Central Today Magazine 75

Issue 75 | November 2014

Julie Hardaker

Why Hamilton’s mayor is the best in the business

All for one

Getting people to buy into a good idea

Tick tock

Get tech smart and save 60 minutes a day

Slippery slopes Warning signs your business is going bust News | Initiatives | Interviews | Personalities | Information | Success | Profiles | Finance | Property | Sustainability | Export | Transport | Retail | Solutions | ISSN 1174-9520

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Issue 75 | October/November 2014

Issue 75 October 2014

In this issue...

Julie Hardaker

Why Hamilton’s mayor is the best in the business

VIEWPOINTS

FEATURES

IN BUSINESS

6 Management

13 Getting serious about LinkedIn

24 Property & Construction

Business consultant Kevin Vincent explains why innovation is the key to competitive advantage

All for one

Getting people to buy into a good idea

Tick tock

Get tech smart and save 60 minutes a day

Slippery slopes Warning signs your business is gong bust News | Initiatives | Interviews | Personalities | Information | Success | Profiles | Finance | Property | Sustainability | Export | Transport | Retail | Solutions | ISSN 1174-9520

Central Today

Issue 75

www.centraltoday.co.nz HEAD OFFICE

AUCKLAND OFFICE

Academy House 47B Birmingham Drive Middleton PO Box 1879 Christchurch

Level 14 57 Fort Street Auckland 1010

MANAGING DIRECTOR

6 Leadership HRINZ chief executive Chris Till on lifting the level of leadership

8 Tactics Colin Clapp from The Business Factory on why working on a business is not such a great idea

8 Money

Gary Collins

Craigs Investment Partners’ Martin FraserAllen answers common investor questions

OPERATIONS MANAGER Di Barclay

ADMINISTRATION Kylie Palermo ADMIN MANAGER Kelly Allen Jade Haylett Shannen Johnson

10 Legal

SALES EXECUTIVES AJ Norton Clive Greenwood Warren Wilhes

NEWSROOM Jonathon Taylor EDITOR Davina Richards JOURNALISTS Laura Hall Marie Sherry Phone: Fax: Email:

03 961 5050 0800 555 054 editor@academy.net.nz

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ISSN 1174-9520 (Print) | ISSN 2230-4991 (Online)

12,552

ABC circulation as at 30/06/14

www.magazinestoday.co.nz 4 | November 2014 www.centraltoday.co.nz

15 Take a break How to ensure business doesn’t fall apart when you’re on holiday, but still have a holiday

15 All for one Using crowdfunding to get people to buy into a good idea

16 Entanglements with employment law

10 Online

Smart and simple ways technology can give you 60 more minutes a day

Website specialist Suzanne Carter’s simple tips to improve your homepage

12 Sustainability Sue Brown from NZ Clean Energy says cheap solar panels aren’t the answer

12 Working life Jane Cowan-Harris from WorkSpace IQ on the perils of workplace inactivity

13 Business growth Business coach Leigh Paulden says if your bottom line is not growing, then your strategy is wrong

23

03 961 5077 0800 555 054 production@academy.net.nz

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.

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Contents Copyright 2012 by A-Mark Publishing (NZ) Ltd. All rights reserved. No article or advertisement may be reproduced without written permission.

The 2014 New Zealand Innovators Awards finalists

How someone too drunk to work wins $8,500 from their employer

PRODUCTION Caroline Duke PRODUCTION MANAGER Carolynne Brown PRODUCTION CO-ORDINATOR Jenna Day DESIGNERS Carolina Babot Luke Wattchow Olivia O'Callaghan Alyssa Watson Sarah Betman Rochelle Price Jarred Shakespeare DESIGNER & ONLINE

14 Our best innovators

Malley and Co lawyer John Shingleton stresses the importance of getting employment agreements signed on the dotted line

SALES & ADVERTISING Grant Williams Rob Cochrane Evelyn Gray Chris Graves Tina Aiono Melissa Sinclair Mariska Du Preez

Why it’s time to take this platform seriously

17 Tick tock

Design and build specialists Marra Construction, how the Wallace Development Company’s work on the Rangitikei Junction is a bona fide bonus for Bulls, and how ESN Construction tackles tough tasks with ease and Davies Homes

33 Design & Manufacturing How Taranakipine’s focus on innovative wood products offer builders an alternative to traditional construction products

34 Focus Mercer Stainless, Bowers Brothers Concrete, Bidvest Fresh Hamilton, King and Queen Hotel Suites, Machinery Specialists, Elephant Hill Restaurant, On Site Ready Mix Concrete and Bexley Promotional Products and Apparel

48 Export How recent start up, Global Roofing Solutions, has gone from zero to millions of dollars in export sales in a little over two and a half years

52 Solutions 18 Julie Hardaker We find out why Hamilton’s mayor is the best in the business

Farmers Transport delivering both transport and IT solutions

54 Mineral processing 20 Slippery slopes Warning signs your business is gong bust

21 Pay raise alternatives When you don’t have the money to talk, here’s how to prevent people from taking a walk

Blue Pacific Minerals has found a wonderful formula for success

32

22 Exporting A-Z When to look at exporting and how to do it

23 Crossing the ditch When doing business in Australia, does being close neighbours make it easier or harder?

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Viewpoints | Management/Leadership

Innovation - the key to competitive advantage Kevin Vincent is a director of business improvement consultants Vincent and Nugent Limited.

Visit www.vincentnugent.co.nz

Innovation must play a key role in New Zealand’s economic growth and our economic performance depends significantly on continuous improvement in productivity and outputs.

Long term improvements in economic performance demand that firms develop an adaptive culture in which innovation features prominently.

Many writers have defined innovation as the departure from a previous state, which may facilitate more effective resource allocation.

Innovation takes on many forms. Innovation can be a thing such as a microchip or some other technological advance, or it could be a process and a model.

Generally two kinds of innovations are recognised. These are product innovations and process innovations.

Product innovation is a radical change in product characteristics that creates new products and may result in change to organisational goals and or production facilities.

Product innovation can also be related to or applied to service organisations. That is, when a new service is created it is a service innovation.

It is an absolute requirement for tomorrow’s businesses today, and must be a constant activity in the quest for a truly sustainable competitive advantage. The scope of innovation is therefore broad.

It can take place anywhere, by anyone, and in any aspect of our lives. It is all encompassing.

Innovation does not occur instantaneously however, too often the innovative cycle – from idea to invention to diffusion – proceeds far more slowly than it should.

Whenever innovation is delayed, opportunities to better the world are postponed.

The dilemma for us is – if only we could accelerate the innovative process, we could enhance the lives of people everywhere, by transforming the speculative improvements of tomorrow into the innovative realities of today.

Just as receptive markets are essential for innovation, so are the market makers, the entrepreneurs who bring new products to the multitudes.

Every great innovation has its roots in the merger of a novel idea with the vision of a strong willed entrepreneur.

Often, it is the entrepreneur that makes all the difference between an invention and an innovation.

Process innovation is an incremental change, Marketing is also fundamental to innovation. with improvements leading to a rigid, The importance of marketing often is efficient production system. overlooked by technologically oriented The distinction between product and inventors, who often become so absorbed process innovation is becoming blurred. in perfecting the subtle intricacies of their For example, banks using ATMs (automatic inventions that they lose sight of potential teller machines) primarily to replace tellers, users’ fundamental needs. a process innovation, but soon added new The creation of a ‘better mousetrap’ does not services, such as printing account statements assure its widespread acceptance. on demand, a product innovation.

Among the external factors which influence Innovation is forward thinking; it is a firm’s propensity to innovate, none has a a look into the future beyond the more catalytic effect than competition. vehicle’s ‘headlights’.

The race to be first to the marketplace with This is an expression taken from Gary a new idea, or with a creative improvement Hamal and CK Prahalad’s 1994 book to an existing product, has driven firms to Competing for the Future, which illustrates innovate at an ever more rapid rate. the importance of seeing and seizing the opportunistic future and getting there first, The answer is clear – successful companies ahead of competitors. have an innovative culture.

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6 | November 2014 www.centraltoday.co.nz

Raising the level of leadership

Chris Till is the chief executive of the HRINZ. Visit www.hrinz.org.nz

As evidenced by the Global Competitiveness Index from the World Economic Forum, New Zealand actually punches above its weight in areas like financial performance, operational delivery and governance.

However, there is a growing body of evidence and concern that our people leadership isn’t where it could, and should, be.

There is good evidence to support the view that New Zealand workers generally trust their bosses, but overall there’s an emerging pattern of underperformance in management and leadership.

Recent commentary from Winsborough Limited notes that global surveys of staff satisfaction and engagement report that most employees are unhappy at work.

The number one reason for this is dissatisfaction with their boss. This dissatisfaction kindles entrepreneurship and, perhaps, accounts for New Zealand’s very high rate of business start-ups. With only 30 percent of start-ups surviving for more than 10 years, and fewer than 10 percent of these growing, New Zealanders are working really hard, but not in ways that will help New Zealand climb back up the ranks of developed countries to where we belong or be more productive.

A recent OECD investigation of New Zealand’s low productivity and poor record of developing global business, points the finger squarely at poor management as a significant impediment. When compared to other countries, our people management capability unfortunately rates alongside that of Portugal, Greece and India, and lags significantly behind many of our competitors.

A 2011 report by the Ministry of Economic Development on management in the manufacturing sector stated that New Zealand managers are “average to middling by global standards” and that “people management emerges as the weakest area, where New Zealand firms trail most behind

global best practice”. The authors suggest that “New Zealand may well be held back by a deficit in management capability”.

From my 30 plus years experience in personnel, human resources and general management, I have observed that in many cases people just don’t know what good leadership actually looks like and they often don’t know how to create it. It also seems that in many cases, well performing technical experts are being over promoted into leadership positions.

There is a lack of capital to develop leaders and we don’t seem to have a lot of genuinely transformational leadership development programmes in New Zealand.

We have a lot of management ‘tick the box’ kind of programmes, but these don’t prepare people well enough for leadership roles, so often we just throw them in at the deep end of a leadership quagmire.

Many people label people management issues as soft issues, but in fact they’re so hard that a lot of people excuse themselves away from them and prefer to focus on numbers and data - which can be more easily understood don’t have emotions and certainly don’t shout, cry, go sick, breakdown or leave.

Leadership quality is incredibly important because good leadership underpins staff engagement. High levels of engagement lead to higher productivity, higher discretionary effort, better health and safety, better wellbeing and happiness at work, higher levels of customer service, better innovation and ultimately help organisations to attract and retain talented people.

It has always been true, that while people join organisations, those same people leave because of unpleasant environments, a lack of prospects and, frankly, poor bosses. Good leaders can fix all these challenges.

The first thing we need to do is accept that this is an area we can improve in, and that if we improve maybe we can get ourselves into the top 10 of the global competitiveness Index.

It’s not an easy problem to fix but it’s an important and urgent problem to fix - for both organisations and NZ Inc.

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The red carpet treatment Taupo is rolling out the red carpet for new businesses not the red tape.

If you are looking to expand your existing business or open a new business in the central North Island, then look no further than the idyllic town of Taupo.

Enterprise Great Lake Taupo (EGLT) is the economic development agency for the Taupo district. The organisation is designed to support new businesses moving to and starting up in the town and actively grow existing businesses to provide employment opportunities.

Taupo has a strong growing local economy with low unemployment and a thriving business sector. The region has an abundance of affordable commercial property available for lease or purchase, as well as significant tracts of undeveloped land ideal for those that require a purpose built facility.

How can Enterprise Great Lake Taupo help you?

Starting, growing or relocating your business has never been easier thanks to the helpful and friendly team at EGLT. EGLT offers a number of services including a mentors programme, access to Angel Investors, marketing and promotional opportunities, training, advice and connections. Their focus is on doing everything they can to ensure running your business in Taupo is smooth sailing.

But EGLT general manager, Fritz Frohlke says, “Don’t just take our word for it, we want to prove it to business owners who are considering a move here that Taupo is filled with great opportunities for business.

are lower and many other business expenses are the same, or lower, compared to the main centres around New Zealand.

“For businesses that require a lot of power, and in particular require heat or energy to manufacture a product – then Taupo is definitely worth considering.

The large levels of geothermal energy available can reduce power/energy overheads by many thousands of dollars,” Fritz says.

Taupo Lifestyle Taupo can offer you and your family the lifestyle you have dreamed of. It offers the big city amenities and features without the hassle and stress of big city living.

Taupo offers an ideal environment to raise a family. “It is a safe place with a strong local community and sense of civic pride. People who live here love living here.

“Plus Taupo has extremely affordable housing, great schools, strong transport links, an enthusiastic and business friendly council, and a dose of alpine charm,” Fritz says.

The town centre offers most things you would find in a larger centre, but with free parking and easy access. National chain stores mix with independent retailers providing all of the stores you’ll need, plus the great café culture and nightlife will keep you entertained.

The township is nestled on the shores of Lake Taupo offering beautiful views, an unbeatable selection of water sports, and is minutes away from world renowned mountain bike trails.

“We will host you in Taupo, introduce you to property developers and land owners, discuss your requirements and connect you with the right people.

One of the local business owners, formerly from Auckland, says “It’s like always being on holiday. In summer, by 5:30 I’ve finished work, grabbed the family and we’re out on our boat enjoying a swim and a BBQ. Back in Auckland, we wouldn’t have even got home by then, let alone got the boat on the car.”

“You need power, we’ll get you power. Need warehousing, we’ve got it.

Worries about resource consent? We have a dedicated person at Taupo District Council who is 100 percent committed to working with you.

Take the plunge

“Curious about schools? We’ll take you to meet the principal. Where to live?

We’ll show you some houses. Concerned about transporting your product to market, or getting your inwards goods here in time? We’ll go and chat with the trucking firms.”

You can successfully run a national business in Taupo and make the most of the great opportunities here, at the same time as feeling like you’re on holiday because everything is relaxed, fun and safe, and nothing is further than five minutes away.

EGLT want to sweeten your transition even further with the ‘Welcome Home to Taupo’ pack.

For businesses that meet the criteria, they provide a $20,000 package of benefits for those who are bringing their business to Taupo. The pack includes everything you need to get your business established such as stationery, signage, printing, power, telephone and internet, marketing, advertising, memberships to social groups and even the Mayor’s cell phone number.

“We want our local businesses to not just exist, but to be booming,” says Fritz.

“We have so many strong businesses here that are succeeding at a local, national and international level and we think there are others out there who’d like to do the same.”

Many businesses have already made the move to Taupo, you could be next.

To find out more about bringing your business to Taupo, visit www.greatlaketaupo.biz

Opportunities await There are numerous advantages of operating your business in Taupo.

Regardless of the nature of your business you will find benefits awaiting you.

Enterprise Great Lake Taupo T (07) 376 7656 E Fritz@greatlaketaupo.biz www.greatlaketaupo.biz

One of the main perks of basing your business in Taupo are the affordable operating costs which are lower compared to the big cities. Rent is lower, wages

1

2

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1 The Merchant of Taupo has recently secured an international contract to supply wine to Qantas First Class and Business Class lounges in Auckland and Wellington, all managed from their Taupo store 2 International entrepreneur Bruce Bartley is a long time Taupo resident, and has recently launched a residential lifestyle property development on the shores of Lake Taupo 3 An abundance of geothermal energy in the Taupo District provides low cost heat and energy for manufacturers.

4 Sam Coxhead and Keri Harper moved to Taupo from Auckland to raise their family and are loving the lifestyle and community; and have established the award winning Design Builders Taupo in partnership with ex-Kapiti Coast builder Matt Corelison.

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5 The view from the EGLT office.

Viewpoints | Tactics/Money

Why working on a business is not such a great idea

Topical questions from investors

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

Colin Clapp is an author, speaker and founding member of The Business Factory. Learn more at www.accountable.co.nz and www.thebusinessfactory.org.

Since the publication of Michael Gerber’s best-selling E-Myth back in the 1980s, small business owners around the world are nearly all encouraged to work on their business, and not in their business.

Yet despite this much quoted cliché, the lifespan of most small businesses continues to be alarmingly short. In New Zealand, about one in 10 small businesses fail in their first year, and 70 percent capsize within the first five years (NZ Statistics 5/12).

The rationale is that those who work in their business perform tasks that bring money in now, while those who spend time working on their business perform tasks that will lead to better and more sustainable revenues in the future. However, working on a business means owners are still attached to their businesses.

Like the opposite of in is actually out, I suggest all business owners consider taking a step back and realise that unless they work out their business, working ‘in’ and ‘on’ it will both prove to be slow, ineffective and less rewarding journeys.

Every successful business owner reaches a point where they must transition from ‘doing’ to ‘leading’ in order for their business to grow. It involves stepping back from the day to day operations and taking on more of a governance role.

By implementing a number of what I call workOUT strategies, this will be an easy transition for business owners to make. Here are the three simple WorkOUT strategies all business owners should implement to allow their business to thrive: 1. WorkOUT an exit plan It doesn’t mean an owner has to use it, but unless they have a means of enabling the business to survive without them, then they don’t have a business - they just have a job.

An exit strategy will force them to develop systems that ensure the business can survive and thrive in their absence. In turn, their business value increases substantially and will give them more choices when and if the time

comes that they need or want to sell, or personal circumstances mean they have no choice to workOUT of their business (e.g. ill-health).

We recently completed our State of the Nation tour around 27 venues throughout New Zealand.

think of comparing how well it does to a

2. WorkOUT a compelling client value proposition

So I thought it might be interesting to share the answers to common questions from clients on a range of topics.

the ownership of a business.

Why do you focus on dividends and income when it is total return that matters most?

provide a higher return than cash deposits.

Total return (capital gain plus income) is important, but we also believe portfolios should deliver a solid cashflow from interest and dividends.

of inflation.

The aim should be to earn a yield of perhaps four to five percent a year and then grow this income over time, at a rate of three to five percent a year, to keep the real spending power of the portfolio and income stream ahead of inflation.

bonds offer low yields. Should I wait and

Dividends are much more reliable and less volatile than share prices and can generally be relied upon to be maintained year after year, irrespective of whether share prices are up 10 percent or down 10 percent.

This mitigates the risk of investing, or not

Investors who have a portfolio with no income and instead rely only on capital return are vulnerable to market downturns.

any investing to focus on stocks, sectors and

Why can’t I get a portfolio that simply ‘beats the bank’?

Your adviser can put together a plan and

Once you start investing you can’t control what markets give you.

invested gradually over time.

This means getting answers to the great sales questions; business owners need to understand what business they are really in and what problems do they solve?

Until they get to the heart of these questions, they haven’t really worked out what their business actually does and how it brings value to the marketplace.

The sooner they work out what their business really does, the sooner they will be in a position to exploit their compelling client value proposition.

3. WorkOUT efficient and effective systems This workOUT is about investing the required effort and energy to make any business grow.

Just like a workout you or I might do at the gym to increase our health and wellbeing, all small businesses need to workOUT in order to build strength and create business wellbeing.

Efficiencies and effectiveness come as a result of relentlessly tweaking the resources and processes that make up the systems in all businesses, and methodically implementing measures to track their progress.

Test and measure everything; from capturing leads and training people, right through to collecting revenues. In turn owners can then work out better ways to run their business.

Although working in and on a business plays a role in current and future success, I strongly recommend working out of a business provides a far better concept for most business owners to enjoy the real motivators behind their business investment; i.e. more meaning, more money and more freedom.

To summarise, an exit plan, a compelling client value proposition and efficient and effective systems puts the power of any business into the owner’s hands – ensuring they can run their business, rather than the business running them.

Ready for your workout?

Some people will do better than others simply because they invested at different times and markets performed differently over their investment horizon.

We do not try to ‘beat the bank’.

We aim to control what we can for clients; stock and security selection, quality, diversification, costs and income generation, so their portfolio is placed as well as it can be.

Markets, though, will have the final say.

bank deposit.

Shares are no different. They are a share in

Comparing a share with a bank deposit is like comparing apples with oranges.

Over time, a balanced portfolio should More importantly, it should also keep ahead

I am reluctant to invest at present because shares look expensive and hold my capital in cash or should I just invest it immediately?

Neither. One of the fundamental rules of investing is to invest in instalments. investing, ‘at the wrong time’.

Markets do indeed look expensive in some areas at present and it is prudent to manage markets that look better value.

timetable for how your portfolio can be

For Investment Advice please contact Martin Fraser Allen, Investment Adviser at Craigs Investment Partners Christchurch branch, by phoning 03 964 3246 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.

We buy real assets (shares and property) along with fixed income.

If someone buys a rental property or a farm (which are also real assets) they wouldn’t

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Businesses stand up to solve youth social issues As New Zealand’s youth organisations face an unprecedented funding crisis, businesses nationwide are standing up with new social brand Y for YOUTH to solve our serious youth social issues.

New Zealand has the highest youth suicide rate in the developed world, yet there are more than 6,000 charities dedicated to assisting our youth throughout the country.

Y for YOUTH co-founder Alex Greig says “There are hundreds of very successful programmes out there already in the community. The problem is that they are competing with each other for a diminishing pool of government grants, public donations and gaming trust money, which is limiting their ability to scale and expand capacity and in some instances threatening their very survival.”

Find Your Field of Dreams Foundation CEO, Craig Pollock says he and his organisation are fully aware of the impending youth sector funding crisis.

“Even as one of the larger youth organisations, it is a major challenge finding alternative revenue streams just to fund our current programmes. I suspect a lot of smaller youth organisations may simply not survive the next few years.”

