: This publication is provided on the basis that A-Mark Publishing is not responsible for the results of any actions taken on the basis of information in these articles, nor for any error or omission from these articles and that the firm is not hereby engaged in rendering advice or services.

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 2013 by A-Mark Publishing (NZ) Ltd. All rights reserved. No article or advertisement may be reproduced without written permission.

58

Meet the fabric that’s comfy, wash proof and monitors vital signs

EnaSolar’s Trevor Foster demystifies some of the noise surrounding solar

RR

Homestead Health & Beauty, Goleman Exterior Building Care, PK Engineering, Burnell and Son Transport, Kilmarnock Enterprises and Bookworks’ accounting services

23 Getting work sites sorted

10 Sustainability

ADMINISTRATION

Phone: Fax: Email:

Business coach Leigh Paulden on finding a communications rhythm that’s right for you

Christopher Reid from Stimulus Design talks about beauty vs. usability in website design

Gary Collins

Phone: Fax: Email:

22 Wearable technology

9 Growth

10 Online

MANAGING DIRECTOR

Clive Greenwood Marion Kaglund Melissa Sinclair Peter Loakman Chris Graves Luciana Lovrich Seth Riley

Malley and Co lawyer John Shingleton explains the difference between trial and probationary periods

Inject your individuality into your business to differentiate yourself from the competition

• Get 20% off a service at AA Auto Centre Hornby on page 98

Scan this QR code to check us out at: www.canterburytoday.co.nz

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Your Media Consultant will be able to provide that information if you aren’t aware of it.

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Employees and their immediate families of Academy Publishing, the promoter and agencies associated with any promotion in this publication are ineligible to enter. Winner(s) will be notified by email/phone. The judges’ decision is final, no correspondence will be entered into. No responsibility is accepted for late, lost or misdirected mail. Prizes are not transferable or redeemable for cash. Academy Publishing, the promoter and agencies associated with any promotion in this publication shall not be liable for any loss or damage whatsoever suffered (including but not limited to direct or consequential loss) or personal injury suffered or sustained, during the course of prize winning travel or in connection with any other prizes won. Academy Publishing, the promoter and agencies associated with any promotion in this publication accept no responsibility for health, luggage, insurances, travel, personal expenses and transfers other than specified. Entries remain the property of Academy Publishing, the promoter and agencies associated with any promotion in this publication and cannot be returned. Academy Publishing, the promoter and agencies associated with any promotion in this publication reserves the right to photograph and publish winners. Entries may be used for further marketing purposes by Academy Publishing, the promoter and agencies associated with any promotion in this publication but are not made available to any third party.

This publication is printed on papers supplied by

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C.N.C. MACHINING CO LTD The component creators Twenty seven years in business have seen CNC Machining Co Limited grow into leading supplier of quality manufactured componentry to the New Zealand industry.

The company was formed in 1986 by managing director John Houston, who began as a one man business operating a single machine. Today Houston leads a skilled team of machine operators, who run 14 CNC machines from the company’s modern manufacturing facility in East Tamaki.

CNC Machining does not manufacture any of its own products, but has instead focused on manufacturing componentry for original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) in New Zealand and Australia.

CNC Machining operates 14 CNC machines at its manufacturing facility in East Tamaki

Houston says this deliberate move has resulted in CNC Machining Co growing into a diverse company with a wide range of skills and services.

It offers a CAD design service and computer-aided manufacturing, as well as machining, turning and finishing, all done under strict quality control processes.

“We’ve always tried to be as diverse as possible,” he says. “We started off with one machine and we’ve progressively grown. We’re going to continue rotating and changing direction and adding capabilities.”

Servicing local industry The CNC team works for customers in a wide range of industries, including sport and leisure, and has made components for go-karts, luxury yachts, bicycle pedals, fly wheels, model boats and amusement park rides.

The company has manufactured parts for some of Auckland’s most striking architectural buildings, including dual-purpose tactiles, frameless glass fittings, display stands and architectural sculptures.

Along the way it has developed strong relationships with many producers of dairy equipment and maintains the high quality of machined parts required for the dairy industry. Many of CNC’s partners are also involved in manufacturing equipment to improve productivity in the agricultural industry. The company’s machined partscan be found in water supply systems, chemical distribution and state of the art fruit testing equipment.

It also manufactures electronic housing solutions, from marine power point housing to electronic soil-testing devices. In addition, it supplies stainless steel balustrade fittings to the glass industry, as well as finished plastic mouldings and inserts for mouldings to the plastics industry.

CNC Manufacturing managing director John Houston and production manager Ally Houston

CNC SUPPORTING GLASS

Relationships are the key Houston says the skillset within his company is extensive and the business has continued to grow through difficult economic times.

CNC Machining Co Ltd, established in 1986, has been supplying Stainless Steel Balustrade fittings to the Glass Industry for more than 10 years.

We have recently undertaken the move to holding stock to achieve a faster turnaround on standard fittings.

“One of the biggest mantras we’ve got is our focus on relationships; that is paramount. We have two clients I set up with who have been with me for 27 years and up to 30 who have been with me for 10 years,” he says.

“We stand out from our competitors through our service and relationships.”

CNC Machining Co has developed its own production planning system in house and controls every aspect of its customers’ requirements.

50mm ROUND

Our point of difference is our ability to react to our customer’s needs.

We offer the following: • Choice of Materials. Standoff’s and Caps in both 316ss and 304ss as well as Aliminium and Brass.

Growing the family business

• Blind or Countersunk Face Caps.

CNC Machining Co has employed many members of the Houston family during the years, with the next generation now preparing to take hold of the company’s reigns.

• Choice of Size. Standoff’s of varying lengths from 25mm to 150mm long and in 25mm, 40mm, 50mm, 75mm and 100mm diameters.

50mm SQUARE

Houston is working to diversify the company’s manufacturing capabilities even further before handing the business over to his son Ally Houston, who currently works as production manager.

“The business was originally a vehicle to my retirement in the next four or five years.

Ally has been so integral to the development of the business and we have a succession planned. I’ve had nieces and nephews work here over the years and even my mother-in-law came to work for us once. It’s very much a family business.”

CNC Machining’s range of services includes: • Computer assisted design • Computer aided manufacturing • Machining: turning, chucking, threading, milling, trapping, drilling & material cutting • Bar-fed and twin spindle • Finishing: welding, broaching, powder coating, electroplating, zinc plating, galvanising & anodising • Quality control • Customer service.

50mm FACE FIX

• Choice of Fixing. Timber or Concrete fix.

• Choice of Finish. Satin Finish, Polished, Powder Coated or Lacquered.

• Quick Delivery. Ex stock made to order within 2 weeks.

• Material Certification.

100mm ROUND

• Standard Pricing for ex stock or made to order within 2 weeks.

50mm BLIND FIX

• Cavitiy Sliding Door Handles in Chrome and Satin SS Finish.

• Other Products you don’t need hundreds of?

We can help.

CAVITY SLIDER WITH HIDDEN HANDLE

• New product idea?

We can take from Prototyping to production.

All this... and some!

50mm EXTENDED

CNC Machining Co Limited, 23B Andromeda Crescent, East Tamaki, Auckland Phone (09) 273 2387 Freephone 0800 GO 2 CNC (0800 46 2 262) Email sales@cnc.co.nz www.cnc.co.nz

BEFORE YOU DUCK OFF, READ THIS! Tired of compliance making you feel like you’re chasing your tail feathers?

It is a fact of life that as business owners we have to deal with the day to day grind of compliance. There’s wages, book-keeping, paying bills, invoicing, banking… the list goes on and on. The good news is it doesn’t have to be a grind, yes it still has to be done BUT with just a little mind-shift you can use this data to really leverage your business to greater success.

Looking to grow bigger, brighter and better feathers?

Outsourcing the whole shooting box might be an option too – but we’ll just look at how you can use data already at your fingertips to make sure your business is headed right where you need it.

We remain constantly amazed at how few New Zealand businesses actually know and monitor their “break-even” turnover, that is, that level of turnover when sales are sufficient to meet all the running costs of the business. We have clients who monitor this closely and when the level is met they can know full-well they are in hard-core profit making mode from thereon. It’s amazing how motivating that can be for the business owner and for the staff. If you don’t know your breakeven but want to, then ask your financial advisor, or give us a call at Martz Group – happy to help.

Our next concern is how few businesses review actual trading for the month to a budget. We recommend three budgets (“What?” we hear you scream, “I don’t have one, now you want three?”) Yes three. Firstly a break-even cash-flow and forecast profit and loss and balance sheet, then a likely scenario and then an aggressive desired want to achieve result as well. Interestingly clients who adopt this option invariably do better than the likely scenario (which is Business Development gets a bad rap sometimes. typically last year plus a bit).

There are business coaches who unwittingly mistake activity for profitability so you end up working harder and faster and Another eyes-wide-open tool available to you is benchmarking. Comparing your trading and frankly not making any more money as a result. It can happen! operating results against those of your peers in the same industry type. It doesn’t need to be a microscopic analysis, just a good broad look-over to confirm what you’re doing well and Carefully planned Business Development should focus on the four ways to where you are showing signs for improvement. This data can be readily available grow a business; Getting more customers of the kind you want; getting the from most financial advisors, again we’d be happy to do an customers back more often; increasing prices or margins and being more effective analysis for you. in the business processes and systems. When these are achieved in a calculated way the path to growing more profits is much smoother.

Other tools in Business Development include trends analysis in your business, cashflow forecasting, showing where the money came from (and went), business valuations, succession/exit/ extract plans for when you eventually want out, wealth creating and planning for a more holistic lifestyle.

Actively grooming a business for sale can reap enormous rewards. It maximises your sale price and makes for the smoothest of transitions, yet so few people plan for this to happen.

When you’re serious about developing your business you need a coach and a mentor, and they have very different roles. Both are invaluable for your business. We maintain that an investment in those sorts of services should reap at least a 3:1 return. There is no one size fits all strategy to business. Every business has its own idiosyncrasies and so any schedule of planned development needs to be individually tailored to your own needs. Make sure this happens when you’re investing in developing your business.

Getting the team to fly together.

There’s only one thing worse than having to deal with an unmotivated, unwilling and uncooperative team member… and that is doing nothing about it!

Teams and firm culture are as individual as the businesses they work for. A commitment to structured training and open feedback systems can ensure your business reaps the best of all worlds possible.

Motivation is essential in any business, from the bottom to the top. Typically we find it percolates from the top yet too many businesses have a less than enthusiastic owner or manager(s) and then wonder why the staff all follow a similar pattern. As business owners and senior managers you need to be constantly motivated, but who motivates the motivator when the motivator needs motivating?

There are courses you can go on, but who has the time? Why not introduce a regular pep session with an external facilitator? It will provide much needed team cohesion, can provide a reinforcement of the preferred team culture as well as just be loads of fun! There’s never too much fun in business we reckon.

Tailored programmes for training and team development aren’t even as pricey as you might think. If you’d like to know a bit more we’d love to have a face to face, telephone or Skype meeting with you.

Oh and time spent on the team is totally tax deductible.

At Martz Group we pride ourselves on having the discipline of Chartered Accounting blended with the creativity of Business Development all stirred in with the panache of Professional Speaking. If you’re looking for a second guess or just wanting to check us out, you’re most welcome!

P F E W

0800 389 0777 03 389 0771 info@martz.co.nz www.martz.co.nz

martz

group

PO Box 13-010 Armagh Christchurch 8141 New Zealand

your professional speaker business developer chartered accountant

Viewpoints | The PM's desk/Money

Heading in the right direction

By Rt Hon John Key, Prime Minister

On September 20, New Zealanders go to the polls in a general election.

National will be campaigning strongly on offering stable government for another term, with an unrelenting focus on the issues that matter to New Zealanders.

I believe we’ve made good progress this term after laying the foundations in the first term, and we plan to continue that good progress over the next three years should we get the privilege of governing again.

This term we have four main priorities.

These are to responsibly manage the Government’s finances, build a more competitive and productive economy to deliver more jobs and higher incomes, deliver better public services within ongoing budgetary constraints, and continue to support the rebuilding of Christchurch.

During the last two terms we have managed the economy through difficult times following the Global Financial Crisis.

We have set a path back to surplus after borrowing to take the rough edges off the impacts of the Global Financial Crisis and the domestic recession on vulnerable New Zealanders.

We have also worked hard to achieve a remarkable turnaround in the Government’s books with the latest forecasts showing a budget surplus in the next financial year – 2014-15.

We have guided not just the economy well, but also real results in areas that New Zealanders and their families care about – for example in law and order, education and health.

We have set up a process called Better Public Services to drive better results in 10 tangible, measurable result areas.

Welfare dependency is reducing, and we have increased the proportion of 18-yearolds achieving NCEA Level 2 or equivalent qualification.

These targets are deliberately challenging and were chosen to make a meaningful difference to the lives of all New Zealanders, with a particular focus on the most

8 | April/May 2014 www.canterburytoday.co.nz

vulnerable and hard-to-solve problems, such as supporting vulnerable children.

The National-led Government has also concentrated heavily on lifting the productivity and competitiveness of the New Zealand economy.

We’ve pulled together some 350 separate initiatives into the Business Growth Agenda, which has six focus areas.

These are export markets, capital markets, innovation, skilled and safe workplaces, natural resources and infrastructure.

As we approach the election in September, National will be progressively rolling out a range of new policies.

In January we announced a new education investment of $359 million over the next four years to lift achievement of students at school.

We are doing this through an initiative to recognise excellent teachers and principals, keep good teachers in the classroom and share expertise across schools for the benefit of our children.

When is a record not really a record?

Martin Fraser-Allen is an advisor at Craigs Investment Partners. Visit www.craigsip.com

Recently the NZX50 index rose above 5,000 points for the first time. This was heralded as a new record high and received a fair amount of media attention.

The NZX itself even put out a market announcement stating that the NZX50 had reached an all-time high. At first glance this would all suggest our market has regained all of the lost ground from the difficult 20072009 period, surpassing the previous market peak and pushed on to an all-time high.

However, we must point out that the NZX50, our key index, is different to many of the other benchmark indices across the world in one important way.

The NZX50 is a “gross” index, which means it includes dividends (although not the imputation credits attached to them), as well as taking into account the change in share prices.

To do that, we’re introducing four new roles in our schools – Executive Principal, Expert Teacher, Lead Teacher and Change Principal.

Many of the commonly quoted indices offshore, such as the S&P500 in the US, the ASX200 in Australia and the FTSE100 in the UK are “capital” indices. This means they reflect only the change in share prices, while ignoring dividends.

It’s just these sorts of policies that will make a difference in New Zealand, and as we approach the election we will have more to say on the issues that matter to New Zealanders.

We agree with this logic in principle, because the NZ market has always been a very high-dividend paying market compared with international markets, where dividends are much lower.

However, MMP elections are always close, and we will be taking nothing for granted as we campaign for another three-year term to keep the country heading in the right direction.

Much of the return from NZ shares has historically come from dividends, while US share investors, for example, get a greater proportion of their return from rising share prices.

John Key was elected Prime Minister of the National led Government at the 2008 general election. He also became Minister of Tourism, Minister responsible for Ministerial Services, Minister in charge of the New Zealand Security Intelligence Service, and Minister responsible for the Government Communications Security Bureau. He led National to a second victory in the 2011 election, achieving 47 percent of the party vote, which was the highest vote ever for a single party under the MMP system.

However, this does mean that we need to be wary of such rhetoric and also of comparisons with overseas indices. When we make performance comparisons between different sharemarkets we always try to add dividends to indices such as the S&P500 to ensure our comparisons are “apples with apples”.

We also need to exclude dividends when we are looking at local shares and considering whether they are indeed at an all time high.

We can’t easily do this for the NZX50 index due to data availability, although we can

look at the NZX All index, which is very similar aside from the fact that it comprises 114 NZX listed companies, rather than just the top 50.

The headline NZX50 and NZX All indices are both well above the 2007 peak (16.2 percent and 21.9 percent above respectively), and are indeed at record highs. But when we consider the NZX All capital index, which excludes dividends and only reflects changes in share prices (as most overseas indices do), we get a very different picture.

In this case, the NZ market is still 13.5 percent below the heady levels of 2007 and it is far from being at an all-time high.

In practical terms, most investors should have recovered their losses from the 2007-09 periods in the wake of the global financial crisis (GFC), but only because of the income they have collected along the way. In most cases, share prices are still some way off the highs of several years ago.

In fact, this is the case for most markets around the world. With the exception of the US, which has powered ahead in recent times to genuine all-time highs, and the UK market, which has only just regained its 2007 peak, many others are well below those levels.

Australia is still some 21 percent below its 2007 peak, while European and emerging market shares are more than 15 percent off their highs.

Our market has been an excellent performer during recent years and we should be proud that our key sharemarket index reflects this strength by pushing through the 5000 zone.

We can also probably take some comfort that as share prices are still some 13 percent below the high levels of 2007, we are certainly not in overheated territory, despite appearing to be at a “record high” at first glance.

For Investment Advice please contact Martin Fraser-Allen, Investment Adviser at Craigs Investment Partners Christchurch branch, by phoning 0800 272 442 or visit www.craigsip. com for more information. Mark Lister is Head of Private Wealth Research at Craigs Investment Partners. His disclosure statement is available free of charge under his profile on www.craigsip.com. This column is general in nature and should not be regarded as specific investment advice.

Viewpoints | Legal/Growth

Trial period or probationary period, what's the difference?

Finding a communications rhythm Leigh Paulden is the only Gazelles International certified business coach in New Zealand.

Visit www.advancing-businesses.co.nz

John Shingleton is a partner and general manager at Malley & Co Lawyers. Visit www.malley.co.nz

A proper employment contract is important to protect both employers and new employees alike.

Since April 1, 2011, all employers can employ new staff on a trial period of up to 90 days. This article explains the differences between this 90-day trial period and a probationary period.

90-day trial periods There are a few myths surrounding the 90day trial regime.

First, the sky did not fall on our collective heads as predicted by the unions and second, it is not a “fire at will” regime as stated by certain politicians. Rather, the regime provides employers with a number of immunities if they strictly follow the law.

There is further evidence that the regime has contributed to the steady decline in unemployment and the Employment Relations Authority and Employment Courts have adopted a very strict interpretation of the legislation.

Trial periods are governed by ss.67A and 67B of the Employment Relations Act 2000 (“the Act”). An employer and employee can agree that the employee will be on a trial period for up to 90 days as long as: The employee has not been employed by the employer before The employment agreement includes written provisions stipulating that the employee is subject to a trial period, and that during the trial period the employee can be dismissed and cannot take a personal grievance or legal action against the dismissal.

However, an employer can still be liable if it disadvantages an employee in their employment or fails to act in good faith or give a reason for the dismissal, if an explanation is sought, or discriminates in breach of the Human Rights Act. The leading case so far is Smith v Stokes Valley Pharmacy Ltd [2010]. In that case Chief Judge Colgan said that because the effect of the regime was to deprive employees from access to justice, the provisions had to be strictly interpreted.

He then identified a specific series of steps to be complied with cumulatively and held that failure to comply with any of these steps may disqualify an employer from the trial period immunities.

These steps are: • Written reference to a 90-day trial period • That during the trial period the employee can be dismissed • The employee cannot bring a personal grievance or other legal proceedings against the dismissal.

The Employment Relations Authority has since consistently applied the Chief Judge’s decision.

Probationary periods A probationary period should not be confused with a 90-day trial period.

A probationary period is a period of employment whereby an employee is subject to a trial of sorts but not under the provisions of ss.67A and 67B of the Act. This means the employer is not immune to a personal grievance of unjustified dismissal.

A probationary period also means the employee is entitled to feedback regarding his or her performance and if the employer breaches any contractual duties to the extent it’s reasonably foreseeable the employee could resign, then the employer could face a constructive dismissal claim.

If an employer is unhappy with the performance of an employee on probation, then the employer cannot terminate the employment without following a fair procedure or justification as defined in the Act. Although the period of probation is not limited to 90 days, the employer must act fairly, reasonably and in good faith.

Trial periods vs. probationary periods Sometimes an employee is simply not the right fit. Other times, the employee’s performance is not reflective of what their CV might indicate. Therefore, when asked, I always advise employers to consider a statutory 90-day trial period rather than a probationary period, or outright immediate permanent employment.

When terminating employment pursuant to the 90-day trial provision, the employer must ensure not only they advise the employee in writing that their employment is terminated pursuant to the 90-day trial provisions, but that they give the employee the correct notice period.

Finally, an employer must not forget to ensure they act in good faith when terminating the employment. If an employee asks why they are being dismissed then it is important to tell the employee the true reason.

A number of employers tell the employee anyway even if not asked. In my view that is good management practice.

For many, the Gazelles Rockefeller Habits form the basis of the successful strategies that help align your growing workforce around solving its most important problems.

The third habit on the list is around communication and accountability. This fundamental element of success is so often a stumbling block; so how do you ensure a solid communication rhythm is established and information moves through your organisation accurately and quickly?

The faster a company wants to grow, the faster it has to exchange meaningful messages that get the right information to the right people.

For an executive team, this means a rhythm of well run meetings to effectively keep you in touch with people across all levels of the company, ensuring everyone stays focused on what is important. It’s also a chance for every employee to measure their own progress and observe the progress of others.

Successful companies use an effective communications rhythm of daily, weekly, monthly, quarterly, and annual meetings to maintain alignment and drive accountability.

Find a rhythm that works for your company and stick to it; consistency is key.

The Rockefeller Communications Rhythm Daily The daily meeting is an imperative for growth firms. It’s run from the bottom up so that management can see where their support is required in removing bottle necks to achieve what is important and receive customer data.

The daily meeting is 7-15 minutes long.

It should be held at the same time each day and it is best to set it at an odd time, 11.07am for example. The odd time seems to stop people turning up late. Stand-up, don’t sit-down for the meeting. The meeting will drag if people are seated.

By reporting only the facts and figures, with no accompanying discussion, there is the ability to spot patterns, identify trends or roadblocks and see where people need assistance.

The meetings are run by the team, allowing them to share where they are getting stuck and to ask for support. Meetings of this type speed up execution and identify areas where discussion is needed so it can be added to weekly and monthly meeting agendas.

The structure for the meeting is to go round the room and ask each person the following questions: • What’s worked, gone well for you in the last 24 hours, about your activities, your accomplishments or noteworthy news from a customer?

• What did not work for you in the last 24 hours - based on your role or customer feedback?

• Where are you stuck at present? Where’s the bottleneck? What can be done about it?

• Where are you at according to your KPIs or current goals?

• What is your number one priority for today?

Weekly The weekly meeting is a tactical meeting and should be 30 – 60 minutes. Have everyone share one good news story from the past week. This counters negativity.

Review weekly activities and metrics, go over the company critical numbers and everyone’s individual or team weekly measures of productivity. Here are some tips: • Don’t get caught up in conversation, just report the numbers • Don’t set agenda until after initial reporting • Resolve tactical obstacles and issues • One word close — go around the room and let everyone say a word that represents how they feel at that moment about the meeting • Keep a log of who said they would do what and when • Postpone strategic discussions to the monthly meeting.

Monthly This meeting is strategic and should take two to four hours, each month. In this meeting discuss, analyse, brainstorm and decide upon critical issues affecting long-term success.

• Limit the meeting to one or two topics • Prepare and do research where required • Engage in good conflict to gain commitment on the decision.

Quarterly and Annually These meetings are usually an off-site review and will last one to two days. The purpose is to review strategy, industry trends, competitive landscape, key personnel and team development.

In the quarterly review set your next quarter’s priorities and critical numbers.

Annually also review your three year and one year priorities and set your first quarter priorities and critical numbers.

Three key reasons meetings do not work: • There is no meeting rhythm with a purpose of each meeting not being clear • The company has no clear direction and strategy for the team to align to • There are no metrics, critical numbers to measure progress against.

To download a full list of the 10 Rockefeller Habits, visit www.advancing-businesses. co.nz/rockefeller-habits

www.canterburytoday.co.nz April/May 2014 | 9

Viewpoints | Online/Sustainability

Beauty vs. usability finding the balance in website design

Demystifying the noise surrounding solar

Christopher Reid is the managing director of branding, design, advertising and promotion agency, Stimulus Design.

Visit www.stimulusdesigns.co.nz

“One Mississippi, two Mississippi,” that’s how long your webpage has to make a good first impression!

It’s also how long it takes before users navigate away if that first impression misses the mark.

So how can you make sure you capture your audience’s attention within those crucial two seconds?

It’s all about achieving the balance between beauty and usability, you don’t have to sacrifice one for the other.

How to make your website visually engaging?

A far cry from the text-based web pages of the 1990s, websites now rely heavily on graphics. However, there is still a subtle balance to be achieved between the use of text and graphics.

The use of eye-tracking technology has provided fantastic insights into our eye movements; that is, where we look and for how long. And the research indicates our eyes are still drawn to text.

However, graphics should be used first to attract the user, and to support the text on the page.

Make sure your photos do you justice Be aware that sometimes amateur photos can bring the overall look of your site down. Professional photos will convey the right message to your audience – that your business is well-established, trustworthy and reputable.

Make it an enjoyable read Your choice of font, its size, alignment, colour and spacing, all contribute to the readability of your text. Cramped text is off-putting and poorly aligned text can look messy.

Some colours can be hard to read, whereas the use of contrasting colours can help to reduce eyestrain and focus attention.

Good typography also creates a visual hierarchy to guide your audience to important content by using larger fonts for headings and opening paragraphs, content dividers and effective combinations of imagery and text.

Stay true to your brand Your brand’s image, look and feel should always be consistent. Your customers like to feel they are in a familiar place. Reduce confusion by connecting the colours and fonts on your website to those used in your logo and other brand elements.

How to ensure your website is user-friendly Don’t get too fancy With so much technology available, and most of it pretty affordable, it’s tempting to add all the bangs and whistles to your website.

However, too many flashing images, animations, pop-ups and automatically playing multimedia are all listed as things people hate the most about web browsing.

Keep the navigation simple yet varied Your website does not stand alone; it’s part of the World Wide Web and as such it’s worth adopting certain conventions – including, familiar navigation. Website users are used to navigating business websites in a particular way. Stray too far from the conventions and you may drive your customers away.

Your navigation design should also offer a variety of ways to get to the same place.

The idea is to provide an easy and intuitive experience for people to search for information.

Don’t be afraid of space Think about where you place content on your page and use adequate space between sections. This will allow the design to ‘breathe,’ which is important for both the aesthetics and usability of your website.

Eye-tracking studies indicate that the top-left corner of a webpage gets visual attention first. Following this, our eyes follow an F-shape – scanning the page from left to right, then in a downwards direction. This is repeated, and then we scroll to the bottom.

Using this knowledge, place important information where users are most likely to absorb it.

There’s no reason why websites can’t be beautiful and usable. Is yours?

Trevor Foster is the general manager at EnaSolar.

Visit www.enasolar.net

So you want to save money on your electricity bill! We all do, but equally as important, we want to have security of the cost and not over invest.

We hear and see election issues around solar affordability, scale and government making statements, all talking the same stuff – yes, but not really. Phew… it all becomes confusing - so how do we make a decision! Who is right?

I will do my best to simplify all the noise to give you enough understanding so you can see all the facts more clearly and in English.

Dealing with the noise Generally speaking, today we have a centralised mass distribution structure whereby we buy all electricity from the grid in one form, or another, and this is supplied to each and every home.

Residential PV solar is opposite to that, because it then shifts to a decentralised mass self-generated structure and moves some control back to the consumer. The utilities are not in favour of this, as it may have a direct impact on profits because under a self-generated mass residential scale, and we (all householders that have PV solar), will simply buy less from the grid.

The utilities argue they need the mass revenue to keep the infrastructure in place and maintained. The question becomes one of how much profit is enough.

This brings me back to the noise factor of when I hear ‘authorities’ say solar PV is questionable. I challenge them to see if they have taken into account how today Solar PV can support up 66 percent of electricity consumption and requirements due to the latest technological advances and massive reductions in cost.

Even installation cost is significantly managed and reduced by preparing your home for solar when renovating, or as in Christchurch, with rebuilds and new homes.

term for solar panels and PV means photo-voltaic.

Grid Tied means it is connected to the grid, which is good because the grid acts as a backup when there is zero irradiance, for example, at night. Irradiance (not heat from the sun) is required, and this hits the PV panels and creates DC (direct current).

We need to convert the DC to AC (alternating current) so we can use it to run our appliances and heat our hot water element in the home.

The technology that does the conversion is called an inverter. The inverter is the brain and ideally has no moving parts, except isolation switches that are best built into the inverter.

The only other technology is an export meter (supplied to you by your utilities), so they may give you a credit on your bill for any AC you send them. Having technology that reports the systems performance is also very valuable, as this will give you security to any warranty and simply brings comfort and security to the asset, cost, payback and quality.

The question of quality, feed-in tariffs, subsidies and credit offerings and all the pros and cons will be covered in details next issue.

However here is something to consider.

If you put $10,000 in the bank, you may get back a net of six percent. If you invest that same into solar PV, you can expect to get between nine percent and 12 percent ROI on the same money.

As a nation that has an abundance of available renewable energy production resources, we should continue to build on this reputation with mass self-generation renewable energy without penalty or restriction, whether to save cost or for green purposes.

Either way, if you have PV solar you will be making a difference to your electricity bill each and every month.

See you next issue!

Understanding the technology: Let’s stay simple here: Solar PV = Solar electricity for your home use. PV is a short

Singapore Airlines congratulates United Travel Ferrymead on 20 Years!

Singapore Airlines departs daily from Chirstchurch direct to Singapore and on to Asia, Europe, Middle East, Africa and beyond. Experience Singapore Airlines’ exquisite dining choices, in-flight entertainment options and world-class service.

10 | April/May 2014 www.canterburytoday.co.nz

Rebranding of Funeral Firm The name Geoffrey Hall has been synonymous with funerals for over 35 years as part of Christchurch and the wider Canterbury area.

We have recently refurbished the Rangiora Chapel and have made improvements to our Papanui office and viewing rooms in Langstone Lane. Along with these changes we are now rebranding and have a new name.

“As my grandmother would say, ‘why reinvent the wheel?’ I am not reinventing the wheel, just changing the tyres,” says Geoffrey Hall.

“The misspelling of Geoffrey has always been a problem through my life. I am often spelt with a J or missing an F or an E or O etc.

It doesn’t worry me personally, but it does worry Google and www.undertaker.co.nz.” The easier it is to search my name, the better.

HALL is simple and easy to spell.

Today’s age requires IT management and we have funeral arrangements online amongst a load of other options and information.

Visit us on www.undertaker.co.nz. We also have a freecalling word number 0800 Undertaker 86 33 78, which is handy for cellphones and the various toll cells that surround Canterbury. Skype facilities are offered, and both the Linwood and Harewood Crematorium have a marvelous ‘One Room’ broadcast system anywhere in the world through the Internet. And we are eco-friendly.

2 Langstone Lane, Papanui

12 High St. Rangiora

Geoffrey Hall

Heather Fuller (nee Graham)

B.I.E DIP. London

NZFD DIP.

Tim Jeenes OPS Manager

Our staff remains the same, with Heather completing her Diploma in Funeral Directing last year, and Tim Jeenes, a keen golfer, the day-to-day Operations Manager. It is interesting that the three of us attended Burnside High School (different years of course!).

Hall & Co. offer a full range of services, from all three locations, Christchurch, Rangiora, and Ashburton, whether a simple direct cremation, to lifestyle farewells. “Really whatever the family wishes.”

The Funeral Service.

A funeral service is important for two reasons. Firstly it gives people a chance to share their feelings while being supported by family, friends and others in the community who have known the person who has died. As well, it is an opportunity to celebrate his or her life, to share memories: the good times; the funny moments; favourite music; unique contributions they made; and to hear tributes and stories from people of all ages. It’s good to make opportunities for children to be involved in some way if they have been part of the person’s life.

CHRISTCHURCH 379-0178 | RANGIORA 313-6948 | ASHBURTON 308-1121 ALL LOCATIONS FREEPHONE 0800 Undertaker (0800 86 33 78) | VISIT US ONLINE WWW.UNDERTAKER.CO.NZ

Viewpoints | Politics/Events

It's time for power price transparency

EVENTS DIARY

What’s happening on the business and entertainment front FRIDAY, APRIL 4-6

TUESDAY, APRIL 15

The Food Show

David Shearer is the Labour Party spokesman for energy and foreign affairs.

We all need to know where our money’s going, and even more so when we’re running a business.

It’s one thing to have rising power prices: some people have reported to me that their bills are going up 21 percent this year, and that’s rough news to receive just prior to winter.

The bills should also be standardised so we can see price changes from one billing period to the next, and they’ll be standardised across companies too – so we can compare, say, a Mercury bill with a Contact bill.

These new, transparent bills will also tell us how much of the energy we’ve used came from renewable sources.

But it’s downright frustrating when you can’t get a straight answer about why the increases are necessary and where they’re coming from.

Doug Heffernan, CEO of Mighty River Power, said at select committee recently that he too is sick of the confusion about who is responsible for rising power prices.

Transpower, the monopoly government agency that controls our grid, has racked up its prices to the local lines companies that supply customers their power. This despite making a 117 percent record profit increase over the last six months and paying sizeable dividends to the government.

He said, “I am heartily sick of it, I’m absolutely up to the gills in it – which is why I’m saying, separate the bloody bills.

I can’t cause that to happen – only policy can do that. Separate the bills and be done with it, quickly.”

On top of that, each component of our power industry is blaming the others for the rises to customers, saying ‘hey, it’s not our fault’ while many quietly pocket a proportion of the increases.

In short, Kiwis are being stung by a system that allows power companies to hide increased prices and profits. It’s a cynical blame game that Energy Minister Simon Bridges is happy to defend.

That’s why I’ve drafted a Private Members’ Bill to provide clarity around electricity prices.

So whether balancing a household budget or running a business, customers should finally be able to get accurate information.

Heffernan wants bills to be split in two, with consumers getting one invoice for the energy charges and another for the lines charges.

I agree with the sentiment – we both want greater clarity – but I don’t think getting two separate bills is necessarily the answer.

Instead, we just need proper transparency in our one bill.

That way, we can all keep abreast of what’s happening with our household and business budgets, we’ll know where any increases are coming from and we can hold our power companies and lines companies accountable.

I want to see transparent billing, with all the various cost unbundled, so we can all see where our money is going.

That way, when prices rise, we’ll be able to see why and who’s responsible.

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For more information, visit: www.foodshow.co.nz

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TUESDAY, APRIL 15

WEDNESDAY, APRIL 9 Excellent Administrator

This half day workshop with help administrators develop practical skills including communication skills, meeting management, business writing, problem solving and time management. Learn how to write effective, accurate and concise business documents including letters, memos and meeting minutes. This course is designed for Intermediate administrators and administration assistants.

To register, visit: www.cecc.org.nz

WEDNESDAY, APRIL 9

Residential Rental Property Seminars This early evening seminar covers vital information for residential rental property owners including income, deductible expenses, depreciation, record keeping and filing. Run by the IRD this seminar is best suited to people planning to purchase a residential rental property.

To book email: Advisory.Christchurch@ird.govt.nz

Building Businesses of International Quality This course offers free insights and practical advice on how to grow your business. It identifies growth opportunities, identify issues businesses struggle with and get practical solutions.

To register, visit: www.theicehouse.co.nz

WEDNESDAY, APRIL 23 Employer Workshop This interactive workshop is designed for sole traders and small business owners.

Participates will learn how to complete a mock monthly wage summary, calculate PAYE and file your employer monthly returns online. It covers deductions and allowances, record keeping requirements, completing monthly wage records and completing mock employer monthly schedule and deduction forms.

To book email: Advisory.Christchurch@ird.govt.nz

TUESDAY, MAY 6-7

SATURDAY, APRIL 12

Marketing Fundamentals

Akaroa Harvest Festival

The third annual Akaroa Harvest Festival celebrates food, diversity, creativity and its reputation as a regional food bowl. Stalls include award winning products like olive oil, wine, beef and lamb, preserves, nuts, seafood along with French crepes and Barry’s Bay cheeses. The day will also include a cake auction to raise money for the Akaroa Hospital rebuild; cakes will be made by celebrity chefs including Peter Gordon and Richard Till.

For more information, visit: www.akaroa.com

Want to learn how to deliver full impact, enticing and powerful communications for print or online? Then this is the course is for you.

This two day course teaches you how to apply key marketing principles and concepts to your business or organisation, develop products that customers actually need or want and understand how to solve your customers' problems. Ideally suited for those promoted to a marketing position, but haven’t had previous experience, owners of SMEs managing their own marketing, people working in non-marketing roles but work closely with marketers and in customer service roles.

To register, visit: www.marketing.org.nz

Richard P Gee • Seminars • Coaching

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12 | April/May 2014 www.canterburytoday.co.nz

Viewpoints | Management

Business planning tips

Kevin Vincent is a director of business improvement consultants Vincent and Nugent Limited. Visit www.vincentnugent.co.nz

A business plan will greatly enhance your business’ chance of success but before you write it, you need to plan it. A good business plan is in effect the development, evaluation and implementation of carefully considered business strategies.

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Remember, the purpose of your plan is not to impress the reader with the depth and extent of your knowledge, but to focus on the key elements of the plan and make your case as succinct and as straight forward as possible. A 10 to 15 page plan is almost always better than a 50 or 100 page epistle.

Having a Tipi is a beautiful, practical and versatile choice for hosting any type of event; whether it’s an intimate party, an enchanting wedding, a spectacular corporate event or a chilled out festival.

Good business plans will deliver: • Satisfaction to shareholders • Meeting of expectations of customers (and distribution channels) • Systems that operate smoothly and efficiently • Employees with unified commitment who are passionate, highly skilled and motivated • Economic surplus and robust advantages.

Most directors, owners or investors have a mental checklist of maybe five or six specific points that they look for in a business plan.

My suggestions for building your plan to meet the mental “check list” points are as follows: 1. Begin with a blank sheet of A3 paper and as a first step start with clarifying the vision.

Where is it that you desire to be? What is your end goal? What is your considered “arrival point”?

2. Next, focus on the building blocks of the plan. I like to use Kaplan and Norton’s Balanced Scored Card as my template.