Yet as traditional funding sources for the charity sector continue to decline, New Zealand’s alarming youth social statistics, such as bullying and suicide, continue to increase. Just last year there was a 40 percent increase in youth suicide for 15 – 19 year olds.

What can we do about our youth social issues and the youth sector funding crisis?

“New Zealand’s youth social problems are not going to be solved with sausage sizzles and the old method of rattling the bucket outside shopping centres. Our serious social problems require serious resources and funding,” Greig says.

Y for YOUTH is a turnkey corporate social responsibility platform that enables businesses to contribute to the youth sector in such a way that they benefit from positive publicity and increased sales.

Businesses and brands contribute a percentage of their profits to the Y for YOUTH support network.

In return companies display the Y for YOUTH trademark on their products and advertising, similar to Fairtrade or the Heart Foundation Tick branding models. Consumers are then encouraged to purchase from these companies.

Consumers want to buy from companies that support our communities Greig says that today more than ever, consumers want to buy from companies that contribute to our communities. “We have developed a system that makes it easy for companies to donate to the youth sector, but in such a way that they

benefit from increased sales, positive publicity and an improved brand image. It’s a win-win.”

Through the creation of a sustained funding platform for New Zealand’s youth sector, youth organisations’ fundraising burdens can be alleviated so they can focus on expanding their programmes and impacting as many youth as possible throughout New Zealand.

Y for YOUTH co-founder Lara Jane says “We’re talking about transformation and positive social change for all of New Zealand. The more youth that are positively impacted, the more youth that grow up to be happy, healthy, contributing members in our communities.”

100 Founding Angels As Y for YOUTH works towards becoming financially sustainable, it has created an opportunity for 100 forward thinking businesses and community focused individuals who wish to be involved in a movement to reduce New Zealand’s youth social statistics, to become Founding Angels.

Founding Angels support the development of Y for YOUTH by making an initial $5,000 donation (or $500 per month x 10 months), then $100 per month for three years.

Well known entrepreneur Michael Mayell, founder of Cookie Time, was one of the first to step up and claims that becoming a Founding Angel is a good way of practising corporate social responsibility. “This is just a great opportunity to give back, and it makes it very easy for businesses to do it.”

Twenty eight companies and individuals have already come on board as Founding Angels to support the development and growth of Y for YOUTH including Blacksmith Ltd, Navman Wireless, Academy Publishing, Coca–Cola, Tiki Taane, Kim and Mona Dotcom and Sales Star.

For further information and to get involved visit www.yforyouth.org

Viewpoints | Legal/Online

How to improve your homepage

Get it in writing

Suzanne Carter is the business development manager for website development company Limelight Online. Visit www.limelightonline.co.nz

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

The start of a new year is the time when we are supposed to make a resolution for the oncoming year.

But as business people, it is always a good time to reflect on where our businesses are at and what we can do to improve commercial outcomes.

I must confess to being always surprised when clients come to see me regarding an issue with an employee to discover no signed written employment agreement was put in place. Naturally, we are all very busy, so I am not criticising fellow employers, but I will endeavour to highlight in this article some of the lost opportunities.

Since 2000, all employees must be on a signed written employment agreement.

Failing to do so could attract a fine up to $20,000 per employee, if you are trading as a company, or $10,000 if a sole trader or partnership.

But, putting aside the risk of a fine, as an employer you miss out on some clear benefits and advantages.

First, in order for an employee to be held to the maximum period of 90 days for raising a personal grievance, there must be a written explanation concerning the resolution of employment relationship problems. No written agreement, means no time limit on raising a PG. Secondly, his Honour Chief Judge Colgan, in the case of Smith v. Stokes Valley Pharmacy (2009) Ltd made clear that in order for a 90 day trial period to be valid, it was necessary that there be written provisions that complied with the requirements of the Employment Relations Act 2000.

No written employment agreement, no 90 day trial period.

Thirdly, without a written agreement, you will lose the protections of a robust written confidentiality clause. Remember more and more of our biggest asset is knowledge based.

10 | November 2014 www.centraltoday.co.nz

Although, the Courts are carefully scrutinising what the parties have agreed in terms of confidentiality, an inference could be made that the absence of an express written confidentiality means an employer does not treat confidentiality as essential.

Most visitors to your website arrive via your homepage.

They want to find what they are looking for and they want to do it quickly.

Fourthly, in order for a fixed term agreement to be valid, the agreement must, amongst other things, be in writing.

With the rebuild of our city requiring project based hiring, the ability to hire on a fixed term can be essential.

This means that your homepage must be compelling enough to engage your visitor so that they explore your site, find what they need and then take the action that you want them to take.

Fifthly, as you will all be aware, the fact you hire a worker as a contractor is not conclusive that the worker is not by law an employee.

The courts will apply a number of tests to ascertain the true legal nature of the relationship and may in the end determine that a worker is an employee despite signing a contractor agreement.

The existence of a signed written agreement is still a factor that is looked at and can be persuasive in certain circumstances.

Ensuring a worker signs a contractor agreement is the first step in minimising the risk the worker later claims they are an employee.

Finally, having a signed written agreement will allow you to ensure all that is agreed between you and your employees is documented and should eliminate any disputes.

Any changes should also be documented.

So, a good resolution for 2015 is to make sure all workers are or will be party to written agreements which reflect their terms of employment, if employed, or hirage, if independently contracted.

It might be as simple as calling you or subscribing to your newsletter. Perhaps you want them to make a booking or download a promotional code. It doesn’t matter what it is you want people to do. You just need to make sure they do it.

To create that compelling first impression your website and your homepage have a big job on their hands.

Don’t worry as help it at hand!

How to make your homepage perform better Sliding banners These show images, usually at the top of the page, that rotate every couple of seconds. Make sure they are not moving too fast as this can be distracting. Even better, just show one static image and update this as and when needed. Add some compelling text and a call to action button to the banner and immediately convert your visitor.

Navigation One of the purposes of a homepage is to facilitate navigation elsewhere on the site so the navigation area or menu bar must be easily found and be simple. Each page must be clearly titled so that visitors are not left trying to work out where to find the information they are looking for.

De-clutter A lot of businesses believe they need to cram their homepage with as much information as possible, but this only causes visitors to suffer from information overload.

Keep it simple!

Content This is one of the most critical aspects of website design. Content must be written to convey your message with maximum impact and minimal words. Use headings, sub heading and bullet points to make it easier to skip read. It’s not clever to use marketing lingo or industry specific language as it only serves to confuse.

Design Keep the design simple and uncluttered.

News Your website and in particular your homepage is about your customers and not about you. So unless your news/blog is anything but helpful to your website visitors then it should not be a prominent part of your homepage. It is fine to add news links in your footer and/or to create a separate News/Blog page found via the menu.

Distractions Examples of distractions on your homepage are animation, pop-ups, advertising and sound. Don’t do it – it’s as simple as that! If you must have advertising then make sure ads are not placed prominently.

Search If you have an e-commerce website, a real estate website or a site heavy on content, then it is very useful to have search functionality on your homepage. This enables visitors to quickly find what they are looking for. These tips are also relevant for all pages on your website.

Your homepage is your shop window so make it a great experience for anyone visiting.

If you do this then you will be increasing the performance of your homepage so that your business receives new enquiries and sales.

The two pronged approach to better business Staples Rodway Taranaki combines accountancy and HR to deliver tangible results.

HR occupies a unique space somewhere in between taming rogue organisations that function as unpredictably as an organisational toddler, and helping overly bureaucratic organisations take a professional chill pill so they are less tied up in policy and more focussed on productivity.

Quite simply, it’s about helping companies be the very best that they can be.

It’s an extremely important function in any business, enabling best practice people management. This means getting the right people into the right roles, leadership performance, alignment and team dynamics, skill development, managing performance and finally, benefits administration and compliance associated with government and industry regulations.

It is therefore a critical function which has an impact on employee wellbeing and engagement within any business – big or small. Today many organisations call this function ‘People, Culture and Performance’.

It’s a service not traditionally associated with accounting, yet according to Staples Rodway Taranaki HR and organisation development consultancy manager, Julie Rowlands, the fit couldn’t be better.

“Staples Rodway is a well established chartered accountancy firm that has always excelled in more than just the traditional accounting services. The move into HR consultancy was a natural fit.

“Our HR consultancy arm is responsible for organisational development as well as best practice HR services. A business seeking guidance may require significant changes in order to be successful.

Accountancy offers that guidance from a financial perspective, while we offer guidance from a people perspective.

It’s a whole business combination which we believe is the winning formula,” Julie says.

When it comes to HR, the name Julie Rowlands is a well known one and rightly so, with more than 30 years of experience within the field.

A human resource specialist within the health service and oil industry for almost 10 years, then a principal consultant of Brooks Royston before establishing her own organisational development business in 1992 – which operated successfully for 20 years – Julie is well placed to lead the HR consultancy arm for the New Plymouth chartered accountancy firm.

Business has more than doubled in the two years since Julie began managing the division. Together with the team of five very experienced consultants, they have firmly cemented the HR services as a core function at Staples Rodway.

“What we’ve created is a team which is very focussed on building strong partnerships with the business people we work with and an HR service that strongly targets organisational development, with HR support and advice firmly in place as a critical foundation.

“Clients seek guidance and support from their accountant because they know what they are doing financially; we want to operate in the same space from a people perspective.”

The Staples Rodway Taranaki HR consultancy’s goal is to work alongside businesses to assist them with their organisational development, whether that is about culture change, helping business owners understand their business, facilitating leadership development programmes, coaching, or providing skills-focussed workshops to enable businesses to function more effectively.

“Often we’re initially called into a business because there’s a compliance related HR issue. The organisation is about to end up in court with a personal grievance, or for some other compliance related issue, and once we start working with them, we find they are in this place

because other people related strategic and tactical areas aren’t working.

“We add the most value and make the most difference if we are involved in aspects other than HR compliance.”

Often small businesses don’t have the staff or the budget to properly handle the nitty-gritty details of HR. Because of this, more and more small businesses are beginning to outsource their HR needs.

“In many businesses we work alongside internal HR as a specialist addition to their team. Many HR related activities can be successfully outsourced as projects, for example engagement and climate reviews, development of remuneration and performance management strategies. Recruitment is also regularly outsourced by HR functions.”

Staples Rodway Taranaki arm also provides a number of leadership programmes, both public and custom designed for specific businesses.

“Leadership development needs to be a core process within a business,” Julie says.

“We do a lot of work helping them understand their leadership styles and the impact of these styles, which often results from the need for culture development within the company.

“At times we are called into the organisation because managers believe that morale is low and that team members are not feeling engaged.

We can help them understand what is actually going on, build strategies for change, and develop the capability of the person to become a more effective leader.”

A key growth area for the company is recruitment and Julie says their ability to help businesses find the right people for those roles through methods such as clear competency framing, analysing team fit and psychometric testing is a unique service offering which enables businesses to make strong recruitment decisions.

“Businesses need their accountants, yet they often don’t think they need HR. We want people to see us in the same space as accountants and recognise the true value we can add to their business.”

“Our aim is to get organisations to look at this as an ongoing process. It really is a critical part of a business to build leadership capability. The reality is a leader impacts team performance more than any other factor.

“We provide a lot of one on one coaching with leaders. We work alongside leaders to assist them and individuals to build accountability, fresh thinking and new approaches for themselves, those they lead and the challenges they face.”

An increasing area of development is assisting leaders to focus on developing a stronger and more mature safety culture. “Whilst many have responded to the change in the safety legislation by providing training to employees, it is not enough. Often what is needed is a fundamental change in the culture.

A mature safety culture is one in which safety is recognised as good for business, a culture that is characterised by awareness, assessment and action.”

A large number of organisations have an older way of managing which collides with what makes employees tick.

Julie Rowlands - Staples Rodway Taranaki HR and organisation development consultancy manager.

Staples Rodway Taranaki HR Consultancy 109-113 Powderham Street New Plymouth T (06) 757 3155

www.staplesrodway.co.nz

Viewpoints | Sustainability/Working life

The perils of inactivity

The cheap solar panel probably isn't best

Jane Cowan-Harris heads WorkSpace IQ, a consultancy committed to intelligent workspace design. Visit www.workspaceiq.co.nz

Sue Brown is CEO of New Zealand Clean Energy.

Visit www.nzces.co.nz

The installation of PV (photovoltaic) panels onto New Zealand homes has become increasingly popular as people realise the value of turning daylight into electricity to reduce their power bill.

households require. It’s the heart of a good system. You’ll need one with a wide enough voltage range, with a low start-up voltage, to be able to accommodate the addition of more panels to your system if you decide to expand in the future.

Are you reading this standing up?

Sitting down? Maybe you’re at your desk, browsing magazines in a reception area or perhaps waiting for a coffee.

Reliable warranties

New Zealand gets its fair share of sunshine hours, so it makes good sense to harness that power, and rapid advances in the technology have put solar power generation firmly within reach of many households.

The hardware in panels should be warranted for at least 10 years. Panels should be warranted to produce at least 80 percent of their performance after 25 years operation.

It will pay at this point to understand that PV panels will work where there’s daylight; unlike solar water heaters, they don’t need direct sun to make a significant contribution to reducing power bills.

They need to be able to work in New Zealand’s wide temperature range, so look for the ability to operate between at least -20C to +60C.

Whatever you’re doing, I have a suggestion for you... please MOVE! Yes move... right now! If you’re sitting, ideally please stand up.

If you’re standing, please stretch out. Why? Well, because even though it’s fairly common knowledge these days that inactivity is bad for us, it’s still very easy to seize up as we focus on whatever task we have at hand.

Many customers have found that they have been able to reduce their monthly power bill by a half or even better.

This equates to a return on capital invested of at least twice the return of it sitting in a savings account, so it represents a smart use of capital.

As with most fast growth industries, the category has attracted so many different potential suppliers that it’s difficult to know how to choose between their offerings.

My clear view is that cheapest isn’t the best way to go, since you do get what you pay for.

You are looking at equipment with a projected useful life of over 25 years, so it will pay to look well beyond the short-term attractiveness of a cheap price. Here are some things to look for: Familiar panel brands As a rule, big and familiar brands are the safest. These companies have reputations to safeguard and will be more willing to participate in a remedying conversation if one is needed.

A five year warranty on inverters is the norm. Local back-up to service all warranties is essential.

Reputable installation There’s zero point in having the best hardware unless it’s attached to your home properly.

All of New Zealand is subject to very high wind-loadings and some localities have to deal with extreme weather events like heavy snow, tornados or torrential rain from time to time, so having the correct fixings is key.

Look for Warranties. Look for reputable installers with a good knowledge of building.

Look for plenty of experience.

Look for industry accreditations Reputable system suppliers and installers will be members of organisations like the Solar Energy Association of New Zealand (SEANZ) or the Australian Clean Energy Council.

They have codes of conduct for members’ operations.

Did you know that on average, office workers spend five hours, 41 minutes sitting down?

As a workplace wellness specialist I spend a lot of time helping people who have workrelated issues such as low back pain, neck and shoulder pain and tired eyes or headaches.

While some of these issues are caused by sports injuries or poorly positioned screens, most are caused by long periods of sitting, looking at a computer screen - an activity many of us who work in an office take for granted as being a part of our everyday life.

You may well have heard the pithy new phrase that ‘sitting is the new smoking’!

Now, whether it’s quite that bad is debatable however, research does confirm that a sedentary lifestyle is detrimental to health long term and there is growing evidence to show that spending more of your day standing could reduce the risk of obesity, diabetes, cardiovascular disease and cancer.

It takes more than a work-out to keep us moving. While we used to think the answer was to go to the gym for a rigorous workout after a day sitting in the office, new evidence suggests that it takes more than brief bouts of strenuous exercise to negate extended periods of sitting. Instead, the solution is to try and incorporate standing, pacing and other forms of activity into your day along with some sitting. Being able to stand at your desk for some of the time is by far the easiest way to achieve this.

asking me about these when discussing their furniture purchases. While I would love to say buying a sit-stand desk provides a simple solution, there is a lot more to buying a desk (and chair) than meets the eye.

If sit-stand desks are to work, you must consider each situation in your workplace individually before you purchase.

For example: One height does not work for everyone.

If people share hot desks, or work in a call centre with shared workspaces, will they be able to/know how to adjust their desks to suit?

If a desk is at a fixed height, is it realistic to expect people to stand for the entire day? If not, do you have space for a standard desk which they can also sit down at? (Even if there are tall architectural chairs available, unless they are also the right height for the person sitting at them, they’ll need an additional foot stool to otherwise avoid health problems may well arise).

Standing is not an easy option for everyone, for example, anyone with hip or knee problems, severe back issues, low back problems or varicose veins simply cannot stand for long periods. Using a standard sitting height desk and incorporating some movement strategies as suggested below is a better option for them.

Overall however, if you do have the option to use a sit-stand desk, provided you have them correctly set-up, both for the role they’re to be used for and for the person who is using them, they do provide a healthier alternative to sitting all day.

So will you sit, stand or sit-stand?

Take a moment now to think about how much time you sit down during your day and consider what action you could take to improve your health in both the short and long term.

Can you incorporate regular stretches into your day, get up to fill your water bottle or have walking meetings rather than sitting Is the solution really as simple as around a table? And if you’re considering new standing up? office furniture, as long as you think why There’s a growing buzz around sit-stand desks before you buy, maybe this could be the year of the standing desk for you? at the moment and people are increasingly

You might get lucky with a cheaper, unknown panel but they often turn out to be more expensive in the long run.

High quality inverter The inverter turns the DC power generated by the panels to the AC power that

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12 | November 2014 www.centraltoday.co.nz

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Viewpoints | Business grouth

Get serious about LinkedIn

Strategy drives revenue growth

By Davina Richards

Leigh Paulden is an internationally certified Gazelles Business and Executive coach who works with CEOs, senior management teams, boards and business owners who are serious about growth.

Visit www.ssbg.co.nz

What does strategy drive in a business? Revenue growth. The end - if your bottom line is not growing then your strategy is wrong.

And if your company is not growing, or growing as fast as it should be, it is most likely time to revisit your company’s strategy.

This decade, across the globe, strategy is the number one focus of high growth companies.

to executives but tends to keep the focus too narrow and short term for today’s fast paced world.

SWOT however, is an excellent tool for gathering ideas and input from middle managers, but leaders need to be exploring the broader external trends beyond their own industry, region or country.

SWOT can be a trap that pulls executives into operational issues, distracting them If your company is growing, but at a slow rate, from the much bigger forces around was the growth rate the same as the price the globe that can contribute to increase in this period? being blindsided.

The challenge is balancing all the complexities Every organisation’s strategy is likely of strategy while keeping it coherent and to involve innovativeness, influence, simple. Strategy does not, and should not be complex, but it does have to reflect what your communication skills and technology to enhance their ability to get things done, company does best - this will then drive the revenue growth. Simple and consistent is but to distinguish your business, your entire the key. organisation needs to show it can think and act strategically - all the time.

Strategy must also be adaptable to changing Last year, Management Research Group circumstances and needs to encompass the values, the purpose and competencies of your (MRG) did a global study evaluating the leadership practices and effectiveness of company. Strategy, once clear and set, is 60,000 managers and executives in 140+ something you need to readdress on a regular basis. countries and 26 industries.

High growth companies address their strategy on a quarterly basis to stay abreast of constant change. Company leadership teams really need to have a meeting structure or rhythm in place for reviewing the strategic priorities.

The strategic meetings should be part of the monthly meeting, then quarterly strategic reviews and an annual strategic planning.

Strategy is not an action plan

The leading observations were that a strategic approach was, on average, 10 times more important to the perception of effectiveness than other behaviours studied. It was twice as important as communication (the second most important behaviour) and almost 50 times more important than hands-on tactical performance.

Strategy is an evolution, a concept summed up well by Jack Welsh, past CEO of General Electric who says strategy is not a lengthy action plan. “It’s the evolution of a central idea through continually changing circumstances.”

The MRG study found that:

Think of strategy as being like a river, it has to wind its way across flats and through valleys to get to the sea. So too does a company have to wind its way, with strategy continually changing as circumstances change. After all, the only constant in business is change.

They are able to think in multiple timeframes, identifying what needs to be accomplished now; in six months; in a year and in three years, to achieve those goals.

Companies need to know what is happening in the world and not be blind-sided by change or new trends. Understanding trends is part of the strategic thinking process when looking medium to long term. Companies also need to understand what significant changes in technology, distribution, product innovation, markets, consumer, their customers, social, regulatory, environmental trends can impact the business.

SWOT is not an executive tool The SWOT process, used traditionally in strategic planning, does give some clarity

Strategic leaders take a broad, long-range approach to problem solving and decision making that involves objective analysis, thinking ahead, and planning.

Strategic leadership is also about thinking systemically, being able to identify the impact of decisions on various segments of the business and on customers.

Does your strategy need changing or tweaking to drive the revenue growth your organisation seeks? And an even bigger question - is your strategy exactly that, or is it simply an action plan, or worse, just a set of goals?

Visit www. ssbg.co.nz to find further articles on defining and implementing your strategy.

Ahh LinkedIn… it’s one of those words we drop into a conversation to make others think we mean business.

And we do. But even as an active user, can you honestly admit you know how to use LinkedIn to your best advantage?

As of February, 2014, LinkedIn has 277 million users. It’s one of the most powerful tools for making valuable business associates and building a professional network is just as important as retaining your staff, because without both, what exactly are you trying to build?

company, not what the company does itself. Be specific about your tasks and include results to support achievements.

Tell people a story of your history which they are compelled to read.

• Just how we like to post Facebook statuses about completing a half marathon When it comes to LinkedIn, we sign up, we log run or successfully reaching a wedding in, take a look around, upload a good selfie anniversary, let people know about your and fill in the blank boxes - but remember this achievements. Whether you’ve secured a is no Facebook page. valuable client, exceeded company goals or landed a new job, update your status For one thing, LinkedIn is relevant (did I say by sharing good news or something you’re that out loud?), when it comes to business contacts might be interested in so other users anyway. Think about what you want to get will notice you out of your profile and set it up according to what you want to achieve.

• There are many strangers on LinkedIn who nosey-about looking for connections. If this People are going to read it and what you stranger is you and there’s someone you’d write will be a reflection of yourself, so like to connect with, but are unsure if they’ll don’t just put your best face forward, put respond, send them a message explaining your best skills, expertise, experience, why you would like to connect with them recommendations, products and your passions and why they might want to connect with forward, too. you. It pays well to personalise a message and it almost always results in a connection Sell yourself and the responses you receive will have value and truth to it. In doing so, • Try to start a short conversation when you you will get introduced to the right people, accept a new connection. Take a look at get answers from people who are experts in their profile and see if there’s any common their field and hit upon new business deals ground which could be a conversation and marketing opportunities. starter. Make an effort and it could be the start of a beautiful relationship Alex Pirouz, business advisor and founder of Linkfluencer.com, failed his first four • Extend your network database further businesses and lost more than half a million by joining groups which are relevant and dollars, only making his first modest profit interesting to you. Be active: introduce after four years. He recognises the challenges yourself, participate in conversations and within LinkedIn which urged him to launch ask questions. Stay up to date and you Linkfluencer.com. may be surprised how much you learn from other professionals and in turn Linkfluencer.com, which states 85 percent of business owners are unable to effectively inadvertently reach your goal use LinkedIn, teaches professionals how to • Share your expertise – upload relevant master the social media platform by taking videos, tutorials, webinars and them on a programme which focusses on presentations, anything which adds value planning, connecting and making profit to you as a contact. This will grab attention through interactive online videos, exercises from those you’re already connected with and activities. and also attract new contacts Alex has accumulated an impressive 6,800 • Include recommendations on your profile, connections in just two years and through but make sure they’re from the right his website wants to educate others on people. Ask for a recommendation request how to build customers, and their brand from someone you’ve worked closely through media. with someone who’s heard you speak at a Optimise your profile so you have a conference, or someone reputable who can compelling LinkedIn presence and get those vouch for your qualifications and expertise. professional invitations rolling in by following Ideally, they need to contribute a few these steps. sentences which make you stand out from others in your field • What’s the purpose of having a LinkedIn • Don’t be lazy: Spell check, spell check, spell profile? What do you want from being a check. Check for typos in company names, LinkedIn member? Are you seeking an user names and throughout your profile. employer, investor, partner or a new career path? Use key words to get the Review spelling and grammar errors right attention • Read through your profile and check it’s 100 percent complete. This way you’ll get • Write information which is to the point.

Inform people about what you do at a ‘checked out’ more often.

www.centraltoday.co.nz November 2014 | 13

News | Local moves

New Zealand's finest innovators What do operating tables, honey harvesters, needle free injections, light aircraft tracking systems and a rocket into space all have in common?

They are all New Zealand innovations and finalists in the 2014 New Zealand Innovators Awards.

This year’s NZ Innovators Awards has seen some of the most inspiring entries, from across a broad range of industries and locations, including five exciting entries in a range of industries from the Waikato region, including from the Association for the Promotion of Electric Vehicles, a skincare company and a company working on the world’s most versatile utility aircraft.

Innovation in Agriculture & Environment Sponsored by Bayer New Zealand

Most Inspiring Individual Sponsored by New Zealand Innovation Council

Innovation in Sustainability & Cleantech Sponsored by Waterfront Auckland

• DTexH2o Ltd - Dairy shed in-line electronic water detector

• Frances Valintine - The Mind Lab by Unitec

• Association for the Promotion of Electric Vehicles - EVolocity

• exSITEz Ltd – GEMnetics

• Lorraine Parthemore - Parthemore Pulley System

• ecostore Company Ltd

• Fortitude Textiles Ltd - Fortitude Performance Textile • Gallagher Group Ltd - Ring Top Post • Plant & Food Research - Breeding bees for varroa control • Polymer Systems - DairyFlo Soft Plastic Milking Liners and Equipment • Revolutionary Beekeeping Ltd • Scott Technology Ltd - Automated Lamb Boning Room • Snap Information Technologies Electronic Monitoring for Sustainable Fisheries Management • Supreme Biotechnologies Ltd Supreme Biotechnologies.

Entries increased a staggering 60 percent overall on last year indicating that “innovation and commercialisation in New Zealand is alive and well,” New Zealand Innovation Council CEO Louise Webster says.

Innovation in Design & Engineering Sponsored by James & Wells

“We are seeing more and more businesses in New Zealand with a global outlook that are seeking global opportunities, collaborating with global partners and commercialising technologies across multiple industries and sectors.”

• Gallagher Group Ltd - Gallagher T20 Terminal

The awards are an initiative of the New Zealand Innovation Council and are strongly supported by foundation sponsors Bayer New Zealand, Idealog and Ideas Accelerator Ltd.

• Milmeq Ltd - Milmeq MFAST

Bayer New Zealand managing director, Holger Detje says the aim has always been to recognise great Kiwi talent and the commercialisation of New Zealand products and services.

• Rack Studs Ltd - Rackstuds

Here is a run down of some of the finalists in the 2014 New Zealand Innovators Awards:

• BCS Group - BAGgate Self Service Bag Drop (SSBD)

• Peter Beck - Rocket Lab Ltd, Electron Launch Vehicle • Robert Bell - KlickEx • Valery Feigin - AUT University, Stroke.

• Pacific Aerospace Ltd - P-750 XSTOL MkIII World’s Most Versatile Utility Aircraft

• Rinnai - Market Leading Rinnai NEO Gas Fireplace • Rocket Lab Ltd - Electron Launch Vehicle • Solar Bright Ltd - PATeye.

• Foodstuffs NZ - Foodstuffs New Waste Management Plan • Hydroworks Ltd - Isolated governing of Pelton turbines using cut in deflectors • Kaynemaile Ltd - Kaynemaile Seamless Mesh

Innovation in Marketing & Communications, Sponsored

by Datamine

• Precision Seafood Harvesting

• Creative Hype - Promotion Sports Helmets

• Scott Biosystems Ltd Spin Separator System

• ecostore Company Ltd

• Wellington Drive Technologies Ltd SCS Connect.

• EFTPlus • Invivo Wines - Southern Hemisphere meets Norton Hemisphere!

• Metrotile / Tilcor Roofing Systems

Export Innovator of the Year Sponsored by New Zealand Trade & Enterprise (NZTE)

• Previously Unavailable - Stolen Coffee & Cigarettes Spiced Rum

• BCS Group - BAGgate Self Service Bag Drop (SSBD)

• Quantec Ltd - Epiology Skincare

• Enztec - Quad Sparing Knee Replacement Instrument Range

• Smile Dealers - Photo Marketing

• Gallagher Group Ltd - Gallagher T20 Terminal

• Team #TheShoulderTap.

• Gallagher Group Ltd - Ring Top Post

• I Measure U Ltd • Kaynemaile Ltd - Kaynemaile Seamless Mesh

• Flick Electric Co

Emerging New Zealand Innovator Sponsored by AUT University

• KlickEx

• Gallagher Group Ltd - Ring Top Post

• Rinnai - Market Leading Rinnai NEO Gas Fireplace

• Gallagher Group Ltd - Gallagher T20 Terminal • Kaynemaile Ltd - Kaynemaile Seamless Mesh • KlickEx • Rack Studs Ltd - Rackstuds • Smile Dealers - Photo Marketing • Solar Bright Ltd – PATeye.

• Milmeq Ltd - Milmeq MFAST

• Spider Tracks Ltd. The winners of the New Zealand Innovators Awards 2014 will be announced at the awards ceremony and cocktail evening held at SHED10 on Wednesday October 15.

For more information or to purchase tickets to the awards event, go to www.innovators.org.nz.

Our websites start from $1997+gst for a standard business website or full e-commerce site, which means your business can sell products 24/7. gary@fatweb.co.nz | 0800 444 090 | 14 | November 2014 www.centraltoday.co.nz

www.fatweb.co.nz

News | Business tips

Take a break Are you worried to take a break from your business because you fear it will fall apart while you are gone?

A winter escape to a warm tropical island may be exactly what you need to reinvigorate and re-energise motivation for your business and taking the time off isn’t as hard as it may seem.

With a little organisation and planning to assist with the ‘need to be in two places at once’ quandary you should be able to go on holiday without a care in the world.

Email organisation Several weeks leading up to your holiday attach a note in your email signature

All for one Do you have a great idea which could be the next big thing, but you don’t have the start-up costs to get it off the ground?

Unfortunately a great idea and plenty of passion for it aren’t enough; turning your brainchild into a viable product needs cold hard cash because it won’t manifest out of pure brainpower alone.

This is where crowdfunding comes in; asking friends, family and perfect strangers for money is the online fundraising realm people have got giddy about.

In a nutshell, crowdfunding is a way of funding a project by raising funds online from individuals anywhere in the world who pledge or donate money. Its basically asking people to buy into a good idea.

The process begins with a campaign, which could be non-profit, political, philanthropic, commercial or financial campaign. You market your idea through an online platform, such as KickStarter and the point is to create awareness to meet or exceed your funding target.

If you’re lucky you could discover opportunities, including potential investors, expand your customer base and at the end of it turn your idea into reality.

Whether you’re looking to market a cool gadget, raise funds for a school or a concert, crowdfunding projects are created by everyone from business owners, entrepreneurs, established companies, filmmakers, musicians and artists to designers, inventors and individuals.

Preparation is paramount

Handing over your business into the hands of your employees can be a tricky task for some business owners. But if you have trained your staff properly then your team should be well equipped to run things smoothly on their own.

Write any newsletters, documents or blog content before you pack your bags.

Before you leave have a thorough preparation meeting with your staff to discuss any extra duties they may need to take on and to make it clear what you’re not comfortable with them handling.

You may feel you’re critical to the daily operations of your business or you may just be too busy to take a break.

There is never going to be the perfect time when there is absolutely nothing at all that needs your attention. So take advantage of the cooler months, when business typically slows down, to enjoy the break you need (and no doubt deserve) all while staying connected and in control of your business.

Delegate and entrust

notifying your customers and clients of your holiday dates so that they can make plans for your departure in advance.

When you speak with these people remind them of your holiday plans so your absence doesn’t come as a shock to anyone.

While you are out of the office for your much needed break set an auto-responder message to your emails. This feature will send an automatic reply to all of your emails letting people know you’re on holiday until a specific date and when, if at all, you’ll be checking your emails.

Tip – set your return date a few days later than your actual return so you have a couple of days to catch up.

Finally empower them to take charge; by showing your employees you have confidence and trust in them they will have faith in themselves they can do a good job.

Keep in touch Unless you are going to a remote island untouched by the civilised world, then you should have the Internet, even cruise ships have Internet access.

Before you go on holiday organise a time with your staff to have a Skype meeting. The meeting will give you a chance to check in and talk over any questions or concerns your staff may have.

But remember that you are actually on holiday, so limit interaction with your business to one to two pre-arranged meetings, so you can actually kick back and enjoy your break without rushing to check on work every five minutes.

By preparing any written documents in advance you can ease a little stress off your shoulders. Most programs will automatically post or send electronic documents if you schedule the date in advance.

Set boundaries Make it clear to your staff and most importantly your clients what you will and will not be doing while you are away. This is important for your clients so they know what services they can and can’t expect while you are gone.

But it is just as important to have clear rules for yourself about what you will and won’t be doing on holiday. Self impose these boundaries to ensure you have a relaxing break.

Step back Letting go of your duties and handing over the reigns to someone else for a few days can be one of the hardest things for a SME business owner to do. But if you have taken a few of these measures or put some of your own tactics in place then your departure should be smooth sailing.

Your business is not going to fall apart if you take a break so take a deep breath, step back and let go.

By Davina Richards platform you decide to use legally funds Think of crowdfunding as being a bit like projects in New Zealand the TV show Dragons’ Den. You present your project or idea in front of an audience • There’s no such thing as too early. Get and enlighten them with a compelling working on your campaign before it even presentation. If you’re pitch is successful a goes live. Tell people about your upcoming dragon may offer their money, but if it doesn’t campaign - use social media, send out you don’t get a cent. emails, reach out to local media, key influencers and other organisations with Kickstarter and Indiegogo are two of the bigger networks. This way you have a world’s largest funding platforms. Kickstarter better chance of building funds and secure allows you to collect your funds only when a small community of supporters who may you reach 100 percent (they take a five be willing to donate or pledge as soon as percent fee if your campaign is successful), your campaign goes live whereas Indiegogo and New Zealand’s Givealittle let you collect the funds no matter • When launching your campaign, give how much you’ve raised. people the specifics. Explain what impact your project could have, where the money Crowdfunding requires organisation, discipline goes, how people will benefit from it and and a lot of hard work if you want to pull off a what else they can do to help other than successful campaign, so proceed with caution. donate money Statista.com states, as of February 2014, • Be sure to include your budget, your the success rate of fully funding a project funding target and how long the on Kickstarter was just under 44 percent. campaign will run for. People contribute There are no guarantees for campaigners or for different reasons: they have a donators, but here are a few tips to give you a connection to the person campaigning, winning chance of success. they want to be a part of something, they’re seeking rewards or they want to Crowdfunding check list support a worthwhile venture. Give people • Ask yourself why you’re campaigning in the reasons why they should care: it’s almost first place. You should have a good reason all up to you to attract supporters and turn behind your idea, so think about why you’re them into donations asking for money and where the money will • Connect with your audience by producing go. Plan how you want to present your story a video – keep it short and to the point, in an exiting and rewarding way, and always and upload pictures. Tell a story and anticipate questions encourage people to sign up for email • Like when starting any kind of business, updates and to contribute research is crucial. Thousands of ideas • Care about your design. There’s nothing remain on crowdfunding platforms, so worse than clicking on a website to find there’s no excuse not to explore and get an that its design is ugly, impractical and idea of what else is already out there confusing. It’s the one thing that puts • Decide which platform is right for your people off instantly. Put your best design campaign; there are hundreds to choose forward and one which matches the from. Read the rules and make sure that the purpose of your campaign

Crowdfunding Kiwi-style New Zealand has been making a name for itself when it comes to Kiwi innovation, so there’s no surprise Kiwis can support its own country’s businesses thanks to a new equity crowdfunding platform called Snowball Effect.

Launched this April, Kiwi entrepreneurs and small to medium sized businesses can seek new capital, and access funding in exchange for equity.

It provides them an opportunity to pitch their business ideas and growth plans to the public via a website portal, expanding the pool of potential investors while reducing the cost and complexity associated with raising funds.

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

• Rewards work. Although some people are happy to donate and expect nothing back, letting people know what rewards they will get for donating is a good incentive to attract contributions. Likewise, it encourages them to share your ideas with others. Rewards can be anything from a free gift, acknowledgement or concert tickets. You’re responsible for delivering rewards so remember to take into account delivery costs.

Popular crowdfunding websites: www.kickstarter.com www.indiegogo.com www.rockethub.com www.pledgeme.co.nz www.boosted.org.nz www.centraltoday.co.nz November 2014 | 15

News | HR

Entanglements with employment law Drunk employee wins $8,500 Christine Summerville is a consultant for Chapman Employment Relations. Visit www.chapmaner.co.nz

Despite Turei Peters being too drunk to attend work following a Boxing Day drinking binge, his dismissal was deemed to be unjustified by the Employment Relations Authority (ERA).

Mr Peters, a knifehand cutter, had texted his employer, Bay Packers (NZ) Ltd, saying “Apologies ray 2 crook to mke it in. Turei”.

The next day he explained he had been drinking until 3am and was therefore too drunk to come to work for the start of his 5am shift.

As a result Bay Packers sacked Mr Peters for serious misconduct.

Contributing to their decision was a meeting that was held in November where it had been explained to all employees the importance of turning up to work during the busy season. They were told if they were absent without a reasonable excuse they could be dismissed.

Mr Peter’s admitted he recalled the meeting, but not clearly.

He also had an Employment Agreement which stated that reporting to work under the influence of alcohol or unauthorised absence from work was serious misconduct and the employer may terminate employment without notice.

Mr Peters raised a personal grievance claiming the dismissal was unjustified.

The process the employer followed to dismiss Mr Peters was closely examined by the ERA. Unfortunately this is where Bay Packers came unstuck.

Mr Peters was given only 30 minutes notice of the disciplinary meeting. This was deemed to be insufficient time for him to prepare his response or arrange for a representative, despite Mr Peter’s advising he did not require a representative, and therefore it was unfair.

Mr Peter’s claimed that although he confirmed at the meeting he was too drunk to work, he was not provided with the

opportunity to explain why. At the ERA hearing he said he had some personal issues with his partner which resulted in him feeling stressed, and when offered an alcoholic drink the consumption of this had the effect of lessening his stress.

The ERA determined it was also unfair of the Bay Packers to take into account a similar incident of about 12 months previously, as it was too long ago and hadn’t resulted in any disciplinary warning.

It was finally concluded the employer should have taken into account Mr Peters’ four years of service and disciplinary free record before deciding to dismiss.

Bay Packers was ordered to reimburse Mr Peters $8,528 for three months loss of wages. However, there was no award of additional compensation because Mr Peters had contributed “100 percent” to his dismissal. Costs of $1,571.56 have also been awarded against Bay Packers.

“

Unfortunately it is more often the failure to follow a fair process, rather than the substance of the matter, that results in a ruling a dismissal was unjustified.

”

The ERA didn’t say Bay Packers couldn’t have dismissed Mr Peters for the absence - the problem was the process they followed.

Unfortunately it is more often the failure to follow a fair process, rather than the substance of the matter, that results in a ruling a dismissal was unjustified.

Creating a winning culture in your workplace Kevin Vincent is managing director of Vincent Consulting Limited: www.vincentconsulting.co.nz

Culture is the values, rules, practises, rituals and norms through which you conduct business. Culture covers values, ethics, behaviours, awareness and consequences. It takes all of these to create a winning culture.

It is the character and personality of the organisation. It is the identity which makes every company unique and which is manifested in the effect it has on its staff, customers, suppliers, stakeholders and the community at large.

It’s a way of doing things - how colleagues treat each other, how customers are communicated with and how they are treated.

Creating a winning culture is a prerequisite for success in any businesses. A winning culture starts with the organisations leadership, vision, values and ethics.

Pride, loyalty and commitment are cornerstones for teams to build a successful winning culture. Companies with strong

16 | November 2014 www.centraltoday.co.nz

winning cultures have employees who effectively self manage because they know what is expected of them, how to achieve the expectation and know they are empowered and supported.

The implication of not having a winning culture is like swimming against a strong tide. A winning culture must be an integral part of every organisation –a part and parcel of every day and not an exception.

A winning culture isn’t just about securing more orders (although that obviously helps), its about having an exciting and stimulating workplace, having fun (if you want ideas to flourish the work environment must be fun), being caring, supportive, people centred, empathetic, forward thinking and proactive.

Teams who are steeped in “company culture” and who openly share and display those values with colleagues and stakeholders will “win”.

I am sure there is a high correlation between employee satisfaction and happy customers. Satisfied employees make better products, offer better services and make customers happy.

Winning cultures include an understanding of current company issues and working together to overcome any negatives and leverage on the positives. Teams with winning cultures are goal oriented and visionary.

A winning culture is an essential quality of excellent companies. The stronger the functional culture the better. Your colleagues will know what is required of them to meet the customer needs and wants.

Success today requires intelligence and speed, operational excellence and financial efficiencies, but above all it must have a winning culture. Instilling a change in any culture is not easy and it will require changing how people think about the company and altering their habits. It will take time and energy.

This is our challenge and these guidelines will assist, feed and reinforce your company culture.

• Are we / am I performing to the highest possible measure of excellence • Are we / am I prepared to take risks and demonstrate initiative • Are we / am I able to adapt to change

• Are we / am I able to make decisions • Are we / am I working co-operatively to achieve a unified direction • Are we / am I open to new ideas and with sharing knowledge, information and dealing with issues • Are we / am I trusting and trustworthy • Are we / am I respectful to others • Are we / am I accountable for our / my actions • Are we / am I rewarding and being rewarded for results of performance.

There are no guarantees, but the chances of success magnify greatly when you have your team on board, their support and understanding.

Thomas Jefferson once said “Every generation needs a new revolution”.

I believe our generation’s revolution should be to create winning cultures in our companies. The payoff is significant.

News | Tactics

Tick tock Six quick and easy ways smart business owners use new technology to get an extra 60 minutes a day

By Hamish Conway & Andy Carruthers

How often do you feel like you could do with more time in your day to get everything done? If you’re like most business owners we talk to, it’s everyday.

You may or may not be keeping track of all the new great technology tools that can save you time. They form part of the picture. The real key is embracing new thinking with a willingness to change some old habits.

Here’s six quick and easy ways to use technology to save at least 60 minutes of time a day.

1. Talk it. Don’t write it I don’t know many business owners who enjoy sitting down behind the computer and writing out meeting notes, or emailing people with updates. The reality is you can talk faster than you type.