Draw four boxes: Learning and growth - to achieve our vision, how will we sustain our ability to change? Internal processes - to satisfy our shareholders and customers, what business processes must we excel at?

Customer - to achieve our vision, how should we appear to our customers? Financial - to succeed financially, how should we appear to our shareholders?

One of the more difficult aspects of writing a good business plan is effectively dealing with problems or weaknesses - and every business has them.

Draw a S.W.O.T matrix in one corner of your sheet (strengths and weaknesses, opportunities and threats). Write down how you can leverage off your strengths, how you can minimise or eliminate your weaknesses, how can you exploit opportunities and mitigate threats.

Match strengths with opportunities and convert weaknesses into strengths.

“

One of the more difficult aspects of writing a good business plan is effectively dealing with problems or weaknesses - and every business has them.

3. Legal issues. Investors today are very conscious of potential legal problems that may be lurking around the corner. If they like your plan they will conduct their own due diligence but the time to address any potential legal problems is during the plan review.

Here are some questions to ask yourself if you’re not sure: • Was your product developed while you were employed somewhere else?

• Are there any potential employment contracts or non-compete conflicts?

• Is there any possible patent infringement?

• Are there any disgruntled former employee(s) who could sue your company?

• Is there clear ownership of your product or service?

4. Assessment of risks. Risks are different than weaknesses in that they deal with the future and are normally outside the realm of your business. What market forces could prevent your plan from being successful in the future?

I use a simple matrix called P.E.S.T for this exercise. So possible risks in political, environmental, sociological or technological areas should be included and appropriate actions identified to mitigate.

Finally, having collated and considered the data collected it is time to put it in writing.

This document serves to describe your business’s future, what you plan to do, how you will do it and when.

A good plan usually incorporates the following components:

Executive summary

”

Within the overall outline of the business plan, the executive summary will follow the title page. The summary should tell the reader what you want.

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Business description. Describe the business, its product and/or service and the markets it will serve. It should state what will be sold, to whom and why the business will hold a competitive advantage.

Financial features. Highlight the important financial points of the business including sales, profits, cashflows and return on investment.

Financial requirements. Clearly states the capital needed to expand. It should detail how the capital will be used, and the equity, if any, that will be provided for funding. If the loan for initial capital will be based on security instead of equity, you should also specify the source of collateral.

Current business position. This will provide relevant information about the company, its legal form of operation, when it was formed, the principal owners and key personnel.

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Key success factors. Detail any developments within the company that are essential to the success of the business.

Milestones including items like patents, prototypes, location of a facility, contracts that need to be in place or results from any test marketing that has been conducted.

Support your plan with a one page interactive spreadsheet based on the planned balanced score card factors. You have a greater chance to get, if you just measure what you want.

www.kiwitipi.co.nz facebook.com/kiwitipi www.canterburytoday.co.nz April/May 2014 | 13

News | Property

Property outlook for 2014

By Olly Newland

In this article I will take the plunge and make my forecasts for the year ahead. So much news has been coming from all quarters of late that forecasting is a dangerous game, but not to try is avoiding the issue.

The actions of the Reserve Bank I have written several times on the previous actions of the Reserve Bank, and I along with many others just wonder what goes on behind the walls in that hallowed institution.

The LVR restrictions will drag down some low deposit buyers, but I remain at a loss to see how in the long term these restrictions will be beneficial.

One good thing that may happen if the restrictions do bite, is to cramp the style of the Johnny-come–lately spruikers who promise fabulous wealth, no money down, pay off your mortgage, or free advice deals when all but the totally foolish know that there are no free lunches.

As I write this the reserve bank has announced that personal loans and credit cards no longer have to be taken into account when calculating 20 percent deposits. This means that effectively the LVR rules have been watered down to almost nothing. Anyone with too smaller deposit can top up with personal loans, second mortgages, or credit cards.

Interest rates From all sides bleating economists keep calling for the Reserve Bank to increase the cash rate from its current 2.5 percent.

Their calls are backed by breathless journalists whose job is to create a fresh shock-horror headline every day of the week without real research.

another 0.25 percent later. Beyond that would be hard to forecast.

promises, threats and accusations drift away or are watered down.

It would be an extraordinary move as NZ would then be the first country in the world to raise interest rates. With Europe in the doldrums, Australia likely to cut rates and the US just lifting, and Japan and China still very benign, it’s going to get very interesting as the NZ dollar risks going through the roof as a result.

So it will be business as usual for experienced investors and may indeed, create bargains for the canny as the naïve panic and rush to the exists.

In any event if the cash rate is increased by a quarter or a half percent the banks seem to have priced that into their lending rates already. What with competition and borrower resistance it wouldn’t surprise me at all, if actual mortgage rates stayed more or less where they are at present.

Of course the building industry would take a knock as buyers hesitate so expect some howls from that quarter. Any interest rate rise will be done more for shock value then effectiveness.

It could well force the market to hesitate, but I believe given a month or two, it will be business a usual.

Also note that a paper-thin inflation rate as we have at present risks deflation - the ugly brother of inflation.

If you think inflation is bad, deflation is a 100 time worse. The slightest knock to the economy could spiral into deflation and aggressive interest rate rises could be just be the catalyst needed.

Maybe one good thing will come out of it all; if interest rates rise, more and more people will choose renting as the cheaper option.

Politics Normally I avoid getting into politics but it can’t be ignored in the present market, especially as the heat and light generated by the rising market cannot be ignored as it is a very major topic of discussion.

This is election year and for better or worse the next 10 months will be filled with rhetoric, accusations, threats, wild promises, bribes and exaggerations. This has a destabilising effect on the market- any market in fact - so cool heads are needed.

I have been through at least 20 elections as I recall and it has always been the same. Who Be careful what you wish for. If rates are increased I would imagine it would be by as ever gets into power immediately becomes little as 0.25 percent to start with and maybe sober, serious and conservative and all the

Olly Newland

Property Consultant Impartial, expert guidance

For an obligation-free session with Olly, call: 0800 66 22 80 14 | April/May 2014 www.canterburytoday.co.nz

been steadily dropping. Properties, that a few years ago would be hard pressed to return a 10 percent yield now sell for sub five percent yields.

In other words investors are paying more and more for the same rental returns.

Commercial property

Summary

As we know commercial property (shops, offices, factories) run on quite different rules from residential.

All the signs say this will be a good year for the economy and this in turn must flow into the property market.

A house is worth the same whether rented out or not. The value is influenced mainly by position and condition. Not so with commercial property.

The economy continues to be buoyant compared to other developed countries due to our increasing exports of food based products.

The value of any commercial property is seriously effected one way or the other by:

This in turn is encouraging immigration and a feeling of confidence among consumers which in turn improves the economy even further. The result is that the economy however, is becoming more and more Auckland centric, as jobs increasingly move to Auckland which attracts more yet still.

• Rent received • Length of lease • Strength of tenant • Terms of lease • Position • Condition of property • Earthquake risk • Configuration • Contamination • Guarantees • Number of tenants • Zoning - and many more as well.

It is quite possible to have two identical commercial properties side by side with the same rental returns but to have a 100 percent difference in value simply because one has more advantages. Simply put, investors are prepared to pay very much more for the right combination.

Therefore with the right advice it is quite feasible to pay, for example, $500,000 for a commercial property, and with a stroke of the pen and some sensible negotiation double the value to $1million without spending any more money - just some patience and good advice.

Nothing to do with inflation or luck - all to do with doing your homework first and not guessing or hoping for the best.

Because interest rates have been low, the returns from good commercial property have

All of this pushes the Auckland residential and commercial property markets along, with supply simply not keeping up with increasing demand. Hamilton is also benefiting from this situation as the real travelling time between the cities rapidly continues to shrink.

It appears certain that the main economic drivers being the Christchurch rebuild, net immigration, and continued positive economic growth in China, as China moves more towards a consumer based economy, plus rising confidence and more jobs; all these may play an even bigger role in our economy than ever before.

Now is not the time to be distracted by all huffing and puffing of the gloomsters and stirrers. Now is the time to take advantage of the current climate.

Remember: It only takes one good deal to change your life for better for ever.

With more than 45 years in the property game, Olly Newland provides a consulting and mentoring service for people committed to make serious progress with property investments… whether it be buying, selling, holding or troubleshooting. If you’re interested in knowing more, visit Olly’s webpage at www.ollynewland.co.nz

Get skilled advice on residential and commercial property investment from Olly Newland, reknowned property expert, author & Authorised Financial Advisor.

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Accounting FreedomTM

Accounting Over a Coffee There’s a saying which suggests if something sounds too good to be true it probably is. However, occasionally something that sounds too good to be true, is in fact, simply a really good deal.

So when Accounts Online suggests you can get your accounts done over your morning coffee, you probably can.

The end of the financial year is here, and for many it is a time fraught with dread, not because they have had a fiscally rough year, but because it’s the time to pull the shoeboxes out of the wardrobe!

What many owners have not realised is there is a simpler way. Accounts Online are showing business owners how to save amazing amounts of money on their accounting and administration costs.

New to business?

If you are a contractor or small business and just need an extra pair of office support hands to help get your invoices out to customers or pay the staff, then Accounts Online have a variety of affordable options starting from as little as $70 plus GST a month.

Property investors?

Does your accounting system separate your income and expenses so you can report accurately on the performance of each property? If not, you might have issues if you get audited.

“You'll get your accounts done over a cup of coffee on a Tuesday morning,” I said “Yeah -right!”

Some weeks, I haven't even finished my coffee!

- Architect, Wellington

Payroll a burden?

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Thinking of selling your business?

Accounting fees too high?

Then beginning 2014/15 year you can do something about it. There have been major changes that will affect around 95 percent of NZ businesses. If you do not know about these changes you may end up paying more than you have to.

Are you ready for the day you want to exit Time consuming, laborious, accounting the business? To achieve maximum sales value you need to be prepared well ahead of systems (or the lack of them!) just plain hurt. the event.

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Vineyard, Nelson, NZ “With the time saved on GST and the positive spin off effect of getting our business affairs efficiently recorded, we now have time to spend on other more productive aspect of our business.”

Challenge Service Station Pauatahanui, NZ “The service was installed and working with very little training and with a very short period of time. We are very happy with the solution and the backup service. The time it saves us is amazing and we now complete our monthly books and GST within 5 - 10 minutes per month.”

Online Network, Queensland, Australia “Our experience with both the simplicity and power of the Banklink system and the fantastic customer service that the team at Accounts online have provided has always provided, has been nothing less than absolutely fantastic. The speed, accuracy and total hassle free efficiency of these platforms has us committed to be happy customers for at least another decade I am sure. When something is this good it just makes great sense to stick to the winner we know we have got our hands on.”

A Sampling of Some of The Treasures They Have Helped Their Clients Discover • An unexpected find of $7000 for one Otago business owner – all from errors and omissions by their accountant’s staff! Now the owner has control • A saving of $600 a month for a Central Otago business owner – no longer does this business employ staff to key their bank, credit card or Bartercard statements and it has eliminated ticking and reconciling transactions • Another business owner in Central Otago received a windfall of $2,500 • A 75 percent reduction in accountancy fees is now enjoyed by a West Coast business.

For a limited time we are offering new clients a three months free subscription…

You too might be sitting on a pot of gold. Let’s do some prospecting together, it could be the best decision you make this year.

Accounts Online

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News | Perspectives

Returning home

By Bridget Gourlay

I love landing in Christchurch airport. I love seeing the sea, the crooked hills, the fields laid out beneath you like a patchwork blanket. I arrived home recently for the first time in two years and drank with my eyes as I watched New Zealand come into view.

But I got a jolt as I realised that the flat gravel area I saw out of the window was once our CBD.

Although I feel a pang to see the missing buildings, especially the beautiful Whitcoulls one, Re-Start has made Cashel Mall feel like a hub again.

Although it’s been three years since the quake it’s still strange to remember that the As a busker strums a guitar, I eat an ovenbuildings I lived and worked in are now rubble baked pizza and sit in the sun, enjoying the in a landfill somewhere. chatting and laughter surrounding me.

Curious, I went to the check out the CBD on my trip home - and was pleasantly surprised at what I found.

Re-Start the heart The first thing that strikes me is how easy parking is. We instantly find a place in a temporary car park placed where a building once stood. As we park, I squint in the sun, trying to remember what was there before.

We begin at the Re-Start mall, which I saw come to life before I left New Zealand in 2012.

I was impressed then, but now it has grown bigger and better than ever.

The brightly painted shipping containers perfectly symbolize our rebuild, although I’ve heard plenty of people say they hope they’ll stay for more than just the immediate future.

As I walk along the Re-Start’s paths, the smell of coffee drifts over the crowds - and boy are there crowds. Tourists don’t seem at all dissuaded by our quake stricken city and I hear several different languages and accents as I walk around.

Obviously, the earthquake made us all examine our lives and be thankful for our friends and family. But we also seem to have done this for local businesses too.

I remember in the months after the quake the pleasure we got when a character shop reopened. No one can really say they miss a chain store, but everyone was excited to go back to Mr Johnson’s Grocers and Scorpio Books.

I notice both of those shops are thriving today - pleasingly packed, browsing there is a bit of a squeeze.

So far, so beautiful; then the chilling bit begins. I can’t tear my eyes away from our beautiful Cathedral, surrounded by broken bricks, with birds nesting in its rafters. Once the heart of our city, it stands broken and empty while the community fights over what it will become.

I walk along Colombo Street, trying to find the spot where the Canterbury Today newsroom once stood, surrounded by tourist shops, restaurants and bars. There is literally nothing here now.

With no landmarks to guide me, only empty space, I can’t find the office I worked in for a whole year. It’s eerily quiet too - I can hear the wind blow and sounds from streets two blocks over.

Even three years on I still can’t quite grasp that an entire street, which for more than a century hummed with people, now only exists in our memories. I stay for a few minutes on Colombo Street, staring at the empty sections, and just listen to the silence.

Something old, something new After wandering for only a few blocks, my spirits lift as I arrive at New Regent Street.

It feels surreal to be on a street which has survived almost in its entirety, while the rest of the city collapsed.

Always my favourite spot in Christchurch, the lick of paint and fresh window displays make New Regent Street’s Spanish Mission style buildings feel even more like a film set. And when the tram comes past honking its horn, it’s hard to believe the last three years ever happened.

18 | April/May 2014 www.canterburytoday.co.nz

“

So far, so beautiful; then the chilling bit begins.

I can’t tear my eyes away from our beautiful Cathedral, surrounded by broken bricks, with birds nesting in its rafters. Once the heart of our city, it stands broken and empty while the community fights over what it will become.

”

Once you leave of course, it’s back to postquake reality, but I came across the Pallet Pavillon then and was reminded of how much energy and life is happening in these in between years.

The Pallet Pavillion is just as bustling as ReStart and again I smell fresh coffee and hear tourists exclaim in delight.

Since I’ve been home I’ve also explored other spots that have taken on a new lease of life after the earthquake. Addington has turned from a sleepy suburb to - almost the CBD. Industrial Woolston is now home to The Tannery, an incredible complex with the same feel as Poplar Lane. And dusty

Sydenham now has shiny new office buildings, busy eateries and the lovely Academy Cinema.

It’s definitely a shifting city, and it’ll be interesting to see how those areas change again over the next decade as the CBD reopens.

I fly back to the UK soon and I don’t know when I’ll be back in Christchurch, my hometown, again. But I’m already excited to see what it will look like then.

If we can keep the spirit of this strange temporary CBD alive, if we can retain its warmth and vibrancy, I know we’ll build a city to be proud of.

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News | Tools

Desktop accountability Business is difficult. Four out of five businesses in New Zealand will last at least one year, but if your business is 10 years old, then you are doing well - only 27 percent of our businesses make it this far.

There are many contributing factors to business success, but for any SME, accountability is a key factor. Planning and working on the business rather than in the business; we all know the theory, but putting it to practice is quite another thing.

Business coach Dave Sewell saw the frustrations first hand. So being an entrepreneur himself, he created a smart bit of software to help combat the problem – What’s My One Thing was recently released and businesses across Australasia are taking advantage of this simple, but effective accountability tool.

“It keeps me honest and focused on the non day-to-day stuff. By loading my goals in to it, both the short term and long term, it helps me stay focused on the bigger picture and on where the business is heading.”

In addition to your desktop programme with its simple to navigate and use dashboard, it is complimented by a proven Android and iPhone app that allows users to tick off the one thing as they complete it each week.

As a business coach, Sewell was looking for a way to use technology to help business owners who were repeatedly failing to knock off their “to do” lists. “We all set goals, and Built to remove the mental blocks from have one thing that would make a difference business growth, the subscription, web-based to our business if we got round to it.” tool helps you select just one thing each week you are going to do to support the vision and In addition to your business goals, you can load in your strategic growth ambitions, your goals of your business. “Would doing one economic drivers and critical numbers, brand thing on your business, 48 times during the promise, core values and critical action points year make a difference to your business? Of (CAPS) for the year – then it all sits the on course it would,” Sewell says. the dashboard, helping you (at a glance) stay Accountability and clarity – these are the two focused on where you are going. words Roger Morgan, managing director of Gamification is another interesting feature, Readylawn uses to describe What’s My One allowing those who want a more fun and Thing. As a client of Sewell’s, he was trialing interactive experience to play a bit more with the software before its release. It is now an the programme. essential and fixed part of his business.

Once subscribed a library of optional, simple and short video tutorials help you maximise the potential of the program. Subscription to What’s my one thing, for a single user is $27 per month or $57 for a team, allowing businesses to work collectively towards meeting KPIs and goals.

programme, looking to add a ‘Our Market’ tool which will help users identify their growth clients and tips on how to effectively communicate with them. www.whatsmyonething.com

While already a valuable tool for strategy and planning, Sewell, with the help of newly acquired shareholders, is still developing the

The What’s My One Thing dashboard is simple and easy to use, providing busy business owners with a snapshot of the one thing they can do in the week to work on the business rather than in it.

expressed by your use of syntax, your point of view, your diction, and the level of formality in your writing.

next step. Again, this comes down to using the correct voice, pitching the required words in a structured way, in the right tone.

Like a person, what we say is dictated by our principles, experiences and aspirations, how we say it is informed by our personality. And personality is what your brand must have to be memorable, sell products or services and stand out.

Words sell - so ensure you use them to your advantage.

Does your brand have a voice?

It’s a cliché, yes – but your business is unique and there’s only one “unique you”. Own it, embrace it, share it – your story is all you have that differentiates you from your competitors.

Your brand needs a distinctive voice and all your writing needs a tone. So what’s the difference?

Voice gives your messages personality. Tone gives a mood and feeling to the voice Your voice is communicated via the words you choose, how you string them together and the tone you adopt. Voice is the distinct personality, style, or point of your brand – it will extend from your website, across all your marketing material, social media, blogs – anything at all written you share in public spaces.

The voice of your business needs to be apparent in all its elements. Take your website for instance, the voice is not only portrayed in the choice of words, but in the images, graphics, the design and layout and the style in which they are put together and support each other.

Your voice may be empathetic, or trendy and cutting edge. It might be fun and fresh or reserved and traditional. It might whisper quietly, speak with confidence or it might orate with intelligence.

However, your voice speaks and who ever you’re speaking to, you need to get it right and then continue in that same voice. An inconsistent business voice gives a conflicting, self-contradictory impression your readers might find disconcerting, even if only on an unconscious level.

As in everyday life, we find it reassuring when a person’s communication style stays more or less the same – if their style changes radically from one day to the next, we may trust them less and potentially tune out.

Tone in writing is not any different from the tone of your spoken voice. It’s not so much “what” you say, but “how” you say it. Tone is

20 | April/May 2014 www.canterburytoday.co.nz

Connect with a real voice Communication is connecting with people.

While it may only seem to be words on paper, through these words, we are reaching out to another human being. To be effective, we must do this with a believable voice – one that is real and one your intended audience relates to and understands. Your customers, and potential customers, will trust a real voice over a contrived company one.

Most of all – the communication needs to be a two-way exchange. You offer up relevant information, which meets a need and offers a solution to a problem your audience has.

This then strikes a chord with your reader who follows your invitation to take action.

Action is the key word here – you have to invite and encourage your reader to take the

The greatest thing this era of information has delivered, especially social media, is in giving businesses their voice back. You can and should attract customers based off what you believe in and how you do business.

Your story should express your core values and ideology; it should talk about your passions and your purpose for being. Think Icebreaker, Cadbury, Tui Beer, Nike and Apple.

Technology has allowed us all to have a voice – one we can cash in on. There’s power in that. Harness it – make it work for you.

Ideas need words… Your Story Communications is a Christchurch based PR and marketing agency that takes your story, in a meaningful way, to the people who matter to you. www.yourstory.co.nz

From New Builds to Renovations, Repairs to Addons We’ve got you covered Office Support and Quality Assurance Guaranteed Give Phil and the Team a call today!

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Dignity | Respect | Compassion | Wellbeing

To support our vision and strategy we are looking for experienced leaders to join the Silver Fern Farms team. Our ideal candidates are people who are passionate about manufacturing quality food products and experienced in building performance based cultures that make a difference.

These are the values residents and staff tell us they enjoy when they live or work at Bishopspark Retirement Village near Hagley Park, and at Fitzgerald Retirement Complex in Linwood.

If you are a dynamic individual who has the drive to succeed, we look forward to hearing from you.

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News | Ideas

Wearable technology

By Davina Richards

Considering technology’s unending encroachment into every aspect of our lives it was always just a matter of time before fabrics smartened up – and that day has arrived.

Not only is wearable technology taking on a visual lift and a snug look, tying it altogether is an Auckland-based technology company which has pioneered a smart fabric that is durable, safe, washable and comfortable.

And its point of difference? It has the innovative ability to detect and monitor vital signs in the form of electrical signals; talk about a change in the smart textile technology landscape.

Award winning chemist Simon McMaster and managing director Brent Ogilvie, co-founder

and managing director of Pacific Channel Limited, founded Footfalls and Heartbeats Ltd (FHL) in 2010 to commercialise the technology and to be a hi-tech New Zealand based company which contributes to our knowledge economy.

During the last 10 years Simon has dedicated his time to conducting academic research in the fields of chemistry, nanotechnology and textile technology, as well as working closely with world leading research groups and institutions.

FHL is working with a range of research organisations and hospitals around the world including North Carolina State University (NCSU), Guy’s and St Thomas’ Hospital and University of Nottingham in the UK. Functionality, along with the diminishment of wires or straps for support, make the sensor technology one of a kind and a highly competitive product - a product which, although with an absence of an official brand name, is welcomed with open arms from many markets.

The product was even used in a design prototype called the Revival Vest back in 2012 – a self-inflated life jacket which detects and responds to body changes for divers who black out under water. It won Victoria University industrial design graduate James McNab second equal placing in a global design competition run by the British-based James Dyson Foundation.

Smart sock

The start-up company has been showcasing the product in UK, USA, Australia, Hong Kong,

Simon McMaster New Zealand and Germany, and beckons worldwide interest.

FHL is looking to target global markets including, aged care, medical, protection equipment, fitness/sport and military, and there is also potential for the technology to be used to measure mechanical stress in satellites, aircraft wings, wind turbine blades, yacht hulls and high performance cars.

Due to its implementation of nanotechnology and textile structure, it makes it ideal for people with health conditions and opens doors for remote and continuous monitoring, which enables individuals to track their own wellness.

FHL has received research and development funding from the UK government and has already acquired significant capital to commercialise its fabric product. Last year, FHL signed a Letter of Intent with US medical equipment company Carolon and is currently planning to close its negotiations on a licensing deal.

It’s first ever product, a ‘smart sock’, which is able to measure pressure in a multi-layer compression bandage system for venous leg ulcers, is market-ready and once a partner is secured FHL plan to release the product in 2014.

It took one year to develop the smart sock but it wasn’t without its challenges. The company had to combine the craft of 450 years of

Handling the workplace bully Sarah Townsend, an employment law specialist with Duncan Cotterill, says workplace bullying can come at an enormous cost to a business.

“Morale and productivity are often significantly affected, not to mention adverse effects on employees’ health and the potential for expensive legal claims.

Sarah Townsend

Bullying in the workplace is under the microscope with WorkSafe NZ recently issuing guidelines on how to prevent and respond to workplace bullying.

“But what constitutes bullying is not always easy to identify. Case law has shown that the line between what constitutes bullying on the one hand, or blunt management on the other, is far from clear.”

She welcomes the new WorkSafe NZ guidelines that define workplace bullying as repeated and unreasonable behaviour directed towards a worker or group of workers that creates a risk to health and safety.

“There is now more certainty around preventing and responding to bullying in the workplace. While the guidelines do not have the force of law, employers will still be expected to comply with them where issues of bullying have been raised,” Townsend says.

22 | April/May 2014 www.canterburytoday.co.nz

“A failure to comply with the guidelines will significantly undermine any argument that the employer has acted as a fair and reasonable employer. Accordingly, all complaints of bullying should be taken seriously and promptly and fairly investigated.”

The importance of employers effectively addressing workplace bullying issues was recently highlighted by the Employment Relations Authority in the case of Hirini v Bay of Plenty District Health Board [2013].

In that case, an employee of a District Health Board brought complaints of bullying to the attention of management after a series of what were supposed to be constructive “group case reviews” left the employee feeling belittled, threatened and criticised by his colleagues.

knitting principles and electrical properties to get something reliable and durable, and repeatable in terms of knitting and signal.

The company has done New Zealand proud in terms of Kiwi innovation and in 2013 was announced as a finalist for Innovation in Health and Science and won the Emerging New Zealand Innovator award at the New Zealand Innovators Awards.

“We are delighted by the level of interest in our technology which has exciting potential in a range of sectors,” Brent says.

“There are opportunities to use Footfalls and Heartbeats’ unique fabric in a wide range of areas including medical devices, medical monitoring during tests like electrocardiograms, infant monitoring, pressure sensing in wheelchairs and beds, and performance monitoring for top athletes.

“Footfalls and Heartbeats is an example of the growing number of high calibre and innovative companies being established in New Zealand that we are working with.”

Simon McMaster, founding scientist of Footfalls & Heartbeats, was a panellist and speaker at the Wearable Technology Show 2014 at London’s Olympia Conference Centre and where Footfalls and Heartbeats exhibited its technology alongside other leading wearable technology. It was the biggest dedicated event for the fastest growing and most exciting sector of technology.

“

Morale and productivity are often significantly affected, not to mention adverse effects on employees’ health and the potential for expensive legal claims.

”

It was alleged that this demonstrated a outlined in the DHB’s policy manuals. This pattern of bullying behaviour that was present failure to conduct a thorough investigation throughout the workplace. saw the authority find that the employee had been constructively dismissed. The employee While acknowledging the complaints, was awarded three months’ wages and management failed to look any further into the issue despite a process for doing so being $7,000 compensation for hurt and humiliation.

News | Ideas

Getting work sites sorted

By Laura Hall

Construction sites can be dirty, wet, chaotic environments, certainly not the ideal place to fill out paper work.

However, health and safety paper work is an important aspect on construction sites to keep workers safe. But the traditional method of crossing the t’s and dotting the i’s on hard copy is often fraught with difficultly onsite.

Documents can easily go missing or become damaged and it is incredibly inefficient to physically deliver hard copy documents to an office, especially if they are urgently needed.

But these problems will all soon be a thing of the past thanks to a pair of switched on university students and the collaborative help and backing of two Christchurch businesses.

The solution is SiteSorted, an extremely logical, sensible yet genius programme that aims to streamline and standardise health and safety systems in construction industries in New Zealand and beyond.

“My job was to essentially organise and review the information that was onsite, I quickly grew sick of the incredibly inefficient systems, the disorganised paper trials and the huge amount of lost information,” Matt says.

The SiteSorted team recently completed final running tests to smooth out any kinks in the system. “We have received extremely positive reactions from our field tests,” Matt says.

Realising there was a need for something more efficient utilising the technology available prompted Matt to find a solution, and in April last year the idea for SiteSorted was born.

Market research is also being carried out to help define what the end cost to the user will be, and while this aspect is still in its early stages, Matt says initial costings indicate it will be very affordable.

At the same time Christchurch companies BVT Consulting and Worthington Contracting were independently working on similar ideas to implement within their own organisations.

The three groups joined forces to create SiteSorted in a partnership that Matt describes as “mutually beneficial”.

At this stage they are focussing on marketing and releasing the programme to the Canterbury rebuild SCRIT and alliance partners, including City Care, Downer, Fletchers, Fulton Hogan and McConnell Dowell.

But SiteSorted will be available nationwide after the official launch in late March.

He and Ashok lacked business smarts and BVT Consulting and Worthington Contracting needed an extra pair of hands and some fresh creative initiative; together they made an ideal team.

“Initially we will focus on implementing the programme into the civil construction industry such as road and drainage companies. Once we are established we will then build up business in the vertical infrastructure industry, and from there the possibilities are endless.

How SiteSorted works SiteSorted is mobile reporting programme for iphones, smartphones, ipads and tablets.

Matt Cobham and Ashok Fernandez

<

Matt Cobham and Ashok Fernandez were both engineering students at the University of Canterbury. Last year was their final year of study and they were required to complete work experience, so Matt worked as a project manager on a construction site.

Putting it to the test

Initially it allows workers onsite to file health and safety reports and information instantly and accurately. Information from across the field is then analysed and the statistics can be used to determine risks and hazards before it’s too late.

Matt says the programme doesn’t introduce anything new to existing health and safety practices, but instead enhances the current outdated system by making everything instantly available, searchable and auditable.

The programme can minimise the risk of accident or injury by determining the most common accidents on site, what causes them and which staff member is most likely to have an accident.

“Our aim is to replace the paper system.

I would like to see the whole construction industry standardised and utilising the technology to make workplaces safer across the country.”

“There are so many industries SiteSorted is desperately needed in, namely the forestry industry, which has been hot in the press lately with their poor safety track record.”

Matt has big ambitions for the programme that started from a university project. “My personal five year plan is to get SiteSorted into the mines in Australia, but that’s a whole other beast in itself.”

His goal for 2014 is to standardise the “clumsy” health and safety practises in New Zealand and make it a safer environment for everyone.

Management - are you up to it?

By Stephen Lynch

We see lots of managment articles about how important it is to empower employees.

We are encouraged to give people clear directions and the necessary authority to get the job done, and then take a step back to let them get it on with it without micromanaging them.

This is all excellent advice and many companies are experimenting with different ways of managing people. Some are even trying to not have any managers at all.

I think we can all agree that no one likes to be micromanaged, but could the pendulum be swinging too far? Someone still needs to make sure things are getting done.

The biggest problem business owners report to me (by far) is that they are frustrated with the lack of accountability in their organisations. In other words, things are still not getting done on time, or to the level required.

In the book “It’s Okay to Be the Boss: The Step-by-Step Guide to Becoming the Manager Your Employees Need” the author claims that “under-management” is now the problem. Leaders have forgotten how to manage.

Here’s some of the key lessons from the book with a few of my own thrown in for good measure: Set clear expectations Structure is not a dirty word. People crave structure. People need to see how their own goals and tasks relate to the overall company strategy. They also need to know how their performance will be measured. Software management platforms help you to provide this structure and ensure that everyone knows what is expected of them.

Make decisions Your team needs to see that you have a firm handle on the issues and can make good and timely decisions. Making decisions is what you are paid to do. Choose and prioritise the

key projects that address the issues your team faces, and assign tasks accordingly.

Make performance visible Every employee should know how they are performing and whether or not they are doing a good job. Everyone should be able to see who is performing well and who is struggling. It’s called “radical transparency,” and is one of the keys to creating a high performance culture.

Praise, praise, praise Praise and acknowledge people who are hitting their KPI numbers and getting their tasks done. If you are not careful, your top people can feel neglected and resentful if they are working hard for no recognition. Let people know when they are going a good job, each and every week.

Make the tough calls Have the courage to pull the plug on projects that are not delivering the expected results.

Have the courage to confront people who are not pulling their weight. Yes we all want to be liked, but weak managers are not respected.

Weak managers let small problems grow into big problems, when they should have been dealt with earlier. Weak managers let people off the hook, instead of holding them accountable for performance.

Things don’t fix themselves Those people who aren’t making the grade need your support, mentoring and training, and be given every chance to succeed.

However, if you have honestly fulfilled your side of the bargain and the person still cannot perform to the desired standard within a mutually agreed timeframe, then you either need to find them a new role where they can perform, or you need to let them go. Don’t procrastinate on this.

Take responsibility As a manager, it is your responsibility to proactively support and coach your team to keep projects and tasks moving forward each and every week, and to make sure everyone is hitting their KPI numbers.

As a manager you only succeed when your team succeeds. You praise the team when the team succeeds. But you alone take responsibility when the team fails.

Yes, being a manager is a tough job. Someone needs to do it. Are you up to it?

Stephen Lynch is the chief operating officer of Global Operations at RESULTS.com.

Information kindly provided by RESULTS.com: www.results.com www.canterburytoday.co.nz April/May 2014 | 23

News | Selling

White hot sales

By Sandy Galland

While it's money (which for most businesses, means sales) that makes the world go round, a good dose of passion, a sound belief in your product and a bit of fun selling it, make the commercial benefits more rewarding.

Empowering a sales team can be challenging, but over a series of stories Sharron Le Riche, a seasoned sales manager, entrepreneur and director at direct selling company Whitehot Jewellery, is going to share some of the hard-earned secrets she has learnt during her 30-odd year sales career.

It’s less than three years since Sharron launched a national business plan, and from a team of one she has built a direct sales company that has a growing team of self-employed sales people, who are enjoying enhanced, flexible lifestyles, and making excellent money along the way.

No matter what your sales model is, to be successful at selling, you have to believe that your product adds genuine value to the buyer. Add to that a healthy dose of passion for your job, a fun, proactive and empowering environment and a solid team culture and selling becomes simple.

Regardless of how your company sells its products – Sharron believes the fundamentals are the same – it’s all about people.

What is the number one requirement of growing a successful and committed sales team?

At Whitehot Jewellery we operate on a win/win/win situation. Our hosts (customers) and their friends are getting exclusive, contemporary jewellery at great prices, our representatives are creating financial freedom and business opportunities for themselves, and as a company we are helping to enrich the lives of many women. Whitehot also contributes generously to Endometriosis New Zealand each year – entrenching their culture of giving back.

As a company you have to stand for something. Something that has meaning to you and helps mould your culture, values and end game; you must know where the company is heading and more importantly why. This will be the basis of your strategic plan and helps direct your financial objectives.

And of course, you have to believe in the product. There is no way you can attract people to your team if you don’t.

As a sales leader what can you do to ensure every member of your team is engaged, selling to their best ability, reaching their targets and having fun doing it?

Value everyone and support them - always!

At Whitehot we have a comprehensive induction process – it does not matter if you have years of sales experience or this is your very first sales job - everyone is given the same opportunity.

”

Build relationships, always be approachable, trust in your people and never, ever leave them feeling unsupported. Never over inflate what can be achieved in the shortterm and always know what it is they want from their sales role, and then find a way to marry this with the culture, values and objectives of the company and team they operate within.

Whitehot Jewellery sales manager, Sharron Le Riche

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Sharron attributes Whitehot’s success to her absolute dedication to her people and the belief they all have in the product.

“

There are weekly webinars where those that need the visual information, get it. These are recorded and placed in a library – and can be can accessed at any time. We have written material for those who absorb better that way – we have audio and recorded information, frequent newsletters, an online library and regular personalised phone calls.

selling our product. It is getting to know them and understanding their personal motivators.

You then build these into their sales plan.

We revisit our individual plans regularly, looking at each person’s progress, seeing if their goal posts have changed, changing them when needed and providing the assistance and training needed to help them exceed their goals.

These various forms of communication are essential as we are all so different. And, while I am trying to build a cohesive team culture, it’s individuality that makes us strong and successful. I encourage people to express themselves and let their own personality shine within our model.

Sales are about people and when you recognise the person then the sales will naturally flow.

Most of all we have fun and reap the rewards of what we do. I plan get togethers, run lots of competitions, have a closed Facebook group where we all connect and get to know each other. We really are one big happy (productive) family… and of course, we are all wearing fabulous jewellery!

How do you keep the team motivated?

How do you achieve this?

Value everyone and support them - always!

At Whitehot we have a comprehensive induction process – it does not matter if you have years of sales experience or this is your very first sales job - everyone is given the same opportunity.

We have high values and ask that our customers receive exceptional service - and they do, because our team is our number one priority.

While we have team leaders spread across the country and I am always available. There is no hierarchy. I conduct the weekly training sessions (by webinar), and travel the country to regularly meet our sales reps. I am totally committed to my team.

You mention training – tell us more about this?

I used to travel extensively around the world training sales teams – what I know is that we all learn differently, so at Whitehot we have many forms of training.

I talked about standing for something earlier.

While it’s essential everyone buys into this, people also have their own motivation for

Here’s what some of the Whitehot Jewellery sales reps have to say: “The training is fabulous – I get outstanding support when I want, and as often as I want. I can go online to watch training videos in my own time, and I never feel like I’m in the deep end by myself.

My team leader is only a phone call away and she never fails to offer me support when I need it.”

Susannah O’Callaghan - Taupo

“There is loads of support and training. The process of becoming a Whitehot rep happened within a week, so it was important I knew what I was doing. I was all-good with the computer stuff and the business side of it, but it was nice to have someone to talk to after each party about how it went.”

Tracy Ross – Invercargill www.canterburytoday.co.nz April/May 2014 | 25

News | Cover Story

WikiHouse

By Davina Richards

There’s a heavy current of hard truths which we can’t swim away from; an economic model dependent on ever increasing consumerism, rising population density, soaring house prices and detrimental environmental issues.

“

None of this means the end is nigh, but it does mean we need to figure out a couple of different ways to address the challenges of the day. One such solution might be sitting right on our doorstep - an exciting project which addresses global urban development challenges called WikiHouse.

WikiHouse allows you to build what you need when you need it and change it when you want it. And because the construction can be dissembled just as easily and as quickly as it can be put up, it’s easily transportable.

Could this be the stroke of genius we’ve all been looking for?