Using the Voice Memo on your smart phone is a great place to start. When you come out of a meeting, talk the key points from the meetings and the actions required. If you have an assistant, email or text the recording to them to schedule (and action) the next steps, file it, or type it up if you need it for later.

If you have something you want to record that is a bit longer and it might be too big for an email or text, use the DropVox App. Once you hit the stop button it automatically uploads to the DropVox folder in Drop Box. From there you can access it or anyone invited to the folder.

Try out recording notes after a meeting. It is liberating and you also ensure you don’t miss key points that get forgotten when you take a day, or three, to type up notes from a meeting. You can do the mind dump and then clear your head for what’s next.

2. Stop texting and listening to people’s voicemail messages How often do you spend more than a minute waiting for a phone to ring, then listening to the message before you can leave your message? Not only can it cost you money for the call, it costs you precious time. Instead, speed up your communication by using Voxer.

Voxer is an app that allows you to do ‘Push to Talk’. Think a walkie talkie, but better.

You basically open the app, find your contacts on Voxer (you can invite people – like your team members or suppliers), then you hit ‘hold and talk’.

This is great for short voice messages or replying to a message you received.

It’s faster than texting, but you can also text inside Voxer and send a photo with spoken comments.

3. Snap it and lock it in An underutilised app for business is the camera. You can use it as is, or use it with Evernote. Tag photos, add notes and comments, and share. It will be secured in the cloud forever, even if you lose your phone.

Consider using your camera and Evernote for: Taking photos of whiteboards from meetings (again v’s writing/typing).

Take photo of a business card and get it entered into your database by the team.

Take photo of a receipt from lunch with a client.

Photos of products, great advertisements, or great shots for a customer newsletter.

Photos of documents if you don’t have a scanner.

4. Have shorter meetings on your terms One of the biggest time sucks in a day can be meetings, particularly meetings in person.

Use tools such as Skype (even on your phone) for group calls. This allows you to be working from a productive environment and save time travelling to meetings.

Try this with your team if you are out and about. It saves time everyday for the whole team.

You’ll also have a preferred work environment and time of day where you are super productive. For some, that might be at your home office in the morning through to 11am.

Don’t mess that up by coming into the office for an 8.30 meeting. Have a 10 minute meeting from home on Skype and then get back to work.

Also use screen sharing software for meetings where you want to see the same information on a computer. Look at Skype premium, join. me, or Go-To-Meeting as options.

5. Get organised and share on the fly If you and your team use Google Docs or Microsoft 365, then there are two big benefits: A) Sharing and searching for documents from anywhere. Get it set up right and it works a treat. No waiting till you get to the office to log on to the server, or digging into your emails to find an attachment.

B) Sharing calendars. You can make appointments on the fly while you’re out and others can do the same for you.

No need to call in to check what’s happening or who’s where.

Here’s a summary of the tools and apps

This one may appear basic. But ask yourself, are you really doing this part well? Get the Google Drive app on your phone, or the Microsoft Office Mobile app.

• Voice Memo (voice recording - should be on your phone)

6. Outsource for cents on the dollar

• DropBox - (where voice recording goes. Get an account at dropbox.com)

Consider outsourcing marketing work, IT, document creation etc. As you look at the list of everything you have to do, consider for a moment, who else apart from me could do this?

If you don’t have a team, or your team is already flat out, then look online to outsource projects overseas. Sure there’s things you won’t want to outsource, but you’ll be amazed at what you can do and at a fraction of the cost.

Look on Odesk.com, Elance.com and Fiverr. com as a starting point. A couple of tips: cheapest isn’t always best; consider the skills required, English as a first language is often best.

Look from a marketing point of view, IT, document creation, database compiling, getting your voice recordings and auctioning them, managing your email inbox and much more.

It’s low risk and if it doesn’t work out then you can just cut them, but you do need to set them up to win. Once you get a good one make sure you look after them.

What now?

Go through the six quick and easy ways to save yourself at least 60 minutes a day and commit to one thing you’ll do each day for the next seven days. Take 5-10 minutes to learn the app and use it. Once you get on the zone of learning new technology tools it becomes easier.

• DropVox (for voice recording - get from the appstore)

• Voxer- (push to talk - short messages) • Camera app • Evernote (from appstore, plus on your computer web browser) • Skype app on phone (from the app store) • Face Time (on your smart phone, or tablet) • Skype Premium - (screen sharing - upgrade paid version) • Join.me - (screen sharing) • Go-to-Meeting (screen sharing and recording meetings - pricier, but rock solid) • Common Sense app - (not really an app, but do use your common sense with keeping meetings to the point) • Google Docs - (Gmail, calendar, Google drive) • Microsoft Office 365 • Elance.com • Odesk.com • Fiverr.com.

This guide is from Andy Carruthers at Crowe Horwath in Wellington. And, as an added bonus for business readers, they’ve put together three value-packed videos that help you put ‘New Time in your day, New Clients in your business and New Cash in your bank’.

Visit www.neweconomy.co.nz/todaybis to get yours now. www.centraltoday.co.nz November 2014 | 17

News | Cover story

Julie Hardaker

The best mayor in the business On August 24, 1864 the first British settlers travelled up the Waikato River and landed in Hamilton, which was known as Kirikiriroa by the local Maori at the time. The settlers established the first militia settlement and the city of Hamilton, as it is known today, was born.

Fast forward to today and the city is proudly celebrating it’s milestone 150th birthday, recognising it’s unique past and looking forward to a prosperous future.

The city has been built on the area’s agricultural assets which have driven economic growth. From the first small group of early settlers the town has grown and the estimated population now exceeds 145,000 with a population boom forecast for the next eight years.

Julie Hardaker is the mayor lucky enough to be heading up Hamilton City Council during such an exciting and promising period, but the city hasn’t always faced such a bright outlook. When Julie was elected in 2010 the council was suffering from capital expenditure that was increasing the council’s debt exponentially and had reached $833 million when she took office.

Swiftly and openly addressing the council’s debt and dealing with the Hamilton 400 V8 Supercar budget blow out was Julie’s major focus during her first three year term. Under her instruction the council put into place a financial plan aimed at capping the debt, reducing it and balancing the council’s budget by 2017.

“I think prior to me coming in the public and even the councillors were certainly not clear what the V8’s cost and they weren’t clear about the extent of the council’s debt.

“I am pleased to say three years later we are in a really good position. We have kept to our financial plan and we have met the milestones that we set… and in fact we’re on target to get to a balanced budget position a year earlier than anticipated.”

Makings of a mayor When Julie was first elected she took up the role seamlessly, as if it was second nature to her, but her previous career history had unknowingly prepared her for the role and as such, was well equipped to tackle the job head on.

Prior to running for mayor she had a long legal career and had spent time as a business retailer owner.

In 1994 she graduated at the top of her class from Waikato University Law School with an honours degree and in the same year joined Hamilton law firm, McCaw Lewis Chapman as a litigation lawyer. Her legal career saw her become a partner at McCaw Lewis Chapman, in charge of the firm’s financial management and built an employment law practice.

“I had always been interested in the city and the issues that are happening in the city and I thought it would be a great opportunity to have an influence over what happened in my home town.”

public event acknowledged the day the city was founded and included a powhiri, the presentation of the first Hamilton medal, the first performance of Hamilton’s 150th birthday song and burial of a time capsule.

Now thanks to Julie’s savvy skills and open, honest attitude towards the council books, Hamilton is on track for a positive, healthy future, giving the country’s fourth largest city reason to embrace its 150th birthday.

On November 22 the town will swing into full party mode with a massive birthday party for everyone to enjoy. The central city streets will shut down for the day, making way for the family event which will feature performances, fashion shows, vintage cars, sports activates, a petting zoo, a fireworks display and an enormous birthday cake.

Birthday celebrations

Hamilton isn’t holding back for this birthday, making the most of the special occasion with But it’s not just the city celebrating a historic a year full of community events and activates. event; 2014 marks a number of significant The birthday was officially marked on August anniversaries for important organisations and 24 with a Public Civic Ceremony. The formal schools in town.

But before she became a lawyer she jumped the ditch to live in Australia, running two successful retail businesses.

Julie says her past careers have given her valuable skills for the role she now occupies.

Owning two businesses taught her life skills such as hard work, evaluating risks and understanding customer service. And as a lawyer she learnt how to absorb a lot of information and quickly make decisions. “I found that these skills have really helped me today… plus it’s also really helpful to know legal stuff as well.”

With a successful career as a lawyer you may ask the question, why change jobs? Julie says after a long and enjoyable time spent as a lawyer she was ready for a change and a new challenge. >

The Public Civic Ceremony

18 | November 2014 www.centraltoday.co.nz

News | Cover story

Hamilton West Primary School is also celebrating its 150th birthday, Wintec is turning 90, Woodstock School is marking 60 years, while both the University of Waikato and Melville High School turn 50.

Chance to reflect The birthday celebrations have given Julie the opportunity to take stock and reflect on her mayoralty so far, but also focus on Hamilton’s busy future.

Hamilton City Council celebrates its milestone birthday

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She says without a doubt her greatest accomplishment in the role to date has been tackling the council budget blow out. But now that this serious issue has been brought under control, Julie and her council have had time to develop plans for exciting recreational assets for the city.

“

Rapid expansion

As more people get to know what Hamilton is about and why it is so great to live here, why we are the second fastest growing city in New Zealand, why our youthful population continues to grow, why families come and live here and why there is big investment in our city, you realise this is a great place to be.

“People love living in Hamilton because it has got beautiful gardens and the river and we have plans to improve these assets even further.

“We have signed off on five new gardens to be developed in the Hamilton Gardens and this is gong to take Hamilton Gardens into one of the best in the world.”

The Waikato River can also look forward to a major facelift. The council is in the process of signing off on a plan that will transform the 16 kilometre stretch which runs through the city. The development will open up the river making it accessible to the public for recreational use.

Julie says there have been lots of attempts to develop a plan over the past 30 years, but none of them have gotten off the ground until now. “This is going to be a transformative project for Hamilton, it’s going to change the way we think about our city, but also the way outsiders think about our city.”

”

Ten year plan Julie’s current mayoralty term ends at the start of 2016, but a strong 10 year plan has been put in place that will continue to drive Hamilton forward.

Hamilton is one of the fastest growing cities in New Zealand. The estimated population of Hamilton currently exceeds 145,000 of which around 60 percent of people are under the age of 40. This is expected to swell to over 157,000 by 2022, maintaining the large youthful demographic.

Julie believes the growth can be attributed to its close proximity to Auckland, tertiary institutions that attract a large number of young people from around the region and the high quality facilities including the libraries, playgrounds, swimming pools and sporting facilities that are a big draw card for young families.

“We study the population and population demographic for the future very closely.

We are lucky to be one of the few cities in New Zealand who will continue to grow our young population.”

The council has planned carefully for the increase; one major aspect of that planning has included zoning large areas of land for residential use to make sure the supply of land in residential areas can grow with demand. They have also invested heavily in infrastructure such as the transport networks.

While the council is well prepared for the expected population influx, Julie admits it is

She says the 10 priorities for the next 10 years include continuing to maintain the balanced budget position, developing the city’s infrastructure and creating a comprehensive plan to transform the CBD in order to attract unique retail stores, inner city living and businesses into office space.

“I think while the growth of the youthful population is great, we need to ensure young people are in employment, being productive and participating in our community and that can be a challenge with younger people these days.”

Changing perception Hamilton has suffered from a slightly maligned view from people who perhaps haven’t even visited the city. Julie says this perception issue has loomed over Hamilton for sometime, but the 150th birthday celebrations have been an opportunity to showcase the city’s many attractions and strengths to the rest of New Zealand.

“The perception of Hamilton is sometimes not as it should be, but when you come to our city and understand what it is like, you realise that the perception held by some is well short of what is actually here.

“I think inland cities often suffer from a little bit of a perception issue, but the 150th birthday has been an opportunity to dispel that. As more people get to know what Hamilton is about and why it is so great to live here, why we are the second fastest growing city in New Zealand, why our youthful population continues to grow, why families come and live here and why there is big investment in our city, you realise this is a great place to be.”

Bright future During two terms as mayor Julie has successfully turned Hamilton around from a town facing mounting debt and financial strife to the flourishing, growing city it is today.

“One of our goals over the next 10 years is to lift Hamilton to the third largest city economy in New Zealand; currently we are fourth.

We are going to put in place an economic plan that will deliver that outcome within a decade.

“My hope for Hamilton is we continue to grow, but at the same time we maintain our wonderful lifestyle which is loved by many.”

The time capsule is lowered into the Civic Square to leave a legacy for future generations

Her actions have instilled renewed civic pride in Hamiltonians, which has been proudly displayed at the birthday celebrations throughout the year and will continue to be felt long after the celebrations are over.

>

“The 10 year plan focusses on building on the outstanding things in this city, not reinventing them. We will invest in the areas that locals prioritise and see as important to our city.”

still her biggest fear for Hamilton’s future.

“Growth is a big issue because we are growing so fast; the challenge is funding it while maintaining our quality of life.

www.centraltoday.co.nz November 2014 | 19

News | The bottom line

Warning signs your business is going bust

By Laura Hall

It may be a relief to know that a businesses death is seldom a sudden occurrence.

No, they are often long drawn out affairs over months or even years. Which may make you wonder, if they take so long to go under, why doesn’t the owner do anything to save it?

The fact of the matter is SME business owners can often be so caught up in the daily grind of running their business, they don’t take the time to step back and take stock of their assets, finances and debts.

When they do finely evaluate the situation it can often be too late to save the business.

Once you start getting into debt it can be near impossible to pull yourself back out again.

Many ventures end up going broke across the country every year; the terminal prognosis to blame is cash flow deprivation and incurable unprofitability.

Almost every, if not all, businesses go through hard financial times, particularly in the first two years of business, it’s normal. But the trick is having the awareness to recognise the alarm bells when you are in trouble and the knowledge on how to solve them.

So be proactive and wise up to your company’s warnings signs before it’s too late and you’re pushing up daisies.

Repeat customers Warning sign Repeat customers are extremely valuable because they spread good word of mouth recommendations and are a reliable source of income even when times are tough.

SME’s often find repeat customers can account for up to 80 percent of their sales. If repeat customers only make up a small percentage 20 | November 2014 www.centraltoday.co.nz

of your sales, or even none at all, it’s a strong signal you have a problem in your sales department.

Solution Investigate what’s causing the problem by going to the source directly. Ask your customers for feedback, this can be extremely helpful to indentify problems that you may be blind to. Ask ‘what are we doing right and wrong’? ‘Would you buy from us again, why or why not’?

owners. The courses aim to give basic knowledge on income and provisional tax, expenses, deprecation and registering for GST. The New Zealand Institute of Charted Accountants also offer courses throughout the year on small business accounting specifically designed for SME business owners and sole traders.

Sale, sale, sale!

Warning sign

Warning sign You don’t have to be a trained accountant to keep track of your business finances, but it’s important to have a basic understanding of your books.

Many businesses believe they need to hold sales to make a sale, but if you are constantly slashing prices you are also slashing valuable profit margin.

You need to know which aspects of your business makes money and which aspects cost money.

Discounting your prices may help you to make a sale, but at the end of the day all you are doing is eroding valuable profit and eventually no profit means no business.

Do you know how much money you currently have in the bank, how much is owed to you and how much you owe others?

Money makes the world and your business go round, so if you can’t answer these basic questions there is a high possibility your business is on a down hill slope.

Solution Hiring an accountant to sort out your books is one sure-fire solution however, it’s important you have an understanding of your business too. So get your head out of the sand, wise up and take charge of the office books.

You don’t need to become a qualified accountant but you do need to know what all the numbers mean. You can easily turn your businesses fortunes around by up skilling yourself.

Inland Revenue run regular free workshops around the country designed for SME business

Once you start borrowing money you have already passed the point of no return, as it only becomes increasingly harder to pay back the money and become self-sufficient and profitable again.

Solution

Are you constantly discounting your prices to compete with the deals your competition is putting out?

Dodgy accounting

inventory this is a bad sign and can likely mean the business is about to perish.

Solution Shift your focus from making bargain sales to creating valuable sales that maximise profit margin. A small amount of quality sales is more valuable than a large amount of discount sales.

Stop borrowing money instantly and focus on reducing debt. Make your main priority to collect outstanding debt owed to you, consider renegotiating debt and sell redundant inventory.

Mass exodus Warning sign Does it feel like your staff are on a revolving door? If you are losing staff almost as quickly as you hire them, then you are losing valuable intellectual capital and money.

It is normal for staff to come and go, but if you are constantly hiring employees then you need to pay attention because you have a problem. It costs you valuable time and money to train a new staff member every time someone leaves, wasting you time and money.

Losing an employee can also mean losing customers in service industries such as mechanics and hairdressing.

Stop competing on price with your rivals and instead beat them with added value, excellent service and superior products. These added benefits will soon appease your customers Solution queries about the price rise.

You can fix this problem but it will take some considered time and effort.

Deep in debt Warning sign The warning sign is obvious here. If your business isn’t generating enough profit to meet its bills and it has an over dependency on borrowing money to pay everyday business costs such as wages, leases and

Start by having an honest discussion with your staff about workplace culture. Ask your staff if they are happy in their job. Why or why not?

If employees aren’t happy and are considering leaving ask what can be done to change the work environment and how can you create a culture in which people want to stay.

News | The bottom line

Pay raise alternatives

By Laura Hall

When money refuses to talk, people walk – this is a well-known fact of life.

Attending business workshops is not normally something an employee would sign themselves up for, because they can be costly and they often run during work hours.

Business courses are a smart investment for the employer too because the company will reap the benefits of the employees new enhanced skills.

But not every business, especially SME business owners, can afford to give their staff annual pay rises and even if they can afford to give out pay rises, the increase may not meet The investment you make paying for the training course and giving the staff member their employee’s expectations. time off work will quickly pay itself off.

So if you can’t squeeze your tight budget even tighter to find the extra funds for those Flexi hours pay increases, then it is vitally important to The typical eight to five, Monday to Friday show your employees you value them using work week doesn’t suit everybody’s lifestyle other methods. and schedules, particularly if they face a long Your staff members are key assets in your commute or have young children. company so it’s important you treat them Asking your employee what hours best suit like one. them and offering a flexible schedule can If morale is low among staff then work output work wonders at improving their attitude towards the job. will be low too. A happy team member is a hard working team member, so show them Starting work an hour later can be a huge you care and appreciate the work they put benefit to many staff, giving them time to in by implementing some of the pay rise sleep in, calmly get their children to school or alternatives below. miss the traffic jams on the motorway.

Upskilling Sending staff to relevant training and development courses is a win, win for all.

Staff view upskilling as positive progress in their career because it boosts their confidence and puts them in good stead for promotions down the line.

They will arrive at work less stressed and ready to work. So be accommodating and flexible to their personal needs and in return get a happier employee.

treat themselves and their family to a nice meal or special outings.

So why not reward your employee for all their hard work with a bit of R&R and luxury time that they wouldn’t otherwise get.

day in day out, leading to equally horrendous petrol bills. So why not ease the burden with a fuel subsidy card or if you’re feeling extra generous a work car would certainly go a long way to making an employee feel valued.

Rewards could include a restaurant voucher, shopping mall voucher, and concert or sports game tickets.

Take a break

The unique aspect of this alternative is that you can tailor the perk to your employee’s hobbies, personality and likes showing that you do really know them and care.

Many businesses now have just enough staff to get the job done and as a result staff are as busy as they’ve ever been and/or have to rack up overtime to get their core duties done.

Bill breaks Bills are a part of everyday life, but wouldn’t it be nice if someone lightened the load and paid one for you?

I’m sure you think so and no doubt your employees would agree. So why no pick up the tab for one of their work related bills.

If your office is in the city then it’s likely your staff have to pay for parking, which is a necessary evil. So consider subsidising, or paying for their parking bill or better yet, give them a company car park.

Are your employees working their fingers to the bone?

While having just enough staff to get the job done may be an efficient way to run a business on paper, it can take a toll on its employees.

If this sounds like your business, then your staff are probably in need of a well deserved break. So insist they take a day off and give them an extra day’s holiday; a long weekend to relax can work wonders. Yes this will be an inconvenience as you’ve only just got the manpower required to get by in the first place, but your employees will appreciate the gesture, and the time off, more than you think and come back rejuvenated, energised and ready to get stuck back in.

Entertainment perks

Companies often have great mobile phone plans with a massive amount of minutes that you can never use up, so why not share them?

Pay for your staffs phone bills or give them a work mobile phone.

Staff on low and even medium level wages can often struggle to pay the bills, let alone

Commuting to and from work can be a ghastly task particularly if you face horrendous traffic If the idea is realistic, then implement it.

Get creative Ask your employee what sort of bonus they would like. Let them think about it and come up with something that really gets them excited.

Give praise and increase profits

By Steven Lynch

Pavlov was onto something with his dogs.

Praise and recognition is the bell that drives human behaviour.

Saying “thank you” is a universal concept with an underlying definition that means “please repeat that specific behaviour again”.

A survey of more than 200,000 managers and employees during a 10 year period showed that purpose-based recognition is a proven way to engage your employees, reduce staff turnover, boost productivity, and increase customer satisfaction.

What’s more, the study shows that companies who effectively praise and recognise its staff are much more profitable. Organisations that scored in the lowest 25 percent for recognition had an average return on equity of just 2.4 percent, whereas those that scored in the top 25 percent had an average return on equity more than three times higher.

To create the best results, praise and recognition will be most effective when it meets the following criteria.

your team members for doing something right at least once per week if you want to increase employee engagement and motivation.

Make it positive Remembering a person’s past negative behaviours and speaking about how much better they have become is not recommended (e.g. “You used to be a real pain in the ass to work with, but you’ve been a lot nicer to be around lately”).

Catch people doing things right and let them know straight away.

Giving praise and recognition is not the time to bring up past errors. For your praise to have maximum effect, just point out their positive behaviour. (e.g. “I really appreciate the effort you made to engage with the team at the meeting today. It was nice to see you smiling and taking an interest in people”).

Do it now The sooner you give the praise and recognition to when the actual performance occurs, the better. Don’t wait until their next performance review.

In terms of frequency, research suggests that you look for opportunities to praise each of

Focus on observed behaviour - not the person’s character Don’t make statements about the person such as “You are really smart” or “You are a hard worker”. It is better to focus on their observed actions and commend the specific behaviour you want to see reinforced (e.g. “I was impressed with the research you did on this project, and the long hours you put in to get the report done on time”).

Interestingly, research shows that this exact same approach is the best way to praise and coach your children as well.

Link it to your strategic plan Recognise the specific behaviours that reinforce your company’s core values, or comment on specific results that were achieved, such as a task being completed,

progress on a strategic report or a key performance indicator goal being exceeded.

Share it around Recognition and praise is best delivered in the environment where the actual performance occurred, ideally among the person’s peers.

Alternatively, if you are in a virtual team you can send the team a notification of your praise being delivered. Let the whole team know when someone is doing a good job.

We usually think of recognition as coming from the manager, but interestingly, it is recognition from our peers that often means the most to people.

In summary If you want to increase employee engagement, look for opportunities to publicly praise your team members for doing something right at least once every week.

Who are you going to praise right now?

Stephen Lynch is the chief customer officer at RESULTS.com. Information kindly provided by RESULTS.com: www.results.com

www.centraltoday.co.nz November 2014 | 21

News | Exporting

Exporting A-Z When to look at exporting and how to do it Thinking about exporting Whether you’ve grown your business in New Zealand and are now looking for the next step, or you want to go international from day one, it’s worth taking some time to ask yourself some fundamental questions before you take your first steps.

Thinking about research and development When exporting, you can’t rely on replicating exactly what works at home. Often, you will be required to develop your existing products and services or even invent new ones, to suit a new market’s needs.

Thinking about your operations

team and board in place to bring your strategy to life.

Thinking about your export finance Exporting can put considerable financial strain on your existing business: can you make money and where can you source capital?

Thinking about your marketing and sales Clearly articulate what sets you apart from your competitors, and have a plan for how you will promote your product or service in-market.

Thinking about your strategy

Assess whether you have the resources and capacity to deliver.

Consider your market entry options and be aware of risks you may encounter as an exporter.

Thinking about leadership and people

Thinking about your international markets

If you’re thinking about exporting, you need to make sure you have the right leadership,

Get started on researching your potential markets.

Preparing to export

Preparing your export finance

Once you have taken the decision to export, it’s important to put together a plan, aware that plans will usually change.

Get tips on money matters - getting paid, tax considerations and approaching investors.

Preparing for research and development Developing new products helps keep your company relevant and competitive. Get information on how you go about it, and how to reduce the risks that come with investing in R&D.

Preparing your operations Familiarising yourself with freight and labelling requirements will smooth the way when it comes to sending your products overseas.

Preparing your leadership and people Knowing how to create good a governance structure, and how to hire the right people at the right stage of your business journey, is crucial for success.

Why exporting matters The global measure of a nation’s prosperity is gross domestic product per head of population, or GDP per capita – the total value of the goods and services a country produces, divided by the total population.

In the days when New Zealand had a cosy trading relationship with Britain, supplying all their meat, butter and wool, New Zealand had one of the highest GDPs per capita in the world.

It gives a good idea how wealthy a country’s people are, on average.

If the growth in exports from New Zealand from 1960-1997 had matched that of OECD countries generally, we would have enjoyed a 247 percent increase in GDP rather than 153 percent. That would have translated into a higher standard of living, more jobs and better pay.

Successful exporting countries generally have high GDP per capita and a standard of living to match. Wages are high and people enjoy good health and education and can afford the luxuries of life – modern cars, nice houses, overseas holidays, leisure goods and other comforts.

22 | November 2014 www.centraltoday.co.nz

But during the past 30 years the country has been buffeted by trading patterns that have caused its position to deteriorate.

In 1960, our GDP per capita was six percent higher than the average for OECD countries.

By 1997 it was 29 percent lower.

During that same period GDP per capita across the entire OECD grew by 139 percent, while New Zealand’s only managed to increase by a relatively sluggish 60 percent.

We have lost ground against the rest of the developed world, and it’s largely because

our export performance hasn’t kept up.

An immense expansion of world trade has taken place in recent decades, but New Zealand hasn’t fully participated in it. It’s almost as if there’s been a riotous party going on and New Zealand has been standing outside, watching enviously through the window.

Economists say it’s not too late to join the festivities, but we must lift our game.

If we could apply to exporting the same focus and commitment that has made New Zealand such a great sporting country, able to punch well above its weight in everything from rugby to rowing, yachting and horse riding, we would claw our way back into the elite ranks of exporting countries.

For more information visit: www.exportnz.org.nz For a profile on a local company making its mark in the export section, turn to page 44 and read up on Mt Maunganui company Global Roofing Solutions.

Preparing your marketing and sales Marketing, branding and promotional tactics can give you the edge over your competitors along with a well-articulated business pitch and excellent customer support.

Preparing your strategy Knowing who your competitors are, and recognising potential risks, will help you succeed in a new market.

Preparing for international markets Researching your markets before you start exporting will greatly reduce the risk of making costly mistakes. www.exportnz.org.nz

News | Exporting

Crossing the ditch

By Andrew Scott

When doing business in Australia, does being close neighbours make it easier or harder?

Walking down the average street in Australia you would bump into a Kiwi once for every 40 people, and in south-east Queensland, the rate is higher.

While Robert Muldoon found humour in the situation, we all know the compelling reasons why young, qualified Kiwis are crossing the ditch.

Historically Australia has been economically prosperous, offering employment in most, if not all, sectors, not to mention the endless space and amazing beaches. No wonder Russell, the Finn brothers and Phar Lap all skipped town.

For those of us that call New Zealand home however, it is likely that the earth, sea and sky, full of grounded, self reliant, proudly antipodean family and friends offers a greater draw card.

But New Zealand is small, and for Kiwi businesses looking for greater challenges and growth, tapping into the Australian market seems a natural fit – perhaps more so than China.

similarities between the two cultures before dipping your toe in the West Island’s market.

In that respect, while Australia is very important to Kiwi exporters, in 2012-2013 New Zealand ranked ninth on the list of merchandise importers to that country. In other words Aussie is more important to New Zealand than New Zealand is to Aussie.

Now for the disclaimer: I grew up in Australia… but if you are still reading this piece then let me assure you that I call New Zealand home now and am able to provide some perspective on both cultures.

I think last year’s America’s Cup campaign in San Francisco acts as a useful metaphor.

Oracle might have branded its crew as Team USA, but we all recognised Jimmy Spithill’s accent in the press conferences - abrasive, cocky, full of swagger… Australian.

While Dean Barker spoke softly and calmly of the strong self belief within the team that Emirates Team New Zealand could win that elusive final race, Jimmy Spithill defied logic saying that he believed that his team could win the series from 8-1 down.

We all know the result – Oracle changed tactics and sailed away victors. The drive to win is ingrained in Aussies from an early age, which is why Aussies are such bad losers.

That’s the market you are operating in.

In 2013 Australia was knocked off as New Zealand’s number one export destination by China, but Australia remains of prime importance to many New Zealand non-dairy exporters.

In recent years, the Australian dollar has remained buoyant due to the growth of the mining sector and the insatiable Chinese economy, but most people will recognise that this growth has now slowed.

But Australia is not New Zealand (collective sigh), and it is important to make yourself aware of both the differences as well as the

Nonetheless the Australian consumer has become accustomed to strong buying-power, competitive pricing and value for money.

This scenario is often coupled with high operating costs - Woolworths can attract a 40 percent margin on groceries in its stores and typically expects the goods provider to pay for regular promotions and discounting.

However, on weight of numbers, the Australian consumer continues to represent a prime target for the savvy businessperson, especially if you accept that the average Aussie household has a disposable income approximately 32 percent higher than the average Kiwi household.

Furthermore, New Zealand has a reputation in Australia for producing high quality products and services, often worth paying a premium for.

So what tactics can you employ to make sure you extend your New Zealand success to Australia? Here are a few tips.

1. Know your target market – sounds like a good opportunity for a trip to Aussie! Just make sure you don’t spend all your time on the beach. Get a feel for how the consumer thinks, how business is done and what legal requirements must be met.

2. Get physical! Depending on the size of your business and your level of experience, this may involve engaging an Australian agent or distributor, or establishing a physical presence in Australia. It can be difficult directing traffic from this side of the Tasman, so having someone on the ground might help avoid costly mistakes and may also streamline your marketing.

3. Protect your brand - and your goods and/or services; do you know what your intellectual property is worth? IP is often thought to represent as much as 80 percent of the value of a company’s assets. Do you know how to establish ownership of your IP and

control it? Remember we are playing to win here. Relying on the courtesy of your fellow Kiwi doesn’t wash in Australia. Unless you are well-positioned, adaptable, and ruthlessly aggressive (and even then) you could easily be out-manoeuvred by a more capable competitor.

Kiwis are exceptionally innovative – it’s the number 8 wire mentality. But unfortunately that attitude doesn’t always produce sustainable business growth.

In some industries being first to market might be the best strategy, but in many industries blindly rushing to make your first dollar severely hampers your ability to make your millionth.

A well thought-out intellectual property strategy allows you to deter would-be competitors, increase value through licensing and define boundaries for joint ventures.

Registered trademarks and granted patents are business tools that allow you and your business partners to operate in markets such as Australia with some degree of surety that you will not be ripped-off by the sharp business practise of a competitor.

As with all aspects of intellectual property, seeking professional advice at an early stage will help you avoid making the same mistakes as those before you.

Andrew Scott is an associate at James & Wells. He is a registered patent attorney in both Australia and New Zealand specialising in chemical, biological, agri and foodtechnologies. For more information and expert IP advice contact Andrew at andrews@jaws.co.nz

www.centraltoday.co.nz November 2014 | 23

Property & Construction | Marra Construction

The design and build specialists Choosing Marra Construction Limited for your next commercial project means you’re choosing quality and assurance through every stage of the job. >

The new Oropi Centre at Grace Hospital in Tauranga, built by Marra Construction

The Marra Group has been operating in the Bay of Plenty for more than 35 years and today completes all aspects of commercial and industrial construction, including development projects and design and build.

In addition to Marra Construction, the group includes Marra Holdings and Marra Developments.

Marra Construction’s design and build service incorporates all aspects of building design, from architectural needs through to interior and landscape design. The company’s design team will work with you, incorporating and meeting your specific requirements and unique needs.

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The design phase is then followed by Marra’s outstanding construction abilities to enable the client to fully integrate their concepts within one company.

The Oropi Centre is being developed in response to the need for a specialised day-stay service in the region

Industrial, commercial and retail projects are a major focus for the team at Marra and include shopping centres such as Bethlehem Town Centre and Fashion Island in Papamoa, as well as prominent commercial buildings in Tauranga such as Cameron Ridge and Gartshore House.

Marra Construction provides a range of specialty construction services to the Bay of Plenty region, including: • Design and build • Commercial and retail • Industrial buildings • Apartments • Specialised projects • Education and healthcare • Internal fit-outs.

Marra has a robust design and build service for industrial buildings, incorporating both lease-back or ongoing sale options. The company also has land available in various local industrial subdivisions should it be required.

While the majority of customers choose to engage Marra for both the base building construction and the internal fit-out, there are plenty of options regarding Marra’s services in Marra has developed specialties within the the commercial and retail fields. education and healthcare sectors, which demand high standards of quality and special consideration to noise and traffic. In addition, Marra has built numerous well-known apartment complexes within the Bay of Plenty. They are all unique in their own way and provide high standards of living for the residents.

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Ensuring quality throughout Contracts manager Dean Lawrence says with 60 staff employed, Marra Construction is one of the few traditional building companies around that still employs is own labour direct.

“We have a large contingent of skilled carpenters, hammer hands and labourers that we employ direct, although we also subcontract depending on how much we have on our plate,” he says.

“But as a general rule we employ direct, which means we can control the allocation of this resource pool over many simultaneous projects and ensure an excellent quality of work. We pride ourselves on quality and delivery and handing over projects that meet deadlines and budgets.”

Property & Construction | Marra Construction

Challenging medical project Patients at Grace Hospital in Tauranga will soon have access to greater healthcare at the new Oropi Centre built by Marra Construction.

Portfolio of significant projects

Grace Hospital is a private specialist surgical hospital that has been operating in Tauranga for seven years. The Oropi Centre is being developed in response to the need for a specialised day-stay service in the region.

Marra Construction has undertaken a wide range of major projects recently, including: • Boutique Offices in Hamilton Street, Tauranga

Marra Construction is in the process of completing the first stage of the new Oropi Centre, with all works due to be completed by early November. Dean Lawrence says the $4.2 million project involved adding a 1200sqm two-level extension onto the existing hospital.

• Mikkelson Road substation for Power Co • Te Wharekura o Mauao school in Bethlehem, Tauranga

The Oropi Centre will have its own entrance, patient admission rooms and procedure rooms equipped to support general anaesthetic procedures.

“The first floor will encompass consulting rooms and a larger training room for staff and consultants, and helps future-proof hospital facilities.”

Dean says the design and construction of the new wing was governed by existing building design and levels. “We had to marry the new building in; it’s not a straight forward building with the level of services and construction detail it contains.”

The new centre is clad in a combination of pre-cast concrete panels, cedar weatherboard, aluminium commercial joinery, cedar louvres and a zinc trough section of vertical cladding.

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Grace Hospital general manager Janet Keys says the hospital has six operating theatres, a separate procedure room, 48 in-patient beds and a day-stay department. “The key addition will be a dedicated day-stay theatre and an endoscopy procedure room, which addresses patients’ needs for privacy and comfort – and meets or exceeds the standards for such facilities,” she says.

• Two new schools on the East Cape, Tawhiti and Whangaparaoa The Oropi Centre is the largest medical development undertaken by Marra Construction to date

“The building has structural steel support, a steel roof and concrete floors. The first floor is cast on ultra span 80, which is a permanent steel tray formwork.”

While Marra Construction has completed a range of medical projects in the past, the Oropi Centre is the largest medical centre it has done and did pose some particular challenges.

“Service wise it’s very complicated; there are specialist medical services and equipment such as medical gases, theatre surgical and lighting pendants and controls, nurse call systems etc.”

Part of the contract was to co-ordinate the supply and installation of specialist medical equipment. The restricted ceiling space, which

• Mitre 10 Mega, Rotorua and Taupo • New World Te Puke

had to fit in with existing floor levels, made the installation of services quite difficult.

• C3 Workshop, Port of Tauranga

“We also faced some exceptionally inclement weather through this winter which has added to the challenge however the end result is looking good.”

• Department of Corrections fit-out.

Emphasis on health and safety Health and safety is a huge focus for the team at Marra, particularly in medical jobs such as the Oropi Centre at Grace Hospital.

“With working around an existing hospital facility there’s a lot of coordinating to be done,” Dean says. “We have to make sure we’re carrying out the works with plenty of notice and that we’re complying with the hospital’s own health and safety as well.” CNT

Marra Construction (2004) Limited 6 Tangmere Place Greerton Tauranga T (07) 543 0776 E greg@marra.co.nz www.marra.co.nz — Advertising Feature

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(07) 543 0774 | www.marra.co.nz www.centraltoday.co.nz November 2014 | 25

Property & Construction | Wallace Development Company

Rangitikei Junction development a bonus for Bulls

About Wallace Development Company Wallace Development Company Limited was formed by Jonathan Wallace in 1982 and covers all aspects of the commercial property development process. This includes sourcing sites and drafting up plans through to project management and delivering turnkey solutions for clients.

The majority of Wallace Development Company’s projects are completed for known clients who are committed to the project before design and construction begins.

Its market edge is a focus on strategic development; providing the right location and profile, along with the right price to meet the client’s needs.

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BP Connect and Four Square Supermarket are the anchor tenants in the new Bulls project

Whether building completely new premises or upgrading and redeveloping existing buildings, Wallace Development Company aims to deliver cost-effective, high quality and innovative business solutions.

The company is based in Havelock North, with branches in Palmerston North, Auckland and Tauranga.

In addition to the new BP Connect development in Bulls, Wallace Development Company’s large portfolio of work includes: • New Rabobank premises in Normanby Street, Dargaville

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Wallace Development Company’s exciting new BP Connect and retail development at Bulls

The new BP Connect, Four Square supermarket and retail development in Bulls is receiving a great response from both locals and passers-by alike.

12,500 vehicles pass through Bridge Street in Bulls every day. This high traffic count combined with Bulls being a logical stopover for travellers between Wellington and Taupo, were catalysts for the large development project.

The large service station and retail development has being built by Wallace Development Company Limited, which recognised the need for a substantial investment into Rangitikei Junction.

Jonathan says while some older Bulls residents were initially concerned about whether the large development would be a good fit for the town, younger people were quick to embrace it.

Bulls site perfect for development

“It’s an asset to the community. Younger people feel it gives people travelling through Bulls a reason to stop and it’s also provided local employment. Now a lot of the older people who were initially opposed to it have

Wallace Development Company managing director, Jonathan Wallace says an estimated

Interest from retail giants BP and Foodstuffs formed the anchor for the launch of the development in mid-2012, with interest following quickly from local and regional food outlets.

realised that it has taken off and all the retailers are doing extremely well.”

Retail space filling up fast The first stage of the project, the new BP Connect, was completed in December last year, with another major tenant, Four Square, opening in late August.

Other tenants include Jabies Donor Kebabs, Thai House Express, Chicken Delight, Feastabull and Mint Café.

One more stage is due to be completed by the end of the year and will involve two further retail outlets, which are yet to be tenanted. And Jonathan expects the final two tenancies to be filled quickly.

“We are confident that these provincial locations have the ability to thrive, with the added benefit of breathing fresh life and employment into our smaller towns,” he says.

Wallace Development Company is developing similar retail centres with anchor service station tenancies throughout the North Island, with the latest also on State Highway One on the intersection of the Napier-Taupo and Taupo Bypass roads. CNT

PH (06) 348 8114 ID LOADER are proud to be involved in the Siteworks and Drainage of the Rangitikei Junction - BP Connect Bulls.

Congratulations on this substantial development 26 | November 2014 www.centraltoday.co.nz

• New Placemakers building in Mahoe Street, Taupo • Z Energy development with additional retailers in Onewa Road, Birkenhead • Reconstruction of former Farmer’s building into modern new retail premises in Emerson Street, Napier • Z Energy retail development in Oteha Valley Road Extension, Albany • New Cosmopolitan House on the former Cosmopolitan Club site in Marine Parade, Napier.

Wallace Development Company Limited 17 Napier Road Havelock North T (06) 877 2226 0800 WDCL55 (0800 932555) E info@wdcl.co.nz www.wallacedevelopment.co.nz — Advertising Feature

Property & Construction | ESN Construction

Tackling tough tasks with ease ESN Construction in Hamilton tackles the tough jobs that others don’t want. The company is renowned for taking on difficult and challenging projects, and for thinking outside the square.

Innovative acoustics project ESN Construction was recently involved in a large project for ATC New Zealand, which involved finding an acoustic solution for the music centre, within a tight budget.

The company was employed to build a new music centre for the Ruakura campus.

“The project involved converting an old laboratory and welding bays from the old Waikato University and turning them into a music suite with a variety of rooms. The acoustics had to be high because there was a drum set situated next to the recording room,” Roy says.

“ATC is an independent polytech which did not meet the expected budget to complete the whole music school at once, so we started off with one room as a trial.”

The innovative team at ESN Construction explored a variety of products to use in the music room to discover which product was best suited for the project. “Because of their budget constraints, there was a restriction to what the acoustic engineers suggested. We sourced a variety of recycled materials and placed them around the walls”, he says.

“We started with the first room, then continued onto the whole of the music school because of the success of the first room. We were able to save ATC 25-30 percent on their original budget by using different materials.

This meant that additional funding was able to be used elsewhere.”

Musicians at the ATC Music Centre have been using the new and improved rooms since June and say the acoustics are excellent.

The admirable building company has also recently completed a major residential refurbishment of a 150 year old cottage on a hillside location on Waiheke Island.

ESN Construction took on the difficult job of removing two large escalators from the Hamilton City Public Library, while the library was still operating

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Roy says this project posted particular challenges for ESN Construction, due to logistics, difficult site access and the requirement to retain the character of the home.

“We seem to take on most of the difficult jobs that other contractors don’t want to do,” he says.

“We come up with different aspects of how to build it and get a cheaper option. We can always keep within the client’s budget or even below, simply through the use of different methods.”

A total construction package ESN Construction makes building even easier for clients through its ability to offer a ‘turnkey’ service.

Roy O’Driscoll owns ESN Construction, as well as Bromley Decorators, which offers painting, decorating and waterproofing services. “We give the customer a one-stop shop,” he says.

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Director Roy O’Driscoll formed ESN Construction 12 years ago and leads a team of skilled builders primarily focussed on commercial work, as well as a small amount of high-end residential housing.