As entrepreneurs Derek Handley and Sir Richard Branson step up to solve environmental and social issues with The B Team (a team of leaders on a mission to actively face world challenges by encouraging businesses to drive their values towards long term growth for the people and the planet), validation for the WikiHouse comes from providing similar empowerment to people.

You may be familiar with Dominic Stevens’ Irish Vernacular, a self-built home outside of Dublin, Ireland, which cost £21,000 and took 50 days to build, during a period of two years. Or Simon Dale, who built his own hobbit house with £3,000 in four months, in Wales, 2009. WikiHouse is another alternative model of living, but it’s firmly in the reach of everyday people.

London-based architect Alastair Parvin is one half of the WikiHouse co-founders who shares a common awareness of the housing problem around the world.

The concept of WikiHouse is to build sustainable and affordable housing by empowering people to lead development.

Although Alastair admits WikiHouse is not an innovative approach, in which he acknowledges the traditional concept of barn raising, it has the potential to be a small revolution staring down a big issue.

“Almost everything that we call architecture today is actually the business of designing for about the richest one percent of the world’s population,” Alastair says in his Ted talk 2013.

Create, build, share The term “wiki” is derived from the word wikiwiki, which is Hawaiian for “quick” or “fast”. WikiHouse is an open source construction set made from engineered plywood and allows anyone from anywhere to design (using freely available software), share, download and print designs using a CNC machine.

”

All the pieces, including the wooden pegs and mallet, are numbered, cut out and assembled, much like an Ikea flat-pack. A group of two to three people (enter you and a couple of good friends) can complete a basic frame of a WikiHouse in a single day.

WikiHouse allows you to build what you need when you need it and change it when you want it. And because the construction can be dissembled just as easily and as quickly as it can be put up, it’s easily transportable.

Imagine living in a house which you can at any point, adapt, expand and replace; unlike conventional buildings which are difficult to modify. Add to this massively reduced build and running costs and you’re looking at a building paradigm ideally suited to the specific challenges 21st century society faces.

You would no longer need to lend money to your grown children to put towards a house – you can simply ‘pass down’ a section of your own WikiHouse, which they can then build upon by cutting out more sections, attach it onto their existing WikiHouse and voila, they have an extension.

The information is available under a Creative Commons licence which means WikiHouse belongs to everyone, and anybody can take it in whatever direction they like to develop, design, modify and improve the system.

26 | April/May 2014 www.canterburytoday.co.nz

So, unsurprisingly, WikiHouse has exploded to a global reach. UK, US, Brazil, France, Germany, South Africa and Asia is where you’ll find teams coming together to collaborate, adapt, share and build prototypes. This collective design effort is then fed straight back into the project.

Because WikiHouse can be used on poor quality land, for example TC3/blue-rated land in Canterbury, it has the potential to offer relief to those who need it the most, especially in disaster-prone areas of the world.

The prototypes being built across the globe are meeting different requirements to meet the demands of different climates, cultures and environments, so that no two WikiHouses are the same.

In an article titled ‘We’re talking to WikiHouse pioneer Alastair Parvin’ on arcfinity.tumblr. com, Alastair says, “If a WikiHouse in Ghana looks anything like a WikiHouse in Glasgow, then something has probably gone wrong.

That’s sort of the point.”

In its entirety, WikiHouse is the package: sustainable, affordable and has a social, cultural, environmental and economic advantage.

Finding solutions together People in Christchurch tried to find temporary building solutions to get their businesses back up and running after the earthquakes, and it all began with shipping containers.

This is where Martin Luff and Danny Squires, co-founders and directors of Space Craft

Systems Limited and WikiHouse NZ lab, started too.

Introduced initially through Twitter, their combined devotion to find solutions for the failures in our built environment led them to TEDx Christchurch and a tip-off to the WikiHouse project.

Martin and Danny agree that WikiHouse is a system that goes beyond what we have now and delivers far greater value at an affordable price. It is a concept which encourages individuals to whole communities to become involved, reclaiming traditional values of building together.

“How can we create a solution to all these problems that goes up as quickly as a temporary solution, but can last for five generations, while at the same time increasing building performance and lowering the barriers to entry for the ordinary person?”

Danny says.

“There are lots of examples at the moment in New Zealand and around the world of affordable housing that’s affordable to build, but the people who live in it can’t afford to heat it, or run it on a low income, so it’s not really affordable.

“The affordability is about that total cost of ownership and we’re very much trying to enlarge the debate around those total costs.”

When asked how much it would cost to run, Martin explains that there are many variables to consider, but they are aiming to meet Passive House standards (building performance) for primary energy consumption

News | Cover Story – maximum of 120kWh/sqm per year for lighting, heating, hot water and electricity, “Which could be 75-85 percent less than a typical New Zealand home,” Martin says.

“It’s not so much about building houses, but building communities. And giving them the tools to create, manufacture, assemble and deliver their whole urban environment based on their wider needs, not the narrowly focussed needs of a third party developer.”

WikiHouse fact box: • Made from engineered plywood (but could use other suitable structural sheet materials) • All parts are numbered accordingly for easy assembly by non skilled end users with minimal tools • 200mm thick cavity in walls for superior sound and thermal insulation combined • It has a 45 degree angle roof ideal for solar panels and a longer south facing for the wind to blow over easily, and for rainwater collection • It’s currently shaped to reinforce structural strength but the profile can be modified and customised to suit.

• The whole system is designed with high seismic resistance in mind alongside first class resilience in the face of extreme weather events • WikiHouse is highly flexible and adaptable so that you can easily accommodate your changing needs over the lifetime of the building • Intelligent use of thermal mass help to maintain comfortable temperatures year round by absorbing and releasing heat within your home (including natural heating from sunlight in cooler months) • Passive and active controlled ventilation alongside superior construction design ensures a warm dry home all year round • Durability is assisted by materials which are highly resistant to fire, damp and insect attack alongside very easy maintenance.

Space Craft Systems is a social enterprise that is developing WikiHouse under the WikiHouse NZ lab. This is the team you want to talk to if you require assistance in self-delivery, or if you want them to design, manufacture, or assemble your WikiHouse for you.

Danny and Martin, along with a team of volunteers, assembled the first WikiHouse prototype in the Southern Hemisphere at the Community and Public Health Centre in Christchurch on September 5, 2013. With a maximum of six people at any given time, it took four hours to complete a basic frame.

“We’re the people who guarantee a certain level of quality, so in relation to WikiHouse, Space Craft Systems are the people who will take a building through consent and guarantee that the quality is maintained.”

Rising to new levels Although the project is still in its early stages, there’s no reason why WikiHouse can’t be taken to the next level, literally.

Two or three storey buildings are already on the cards, but residential housing is seen as the more critical and immediate need to get to market.

Danny and Martin explain that the goal is to accelerate development and complete the next stage; layer on applications, such as windows, doors, cladding, sealing, wiring, heating, weatherproofing and insulation.

“Our initial phase is to complete our project studio as a fully finished build of less than 10 sqm floor area, followed by a 23 sqm ‘back yarder’ infill add-on for existing buildings, then compact homes for young people (60 – 80 sqm), and then larger family homes,” Martin says.

But WikiHouse lacks one thing: funding.

“The sort of funding we’re really looking for is funding that recognises that this is a social enterprise. What we’re not looking for is traditional venture capital funding, which is focussed on getting short term, high yield economic return alone,” Danny says.

“We’re looking for funding which is interested in social and environmental objectives, as well as the economic outputs. However, having said that, we see it as a sustainable enterprise, so once it’s gone beyond that seed funding, we see no reason why it can’t

be self-sustaining and continue to grow without ongoing grant or charitable input,” Martin says.

Although we can see how WikiHouse could dramatically shape our future, there’s a sense of unease among some builders and architects who say they can see the death of their careers. But Danny deals with the concerns saying WikiHouse is about building communities.

“We’re not getting rid of architects, we’re encouraging them to become involved in the 98 percent of the market that they’re currently not meeting,” he says in a matter of fact way.

“We’re not actually building, we’re manufacturing mass customisable kitsets that ordinary people can assemble.

Having a building industry is only a recent development in the last couple of hundred years - before that people all built communally. We’re facilitating the return of traditional values.

“It’s all about creating wonderful environments for people to live in and giving

them the power to actually do that for themselves, to engage in that process and be part of the outcome, not just served up for them.”

I pose the question whether WikiHouse will reach building codes, a question which many people (online) dispute. Martin says that Space Craft is looking to work in partnership with key NZ councils to ensure the system not only complies with all the required building codes, but exceeds them.

As soon as you see a WikiHouse you’ll want to build one yourself and there’s no reason why you can’t. In fact, it would be rude not to.

To find out more about WikiHouse, visit www.spacecraft.co.nz. Or join the team for WikiHouse Breakfast meets every Tuesday from 8am at C1 Expresso in Christchurch.

You can join the WikiHouse/NZ meetup community at www.meetup.com/ WikiHouse-NZ. Go to TED.com to watch Alastair Parvin’s TED talk,’ Architecture for the People by the People’.

www.canterburytoday.co.nz April/May 2014 | 27

News | Working Li fe

Keep calm and carry on

By Davina Richards

We’ll never be a fly on the wall during an entrepreneur’s private time to understand whether their life behind doors is all about living in luxury, or head butting walls out of stress, but surely those who succeed in business are the ones who know how to remain calm in a bout of chaos?

Staying calm and focussed is just one of many entrepreneurial qualities and it’s pretty important when you think about it.

A little management control might take more practice for some, but in the end you’ll feel pretty fantastic.

In a profession which demands so much of you and fellow colleagues who depend on you, it’s simply the nature of the beast that stress, anxiety, anger and frustration rise under pressure.

Follow these suggestions to help you take the right approach: A sense of decorum is required in pressing times; you’re in a position of strength.

Be calm, confident and assertive. When communicating to others, be positive and leave out rude or negative messages which can hinder progress and bring down morale.

It’s inevitable, but we don’t welcome it and try to kick it away as hard and as quickly as possible. Of course, it can be difficult to be in control, but we shouldn’t pass the negative energy onto others like some sort of Olympic torch. Things may seem like a marathon, but every Olympian needs their supporters.

Employees need to know that their superior has trust and faith in them to do the job no matter what challenges fall into the pit. Be smart and level-headed to show you’re in control of both your business and emotions.

If you lose control of your emotions, employees will sense it, see it and hear it like a bad case of Chinese whispers: remember that your emotions can rub off onto others and have a direct impact on progress.

Avoid reacting out of your own anxiety or rising to defensiveness. When it comes to work you need other people to feel open and comfortable about doing business with you.

If you’re calm, they’re calm. Stay cool and everyone else will follow suit.

Remove yourself from the situation – take a break and allow yourself to settle down to think things over. Separate your thoughts to get a clear idea of what you’re dealing with and then work out your course of action.

You may also want to consider sharing your thoughts or concerns with others.

Use a different perspective - a simple shift of perspective can do wonders. Clearly identify and define the problem, and look at it from a different point of view. You may find you have overlooked something or gained new insight.

Reassure yourself – obstacles are part of the challenge of being successful; you’ve done it before and you can do it again. Remind yourself of how you approached a problem in the past and how you solved it. Try not to be self-deprecating, be kind to yourself, after all, you’re just human.

Slow down – be patient and reflective. Just like every good business idea or strategy, it takes time to consider all options to ensure a final decision is the best that it can possibly be. Take the time to make the right decisions which in the long run may turn out invaluable to your business.

Mind matters

By Davina Richards

Hmmm… thinking. Too much of it can create problems which weren’t there in the first place and too little may mean missing out on a good opportunity. But what happened to a little downtime and those “eureka!” moments?

Technology has become some sort of social disease, one that is arguably now costing us precious thinking time. We almost generate a full-blown anxiety attack if we can’t access our smart phones immediately and many now consider seeking affirmations of admiration from others by counting how many Facebook ‘likes’ they get as time well spent.

Instead of forcing your brain to work and then leaving the office at 8.30 with a whole lot of nothing, create thinking space where your mind can rest and let the magic flow.

After all, we want to summon great ideas and make them happen, so switch off all electronic devices and leave your environment which may be overfilled with disruptions and interruptions.

28 | April/May 2014 www.canterburytoday.co.nz

Say no to time parasites and schedule thinking routines – it could be the difference between success and failure.

Here are a few ideas to get your magic happening: Write – although you shouldn’t expect answers to show their pretty little faces immediately after you have asked a question, jotting down your thoughts allows you to de-stress, clarify your thoughts and solve problems (fingers crossed). Writing a pros and cons list can also help to evaluate and make better decisions.

Choose a location – it’s been said that some of the greatest ideas are thought of while walking. A simple change in scenery, whether it be a brisk walk around the block, working out at the gym, relaxing in the botanical garden or quiet place can give you a mental boost and change your mood.

Avoid “eating al desko” – and don’t pretend you don’t do it. You’re probably reading this at your desk right now, aren’t you? It may be easy to drop your elbows onto your desk and munch away while scouring the Internet for interesting reads, but you’ve just been staring at the computer since 7.30am. Let’s face it; this isn’t really taking time out. Go on, off you go…

Take longer showers – think of a shower as an incubator. It makes you feel all fuzzy with warmth and essentially creates the right conditions to let our minds trigger creative wanderings. It’s an unwritten rule; give it a go and you might be surprised.

Stare into space – and I’m not talking about people-watching out of your office window, although this may amuse and stimulate you for a couple of minutes.

Working in business takes a lot of our energy, but maybe we need to focus more energy on doing, actually, nothing at all. Look out of an airplane window, stare at an inspiring poster, and generally just let your mind wander for a while.

Take your mind away from automatic tasks – our inner ninja is ready to pounce on emails, voicemails, messages and paperwork that come our way, and we keep pushing back relentlessly until it’s a full-on workout before you know it. We may act like we’re programmed robots, but we’re mere mortals just trying to make ends meet by making as many good decisions as possible. Stimulate your mind and take yourself away for a while: play a game of cards, listen to music, and chat with friends or colleagues, anything that isn’t already in your routine.

News | Working Life

Ebb and flow

By Laura Hall

Squirrels collect and store nuts so they’ll have food to last throughout the winter. Their thriftiness is a lesson for us all to be careful with our money even when the sun is shining and save it for a rainy day.

This is particularly relevant to businesses that experience seasonal highs and lows.

Preparation is paramount if you are to survive and thrive through the tidal ebbs and flows of seasonal business.

When we think of seasonal businesses we typically think of the tourism, hospitality and horticultural industries, but most businesses experience an aspect of seasonality, although they may not realise it.

A huge swathe of companies can predict an increase in work leading into Christmas holidays and retail in particular will also see highs during Valentines Day, mother’s and father’s days, schools holidays and Easter.

Recognising your own businesses peaks and troughs is the first step to taking advantage of the benefits that might be on offer, but also in mitigating associated risks.

Colin Clapp, chief accountability officer at Accountable Business Progress, and business consultant and accountant, Martz Witty of the Martz Group, share their experience to help you run your seasonal business at its peak.

Calm before the storm It can be tempting to slack off, kick back and relax during your quiet months, but this time should be used wisely to review, renew and prepare your business for the flood of work on the horizon, because you won’t have the luxury of time once it hits.

Rejuvenating your company is all about “clearing out the dead wood” Colin says, so you are running like a well oiled machine.

“I like to use the phrase ‘pimp up your business’. The acronym ‘pimp’ stands for people, intellectual property, money and physical assets - these four things are the major resource categories in any business and should be maximised to their full potential.

“In preparation for the busy season businesses should look at each resource and ask, are we getting the most out of that we’ve got?

“For the first category, people, ask yourself are we making the most of our employees, clients and financial stake holders or are there skills and capabilities we are not taking advantage of?

“The second category, intellectual property, do you have people in your organisation who have got qualifications that aren’t being used, do you have policy and procedures that are not being adhered to?

“The third category, money - are you making the most on your return investment or have you got money sloshing around being wasted?

“The final category, physical assets - ask yourself, have we got cars, trucks, computer systems anything tangible that we have not put to good use? If you put time and effort into this task when you’re quiet you will be well equipment for the busier months.”

Hiring part time, temporary or contract staff for your peak season is common practise for most seasonal businesses. But Colin says thorough induction training for these people must be a priority if you want to hit the ground running.

“A lot of companies will treat there seasonal staff different from their full time staff which I would argue is a big mistake. If you are taking on temporary staff they need to be trained as though they were full time staff.

“They’ve got to understand the businesses policy, procedures and philosophy or you are at risk of them making mistakes that could cost the company money and its reputation.”

Plan to succeed It’s true, failing to plan is a plan to fail, and seasonal business must plan otherwise they face putting themselves at massive risk of going bust when times are tough.

A business plan is essential “I’m a big fan of the simple business plans” Colin says.

“It should include two sections, firstly short term goals for 30 days, 90 days and one year to keep you on track in the short term.

“Secondly long term goals, they should be big ambitious and almost seem impossible at the time, but you’ve have got to have something to work towards and give you drive.”

“

Too many businesses are busy offering discounts just to get the sale, even in their busy times, this means they are giving away valuable margin and it’s just crazy.

Maintain margin

”

Many businesses focus on making sales; they believe the more sales they make equals to more profit.

While this theory isn’t entirely wrong it should not be the be-all and end-all aim; better results will be achieved if the focus is shifted to maximising margin.

“I see this all the time. Too many businesses are busy offering discounts just to get the

“

Recognising your own businesses peaks and troughs is the first step to taking advantage of the benefits it has to offer but also mitigating the risks it poses.

sale, even in their busy times - this means they are giving away valuable margin and it’s just crazy,” Martz says.

The best way to take advantage of the peak season is to “create and protect margin,” he says.

Don’t settle for just any business when you have high customer demand for your product or service. When you are not fighting for sales you should be maximising profits.

“There is no point in being busy if you’re not making any money, you are busy going broke.”

Offering discounts is an effective strategy to move stock in a slow moving period but that it is.

Budgeting Businesses new to seasonality tend to “make stupid mistakes by spending up large” thinking the wave of cash they are riding will last forever.

managed regularly, especially variables costs which fluctuate.”

”

If budgeting in detail falls into your too hard basket, then invest in a cost and management accountant, it will pay off in the long run.

He says it is also wise to “annually review overheads and look at what you are spending money on. I totally concur with the old saying you’ve got to spend money to make money but you’ve got to spend money on the right things.”

Big blunders to avoid: The biggest mistake is failure to plan. SME owners are too busy and too ingrained in their business to step back, look at it objectively and then make positive changes and plans for the future.

I see time and time again companies taking on full time staff when all they need is casual or temporary.

“Too often I see clients suddenly turn up in brand new four wheel drives and I think to myself ‘oh my god’, because I know they can’t afford it in the long term.”

Seasonal businesses often fail to prepare for the high season; they don’t hire enough staff, have enough product ready to go and have neglected to carry out fleet and machinery maintenance in the slow season.

Proper budgeting is the backbone of a seasonal business, Martz says. “You must know the costs of the business in every detail and they need to be assessed and

They forget to plan and budget for the low season and often have to borrow money, this ends up crippling them. You can’t bounce back once you start borrowing. www.canterburytoday.co.nz April/May 2014 | 29

News | Q&A

Getting selective

By Laura Hall

Emma Clarke is a well known name in the New Zealand marketing industry, and rightly so with more than 15 years of experience.

She spent the first eight years of her career overseas working for multinational companies as a marketer. The she returned home spending the last seven years as a marketing consultant, managing teams of creative specialists developing marketing and communication plans for businesses in New Zealand.

She recently added a new title to her name, founder and marketing strategy director of The Selective. Emma launched the marketing company in August last year in reaction to a dramatic shift in customer demand.

The Selective is a new take on the traditional marketing model, which conventionally requires clients to pay for the ‘’full service’’ including marketing, communications and creative expertise, which she says can often be costly.

Clients of The Selective can use its creative experts when and how they want, reducing cost and inefficiencies. This model opens up top quality marketing to SMEs, who were normally locked out of these services because of the high cost. Or it can offer an extra set of hands to large well established marketing companies when they have taken on a big job.

The Selective is comprised of a group of creative experts Emma hand picked and invited to be onboard. Each team member is a top player in their own field including photography, copy writing, public relations, website design, graphic design, social media and more.

So when a client needs someone to design a website, logo or newsletter they can go direct to Emma and she’ll put them in direct connect with a expert on The Selective.

Why did you create The Selective?

Over the last few years I’ve noticed more and more prospective clients want really specific services. So instead of saying we need to do some marketing, which is what they used to say, they’re now saying we want someone to build a website, handle our social media, or create a logo. I launched The Selective because I saw there was a specific need from the SME space, but also from larger companies.

You’ve been in business for a few months now, how is it going?

Good; we’re beginning to gain momentum and are getting some good feedback. But like all new businesses starting up presents its challenges. I’ve been out selling, cold calling and meeting people to get our name out there.

What distinguishes you from other PR or marketing companies?

We provide clients with direct access to top marketing and creative talent. We work on

a job by job basis so there is no on-going commitment required from clients.

Because each of the suppliers is independent we don’t have the same overheads that large agencies have, so there are financial benefits to the clients and suppliers.

We’re not a full service model like other agencies so clients can pick and choose their services, plus they can work direct with the creative supplier; no middle man.

I think for a long time the marketing and creative service industry in New Zealand haven’t been meeting the needs of SMEs. There are a large proportion of small businesses in New Zealand and the old fashioned model has really been screaming out for a reinvention.

If a SME has been in business for several years and never used a marketing company, what can you do for them?

If an organisation came to me wanting to do marketing for the first time I’d be drilling into them what there business objectives are and what they want to achieve.

If there objective is to compete, for example they may have a new competitor and they’ve taken there market share, then their objective is to try and win that market share back. So there are certain types of marketing we can do to achieve that.

It all comes down to business objectives and every business is going to have a different one. Ultimately marketing is about understanding why people buy things and influencing the purchasing decision process.

“

I think the way you stay ahead of the game is by constantly reinventing the business model based on the customers needs.

I think although it is a really cost effective way to get your message and your brand out there if you do it well. But it can be really damaging too.

Even if you’re an honest, hard working SME, you can’t stop unfair or unjust online reviews tarnishing your reputation - so how does an SME combat this?

Whatever objectives you have heavily influence what marketing methods you should take. If you don’t know what your objective is I think you’ve got to monitor your online presence; there are ways and companies how can you measure progress and how do who can monitor who is talking about your you know when you’ve achieved your goals? business and what they are saying.

Has the computer technology and information age made it easier or harder for businesses to maintain a positive public image?

I think both; it’s made it easier and harder.

Social media and internet tools available now make it a hell of a lot easier to measure what’s working and what’s not working in your marketing strategy.

Plus it’s certainly more cost effective compared to other methods. But I think it’s harder because you have to be really consistent with your messages and tone of voice. You have to monitor everything you are doing online and you have to check it on a daily basis; I think that’s where companies fall over.

Businesses often start a Facebook page, they chuck up a few things then they just forget about. This leaves it open for people to freely and publicly comment about them and that’s where they get into trouble.

30 | April/May 2014 www.canterburytoday.co.nz

You need to respond to negative comments quickly and efficiently to clear up the mess before it snowballs and gets out of control.

People often make the mistake of ignoring comments but that is the last thing they should do.

Finally if you are in the wrong, just say sorry.

How competitive is the marketing industry?

It is competitive. I think a lot of marketing companies try to specialise in one industry to try and compete. Companies also try to compete on price, the New Zealand market is very heavily price driven.

But in the creative services industry you get what you pay for, so it can be worth investing in. I think the way you stay ahead of the game is by constantly reinventing the business model based on the customer’s needs.

”

What is the key to the success of your business?

Firstly having the best creative specialists on our team who are leading in their industry and making sure they fit our clients’ demands. Secondly we are constantly evolving to address our customers’ needs and we never loose sight of the purpose of our core business.

Do you have one piece of advice to people who are considering starting up their own business?

Always do your research, ask people if they would buy your product or service and what they’d pay for, and then listen to their feedback.

A lot of entrepreneurs have great ideas, and they invest all their money into product development. But then they have nothing left to pay for market research or advertising, so they’ve got this great product but no one knows about. I see a lot of new businesses fall over because they don’t invest in marketing.

What are your plans for the future of The Selective?

My immediate goal is to grow the number of creative specialists on the team. The short to medium term goal is to move into the Australian market.

A lot of New Zealand companies are breaking into the Australian market and they want to use a local marketing company to help them do it.

News | Tactics

On show

how to make the most out of expos

By Laura Hall

Even in the massive online communication world we live in today people still prefer to buy direct from people.

Human contact gives the customer trust in the business and trust they will receive a quality product, it also helps to build loyal customers who will become valuable repeat customers.

Exhibitions offer a unique opportunity to meet potential customers face to face, build a rapport and seal the deal.

However, putting your business on show at exhibitions can be a big expense for small to medium sized businesses. So maximising the opportunity to create leads, grow customer base and make sales is vital in order to make a return on the money and time invested into the event.

Amanda Magnus is exhibition director of Exhibitions and Events New Zealand. In 1990 she started her career working on international hospitality trade shows in London. In 1998 she transferred to Sydney to manage Gift Trade Shows and in 2004 moved to Auckland to join the Home Show Team where she now manages Exhibitions and Events New Zealand for their Australian owners.

Preparation Preparation is vital for success, giving you better value for money. Get the word out there your business will be at the exhibition and set yourself clear objectives so you can measure you achievement and success of the event.

The show organiser will undoubtedly do a large amount of pre-show advertising, but don’t rely on this alone to draw customers.

Remember to value the worth of your existing customers by “making sure you let them know you will be at the show and the stand number you are on, pop it on your email signature, websites, newsletters, radio or print advertising pre show,” Amanda says.

She recommends whether you are a seasoned exhibitor or new to the game you should always set yourself clear, measurable objectives.

“Know exactly why you are exhibiting and what you wish to achieve, set yourself a goal of making 100 leads or 50 sales and then try to exceed it. Partaking in an exhibition is the only clearly measurable marketing activity a company can undertake.”

Smaller stands have just a few seconds to catch the attention of the passing visitors so make it count. Amanda says the key to drawing foot traffic to your stand is by “keeping your message clear and concise” and clearly displaying what it is you do.

“Don’t overcrowd your stand with too much signage and make sure the signage you do use is sharp and clean looking with minimal words for big impact.

“Visitors won’t waste their time reading lengthy signs, they just move on. Reserve your more in-depth information for broachers to hand out to those who are interested.

“The better stands I have seen are always open without any form of barrier to the visitor; they are not blocked in with walls or steps to gain access. They don’t have sales people looking ready to pounce but rather bright, colourful, open space, clearly showing what it is they do.”

Show time Thousands of potential customers will walk past your stand, so it’s important from the moment the venues doors open till they close you are on your game.

If you have any questions just ask the organisers and take advantage of their knowledge she says. “That’s part of our role Amanda says having the wrong staff on the - we want to ensure success stories and have stand is the biggest mistake exhibitors make. repeat customers just like any other business.”

“The single most important asset a company First impressions has for exhibition success is putting the right people on the front line - the staff who are The design of your stand plays a big role in Amanda shares her wisdom of more than 20 visitor’s first impressions of your company and most knowledgeable about their products or years working in the exhibition industry on your products or services. It dictates if people services, who are engaged and understand how to prepare for an expo, design a stand the objectives and really want to see return will even visit your stand let alone want to and make the most of the plot you’ve paid for. buy something. on the investment.

“Competitions and giveaways are a great way of attracting additional foot traffic to your stand and entering into a competition also enables you to gather data. It needs to be relevant and targeted - if not the danger is you get thousands of entries and not necessarily any leads,” she says.

It is important to follow up with the leads you make shortly after the expo to make the sale.

She says you may be too busy to speak to everyone who passes your stand, so have plenty of brochures on hand for people to take away. Brochures are vital for companies selling large or expensive products or services.

Customers who are on the hunt for an expensive item often want time to think about their purchase, compare it against the competition and weigh up their options.

A good hand out will help them with this process and get them coming back.

Fact The Kolkata International Book Fair, in Kolkata India, is one of the largest expos in the world with more than 2,000,000 visiting the annual event.

Checklist: Find out where the power outlet is well in advance and purchase extensions cords if needed Bring more pens, business cards and brochures than you anticipate you’ll need; you don’t want to run out of these Have enough staff to work shifts which means ideally three people; two at the booth and one working the floor, this also allows for breaks which are needed.

Customer experience key to driving business growth A new Colmar Brunton survey shows how Kiwis respond to good and bad customer experiences and reveals why delivering great customer experiences is the key to business growth.

Colmar Brunton CEO, Jacqueline Ireland says New Zealand businesses must focus on the customer experiences they deliver because of how customers react to their experiences – good and bad – and the influence that has on business growth.

“Our survey shows that most Kiwis take action as a direct result of customer experiences.

The first response is to tell others about their experience and then they look at changing their behaviour,” she says.

the phone (41 percent) or post on Facebook (20 percent) to tell others. By comparison, only 25 percent of those who shared good experiences used the phone and 13 percent posted on Facebook.

Poor customer service was the biggest turn off (43 percent) with long waiting times (16 percent) and poor communication or lack of follow up (14 percent) also contributing to bad experiences.

The survey asked 1,000 New Zealanders about their good and bad customer experiences.

Of those surveyed who had a particularly good experience, 51 percent chose to make that company their first choice provider while 28 percent became less interested in the competition.

Ireland says the survey underlines the critical role the customer experience plays in business and their ‘Grow’ seminar has been developed to deliver deeper insights into the customer experience.

On the other hand 35 percent of those who had a very negative experience started looking for an alternative provider and a further 30 percent became more interested in hearing from competitors.

“We are a passionate advocate for the voice of the customer to drive business growth and success,” she says.

Results showed that more people (70 percent) told others about their good experiences than shared their bad experiences (58 percent).

But it is those with a bad experience to report who tell more people about them.

Fortyone percent of those surveyed told 11 or more people about their bad experiences compared to only 15 percent who told at least 11 people about their positive experiences.

Survey respondents almost all shared their good and bad customer experiences with others in person, but those who are subject to bad experiences are most likely to pick up

Great service (for 37 percent of those surveyed) and helpfulness (21 percent) were highlighted as the overwhelming reasons behind a good customer experience, ahead of price (18 percent).

“We want to share our insights on how to identify the types of experiences customers want, creating ideal customer experiences, empowering staff to deliver them, measuring their effectiveness and using the information to drive business success.” www.canterburytoday.co.nz April/May 2014 | 31

News | Lifestyles

Lifestyles

By Davina Richards

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Silence is golden

Headphones The Tivoli Radio Silenz headphones is a sign from the audio gods – the creators have implemented active noise cancelation technology in these stylish, wood headphones so whenever we need to listen to announcements on the train or bus, we can hear them without having to prop our heads up, take one ear cup away and ask the person sitting next to us what we’ve missed.

RRP: $249 - Available in wood finishes: Walnut or black ash Available from: www.paperplanestore.com

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Lavish designs

Feline hutch and scratcher We all share the same kind of love for our fluffy pets, cue quote from Agnes, Despicable Me “It’s so fluffy I’m gonna die!” and we’d do anything to keep our feline friends comfortable and entertained. So if your home lacks a bit of cat flair, check out the awesome collection of designer feline hutches and scratchers from Lavishtails. It’s what cats really want.

RRP: $937 Available from: www.lavishtails.com.au

3.

Time’s up

Cartier timepiece French jeweller Cartier has a long history of being a playground for royalists and celebrities who want grand timeless pieces. The Calibre de Cartier chronograph has the body of a temple with its character building components such as its sword-shaped black oxidised-steel hands, sapphire crystal, black semi-matt alligator strap and sapphire case back. It’s water-resistant to 100 metres and is a great treasure to all those who own one.

RRP: $16,300 Available from: www.cartier.com

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Endeavours in ink

Labokoff art It can be a rarity to find a piece of art which really speaks to you, especially for those who struggle to be moved by a lot of contemporary endeavour. But there’s something about French photographer and graphic designer Fabienne Rivory’s work which tantalises the senses. The stunning combination of original photographs and pigment ink digitally combined to create muted, yet emotive imagery using bright hues is remarkable. So much so that you can’t help but stare at its beauty and the way it evokes you into memory.

RRP: Prints start from $42, framed prints $115 and notecards $4 Available from: www.labokoff.fr

32 | April/May 2014 www.canterburytoday.co.nz

3.

News | Lifestyles

Lifestyles 5.

Winter wear

Mens boots Warmer climates are behind us so make sure you pick up the right boots to complete your everyday fall outfit.

There’s nothing quite like the feeling of putting on a pair of warm socks and sturdy boots after a whole summer of walking around barefoot or in sandals and enduring a bout of dry skin. Paired with denim jeans, jumper and coat, these leather and lace up boots will make you look hot in the cold.

5.

RRP: $269.90 Available from: www.overlandfootwear.co.nz

6.

Circular boxes

Round shadow box This contemporary wall hanging begs to be a part of your home. Its three separate spots to hold your favourite paraphernalia is framed by its rounded border and reminds me of a big medallion but for your home.

And your wall deserves nothing less than a piece of exceptional décor.

RRP: $187 (Delivery to NZ is $59) Available from: www.senkkifurniture.com.au

7.

7.

Sacks of stuff

Duffel bag It doesn’t stick its head out of the window, run to you when you call its name nor does it have soft fur, but it does make for a great travel companion. Originally used by military personnel, consider yourself Bear Grylls on another mission. Available in green or blue, with ample space and 1.3sqm of waterproof, 100 percent cotton canvas. It’ll stay by your side for years to come.

6.

RRP: $140 Available from: www.paperplanestore.com

8.

Go Blunt

Blunt umbrella You know those annoying moments when you’re walking through a cold and wet street and gale force winds charge at you like the force of 100 men in combat? You can see the look of terror spread across your own face in slow motion as your umbrella turns inside out and you’re forced to battle with an inanimate object out on the street. Avoid showing yourself up in public this winter.

The revolutionary Blunt umbrella has you covered.

RRP: $135 Available from: www.bluntumbrellas.com

8.

www.canterburytoday.co.nz April/May 2014 | 33

been seen

Images taken and supplied

by Lynne Puddy-Greenwood If you have an event that you’d like covered, email Lynne (Canterbury’s been seen events editor) on: lynne.p@academy.net.nz

The people, their faces and all the right places - Canterbury

The annual Ellerslie International Flower show, which showcased the best of garden design, trends and new products held a special evening for VIP’s and sponsors.

1. Lindy-Anne, Neil Walker (Pace Project Management) 2. Judy & Tony Dodwell.

3. Linda Mee, MP Kate Wilkinson, Sir Bob Parker, Jo Seagar, Joanna Parker-Nicholls 1

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4. Ali Jones, Caroline Blanchfield, Rachel Vogen, Miranda Hogan 5. Tim Dyer (Radio Network) 6. Sonia Crighton, Emma Cooper, Paula Taylor 7. Stana & Michael Owens, Ric & Annabel (Radio network)

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8. Glenda & Julian Harding 9. Warren Warfield, Matt Allen (RCP Project Managers) 10. Carrie Broomhall, Meg Mason 11. Christine Korako, Heather Carter, Cheryl Kinder

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12. Dave Dunlay, Alice Shannon, Dr Erick Ellis (Landscapes) 13. Rod Cameron (Keep CHCH Beautiful), Ric Horsfall

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Deval held their Autumn Fashion Show at their premises in Merivale for clients and friends.

14. Jan Marie Jenkins, Lorraine Currie 15. Caroline Sleigh, Catherine Simes 16. Kathy Graham, Lizzie McKenzie 17. Dawn Wilde, Paula Hosker, Barbara Meyer 18. John & Sonia Roussey

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19. Brian Waltham, Debbie Lawson 20. Tracey Yarrell, Natasha Lambert

Hays Recruitment invited people from the rebuild to a special evening of Women in Construction at the new function complex at the Rydges Hotel.

21. Jason Walker (Mg-Director Hays), Julie Potter 22. Dallas Welch, Gill Palmer, Tracey Yarrow 23. Kristine Kerr (Kura Golf Course), John Mulholland (Build Tech) 21

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24. Jamelia Friese, Lena Harrington (Accessman) 25. Jeanette White, Marcia Beuth, Joyce Seak, Angela Kleehammer, Belinda De Zwart 26. Chloe Sabbadin, Trina Lincoln, Julie Potter 27. Karen & Matt Gorinski (Penny Homes)

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28. Julie Protter, Carolyn Savage (President)

been seen The people, their faces and all the right places - Canterbury

Radio Network hosted a fundraising dinner at Peppers Clearwater Resort for Archillies New Zealand to enable people with all types of disabilities to participate in mainstream athletics.

29. Duncan Clayton, Marty Poore 30. John Callaghan, Richard McEwan (Mike Greer Homes) 31. Helen & Brian Coker, Mike Brown 32. Mike & Kirsten Brown

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33. Bryan Lamb (Smith City), Jamie MacKay 34. John Shaw, Mike Harrington 35. Anthony Gough, Tawera Nikau, Tom Leighs 36. Daniel Rushton, Renee Tuhikarama 37. Tawera, John Ralston, Peter Loft (Archilles) 38. Craig Bailey, Steve Wright, Mike Flutey (Mike Greer Homes) 39. Anne & Colin Curry 40. Carolyn Almond, Jan Marie Jenkins 41. Frank Bunce, Kirstin & Mike Brown, Tawera Nikau 42. Bobby & Carolyn Almond

Radio Network’s charity golf match was held at the Clearwater Golf Club and was well attended by their Christchurch clients.

43. Reon Burns, Steve Taylor (CHCH Removals), Daniel Rushton, Nugget Pounsford 44. Sukhi Gill, Frank Bunce, Jerry Grocott (Little India)

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45. Tom Leighs, Peter Ball, Colin Shore, Mark Leighs (Potteryworld) 46. Rennie & Neil Robinson (Sharpies Golf), Colin & Vicki Hight 47. (Smith City Group) Stephen Salnon, Bryan Lamb, Peter Dickie, Rosa Carter 48. Colin Curry, Steve Ottley, Bobby Almond (CRT Fuels)

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Accessman celebrated their 40 years in business with a corporate function at Classic Sparks, which was well attend by a large number of their clients.