A lot of the work to remove the escalators was done at night, to avoid noise and disruption within the library

“We can guarantee quality right through the building programme and can guarantee construction dates.”

With the recent investment in accounts and pricing systems, ESN Construction is able to supply clients with realistic invoices, daily cost evaluation and a GPS record of tradesmen on site hours. CNT ESN Construction Limited 15 Lake Road Frankton Hamilton T (07) 847 5361 E admin@esnconstruction.co.nz — Advertising Feature

“It was a different build which had people doubting if it would work, but the team at ESN Construction exceeded all expectations.”

Projects of significance ESN Construction has recently completed other challenging projects, including the removal of the escalators and two floors of the Hamilton City Public Library.

This project was challenging as the removal of two 4.5 tonne escalators, located in the centre of the library, had to be completed at night to avoid noise during the day. “We completed this project for the council by using different methodologies” Roy explains.

The company also managed to come under the council’s projected budget for this project.

ESN Construction also recently finished upgrading welding bays, classrooms and complete re-roofing at Te Awamutu College, with work continuing during school hours, and no disruption to the college itself.

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0800 222 872 83 | 0800 ACCURATE accurateconcrete@ihug.co.nz www.accurateconcretecutting.co.nz www.centraltoday.co.nz November 2014 | 27

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Property & Construction | Davies Homes

Homes with the wow factor If you are interested in building a new home, renovating or extending an existing home, either in rural or urban locations, then the team at Davies Homes are the people to talk to.

The secret to their instant success is Daniel who is an extremely talented businessman, entrepreneur and designer, and works tirelessly to make certain every customer is 100 percent satisfied with the final result.

As the business has grown Daniel has appointed a number of new roles to ensure each and every customer receives first class customer care. He explains that the Davies Homes’ support office team has grown, with key people appointed into specialist positions.

“We have appointed a general manager in charge of overall business strategy.

“Plus we have an in-house architectural Davies Homes are the residential builders of design team, two designated project choice for Te Awamutu, Waikato, King Country, managers, one specialising in client Waipa, the Bay of Plenty and beyond. relationship management, the other in site management and health and safety.”

They specialise in residential building including construction, additions, alternations and renovations catering for all budgets up to one million dollars.

Daniel Davies, owner and operator of Davies Homes, says their range of services on offer are unparalleled.

Services include free in-house architectural design, a fixed price contract, a stress-free build with uncompromising quality and exceptional customer care.

Building options Davies Homes undertake a range of building jobs including design and build, residential construction and house renovations.

Residential construction equates to the largest portion of the work they undertake, but they’ve also completed a number of renovation jobs.

The team bring the same care and attention to alterations and renovations that they do to the homes that they build from the ground up.

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Daniel started the Te Awamutu based business in 2004 and since day one the company has had a reputation for excellent design and building superior quality homes.

MICHAEL REDGATE

Instant success

Daniel says he “always enjoys the opportunity to transform residential houses into a real dream home”.

REDGATES BRICK & BLOCK Proud supporter of Davies Homes.

Congratulations on expanding.

Turn-key design and build packages in Te Awamutu and Waikato are becoming an increasingly popular option.

Daniel has designed numerous homes for his clients in recent years. He carefully considers every aspect of the homes design in the planning stages, including site position in relation to the sun and the best views.

There are several plans to view which can be altered to suit the client’s budget and preferences.

Showroom The head office in Te Awamutu includes a showroom which clients can visit, discuss their design and build desires and receive expert advice from the qualified and trusted Davies Homes’ team.

On display are examples of exterior cladding systems, plumbing supplies, lighting features and much more - all designed to educate, inform and help clients make important decisions and choices.

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For all aspects of house site preparation Congratulations to Davies Homes on expanding into Cambridge and the Waikato region.

T&C Earthworks Ltd Wayne. 021 47 6661 | Office. 078705265 www.centraltoday.co.nz November 2014 | 29

Property & Construction | Davies Homes Everyone is invited to talk to the showroom professionals who are on hand to offer friendly and helpful advice, so that you can make an informed decision about which products will best suit the look and feel you want to achieve in your new home.

Up for the challenge Working in a large spread out region with a wide range of customers that have varying needs can present its challenges, but no challenge is too big for Davies Homes.

It has recently completed a million dollar home for a farmer who, as Daniel explains, had some unique design requests.

“It is an absolutely stunning contemporary style home that was challenging in terms of

the complexity of the design and build.

“Design challenges included a lift, a basement garage to accommodate a motorhome and extensive retaining walls.

“The entire design, engineering and construction team worked extremely well together throughout the entirety of this project. The challenges were resolved quickly and a stunning home was built which the farmer is incredibly happy and proud of.”

Stunning new showhome in St Kilda Cambridge To view an example of the supreme quality of design and new home construction, Davies Homes welcome you to call into it's beautiful

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Prepare to be impressed!

Delivering the wow factor Daniel says the company has established a solid reputation for designing homes that are not only practical and functional, but utilise space efficiently.

A number of striking design elements set this building company apart from the rest.

“The attention to detail, special feature ceilings with a variation in stud heights, a range of cladding systems, and superior quality craftsmanship inside and out, all culminate in a stunning and unique home with the wow factor.

“We manage the entire process very effectively, meaning a stress-free and pleasurable building experience.

“Our customer service has everybody raving about us because we truly do go the extra mile.”

SERVICES INCLUDE:

Davies Homes’ showroom staff can assist you with:

If you are looking for a home building company in the Central North Island there really is only one choice – Davies Homes. CNT

• Roofing systems • Exterior claddings • Kitchen designs • Bathroom furniture • Lighting features • Internal and external doors • Joinery • Paints and colours • Landscaping • And more.

Davies Homes 141 George Street Te Awamutu T (07) 870 5126 E chris@davieshomes.co.nz www.davieshomes.co.nz — Advertising Feature

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30 | November 2014 www.centraltoday.co.nz

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An oasis sitting right next to Hamilton

With its sublime mix of tranquillity, fine dining and outstanding wines, The Narrows Landing nestles perfectly among the towering eucalypts surrounding it.

Located on the outskirts of Hamilton and just five minutes from the Hamilton International Airport, this architecturally unique hotel is the perfect place to experience country chic within a beautiful setting; a place to relax, indulge and enjoy.

Established in 1996 by Brian Hermann and Deborah Mundy, The Narrows Landing sets a perfect platform for any occasion, conference or function. Its five diversely styled function

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rooms can cater for many alternatives – from small to larger groups, casual or formal events, and can also offer onsite outdoor event areas if needed. Events manager, Carla Radakin will take care of your requirements to ensure a successful event or a special day to treasure.

For those who wish to extend their stay, The Narrows Landing offers 15 well appointed, double rooms to choose from, all featuring stained glass panels and blended with old recycled wood and steel. Each of the rooms is welcoming and offer a lovely sense of old world comfort with 21st century facilities, all with access to sweeping verandas on which to enjoy a nightcap or a morning cup of coffee.

The property itself has several walking tracks for guests to navigate and explore. While taking in some of the Waikato’s flora and fauna, you are likely to hear the beautiful song of the native Tui, as there are many that live in the area. One of the walking tracks is best visited during dusk as it takes you to a glow worm colony next to the Waikato River.

The conservatory styled restaurant is open for breakfast, lunch and dinner. Head chef, Julian, has designed wonderfully delicious menus which feature simple, fresh food with a tasty modern approach. “We are finding many of our diners returning to sample more of his dishes,” Carla says.

The Narrows Landing has a superb selection of wines on offer and if time allows, Maître de, Yasser, is happy to take you on the tour of the wine cellar.

For more information about The Narrows Landing, visit the website, give them a call or pay them a visit. CNT The Narrows Landing 431 Airport Road RD 2 Tamahere Hamilton T 0800 526 346 E sales@thenarrowslanding.co.nz www.thenarrowslanding.co.nz — Advertising Feature

32 | November 2014 www.centraltoday.co.nz

Design & Manufacturing | Taranakipine

Innovative building ideas • Finger joint products

>

• Mouldings Taranakipine in New Plymouth

• Door jambs • Weatherboards • Fascia • Laminated posts • Structural pergola products • Handrails • Trimboards

>

Taranakipine is developing a unique weatherboard product to make cladding easier and quicker for builders

Taranakipine is leading the New Zealand timber industry with its focus on innovative wood products, and aims to offer builders an alternative to traditional construction products.

It is a New Zealand owned business established in 1954, specialising in the design and manufacture of engineered exterior and interior wood products.

New weatherboard innovation Market manager Blair Thomson says while Taranakipine is a traditional building products supplier, the past two years have seen it place a huge emphasis on developing more innovative products.

The company is now employing a product development manager, Ryan Zhu, who is driving the product development programme.

“We’re trying to be innovative with products in an industry that’s traditionally commodity product led,” he says.

• Window reveals.

The first new product from Taranakipine is a weatherboard with a locking end join, aimed to make cladding faster and easier for builders.

“We’ve taken a traditional weatherboard product and researched what the builders don’t like about weatherboards; they don’t like having to cut a mitre joint on it. We have machined a locking end joint on the boards, which addresses one of the key problems that builders have, which is also quite time consuming.”

The WoodLock weatherboard is still in the development phase but is due to be taken to the market within the next few months.

“We’ve had some good feedback from our research. The WoodLock weatherboard offers builders time savings and waste savings. The other benefit is that the joint is more moisture resistant and weather tight than mitre joints.”

There are also appearance gains as well, as its appearance is tidier. It’s a cost-effective and innovative system.

Investing in plant and equipment Taranakipine has recently made a significant investment in a new Weing Powermat 2400 planer, which Thomson says is one of the best wood processing machines available.

In addition, Taranakipine is working on a new process to provide an improved laminating facility and capability.

But like many organisations, its strength is in its people. The 60 year old company is still privately owned, with the family of its original shareholders still owning a share of the business today.

Blair Thomson says the New Plymouth company employs 190 people and is starting to enjoy good growth after the downturn of the global financial crisis. “Our people are our biggest asset,” he says.

“We’re seeing good growth in the New Zealand and Australian markets, as well as in the US. This year has been the best in terms of sales growth in recent times.”

Taranakipine supplies the New Zealand market through the merchant chain, which includes ITM, Placemakers, Mitre 10, Carters and Bunnings. CNT

sc

Taranakipine supplies high-quality timber products for the construction industry

>

Taranakipine produces a range of products for the construction market, including:

The planer produces a better quality product and helps reduce down time. “It’s a lot more automated. It still turns a piece of lumber into a weatherboard or piece of moulding, but it can do it faster and more cost effective with a fully automated system.”

Taranakipine has established close working relationship with a number of suppliers and local businesses, including Lonza, a leading supplier to the life science industries, and Mediterranean Shipping Co, which is part of a global shipping line.

Taranakipine Hudson Road Bell Block New Plymouth T (06) 755 9000 www.taranakipine.co.nz — Advertising Feature

MEDITERRANEAN SHIPPING COMPANY

Shipping Agency engaged in Worldwide Container Transport

MSC are proud to support Taranakipine.

Congratulations on 60 years We are the Australian/New Zealand agent for MSC Geneva, who employ an experienced team across more than 150 countries.

We pride ourselves in delivering a global service with local knowledge, but what sets us apart is our commitment to the people we work with. Placing customer service at the heart of our business, our team is dedicated to finding the right solution for your needs. We believe in building genuine relationships through open and honest communication, giving you peace of mind that when you’re working with MSC, your cargo is in safe hands.

www.mscnewzealand.com

www.centraltoday.co.nz November 2014 | 33

Focus | Mercer Stainless

Stainless solutions Mercer Stainless in New Plymouth manufactures and sells a range of machinery for the meat export and cheese industries.

Mercer Stainless is an international leader in the design and fabrication of stainless steel plant, equipment and bulk materials handling systems in New Zealand and Australia. It is part of the Mercer Group, which also includes Mercer Medical, Mercer Interiors and Mercer Technologies.

Innovative cheese products

Mercer Stainless in New Plymouth.

Mercer Stainless supplies a range of cheese equipment for cutting, forming, testing and packaging cheese.

The BetaVac 4024 cartonless cheese vacuum system is an industry leader in packaging cheese blocks, cut offs and other loose product.

The Mercer BetaTest leak detector allows the cheese block vacuum seal to be tested fresh from the vacuum sealer, meaning product can be re-packed if required.

Mercer engineers can provide other optional equipment such as BetaTurn block turners and BetaWeigh check weighers.

Mercer Stainless sales and marketing manager, Ramon Barr says BetaTest is a new product for Mercer, with the first sales into America just starting to come through. Mercer exports throughout Europe and America, as well as into South America, India and Russia.

The company’s ongoing commitment to providing positive solutions to wide ranging customer requirements has seen Mercer develop a respected and unique reputation for “The cartonless cheese is an older product innovation, uncompromising craftsmanship that’s been rejuvenated and we have a lot of and quality performance. interest in it,” he says.

Mercer Stainless has large manufacturing facilities in New Plymouth and Christchurch, with its head office located in Auckland and a small office and branch in Brisbane.

Machinery work makes up about 40 percent of Mercer Stainless’ New Plymouth plant’s operation.

Mercer manufactures the Titan 500 IVS cheese slicer, which offers precise weight control and grading ability at the touch of a button.

The 500 IVS Slicer weighs the batch as it’s compiling, and adjusts the slice thickness towards the end of the batch. This ensures accurate pack weights and reduced giveaway.

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“

Meat and poultry solutions

The company’s New Plymouth manufacturing plant is renowned for its highquality fabrication and products. “We’ve been recognised many times as being of the best quality available in New Zealand for stainless steel fabrication“.

”

Mercer Stainless is making meat export even easier with its AiCO cartoning equipment and packaging systems.

The AiCo range from has been an industry leader for more than 25 years. With a focus in the meat and horticulture industries, the AiCo brand is known for its rugged reliability in tough environments and excellent return on investment.

The range includes: Lidders – compact and fully automatic for the meat export industries.

Meat compactor - designed to automatically compact meat packed in corrugated cartons and is normally installed in line with the Mercer Stainless lidder.

Carton erectors - for the meat export, horticulture and food industries.

Carton closer - designed to automatically seal corrugated cartons, with multiple heights without adjustment.

In addition, Mercer Stainless builds some dairy equipment under licence for TetraPak.

A long history of excellence The history of the Mercer Group dates back to 1884, when James Mercer formed J Mercer and Sons in Christchurch.

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Today the company is split into four divisions, with Mercer Stainless experiencing continued growth.

Sales and marketing manager Ramon Barr says the company’s New Plymouth manufacturing plant is renowned for its high quality fabrication and products. “We’ve been recognised many times as being of the best quality available in New Zealand for stainless steel fabrication,” he says.

Fireproofing Coatings Thermal Metal Spray Coatings Preparation & Industrial Coatings Maintenance & Project Management 161 Corbett Road, Bell Block, New Plymouth 06 755 0275 | tbscoatings@tbsgroup.co.nz

34 | November 2014 www.centraltoday.co.nz

“We’ve been around a long time and make a variety of products; we have a lot of experience. Mercer Stainless is a proud business in the Taranaki region and has been an employer for a long time.”

Focus | Mercer Stainless

Mercer Stainless is supplying New Zealand industry with a range of high quality stainless steel storage and transport solutions.

Sales and marketing manager Ramon Barr says the New Plymouth branch has a 60 percent focus on the industrial sector, which mainly involves supplying dairy plant equipment including silos, pressure vessels and bulk liquid tankers.

“We’ve probably had our best calendar year to date for milk tankers and we build a lot for Symons Transport,” Ramon says.

• Heating and cooling utilising dimple pads, falling film, double skin jackets, tubes and fins designed for atmospheric or pressure, using water, glycol or refrigerants • Venting for product safety and plant protection • Sight glasses for operator awareness • Level sensors • Temperature sensors • Manway access to allow operators easy access for inspection and cleaning

Mercer Stainless tanks and silos are used in a wide variety of industries for storing and blending a range of liquids, powders and freeflowing solids.

• Platforms and ladders designed to allow access to plant while minimising risk to operator safety.

The company manufactures silos and tanks up to a capacity of 500,000 litres depending on requirements, and can cater to specific needs in relation to heating, cooling, and agitation.

Pressure vessels

Mercer conforms to the highest hygiene standards, including welds that do not allow bacterial growth and CIP systems. This will ensure thorough cleaning of vessels and minimise any risk of your product being contaminated.

Mercer Stainless’ Christchurch plant, which is its largest manufacturing facility, is heavily based in the industrial sector and primarily makes tanks and silos.

Mercer Stainless tanks and silos can be equipped with the following: • Agitators for blending, mixing, surface scraping to improve your production efficiency

For more than 50 years Mercer Stainless has been working with customers designing, developing and manufacturing a range of product specific processing, mixing and cooking vessels.

Mercer Stainless designs and manufactures high quality tanks for New Zealand industry

>

Mercer tanks and silos

The company is involved in the continuous evolution of hygienic food processing solutions Storage bins and transport and has compiled a full range of process Mercer Stainless manufactures a huge range vessels, allowing you to have confidence that of hoppers and storage bins. Its experience our designs will protect your product. combined with an innovative design team enable the company to provide clients with Its vessels are all manufactured to meet the a full design service that allows for the most highest quality engineering standards and, if exacting customer requirements. required, in accordance with the appropriate international pressure vessel codes.

Mercer Stainless recently manufactured a range of vessels operating in conditions from full vacuum right through to 3,000 kPa and up to 700degC, designed to be safe and reliable and ensuring minimal risk to operators.

The company manufactures stainless steel tankers for many industries. Its proven engineering designs are available to accommodate any fluid or powder product.

The stainless steel tankers are suitable for many industries and come in a range of

configurations, including B-double or B-train, quad or semi, 4-axle, rigid, helicopter landing pads and cells rated for G-force classification. CNT

Mercer Stainless 71 Corbett Road Bell Block New Plymouth T (06) 755 1276 Freephone 0800 236 244 www.mercerstainless.com — Advertising Feature

Machinery manufactured by Mercer Stainless

www.centraltoday.co.nz November 2014 | 35

Focus | Bowers Brothers Concrete

Your complete concrete connection From a simple, yet essential concrete washtub built more than 80 years ago, a booming family business has cemented itself within the central North Island landscape as the solid ‘go to’ guys for concrete products.

At the helm of Bowers Brothers Concrete is third generation family member, Steve Bowers and while leading edge technology and processes drive the operation forward, its old fashioned respect, hard work and integrity which underpins the entire business.

Respect for quality, for its clients and more importantly, respect for the 60-odd team members enable the business to be a leader in its field, says Steve.

“We’re a privately owned, family business and I consider every person working for us to be part of that family. I truly believe that if you look after the people who work for you, they in return look after your customers.

And, every one of the boys and girls prides themselves on delivering great service and for selling solid, quality products that withstand the test of time.”

silage bin walls, underpass units, septic tanks, stone traps, pipes, masonry blocks, through to paving and retaining walls.

“When we say we are a one stop concrete shop - we really are.”

The dedication to service was recognised when the team took top honours, winning the business Excellence Award at the MatamataPiako District’s Business Night Out in 2012.

Steve attributes the company’s continual growth and success to several factors - the first being its ability to completely control the precast concrete and masonry mixes used to make a myriad of concrete products.

“Because we mix it ourselves, to our own formulation, it’s a completely integrated process that produces an extremely high strength concrete and our highly controlled quality process mean there are no surprises.”

In addition to the five ready mix concrete plants Bowers Brothers run, they manufacture This said, Bowers Brothers products have a range of precast concrete and masonry always been robust. Steve mentions products - from water troughs, feed troughs, numerous farms he has visited where

36 | November 2014 www.centraltoday.co.nz

Focus | Bowers Brothers Concrete

concrete troughs made in 1945 are still in use and in good condition. “The dates used to be scratched into the products, so it’s a great feeling to see these products still out there in use.”

Bowers Retaining Systems is a sister company of Bowers Brothers Concrete and offer a full solution for the Allen Block patented system which is easy to lay, durable, cost-effective and best of all, looks great.

Another powerful driving force behind the business has been the development of additional products designed and manufactured to meet the demands of its customers. One of these products was interlocking barrier blocks and 1.6 and 2.5 metre high bunker walls, used extensively for storage dividers by dairy farmers as silage bunkers and in stock feed plants, bulk retails and other manufacturing and supply situations.

Allan Block stacks beautifully and creates a smooth and fluid finish for every wall. Expect high performance and natural beauty with this seismic tested retaining wall system.

“These started off as a way to off load excess concrete from the trucks after a pour. Our barrier blocks were bigger than anything else on the market and they were in such demand, we refined the process and now produce the largest and heaviest barrier blocks on the market, and they are popular.” Being heavy and more solid, the blocks can stand up to knocks from front-end loaders and can be placed on top of any existing concrete pad.

No job is too large or too small for Bowers Brothers Concrete. “Regardless of what it is, all our customers get the same level of service and care from our team.”

Be it a few bunker walls to build a garden pergola, as was done at the Junction Motel in Te Puke, or 2,000 water troughs delivered into position at Landcorp property in Taupo, Bowers Brothers pride themselves on finding the right solution for any job.

In the past, this has involved the use of helicopters, cranes and working around the clock. “We do whatever is required to get the job done.”

Another popular landscaping product is the Ministone line. It's an excellent DIY solution for creating beautiful garden edges or planter boxes. This easy to install garden wall creates smooth and fluid curves or straight walls. >

“

Bowers Brothers has forged a reputation for producing top quality paving stones, retaining wall blocks and other concrete items for use in both residential and commercial settings.

”

Concrete as a landscape feature Bowers Brothers has forged a reputation for producing top quality paving stones, retaining wall blocks and other concrete items for use in both residential and commercial settings.

The company holds the exclusive agency of Allen Blocks across New Zealand and the South Pacific to manufacture and sell the range of Allan Block retaining wall, courtyard and fence products.

www.centraltoday.co.nz November 2014 | 37

Focus | Bowers Brothers Concrete

From handmade to high-tech From humble beginnings back in 1929, brothers Harry and Howard Bowers established the Morrinsville business and forged a strong reputation for concrete washtubs, troughs, blocks, fence posts and pipes.

After a few years, Howard left to try his hand at farming while Harry stayed at the helm of the business for 46 years.

Times were tough as New Zealand was in the midst of the great depression. Not to be deterred, the business thrived and as soon as Harry’s two sons, Alfred and Malcolm, left school they entered the business.

Malcolm’s son, Steve entered the business at 16 years of age, 30 odd years on, he is the director of the company.

This machine delivered a decade of solid work before being upgraded in 1996, to a new block maker, which they paired with another rescued machine - this time a loader/unloader.

In 1983, Steve brought Uncle Alf’s shares and together father and son started looking for ways to grow the business. The pair purchased While the machinery was improving, a Kairangi concrete mixer that attached to a man power still played a large role in the tractor and took it from site to site. production process, with all completed Three years later they rebuilt a couple of old blocks being hand stacked on pallets ready Bedford ready mix trucks and established for distribution. the first Bowers Brothers ready mix plant on The purchase of land in Morrinsville in 2011 Morrinsville. From these few vehicles, during saw the company build a new production the years the Bowers Brothers’ fleet has grown to more than 30 trucks. plant. Its first masonry blocks, pavers, retaining stones and other landscape and New ready mix deliver trucks are being architectural products went in to production added to the fleet of vehicles every year. in this new plant in 2012. From here, it also And on the precast and masonry products produces a full range of masonry blocks, both side, two new hiab crane trucks have also standard and architectural quality. been added to the fleet. “This again increases our ability to offer fast, efficient and high “Low maintenance is the key for choosing service to our customers.”

Bowers Blocks. Our blocks are made with exceptionally high quality concrete to ensure our customers have years of trouble free New masonry plant living, while providing added strength, noise After 50 odd years of creating handmade control, protection from fire and comfort to products, they found a Columbia Model your build.”

8 block machine, which had been left to While the investment into the new plant has rot under a tree. Not to be deterred, they restored and installed the machine into their been large, Steve says the demand for quality production plant. masonry block is high. This demand also saw

38 | November 2014 www.centraltoday.co.nz

“

them recently purchase the Holcim block plant in Horotiu, Hamilton.

Our use of high-end materials gives us the tolerance, strength and the perfect textural finish we demand from our blocks to ensure they are of the highest standard.

”

“To produce high-end product, you need to be running your machines in pristine condition, so we have spent eight weeks reconditioning the Columbia machine that came with the Horotiu plant to meet our high quality standards.”

In New Zealand Steve says the standards set for masonry blocks is high and bricklayers are spoiled by the quality the New Zealand industry delivers. “Our use of high-end materials gives us the tolerance, strength and the perfect textural finish we demand from our blocks to ensure they are of the highest standard.”

Focus | Bowers Brothers Concrete

Rural precast solutions For more than 80 years Bowers Brothers Concrete has been recognised as leaders in the production of quality concrete items for use in rural, industrial, commercial and housing.

From hand poured products in the 30s to high technology now, one thing remains true and unwavering - the dedication to quality, strength and superior service.

Feed pads - standoff pads increase production, improve animal welfare, reduce feed wastage, and save paddocks in wet conditions

strength concrete. Wall thickness is more than standard for a longer and more durable life. The three-metre length makes it the largest trough on the market Stone traps – these innovative designed stone traps come in two sizes and are manufactured with high strength reinforced concrete to stand the harsh condition of all sizes of tractor loader buckets Sludge and septic tanks - be it for sewerage, sludge or a septic tank

Water troughs - with a full range of sizes, these high strength cattle and sheep troughs have proven themselves for 80 years

Storage bunkers - the precast walls are a fast and economical means of designing and building storage bins in 2.5 metre segments that will last the test of time. The 1.6m and 2.5metre high precast wall is an ideal design for a removable roof over fertiliser and palm kernel bins

Feed troughs - Bowers troughs come in various sizes with the premier precast feed troughs featuring an innovative false floor, which raises the floor up by 380mm to give easier feeding for stock also cast in high

Barrier wall units These walls are ideal for placement on existing concrete floors. Weighing in at three tonnes each, they make ideal walls for commercial and farming storage requirements.

Concrete expansion While expansion was occurring in the precast and masonry plant, simultaneously the ready mix side of the business continues to grow.

In 2004, Bowers Brothers undertook a green fields project in Hamilton developing a new ready mix plant.

Three years later it purchased Paeroa Concrete and in 2009 built another plant in Matamata.

Roll forward another four years, and they purchased Begbie Ready Mix in Putaruru.

An eight decade history, three generations in, a solid precast and masonry business and

Bowers Brothers Concrete 51 Lorne Street Morrinsville T (07) 889 6774 www.bowersbrothers.co.nz

the five ready mix plants in Morrinsville, Hamilton, Matamata, Putaruru and Paeroa delivers metres of quality concrete around the central North Island, and it’s fair to say Bowers Brothers is a solid business.

“We cover a base area from coast to coast; Raglan to Waihi, up the Thames coast through to Miranda and as far south as Tokoroa and Whakamaru,” Steve adds.

Like the solid quality concrete it produces, this is one family business going from strength to strength. CNT

— Advertising Feature

Preferred and trusted supplier to Bowers Brothers Concrete

Proud supporter of Bowers Brothers Concrete

Leaders in Aggregate Solutions.

Perry Aggregates has long been associated with the concrete industry and has been proud to be involved as a major supplier of products to the Bower Brothers’ Hamilton plant.

Perry Aggregates intention has always been to be the first choice supplier of not only concrete grades, but also roading, drainage and landscaping products across a wide range of markets, by ensuring a consistent supply of products that meet and exceed the required specifications.

An experienced team with the right product – and then delivered on time by Perry Logistics - provide you with the confidence to plan and budget for jobs both big and small.

For expert advice don’t hesitate to contact the team at Perry Aggregates for both product and delivery options.

Proud to be associated with Bower Brothers. www.perryresources.co.nz

Perry Resources Hutchinson Road Horotiu, Waikato Ph. (07) 8299 602

www.centraltoday.co.nz November 2014 | 39

Focus | Bidvest Fresh Hamilton

Fresh deliveries guaranteed

Service offers

Is your business involved with any type of food preparation in the Waikato region?

• Chilled delivery up to 7 days a week • 24 hour message service, online ordering

Then you have probably heard of Bidvest Fresh Hamilton, but you may not know about the wide range of unbeatable services they have on offer.

• Weekly and seasonal produce summaries • Superior industry knowledge

Bidvest Fresh Hamilton is the largest and arguably most reliable fresh food supply and delivery business in the Waikato region. It services a huge range of local businesses from coffee carts, cafés, restaurants, hotels, catering businesses, aged care facilities, early childhood centres and even correctional facilities, cruise ships and the New Zealand Defence Force.

• Fast, friendly, reliable service.

Bidvest Fresh Hamilton general manager, Gus Tissink says they understand the varied needs of each and every customer and can tailor their services to meet their specific requirements.

Bidvest Fresh Hamilton is the specialty gourmet supplier of: • Fresh fruit, vegetables, salads and baby leaf products

• Gourmet Tongan vanilla products

• Fresh herbs, sprouts, micro-salads, edible flowers, wild cordials and syrups

• Milk products in retail and wholesale formats.

• Pre-prepared salads, vegetables and fruit • Freeze dried and powdered vegetables, herbs, fruits and condiments • Eggs size 6 and 7, free range eggs, duck and quail eggs • Artisan bread and bakery products

“

Quality is king Gus says their business philosophy has always been to provide the freshest and best quality produce to their customers, ensuring they always receive maximum shelf life and minimised exposure to wastage.

We pride ourselves on the relationships we have with all major markets and local growers to bring the very best produce straight to your door.

”

“We pride ourselves on the relationships we have with all major markets and local growers to bring the very best produce straight to your door.”

He says the fact Bidvest understands up to date information on seasonality, availability, quality and price, is essential for their customers in order to plan menus and make informed purchasing decisions. They take this need seriously and provide essential market information weekly to keep their customers informed.

“Our customers’ complete satisfaction is very important to us at Bidvest Fresh Hamilton. Our goal is to always deliver the finest quality fruit and vegetables,” Gus says.

The role Bidvest Fresh Hamilton plays in the day to day operations of many Waikato businesses is vitally important, delivering fresh food to service-driven companies.

“We look after a whole lot of kitchens and that’s a pretty important job,” Gus says.

Generations dedicated to fresh produce since 1948 The Fresh Grower are suppliers to both wholesale and retail, with a wide range of fresh and great-tasting produce all year round.

Phone: 09 238 8873 | www.thefreshgrower.co.nz

Proud to Support Bidvest Fresh Hamilton

Our fresco bread range

40 | November 2014 www.centraltoday.co.nz

Focus | King & Queen Suites

Focus | Bidvest Fresh Hamilton

New Plymouth's crown jewel

New premises

Sudano Fresco

The business originally started as Growers Direct, which had been trading since 1987.

Sudano Fresco’s are the specialists at baking fresh, high quality, delicious bread. Its extensive range includes a focaccia slab, ciabatta loaf, seeded loaf, Turkish pide foldover and more. The range is only available from Bidvest Hamilton, Tauranga and Rotorua.

In 2006 they bought the reputable, long standing business to form Bidvest Fresh Hamilton. Gus says the business has had a massive growth spurt since acquiring Growers Direct and continues to develop and expand.

George Weston Foods

Suites

Part of the growth spurt included relocating to a purpose built temperature controlled distribution site in November 2011. The refrigerated facility is 10 minutes from the city centre and less than a minute from State Highway 1, giving them exceptional access to the city and all motorway links.

George Weston Foods has been a part of New Zealand for more than 50 years. They manufacture, sell and distribute and huge number of products including bread, cakes, buns, muffins and bread mixes.

• Business suites

“Our location means we are close to our suppliers and local markets, and makes it easy to service our customers in Hamilton and in the greater Waikato too,” Gus says.

Perfect Produce supplies vegetables nationwide to the wholesale, retail and restaurant trade. Whether you are a restaurant operator, distributor, cafeteria manager, dietitian or chef, Perfect Produce has something unique for your operation.

Ordering is easy Placing your order with Bidvest Fresh Hamilton is quick and easy thanks to three available methods of ordering - just pick the option which best suits your needs.

The Hamilton business has a fleet of nine temperature controlled delivery vehicles of varying sizes, meaning they can deliver to you from its refrigerated fleet seven days a week.

The methods are: • Internet – Bidvest Direct means you can quickly order online anytime • Phone – call the Fresh Branch directly and speak to its trained staff • Fax – a fax order form can be created specific to your needs to make ordering hassle free.

• Anniversary suite • Queen Victoria suites

Perfect Produce

• King Henry suites.

Southern Fresh Foods

Packages • Walk. Fly. Stay • Bed and Breakfast package • Theatre package

Southern Fresh Foods are professional growers and processors of speciality vegetables, gourmet leaf salads and fresh herbs.

Their mission is to be a trusted provider of distinctive fresh product, every time.

• Romantic Escape

Silwood Exports

Facilities

Silwood Exports is a specialty grower and distributor of niché fresh products. They supply a range of high-end vegetables desired by restaurants and home cooks alike, including micro greens, edible flowers, artichokes, turnips, fennel, watercress and more. CNT

• Boardroom

Bidvest Fresh Hamilton 24 Kaimiro Street Pukete, Hamilton T (07) 849 7597 E sales.fhm@bidvest.co.nz www.bidvest.co.nz

— Advertising Feature

No man stands alone

• Weddings • Tailored packages.

• Gymnasium • Parking • Day spa • Accessibility suites • Foreign exchange • Charge backs – Café Govett Brewster, Snug Lounge, Frederics, Ozone Coffee Roasters.

New Plymouth’s newest hotel is here and you wouldn’t want to miss it!

With Moroccan and European inspired design, King and Queen Hotel Suites is a luxury boutique accommodation offering guests cutting edge architecture, European interiors, magnificent views and secure off street parking.

Although you’re likely to want to spend most of your time in the luxurious suites, the King and Queen Hotel offers complete convenience if you’re looking to explore the area.

It is located in the arts and cultural hub of New Plymouth and is within walking distance to the city’s finest restaurants, hospitality facilities, retail precinct and coastal walkways. CNT King and Queen Hotel Suites Corner King & Queen Streets New Plymouth 4310 T (06) 757 2999 E info@kingandqueen.co.nz www.kingandqueen.co.nz — Advertising Feature

Running a company well is often part of a wider effort with key business partners.

Bidvest Fresh Hamilton would like to thank the following business partners for helping them do its job so well.

• Premium suites

09 527 2700 greg@silwoodexports.co.nz New Zealand’s professional growers of...

Baby Vegetables

To be a trusted provider of distinctive quality fresh cuisine - every time!

Gourmet Leaf Salads Fresh Herbs Our full product range is available through Bidvest Fresh Hamilton

Contact us 0800 99 88 77 | sales@southernfresh.co.nz | www.southernfresh.co.nz

www.centraltoday.co.nz November 2014 | 41

Focus | Machinery Specialists

The heavy machine specialists Maintaining your heavy machinery is essential to maintaining your business, so look no further than Machinery Specialists in Palmerston North.

Machinery Specialists is a recognised leader in the earthmoving servicing industry in Manawatu and has been operating for more than 14 years under the leadership of owners Rob and Sue Miers.

The company’s core operation is repairing heavy machinery, specialising in Komatsu. It has a purpose-built facility at its Rangitikei Street premises fitted with four high bays and a full length five tonne overhead gantry crane and wash-down area. It specialises in all types of earthmoving and forestry equipment servicing repairs, large or small.

Undercarriage reconditioning Machinery Specialists is heavily focussed on maintaining and repairing undercarriages and operates a full reconditioning facility that includes a track press and roller press.

“The undercarriage or feet of machinery is one of the major focusses of the business because it offers the most value for money,” Rob Miers says. “We can recondition track gear for half the cost of new. Staff will also carry out free undercarriage appraisals that can pick up potential problems before they cause unexpected costs and downtime.”

Miers says if clients manage and maintain their undercarriage correctly they will get longer life out of the machine.

Full maintenance and service options Machinery Specialists is a Komatsu and Takeuchi authorised service, parts and sales agent.

However, the company will service and repair anything to do with heavy machinery, including hydraulic systems.

“We reseal hydraulic cylinders and have our own hydraulic hose fabrication facility. We fix and repair any make and model of heavy equipment; that’s one of our strengths,” Miers says.

“The franchise guys usually stick to their core brand, but we do anything. We have a lot of knowledge of different makes and models of machinery.”

Machinery Specialists operates a field service with a fleet of 4WD vehicles that are fully equipped with specialised tooling. They are all fitted with cranes. Miers employs a staff of 12, including eight technicians, an engineer and four office staff. A product support rep is a recent addition to promote parts and service work, which is a free service provided for pricing, undercarriage monitoring and scheduling of repair work.

In addition, Machinery Specialists also operates a rental division that supplies excavators, a bulldozer, grader and logging equipment.

PTS Logistics specialises in the transportation of new and used tractors & agriculture machinery, earth-moving equipment, trucks, forklifts and any other large types of machinery nation-wide.

>

Machinery Specialists is a Komatsu authorised service, parts and sales agent.

PTS Logistics are proud to support Machinery Specialists Services

Ph: (03) 344 0087 | Fax: (03) 344 0089 652 Halswell Junction Rd, Hornby, Christchurch

Congratulations on a fantastic business Rob and Sue – Our company has had the pleasure of being associated with Machinery Speclialists since you opened in April 2000.

We stock the largest range of Automotive Gaskets in the Manawatu.

We are the #1 Cylinder Head Reconditioners and have the most complete Driveshaft Manufacturing and Balancing service including crankshafts, rotors, flails and fans.

Best price and service.

46 Taonui Street, Palmerston North | T. 06 356 4832 | F. 06 358 1511 | E. motormach@clear.net.nz

A.D RADIATOR SERVICES

A.D Radiator Services would like to wish Rob and the team all the best

The Original Radiator Shop In Palmerston North Honest Prices, Honest Service

Same Day Service

Fully Qualified Radiator Tradesmen • Over 400 Radiators In Stock • Exide Batteries 42 | November 2014 www.centraltoday.co.nz

Quality workmanship Ph/Ah: 358 - 7670 7 Cook Street

Focus | Elephant Hill Restaurant

Focus | Machinery Specialists Automatic greasing equipment

The future looks bright

Machinery Specialists is a service agent for Applied Technologies for the supply and installation of automatic greasing equipment for machinery, which eliminates the need for the manual use of a grease gun.

Machinery Specialists is enjoying a strong growth phase and is currently looking to move to a larger site to help meet the demand for its quality services.

• Komatsu and Takeuchi authorised service, parts and sales agent • Full maintenance and service on all makes of heavy machinery • Specialist undercarriage reconditioning service • A field service with a fleet of 4WD vehicles that are fully equipped with specialised tooling • Machinery hire • Automatic greasing equipment sales and installation • Engineering workshop for oneoff jobbing work.

“We’re going through an expansion phase at the moment and I’m looking to purchase a larger block of land to build a bigger workshop,” he says.

Machinery Specialists operates a full engineering workshop to cater for general jobbing work through to full design and fabrication, specialising in one-off jobs.

However, Miers says more space is now needed.

“We’ll be looking to move the whole facility to get a bigger workshop and yard space, which will give us greater capacity. At the moment we have two workshops right next to each other but I want to combine it all under one roof. We’ll be expanding staff numbers and doing more work, and we’ll also have a display area for new sales.”

Miers hopes to be up and running on a new site by this time next year. CNT Machinery Specialists 477 Rangitikei Line Palmerston North T (06) 356 8459 0800 KOMATSU E service@machineryspecialists.co.nz www.machineryspecialists.co.nz — Advertising Feature

Stylish, warm and inviting, Elephant Hill is the perfect place to unwind

If you’re serious about quality food and an exciting wine destination, Elephant Hill in Hawke’s Bay is where food, wine and landscape come together for the ultimate cuisine experience.

Elephant Hill is a state of the art winery established by Reydan and Roger Weiss in 2003 and the restaurant was opened in 2008.

It was awarded Best Winery Restaurant by the Cuisine Good Food Guide 2014.

You’ll find approachable, modern cuisine which can be enjoyed in a stunning environment. Elephant Hill, in Te Awanga, has vineyards producing classical, aromatics whites and world-class reds.

Inspired by its natural landscape the restaurant is built on an ethos of respect for the environment and landscape. It is only one of two wineries in New Zealand to have installed a state of the art biological water treatment system, which allows it to recycle winery waste water back into valuable clean water.

®

Cummins Palmerston North are happy to have been associated with Rob and the team at Machinery Specialists for over 10 years, supplying them with all their: - Cummins Engine Parts - Fleetguard Filtration Products and - Valvoline Oils, Greases and Coolants Wishing them all the best for the next 10 years

The winery is well-known for its Syrah and Viognier. The 2013 Elephant Hill Syrah has recently been awarded the Champion Wine of Show at the Spiegelau International Wine Competition 2014, and the 2013 Elephant Hill Viognier was awarded the trophy for Champion other White Wine at the 2014 Romeo Bragato Wine Awards.

A strong restaurant team allows this superior restaurant to run smoothly and flourish in its industry. The team work closely together to maintain and improve standards in order to remain competitive with other quality restaurants in the Hawke’s Bay area. Ashley

Ashley Jones, executive chef at Elephant Hill

>

The range of high quality heavy machinery services includes:

Rob says the 2010 economic downturn actually benefitted the business, as clients chose to upgrade and maintain their older machinery rather than buy new.

>

Owner Rob Miers says the company sells and installs the automatic greasing hose kits, which are selling well.

Big flavour in the bay

Jones, executive chef, says committing to quality and hard work is the key to business success.

He adds that they always carefully and respectfully approach foods while retaining the integrity of the core ingredients, as well as utilising modern technology to come up with new and innovative creations.

Some may find it interesting to learn what chefs eat when they’re finished feeding everyone else; executive chef Ashley eats simple fresh food using a couple of ingredients, and something light and fresh with slight acidity to satisfy his taste buds. CNT Elephant Hill Restaurant 86 Clifton Road Te Awanga Hawke’s Bay T 06 873 0400 E info@elephanthill.co.nz www.elephanthill.co.nz — Advertising Feature

Cummins New Zealand Ltd 852-860 Tremaine Ave, Palmerston North P: 06 3562209 | F: 06 3569130 E: palmerstonnorthparts@cummins.com

www.cummins.com

www.centraltoday.co.nz November 2014 | 43

Focus | On Site Ready Mix Concrete

A concrete start for a lasting business Concrete basics Made from abundant natural ingredients, concrete is strong, durable and economical and we have been using it in construction for thousands of years.

In its simplest form, concrete is a mixture of cement, water and aggregates, such as sand and rock. The water is mixed with the cement and the resulting paste coats the surface of the aggregates and binds them together into the rock-like mass we know as concrete.