49. Lena Harrington (General Manager) & Accessman Girls 50. Anna & Ross Pickersgill (Directors) 51. Pegasus Engineering group.

52. Ganellen group 53. Armitage Williams

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www.canterburytoday.co.nz April/May 2014 | 35

been seen The people, their faces and all the right places - Canterbury

Paisley and platforms were the dress of choice at the Chateau on the Park’s 70’s party to celebrate it’s 40th birthday in their totally revamped iconic hotel.

57. Rahul Rai,Vanessa & Tony Merritt, Raf Manji 58. Bruce Garrett,Debbie Armatage 59. Catherine Lee (Vbase), Debbie Moody (Amazing Days) 60. Alika Rai, Chendra Segaran, Sally Buck

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61. Janet & Michael Ballard 62. Ross Holt, Janice Wadley, Lloyd Geange 63. Dean, Rahul, Alika, Frank, Murray, Wayne, Hamish 64. Dorothy Pickering, Ethan Keenan (Chante dance) 65. Dorothy Pickering, Chrisse Witton 66. Almost Famous with Rahul 67. Chante Dancers

Radio Hauraki launched its own brand of beer at the Central CBD Bar. 68. Radio Hauraki Team 69. Mark Frame, Clive Greenwood 70. Sophie , Emma & Matt (Radio Hauarki) 68

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The Classic Hits Winery Tour, at the Waipara Hills Winery and Cafe had guest enjoying music of the headliners New Zealand music legends The Exponents, who were joined by pop superstar Stan Walker and the heavenly voices of Breaks Co-Op. 74. Simon & Rosa (Radio Network) 75. Kate Stewart, Sharon Jones (Canterbury Equestrian) 76. Tom, Jo Ethan, Matt Kepple 77. Deb & Peter Melody 78. Garry & Chris Shutileworth (Compass Homes)

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79. Emma Jones, Carl Duxfield, Joseph Holmes 80. Dave & Christine Caddick 81. Chlde & Hilary (Classic Hits) 82. Amanda Teear (Maher Shones), Yuri Bacas Hosaka (Hapa-Restart Mall) 83. AJ & Hilary (Classic Hits Breakfast) 84. Sarah McBeath, Allan Rudkin 85. Julia, Annabell, Rick (Radio Network)

36 | April/May 2014 www.canterburytoday.co.nz

www.canterburytoday.co.nz April/May 2014 | 37

Property Construction | Rebuilding Assurance

Watertight ways How Canterbury can avoid catching the leaky building plague The leaky building experience was crippling for New Zealand, both financially and, for many people, emotionally.

But some of its lessons are important ones particularly when times are busy.

“What happens during a busy construction period is people get anxious to find a builder and get the job done as soon as possible,” Registered Master Builders Association (RMBA) CEO Warwick Quinn says.

“When builders are all flat out often the homeowner will take anyone they can find to carry out the work.”

We saw this during the early 2000 construction boom, he says and prior to legislative changes, anyone could call

themselves a builder. “You could just hang your shingle up on the door and undertake construction without any qualifications whatsoever.

“The government saw this as a problem, as did we, because of the risks associated with unqualified trades-people undertaking complex construction works. The consequences are high if there is failure.”

From March 1, 2012, a new term came in – restricted building work. Any residential building work critical to the structure’s integrity must now be performed by a licensed building practitioner.

“This covers a range of activities (including design, bricklaying, carpentry, foundations, roofing and exterior cladding etc) – basically anything critical to the building’s structure and water-tightness for residential properties and in some instances fire detection.

As the pressure increases for the rebuild, Warwick says there will be a greater call for licensed building practitioners who work for building companies to work in a supervisory capacity. “There is a license called the Site License which is related to the oversight and co-ordination of a job.

“We believe that this Site License can play a much greater role and be more utilised than it currently is.”

Irrespective of the legislative regime in place, Warwick says you need to ensure you have a good building contract in place with your building company, engage people who are qualified for the role, as good contracts provide transparency and processes to protect you.

and checklists, to the consumer prior to the entering into a building contract.

The Home Owners and Buyers Association of New Zealand (HOBANZ) and RMBA are involved in a working party to figure out what that information should include.

“People need to be conscious of the risks involved in trying to cut corners,” Warwick says.

It is also important that you understand the full terms of the contract, so take some time to familiarise yourself with them. Having other protections like a home warranty also provides peace of mine and somewhere to go if need be.

“Trying to save too much money can heighten the risk of problems later on. We are also aware of an increasing issue of imported materials which may not be fit for purpose. Consequently, you need to employ people who understand these products.

“The contract is integral,” he says. “It will help you resolve any issues you have during construction and ensures protection of the parties. If anything goes wrong it will be there in black and white how to resolve it.

“Often the cheapest price isn’t the best price,” he adds.

“I’m still amazed at the number of people who go into such a significant financial commitment on a handshake.”

The government is in the process of introducing increased consumer protection mechanisms which, when finalised, will involve the disclosure of certain information,

“If you’ve got four quotes for around $400,000 and someone offers you $300,000, be suspicious. They may have a legitimate reason, but a good deal in the short term might not be a good deal in the long term.

“The key to success is always going to be homework. If everyone does their due diligence we can ensure the country isn’t hit with another leaky building scenario going forward.”

Leaky homes

a symptom of larger failings

According to Home Owners and Buyers Association (HOBANZ) chief executive, Roger Levie leaky homes are a symptom of a greater crisis and New Zealand risks being hit with another round of litigation.

“These issues are much broader than just issues of leaky buildings. We’re dealing with building defects in general, which includes structural problems and fire hazards in relation to residential multi-unit complexes,” he explains.

“There is a wide range of residential properties which fall into the category of multi-unit and that will only increase with Auckland’s intention for high density housing. There are various concerns within that environment that purchasers and owners need to become aware of.”

Potential buyers of multi-unit housing need to understand their liability in terms of the requirements under the Unit Titles Act. “There is now a long term maintenance plan required for every multi unit property and many which have had limited maintenance in the past.

“Many of these body corporates are way behind in terms of building up their funds to be able to sufficiently maintain these buildings and we end up with situations where previous owners have done no maintenance, then new owners move in and find out they have a significant bill to foot.”

Although he says this is a legal requirement, many of the body corporates

38 | April/May 2014 www.canterburytoday.co.nz

are developing the maintenance plans themselves, without a full understanding of their liability.

“Most owners simply don’t have the knowledge and experience to be able to develop these long term maintenance plans which need to allow for the proper maintenance and at times replacement of exterior claddings, fire systems and other critical building elements.

“We expect there is going to be another round of litigation arising from people buying into a complex, relying on an inadequate long term maintenance plan, and ending up with significant unforeseen costs to maintain building elements that have not been properly allowed for.”

According to Roger it’s a litigious area which we are unfamiliar with in New Zealand and we have a lot to learn.

“People really don’t see the risk that’s behind purchasing into that environment.

There’s a big push for buying high density housing in the city and, with many of these properties not being well maintained, a lot of people are going to get caught out.

“Buildings which leak are only a symptom of a greater problem.”

Property Construction | Rebuilding Assurance

Steps to remediating a leaky home

Features of a leaky building 1. Ground clearance: Inadequate cladding clearance to ground, paving or decks or insufficient fall away from building perimeter. Clearance to solid ground (concrete, asphalt, paving, decking timber) should be 150mm; clearance to soil 225mm.

2. Cracking: Look for hairline cracks in the cladding, typically found close to windows and doors or discolouration of cladding around these areas.

vents and meter boxes, for gaps and lack of sealant. Also check to ensure meter boxes are flashed correctly - the lack of flashing or reliance on sealant may allow water to penetrate.

5. Pergolas: Pergola frame penetrating the cladding or direct fixed through the cladding may result in water ingress.

3. Joinery: Check for cracks along the joinery seals which can allow water ingress.

6. Windows: Check window flashings to ensure they are correctly installed. Round, shaped or corner windows are difficult to flash, increasing the risk of water ingress.

Check for staining below the window.

4. Penetrations: Check all penetrations in the cladding, for example around pipes,

7. Enclosed balcony / cantilever deck: Enclosed balconies and cantilever decks

can result in a multitude of risks. (a) A lack of fall on the balustrade, (b) Handrailings attached through the plaster cladding, (c) Poorly applied waterproof membrane, (d) Insufficient drainage holes allowing water to pool after rain, (e) Lack of clearance between the cladding and the balcony floor - all are signs that water may be penetrating the building’s exterior.

8. Interior signs: These can include swollen or cracked skirting boards or architraves; mould on the inside of curtains and window liners; floor coverings showing signs of water damage; and swelling, cracking and popping of wall liners.

The words ‘leaky home’ may send chills up your spine, but HOBANZ makes the process straightforward and easy to follow.

Step 1 Call HOBANZ for independent advice and to discuss the options that are available to you.

Step 2 HOBANZ will provide an initial consultation where they will review any available reports. In partnership with you, they will develop a tailored solution that meets your specific needs and circumstances.

If required they can introduce legal experts for an overview of the likely success of any claim.

Step 3 Engage HOBANZ to put together a team of experienced independent professionals.

HOBANZ has a proven track record in creating successful solutions for leaky home owners, key to which is the organisation’s ability to link trusted professionals to form one cohesive unit.

Step 4 HOBANZ will guide and support you through the journey. The organisation’s in-depth knowledge of the issues leaky home owners face and its experience in resolving these issues means they will be on-hand to work in partnership with the professionals you engage, answer all your questions and keep things on track and moving to a successful and cost effective conclusion.

www.canterburytoday.co.nz April/May 2014 | 39

Property Construction | Rebuilding Assurance

“Widespread changes in building practices and products from 1995 to 2005 was not matched by appropriate levels of training across the sector,” she says.

“This contributed to the leaky building disaster which continues to this day. Lessons learned from this era should help ensure that history doesn’t repeat itself.”

Wroe says there are several steps owners can take at the outset of a project to minimise risk.

“Design, construction and engineering contracts are extremely important documents. We have seen an increase in the number of construction contracts that we are being asked to review and still find that owners aren’t informed about things such as how long defects liability periods can be, quality assurance plans and warranties.

After

Preventing an epidemic We’ve entered the fourth year of our earthquake recovery programme and, while some have suggested we loosen our tight reign over building regulations to propel the rebuild forward, Home Owners and Buyers Association (HOBANZ) chief executive, Roger Levie says we risk another leaky buildings scenario if we proceed in that way.

<

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Before Another significant issue within the rebuild is that in many cases insurance companies are dictating the standard of repair with their main motivation being to limit their financial exposure. As a result some of the repaired homes are sure to fail again.

“Insurance companies are specifying targeted repair work in areas which should have more complete work carried out on them if they are going to last. And owners “With such unprecedented pressures on need to be vigilant as they may well the Canterbury construction market, loosening find that they can’t pursue the insurance regulations is possibly the worst thing company that has specified if it fails as they we could do. We need strong regulation are indemnified.” and greater oversight when the pressure This, he says, further reinforces the comes on.” importance of the owners seeking their “If that means the rebuild takes longer, then own independent advice and making sure so be it. We really need to take a long term that homes are being properly repaired. perspective rather if repairs are going to last.”

Multi-level complexes are proving, well, just In New Zealand we used to be able to rely as complex. “There’s very little underlying on the system but if we can take anything value in the land when you have units from the leaky buildings scenario which has stacked on top of each other,” Roger says. plagued the country since the 1990s, it is that “In these situations the individual owners such reliance is misguided in this day and age. need to be working together to get their “We can no longer rely on the system to issues resolved and that’s proving very protect us,” Roger says. difficult in many situations. Again, this comes back to getting good advice, “Owners need to have a greater which isn’t always what’s coming from understanding of what is going on around the body corporate managers involved in them and undertake their own due diligence these situations.” no matter whether they are building a new The government is currently focusing on home or undertaking repairs.” improving consumer protection for owners The potential for risk is already becoming undertaking building work. Roger says a evident with many untested building products lot of work commences without the proper making their way to New Zealand, some of contract in place. which are simply unfit for purpose. “This “Changes to the Building Act will shortly demonstrates the importance of the need to require a formal contract to be put in maintain a strong regulatory environment,” place for any building work over a certain Roger says.

40 | April/May 2014 www.canterburytoday.co.nz

value. This is great idea as it will encourage owners to document the scope of work being undertaken and will ensure owners and builders have similar expectations around the processing of variations, payment terms, dispute resolution and the like.

“Exactly how the Government is going to approach the contract is still under discussion as is the level at which the requirement for the formal contract will cut in, but work is going on to sort this out right now as there is a need to get this implemented as soon as possible.

“While the mandating of written contracts is a big step in the right direction, one thing is obvious, consumers must become better educated about these matters. It is all well and good to mandate, but the more homeowners can arm themselves with the good information and knowledge, the smoother the journey will be.”

Seek advice before you build It is not just Canterbury that is facing a construction boom. According to the National Construction Pipeline Report the next five years is forecast to bring an unprecedented level of building across New Zealand.

Canterbury’s explosion in construction levels will be second only to Auckland. The value of non-residential work has been forecast to double in size as Canterbury’s city and infrastructure are rebuilt.

Martelli McKegg’s Construction Disputes and Litigation associate, Sarah Wroe warns that all parties involved in the rebuild will need to do their bit to ensure that the increased demand does not mean compromises on quality.

“Equally, from the builder’s point of view, there are certain clauses which must be included to protect their cash flow so that businesses can survive. Last year the NZ Standard contracts were revised. These provide a valuable starting point but,” she warns, “do not replace well-thought out special conditions”.

Wroe is confident that early investment in legal advice at the contract stage will smooth the path for a project. It will ensure that all parties know their rights and responsibilities.

“There are several contractual approaches that can be used in a construction project.

Different options provide differing levels of oversight and responsibility for quality. Being informed about these options is an essential first step to a successful project.”

Different contexts pose unique challenges.

“The most fraught environment for construction contracts from a home owner’s point of view is often in body corporate situations,” she says.

“We have worked with body corporates who have faced disputes around apportionment of building costs. Christchurch clients have faced additional hurdles, of course. We have negotiated with insurers and the EQC in cases where there has been conflicting expert evidence in relation to the cause of damage – pre-existing defects or earthquakes.

“Too many property owners in Christchurch – whether individuals or commercial owners – still face this first challenge of getting the pay-out to fund the repairs.”

If you would like to know more about steps you can take to start your construction project off on the right foot, or if you need assistance when a dispute arises, contact Sarah Wroe, Construction Disputes and Litigation Associate at MartelliMcKegg on (09) 379 7333 or by email sew@martellimckegg.co.nz

42 | April/May 2014 www.canterburytoday.co.nz

Property Construction | Prestige Brick & Block

The brick and block

experts

The importance of building high quality, strong structures has never been more critical than it is now in post-earthquake Christchurch. Thankfully the skilled team at Prestige Brick and Block can meet all your requirements for solid, long lasting brick and block work.

Prestige Brick and Block is a family owned business formed 10 years ago by directors John and Johan Dykhoff, who have more than 40 years’ experience between them.

The Christchurch company can do anything from letterboxes and walls to alterations and new homes. It has also been heavily involved in repairing earthquake-damaged homes throughout the city.

Johan Dykhoff says the team of 12 has developed a strong reputation for quality workmanship and friendly staff. “A lot of our work in Christchurch is through word of mouth,” he says.

“We don’t do a lot of advertising. People see what we can do and come and ask us if we can do something for them.”

Keeping the company busy is its close work with a number of building companies and doing all of Benchmark Homes’ brick and block work.

Building 650 new homes for Christchurch Johan says business was very tough after the 2011 earthquake due to ongoing aftershocks and insurance holdups. However, the building industry began moving ahead last year and things are only going to get better.

Prestige Brick and Block is doing an increasing amount of new builds, as well as

an ongoing amount of earthquake repairs and rebuilds. The company has recently gained the contract to build 650 state houses for Housing New Zealand.

The contract is through Falcon Construction.

Six prototype houses, including six brick and one linear weatherboard design, were initially built to determine their cost effectiveness.

“They’re all pretty much new builds, although there are some re-locatable state houses out of the red zone,” he says. “The Government has acquired the land and they will be built in bundles of 60. We’re aiming to start by the end of April.”

Prestige Brick and Block will take on extra staff for the large contract and hopes to grow numbers to about 25.

“

In their words “With Johan, John and their team it’s easy.

A professional team who do a quality job and leave a tidy, safe worksite. I wouldn’t use any other team. Thanks guys.”

- Ross McNab, property developer

”

The Tannery Prestige Brick and Block did all the brickwork for Christchurch’s iconic new shopping mall, The Tannery, which has been restored by an innovative construction team, with Prestige Brick and Block installing the large veneer on the historic buildings.

Johan says it was a fantastic job, with the owner and entire construction team thrilled with the end result. “We tendered for that job and it took about a year; there’s a lot of bricks in it,” he says.

“We get a lot of fantastic feedback about it and the brick is the first thing people see.”

The Tannery development in Woolston builds on the dreams and ambitions of Christchurch’s early English settlers. It houses a range of high-quality tenants, including boutique shops, world-class beer, food and entertainment. CT

10% DISCOUNT IF YOU SAY YOU SAW OUR AD IN THIS MAGAZINE

EQC approved repairer

Prestige Brick and Block offers a range of quality services, including: • New brick and block houses • Extensions and renovations • Earthquake repairs • Garden walls • Commercial buildings • Planter boxes • Letterboxes • Garages.

Prestige Brick and Block 33 George Street Rolleston T (027) 466 1029 E john@prestigebrickandblock.co.nz www.prestigebrickandblock.co.nz — Advertising Feature

Christchurch Owned & Operated for more than 10 years

Specalists in: Old red brick, New builds /residential and commercial, All brick and block work www.christchurchbricklaying.co.nz C: 027-466-1029 E: john@prestigebrickandblock.co.nz

www.canterburytoday.co.nz April/May 2014 | 43

Property Construction | 53 Victoria Street

Victoria Street’s commercial rebirth Nestled comfortably in Victoria Street’s southeast stretch opposite the casino, 53 Victoria Street offers a prime central location.

With office leases still available on levels one and two, now is the moment to secure your space in time for completion at the end of August.

The development offers competitive rental rates in the gateway to the heart of the city with views into Victoria Park.

Originally the Victoria Business Centre, 53 Victoria Street housed a mix of quality restaurants and office tenants. Demolished as a result of the February earthquake, plans were soon drawn up for an efficient, strong and lightweight building.

Designed with base isolation and a steel frame, this property has been engineered to a high specification design and is constructed to be resilient to earthquakes and provide tenants a safe and efficient space to work in.

Aroy Thai was a tenant in the former 53 Victoria Street building (pre-quake) and is set to take possession of part of the ground floor rebuild. Also on the ground floor will be Japanese favourite Yamagen, formerly based in the Crowne Plaza Hotel, and a café run by the owners of Maharaja Indian Restaurant on Papanui Road.

The $6.4 million development will also become a base for Catherine Dalziel’s law firm Taylor Shaw from Cashel Mall.

Retail tenants will enjoy excellent frontage and exposure to Victoria Street in high quality retail space with high stud ceilings for optimal profile and light. Tenancies will have shared amenities and rear access for the larger areas.

Offices will have excellent natural light from large windows facing both east and west.

An efficient air conditioning system will be included, along with high-spec amenities and services, and the foyer will provide a professional entrance for clients and lift access to each floor.

Onsite car and cycle parking will be provided for tenants. Extra parks can be leased from the adjacent casino car park.

The Victoria Street precinct is one of the city’s most sought after commercial spaces and a very active committee is submitting plans for upgrading the streetscape and style of Victoria Street as one of the premium retail and professional office destinations in Christchurch.

Located close to Victoria Square and popular cafés and restaurants, 53 Victoria Street is extremely well positioned to benefit from the upgrades and provide staff and clients with an enjoyable and comfortable working environment.

For more information on the Victoria Street VSP Committee and what it is doing for the area visit www.victoriadistrict.co.nz

Proud to be 100% Christchurch owned and operated

Tenancy overview

Property overview

Office spaces are still available in this highly sought after development.

Address: 51-53 Victoria Street, Christchurch Tenancies - Office: 244-805sqm is available

Each office tenancy will come with the following fit-out and services:

Building area: Total of 1,718sqm over three levels

• Fixed floor coverings – carpet • Gibbed, stopped and painted walls • Aluminium joinery and double glazed exterior wall windows

Parking: Nine onsite with more available in adjacent casino car park, nine onsite cycle parks also provided

• Suspended ceiling

Zoning: Central city, western fringe

• Lighting

Foundations: Base isolation system

• Air conditioning

Materials: Lightweight construction system using steel frame with tilt panel and glass

• Power, phone and data points • Separate meter box • Kitchenette • Signage on directory board at entrance • Shared use of WCs.

Facilities: Quality amenities to each level including a shower on ground floor Air conditioning: Efficient air conditioning system to each tenancy provided

For more information on leasing opportunities at 53 Victoria Street, contact James Stringer 021 467 990 or email: james.stringer@naiharcourts.co.nz.

Timing: Completion scheduled for late August 2014.

• Sprinklers • Fire Alarm Systems • Emergency Lighting • Extinguishers • IQP/BWOF

We appreciate the opportunity to work for Priority Projects Ltd on the 53 Victoria Street project.

For all enquiries Phone (03) 382 1155

Come and see us at 139D Wordsworth Street, Sydenham, Christchurch

PROUD TO BE ASSOCIATED WITH 53 VICTORIA STREET

m: 021 668 504 e: john@jmbuilder.co.nz

NEED A PLUMBER? Don’t be a drip Contact: Nick Beard Ph: 0274 322 530

PROUDLY ASSOCIATED WITH PRIORITY PROJECTS LTD 44 | April/May 2014 www.canterburytoday.co.nz

Commercial buildings and fitouts New housing Renovations Maintenance

Licenced Certifying Craftsman Plumber

20 Years Experience - Locally Trained - Locally Owned

Property Construction | 53 Victoria Street Feat of engineering excellence The Thom Craig designed building at 51-53 Victoria Street opposite the casino is a unique feat of engineering excellence, but most of what makes this building so unique is hidden below the ground.

Base isolators have been around since the 1970s in New Zealand, helping to reduce the impact of earthquakes on buildings. But the multi-million dollar Victoria Street building is taking the technology to the next level.

Invented in Wellington by Bill Robinson to minimise quake damage, base isolation involves putting flexible bearings or pads made from layers of rubber and lead between the building’s foundations and the structure above. These base isolators move and stretch

under pressure, absorbing much of an earthquake’s impact by reducing swaying and shaking.

In a New Zealand first move, double concave slider bearings have been used instead of traditional lead. Located below the ground floor in a shallow basement, the double concave slider bearings enable a greater reduction in shaking of the building and a greater design flexibility as the properties of the bearings can be independently specified, Aurecon technical director Grant Wilby explains.

“The bearings are able to move up to 400mm in a severe earthquake. They’re a much simpler type of bearing and consist of sliding puck housed between curved top and bottom plates. The plates are lined with stainless steel and the top and bottom surfaces of the puck are lined with a material that has well established and durable friction properties.”

The top and bottom plates of the bearings were cast in Thames, with the stainless steel liners pressed into shape in Christchurch and bonded to the plates, he says.

“At Aurecon we’re using bearings of this nature in other Christchurch projects

Base Isolation Earthquake proof buildings use base isolation to separate the structure from the seismic waves. This means that the base is flexible, made from a material such as rubber, and surrounded by a moat. The base shifts with the wave while the main structure remains steady.

The base isolation system consists of two parts: the isolation units that separate the base from the structure and the isolation components that connect the isolation units and the rest of the building. and because of their advantages are also proposing to use them on other new and strengthening projects throughout the country. We expect their use to become more widespread,” Grant says.

Aurecon is providing all the consulting engineering services apart from mechanical to the Victoria Street building. “New Zealand initiated modern base isolation with the invention of the lead rubber bearing in the 1970s,” he says.

“This is the first time bearings of this type have been used here although they are used extensively overseas.” >

Advantages of the base isolation for 53 Victoria Street include: • Significantly reduced forces acting on the structure • Significantly reduced inter-storey deflections • Minimal structural damage expected • Minimal damage to non-structural elements expected • Significantly reduced contents damage expected • Business continuance as long as services to the building are still operating and access to the building is still possible • Straight forward to re-level the building in the event of any foundation settlement • Enhanced occupant safety as a result of the above.

Suppliers & Installers of

Commercial Aluminium Joinery Windows • Doors • Shopfronts • Louvres & Solar Shading Automatic Doors • Architecturally Designed Houses

Proud to support Priority Projects, 53 Victoria Street Phone: 03 365 9021 • Fax: 03 365 9022 Email: stilealu@stile.co.nz • 12 Braeburn Drive, Hornby, Christchurch

Areas of Speciality: + Property + Commercial + Estates and Trusts + Civil Litigation + Employment & Privacy + Family

Proud to be a Christchurch CBD Law Firm since 1933 www.taylorshaw.co.nz Level 1, 102 Cashel Mall Christchurch Ph. 03 379 4114

» Our reinvigorated Thai menu is back. » Open late for Thai bar snacks and service » Offering our delivery service

Re -opening in August

Open from 11am until late

Come and see us at 61 Victoria St, Christchurch Central

E jamdamrad@xtra.co.nz

P 03 365 2400

www.canterburytoday.co.nz April/May 2014 | 45

Property Construction | 53 Victoria Street

Orion

Hairy Lemon

Priority Projects Project management has existed in some form since early civilisation. But the increasing complexity of modern day structures has elevated the importance of the practice.

The application of knowledge, skills and techniques to execute projects effectively and efficiently, project management involves the overall responsibility for the successful planning, execution, monitoring, control and closure of a project.

Priority Projects is the project manager for the 53 Victoria Street development and, with the project running ahead of schedule by 30 days and below budget, property owner David Abbott is thrilled with the result.

“We have been operating through word of mouth recommendations and I am so thankful that we were recommended to work with Priority Projects. The company has been committed and dedicated to the project right from square one and they have been an absolute pleasure to work with.”

“Priority Projects takes a proactive approach to project management,” director Steve Brownie explains.

“This includes being heavily involved at all aspects, from concept to completion.

We assign one project manager to each project and this person becomes the client’s single point of contact, ensuring direct communication and strong, efficient and functional relationships.”

Goldsmith Fox The project manager is onsite daily during the construction phase, ensuring quality control and adherence to the client’s requirements. “Programme schedules and timeframes are set prior to construction beginning and we are proud of our outstanding record of always meeting our deadlines,” Steve says.

He established the company in 2009 with the objective of creating a design, build and fit-out company which aligned with his core values of “priority service, quality value and results”.

Starting as a builder’s apprentice at the tender age of 18, Steve has more than 20 years' of building experience under his commercial belt and developed his first project management company in 2000.

With a vision and desire to be an industry leader in his field Steve has surrounded himself with staff and contractors that have common goals and focus on what is truly important to be successful in this business, and this is a combination of client satisfaction and enjoying what you do.

CONCEPT TO COMPLETION - Design-build, Fit outs, Construction - Feasibility Studies - Proudly Canterbury owned and operated

Priority Projects does it all, from initial concept to full completion, big or small, including full construction projects – start to finish, design, build and fit-outs, as well as feasibility studies for potential projects.

Priority Projects is a specialist commercial fit out, design-build and construction company. With our significant industry experience, we have the knowledge to manage your project from Concept to Completion.

Proudly Canterbury owned and operated, Priority Projects is playing a strong role in the Canterbury rebuild – Cantabrians supporting Cantabrians.

Ph: (03) 379 9015 M: 0274888305

Priority Projects Unit 3, 21 Brisbane Street Christchurch T (03) 379 9015

www.priorityprojects.co.nz

Steve Brownie Director/Project Manager M 0274 888 305 E Steve.Brownie@PriorityProjects.co.nz www.priorityprojects.co.nz

LINDSAY R JONES PHD, PE DIRECTOR

53 VICTORIA ECT STREET PROJ

MAXLIDE DCS ISOLATOR – 53 VICTORIA STREET |

021 0227 0184

46 | April/May 2014 www.canterburytoday.co.nz

|

P R South Limited “My project management work experiences with Steve Brownie and his team at Priority Projects have always been extremely positive. They provide excellent client focussed service and are diligent in their follow-up.

“Priority Projects is very mindful of project programme schedules with tight budgets and exceptionally responsive and accommodating when dealing with extra scopes of work.

“They have undertaken several significant design/fit-out projects working for my Public Sector client project team. As a service provider project manager, I find great value in their work and ability to work within budget to complete projects on time.

“Priority Projects resources and delivery mechanisms have been tested in every conceivable way this year through innumerable challenges around working on commercial building fit-out projects impacted by earthquakes.

“At no stage, no matter how high the degree of difficulty and at times, virtually impossible deadlines to meet, did Priority Projects drop the ball and not deliver to their very high professional standard of business service.

“Their willingness to find solutions and assist in every conceivable way to complete their side of project work exceeded my expectations on each project delivering superior quality work.

“Without hesitation, I would highly recommend Steve and his innovative, resourceful team at Priority Projects to any client requiring their expertise and experience.

“I look forward to continuing our relationship with them on future projects.”

Pamela Lindsay Account Director/Partner P R South Limited

NEW ZEALAND PRODUCED SEISMIC BASE-ISOLATION TECHNOLOGY

BEEN PROUD TO HAVE E TH IN ED INVOLV

CHRISTCHURCH

How the clients see it…

LINZJONZ@MAXLIDE.COM

Proud suppliers of Geotech, Structural, Electrical, Hydraulics & Fire Engineering to 53 Victoria Street Designers of the first building in New Zealand to be base isolated using double concave sliding bearings Leading. Vibrant. Global. www.aurecongroup.com

Property Construction | 53 Victoria Street

Back on the map: Victoria Street Victoria Square has a history as the commercial hub of early Christchurch.

Containing the Post Office, markets, Police station, women’s prison, animal pound, work stores and immigration barracks, it played an important role in the early years of the South Island city.

“

David and Anna Abbott have created something which is more technologically advanced than anything else around. They wanted tenants to feel safe and secure, but more importantly, they wanted the tenants to be safe and secure.

The city’s western fringe is making a significant come back and 53 Victoria Street is just one section of the excitement coming to the area.

There are pockets of activity between the empty spaces. People out for dinner, coffee, shopping, a haircut, or they are heading to one of the many office buildings. Some businesses never left, some are returning and others are just moving in.

They’re a diverse lot, but they have one thing in common, they are part of the Victoria Street revival.

- PRIORITY PROJECTS, DIRECTOR, STEVE BROWNIE

Lonely Planet recently described the street as “one of Christchurch’s emerging ‘eat streets,' with an expanding range of bars and restaurants”.

”

Stunning multi-storey buildings have been added to the commercial mix, thanks to the new technology such as that behind, or below so to speak, 53 Victoria Street, explains Priority Projects director Steve Brownie.

“The latest technology allows us to build taller without compromising safety. The buildings that are going up in Christchurch are some of the safest in the world,” he says.

“Because of the unique circumstances in Christchurch, many owners and developers are now looking at exceeding building code specifications in order to offer prospective tenants extra assurance of safety.”

With its unique base isolation system, 53 Victoria Street is set to be one of the safest the city has seen yet.

“It includes low-e glass to reduce heat leaving the building, heat recovery systems which reduces running costs and the base isolation is designed to withstand a one in 2000 year earthquake,” Steve explains.

“It is the highest-spec building on Victoria Street and possibly even the city.”

Building owners David and Ann Abbott could have taken their pay out and run, he says, but

the couple are passionate about the rebuild and wanted to re-invest in the city.

“They weren’t prepared to rebuild something which risked coming back down again in another earthquake,” he says.

“David and Ann Abbott have created something which is more technologically advanced than anything else around.

“They wanted tenants to feel safe and secure, but more importantly, they wanted the tenants to be safe and secure.” >

Pleased to be associated with Priority Projects Ltd on the 53 Victoria Street project.

Heating, Ventilation and Air Conditioning Engineers • Design • Installation • Maintenance • IQP Inspections • Energy Audits

Ph 03 3380 145 Fax 03 3380 147 www.amtmech.co.nz

Key services: - HVAC Electrical - Commercial and Industrial Electrical Services - Photo Voltaic Power Generation Design and Installation - Energy Audits and Thermal Imaging Services

“ Enviromech Electrical & Energy Ltd is proud to be providing the main electrical services to Priority Projects on this job and also the HVAC electrical to AMT Mechanical.”

Contact us: 7 Moncur Place, Middleton Christchurch Ph. 03 365 2552 www.environmech.com www.canterburytoday.co.nz April/May 2014 | 47

Property Construction | Fieldwork Group

Property Construction | 53 Victoria Street

“

Background to the development In February 2012 the Victoria Business Centre was irreparably damaged.

We wanted to ensure we created something great, something that would have the strength and ability to withstand strong seismic events so we could give our tenants peace of mind.

Owners David and Anna Abbott had a strong desire to re-invest in the city and by the end of the year, a plan was in place for the rebuild.

In February 2012 the couple engaged Priority Projects to project manage the development and later that year, the previous building was demolished.

In June this year David turned the first soil on the site and construction has been going ever since.

”

Ahead of schedule by 30 days and coming in under budget, the development is set to open in late August. “The idea of rebuilding something that was capable of coming straight back down in a future event seemed crazy,” David explains.

“We wanted to ensure we created something great, something that would have the strength and ability to withstand strong seismic events so we could give our tenants peace of mind.”

- 53 VICTORIA STREET OWNER DAVID ABBOTT

The Christchurch City Council decided that since it will have to jack up the gallery to level it, it should also install base isolation technology that should lessen the building’s exposure to ground motion in another big quake.

That desire has been realised with the development of the new building at 53 Victoria Street which utilises some of the latest and greatest of technology to ensure its tenants not only feel safe, but are safe.

What is most important about this technology, says the NAI Harcourts agent for the development, James Stringer, is business continuity.

One of the latest breakthroughs in damage avoidance technology, base isolation has been designed to reduce downtime associated with large seismic events.

“This technology has the ability to withstand a one in 200 year earthquake. What that means for the tenants is that you can be back in the building immediately following a significant earthquake.

“It allows businesses continuity to continue operating from the premises even after a significant earthquake,” Priority Projects director Steve Brownie explains.

“The base isolation technology ensures you can get back into the building safely and collect any important items.”

“So long as the services are operational and the street is accessible, you can remain in the building or re-enter to retrieve any belongings.”

It is the same technology which is soon set to be added to earthquake-proof the Christchurch Art Gallery. While the Art Gallery suffered no major structural damage, it is no longer sitting level.

53 Victoria Street Christchurch Leasing now For leasing opportunities contact James Stringer 021 467 990 E james.stringer@naiharcourts.co.nz www.naiharcourts.co.nz — Advertising Feature

Proud to be involved in the 53 Victoria Street project.

Experts in every area of law.

Contact us today for brilliant legal advice.

Celia Barker Phone: 335 3466 Email: celia.barker@cavell.co.nz

• Commercial & Residential • Consistent • High Quality Work • On Target • Competitive Rates • Friendly & Approachable Team

East Coast Steelwork proudly provides high quality structural steelwork installations for both commercial and residential buildings throughout Christchurch and surrounding areas.

Phone [03] 982 1190 Fax [03] 982 1192 Email sales@steelwork.co.nz Web www.steelwork.co.nz

48 | April/May 2014 www.canterburytoday.co.nz

Superior service sets coastal company apart The West Coast of the South Island is widely known for mining coal, gold and other minerals, and for good reason the value of the mineral industry on the West Coast is worth about $900 million per year.

While Fieldwork Group Ltd is relatively new to the mining scene, which has been driving the West Coast economy since its inception in 1860, the company has been quick to take advantage of the opportunity at hand.

In 2000 the Westport based family owned and operated company, headed up by Peter McGaveston, was sawmilling on the Coast producing high grade timber. The company, which was called Forest Lumber at the time, was approached by a local mine and asked to supply construction stakes for surveying work.

This simple inquiry was the inception of what the company is today. In 2004 the business, which is known today as Fieldwork Group, started supplying site consumables to the construction and extraction industries.

Fieldwork Group general manager, Tom McGaveston says the rate of exponential growth has been a challenge for the company. But the team was fast to react to increasing demand from customers by hiring more staff, adding more products and expanding supply from the South Island to the entire country, and by taking the next big step - into the Islands and Australia.

Products The product range began with just a few key items such as boundary pegs, set-out pegs and aerosol cans, but has expanded quickly to become a “one stop shop” for surveyors, contractors, mines and environmental contracting companies.

“Aerosol paint which we import from the UK has been a foundation product because of its high quality and excellent value,” Tom says. “But other products like detector tape, site barrier fences and environmental products are quickly catching up.”

The product range has increased dramatically from its humble beginnings to include items like specialised offshore spill response products, exploration products and drill bits. If you require a piece of equipment they don’t already stock then just ask, the dedicated procurement team is happy to source it for you.

Service The company’s rapid growth has been fuelled by a huge demand from customers. The company says the growth can be put down to the quality of service they give to each and every single customer, “we can’t stress the value of service enough”.

Because of its stance on customer service, word of mouth quickly spread throughout the industries that Fieldwork Group was a company committed to the cause.

At the start of 2014 the company underwent some changes. “We are putting an even greater emphasis on being out on site with clients,” Tom says.

Not only has this change helped the customer get the exact supplies they need thanks to the personal one on one contact, but the team says meeting clients is one of the perks of the job.

“Getting out onsite and seeing some of the amazing infrastructure projects being built in New Zealand is one of the most enjoyable aspects of the job,” he says.

Fieldwork Group has an unmatchable ability to offer fast, efficient service thanks to their multiple warehouses around the country, including a new office in Auckland which opened in January 2013, enabling them to offer overnight delivery anywhere in New Zealand.

“Contractors can now buy directly from the importer (us), rather than through multiple hands giving far greater value to the end user,” Tom says.

Fieldwork Group has gone from supplying timber pegs to a local mine in Westport to developing into a large, reputable company supplying site consumables to all of Australasia. But the company’s ambitions continue to grow thanks to the continued support of its customers.

The business is stilling growing at a substantial rate and at the end of last year opened a trading arm in Australia, which is a major project Tom says. “But our main focus is on New Zealand over the next few years as we face an exciting time ahead in the infrastructure industry. We want to offer a service that site managers can’t refuse with a full range and ultra fast site deliveries.” CT

Fieldwork Group Ltd PO Box 304 Westport T 0508 327 672 www.fieldwork-group.com

Extracting solutions for your unique field of work Congratulations Fieldwork Group Ltd on your 10th Birthday To learn about solutions to protect your business contact: 03 543 9021

— Advertising Feature

Property & Construction | No Limit Construction

Warming up with wood Winter is not-so-slowly creeping up on us, but instead of visualising yourself shivering, feverishly blowing into your hands and wearing your entire wardrobe to keep warm, why not ask No Limit Construction to install a comforting wood fire and instantly change your picture of winter to a more idyllic one.

Nothing beats the natural heat of a wood fire and with five years’ experience working with the major fire brands in New Zealand, No Limit Construction really is hot property. As an accredited member of the New Zealand Home Heating Association (NZHHA) No Limit is a goto company for Christchurch residents looking to warm up in style this winter.

“We take care of the installation and the consent management with Selwyn, Christchurch, Waimakariri and Hurunui councils, managing director Kelvin Aldwin says.

“We pride ourselves on being reliable, trustworthy and offering a high quality of workmanship which exceeds the council compliance codes.”

Servicing the wide reaching area between Rolleston and Hanmer Springs, Kelvin and

his team have accumulated a wealth of knowledge on all manner of fire installations. Their expertise is sought after by housing companies, building companies and of course, home-owners.

Why wood?

We’re fortunate in New Zealand to have an abundance of the natural wonder that is wood. As a sustainable heating source, wood burning emits a satisfying heat compared to artificial equivalents while also being carbon neutral.

Wood fires are also one of the cheapest forms of home heating and with a little creativity hot water can also be heated via a wet-back. Hot water heating generally represents one third of the home energy bills, so there are considerable savings to be made using this technique.

Hot design No Limit Construction also cater for the interior designers among us, with aesthetically pleasing installation options your fire could become a functional focal point or centre piece to your home.

No Limit Hearths is the sister company to No Limit Construction and handles the manufacturing of quality New Zealand hearths; the ideal complement to a wood fire installation.

There’s no doubt that wood fires are a cosy companion during the chilly Canterbury winter and with a range of impressive options from No Limit Construction, your fire could be ready to welcome you home after

CLADDING ROOFING CAPPING RAINWATER 0800 FLASHING

a cold day and keep you company during the colder nights.

Just picture yourself huddled around the warmth of a comforting, natural wood fire.

If you don’t already have one, give No Limit Construction a call and get ready to beat the cold this winter. CT No Limit Construction PO Box 35083 Shirley Christchurch T (03) 388 2583 E kelvinaldwin@vodafone.co.nz — Advertising Feature

Proudly supporting No Limit Construction NZ Ltd

Proudly as sociated with No Lim Constructionit

Fax. 03 379 9696 11 Livingstone Street Phillipstown, Christchurch E. enquiries@sheetmetals.co.nz

• Laser Cutting • Sheetmetal Parts and Fabrications • Powdercoating • Log and Pelletfire Flues and Components Newtown Street, Christchurch Office: 11 Edison Place, Bromley Chch Email: flues@davin.co.nz Ph: 03 384 3099 | Fax: 03 384 9666

61 Williams Street, Kaiapoi P F M E

03 3274813 03 3274815 021 837491 vaughan@hiflo.co.nz

www.canterburytoday.co.nz April/May 2014 | 49

Property & Construction | Karston Architectural Design

A space designed just for you Karsten Architectural Design strongly believes every new home should be specifically designed for both the site, and the specific needs of the client.

Canterbury is experiencing an unprecedented boom in new-home building at present and with sub-divisions growing in popularity, the desire to stand out from the crowd will become greater. This is where Karsten Architectural Design can help out.

Tony Karsten says the business specialises in contemporary, original, new homes and caters for budgets between $1,200 per sqm to $4,000 per sqm.

“We believe that new homes should not be picked off the shelf and that there tends to be a lack of creativity in the new suburban developments.”

Uniquely affordable There is a general misconception that unique, architecturally designed homes are expensive homes. This does not have to be the case.

Typically, Karsten Architectural can work to a base design fee of only five percent of the build cost.

Considering the final product will be unique, a reflection of the owner and ideally designed for the site, it hardly seems sensible to forgo the design phase and accept the unimaginative norm when spending a large sum of money on, presumably, a dream home.

“We pride ourselves on creating new homes that are in keeping with the surrounding environment, listening and fulfilling the client’s requirements, as well as designing alterations in keeping with the existing home.”

The Nelson based business is expanding alongside the Canterbury building boom and offer all typical architectural services from initial concept design, 3D modelling and building consent documentation.

The company manages the entire consent process from start to end and can arrange quotes from builders or quantity surveyors.

has when a quick call to Karsten Architectural Design and you could be enroute to creating your very own couture home design.

Hindsight with foresight

Building a home is a reflection of self - do you want to fit in or stand out? CT

Canterbury is building for the future and, projecting ourselves forward a few decades, we would want to see the creativity bred from the expansion of the region so why not make your future home a unique mark on the landscape.

A dream home doesn’t have to be a ‘samebut-different’ version out of a pre-designed catalogue. Why settle for what everyone else

50 | April/May 2014 www.canterburytoday.co.nz

Karsten Architectural Design PO Box 1792 Nelson T (03) 539 1066 E tony@kad.co.nz www.kad.co.nz — Advertising Feature

Property & Construction | Bushnell Builders

Ensuring the rebuild is in accomplished hands Bushnell Builders encompass everything a client would want from a building contractor – integrity, fairness and reliability.

SOUTHERN ELECTRICAL CONNECTIONS

As registered Master Builders with 35 years of experience under their tool belt, it’s safe to say the team at Bushnell’s know quality construction and Canterbury.

In today’s crowded Christchurch building market, Bushnell’s represent longevity and long standing commitment to the Garden City’s construction needs.

The close-knit team, from the directors to carpenters, share a common focus to uphold the strongly adhered-to company values; integrity, fairness and reliability.

Bushnell Builders provide a range of services including residential, commercial and architectural housing. Repeat customers and word-of-mouth provide the bulk of the company’s work; a telling sign that its customers are not only satisfied, but impressed enough to recommend the services of Bushnell Builders.

Joint managing director Lance Austin says “We do have plenty of repeat custom which is fantastic for us; it shows we do a good job and we’re trusted. We’re actually building our third home for one client at present.”

Established 35 years ago, Bushnell builders is a family company native to Christchurch. The company reputation began to spread as they completed numerous quality commercial, residential and civil works in the region.

With 50 employees, Bushnell’s proudly remains relatively small and adamant that ‘growth for the sake of growth’ can be detrimental to the fabric of a business.

During the years the company has refined its techniques onsite and in-house to become a more efficient building contractor. Now into its fourth decade of servicing the Christchurch market, there has been some invaluable experience gained throughout the company’s history.

Matthew Bushnell is actively involved in the operational side of the business and his attention to detail keeps the company focussed on achieving quality through obedience of Bushnell’s ethos; integrity, fairness and reliability.

Building relationships between clients, consultants and contractors is of paramount importance to Bushnell’s, who see postquake Christchurch as an environment where only the most transparent of construction companies will prosper in the long run.

Matthew himself is a firm believer that good outcomes stem from attention to detail, reliability, fairness and integrity in the manner Bushnell’s carry out their business.

Efficiency and sustainability are two key factors Bushnell’s incorporate into all its work and as purveyors of quality construction, the team also know how to build for the

future. Building isn’t just a physical task for Bushnell’s, the importance of building relationships with their clients is essential.

“The post-earthquake construction market has escalated the importance of relationships within teams. It has influenced a change in how the building owner engages a main contractor.

“Bushnell’s prides itself on building strong relationships between our clients, consultants and subcontractors. The company is well versed in handling projects under negotiated contracts and designbuild arrangements, as well as the work we undertake through tenders.”

The fact that Bushnell’s seek to actively retain quality staff has led to a stable, long serving team of skilled workers, thus keeping the work complete to a consistently high quality.

With multiple subcontractors and a rotating door policy it’s hard to keep company stability. The business recognises this issue and combats it by offering its labour force a high level of support, training and development, encouraging them to progress into future leaders. >

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254 Springs Rd, Hornby Phone: 03 349 9739

Phone: 381 0086 Cell: 027 333 8993 southernelectrical@xtra.co.nz

P O Box 26081 North Avon www.canterburytoday.co.nz April/May 2014 | 51

Property & Construction | Bushnell Builders

“

Commercial

Testimonial

The current commercial market in Christchurch is as competitive as it gets. However, when choosing a contractor it would certainly be worthwhile employing an established Canterbury outfit with more than 35 years worth of experience in the region and a penchant for perfection.

“During the tender process Bushnell’s were the only company to thoroughly research the tasks. Once onsite they were very efficient with time and waste.

Communication skills were excellent between management, onsite and with us as their clients.”

Above that, Bushnell’s also value the relationship struck between clients and emphasise the importance of clear communication.

The design and build process of Bushnell’s commercial operation is simple and flexible, allowing customers as much input as they desire before and during construction, and with a large pool of expertise to choose from when it comes to onsite management, Bushnell’s take every aspect of the build into account to ensure the process is as smooth as it can possibly be.

Residential The Bushnell’s residential portfolio contains a plethora of high quality, well designed homes and multi-occupancy units.

Bushnell’s accompany clients through every step of their residential builds, including the design proposals, the project costing, obtaining of all the consents, construction and code compliance certification upon completion.

Involving Bushnell’s early in the process means clients can utilise the company’s expertise to encompass the entire process, from design to hand-over, which in turn can translate into time and budget savings.

The Bushnell’s ‘no surprises’ philosophy is built on constant, clear communication throughout the building process. Bushnell’s approaches each new home build with the vital importance it deserves.

As Christchurch builds for the future, quality contractors have the opportunity to please their clients while simultaneously leaving

– Andrew, Blackwells

”

their mark on the future landscape of the rebuilt city.

In years to come, Bushnell’s will be proud of the work it has completed which will reflect the company’s attention to detail and ability to practise modern building techniques.

Civil and earthquake repair work As an expert in heritage restoration Bushnell’s can assist in the attempt to bring some of Christchurch’s older buildings back to their former glory and also offer structural strengthening experience to prevent further damage.

During the past few years the company has been actively involved in earthquake repair work, as well as demolition within the commercial and residential markets.

The versatility of Bushnell’s allows for the company to handle a demolition and rebuild on the same site, such is the depth of its expertise.

The Bushnell team Matthew Bushnell – Director Mathew Bushnell, founder of Bushnell Builders, continues to play a hands-on role in the business that bears his name.

Matthew specialises in customer relationship management and has input into the majority of the Bushnell’s projects.

52 | April/May 2014 www.canterburytoday.co.nz

Lance Austin – Director Lance Austin is Bushnell’s man on the ground. He manages the sites and the contracts while ensuring the progress of the projects. Lance covers the occupational safety standards, supports the onsite staff and is responsible for apprentice training.

Chris Duncan – Chief Estimator Chris Duncan has been with Bushnell’s for 16 years and brings his international experience to the table. His estimating expertise is invaluable for the company as he continues to prepare tenders and manages multiple contracts around Canterbury.

Russell Keast – Senior Quality Surveyor Russell combines his joint expertise as a qualified carpenter and quantity surveyor to provide Bushnells with the knowledge and experience needed to co-ordinate projects to a customer’s budget. The combination of both skills allows for a practical-minded approach to the tendering process.

Elliot Bushnell – Quantity Surveyor Elliot Bushnell is a qualified carpenter who is looking towards attaining quantity surveyors qualifications to bolster his CV.

“

Testimonial “Bushnell’s thoroughly researched the work before commencing work. They are very time efficient and constantly go the extra mile to meet deadlines.

Mathew Bushnell is excellent at assessing needs before coming onsite.”

– David Evans, St. Andrews College

”

He also has STMS qualifications and a solid knowledge of occupational safety compliance.

Sally Latham – Accounts Manager During her 17 years at Bushnell Builders Sally Latham has played a variety of roles and is predominantly the first point of contact.

David MacGibbon – Financial Controller David MacGibbon is the figures man, overseeing all the company financials.

Frank Burton – Workshop Manager Frank Burton is a qualified and experienced mechanic who has been with Bushnell’s for more than 12 years. He is responsible for the maintenance of all the company vehicles.

Property & Construction | Bushnell Builders

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Bushnell Builders – the right choice Bushnell Builders know the importance of a project and respect the input of the client, whether it be a consistent input or more of a hands-off approach.

“We like to allow our design and build customers to have as much, or as little, input as they like,” Lance says. “We recognised some clients have a different approach to a design build process and our flexibility allows them to contribute where they see fit.”

Ideally Bushnell’s prefer to be involved early in the process to add their knowledge of planning and project management which could ultimately save valuable time, money and resources.

The ‘no surprises’ philosophy will be reassuring for first time home builders who may be wary of potential pitfalls of building, as opposed to buying, yet the satisfaction from seeing a home transform from page to plot is certainly something special.

After 35 years of serving the Christchurch construction market, the Bushnell team likes nothing more than a good challenge to keep the saw sharp.

This attitude has underpinned the company success to date and combined with their excellent customer service, will undoubtedly drive the company forward during the next 35 years.

Bushnell Builders Ltd 198 - 200 Springs Road Hornby Christchurch T (03) 344 5972 E admin@bushnell.co.nz www.bushnell.co.nz — Advertising Feature

The commercial arm of Bushnell’s is currently regenerating prominent city centre locations within Christchurch.

This active involvement helps the company keep a firm handle on all contracts, as well as indicates the level of passion and interest to the client.

2

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Commercial conquest

The onsite attitude of the company’s workforce is reflective of its ethos, founded

by Matthew Bushnell. And the team takes considerable pride in its utilisation of quality control systems and reassuring presence of senior company directors at all sites on a regular basis.

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Its approach to construction is ‘no problem is too hard to solve’.

Bushnell Builders aim to facilitate this vision by delivering builds on time and on budget.

The corner of Victoria Street and Salisbury Street stands one of the newly erected commercial buildings Bushnell’s is lending its experience to.

1

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CALL FOR A FREE SAMPLE PACK! More detailed information available visit www.canidae.co.nz or freephone 0800 101 729. www.canterburytoday.co.nz April/May 2014 | 53

Property & Construction | Frame Contracting

Delivering distinctive finishes The demand for a top quality painter and decorator in Christchurch at present must be similar to the demand for a good air conditioning expert in the Sahara desert!

Luckily, Mark Frame and his busy team at Frame Contracting are on hand to get the city looking as good as, if not better than it used to.

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Mark originally founded his own painting and decorating company, but the influx of work gained through the completion of quality jobs has allowed the company to expand and it now offers a huge range of contracting services including painting, plastering and carpentry.

Given the current market demand for painting and plastering work, there is little wonder the close-knit team is kept so busy.

The latest swathe of work has included important aesthetic finishes such as the interior painting and the exterior plastering on a Horncastle Homes display home. A quality finish certainly adds to the appeal of a new house and the Frame Contracting team were entrusted to produce the type of deal-sealing finish that could sway a home-owner to make a purchase.

The vintage Standish and Preece frontage on Tuam Street, Christchurch is another impressive addition to the Frame portfolio. It’s refreshingly contemporary, yet reminiscent of an era gone by and points distinctly in the direction of Christchurch’s post-quake future.

The buildings we decorate now are the landmarks of the next generation and with Frame Contracting on the scene, landmarks will be finished with a touch of class.

The company ethos is certainly a customer focussed one. “We have great leaders in each division to ensure reliability and satisfaction is guaranteed for our clients.”

Not only does Frame Contracting care for the every need of its clients, it also ensures the utmost safety of its most valuable asset - the work force.

The company also has numerous subcontractors including tilers, plumbers and brick layers available to assist with the ever growing workload.

“We do have a range of sub-trades which enables us to provide a one-stop service to the customer,” Mark says. “We can handle the entire project including the erection of scaffold by our fully certified team, right down to the very last brush stroke.”

Residential, commercial and EQC repairs The diversely talented staff working at Frame Construction has covered a number of bases with their range of expertise. Currently working on a number of commercial projects, the team is spread across a plethora of work including the mountain of EQC and insurance repairs as well as still finding the time to do new homes.

“We have embraced the workplace health and safety across the organisation, we are among the first signatories to the Canterbury Rebuild Health and Safety Charter on the 6th of March, 2014 and we’re also AppCon Green accredited.”

AppCon accredited AppCon is a health and safety pre-qualification initiative for subcontractors launched in Canterbury due to the rising numbers of subcontractors in the region.

Once contractors fill out questionnaires with evidence to support their answers, the health and safety experts assess the submission and the resulting database is open to main contractors looking to select a company to work with.

It’s a programme aimed at assisting those selecting sub-contractors with the peace of

mind that the company is an accredited, trusted organisation working within the health and safety guidelines.

In Canterbury’s busy construction environment, employee safety is an issue Frame Contracting is not prepared to compromise on. The hard line has been taken to ensure top quality work is carried out in a safety conscious environment at all times, hence the AppCon Green accreditation.

Services • Exterior plastering, Rockcote and Equus approved • Interior plastering • Painting, residential, new homes and commercial • Wall papering • LBP building contractor (Licenced Building Practitioner) • Scaffolding • Project management • Quantity surveying.

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www.alltrades.org.nz 54 | April/May 2014 www.canterburytoday.co.nz

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Property & Construction | Frame Contracting

Repeat work and client relations During the years many a happy customer has had the Frame experience and with quality workmanship comes the inevitability of repeat customer, the holy grail of all business.

Mark and his team have had the pleasure of repeat customer from individual homeowners to large construction companies.

Trusted by such reputable brands as Resene and Rockcote to be registered installers and applicators, Frame Contracting has the skills, the team and the product knowledge to transform the aesthetics of a building.

We all know what a lick of paint can do to a place, especially if the property is on the market or is a public hangout. The team of professionals at Frame Contracting take care of the logistics of interiors and exterior decorating ensuring a smooth process and a flash finish.

Following in the footsteps Mark Frame is a second generation painter, following in his father’s footsteps.

After a number of years working and owning businesses locally and offshore, Mark established Mark Frame Painters and Decorators, later to become Frame Contracting.

His passion for decorating led to a fully fledged business providing a service to its array of customers.

Any business driven by passion that focusses on the experience of its customers, often experiences success as a direct consequence.

Mark Frame now has the armoury of his most valuable asset, his staff. The various qualified and experienced tradespeople at Frame Construction enable the company to select the team with the skillset most suited to each individual contract.

“

We have great leaders in each division to ensure reliability and satisfaction is guaranteed for our clients.

- MARK FRAME

”

Looking ahead As Christchurch continues to revamp and revitalise, the talented team at Frame Contracting will be on hand to help improve the aesthetic appeal of the Garden City and with the type of professionalism it applies to every job, we will certainly have some impressive interiors and exteriors city-wide.

So next time you think of the bigger picture in Christchurch, picture Frame Contracting; the city is their canvas. CT

Frame Contracting Unit 4 19 Nga Mahi Road Sockburn Christchurch T (03) 741 1738 Freephone 0800 1 FRAME E mark@framecontracting.co.nz www.framecontracting.co.nz — Advertising Feature

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0800 RESENE (737 363) www.resene.co.nz www.canterburytoday.co.nz April/May 2014 | 55

Property & Construction | Clark Construction Before

Building it better A quarter century in business is a significant achievement for any company in any industry.

But when you take into consideration how tumultuous the last five years have been in Canterbury – the financial and physical landscape has been devoid of any real stability – it makes 25 years of successful operation even more impressive.

In 2014, Clark Construction is celebrating this milestone and everything it took to get there. Specialising in a broad range of construction services, the business is fiercely loyal to its market, embracing new clients, challenges and construction projects every year.

History When original founder David Clark established Clark Construction 25 years ago even he may not have anticipated the true potential of his enterprise. Having been a structural engineer in the Christchurch market for some time, he ventured out on his own in pursuit of autonomy and the opportunity to meet demands for precast and general building work.

Clark Construction has retained this modus operandi throughout the years, but it has significantly diversified since inception to accommodate evolving needs and preferences in the market. Today, David Clark no longer leads the company, although his strength, determination and ingenuity are still at the heart of the operation.

General manager Aaron Lewis is at the helm of Clark Construction and has been involved with the business since 2001. “Up until the early 2000s we were focussed very much on structural engineering, precast concrete

work and consultancy. We still do this today, but around that time, we added a draughting division to the business,” Lewis explains.

“I was involved with the company as a shareholder from that point, addressing the business side of things, but continued to gain experience in the industry working for major players like Fulton Hogan. In 2010, I came in to run the business and became the primary shareholder. It was my intention to really grow and boost the construction side of the business.”

Celebrating 25 years in business is something that Lewis and his team are understandably proud of and when Lewis reflects on the incredible progress the business has made to date, he says it is difficult to pinpoint exactly what helped Clark Construction grow such strong wings.

“I think one of the major milestones for the business was realised following the Canterbury earthquakes. It was an exceptionally difficult time for everyone and we wanted to develop Clark Construction further in a way that would allow us to respond effectively to the new demands for construction services.

“Our specialist construction division was established directly after the first earthquake and we feel very positive about the role it plays in the earthquake recovery.

“As a company that prides itself on lateral thinking and outside of the square challenges, we have been engaged to work on a number of high profile projects with very unique challenges.”

After

going to cost twice what he was entitled to from insurance to fix it. We had other ideas for him – ideas that worked and we got that job done.”

Clark Construction has also earned itself quite the fan club in the Governors Bay community having successfully completed the local pool so it was up and running for summer.

“That was a reasonably tall order to get that reopened in time for Christmas, but we love to rise to these sorts of challenges.”

With strong networks in place and contracts established with Christchurch City Council and City Care, the business is playing an integral role in the repair, rebuild and revitalisation of critical physical infrastructure throughout Christchurch.

Each and every project is approached with care and consideration for the environment and utilising the best possible products.

With perseverance and innovation as its key commercial companions, Clark Construction has taken on a number of projects that many said couldn’t be done.

“We are spending more and more time working with natural timbers. We were always very much a concrete based business, which is technically a natural product in a way, but as a business and even as an industry, we are really working to get our heads around the potential of timber in terms of structural repairs.

“One challenging project in particular was the repair and strengthening of Linwood Crematorium Chapel. It is a building from the 1930s and the owner was told that it was

“We are treating timber as a viable and often better alternative - using timber design alternatives instead of concrete. We have really shifted our focus to that.”

• • • • •

Maintenance Support Structural General Engineering On Site Welding Earthmoving Repairs

Techsure Services Ltd Techsure Services Ltd is a Christchurch based engineering company with full workshop facilities, offering a complete range of structural, maintenance and project management services to Canterbury and the wider South Island.

Build It Christchurch Build It Christchurch takes pride in providing its customers with topnotch service and workmanship at very competitive rates. Build It offers a multitude of services and can help you with new homes, renovations and alterations, earthquake repairs, as well as general maintenance.

Geoconsult Geoconsult is a team of professional geotechnical engineers with a wide range of experience and expertise within the geo-technical and geological professions. Currently, it has more than ten staff members between its two offices in Auckland and Christchurch.

Proud to support Clark Construction Services and be part of the Christchurch rebuild

Ph. 03 327 0720 www.techsure.org

56 | April/May 2014 www.canterburytoday.co.nz

Clark Construction would like to sincerely thank the following partners for their services and support:

Property & Construction | Clark Construction

Geoconsult provides geotechnical investigations for: » Pre-purchase appraisals » Liquefaction assessments » Residential & commercial buildings Before

All of Clark Construction’s environmental policies are about establishing and maintaining the highest standards.

“We ensure all of our staff are well versed and instructed when it comes to environment policies, compliancy, obligations and best practise. We also put a lot of focus into minimising waste – not using what we don’t need.”

As a medium sized enterprise employing 15 staff, including five apprentices, Lewis appreciates that all his staff must be singing from the same song sheet. “We are based in Christchurch and Wellington – the draughting side of the business is run by three staff from there.

“When I recruit staff I think the most important thing is that they have an interest in the construction industry and they are willing to learning everything there is to know. We can’t afford to employ people that just want a job.

“We like our staff to not be too fixated on construction alone – we pride ourselves on the fact that our staff are all-rounders who don’t shy away from a challenge. We look for people who want to have a go and diversify their skills through exposure to both residential and commercial work.”

Clark Construction facilitates and cultivates an interactive working environment by training its staff in-house and by buddying up new apprentices with experienced tradesmen. “I have a lot of experience on the training side of things and am confident about what works.

“I’ve spent quite a bit of time writing qualification material for the Building Construction Industry Training Organisation (BCITO) who run all the apprenticeships.

“I’ve worked with them on cement and concrete qualifications, and also sit on the advisory groups for the building industry, so I am able to apply all of my own learning within these realms to my own business.”

In the coming years, Lewis will be focussed on building on what has already been established, as well as diversifying the business even further.

“We are an innovative business – this expression sums us up straight away. When clients ring us with tricky jobs we take them.

We are not just a building company – we are really strong on the design aspect and are very solutions orientated.

“For the future, we do not want to lose this focus or our quality workmanship. We all strive for this. We want to remain the size we are, so we can retain our personalised service and continue to interact with clients on a one on one basis.

“Our five year plan is to build on what we already have and to keep adding to our expertise areas.”

» Subdivisions

After

Services Clark Construction works across four key divisions including project management, draughting, specialist construction and general construction.

An exhaustive list of what each area entails can be found in the fact file included in this story, but some of the key services include: Precast shop drawings The supply of precast shop drawings involves taking the information supplied by the structural engineers, architects, mechanical engineers and electrical engineers, as well as extracting all of the information that applies to each precast element and producing one single drawing of that element for the precast factory to use to complete the manufacturing process.

Clark Construction manages this process with an aim to producing the highest quality precast shop drawings in the best possible timeframe to minimise downtime.

The business believes in building solid professional relationships and maximising communication with its clients in order to achieve accurate and efficient results.

Clark Construction uses the latest AUTOCAD programs and actively upgrades to stay in touch with technological developments. It provides 2D and 3D precast shop drawings to the construction industry.

Concrete crack repairs Cracks appear in concrete for a variety of reasons and although some of them are just considered part of the life span of concrete and require no attention, others can have a major effect on the structural integrity, or the look of the surface.

“

We are treating timber as a viable and often better alternative using timber design alternatives instead of concrete. We have really shifted our focus to that.

”

- AARON LEWIS

The business does not align itself with one particular supplier for the products used as there are various suppliers on the market with systems that provide different results.

Ultimately, it bases its product selection on whatever is the best product for the job itself.

Structural building repair Clark Construction provides a full design to completion service for upgrading existing buildings to the new N.B.S standards. With a specialist team of engineers and quality tradespeople no project is out of reach if it makes economic sense. CT Clark Construction E info@clarkconstruct.co.nz E aaron@clarkconstruct.co.nz www.clarkconstruct.co.nz — Advertising Feature

Geoconsult is a proud supplier to Clark Construction.

Cracks that affect the structural integrity of the building must be checked by a structural engineer to determine whether the concrete element needs to be replaced or repaired.

Congratulations for 25 years in business.

A common repair method is to inject the cracks with an epoxy resin using a special system that basically restores the structural integrity if completed properly.

Other cracks that may not immediately affect the structural integrity may do so over time, when moisture eventually makes its way through the crack and begins to rust out the reinforcing steel inside the concrete.

Although cracks of this nature do not require a full crack injection, they can be ground out and filled with a special two-part epoxy which will protect from moisture intrusion going forward.

Clark Construction is a specialist with this type of work and provides accurate QA information to ensure your cracks are repaired to a high standard.

With dedicated equipment for: » CPT, SDMT and Dynamic Probe testing

www.geoconsult.co.nz Congratulates Clark construction on their 25th anniversary

m. 021 521 101 p. 03 960 3552

w w w .b uildit .n e t . n z

38 Leeds Street, Phillipstown, Christchurch Phone: (03) 281 7737 Email: office@geoconsult.co.nz

www.canterburytoday.co.nz April/May 2014 | 57

Focus | Homestead Health & Beauty

The friendly, informative way

to better health

With the ever increasing awareness about the importance of health, more and more people are paying more attention to their nutritional habits and incorporating vitamins and beauty products into their daily routines, as part of leading a healthy lifestyle.

The trouble is, there’s an array of health and beauty stores spread across New Zealand, with hundreds of different natural products to choose from, so many people don’t know where to start.

Brett Heaney, owner of Homestead Health feels that with all these products on offer, it is important that his team is giving valuable and expert knowledge, while providing a friendly service.

“What is important though, is that our staff provide a top quality service to our customers, and that the customer feels comfortable in discussing their individual health and beauty needs,” Brett explains

<

Health stores can be a one stop shop for everything natural, ethical and environmental, and include whole-foods, organics, allergy-free foods, vitamins, minerals, sports nutrition and beauty supplements.

“Many staff in health food stores across the country are qualified and experienced in helping with a wide range of health conditions including allergies, children’s health, digestion, energy, fatigue, hair, skin and nails, weight control – the list goes on.

Brett has more than 30 years’ experience in the industry and ensures his team are here to help you on all your health requirements.

“This input is important as it gives us the opportunity to stock appropriate products or assist where needed.”

“The team are dedicated in providing top quality customer service and every customer is treated the same and offered health advice and support.”

The independently run health and beauty store retails natural foods, vitamins and minerals, health supplements and herbal, homeopathic remedies and beauty products and much more.

Krill oil supports heart health, joint mobility & healthy brain function.

It is better absorbed than ordinary fish oil and its naturally reflux-free.

Your Homestead Health Super Store recommends SANDERSON Superior Red Krill Oil 1500mg for unmatched quality, value & environmental sustainability.

During the years the business has grown and expanded to keep up with the demand from its regular customers, and to provide them with better access to quality health and beauty products.

“We are proud to say that we are thriving and continue to provide customers with our vast range of products and knowledge from our friendly team,” Brett says.

Come in and discuss your individual needs

Brett further explains that the team can offer open advice, and help you make healthier lifestyle choices for you and your family.

“With Homestead Health you can be sure we are really thinking of you - wellbeing and vitality are at the heart of everything we do, so we insist on selling quality products to support your health.”

Both stores have regular everyday specials and provide a loyalty club to new and existing customers. The team are on hand to assist you in improving your health and are dedicated to educating its customers on healthy eating, healthy living and the many different health products and supplements that are available in today’s market.

“We have excellent knowledge about the many different health products that we supply

Homestead Health has one of the largest selections of products in Christchurch and has two store locations in Riccarton and Hornby. “Over the years the team has built long lasting and trusting relationships with their clients and encourage customers to give feedback.

and we continually challenge ourselves to improve our products, our expert advice and our excellent service.

If you prefer shopping in person and browsing the shelves, rather than shopping online, then visit one of our stores and meet the team. If you don’t have the time to visit, you can also call us - we will be happy to assist with any questions or queries you may have,” Brett says. CT Homestead Health Super Stores E homestead.health@xtra.co.nz Bush Inn Centre Cnr Riccarton & Waimairi Roads Christchurch T (03) 348 7867 The Hub 418 Main South Road Hornby Christchurch T (03) 349 5150 — Advertising Feature

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Taking care of your home or commercial building Exterior Building Care Goleman Ltd is celebrating 21 years in business, having survived good years and bad, as well as the devastating Christchurch earthquakes.

Goleman is a leading consultant in exterior building care management and an innovative provider of building maintenance and cleaning.

A history of innovation

He questioned the efficiency of erecting scaffolding around the building, and instead proposed painting the structure using abseiling methods.

This revolutionary approach turned out to be the start of something big. Before long, Peter and his sons, Luke and Brian, began making headway in the building maintenance industry in Canterbury with their ‘can do’ attitude.

Word quickly spread among local building owners and managers and, as the acceptance of industrial rope access grew, the Goleman team was called on to carry out a wider variety of building maintenance and cleaning jobs around the city.

Armed with a constant smile, broken English and a winning attitude, Peter Goleman set out to solve problems, think proactively, and always stay loyal to his staff and his customers. These values shaped the Goleman culture that exists to this day.

Expanding the Goleman solution Today Goleman employs a total of 52 staff throughout New Zealand, including 20 based from its head office in Christchurch.

General manager Luke Goleman says the company’s Wellington branch, which was formed in July 2008, has continued to grow every year.

The Wellington move was Goleman’s first major venture outside of the Christchurch market and came as a result of securing a contract with City Care Ltd, a longterm client. The contract involved maintaining and caring for the exteriors of the Wellington City Council’s building portfolio.

As the City Care contract gained momentum, Goleman’s public profile grew and its client base increased.

Customers who hired the new boys on the block were more than satisfied with the service provided, and Goleman Wellington’s reputation and size continued to grow. By the end of 2011, Goleman Wellington employed 25 specialist staff and had progressed to offering an exterior building maintenance service in addition to the established cleaning service.

Goleman industrial rigging Goleman operates an industrial rigging division that deals with rock stabilisation, the maintenance, inspection and repair of wind turbines, mobile phone tower construction, painting of power pylons, and maintenance of large silos. This branch is based in Nelson but operates throughout New Zealand.

Roofing and waterproofing Goleman Roofing and Waterproofing is the fastest growing division within the Goleman Group, specialising in new builds and replacements.

Its ability to utilise rope access rather than scaffolding is in many cases a more costeffective and time-efficient option, which still promotes a strong health and safety culture.

Goleman’s expertise includes: • Metal roofing • Butynol roofing membranes • Fibre-reinforced fabric

• Liquid-applied membranes This move solidified Goleman’s position as one of the largest rope access and exterior • Torch-on membranes. building care companies in New Zealand.

That same year, Goleman Wellington expanded its maintenance service to include a waterproofing and roofing division.

Goleman Wellington now offers a total exterior building care service, employing specialist staff to care for each of the exterior components that encapsulate each asset.

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In late 1995 Peter secured the contract to paint all the exposed concrete areas and window frames on the old Christchurch Railway Station on Moorhouse Avenue.

An Exterior Building Care Goleman crew out on the tools

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Goleman was established in Christchurch in 1993 by Peter Goleman, a mechanical engineer who emigrated from Bulgaria and began doing all types of building maintenance and cleaning work.

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Focus | Goleman

“

We provide a range of services to cover the exterior of a building from top to bottom; from roofs where we can do washes and repairs to gutter installations, facades cleaning and maintenance, inspection and repairs.

”

<

A Goleman worker busy on the Christchurch Casino

Post-earthquake building services The Christchurch earthquakes have resulted in a change of focus for Goleman, which has come through that difficult economic period and is continuing to grow.

Goleman offers a total exterior asset care service, with its work encompassing four main areas: Specialist cleaning, building maintenance, roofing repairs, water proofing and painting, and geo-technical.

General manager Luke Goleman says the February 2011 earthquake was devastating for the business, which up to that point had primarily undertaken building cleaning services in Christchurch.

“We lost about 80 percent of our business because the buildings went. And even with existing buildings, people didn’t know what was going to happen with them,” he says.

“We pretty much had to retrain most of our staff into a small area of business involving repairs and maintenance.”

Staff were retrained for work that included butynol roof repairs, leak investigations, crack injection and concrete repairs.

“In the immediate aftermath of the earthquake we did brick cleanup and general tarpaulining of buildings for our existing customers. They relied on us and

“The recent heavy rains also showed that there are a lot of buildings out there that still needed roofing work done. We’ve been doing butynol roofs and gutter repairs for our customers.”

Paintings and coatings Goleman’s evolution from a small cleaning business to a specialist exterior building care company was, in part, founded on painting and coatings. Its recent commitment to investing in its commercial painting division comes as a long-awaited and highly requested service.

Building maintenance Exterior Building Care Goleman offers a specialist maintenance service to its Christchurch customers.

Goleman Painting specialises in:

Luke Goleman says the company specialises in buildings with difficult access, where scaffolding is impractical or not financially viable.

• Commercial painting • Rope access painting • Specialist coatings

“We provide a range of services to cover the exterior of a building from top to bottom; from roofs where we can do washes and repairs to gutter installations, facades cleaning and maintenance, inspection and repairs,” he says.

• Exterior and Interior painting service.

they weren’t sure where to go. It evolved from there.

“We went from being 85 percent regular cleaning to being 90 percent one-off maintenance and repairs,” Goleman says.

“It’s a complete service on the exterior envelope of a building.”

“We’re still doing that, although now we’re finding a trend with new buildings. There’s a lot more cleaning and work on new builds going on. There’s also plenty of consultation work in regards to accessing new buildings and installation of safety lines. This year we’ll end up seeing a lot more of the regular work coming back.

Goleman’s vast experience in the maintenance industry provides the business with access to the products and expertise required to undertake maintenance works on almost every type of building material.

Goleman personnel hold approved contractor status from a multitude of world-renowned suppliers and building authorities.

The company‘s building maintenance work includes: Concrete repairs Assessment, reports, estimations, crack repair, injection technology, pebble dash mortar, spalling concrete repair, textured mortars, concrete lamination and coatings.

Leak investigation and repair Abseil leak investigations, forced water tests, dye penetration testing, endoscope investigation, moisture testing, roof and gutter inspection.

Sealant application Precast panels, floor joints, construction sealants, crack injections and epoxies, stone and concrete sealing, breathable silicone systems, fire stop sealants.

Hi-rise glazing Cracked and broken glass, hard-to-access glass, balustrades, frame repair and replacement, glazing rubbers and seals, hinges, handles and fittings.

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0800 TO GET HIGH CHERRY PICKERS | SCISSORLIFTS | KNUCKLEBOOMS | 60 | April/May 2014 www.canterburytoday.co.nz

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Geo-technical expertise Goleman’s geo-technical skills were used widely in the aftermath of the Canterbury earthquakes.

The company’s highly qualified and experienced geo-technical team, which has specialist rope access skills, can provide:

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Goleman operates a highly skilled geo-technical crew, who work using rope access

Large portfolio of work Goleman has completed many significant projects and contracts during its 21 years of operation in Christchurch.

“We’re blessed to be in an environment where our customers appreciate the work we do for them and they continue to keep coming to us for the services we provide. We’ll keep providing them and keep changing as the requirements of our customers change.”

Luke Goleman says the company completed all the exterior repairs on the new Christchurch City Council civic building in Hereford Street, as well as the old central Specialist cleaning Police station. It has also been involved in rock Cleaning buildings is one of the core functions stabilisation work. of the company and involves a range of “Last year we completed one of the biggest specialist cleaning services. rock protection jobs at McCormack Bay for The company prides itself on adding value. For Fulton Hogan,” he says. this reason every structure Goleman cares for “It was to protect the fresh water reservoirs gets a free written report stating the overall and involved putting in around 200 anchors, condition of the structure, with photographs which were drilled 6m into the bed rock, to and descriptions of any damage staff have secure the cliff.” come across. CT Goleman says the company offers a consistently high quality service and delivers what it promises.

Goleman’s cleaning services include: Interior and exterior window cleaning services Hi-rise cleaning using rope and abseil access, low-rise windows, internal commercial office windows, specialist tools for hard-to-access windows, chemical cleaning and stain removal.

Building wash services Soft wash, power wash, pre-paint wash, pigeon waste removal, chemical treatments, heritage cleaning, chemical cleaning, moss, mould and lichen treatments, steam cleaning, warm soap wash, abseil building wash, roof wash, high dusting, stainless steel restoration, silo and confined space cleaning.

Spouting cleaning With spring now here getting your spoutings cleared out before winter makes a lot of sense.

Goleman Ltd PO Box 10202 Phillipstown Christchurch T (03) 982 3830 E info@goleman.co.nz www.goleman.co.nz — Advertising Feature

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www.canterburytoday.co.nz April/May 2014 | 61

Focus | PK Engineering

Building fuel tanks for New Zealand There are fuel tanks, and then there are PK Engineering (Nelson) Limited fuel tanks – designed with the strength and robustness to meet the needs of tough New Zealand industry.

PK Engineering has been making fuel tanks since its formation 12 years ago. Owners Pete and Kerry Todd initially focussed on servicing logging and forestry equipment, but were soon asked to repair a forestry fuel tank – and it all grew from there.

“We specialise in making fuel containers and tanks ranging from 50 litres up to 100,000 litres; that’s now the mainstay of the business,” Pete says.

The business moved to its current site in Factory Road, Brightwater, three years ago and has all the technology required to build whatever you need. “We have enough gear to build just about anything. We’ve got a brake press and we press a lot of our own plates, for our fuel tank fabrication and other requirements,” Pete says.

“We also make stainless steel and aluminium tanks for jet A1 fuel and petrol.”

Focus on quality and strength The company is making more than 100 fuel tanks a year, with the majority made for Nelson Petroleum Distributors (NPD).

Our tanks are heavier built and better quality than most of the imported ones.

They’re purpose built for New Zealand conditions.

We give a 15 year guarantee on all our tanks.

- PETE TODD

”

“Our tanks go all around the country, to bushmen, farmers, contractors, vineyards, schools etc; anyone who needs to store fuel.

Our tanks are heavier built and better quality than most of the imported ones. They’re purpose-built for New Zealand conditions.

We give a 15 year guarantee on all our tanks.

“We’ve spent a lot of money developing these tanks and getting them to the stage where they are able to withstand the harsh environments, especially of logging in New Zealand.”

Think big – think mini.

For handy on-site refuelling around Christchurch dial an NPD Mini Tanker.

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The majority of PK Engineering’s fuel tanks are bought by Nelson Petroleum Distributors

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“NPD has grown significantly over the years and we’ve been very fortunate to have grown with them for the last 12 of those.

“

In addition, PK Engineering makes tanks for jet fuel, and specialist tanks for slinging under helicopters to supply remote drilling rigs.

“We will custom build virtually any tank as long as it meets the required code of compliance for the application required,” Pete says.

Why choose PK Engineering?

PK Engineering owner Pete Todd believes a major bonus for customers choosing his company is its flat management structure.

“You’re usually dealing directly with me or the next guy in line. I take full responsibility for every job we do,” he says.

“We don’t lose customers but every week we are fortunate to pick up new ones. Most of our advertising is word of mouth. We’re very approachable and I like to run a pretty open book with our customers so they know what they’re getting.

“We’re there to provide the best service we can to whoever comes through the door.”

PK Engineering undertakes a variety of work, including: • General engineering • Manufacturing • Heavy machinery • Aluminium • Stainless steel • Design and drafting.

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Focus | PK Engineering

Structural steel work PK Engineering undertakes a lot of structural steel for high-end architectural homes throughout the Nelson district.

Pete says his small skilled team thrives on these projects. “The more complicated they are, the more the boys seem to enjoy it.”

PK Engineering also does structural steel for commercial projects and earthquake strengthening work.

“Last year we were over in Blenheim undertaking earthquake strengthening work on The Farmers building. We had to complete the work while they were still operating which was very demanding, especially with noise and dust restrictions but we finished on time and on budget,” he says.

PK Engineering is enjoying steady growth as its reputation for highquality work continues to expand.

The company has recently completed several jobs in Canterbury, including a truck stop in Halswell Junction Road that involved building a fuel tank and large canopy.

“We’ve been asked to look at some light commercial work in Canterbury and we’re keen to do it. We’d like to expand into the region on a small scale and have been approached by a Canterbury based project management team to do more work.”

Also on offer are a range of general engineering services and can build just about anything.

“We complete a lot of alterations and repairs to machinery for vineyards, agricultural and horticultural customers. We have modified and currently maintain several concrete pumping trucks. We have designed, fabricated, modified and serviced a huge range of equipment over the years.

“We do a lot of guarding packages and alterations on forestry equipment, including Rollover protection frames and fitting operator protection equipment,” he says.

“Some years ago I designed a machine for cracking hazel nuts. This has since been adapted to crack walnuts and these have been sent all over New Zealand.”

General engineering

Fuel tanks are a specialty of PK Engineering

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“We’ve undertaken a few small earthquake strengthening jobs since but that was the largest so far.”

Growing and developing PK Engineering

Exciting design and build project

able to take his concept and turn it into a working design for him.

PK Engineering is in the process of designing and building a robotic wheelchair lifter for a customer through ACC.

“It is currently under construction. Most people in wheelchairs drive up a ramp into the back of a van, but that would be limiting to our client, who needs a four-wheel drive.

The hydraulic/electronic lifter will be mounted It’s a great project to be involved with and on the back of a Hilux four wheel drive for a we hope it will make a huge difference for farmer who is in a wheelchair. our customer.

“It will lift the wheelchair off the back of the “We are working with local electronic and truck and present it at the driver’s door. He hydraulic companies to achieve the end will able to slide into his chair and then be result. The customer will be able to operate lowered to the ground. it remotely so it is ready when he gets back “Once he moves away the device will fold to his vehicle.” CT itself back into the purpose-built canopy on the back of the ute. The entire deck is purpose PK Engineering Limited built for him and incorporates boxes for his 13 Factory Road working dogs as well as storage for the chair Brightwater and lifter.”

Nelson T (03) 542 3422 ACC has given PK Engineering the green light E admin@pkengineering.co.nz for the project, which includes rotating motors www.pkengineering.co.nz bought in especially from America. “The — Advertising Feature customer knew what he wanted and we were

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PK Engineering does a lot of repairs and alterations to machinery

Proudly supporting and supplying PK Engineering At BOC, we believe we are more than just a company that sells gases and industrial products BOC’s unrivalled technical knowledge, comprehensive range of industrial equipment and safety products, plus commitment to service quality can help support your business too.

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Image used with permission from EWM. MA|CT|060713

“We specialise in picking up and moving almost anything to almost anywhere in the top of the South Island. “

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Proud to supply Hose and Fittings to PK Engineering CM Trailer Parts are proud to support PK Engineering.

www.cmtrailerparts.co.nz www.canterburytoday.co.nz April/May 2014 | 63

Focus | Burnell & Son Transport

Truckin’ along There’s a lot to a name. While Burnell and Son Transport suggests there is a father, a son and a transport company, it says little of the strength, determination and sheer hard work behind this Canterbury born and bred business.

In fact, it doesn’t mention the second son or the daughter who have since joined the family.

But it does speak of the family – the Burnell in Burnell and Son – which were the motivation behind the founding husband and wife duo Wayne and Kathy Burnell’s foray into business.

The couple had just had their first son Jacob when they started Burnell and Son Transport.

His birth formed the basis of the company name and, although born from the desire to enable a family lifestyle, the business took on a life of its own.

Wayne and Kathy had sold their first house to put the deposit down on their first truck – a Foden 4475 eight wheeler with a four-axle trailer. The gamble paid off.

And, although the bulk freight and machinery cartage company is trucking along nicely now, that success was 16 years in the making, as It was just the start of something big. The was the family. plan: to run the Foden for three years and be freehold. Starting out was a big step for the young family and failure simply wasn’t an option. It was all hands to the pump right from square one.

“We were just covering the area from Christchurch to Invercargill at the time,” Wayne explains.

Leading irrigation manufacturer RX Plastics soon came on board and, in line with the dairy boom, enabled the expansion of the company. “With their support we had increased to two trucks and began servicing the whole South Island within two to three years and soon after we were running four to five trucks.”

But the seeds of the business were sown much earlier.

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64 | April/May 2014 www.canterburytoday.co.nz

“

Fast facts

We’ve always had a focus on good gear and good drivers - that is key. By sticking to that we have never had to look very hard for more work, in fact work ends up finding us.

- WAYNE BURNELL

”

Wayne’s father Ron Burnell (Rocky) drove an R Model Mack for Tregenza, a regular carrier on the run from fertiliser boats at the wharf to the Ravensdown Fertiliser Works at Seadown. Wayne often rode with his dad in those days.

Wayne has spent his life around trucks which drove a passion which is rapidly dying out with the increasing health and safety regulations of an industry which no longer allows children to ride shotgun in their parents’ trucks.

• Burnell and Son Transport was established 16 years ago • The company started as an owner-driver • Wayne Burnell was just 24 years old when the company began • It’s a family affair, wife Kathy still does the accounts and even the kids show truckie aspirations • The company was so named because their first son was newly born • Burnell and Son Transport now runs eight trucks • The company started just delivering from Christchurch to Invercargill • Wayne and Kathy sold their first house to put the deposit down on their first truck • The business began with a Foden 4475 eight wheeler with a four-axle trailer • Wayne first jumped in the driver’s seat at just 17 years • The couple now have three kids, Jacob, Isaac and Paige • Today the company carts throughout the South Island and as far as Auckland.

Focus | Burnell & Son Transport An industry’s evolution It’s an ageing industry and pressures such as this will see less young people enter the industry, Burnell and Son Transport owner Wayne Burnell suspects. “Twenty years ago it was great to be able to take your kid in the cab with you,” he says. “That’s certainly changed now.”

Finding good drivers is becoming the bane of Wayne’s life. They are hard to find, he says.

“We have a lot of top end, highly experienced older guys, but it’s nigh on impossible to find good young guys coming up through the ranks.

“The laws are getting tougher with log books and everything which just isn’t appealing to young people. You can’t learn to drive a truck in a classroom and by imposing such heavy restrictions; you’re not teaching the younger generations common sense, to take the initiative.”

Like many talented drivers, growing up in the passenger’s seat is what lit the spark in Wayne and, in fact, has probably made all the difference with his abilities in the driver’s seat. “Many of the decent young drivers today grew up in the cabs with their dads, learning everything from a young age and that’s what really founded that passion for them.

“Then you got out, helped with loading and unloading and in the weekends, washing the truck.”

Enforcement has been so strict some companies have actually been removing the passenger seats from their vehicles. Second son Isaac loved heading out with his dad in the truck, even “daddy’s girl” Paige is a mad keen truckie and in her younger years was known to turn on the tears to get a ride.

Wayne himself was just 17 when he got into the seat and, with the assistance of Tregenza he was able to get his truck and trailer license.

The company wrote a letter in support of him, stating they had the job for him when he had the licenses. For a period of time both father and son worked for Trengenzas.

He worked for several trucking companies over the ensuing years, from a Timaru to Christchurch freight run, to local Queenstown deliveries, to an overnight Dunedin swap run and then to Ashburton for a couple of years.

While in Ashburton Wayne delivered plastic products, grain, fertiliser or anything which could be tipped off the back of a truck throughout the South Island for a plastics manufacturer. Little did he know he was developing skills in the workload he would later take over with his own company.

Some time later he moved back to Christchurch before his previous boss approached him with an offer – go ownerdriver or buy the truck and take the work.

Wayne bought the truck outright with the remaining work, which included the plastics manufacturer.

“We now cart for Goldpine and we get strong support from Ravensdown as well.”

And the rest, as they say, is history. But that would be a boring way to end a story and the story of Burnell and Son Transport is much more exciting than that.

It’s a competitive industry, he says, although he admits the changes to overweight permit laws in the past couple of years, which have introduced higher penalties for breaches by permit holders, increased fines for overweight vehicles without a permit and increased the loads classed as overweight, have gone some way to evening out the commercial playing field.

For the first year Wayne put in the maximum hours available, living out of the cab most nights getting the business up and running. And I’m not really sure if he has stopped since.

“Since the 50 tonne max laws we have upgraded all our trucks and we have gone from 44 tonnes to 50 tonnes for seven of our eight trucks during a 12 month period,” he says. >

With the support of RX Plastics, Burnell and Son Transport expanded into the Nelson market and was soon operating South Island wide. Now the company has expanded as far as Auckland. “We have started carting more machinery in the last 12 months,” Wayne says.

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www.canterburytoday.co.nz April/May 2014 | 65

Focus | Burnell & Son Transport Helping hands There have been a number of companies which have played a strong role in the success of Burnell and Son Transport.

A life of its own Burnell and Son Transport owner Wayne Burnell had pushed the company right from square one, working six days a week to get established and build a name for himself. If it didn’t sound so cliché, you’d say he was pretty driven.

The hard work paid off. The business seemingly took on a life of its own.

“It was a lot of working away from home,” he says. “After two years of that I decided to expand by bringing another truck on so I could be at home more with the family, but we just ended up with twice as much work,” he laughs.

Again he purchased a third truck which is what enabled the company to move into the Nelson market and again, Burnell and Son Transport just ended up with an increase in work.

As soon as the company developed to six trucks, Wayne was able to pull back into more of an office role. Although when the recession hit, business slowed somewhat, it wasn’t long before the company took on Goldpine,

business picked right on up again and Wayne says, “I haven’t looked back since.

“We’ve always had a focus on good gear and good drivers - that is key. By sticking to that we have never had to look very hard for more work, in fact work ends up finding us.”

In an industry traditionally marked by peaks and troughs, Burnell and Son Transport stays pretty consistent. “We have incredible suppliers who have stuck by us,” he says.

“We just focus on providing them the absolute best service we provide and make sure they are happy.”

While many companies flit between suppliers, Wayne says loyalty is incredibly important.

“If we’re getting great service from someone, we’re going to stick with them, not run off to find someone who can offer that service for a few bucks less. Loyalty is everything in this game and, if you’re not going to give it, then you’re not going to get it.

“There’s too much focus on price these days. We constantly get calls from companies offering our tyres cheaper etc. But price isn’t everything.”

in Australasia and Burnell carts much of its machinery

Grant Thornton is the company’s accounting and business consultant

Alpine Industries provides the rural sector with a large range of kitset clear-span sheds within New Zealand

RX Plastics was one of Burnell and Son Transport’s earliest suppliers and played a key role in the company’s growth

Cowan Trailers is a leader in the manufacture of high quality lightweight trailers

Advantage Tyres is a network of independent tyre dealers located throughout New Zealand, supported

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Ravensdown Christchurch was another organisation which has been on board since the early days

HHA Associates is a provider of simple, smart business software and customised office systems Power Farming Ashburton is the local dealership for the largest independent importer and distributor of farm machinery

No man stands alone In the trucking business, as with most anything else, success is a joint effort.

RX Plastics played a strong role in the early development of the company, Wayne says.

“RX really helped us immeasurably in expanding South Island wide and we have grown alongside them with their help and support.”

Power Farming Ashburton is a much more recent supplier which came on board last year. “We cart a lot of machinery for them,” Wayne says. “They also supplied the curtains on one of our trucks.”

Alpine Industries has grown significantly since the two companies began working

Tauranga Canvas Co provides Burnell and Son Transport’s tarps and curtains Hydraulink Fluid Connectors manufactures and distributes hydraulic hoses, fittings, couplers, tube assemblies, adaptors and accessories to the mining, agriculture, transport, forestry and marine industries. together. “When we first started working with Alpine Industries we were carting a couple of tonne at a time. Now we are doing 20-25 tonnes at a time.”

Another relatively newbie is Cowan Trailers, which Wayne says built Burnell’s latest truck. “It’s the first he’s done for me, the first of the 50 tonne max trucks, a nine-axle unit. We used to have these built in Southland, we are really pleased with the result.”

All the company’s tarps and curtains are done by Tauranga Canvas Co “and always have been”.

Pure Oils is another new client, one which Wayne expects will grow quite big.

Cowan Trailers has gained a significant reputation as a leader in the manufacture of high quality light weight trailers.

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66 | April/May 2014 www.canterburytoday.co.nz

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Focus | Burnell & Son Transport

“

You need to give your people all the support you can give, they are the ones doing the work for us.

We don’t ever want to lose sight of that. Where our business is today is all thanks to those drivers.

- WAYNE BURNELL

”

A portfolio of trucks • Although the Foden gave the company a great start, it was replaced with a brand new Isuzu eight wheeler • Soon a second Isuzu truck and trailer unit was pressed into service

Standing out in a crowd

• Wayne drove one of these trucks and put a driver on the second, running both from the driver’s seat

There’s no doubt about it, trucking is a competitive space. But with 16 years’ experience under its commercial belt, Burnell and Son Transport must be doing something to stand out in a crowded marketplace.

• When the driver left Wayne approached an owner-driver who took over one of the truck and trailer units

“We’ve always focussed on new gear, new trucks and regular maintenance,” owner Wayne Burnell explains.

• Wayne’s next purchase was another Isuzu, a secondhand truck and trailer purchased with some work. The unit was fitted with high sided, curtainside bodies, ideal for loading the light plastic products

“If something breaks, we get it fixed immediately. That’s part of our image and very important to us.”

• From here, it has been pretty much steady growth and fleet upgrades for all concerned • After shopping around the American brands, Waynwe settled on Freightliner Argosys, based on tare weight, fuel economy, value for money and salesman’s attitude. His first Argosy, a Cat C15 powered truck replaced the curtainside Isuzu, the second, a Cummins Signature truck, replaced the drop side tipper

One of Wayne’s drivers has been with him for 12 years, another for 11 and another for nine.

“You need to give your people all the support you can give, they are the ones doing the work for us. We don’t ever want to lose sight of that. Where our business is today is all thanks to those drivers.”

Gear and machinery play an important role in the company. Wayne prefers to run new gear rather than secondhand and says it gives a better return.

“Yes there’s a cost to new gear, you might spend $600,000 as opposed to $200,000, but at the end of the day your return is better.”

It’s Wayne’s family name on the door of each of those trucks and that business represents He also believes his honest approach has both himself and his family. “You have to absolutely love the fact that it’s your name on set the company in good stead. “There’s too much smoke and mirrors these days. People the door,” he says. are more willing to say the truck’s broken “You have to let that drive you to exceed down than to just say sorry I’m too busy to get your clients’ expectations, to ensure each and round to doing that for a couple of days. every single client you deal with, old or new, “We always believe in operating in an open is completely happy with your service. And you have to look after your staff because they and transparent way, being upfront and are the faceplate to your business, the people honest with our customers and our suppliers means we get that in return.” > representing you to your customers.”

• Then Wayne picked up a secondhand International Eagle, an ex-lease tanker chassis, with a drop side body and trailer • All Wayne’s trucks are purchased and financed as opposed to leasing. Having tried both and spoken at length with lease companies about the options, he decided owning his trucks outright is the preferred option.

Tauranga Canvas manufacture truck curtainsides, roll over or roll up tarpaulins for truck bodies, custom made quality tarpaulins, insulated tanker covers and webbing or mesh stockcrate covers.

Tauranga Canvas has a large covered drive through area which enables us to carry out fast and reliable fittings or repairs to Curtainsides, Tarpaulins or Stockcrates. No appointment necessary.

Proud to be associated with Burnell & Son Transport Ltd Call us today on 0800 4TARPS (0800 482 777), or contact us here for more information or to arrange a no obligation quote. www.canterburytoday.co.nz April/May 2014 | 67

Focus | Burnell & Son Transport

“

If we can’t do a job until a certain time or day, our clients are really understanding. We don’t try to mess them around with ‘oh, the truck’s broken down,’ we are just upfront and honest because that’s how I want to be treated.

Ever increasing workload Much like how Wayne Burnell’s plans to purchase more trucks so he can decrease his workload never quite works out for him, and in fact just results in a higher workload, there are times when Burnell and Son Transport don’t have enough trucks to complete the work available.

By working with a number of trusted colleagues Wayne is able to get all his jobs completed.

The work is not a one way street either, as the companies he works with return the favour when they are pushed to cope. He’s found is advantageous to form strong working bonds with these companies.

It’s certainly far from the commercial dog eat dog world we have become accustomed to, but it’s all in line with the company’s policy of open, transparent and honest trading. “We’ve also found just being straight with clients is the only way we can feel comfortable operating.

“If we can’t do a job until a certain time or day, our clients are really understanding.

We don’t try to mess them around with ‘oh, the truck’s broken down,’ we are just upfront and honest because that’s how I want to be treated.”

and together they have all worked hard, pulled together and made it happen. They sit down together every month to analyse the figures and ensure each truck is paying its way.

- WAYNE BURNELL

”

To ensure the viability and longevity of the business, it continues to be run as a limited liability company with the assets protected for the children. Although I suspect Wayne has secret hopes of at least one of the offspring following him into the family business.

It has been forward planning and dedication to the short and medium term goals which have seen Burnell and Son Transport reach the long term.

While the decision to sell their first house to put the deposit on their first truck seemed rash, it was in fact the result of careful planning, strategy and, of course, vision.

Each successive acquisition has been equally well planned, ensuring each investment will succeed and that there will be direct benefits to the company.

With continued prudent management and Wayne’s next set of plans already hatching in his mind, the backup of a strong family unit, a base of strong and reliable drivers, loyal and trusted clients and suppliers, this is certainly one space to watch. CT

Wayne promises what he knows he can deliver and sets expectations that can be met and met by very happy clients.

Burnell and Son Transport Limited PO Box 6208 Upper Riccarton Best of all, he knows the backup support on Christchurch his home turf is there from Kathy and the kids. T 021 929 634 — Advertising Feature Kathy still does the accounts for the business

Proud to supply Hose and Fittings to Burnell & Son Transport Ltd

68 | April/May 2014 www.canterburytoday.co.nz

Focus | Kilmarnock Enterprises

Enabling those who need a helping hand Many people in Christchurch will have heard of Kilmarnock Toys. The business has more than 50 years’ experience in making children’s traditional toys and built up a large range of wonderful wooden toys, as well as solid children’s furniture and colourful room accessories.

However, its parent company, Kilmarnock Enterprises may not be so familiar.

“It is our success within the business sector which gives our employees such a sense of pride. Knowing these commercially focussed After 58 years the business has evolved from organisations such as Fulton Hogan value the a workshop to offer employment opportunites quality of the work our employees deliver, for people with intellectual disabilites. makes them realise that they can participate Kilmarnock Enterprises is a Christchurch-based in society in exactly the same way as anyone else can,” Michelle expains. charity, presently employing in excess of 70 people who, as a result of some level of Recognised as a ‘Business Enterprise’ by the disability, might normally find some work New Zealand Government, the business is also environments challenging.

ISO 9001 Accreditated, cementing its position Chief executive officer Michelle Sharp says “At Kilmarnock we prefer to recognise people’s skills and abilities and individually help them to become a valued member of both the company and local community.

“Supporting their personal development, within a professional employment arena, boosts their confidence and provides a sense of belonging and value.”

Anything that’s a manual job can come to Kilmarnock, so if you’re looking to outsource anything it’s a great solution and opportunity to support a charity.

With minimal government funding the business is always looking for new opportunities and welcome funding/donations.

Services range from assembly work, collation of goods, food re-packing, shrink-wrapping, carpentry, electronic waste recycling and much more.

“We have worked hard over the years to build and maintain a loyal customer base, made up of many Canterbury-based businesses as well as some larger global organisations.

as a quality service provider to customers.

As a not for profit business, all surplus funds Kilmarnock Enterprises achieves are reinvested into the company to help growth and ultimately provide more opportunities to both existing and potential employees.

“We operate our organisation in a very competitive market, yet every decision we make is made knowing we are being true to our core purpose - to provide a supportive and connected environment where people with disabilities can realise their individual potential as a member of our community.”

Kilmarnock Enterprises not only helps its employes with work, but also their wellbeing.

“We focus on employment and much more – we give them individual goals to work on whilst making it fun.

“In February we did a pedometer challenge and every Friday we host an aerobics class for everyone to take part. One of those things in the healthy wellbeing programme is putting our employees through a series of courses such as dental care, office exercises when sitting for long periods, lifting heavy objects to eating healthy.

“We want to educate them to a healthy choice and so far we are getting some great feedback from parents and caregivers saying they feel and look better,” Michelle says.

Michelle further explains that the business is extremely lucky to have a very loyal and supportive customer base. “This loyalty has been built over time, through an investment by us in building strong strategic relationships with each of our customers large or small.

“We are fortunate enough to provide services to a range of customers from Christchurchbased ‘one man bands’ to the likes of Fonterra. Our customers understand that by contracting their services to us, they are not only guaranteeing quality of service, they are also supporting a very worthy charity.” CT Kilmarnock Enterprises 32 Riccarton Road P O Box 8072 Riccarton Christchurch T (03) 348 5162 E sales@kilmarnock.co.nz www.kilmarnock.co.nz — Advertising Feature

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Kilmarnock Toys, 32 Riccarton Road | Ph: 348 5162 | www.kilmarnocktoys.co.nz www.canterburytoday.co.nz April/May 2014 | 69

Focus | Bookworks

The company to make sense of your books I’ll bet you didn’t go into business to do your books.

But Bookworks the bookkeeping experts sure did. This Christchurch company is now celebrating 10 years of solving a wide range of IRD, GST and bookkeeping headaches for a wide range of SMEs. And, with an industry-first ‘Free 30 Day Trial’ on offer, which includes free transaction processing, free Xero software trial and free review of your existing software, you could get back to the part you actually enjoy – running your business.

Bookworks director Craig Hibbert has found a strong niché market, offering not just a bookkeeping service, but actually bridging the gap between accountant and client. He had seen the language barriers between the two first hand and recognised the importance of filling that gap.

Now 10 years later, Bookworks has developed a strong position within the Canterbury SME market for keeping the books of all manner of businesses under control.

“I fill that gap and provide the link between the client and the accountant, because I have been in both positions and understand that neither one understands the other very well,” Craig explains.

“Most people didn’t go into business to do their books, but we did,” he laughs.

When you’re running a business, time is money and that’s where Bookworks’ value really comes in.

“Ultimately, our goal is to help small businesses grow and become more profitable by making sure their financial information is accurate, understandable and on time. In this way, everyone saves time and money.”

In fact, accountants recommend the Bookworks team to their clients because it makes their job easier and ensures that their clients have accurate records. “Poor bookkeeping costs the client in increased accountants fees and it costs the accountant because they can’t charge for the total hours involved.

“We understand how frustrating and intimidating the complexities of financial systems can be for the average business person. Our team will put you at ease,

“

business owners I had no idea of what I was doing.”

Testimonial Edac Electronics Limited “As we were a growing company Bookworks offered flexible hours and an easy going approach. Working with Bookworks means our accounts are all up to date; we’re no longer a month behind in all our bookkeeping.

Bookworks don’t just offer standard book keeping services – they’re even looking at new initiatives to help our accounting systems.

“Bookworks offers an accurate, costeffective service and adapts to our needs and requirements.”

”

explain concepts in everyday language and make the whole process stress free and enjoyable. Or better still, we can do it all for you.”

Behind the books Bookkeeping, in its simplest form, is maintaining the financial records of a company. It was a role Craig was tasked with as the part owner of a retail sports store for 25 years.

While he can laugh about it now, it was a headache at the time. “Like a lot of small

He completed his Diploma in Business, passing top in his year at CPIT before working in a chartered accountancy firm for four years to qualify as an accounting technician with the New Zealand Institute of Chartered Accountants.

“I started Bookworks in February 2004 after receiving client records in all kinds of different shoe boxes.”

While the art and science of bookkeeping and accountancy is an old one, practiced since the ancient times, it doesn’t make the process any simpler. And, despite the ever-increasing technological nature of the industry, it remains one of the best ways to keep track of money, making it integral to SMEs. A fully accredited trainer for MYOB, Reckon (QuickBooks), Xero and MoneyWorks, Craig sits accreditation courses every year.

“My forte is fixing messes in my clients’ software,” he says.

“I spend most of my time fixing these messes as well as training and supporting my clients in a one on one situation.”

He is backed up by a strong team of three: Heather Cunningham, Jill Duffey and Andrea Wong, all with a strong and diverse skill-set.

Heather’s strength lies in her accounting background teamed with a strong software

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Get in touch! email us at info@bookworks.co.nz or call on 03 379 5338 70 | April/May 2014 www.canterburytoday.co.nz

Focus | Bookworks

Wide range of financial services Bookworks offers the full range of financial services, as little or as much as you need.

Accounting software health check This involves a full review of your accounting software file, highlighting any areas of your file that need to be checked out further. Then Bookworks will prioritise, in detail, the specific areas you need to work on in your file to get it to function properly and accurately.

Training and support This is Bookworks’ speciality area where one of the trained professionals comes to your workplace to teach you how to use your software correctly so you can get better information from it. You can then see how your business is performing with much more clarity. knowledge and experience at the coal face in administrative roles, a handy perspective that enables her to relate to the needs of all within the business – the accountant, the owner, the office administrator.

Jill has experience in MYOB, Reckon (Quickbooks), Xero and Smartpayroll and her knowledge of payroll has enabled clients to improve and streamline their processes to meet IRD compliance obligations.

Andrea works with clients in hospitality, painting and building contractors and retail, in which she specialises in Xero.

While the industry has become more competitive in recent years, it’s his accounting qualifications which he believes sets Bookworks apart from the competition.

“Because of my accounting qualifications I bring that extra level of knowledge and experience. We ensure the data the accountant receives is accurate and efficient and the client gets everything done accurately and on time.”

“

Testimonial Apex Gift Boxes “Craig from Bookworks has been offering me support and assistance with my MYOB for about six years now. His helpful friendly advice when I have a problem has been invaluable. He has excellent tutoring skills.

“He recently helped me sort out loading a new bank account and fixing the errors of the previous mess that I had managed to create. Even when I was operating on an old version which was no longer supported by MYOB, he was able to sort my problems.

“His helpful bookkeeping skills have been very encouraging to my business over the years and I would have no hesitation in recommending him to any other business whether they are a start-up or needing ongoing bookkeeping support.”

”

Budgeting Bookworks will help you to set up a budget and enter it into your software. Then they can show you how to compare your budget with your actual figures to see where any variances are. This will help you further understand your business and highlight the areas you need to improve.

That data includes GST, profit analysis, cashflow forecasting and budgeting services.

Not only can Bookworks record the data or teach you to record the data, they can also guide you through understanding what the data means. “We can show you how your business is doing, discuss what the numbers actually mean for you and your business.”

During its 10 year history, the company has developed strong relationships with their clients and as such has seen word of mouth take precedence over any advertising methods.

In the future Bookworks will be developing packages for clients which will involve

Bookkeeping If it’s all getting too much for you or you want to focus on other areas of your business, the fantastic Bookworks team of specialist bookkeeping experts can come in and do it for you.

GST Bookworks will check your GST return workings in your software to ensure that what you have entered is accurate. This will give you the confidence that what you are filing with the IRD is correct and ensure that you are claiming enough GST. Profit analysis The company can analyse your profit and loss with you, so you can understand the figures better and highlight the areas that you need to focus on in your business.

Cashflow forecasting The team will help you produce a cashflow model to show you where your cash has come from and where your cash is going. Cash is king. You will also understand the difference between your profit and your cash. agreed packages for an agreed price. “We’ve increasingly recognised that our clients want to be able to know what services they will be receiving and how much that will cost them.

“We are looking forward to a strong future in Christchurch.” CT Bookworks 216 Springfield Road St Albans Christchurch T (03) 379 5338 M 021) 483 995 E info@bookworks.co.nz www.bookworks.co.nz — Advertising Feature

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www.canterburytoday.co.nz April/May 2014 | 71

Media | Mediaworks NZ

Christchurch’s new broadcasting base Broadcasters play a vital role in an emergency, working collaboratively with Civil Defence to keep residents up to date with important information and advice.

While MediaWorks’ radio stations and the 3 News bureau continued to broadcast following both the September and February earthquakes, the company’s Christchurch office was soon displaced due to the damage sustained during the quakes, and has been broadcasting from temporary premises at Addington Racecourse.

While the hunt for the perfect premises was time consuming, involving assessing 20 different sites for suitability, MediaWorks has a strong commitment to Christchurch and Group Project and Facilities manager, Heidi Martin says the process represented a unique opportunity for the organisation.

“MediaWorks is unique in that our stations compete against each other in the market.

So while we wanted to maintain that segregation, from a logistics perspective it made sense to have them linked.”

New Zealand’s largest independent broadcaster, MediaWorks is the organisational name behind TV3, FOUR, 8 radio brands including The Edge, The Rock, RadioLive, More FM, Mai FM and The Sound and a network of websites including www.3news. co.nz, www.tv3.co.nz, plus mobile and tablet apps such as 3NOW. Bringing the full suite of television, radio and interactive services under the one roof has increased the company’s efficiency Heidi says.

“It was a long process to find a premises which was suitable for both filming and radio studios. Bringing the company together made sense from a technology perspective and since the earthquake it was a great opportunity for all our staff to be under the one roof.”

The new site at 335 Lincoln Road was the winner. Known as Three35 by Jasmax, the commercial office precinct is in the rapidly developing area of Addington known affectionately as SoMo, or South of Moorhouse.

Designed to new engineering codes and four-star Greenstar principles, the building now houses the company’s Canterbury radio and television bureaux – The Edge, The Rock, The Breeze, The Sound, LiveSport, 3News, Campbell Live, More FM, Mai FM, RadioLive and Kiwi FM. “Three35 was a great fit for us. MediaWorks is a social business and this site provided a great location in a busy central area. Our radio clients require an easily accessible central location, while our television division required a site with good access to arterial routes.”

Due to the hi-tech nature of the media industry, the fit-out was far from standard.

“We had to house four radio studios onsite and a filming zone for 3 News and Campbell Live. This involved a high level of acoustic treatment among other critical items and there is a significant amount of technology behind the scenes which also had to be housed.

“All the work within the radio studios was carried out by our radio engineers; these are purpose-built studios from the ground up. In the TV facilities we have created fantastic edit suites and the filming zone was a new way to create a usable space for TV interviews and live crosses, which also allows more space for our news staff within the offices, all brought to life by our TV engineering team.

“We believe that our group of engineers are the best in the broadcast business.”

Three35 Lincoln tenants

The company officially moved into the new premises Monday, March 24. “This site has been such an incredible opportunity for MediaWorks,” Heidi says.

Ground floor RadioWorks Canterbury – The Edge, The Rock, The Breeze, The Sound, LiveSport

“Our staff have been unbelievably patient and resilient, as all of Christchurch has been.

It has been a long journey finding suitable premises, then carrying out the fit-out process. But the wait has been worth it and they are excited about the new building.” >

3News and Campbell Live Second floor RadioWorks Christchurch – More FM, Mai FM, RadioLive, Kiwi FM

Award winning Main Contractor of 335 Lincoln Road and the Mediaworks fitout 508 Wairakei Road, P O Box 39005 Christchurch 8545, New Zealand

72 | April/May 2014 www.canterburytoday.co.nz

Ph. 03 359 5901 | Fax 03 359 9416 info@awgroup.co.nz | www.awgroup.co.nz

www.canterburytoday.co.nz April/May 2014 | 73

Media | Mediaworks NZ

Architecturally designed by Jasmax, constructed by Armitage Williams Construction and structurally engineered by Ruamoko Solutions, the twin block, three storey office building complex at Three35 Lincoln Road is one of the largest office developments since February 2011 and the $30 million project includes a three storey car park building.

Nestled comfortably in the western corner of the intersections of Lincoln Road and Bernard Street, the 5500 sqm commerical office precinct utilises breakthrough construction techniques, such as the use of steel beams with replaceable-link eccentric braced frames (EBFs) as a seismic structural system.

The first known use of replaceable-link EBFs in New Zealand, the damage avoidance technology has been designed to reduce downtime associated with large seismic events.

Architects Jasmax (Christchurch) have turned the innovative beams into a design feature. Suspended ground floor slab supported on concrete finger beams and piles has also been used to avoid settlement due to liquefaction, making Three35 a strong contender to Mother Nature’s wrath.

Behind the building As with any project of this size and scale, Three35 was a team effort.

Established in 1985, it’s more recent works are very much focussed on the redevelopment of Christchurch and is owned and operated by locals Ben Harrow, Mark Blyth and Paul Williams.

Ruamoko Solutions

Privately owned construction firm Armitage Williams Construction is the name behind Three35’s physical incarnation. One of the largest of its kind in Christchurch, the firm has 27 years of experience under its commercial belt.

Ruamoko Solutions is the name behind the building’s structural strength. A specialist consulting structural engineering company, Ruamoko was established in 2006 by Grant Wilkinson and Julian Ramsay to provide its specialist services to the property and construction industry.

Armitage Williams works on a range of commercial projects and its services include large scale commercial construction, project management, property development, as well as design and build.

Named after the Maori god of earthquakes, Ruamoko Solutions specialises in delivering structural design solutions which mitigate the devastation to buildings that can occur as a result of major earthquakes, as well as

Armitage Williams Construction

providing a quality structural engineering service for mainstream projects.

ago, Horton Signs has grown into a strong player in the commercial signage market.

The firm’s specialised interest in earthquake engineering and strong ties to cutting edge research has placed it in a prominent position following the Canterbury Earthquakes, where it has been leading the way in pioneering seismic design for the rebuild, including first post-earthquake use of base-isolation, PRESSS and other damage avoidance technology such as the bolted-link EBF seismic frames on Three35 Lincoln Road.

From cleverly designed and engineered illuminated and structural signs, through to transport and fleet graphic roll-outs, buildings and multi-site projects, Horton Signs can make it happen, on time and within budget.

Horton Signs Another long standing Canterbury owned business has played an important role in Three35, Horton Signs. From small beginnings in a shed in Rangiora 28 years

Jasmax Jasmax is the architectural firm behind the stunning façade of Three35 Lincoln Road.

Offering a range of services from architecture, master planning, interior design and landscape architecture, through to building conservation, urban design and environmentally sustainable design, Jasmax has developed a strong depth and breadth of design experience, with work spanning civic and community, commercial, education, hospitality, transport, healthcare, retail, residential, and sports and recreation projects.

For more than 50 years the company has been completing a vast range of high profile, award-winning projects, including Auckland’s Britomart Transport Centre, the Auckland University of Technology Sir Paul Reeves Building, business and the internationally-awarded Te Papa Tongarewa, Museum of New Zealand.

Now the company can lay claim to one of Christchurch’s most stunning new buildings, Three35. CT

MediaWorks NZ T (09) 928 9000 E replies@mediaworks.co.nz www.mediaworks.co.nz — Advertising Feature

PO Box 12294, Christchurch P: +64 3 366 7714 F: +64 3 366 7715 E: info@ruamoko.co.nz W: www.ruamoko.co.nz

CONSULTING STRUCTURAL ENGINEERS

Proud structural engineers for the MORE FM / Mediaworks / TV3 Building - The first in NZ to utilise replaceable-link EBF seismic technology 74 | April/May 2014 www.canterburytoday.co.nz

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Education | The Cathedral Grammar School

Delivering the ideal preparation One gets a palpable sense of calm self assuredness when talking to Cathedral Grammar School Headmaster, Paul Kennedy.

Not simply because of the fact that he is the man in charge, but more to do with the fact that he is fully aware of all details concerning his schools and has the finger on the pulse of what are effectively four schools in one (the Pre-School, Junior School, Boys Prep School and Girls Prep School), that neatly dovetail to form The Cathedral Grammar School.

There is a sense of calm about Paul as he explains “We lost the use of 90 percent of our buildings in the earthquakes”. In total around 300 students and a further 35 teachers and administration staff were impacted by the disaster.

But as you might expect with a school boasting a tradition of resilience and 132 years of history as an Anglican independent school, it soon set about reorganising and restructuring, installing temporary Portacom teaching blocks, and arranging and scheduling the use of facilities close by.

It was almost akin to a military style operation, but within three weeks the school was pretty much back to normal and providing its trademark “ideal preparation” education. And while this may sound like some slick and clever marketing tag line, it is so much more - more of a living mantra crystalising the very essence of the school.

Clearly it is a formula that works well in catering to pupils who want to extend themselves and excel. A fact borne out by nearly a third of 45, Year 8 school leavers in 2013 attaining scholarships for prestigious Christchurch secondary schools such as Christ's College, St Andrew’s, St Margaret’s and Rangi Ruru.

Some choose to leave the independent school system and return to the state system by taking up places at Christchurch Boys High, Christchurch Girls High or Burnside.

Whichever school they choose, pupils rest assured that they find themselves extremely well placed after years of quality, individually planned and focussed education at Cathedral Grammar.

Uniquely in the whole of New Zealand, the boys and girls of Cathedral Grammar are taught separately from Years 4 to 8, in a style and method which appears to work extremely well. “Boys and girls learn in different ways and at different speeds – we cater to this fact and it works wonderfully,” Paul explains.

“For the rest of the school day our cohort is free to play and socialise at will. It is the best of both worlds and our academic standards and achievements support this.”

Despite being steeped in a long history, it is when we begin to talk of the school’s future plans that Paul becomes really animated.

“As an independent school, we are fortunate not to be affected or distracted by the Christchurch problems of school mergers, closures or National Standards.”

Opening of Specialist block 1 individual learning programmes, tailored to each child to be designed and implemented.

Thus the talented and gifted can be truly stretched and those needing some learning support are given time and resources to improve and work at optimal levels too.

“

“I believe our levels of achievement and output of well rounded, highly competent Year 8 children, ready to seize their secondary education opportunities with both hands, is testament to our fine standards and teaching.”

The school runs smoothly, like a finely-tuned machine, allowing a large part of the future focus to be on creating a fresh, safe and inspiring environment, replacing the damaged infrastructure and repairing the legacy of the 2010/2011 earthquakes.

This should hopefully pave the way for the next 132 years of excellence. In looking to the future however, we often refer to the past, and this is precisely what the school has done in renovating a 90 year old wooden heritage building (one of two on the school site) for its current needs as a specialist teaching block.

A $3.1 million redevelopment has transformed this magnificent building into a state of the art music, science and art facility. Music and art are hugely popular subjects at the school and updated facilities were needed to reflect this.

At Cathedral Grammar School we embrace new technology, but not at the expense of traditional core skills which underpin all new learning. That is why the school refers to its style as ‘the ideal preparation’.

- PAUL KENNEDY

”

The school runs four choirs, including the Christchurch Anglican Cathedral Choristers, various bands and instrumental groups. The specialist block is technologically wired with both wireless and cable and has solar panels installed on the roof making it smart, green and energy self-sufficient - a fact not lost on

By employing exceptional teaching staff, the school has set high academic, sporting, cultural and spiritual standards. With small class sizes there is plenty of opportunity for

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Education | The Cathedral Grammar School

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Pupils in specialist block Headmaster Kennedy, who confirmed that the brand new school development will use wood rather than concrete wherever possible.

As one might expect, the school has taken an innovative and inspiringly creative approach to the new school design by appointing world renowned Japanese architect Taka Tezuka to develop a master plan for the complete school rebuild.

This will incorporate new design and build for the Junior School, Girls’ School, Boys’ School, and chapel.

Tezuka architecture is best known for its award winning educational facilities such as its much acclaimed Fuji Kindergarten.

“The master plan for the school site will be finalised by May and we hope to break ground on the first new building in September 2014, so within two to three years we will have an outstanding, carbon neutral, environmentally sustainable, state of the art primary school.

“We want to fire our young people’s imaginations about what is possible and provide them with life-long learning skills and abilities to pursue this.”

In preparation for this major rebuilding project, the school has purchased several adjoining private properties, increasing the school’s footprint and allowing more flexibility with the new master plan. Ultimately, when complete, the new Tezuka design will allow the school to grow to its optimum size of between 350 and 400 pupils.

But for all of its focus on the new, it is clear that Paul Kennedy is an educator who believes that ‘old school’ education should still have a major role in the education of the future, in that he firmly believes, and insists, that his staff deliberately teach the essential building blocks of numeracy and literacy, as well as 21st century skills like collaboration, communication, problem solving and information literacy.

These basic building blocks are nonnegotiable and are supplemented by state of the art technologies and equipment. The technological age is a reality with frequent new developments but as the Head notes, “At Cathedral Grammar School we embrace new technology, but not at the expense of traditional core skills which underpin all new learning. That is why the school refers to its style as ‘the ideal preparation’.” CT

The Cathedral Grammar School 2 Chester Street West Christchurch 8013 T (03) 365 0385 E headmaster@ cathedralgrammar.school.nz www.cathedralgrammar.school.nz — Advertising Feature

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Education | Rangi Ruru Girls' School

Rangi Ruru celebrates 125 years past, present and a bright future

By Peter Loakman

The two letters RR on a badge or crest have always, to me at least, conjured up visions of luxury, master craftsmanship, precision engineering, exquisite quality and fine detail from top to bottom.

Few can argue that Rolls Royce has few peers as a fine and luxurious motor car manufacturer. Similarly RR in Canterbury circles is the abbreviated short form and logo for Rangi Ruru, the Christchurch girls’ school with few equals and who this year celebrates a remarkable 125th Anniversary.

From very humble beginnings, Rangi Ruru blossomed, initially providing an education to a select few ladies in a single, plain and simple school room way back in 1889.

How times have changed. Rangi Ruru Girls’ School now provides a stellar education for some 650 students with some journeying half way around the world for the privilege.

The school has an alumni in its tens of thousands, some of whom have gone on to

These days, as well as the fabulous word of mouth reputation it has justifiably earned during the years, the school has for the first time decided to be truly innovative and promote itself via means of a South Islandwide 30 second television commercial, one of three to be made and broadcast in the coming months.

The commercial is part of an integrated advertisement campaign “Rangi. For Life” which will also incorporate print, outdoor and online which will be boosted by social media to encourage engagement.

The object of the campaign is to reach the whole Rangi family and to promote the school to a new generation of girls. As Principal Julie Moor remarks, “2014 is an incredibly special year for Rangi Ruru as we celebrate our 125th anniversary and begin to officially open a number of newly constructed buildings.

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Such is the lengthy history of the school, that even these humble beginnings took place some 15 years before the very first Rolls Royce car ventured onto roads and at a time when a regal Queen Victoria was the figurehead of an empire and indeed a commonwealth of which New Zealand was already playing a significant trading role.

become famous actresses, artists, performers, sports women, politicians or even successful business women controlling multinational empires worth millions of dollars.

“This year we have the unique opportunity to reflect on our proud history, while at the same time to look to the future of girls’ education with Project Blue Sky – the name we have given to our new campus wide development programme.”

Thus the ground breaking television commercial serves a two fold purpose, namely celebrating the past century and a quarter of achievement and at the same time

78 | April/May 2014 www.canterburytoday.co.nz

It will also serve as a timely reminder to all Rangi old girls, their families and former staff, of the fantastic year long schedule and calendar of events that have been organised for their benefit under the theme of “Bringing the Rangi family back together”.

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Education | Rangi Ruru Girls' School

Solid history Rangi Ruru Girls’ School was founded by Miss Helen Gibson in 1889. She performed remarkable work, along with her sisters Mary, Beatrice, Alice, Lucy, Ethel, Ruth and Winifred, who all helped in some way in administering and running the school in its first 60 years of life.

This house served the school well for more than 30 years, but in the early 1920s it was clear that the premises were becoming

Hundreds of old girls and present students will take part in the anniversary celebrations this year which include the commission of a special piece of music being composed by Philip Norman, a number of social events and the official opening of several new school buildings.

Te Whare Aroha O Rangi Ruru - The House

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The sisters’ father, captain Frederick Gibson, built a large house with two dedicated school rooms in 1890 at the corner of Webb Street in Merivale and it was here that the building and the school were gifted the name ‘Rangiruru’, meaning ‘wide sky shelter’ in Maori, by Paora Taki.

too cramped, so the decision was made to move to larger premises. In August 1923 the remaining four sisters shifted their school, day pupils and 18 boarders to Te Koraha – a large homestead on the grounds in which Rangi Ruru is still located today.

Rangi Ruru has an extensive range of facilities available for hire by private or commercial groups. Facilities represent excellent value for money and can be hired after school hours, at weekends and during term breaks.

Julie Moor says while the school reflects on the rich 125 year old history, Rangi Ruru is also implementing a plan to ensure that they have the best educational environment for girls for the next 100 years. >

These facilities include: • Boarding house accommodation <

Boarders returning to the boarding house

• Dining room (up to 200 people) • Function centre (up to 140 people) • Meeting rooms, classrooms, common rooms (40 - 100 people) • Gymnasium and fitness centre • All weather astro turf court • Hard surface tennis courts • Music tuition rooms • Drama theatre (111 people) • Food technology area • Computer suites and technology facilities.

Facilities can be viewed online via the website and can be viewed and booked by arrangement. Contact Julie Murphy on 03 983 3700 or at facilities@rangiruru.school.nz

Proud to be 100% Christchurch owned and operated

<

Years 7&8 Kapa Haka

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Principal Julie Moor with 2013 senior leaders

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Education | Rangi Ruru Girls' School

The aim is that after five years at the school, leavers exit as bright, confident, wonderful young women. Physical fitness is important too with as many as 93 percent of all girls choosing to participate in a weekly sporting or physically active discipline throughout their time at school, making Rangi one of the top sporting schools in terms of physical activity in the country.

Many students go on to receive Canterbury representative honours in various sports such as hockey, equestrian, netball, athletics, rowing and swimming, and plenty have attained elite status whereby they are selected for national representative honours and further elite training and coaching.

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Architects concept drawing of new buildings to be opened in April 2014

Recent history Current day Principal Julie Moor is a woman who runs a tight ship - that is evident the day we meet for our interview and she politely informs me that we have 30 minutes only, as she is meeting with the mathematics faculty immediately afterwards to review their annual plan.

“Every girl, we hope, can feel that she is personally known and cared for. They all feel a part of and contribute to the Rangi Community. Our teachers are passionate and talented people who will individually focus on each and every girl to draw the best from them. We all want them to be the best that they can be and that is the common goal that we will work towards.”

Her attention to detail is impressive and her warmth and easy manner even more so. One suspects Mrs Moor could reel off the names of all 650 students at her school if requested to do so! She meets with all prospective parents of girls planning to enter the school.

The focus is not entirely upon academic study. Important as these academic goals are, a lot of effort goes into the softer, life skills of preparing the young women socially and emotionally and fully rounding their characters.

Octa congratulates Rangi on celebrating 125

years, and on their Project Blue Sky vision in

Rangi can feel rightly proud of its sporting ethos and myriad sporting achievements.

Project Blue Sky Project Blue Sky is the school’s vision for the future and includes a full campus redesign.

Partly necessitated by the damage to school buildings sustained in the 2010 and 2011 earthquakes, the school Board of Governors was proactive in seizing the opportunity to plan and prepare the Rangi Ruru campus for the next century of education by commissioning the Blue Sky development plan.

The first phase of the project will be completed in early April when the new Science Centre and the Gibson Centre will be officially opened by CERA CEO Roger Sutton.

These innovative buildings will have facilities

“

Every girl, we hope, can feel that she is personally known and cared for.

They all feel a part of and contribute to the Rangi Community.

- PRINCIPAL JULIE MOOR

Great care is being taken to ensure that the new buildings are functional, first and foremost, and focussed on student needs. They will be stylish rather than trendy buildings and care is being taken to ensure that the new blends with the old and pays its due respect to the elegant heritage buildings.

“There is still a need for well designed, physical teaching spaces conceived with the best practice teaching and learning in mind.

There is still a place for books, pens and handwriting just as there is for computers, laptops, iPads and the latest connectivity devices,” Julie says.

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Senior art students collaborate with teacher Katie Rivers

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The Science Centre includes exciting design elements, such as green walls, weather stations and internal displays showing energy use. These aspects which, combined with flexible learning spaces and personalised programmes, will create the ultimate learning environment for girls.

Education | Rangi Ruru Girls' School

“

Old Girls’ Association

It is wonderful to be able to look back at decades of our family, on both sides, going through Rangi Ruru. Times have certainly changed and in my grandmother’s day, women weren’t expected to have a career; they were taught writing, reading, arithmetic and how to correctly address a letter.”

Rangi Ruru Old Girls’ Association president, Liz Lovell says women are coming from far and wide to attend the celebrations, from around New Zealand and overseas.

Mothers and daughters, grandmothers and daughters/sisters, and of course good friends will all attend the many special functions being organised.

“They say that school days are the best days of your life and they are,” Liz says.

“The stories that are shared and the friendships rekindled confirm this and with such a large number of past students coming back to our school from across the decades, this will be a significant and exciting year for us all.”

“It is wonderful to be able to look back at decades of our family, on both sides, going through Rangi Ruru. Times have certainly changed and in my grandmother’s day, women weren’t expected to have a career; they were taught writing,

A proud tradition of Rangi girls from across many generations

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One family now even has a fifth generation girl at Rangi Ruru. Fiona Ensor (nee Innes) is a former Rangi student and her daughter Sam is currently in Year 7. “Although there are a few generations from my side of the family, it is my husband’s side that had four generations at Rangi before Sam,” Fiona says.

reading, arithmetic and how to correctly address a letter.”

Nowadays more than 90 percent of Rangi girls leave the school and go on to study at university. They take up scholarship offers and enjoy tertiary education opportunities at universities in New Zealand and indeed around the world, before beginning exciting careers in business, law, journalism, health, media and the arts to name just a few well worn career paths forged by previous Rangi graduates.

Modern learning and the curriculum Learning is a life skill that happens everywhere at Rangi. Teaching and learning programmes both curricular and co-curricular are designed to extend girls’ thinking and support them to develop skills and attributes to allow them to be life long learners.

- RANGI RURU OLD GIRL, FIONA ENSOR

The small class sizes enable teachers to make learning more personal. They encourage active participation and involvement of all, monitoring progress and providing a differentiated approach to meet the varying needs and requirements of learners.

Lessons are facilitated by teachers and supported by the integration of technology.

Students are actively encouraged to bring and use their own devices at school. The power of the Internet enables girls to make connections, overcome the barriers of time and distance and facilitate shared learning communities to open up different and more enriched ways of learning.

International students get a true kiwi experience at Rangi Ruru

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Flexible learning spaces are central to new building designs

Rangi has its own Ultranet, a secure online learning environment which promotes interactive and collaborative learning and is a warehouse for a wide range of learning resources. Students have the ability to access these resources any time they choose and thus are equipped with the skills to direct their own learning, and parents have their own portal to enable them to be kept fully informed. >

The curriculum is always developing and evolving and responds well to student feedback. “In 2014, for the first time, we have introduced a full year philosophy course at Year 13,“ Julie explains.

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Education | Rangi Ruru Girls' School Extra curricular activities The school is proud to offer a wide range of co-curricular activities and clubs in addition to the 40 plus sports it organises for its girls.

All of the mainstream popular sports are catered for as well as more esoteric choices from archery to Larcross. Some of the new additions for the 2014 academic year have been dragon boating and a computer programming club, both of which are proving very popular.

In addition, a full equestrian programme has been developed which enables students to gain further recognised qualifications.

Students can even stable their own horses near the school’s riding facilities - another memorable first for Rangi, and indeed any girl’s school in the South Island.

Outside of school Rangi is active in supporting and contributing to the communities in which it operates. Various charitable activities raised more than 23,000 dollars in 2013 and the student cohort generously gave more than 9,000 hours of community service. Proof, if proof were needed, of the Christian values that underpin everything good that the Rangi Ruru community does.

Community service trip to Samoa in 2013

Open days

years in mind, while retaining the rich history that is inexorably linked to the Merivale site and the school as a whole”.

It is not only current and former students that are involved in the celebrations.

A community open day in early June will provide visitors with the opportunity to visit and tour Rangi Ruru, and see for themselves the striking contrasts between the beautiful, fully restored 1880s Te Koraha homestead and the brand new 21st century buildings designed for the increasingly flexible, connected and global learning environment. <

New equestrian programme launched in 2013

Rangi spirit

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The fine reputation of Rangi Ruru is carried overseas in numerous school exchange opportunities and in the World Challenge Programme, which includes community service in an underprivileged overseas community.

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With around 650 girls each week participating in at least one session of organised activity, the school has earned its reputation as one of the top sporting schools in the country.

Culturally too, the school is exceptionally strong. Four separate dance troupes, drama and a wonderfully wide selection of performing musical talent rehearse and perform throughout the school year, competing in local, regional and national competitions. From May 19 - 24 the school, in conjunction with Christ’s College, will be performing a short season of the musical Cats.

As Julie Moor reminds us, “Rangi Ruru is fortunate as a school community to be able to redevelop the campus with the next 100

This is an intricate and meticulously planned and project-managed operation to ensure minimal disruption to the day to day running of the school.

While the school may have taken on the appearance of a building site at times, there has been good reason. The end will justify the means as in a few short years from now Rangi will be able to boast the most modern state of the art secondary school campus in the entire country.

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Education | Rangi Ruru Girls' School

A bright future For all that is new and in a state of flux - new plans and new buildings at the school - there is so much fine tradition that thankfully remains unchanged. This tradition is reflected in the school’s values of ‘Respect, Aroha, Enthusiasm & Endeavour, Generosity of Spirit and Integrity’.

A sense of irony should not be lost on all those associated with Rangi Ruru in 2014, because while drawing together the alumni of the school in the coming months to celebrate its past, via a busy calendar of events marking the significant historic milestone that is the 125th birthday, the school is also at the same time intriguingly peering forward into its future.

Preparing the infrastructure for the next five or 10 generations of Rangi girls is no small task and maintaining the standards

of excellence set will not be for the faint of heart.

The intangible Rangi spirit is perhaps best summed up by a current pupil, this year’s Head Girl, Georgie Staples, when she speaks about the challenges and opportunities afforded to her in her time at the school. ”The students and staff were so welcoming, friendly and the connections in the Rangi community truly felt to me, like a family.

From the first day I stepped foot into Rangi I felt an encouraging, caring atmosphere.

My time at Rangi has offered me many challenges and opportunities.

“Along with academic success, sporting involvement and cultural activities, one of my many personal highlights was a five week community service trip to India and a month long Spanish exchange to Argentina.

Rangi to me has been and will always remain something very special.” >

Fast Rangi facts • Rangi Ruru was founded in 1889 • Moved to Te Koraha, Merivale site in 1923 • School motto Whaia to te Rangi means to “Seek the heavenly things” • School Values: Respect, Aroha, Enthusiasm and Endeavour, Generosity of Spirit, and Integrity • Currently has 650 students and more than 120 full and part time staff • 120 boarding students • Member of Independent Schools of New Zealand Organisation • Member of the Alliance of Girls’ Schools Organisation. <

“

Equestiran programme enhances riders skills

Along with academic success, sporting involvement and cultural activities, one of my many personal highlights was a five week community service trip to India and a month long Spanish exchange to Argentina. Rangi to me has been and will always remain something very special.

”

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Education | Rangi Ruru Girls' School

Rangi Ruru 125th Anniversary Events their campus in the way Rangi is. The opening of these two buildings will be a time of reflection and celebration of the Rangi spirit as the school looks boldly to the future.

Rangi Ruru Old Girls’ Association Cocktail Party 5.30pm, Friday, 4 April Venue: Science Centre

Generations Day Monday, 31 March Generations Day is a celebration of Rangi Ruru’s family connections. The school is rightfully very proud of the special links it has with the families who have established a tradition of sending their daughters to be educated at Rangi. These families enjoy a Chapel service and morning tea where a photographer captures this special occasion.

Official opening of the Gibson Centre and Science Centre

Join in the launch of the 125th Anniversary events at the Rangi Ruru Old Girls’ Association “mixology” cocktail party. Old Girls are invited back to celebrate this occasion in the brand new Science Centre. In the spirit of all things ‘science’ a ‘Design Your Own Cocktail Competition’ is being run with the winning entry to be served at the event.

School Tours From 10am, Saturday, 5 April If you like the look of the new Science Centre and would like to see the rest of the school, there are tours on Saturday, 5 April from 10.00am – 12.00pm. To RSVP email: office@ rangiruru.school.nz

“Promise & Promiscuity”

1.30pm, Friday, 4 April

Friday, 11 April and Saturday, 12 April 7.00pm

The official opening of the Gibson Centre and Science Centre in April will be a poignant moment in the history of the school. Rarely does a school have an opportunity to redesign

Rangi Ruru Old Girl, Penny Ashton is returning to the place where she first discovered her love of drama to perform “Promise & Promiscuity” – a new musical by Jane Austen

and Penny Ashton. Follow the fortunes of Miss Elspeth Slowtree as she battles literary snobs, her mother’s nerves and cousin Horatio, all armed with a superior wit, blushing countenance and being quite right… for a girl!

Balls will be attended, crosses stitched and manners minded, all with not one ankle in sight. Fresh from huge success in 2013, this is a performance not to be missed. This is a fundraising event hosted by the Rangi Ruru PTA. $35 adult, $30 senior, $28 student Tickets available at: www.iticket.co.nz For reviews visit: www.hotpink.co.nz/shows/ promise-and-promiscuity

Open Day

Major Production - Cats 7.30pm, 19 - 24 May Venue: Christ’s College Auditorium Rangi Ruru together with Christ’s College will present the Broadway sensation Cats in May 2014. This highly anticipated production will be performed by an incredible group of talented students, led by acclaimed directors, Robert Gilbert and David Chamber. These two schools have established a reputation for delivering exceptional musicals and with previous productions performing to sell-out audiences - this will be an event not to be missed.

12.30pm, Monday, 12 May

Community Open Day

Open Day is a chance for prospective students and their families to see the school in action and have a look around our facilities. You will hear from Principal Julie Moor and senior leaders, and have an opportunity to meet key staff to learn more about what makes an education at Rangi Ruru personal. The Principal’s Address will take place in the Church of St Andrew’s at Rangi Ruru at 12.45pm.

1.30 - 4.30pm, Wednesday, 4 June

An Evening with Bryony

Friday, 1 August

6.00pm, Friday, 30 May Rangi Ruru Old Girl, Bryony Gibson-Cornish is returning home to perform in the new Gibson Centre in May. Bryony is an acclaimed viola player and Fulbright Scholar. She is currently attending the Juilliard School in New York and we are fortunate to have her back to school to speak about her experiences and to perform.

The Community Open Day in June is an opportunity for the neighbourhood and wider Rangi Ruru family to visit the school.

All campus buildings will be open to the community to look through, including the heritage building Te Koraha which is rarely opened to the public.

Founders Day Founders Day will be a day to pause and remember the Gibson sisters and to reflect on the legacy they have inspired.

To mark the occasion, students and invited Old Girls will attend an assembly where the Head of School and the youngest girl in school cut a commemorative cake, which is then shared amongst the students, staff and guests.

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Education | Rangi Ruru Girls' School

Former Staff and Board Reunion

Market Day

5.30pm, Friday, 22 August

11am, Sunday, 2 November

Former staff and board members are invited back to join in celebrating the 125th Anniversary and to enjoy the new building. To RSVP email: office@rangiruru.school.nz

Rangi Ruru will again open up the school to the community and share with it the amazing arts and crafts from its wider family, with a Market Day in November. Lots of fun, games, treats, rides and activities will make this an outing for the whole family to enjoy.

PTA Gala Event 7.00pm, Friday, 29 August

Prize Giving

Join the Rangi Ruru PTA for its annual Gala.

Details are still under wraps for the moment, so be sure to keep your eye on the website and on your email for details to be released shortly. If history is anything to do by, this will be a fabulous evening so mark it in your diary now.

24 - 26 October In 2014 past students from 1944, 1954, 1964, 1974, 1984, 1994 will gather to celebrate their Reunions. Meeting at the school for morning tea on Friday, the groups will attend a church service and then be treated to a tour of the school. Other events for the various year groups continue over the weekend.

To cap off what will be an amazing weekend of celebration for the school, Rangi is hosting a church service followed by tours of the school and morning tea on Sunday, 26 October.

To RVSP email: office@rangiruru.school.nz.

This invitation is extended to all Old Girls and friends of the school.

Rangi Ruru puts on a prize giving unlike any you will have seen before. Apart from the awarding of prizes, Prize Giving is an evening of entertainment, showcasing student talent.

You will hear from the Principal, Board Chair, Head of School and Head of Boarding who wrap-up the year. CT The annual cultural concert is a celebration of performing arts and music

<

Rangi Ruru Old Girls’ Association Reunions

6.30pm, Wednesday, 3 December

Under A Wide Sky - Gala Concert Celebrating 125 years of Rangi Ruru Sunday, 25 October Rangi Ruru Girls’ School celebrates its 125th Anniversary in 2014 with a Gala Concert at the newly restored Isaac Theatre Royal.

The name of the school, Rangi Ruru, was suggested by Paora Taki, the Chief of Rapaki Pa. It is translated as “wide sky shelter”. At the Gala Concert we are encouraging students to step out of the shelter of school and perform on an international stage under a wide sky.

The Gala Concert will showcase the remarkable talents of Rangi Ruru’s

musicians and performing artists. The award winning choral group Resolutions will perform along with the Combined Choirs, the Rangi Sinfonia, Jazz Band and a variety of solo and group performances.

Featuring works written from 1889 onwards, the Gala Concert takes you on a musical journey through the last 125 years. The finale will be a newly commissioned work by Dr Philip Norman for orchestra and choir, featuring the wider Rangi community, including current and past students, staff and parents. Reflecting the school motto Whaia to te Rangi (Seek the Heavenly Things), the commission will embody the spirit of Rangi, speaking about past traditions and future innovations.

Rangi Ruru Girls’ School 59 Hewitts Road Merivale Christchurch T (03) 983 3700 E office@rangiruru.school.nz www.rangiruru.school.nz — Advertising Feature

The barriers you’ll break Rangi. For Life.

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The barriers you’ll break and the lessons you’ll learn will be with you for life. At Rangi Ruru we want you to be the very best you can.

We’ll push you, we’ll help you break barriers, we’ll be there for you when it gets tough - but most of all we’ll give you the tools and skills you need to become the woman you want to be. For a prospectus or to arrange a school tour visit our website or call us on 03 983 3700.

www.canterburytoday.co.nz April/May 2014 | 85

Education | St Michael's Church School

The living heart of a rebuilding city

If that is the case then St Michael’s Church School, nestling cosily into a block just a few hundred yards from Christchurch’s city centre,

must have a high valuation indeed. In fact in a few short months it could be priceless.

This small yet perfectly formed primary school is an oasis of green and vitality in a, for now, somewhat grey and undernourished Christchurch. But even if the school is temporarily damaged and scarred, St Michael’s, like the city, is far from being beaten.

As Principal Tony Kendrew comments, “We are a real microcosm of the city and it is fair to say that the earthquakes were quite devastating for us. Not so much the physical structural damage, although we lost the use of one main building containing three or four teaching areas, but our biggest loss was our immediate surrounding community.

“As the people left the Central Business District because businesses were demolished or put out of action, so we lost our community. We lost over 40 percent of our student roll pretty much overnight.”

Parents and their families previously living and working in the city were forced to the suburbs where there was less destruction.

There was a real reluctance to return to the CBD, much of which was off limits anyway.

“There followed a quiet period of reflection, a clean-up and make good, some new temporary facilities were installed and we were back up and running as normal within three weeks,” Tony explains with understandable pride.

<

Principal Tony Kendrew and Year 8 prefects

While it had taken a while (some three years) to heal the school, and the repair and rebuild of its 101 year old heritage stone building

St Michael’s students enjoy playtime on the newly laid grass turf

<

There is an old adage in property circles that what is important in determining value is “Location, location, location”.

is ongoing, the school is very much alive, as evidenced by a brief tour of the school grounds and the playful noises emanating from the playgrounds.

Marketing manager Amanda Condon explains that the future for St Michael’s is incredibly bright. “We are strategically placed – we have the new Justice and Energy Services precinct next to us, we will be the closest school to the Avon River Park and to the new Metro Sports Hub, plus we will be only a short walk from the new Central Library.”

All this will offer amazing opportunities for St Michael’s pupils. “So not only will we be ‘connected’ to our community, we will be a living, vital component of the new rebuilt Christchurch,” Tony says.

Being an Anglican parish school, St Michael’s pupils participate in religious education and make use of the beautiful St Michael’s wooden church on the corner of the plot.

Weekly school services are held here and the strong moral values of the school are evident in the polite and courteous way the children address visitors.

“Our parents appreciate us reinforcing these family and community values in everything that we do and teach.

“The advantage of our low staff pupil ratio means the school is able to move to a levels-

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based teaching system where we teach a group of children who are performing and learning at a similar level.

“This focus on the learning stages, not ages, allows us to extend and accelerate the learning of talented and gifted children, as well as provide support for those pupils who perhaps need more time to grasp and master concepts.

“With work due to commence soon on the repair of the old stone heritage building, we have taken the opportunity to revise our requirements in terms of utilising the teaching and administration spaces.

“This remedial work should be completed within approximately 24 months and once we have this fine old building back in commission, we will again be in an ideal position and I would hope to grow our student number back to between 150 and 180, which is the ideal number in my view.”

Another big positive is the provision of optional onsite after school care, meaning the school is open from 8am until 5.30 in the afternoon. This has proven popular particularly with those families where both parents work full time, as it allows them to drop the child at school before their working day commences and then to collect them after their office day has finished.

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86 | April/May 2014 www.canterburytoday.co.nz

At a glance | Southern Cross Truffles

Education | St Michael's Church School

The price of perfection Luxury food at its best; truffles have been eaten worldwide for thousands of years.

The fungi delicacy first graced New Zealand shores in the late 1980s thanks to imports from the French, who are a major truffle growing and consuming country. Today there are about 50,000 trees in New Zealand infected with fungi for truffle production.

Southern Cross Truffles is one of the nation’s premier truffle growers in a young, niché market which produces, worldwide, about 50 tonnes of truffles each year. <

St Michael’s Kapa Haka performance in the annual cultural festival

The right environment is critical in sustaining the four key values that guide the school.

These values, Learning, Aroha, Connectedness and Faith, are all promoted throughout the full range of academic, cultural, sporting and spiritual pursuits.

A true sense of belonging is actively promoted. Firstly within school circles as junior pupils are paired with senior house buddies in something akin to a mentoring programme, and then in additional layers and circles of influence such as parish, city, country and ultimately recognising the role the school plays in a global community.

As ‘connectivity’ is recognised and heralded as one of the key values of St Michael’s, it becomes clear when spending any length of time in the school that the staff and pupils are one small, but closely knit family, firmly established in Christchurch’s inner city which is soon to be repopulated and given a new lease of life as major infrastructural projects gather pace.

For those parents seeking an independent, affordable, values based co-educational primary school teaching up to Year 8 with no zoning issues, St Michael’s Church School can offer this and a whole lot more.

About St Michael’s Church School • Established in 1851 - 163 years old • On-site after school care until 5.30pm • Four key values: Learning, Connectedness, Aroha and Faith • Closest school to central business district /city centre • Average teacher to pupil ratio - less than 1:15.

In fact Tony Kendrew and his fellow staff are to be commended for nurturing a little gem of a school with a truly personalised and friendly feel. CT St Michael’s Church School 249 Durham Street Corner Durham Street and Oxford Terrace Christchurch T (03) 379 9790 E office@saintmichaels.co.nz www.saintmichaels.school.nz — Advertising Feature

Jax Lee is the general manager of the business which started with a property in the North Island 10 years ago. After extensive research to formulate the perfect truffle growing conditions Southern Cross Truffles purchased a block of land closer to home in North Canterbury and developed its business from there.

The company has diversified since its early days to integrate all aspects of the truffle growing and selling process. Jax says it’s this diversification that puts them ahead of the game with very few other truffieres who cover all aspects and arguably none to the high standard they achieve.

“We offer a complete and integrated package of services, including consultancy services, trees and truffle for sale, truffle dog handling services and marketing for other truffle growers,” she says.

The experts The truffle industry has been notoriously hard to break into for new businesses because growing techniques are closely guarded secrets due to the exorbitantly high prices the food can fetch, but Jax and her father Bill are more than happy to help.

The pair offer a consultancy services for people establishing and managing their own truffiere. “We can give them advice on what piece of land to buy, which type of trees to plant, how to successfully grow and harvest the truffle and much more,” Jax says.

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Pigs were originally used to harvest truffles.

Today dogs are used because they are easier to train and handle. Southern Cross Truffles have two truffle dogs, Digger and Freddy, with a third, Ruger, in training for the 2014 winter season.

For sale Southern Cross Truffles is proud to sell its Perigord black truffle to those with finer tastes in life, providing truffles to specialty food companies, top restaurants and off shore clients.

“We have formed great relationships with The George in Christchurch, Pegasus Bay Winery in Waipara and several top Auckland restaurants. However, some truffles don’t always make it to the plate with chefs keeping the rare treat for themselves.”

Jax is happy to supply new customers and discuss their needs including quantity, grade, presentation and delivery date.

Since 2007 Southern Cross Truffles has been successfully infecting tree seedlings with truffle spores and selling them to growers.

“Seedlings are independently tested and certified as properly infected.”

Southern Cross Truffles sell a variety of tree species and truffle combinations.

Growers who have bought their trees from Southern Cross Truffles have the opportunity to sell their produce through the company’s well established marketing scheme.

This means other growers can enjoy the benefits of the business’s profitable working relationships without the hassle of selling the truffles themselves.

Expansion Southern Cross Truffles is planning on expanding production this year after continual success and growth of their truffle harvest. “Our growth is enabling us to double our own truffle trees planted, we are very excited to plant another 2,500 new trees this Autumn, as part of a limited partnership, bringing our total tree count to 6,000 and growing; our business is taking off,” Jax says. CT

Southern Cross Truffles PO Box 148 Tai Tapu Christchurch T 021 0285 7801 E southerncrosstruffles@gmail.com www.southerncrosstruffles.co.nz — Advertising Feature

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www.canterburytoday.co.nz April/May 2014 | 87

Education | Selwyn House

Selwyn House school The global opportunities for talented, tech-savvy, motivated learners will only continue to grow. Selwyn House school promotes critical thinking through an international curriculum that draws on best practice from around the world.

Principal Jane Lapthorn talks about the school, what it stands for and what it aims to instil in its students.

The students at Selwyn House School are exposed to quality educational and social opportunities, and I think the school is particularly strong at helping prepare the girls for life.

As an International Baccalaureate (IB) school our values are at the heart of everything we do. Our IB philosophy plays an important role in changing the lives of students through a strong academic curriculum.

IB programmes engage students in an international education designed to provoke a greater acceptance and understanding of the world around them. Our community has become far more diverse and we need to ensure we are building an inclusive community of students.

There are several things that are key to the school’s success. We value our reputation for high standards and our focus on teaching and learning.

We continue to look at ways to improve our teaching practice especially for girls. Building the skills to be successful in life is extremely important to us. We work hard to instil the skills of critical thinking, collaboration, problem solving and creativity.

Our specialist teachers in Spanish, art, performing arts, eLearing and technology, music and physical education work with all the girls from Year 1.

This approach gives the girls opportunities to build strengths in all areas of the curriculum.

The girls benefit from a balanced, broad and comprehensive approach to education.

They leave us in Year 8 knowing their strengths and weaknesses and this helps them to make informed decisions about what they will study as they move through secondary school.

The other major point of difference for us is our boarding school. Our boarders bring a lovely dimension to our environment. Our Boarding House is designed to meet the needs of pre-adolescent girls.

Many of our boarders are from country schools and our environment helps the girls adjust to living in the city with other girls their own age. Pre-adolescent is a critical age for girls as they begin to define who they are.

All the girls face similar challenges and our environment supports them. During Year 8 they can look at the secondary school boarding options and choose the school that best suits them.

By the time the girls leave us we want them to have a sense of self-efficacy, to be resilient and to be aware of their strengths and weaknesses.

The location of the Boarding House in close proximity to the school allows the opportunity for the boarders to be able to enjoy the full range of school facilities during the week and on weekends.

Being an International Baccalaureate school is a major point of difference.

As we are a ‘girls only school’ our market is small, so we work hard to attract students.

We have to make sure that what we are doing is authentic and based on best practice.

capabilities can be developed, improved and expanded.

We are very self-reflective and continue to strive to be the best we can be. We have a wonderful staff and all of us continue to learn. We appreciate that we are a ‘community of learners’ and we enjoy working at Selwyn House.

We are also embarking on a refurbishment of the school starting with our Junior School.

We are striving for a modern look that reflects an understanding of design and how children learn.

Some of our teachers have been with us for a number of years and as one teacher said recently, “One of the things that I enjoy most about working here is that you are constantly being challenged. That’s invigorating and important to me as a professional”.

We will be talking with our junior girls initially to find out what they would like to see in their new environment. They have the language and the ability to articulate their thoughts and views.

Selwyn House: Proud of what we do in nurturing strong and capable young women. CT

We do have a focus on international education as a n IB school and this year we are looking Selwyn House at ways to develop closer ties with students in 122 Merivale Lane countries such as Spain and China.

Merivale Christchurch 8014 Our art and educational technology teachers T (03) 355 7299 (School) are working to establish our approach to T (03) 355 7248 (Pre-school) our MakerSpace programme. A maker www.selwynhouse.school.nz mindset involves having a can-do attitude — Advertising Feature and a growth mindset – a belief that your

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Hospitality | Hurunui River Retreat

The perfect getaway The Hurunui River Retreat was a retirement project for Steve and Ali Rice. Six years ago the site was a paddock of tussock, yet today boasts a stunning and tranquil riverside retreat.

“When Steve first showed me the site, it was an empty paddock,” Ali says. “Now we have developed our own personal paradise.”

Nestled comfortably on the main highway between Waipara and Hamner Springs, Hurunui River Retreat is just tranquillity without the isolation. It takes little more than an hour to make the 80km trip from Christchurch city or just 40 minutes from the Hanmer township.

And, while developed as a project for the social couple to enjoy during their retirement years, the retreat has grown to be so much more than that.

Steve’s eldest son was married onsite recently and with the space to house the 42 metre long marquee hired for the event, Hurunui River Retreat is certainly able to host groups both big and small.

Made up of two, two-bedroom apartments, fittingly named Tussock and Flax, the retreat offers relaxation, tranquillity and stunning views. Steve and Ali lived in one of the apartments while their personal home was built. So they know first-hand how spacious and well appointed the rooms are. “We deliberately created expansive bedrooms,” Steve explains.

“They are completely self-contained, with complementary continental breakfast, full shared laundry facilities and Flax offers a wheelchair friendly space.”

Each apartment offers a heat pump, BBQ and outdoor furniture, a television and DVD player. The Flax apartment includes a king size bed and two king singles, while Tussock offers one king size and one queen sized bed.

Perhaps the jewel in Hurunui Retreat’s crown is the outdoor bath. Tucked privately behind a timber screen, the gas heated bath is a comfortable way to ease into your holiday break. “It’s an extremely popular draw card,” Ali laughs.

“It’s a relaxing experience with a wine and some candles and an uninterrupted view of the Southern Alps.”

A picturesque restored villa in Culverden is home to the Red Post Café, an inviting place to stop for lunch, a snack, great coffee or an evening meal.

We are fully licensed and offer everything from muffins & scones, cakes & slices, light lunches and our Burger & Pizza menu, vegetarian and gluten-free options and a children’s menu.

2 Highfield St, Culverden Ph 03 315 8492 email redpostcafe@clear.net.nz

for sale

PREMIUM ACCOMMODATION BUSINESS

The retreat isn’t short on draw cards. In summer, take a short stroll through the paddock to swim in the river; in winter make the most of the nearby ski fields, enjoy a leisurely ride on the mountain bikes provided, or duck out for some fishing at the renowned Hurunui and Waiau rivers.

There’s plenty to do, with the Hurunui River Retreat handy to many popular destinations and local activities.

Set in a peaceful rural valley alongside the Hurunui River, the property is often described as a hidden gem.

“

What the guests say “I have travelled all over the world and never have I stayed in a more peaceful or spiritual place. If you have a good book to read or, better still, a book to write, this is the perfect place. Our hosts, Ali and Steve, could not have made our stay more comfortable or happy. We booked for 12 nights, and ended up staying 17!”

- Garry, Sussex, England

“Silence and the incredible beauty of changing evening light on the hills and mountains, privacy and all viewed from the sanctuary of a well appointed and presented cottage. We will do our best to communicate these special features to the wider world. C’est parfait!”

- David and Ursula, Hampshire, United Kingdom

“We couldn’t have asked for a better place to take time out. Best sleep I’ve had in ages! Loved the starlight bath and walking up the hill. Thanks heaps.”

- Grant and Annie, Christchurch

“Words can’t describe how great this wonderful place is!!! More than we imagined. Will recommend and come again. Thanks!”

- Rob and Michelle, Burnham, Christchurch

Hurunui River Retreat | This premium accommodation business is located in a tranquil spot, just a short drive from the historic Hurunui Hotel. The 15 hectare property includes a 284m² two year old stunning architecturally designed home with three bedrooms plus office. It has open plan living, two heat pumps and an open fire as well as under tile heating. Located on a small terrace with magnificent views of the mountains and river, with the two delightful fully furnished cottages, built to match the high standard of the main dwelling. Popular with tourists, Christchurch residents, fishermen and skiers who can, in a relatively short time, be skiing at Mt Lyford or Hanmer Springs.

View online, crtrealestate.co.nz - Web ID RA1557 Deadline Sale Contact

90 | April/May 2014 www.canterburytoday.co.nz

”

Closing 4pm, Wednesday 9 April 2014 Maurice Newell 0272 401 718

Hospitality | Hurunui River Retreat

“There are some stunning walks which look out across the whole basic,” Ali says. “They are nice easy walks which are suitable for the whole family.”

One of the most important attributes of any hospitality provider is a love of people and this couple certainly have that. “We’ve met some of the most amazing people through this place,” Ali says.

A surprising 60 percent of the retreat’s visitors are from Christchurch city, 20 percent

“

are from throughout the country and another 20 percent are international visitors.

“We have a few families which come regularly for their holidays,” Steve says. “They find it cheaper and more accessible than renting a batch.”

Ali says the local water is some of the purest around. Treated naturally by UV, it contains no added chemicals. There’s likely some kind of additive in the air though, there’s something magically uplifting about a rural getaway.

Perhaps you should try it for yourself.

Perhaps the jewel in Hurunui Retreat’s crown is the outdoor bath. Tucked privately behind a timber screen, the gas heated bath is a comfortable way to ease into your holiday break.

”

Things to do

Swimming

Winery and food

Only a 10 minute walk across paddocks from the retreat, there is a lovely water hole in the Hurunui River next to which you can set up a picnic or just dash down to for a quick dip.

The region boasts an ever growing number of vineyards and fantastic eateries.

The North Canterbury Food and Wine Trail provides information on some of the regions well known wineries.

Ask Ali or Steve for recommendations on where to stop along the way, and maybe pick up a platter and a bottle of wine for a relaxing nibble on the deck of the retreat when you arrive.

Fishing There is a wonderful fishing ground right on the retreat’s doorstep. The Hurunui River offers excellent searun brown trout, rainbow trout and salmon fishing. Should you be interested in a fishing guide to accompany you on a day out during your stay, please let Ali or Steve know at the time of booking.

Hiking and walking One of the highlights of this beautiful region is the stunning walkways and tracks. Just behind the Retreat, do the one and a half hour ‘Old Forest Walk’, which once you’ve reached the top, offers stunning views across the area of the Southern Alps and the Hurunui River. You can also enjoy a stroll along the river’s edge, just a stone’s throw from your accommodation.

Golf The region boasts some wonderful golf courses, all within a half hour’s drive from the Retreat – choose from the Amuri Golf Club, a lovely local nine hole course offering 18 different tees. Other regional clubs include the Hamner Springs Golf Club, the Amberley Golf Course, the Culverden Golf Club and the Hawarden Golf Club.

Skiing and snowboarding A short drive from the retreat, skiers and snowboarders can enjoy the local Hamner Springs Ski Area or for something a little more challenging, the Mt Lyford Alpine Resort Ski Area. CT Hurunui River Retreat 560 Hurunui Bluff Road Hurunui North Canterbury T (03) 314 4554 / 027 216 4167 E rice@farmside.co.nz www.hurunuiriverretreat.co.nz — Advertising Feature

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Situated in a peaceful rural valley alongside the Hurunui River, the Hurunui River Retreat is just a one hour drive from Christchurch and a little over thirty minutes south of Hanmer Springs.

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Make your next get away - a well deserved retreat www.canterburytoday.co.nz April/May 2014 | 91

Goods & Services | Signtech

The sign masters In today’s competitive world, nothing is more important for your business than having the best possible signage in order to grab the public’s attention and convey the right message.

“

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Client testimonial

Signtech is celebrating 21 years in business this year and is led by sign masters Craig Randall Peter Inder.

The company offers a huge variety and breadth of work that combines old fashioned manufacturing skills with the latest signage technology.

The skilled Signtech team listen, advise, design, manufacture and install – taking care of the whole job from start to finish.

This makes Signtech the complete one-stopshop for all your signage requirements, with no job being too big or small.

The company recognises that truly effective signage can add huge value to its clients’ businesses in a way that no other marketing or advertising can.

- Caleb Ballin, project manager

Signtech can help you achieve the right signage for your business

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“Signtech continue to be the benchmark for other signage companies to aspire to. Your company has again conducted themselves in a very professional and efficient manner.”

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High-quality sign products and services Signtech manufactures a huge range of signs, from the small to the very large. It stands behind every sign it makes.

“Our in-house production and graphics teams build and install signs,” Peter says.

Signtech’s areas of specialty include:

“We have high-end technology with an Accubend 3D channel letter/shaping machine, CAD driven CNC Router, a laser, plotter cutters and a true ink solvent printer. We also have a subsidiary, LED Distributors, which provides LED lighting and power supplies.

Vehicle signage: Signtech helps businesses use their vehicle graphics to get more promotional mileage from their service vehicles.

Point of sale: Digital sign printing can be used to create spectacular point of sale retail displays.

"With its long life, low energy and maintenance costs we were quick to embrace this modern form of lighting."

3D signs: Machined on Signtech’s router from metals, woods or plastics, 3D signs with relief have greater presence, are moderately priced and are low maintenance.

In addition to pure signage, Signtech offers window film treatments, interior custom wall and door paper and glass graphics for use as splash backs, showers and kitchen islands.

Building signs: Signtech can create large 3D signs with neon or LED lighting for high visibility.

Signtech employs its own qualified sheetmetal fabricators, electricians and carpenters to ensure quality is maintained at every level of the job.

By undertaking all its own installation the company controls the finished product, as well as ensuring the sign is safely installed.

An illuminated sign for Christ’s College, made by Signtech

Engraved signs: Signtech’s computercontrolled router, engraver and laser engraver enable it to create stunning works for special occasions, including cast, carved or engraved signs.

Footpath signs: The company produces a variety of footpath signs, from simple graphics on proprietary footpath signs to custom signs for that individual flair.

Freestanding signs: These include simple illuminated pole signs, nonilluminated carved wooden signs and fabricated metal plinths.

PROUD TO BE ASSOCIATED WITH SIGNTECH

Illuminated signs: Signtech is expert in the manufacture and maintenance of illuminated signs, including modern energy-efficient low-maintenance LED, illumination, cheaper fluorescent lighting and classic neon.

Local know-how. Global can-do.

92 | April/May 2014 www.canterburytoday.co.nz

Goods & Services | Signtech

Huge portfolio of work Signtech has completed countless significant projects throughout New Zealand and has received scores of awards for its high-quality innovative work.

Signtech’s work can be seen all around New Zealand, Australia and the Pacific Islands. It also produced work for artist Bill Culbert for the 2013 Venice Biennale in Italy.

Signtech is committed to Christchurch and the city’s rebuild. The company has competed hard for many iconic jobs during the years,

including the Christchurch Casino, Civic Centre, Town Hall and Convention Centre and the Art Gallery.

For the Casino, Signtech produced neon signs, neon-sillouette illuminated fabricated stainless steel lettering, engraved signage, illuminated signage and the cast foundation plaque.

Followers of rugby’s Super 15 also see the company’s signage when the Crusaders play at AMI Stadium.

Signtech has produced signage for most of the city’s major shopping malls, including the recently renovated Barrington Mall.

Three large entrance plinth signs, internal way-finding signage, 3D alphabend signage on the exterior, internal graphics and UVprotective window film treatments were all supplied, manufactured and installed

by Signtech.

Why choose Signtech?

In addition to its broad service offering and high level of expertise, customers come to Signtech for its people.

“We have been putting a lot of effort into our people and the concept of a value proposition based around integrity, quality and service,” Peter says.

“We would like to think that we are benefiting from that. Alongside our depth of experience, our broad range of award-winning services and our ability to design and manufacture in-house are key drivers of our strategic advantage.”

Award winning ways Signtech has been widely recognised by its peers and has won an impressive 71 awards from the New Zealand Sign and Display Association in more than 12 categories The eye-catching signage at the Lone Star, created by Signtech in Christchurch from hand crafted signs through to the highly technical. <

Similar mall work was completed at Northlands and Westfield Riccarton Malls and Richmond Mall in Nelson. The Northlands Mall project involved installing a pylon sign 15 metres tall, featuring open channel

neon, a large illuminated lifestyle image and illuminated tenant signage. There was also 3D exterior identification signage, channel neon lettering and anodised aluminium lettering.

“This vividly illustrates our point of difference in that we have a broad range of expertise across the signage spectrum.

Signtech 9 Livingstone Street Phillipstown “Aside from one-off bespoke signage, we Christchurch do enjoy the challenge of project work such T (03) 348 8116 as the old bus exchange or the recently Freephone 0800 348 8116 completed Richmond Mall in Nelson where we E info@signtech.co.nz get to exercise all our skills, and in our view www.signtech.co.nz these would be ranked among our best.” CT — Advertising Feature

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Signtech has the expertise to create any signage requirements, with attention to detail in all jobs

Auckland • Wellington • Christchurch

Proudly Supporting Signtech Now distributing quality Rigid Substrates to the Printing, Shop fitting and Architectural markets directly to the South Island market via our Christchurch Warehouse.

Alucosmith ACM, DiBond, Forex Classic & Forex Print, Kapa, Foamalite, Foam-X Print

www.blueprintimaging.co.nz Christchurch: 32 Hawdon Street, Sydenham, P O Box 7420, Sydenham, Christchurch 8240, NZ Ph: 64 3 374 2227 Fax: 64 3 374 2228 DIGITAL PRINTERS & FINISHING EQUIPMENT • ARCHITECTURAL • FLEXIBLE & RIGID MEDIA • SCREENPRINTING • NARROW WEB INKS & COATINGS

SUPPLIERS OF

Aluminium Extrusion & Sheet, Scaffolding & Ladders.

Fasteners, Sealants & Hardware.

Congratulations to Signtech 4 Iversen Terrace, Christchurch Phone 03 366 7939 Fax 03 379 5910

www.canterburytoday.co.nz April/May 2014 | 93

Goods & Services | Award Plastics & Displays

Plastics made to measure Award Plastics and Displays will celebrate 20 years in business later this year and has grown into a multifaceted company within the plastics industry.

The Sydenham-based company is a manufacturer and distributor of plastics, displays and related products, including full plastic sheets in various thicknesses and colours, panels cut to size or shape, a stock line of brochure holders and poster displays, as well as custom products made to order.

The extensive product range includes: • Sheet plastics • Display solutions • Catering supplies • Thermoforming • Moulded Screens

• Plastic fabrication “In the early years everything was made here in our factory, but now the focus has • Home and garden shifted, with most of the everyday displays • Industry and education. like brochure and poster holders being made in China. Also the company has large forming machines for moulding parts for local manufacturers, but even they now source their A computer router was bought, which parts from overseas,” he says. gave the company something none of its competitors had. The company’s market and “That has meant the company direction has client base continued to expand, requiring changed many times over the years and now larger premises again. we have a clearer focus on more specialist plastic display work for residential and commercial buildings. Also with the company directly importing its own range of standard lines such as brochure/poster holders, our prices won’t be beaten.”

Another move was made in 2001 to a purpose-built premise in Buchan Street. A vacuum-forming machine and computer router were purchased to keep up with the company’s ever-increasing sales.

The rebuild has also opened new opportunities with unique architectural fittings for new commercial buildings using specialist plastics.

Then in February 2005 the company moved to an even larger site at 42 Wordsworth Street, which offered significantly more manufacturing area to accommodate the increased production and a larger showroom to display its increasing range of products.

Formed in 1994, Ross Hall took on his first employee following the purchase of a vacuum forming machine, which opened up a new market. The company then moved to larger premises in Coleridge Street in 1997 with a staff of six.

ICFB

Award Plastics was renamed Award Plastics and Displays to better identify its new direction. The company has continued to grow and is now a one-stop shop for any type

An acrylic container manufactured by Award Plastics and Displays

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Owner Ross Hall says the company has changed a lot in 20 years.

of display that requires specific needs and tight delivery times, regardless of the size of the project.

Last year saw a return to normal business conditions following the earthquakes, and the introduction of the company’s new Easyfix product for the home double-glazing market.

“These products are unique in the fact that they are made from plastic sheet with a strong aluminium frame. This is particularly useful with the garden shed that have a tinted skylight roof.”

Award Plastics and Displays offers a range of consumer products for its more retailorientated customers.

Award Plastics’ range of standard products includes brochure holders, floor stands, wall displays with a range of hospitality industry items such as, table numbers, no-smoking signs, food trays and lids, menu boards, and dispensers for straws, peanuts and ice cream cones.

Recent products added are the Easyfix DIY double-glazing system from Europe, which comprises of a large range of plastic and magnetic extrusions suitable for all types of windows.

Shop fittings include sunglass stands and real estate window displays, while the company also manufactures sign pans, illuminated and non-illuminated poster displays and caravan/motor home parts.

These are easy to install and come with a 30 year guarantee on clear acrylic panels at about a third of the price of glass double glazing. Also a house can be gradually done window by window to suit your budget.

“We do the basics well like selling plastic sheet and cut-to-size direct to the public, together with one-off custom-made products to the customers’ requirements,” he says.

“Also new is a range of home outdoor products including garden planters, sheds and carports in flat pack kitsets at very good prices,” Ross says.

Award Plastics and Displays also supplies glues and polishes to the industry and manufactures signs, 3D lettering to the sign industry.

Range of consumer products

Independent Customs & Freight Brokers Ltd

HELP FOR IMPORTERS AND EXPORTERS

www.indcust.co.nz

Chartered Accountants & Business Advisors

Contact Norm Now on 03 357 4700 for a consultation norm@indcust.co.nz

Proud to advise and support Award Plastics and Displays during their many successful years in business.

Unit 19, 150 Cavendish Road, PO Box 20230, Christchurch

Phone: (03) 379 9028 Fax: (03) 352 4508 Email: info@lewthwaites.co.nz Website: www.lewthwaites.co.nz

As Specialist Commercial Insurance Brokers based in Christchurch we are pleased to offer insurance advice to all Businesses Proud supporter of Award Plastics & Displays

We service all makes & models of vehicles WOF’s, WOF Repairs, Oil Change Services, Brakes, Clutches, Tyres, Cambelts, Cooling Systems, Pre-Purchase Checks, Fault Scanning, Holden & Ford ‘Dyno’ Tuning and Upgrades

Contact Brian Reedy | E: breedy@runacres.co.nz | PO Box 12106, Christchurch 8242 | Ph: (03) 379 1001

94 | April/May 2014 www.canterburytoday.co.nz

345 Colombo St, Sydenham P: 03 366 2375 | E: info@harmanmotors.co.nz www.harmanmotors.co.nz

PROUD TO SERVICE AWARD PLASTICS’ VEHICLES FOR OVER 20 YEARS

Goods & Services | Award Plastics & Displays

Award Plastics and Displays’ range of services and capabilities includes: • Laser cutting and engraving • Three-axis routing of sheets • Five-axis routing of areas where threeaxis cannot reach • Vacuum forming of mouldings up to 2.5m long and 1.5m wide • Blow moulding of products using air to blow heated plastic into shape • Fabrication and custom made of plastic products to suit the requirements • Solidworks design software.

New Palmerston North branch

Custom design work Award Plastics and Displays has the skills and expertise to meet all customers’ requirements across a range of services with very experienced staff.

The company can undertake laser cutting and engraving, three and five-axis routing, vacuum forming, blow moulding and fabrication to suit the customer requirements.

It has a wide variety of plastic available sheet available in many colours for many different uses and can cut to size and into shops, bend and moulded as required.

Award Plastics and Displays can vacuum form large and small parts, blow form dome shapes together and cut letters of any shape with computer router and laser machines.

“We can custom mould anything from small food trays to large decorative panels – we have quite a few large moulding machines for that,” Ross says.

The perfect solution to your gardening requirements, made by Award Plastics and Displays in Christchurch

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Award Plastics and Displays manufactures and distributes plastics, displays and related products for the residential, retail and commercial markets

The company’s in-house design department can bring any ideas to life using not just plastics, but also incorporating metals and wood.

To complete this, the company can supply flashing LED 3D letters or shapes and end light LED engraved signs.

Hall and his skilled team pride themselves being able to design and build to a specific application or customer requirement.

“We can take the product from concept to designing it, prototyping it and manufacturing tooling.”

Hi-tech machinery Award Plastics and Displays has two laser cutting machines and can cut up to 1200 x 1200mm.

Laser etching also allows high-detailed images to be cut into the surface, which Hall says is a great look for trophies and displays.

The business also operates a trimming machine from Europe, which can trim a moulded product and drill holes in it. “It’s fully computerised, whereas we previously did it all by hand. It means quicker turn around on work and greater accuracy. We’ll be able to do more complicated products.”

Award Plastics has installed a larger thermoforming machine, which has increased productivity, capacity, and capability. The company can now form mouldings up to 2.5m long x 1.5m wide.

“This machine is a real step up for us with the latest technology operating system, halogen flash heating system, automatic sheet loader and unloading also with twin sheet forming capability. This additional machine brings the number of thermoforming machines up to three.”

While most of Award Plastics’ customers are in Christchurch, the company undertakes work for businesses throughout New Zealand and exports some product to Australia.

Award Plastics and Displays’ new Palmerston North branch is up and running and offering a large range of products and services.

Following the purchase of local company Plasti in 2013, Award Plasticsand Displays opened the new branch, led by manager Stephen Jestin.

The branch manufactures a wide range of display items and industrial components for other manufacturers, the hospitality trade, local and international companies, as well as completing one-off retail sales.

A showroom is located at 177 John F Kennedy Drive and offers a good range of products from sheet plastic, brochure displays and poster holders, through to our DIY double-glazing system, glues and polishes. CT Award Plastics and Displays 42 Wordsworth Street PO Box 7411 Sydenham Christchurch T (03) 374 5500 www.awardplastics.co.nz — Advertising Feature

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Award Plastics and Displays can manufacture virtually anything made out of plastic, including a carport for your vehicle

Ph 374 5500 or 0800 426 292

PLASTICS PROFESSIONALS Who Pride Themselves With

INNOVATION DESIGN EXPERIENCE

42 Wordsworth St, Sydenham, Christchurch info@awardplastics.co.nz www.awardplastics.co.nz

• Plastic Sheet Sales • DIY Double Glazing • Vacuum Moulding • 3&5 Axis CNC Router Cutting

• Fabrication • Brochure Displays • Laser Cutting & Etching

www.canterburytoday.co.nz April/May 2014 | 95

Goods & Services | Central Heating NZ

Warm up this winter With the rebuild in full swing, now is the ideal time to install warm water central heating in your home.

Installing a central heating system can be done at any time, but the experienced team at Central Heating New Zealand recommend doing it when building a new home or during repairs.

The benefits of central heating: Effective: Warm water central heating systems heat your whole house

There are more options, it’s easier and less time consuming to install and is less disruptive for the homeowner.

Efficient: Water transfers energy at four times the rate of air, making warm water central heating systems much more efficient than warm air systems

The heating solution for your home

Healthy: Central heating systems improve general health and wellbeing of the home’s occupants

Many New Zealanders struggle to stay warm each winter, with homes typically heated unevenly and unhealthily. The air temperature in bedrooms often falls below 16degC, while living areas are commonly overheated to compensate, sometimes as high as 30degC. Central heating allows you to heat your home evenly throughout, ensuring every room stays warm, cosy and healthy for your family.

With central heating you can get the most out of your home in winter without breaking the bank.

A standard Kiwi home can run a central heating system for about the same cost as running two heat pumps, while keeping the whole house warm and comfortable - not just one or two rooms or hallways.

Since 2001, Central Heating New Zealand in Christchurch has been a leading specialist in warm water central heating for New Zealand’s residential and commercial markets.

Controllable: Systems are fully programmable and can be thermostatically controlled or turned off in rooms that are not being used Quiet: The systems are virtually silent Quick: With radiator systems, the house can be warm within minutes of the system being turned on, regardless of how cold it is outside Customised: Central Heating New Zealand will work out the specific heating requirements of your home to achieve the best heating solution for your needs Flexible: Choose from a range of different heat sources and heat distribution combinations to get the best performance and cost benefits for your lifestyle.

Our modern workshop is equipped with some of the latest CNC machinery; we work with a wide range of materials including stainless steel, mild steel, aluminium, and occasionally, copper and brass. Our capabilities allow us to process commissions from prototypes to production runs.

Fast, Friendly & Professional Service

0800 78 78 78 03 343 6478 www.shf.co.nz

Proud to Support 96 | April/May 2014 www.canterburytoday.co.nz

Cromptons

P +64 3 381 2400 F +64 3 381 4030

376 Cashel Street, Christchurch • office@pwagriffin.co.nz • www.pwagriffin.co.nz

SHF Petroleum Ltd are pleased to be associated with Central Heating NZ Ltd

PETROLEUM

Ltd

27-31 Lane Street, Woolston, Chch P (03) 982 1022 E sales@albertjagger.co.nz www.albertjagger.co.nz

TURRET PUNCHING CNC FOLDING ROBOTIC MIG WELDING TIG & MIG WELDING GUILLOTINING LASER CUTTING FABRICATION

Nothing beats the cosy warmth from a central heating system in your home

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The company has the skills, products and people to design and create the right heating system for every customer, with a nationwide network of installers who are experienced with Central Heating New Zealand’s products.

Safe: A safe option for children and the elderly because there are no naked flames or elements, and for people with respiratory or allergy problems because there is no forced air flow

3 Commercial Fuel 3 Domestic Fuel 3 Farm Fuel 3 Kerosene 3 On Site Refuelling 3 Pumping Equipment

3 Lubricants 3 Loan Tanks 3 New Tanks 3 Bio diesel 3 Petrol

Site Measure & Installation · Commercial · Free Advice · Professional Workmanship Guaranteed Flashings - Long Run - Parapet - Curved - Seismic Cavity · · ·

Rainheads · Down Pipes · Spouting Gutter ·

Architectural Balustrade Handrails

· · ·

Fabrication Metalwork Kitchens

Proud supporters to Central Heating NZ “Building the heart of CBD”

P: 03 341 6558 E: info@cromptons.co.nz 241 Annex Road, Middleton, Christchurch

www.cromptons.co.nz

Goods & Services | Central Heating NZ

Central Heating New Zealand’s range of central heating systems products for your home or business includes: Gas boilers: Can use either LPG or natural gas, popular in the North Island where there is reticulated gas Diesel boilers: A popular option in the South Island, can go either inside or outside Biomass boilers: Hands-on heating with wood, both atmospheric and gasification boilers available Air-to-water heat pumps: Uses energy in the air - no matter how cold it is outside - to heat the central heating system, very energy efficient Ground-source heat pumps: Uses geothermal energy from the ground to heat the system, ideal for large properties, very energy efficient

Central heating allows you to heat your home evenly throughout, ensuring every room stays warm, cosy and healthy for your family

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With central heating, you can get the most out of your home in winter without breaking the bank

Hot water production: Maximise efficiency by heating your hot water with the same heat source used to heat your central heating system Radiators: Quick response times, a variety of styles, endless colour options Heated towel rails: Takes the chill off a bathroom, kitchen or laundry room with the radiant heat used in radiators and underfloor heating Underfloor heating: No aesthetic impact, ideal heat distribution for the human body.

Whether you’re keen on the low aesthetic impact of warm water underfloor heating or enjoy having a warm radiator to lean against, Central Heating New Zealand offers an option that is right for you and your home’s unique needs.

The company’s team will work with you to design and create the perfect system for your new or existing home.

Packages for new homes For those working on a new home, Central Heating New Zealand has simplified the process of finding a central heating system with new builders’ packages that make warm water central heating cost-effective and accessible to everyone.

A central heating system only makes up two to five percent of a homeowner’s investment if they decide to build a new home. Yet because it allows homeowners to utilise their

How does warm water central heating work?

Warm water central heating systems, which can be installed in new or existing homes, use a closed network of water filled pipes to distribute radiant heat thoroughly and evenly throughout the house.

The water in these pipes is heated by either a boiler or heat pump. Boilers are appliances that combust fuel, while heat pumps are electrical appliances that transfer energy from the air or ground water.

Water transfers energy at a much higher rate than air, making these systems very efficient.

Because radiant heat does not rely upon forced air movement, these systems also reduce dust and allergens.

The perfect commercial heating option Central Heating New Zealand also offers the ideal solution for heating your commercial premises.

The Christchurch-based company offers a large range of high quality central heating products and in-depth technical information for any commercial project.

In-house heating engineers can provide technical design services for commercial installations in specialist areas to assist your design team.

The company’s experience on large projects in central heating system design, product supply and installation knowledge, means it can offer guaranteed design-build solutions to integrate into your project.

Forman Building Systems Christchurch thank Central Heating Ltd for being an important part of their 100 years of success

“

The company has the skills, products and people to design and create the right heating system for every customer, with a nationwide network of installers who are experienced with Central Heating New Zealand’s products.

”

It also specialises in condensing gas and diesel boiler cascades (multiple boilers) which offer higher efficiency than traditional single boiler systems.

Some of the company’s recent commercial projects in the Canterbury region include an underfloor system at University of Canterbury secondary data centre, and an air-to-water heat pump and underfloor system at Geraldine Preschool. CT

Central heating systems are ideal for use in your home or business

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There is also a range of heat sources suitable for both underfloor and radiator heating, including diesel boilers, air-to-water heat pumps and geothermal heat pumps.

entire home during the colder months, its value is much higher.

Central Heating New Zealand 52 Pilkington Way Wigram Christchurch T (0800) 357 1233 www.centralheating.co.nz — Advertising Feature

AFI Systems Affordable business systems for distribution, jobbing and manufacturing companies.

We specialise in complex General Ledger solutions and B2B - eCommerce with MobileAgenda, Foodstuffs, Mitre10, ITM, The Warehouse, Bunnings and Fonterra to name a few.

Phone: 03 379 1246 For more information or sales enquiries:

0800 45 4000 www.forman.co.nz www.canterburytoday.co.nz April/May 2014 | 97

Transport & Motoring | AA Auto Centre Hornby

The AA heads west AA members often reap the rewards of membership and the opening of the latest AA Auto Centre in Hornby will make more yellow card holders toot their horns.

Formerly a Goodyear Service Centre, the switch was based on the customer receiving better perks.

Hamish Anderson, a partner at the AA Auto Centre, believes the AA customers receive a better deal and thus value for money compared to other service centres.

“The AA membership has all kinds of benefits and having a WOF or a service done through an AA Auto Centre is certainly a more cost effective way if you’re a yellow card holder.

“We like to offer our customers a great service in reward for their continued loyalty and we hope by opening here in Hornby, we will help more AA customers with their vehicle servicing needs.”

Smart service The yellow branding now visible at 122 Carmen Road in Horny is the latest in a swath of commercial regeneration in the area. The convenient location will undoubtedly see a steady stream of AA

customers flowing through the seemingly ever-growing, bustling suburb.

AA members do get the additional perks and comforts of loyalty but all cars and customers are welcome at an AA Auto Centre.

What’s on the menu?

The AA Auto Centre offers its services to customers in a very catering manner - a menu style option board.

Menu based servicing is a simplified way to price and understand the often complex way a vehicle is serviced. With more than 30 sites around New Zealand and a range of menu options, AA members on the road can rest assured that they are never too far from the comfort of an AA Service Centre.

Membership also entitles the AA card holders to discounted fuel with services costing $44 or more, and with fuel prices the way they are now, every little bit helps.

Bronze to Euro Platinum The scale of servicing at an AA Auto Centre ranges from the basic Bronze package up to the more in-depth Euro Platinum service.

With each increase up the sliding scale comes a more comprehensive service, and better discounts for the AA member. AA Hornby will offer the West Christchurch catchment area the latest in AA benefits and servicing.

So stop by and find out how much your yellow card could save you, not just on the cost of a service, but on fuel in the future.

Wait no longer! Opt out with Clearwater Painting and Decorating Ltd Locally owned , established in May 2002, with 27 years experience in the roofing, painting and building industries - our builders and painters can repair and restore better than new.

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BURNSIDE RADIATORS

& AUTO AIRCONDITIONING

Recores, repairs, replacements - New, used Clean outs Repairs to plastic radiators Vintage radiator rebuilds Air conditioning repairs Air conditioning regassing Heater removals and refits Petrol tank repairs and relining Viscous fan refilling

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524 WAIRAKEI ROAD, CHRISTCHURCH PICK UP & DELIVERY OF RADIATORS THROUGHOUT CHRISTCHURCH

FREE RADIATOR CHECKS WHILE YOU WAIT 98 | April/May 2014 www.canterburytoday.co.nz

All work comes with 12 months warranty or 20,000km on all parts and workmanship, so come say hello to the team in yellow at Carmen Road. CT AA Auto Centre Hornby 122 Carmen Road Hornby Christchurch T (03) 336 0003 www.aa.co.nz/autoservice — Advertising Feature

An opportunity for you to join the fun Do you: • Love bagels, pizzas

and healthy eating?

• Have energy and

enthusiasm to burn?

• Ready to invest and be

your own boss?

• Committed to maintaining

our levels of excellence?

Fantastic! Right this way please...

A whole lot of taste Welcome to Wholly Bagels & Pizza. You’re probably hungry so we’ll make this snappy. As the nation’s most passionate providers of bagels and pizzas, we simply love what we do and know you will too.

After opening our first store outside of Wellington, in Palmerston North, we now intend to take over the world!

A little bit about us We love bagels. Always have. So we started a bagel business that would allow us every day to enjoy making them, baking them, spreading them, filling them, eating them and of course - preparing them for bagel lovers just like you!

And we haven’t neglected you pizza lovers either. I mean, seriously, just how good is an enormous slice of New York pizza? (Really good is the answer).

So again, just like with bagels, we simply enjoying making the kind of food we love, using authentic, traditional methods.

Well, not quite – but we’re going to give the Kiwi bagel and pizza market a good shake up, because we want to open up to 40 franchises nationwide.

We will provide four week’s comprehensive training at one of our Wellington stores, then two weeks further training in yours. Then of course there’s ongoing training and support following that.

So if you want to be your own boss, love bagels and pizza [I mean who doesn’t?] and think you have what it takes to make your mark selling New York-style bagels and pizzas, and of course coffee, in Christchurch – get in touch!!!

Wholly Bagels PO Box 33 234, Petone, Lower Hutt 5046 www.whollybagels.co.nz

How we make them First we get into a New York state of mind, as our bagel recipes use techniques perfected in the Big Apple. High protein flour, yeast, brown sugar, salt and water are combined into a bagel dough, which is baked to a delicious glaze. Then we taste them to make sure they’re perfect. Ok it’s because they smell amazing and we get hungry, is that a crime?

The perfect bagel for any occasion Where to begin; we have a bagel and filling combination for every taste and occasion. We have breakfast bagels, lunch bagels, creative bagels, mini bagels, veggie bagels, and naked bagels ready for spreading cream cheese all over or dunking in our soups. 13 plain bagels, 19 filled bagels and eight cream cheese options in all.

Our bagels are healthy Our bagels need no yucky preservatives because we bake ‘em fresh. They contain very little sugar or fat (check out our 97 percent fat free menu). And it’s all relative ay?

A lunch bagel is definitely a healthier option than a burger, curry or deep fry, but not quite as saintly as an apple and glass of water. The healthy meals side of the scale is where we’re always aiming, you can count on that!

Pizza perfection Just like our bagels, we source ingredients that make us salivate and use authentic, traditional methods to craft an even more appetising outcome. Mmmmm New York pizza, there’s nothing better (bagels excluded).

We have a large selection of pizzas including the famous ‘Sal’s Pizza’, and some vegetarian ones too, but really we’ll make it with whatever topping you want. Within reason. Stop dreaming up crazy hypothetical pizza toppings please. All come as a Large pizza (14 inch) or Jumbo pizza (20 inch) and all on our thin crispy base (gluten-free bases also available).

The best selection of bagel flavours • Sesame Seed • Poppy Seed • Rock Salt • Tomato & Basil • Wholemeal • Cinnamon Raisin • Chocolate Chip • Blueberry • Onion • Jalapeno Cheddar • Plain • Gluten Free buns as well