What makes concrete so useful in modern construction is that it can be molded or formed into any shape when newly mixed and it is strong and durable when hardened. These properties make it the ideal material for almost any structure – skyscrapers, bridges, sidewalks, roads, houses and dams.

Almost 30 years ago, Cambridge-based sharemilker Ken Blundell sold his cows and replaced them with a Kairangi Hydromixer and a truck and trailer. This was the beginning of three rewarding decades at the helm of his successful concrete business known today as On Site Ready Mix Concrete Ltd.

Still based in Cambridge, but with a fleet of modern vehicles, 13 full and part time staff and its own concrete batching plant, On Site Ready Mix Concrete now services the entire Waikato region and has built an enviable reputation along the way.

Cambridge locals who know Ken say he is down-to-earth and a hard worker. He is proud to be hands-on in the day to day running of his business and it’s not unusual to see him driving one of his concrete trucks or working onsite with his team.

The key to achieving a strong, durable concrete lies in the careful proportioning and mixing of the ingredients. Not enough paste means all the voids between the aggregates will not be filled.

As a result, the concrete will be difficult to place, rough and porous.

Too much paste means it will be more likely to crack and be uneconomical.

Proudly supporting On Site Ready Mix Concrete

Technical Welding Services (1998) Ltd

44 | November 2014 www.centraltoday.co.nz

40 Ellis Street, Frankton, Hamilton Phone: 07 847 2031 | Fax: 07 847 2032 Email: techweld@wave.co.nz

Focus | On Site Ready Mix Concrete

“I still really love the physical side of the job and staying involved means I can make sure everything runs smoothly.”

In response to increasing demand and the introduction of new technology, Ken set up his own concrete batching plant in Cambridge in 1996, and, as a result, On Site Concrete became On Site Ready Mix Concrete.

He began with two ready mix concrete trucks, each with capacity of five cubic metres, but this has increased to the nine trucks the company operates today.

Changing times During his 30 years in the business, Ken says the biggest changes he has seen in the industry have been in the machinery and health and safety requirements.

“Back when I started the business, we used tractor machinery, like the Kairangi hydromixer, which could get to even the most challenging off-road site. These days, you need access roads and even then a lot of it is pumped in now. The old hydromixers can’t be certified today,” he explains.

“There are a lot more health and safety regulations now too. We are a lot more aware of safety issues than we were and that has been great for the industry as a whole. We’re working with heavy machinery and the safety of my staff is really important to me. I want them all to go home safe to their families at the end of the day.”

Ken also says that since he began On Site Concrete in 1985, trends have changed as well.

“There is a big demand for decorative finishes on house floors, driveways and patios.

Stamped concrete used to be popular but it tends to have a slippery finish. We supply many different coloured options and textured finishes, such as exposed aggregates, and we specialise in acid-etched concrete.”

Acid-etching is the process of roughing up the slick surface of concrete with chemicals.

Concrete can also be roughened with a grinder, but acid can do it with much less dust and muscle power. The acid also creates tiny holes in the surface of the concrete, allowing it to bond with topical treatments such as epoxy or concrete sealer.

The finished product has an industrial look and a non-slip, sandpaper-like finish. Ken describes it as a cross between smooth and exposed aggregate.

A comprehensive service range For almost 3O years, On Site Ready Mix Concrete has been providing superior concrete services to the Waikato region. With a reputation for quality and a commitment to cost-effectiveness, the team at On Site Ready Mix Concrete has the skills, knowledge and expertise to handle any job – big or small.

Rural On Site Ready Mix Concrete provides the following concrete services for farms in the Waikato area: • Silage bunkers (with or without walls) • Feed and standing pads • Fertiliser bins • Cow sheds and races • Implement sheds • Precast interlocking retaining blocks • Bespoke designs for individual requirements.

Residential On Site Ready Mix Concrete adds value to your home with the following residential concrete services: • House and shed floors • Tennis courts • Driveways • BBQ areas • Swimming pool surrounds • Complete job or concrete supply only, place and finish • Decorative concrete.

Commercial No job is too big or too small for On Site Ready Mix Concrete. If you have a large commercial job, speak with the team today, they will meet your needs on time and within budget. >

“

For almost 30 years, On Site Ready Mix concrete has been providing superior Concrete services to the Waikato region.

With a reputation for quality and a commitment to cost- effectiveness.

”

www.centraltoday.co.nz November 2014 | 45

Focus | On Site Ready Mix Concrete Mixing it up While On Site Ready Mix Concrete has plenty of residential projects, like driveways and patios, on its books, it has just as many nonresidential jobs. And it’s this variety that has kept Ken in the business for so long.

“Being a certified concrete supplier, we are able to service any job – it could be heavy industrial work or domestic and rural projects. We specialise in full contract work, excavations and formwork, and we can place and finish concrete or supply concrete only.

“We also have a concrete cutting service, which can be used for anything from house floors, driveways, paths and industrial buildings to cow sheds, feed pads, silage and palm kernel bunkers and farm races, including concrete shotcrete for bunker walls and effluent ponds.

“And we supply steel mesh, steel rods, quick key jointing products, builder’s mix, sand and aggregate oxides and colours,” he adds.

Selecting the right concrete mix to suit each project’s specific requirements can be challenging, but the team at On Site Ready Mix Concrete is well placed to provide the

“

right advice and ensure the right concrete mix is used for the right job.

Being a certified concrete supplier, we are able to service any job – it could be heavy industrial work or domestic and rural projects. We specialise in full contract work, excavations and formwork, and we can place and finish concrete or supply concrete only.

”

“Different grades of concrete are used for different jobs and the grade of the concrete is determined by its strength. So while one grade will be suitable for a residential driveway, we wouldn’t advise using the same grade for a high-use cattle feed pad.”

Reduce, reuse and recycle

reuse returned concrete, manage our fleet efficiently and use modern technology at our plant to reduce emissions.”

As well as its positive environmental qualities, concrete used in construction has many other useful attributes. It has been a leading building material for thousands of years because no other construction material can provide the strength, durability and economy of concrete.

Environmental issues are an ongoing concern for the modern construction industry and concrete is no different.

Ready mixed concrete also provides flexibility to meet the needs of challenging placement and sustainable design.

“Concrete is a really great product to work with – it’s reusable for a start.

Concrete aggregate from demolition sites is put through crushing machines and then it is used as gravel for new construction projects.

For your next concrete project, call the team at On Site Ready Mix Concrete for a free no-obligation quote or just to discuss your options: call (07) 827 4902 or visit www. concretewaikato.co.nz. They are so confident in their work that they guarantee every job. CNT

“There is also very little waste. At On Site Ready Mix Concrete, we make any excess concrete into interlocking retaining blocks, which are in high demand for retaining walls, palm kernel bins and landscape supply product bins,” Ken says.

“We aim to minimise our use of resources and energy, every day. To do this, we

Professional relationships On Site Ready Mix Concrete appreciates the excellent services of its materials and products suppliers, some of whom are: • J Swap (aggregate supplier) • Daltons (sand supplies) • Golden Bay Cement (cement supplies) • NZ Decorative Concrete – Perma Colour (oxides and colours) • Technical Welding Services (concrete truck mixer units and bowls).

On Site Ready Mix Concrete Ltd 156 Queen Street Cambridge Waikato T (07) 827 4902 E office@onsiteconcrete.co.nz www.concretewaikato.co.nz — Advertising Feature

Proud supporters of On Site Ready Mix Concrete

Concrete Colouring, Oxides & Liquid • Coloured Overlays & Stains • Cement Base Paint Sealers • Additives • Concrete Tools • Everything you need for your decorative project.

46 | November 2014 www.centraltoday.co.nz

Permacolour Head Office: 42a Egmont Rd, New Plymouth Free Ph 0508 444 555 Auckland Branch: 5b Nandina Ave, East Tamaki Ph 0508 666 777 www.permacolour.co.nz

Focus | Bexley Promotional Products and Apparel

Helping you make a statement Have you got a promotional event coming up or just want to look smart for your company or sports team?

Customised products

Bexley Promotional Products and Apparel has one of the largest ranges of promotional products and apparel, so you can look the part no matter which side of the field, or business, you’re working on.

Bexley Promotional Products and Apparel offer a number of ways to get your brand on its products:

• T-shirts • Flash drives • Soft toys • Key rings • Phone accessories.

Branding

• Screen printing • Screen transfers

The company was founded in Auckland 32 years ago and then bought by a Mr Dunn in 1994, who moved the office to Hamilton. In 2008 Sharon Read bought the business.

The company is now run by a small but hardworking team of three employees, including owner Sharon. Eric Rowland is the longest serving employee and has been with the company for 14 years. Sharon describes their work ethic as “relentless, honest, caring and loyal”.

With a commitment to excellence, Bexley Promotional Products and Apparel is customer focussed at all times. “We work as a team. We care about our character and reputation… by being there when the customer needs our help and making sure our customers are smiling at the end of the deal. We follow up after the client has the goods and ask and make sure they are happy with results.”

Challenging times One of the main challenges the company has had to face was introducing modern technology and computerising the customer data system.

Customers are regularly updated about new products, competitions and discount promotions via newsletters, Facebook and its website. The latest product which has been added to the line is a range of phone accessory items.

Sharon explains there’s one issue facing New Zealand companies and that’s getting Kiwis to support New Zealand businesses, and not going to China direct to buy products.

“It is very competitive - there is a continual price war - instead of client loyalty and support like it used to be. If you looked after a client they stayed with you and continued to purchase from you, but now the market has gone to who is the cheapest and will go with them.”

Before Sharon joined the company she worked as a truck driver, but considered a career change which would still require her to interact with customers, as well as develop new skills.

• Embroidery • Sublimation • Laser engraving • Digital printing • Computer cut lettering • Embossing.

Awards

“I would still be dealing with people and providing them with things they needed.

It would develop my computer skills, which was very limited at the time. Every day is different and brings in its challenges and satisfaction.”

People’s Choice Awards winner for Best Nationwide Promo Products 2011.

People’s Choice Awards finalist for Best Nationwide Promo Products 2012.

She says she enjoys the “satisfaction of solving other people’s promotional events and product launches, and seeing our product getting around the company sectors.”

Bexley Promotional Products and Apparel would like to thank the following suppliers:

She adds that they are more than happy to be flexible towards customer needs. “A nationwide real estate company wanted promo products that their branches could buy without buying hundreds of the item.

Fashion Biz & Trends: “They give us great support, have good stock levels, let us know of any problems and more importantly, if we have a deadline to meet they work 100 percent to meet that deadline for us,” Sharon Read says.

“So we proposed to buy the bulk lot and hold it in stock for a certain period that the branches could buy 10-50 units at a time.

Once the time period lapsed, the head office would then buy all remaining stock.

Runsmart Embroidery: “Our embroider bends over backwards for us, as well they produce really great results.” CNT

“We also do the same deal for the David Reid Homes group and Anytime Fitness. We are flexible to how we can work with the customer to meet their individual needs.”

Testimonials

Bexley Promotional Products and Apparel PO Box 15628 Dinsdale Hamilton T (07) 847 5660 E info@bexleypromo.co.nz www.bexleypromo.co.nz

“I would like to thank Eric and your team for the new garments I now have. I have been looking for a very long time for the right vest, and your company has provided me with just that! The right vest.” – Cambridge Furniture

— Advertising Feature

“I would like to thank you both for your service and support. It’s great to deal with a company that has the personal touch that Bexley’s does.” - Agrifeeds “I have known Eric for a long time now and they are always easy and good to deal with.”

– Solo NZ LTD

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07 847 5660 | www.bexleypromo.co.nz www.centraltoday.co.nz November 2014 | 47

Export | Global Roofing Solutions

The rise and rise of GRS The ability of New Zealand companies to build world class widgets has never been doubted however, taking those widgets successfully to the global market challenges many Kiwi businesses.

It has successfully opened up lucrative markets in the United States and sales leads into Africa, India, the Middle East, China and the Caribbean.

GRS deliver total business solutions, technology, commercial support along with machinery and plant to the international metal tile roof production industry.

So what’s the secret to speedy success?

Managing director and major shareholder, Lance Eagle - who also dons the sales manager’s hat - says it’s all due to strategic alliances.

“Our success is all about people, relationships and communication and to succeed in overseas markets we have established strong partnerships in the areas important to us.”

The challenge, says Eagle, is always around how you establish entry to your markets. “It’s a big drain on dollars, on HR and when you are new you don’t have credibility or history to trade on. For us the solution was to partner

with a respected and established company, which allows us to tap into their resources, sales team and reputation.”

This powerful alliance is with the Bradbury Group, an American giant and the world leader in the manufacturing of high quality, productivity-enhancing metal processing equipment. The partnership, announced last year, instantly delivered 50 years of credibility in international markets to GRS.

GRS Staff

>

Recent start-up, Global Roofing Solutions (GRS), has gone from zero to millions of dollars in export sales in a little over two and a half years.

“Their customers are our customers and our service complements and adds to what they are already doing.”

David Cox, president and chief operating officer of the Bradbury Group, adds that “this partnership further enhances our ability to offer quality metal roofing products and aligns with our corporate goals to be a well positioned solutions provider to the global markets we serve”.

GRS has forged a formidable global presence by delivering an untapped, turnkey service.

“We work with clients from inception, starting at the front end and looking at the return on investment (ROI) of establishing a metal tile roof production plant, or adding this line to an existing production facility.”

“

Our success is all about people, relationships

Eagle says that while GRS does sell a product, it’s predominately a technology solutions and IP sales company.

and communication and to succeed in overseas markets we have established strong partnerships in the areas important to us.

The Tauranga based company delivers a “business in a box” solution to the metal tile roofing industry.

”

“From pricing, to writing job descriptions for all staff required, assisting with the marketing and ensuring they are maximising all potential to return profits back to the plant; we provide the full Monty,” Eagle adds.

It’s a service in demand with “a tunnel worth of client enquiries” backed up.

Hayes & Bradbury Group provide worldwide solutions for every sector of the steel rollforming industry www.hayesint.co.nz

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Our client base covers all industries and business structures.

But we have an especially strong relationship with the industrial sector, many of our clients being involved as suppliers, manufacturers or investors.

With the huge part the industrial sector has played in Tauranga’s growth over the last decade, our involvement in guiding clients through related structure and tax planning matters has given us particular expertise in all related business and taxation areas.

We invite you to contact any of our three partners, Eric Woudberg, Raimarie Pointon or Steve Read.

Proud suppor ters of Global Roofing Solut ions Ltd 48 | November 2014 www.centraltoday.co.nz

PO Box 948, Tauranga | 07 578 0069 | www.yrw.co.nz

Export | Global Roofing Solutions

The future is bright for GRS and Eagle says the time to secure outside investment into the company is fast approaching. This investment will allow GRS to grow to fill the demand it is experiencing.

Success lies in understanding your customer The only constant is change and while Global Roofing Solutions (GRS) is not yet three years old, it has and continues to undergo change, driven by what the market demands.

“When we started we were selling quality machinery, providing after sales service and helping people with their factory layouts and staff training on the machinery they purchased,” Eagle says.

“It soon became obvious that our customers wanted more. There were people out there that wanted to start manufacturing metal tiles and wanted someone to make the process streamlined and simple. So now we take them from the beginnings of an idea right through to production,” he explains.

GRS customers are based all around the world and it has a turnover from US$50m to $3b.

“It is vital that we understand the business model of each customer and what they want from their production facility.

“And it all starts with trust and relationships and us getting to know what they want, because it’s never just about the machinery,” he says.

Eagle is no stranger to exporting and has a strong understanding and experience of trading in international markets. His philosophy is one of being actively involved in a market before you establish trading there.

In the first 183 days of this year, he spent 90 of them overseas. “By immersing yourself in the local sector you can begin to establish who your target audience is, who makes the decisions, who are the key players and how

To succeed in setting up export markets, you have to get out of your seat and go to the places where you want to do business.

- GRS, managing director, Lance Eagle

”

Lance Eagle

>

“With a sales cycle that can take from three months to two years and up to six visits to their plant, we need to ensure we are focussing on the right customers.”

“

you can best position your company in that place,” he adds.

“You have to get out of your seat and go to the places where you want to do business.

And no matter how much you travel, you can never spend as much time as you would like with your customers.”

Understanding the local business culture is also vital. In the United States alone, he comments that his business approach is different in the East than from on the West Coast, while in Canada and then the South of the US, it can be entirely different again.

“Every geographic area needs its own mini marketing strategy.”

He also recommends that where the local language is not one you are fluent in, you must appoint a local agent. In the US, in particular, Eagle says companies prefer to deal with an American company and this is where the alliance with the Bradbury Group comes into its own.

GRS Factory

>

Eagle is realistic and knows the company cannot immediately service them all, so the focus and the reward for its past dedication to understanding international markets, is to identify the most qualified enquiries.

“We have credibility through this partnership.

Not only do we have access to Bradbury’s sales agents and a local base, the relationship opens up a large potential customer base and an enormous bank of knowledge, and their people service all our installed machinery.”

The companies within the Bradbury Group also manufacture a number of the components used in GRS's plants. >

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GRS at a glance Global Roofing Solutions provides a business in a box model to the metal roof tile industry across the world.

It provides the intellectual property (IP), investment analysis and support to plan a plant or manufacturing arm, then it designs, builds and supplies a range of modular production plants and tooling for turnkey and green field projects.

Products and services include entry level and automated metal tile roofing plants, stone chip plants including curing ovens, tooling, factory design layouts and production improvements, quality assurance and production training, raw materials supply, roofing solutions and commercial development and technology advice.

JONASSEN INDUSTRIAL PROJECTS LTD Specialist TECHNOLOGIES Design & Project Engineering Designers, Manufacturers and Turnkey Suppliers: • Customised Process Plants / Process Automation • Metal Finishing: Paint & Powder Coating Systems • Conveyors / Materials Handling Systems • Industrial Ovens & Heat Transfer Technologies • Research & Development

Congratulations to

Global Roofing Solutions on your recent award

P: 09 479 3952 E: info@jipl.co.nz www.jipl.co.nz www.centraltoday.co.nz November 2014 | 49

Export | Global Roofing Solutions Trading on NZ Inc

Success breeds success

Eagle believes New Zealand companies, while only a small trading entity, do have a very strong reputation across the globe.

GRS was recently placed as a finalist as an Emerging Exporter in the Bay of Plenty Export Awards.

Year after year, we are ranked in the top handful of countries for ease of doing business and integrity.

Additionally Eagle received a Hortenz Innovation Award in 2000 for process innovation and an Export NZ Achiever Award in 2011 for his work in the metal tile roofing export industry.

“Trade on this,” he says. “We strongly sell the NZ Inc story and push the fact that as a country, we are highly regarded for our smart technology and thinking, our trustworthiness and friendly, open approach to business.

“And, when we geographically have so much against us, this is a strong selling point that has a lot of pull.”

“Entering into awards is good for your business and your team I recommend it.”

An established working relationship with Hayes International (the Bradbury Group being its parent company) provided an opportunity to explore a strategic alliance and Eagle cannot stress highly enough how vital this was and is to the success of GRS.

GRS put its Kiwi ingenuity and smarts to good use and package and sell their knowledge.

“A lot of work into the front end and the assessment of a client’s ROI and the size of the company’s turnover will dictate the services As a result of the successful pairing, GRS they will purchase. is changing the way it moves machinery around the globe. Previously components “We can and do provide everything from the coming out of Taiwan were shipped to New basics through to complete management of Zealand, assembled and then shipped to the the machinery sales and production set-up.” client. “We have the ability soon to service all of America and Africa from Taiwan direct Eagle likens his company’s offering to that of to Bradbury handling facilities in the US and a pick and mix buffet, with all services being totally customisable to suit the needs, size and from there to the client.” budget of the client.

This ability to save time and money by having the assembly and shipping happen in the US “Our clients are busy and the greater our has been another strategic turning point. service offering, the smarter our technology solutions and IP, and the stronger our However, all IP and technology comes from relationship - the easier it is for our clients New Zealand and Eagle is adamant the to make the final decision to buy and on the company will always have its head office and returns they can expect from intellectual base here. their investment.”

“Since day one we have been constantly looking at our business model and what Business agility equals success works best, and being an owner operated Eagle and his fellow directors saw an business, we have the ability to change opportunity to develop the business in a quickly, to expand and grow as box model. demand required.”

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Export | Global Roofing Solutions

New Zealand - home of the metal tile roof industry The metal tile roof was born in New Zealand, making the country the centre for knowledge on metal tile roofing technology and the logical home for GRS.

Invest into people and intellectual property In the early days, Global Roofing Solutions did its own assembly and manufacturing of many components - today it outsources as much as possible - up to 90 percent of the work.

“This way we can work with the market leaders in each area, allowing us to increase capacity quickly as required without having the overheads. In house, it means we can focus on design and invest more money into becoming a highly efficient IP and technology company.”

To succeed, Eagle is aware the company needs to stay ahead of the global trends in both technology and product offerings.

“We believe the best opportunity is to invest into people and expertise and outsource the manufacturing. This is what keeps us agile, flexible and keeps the overheads manageable. All new businesses will go through the dilemma of where to invest more heavily - I always believe that it should be in people.

“Our success is about people believing in our ability to provide a unique product and service.

“We have high morals as a team and we know the success breeds success. Key team members, operations manager Tony Rodger and engineering/design manager, Ross Fowler have over 25 years collective experience in the metal roofing industry.”

Eagle also believes in using his company’s success to support other local businesses.

“As much as possible we will use New Zealand suppliers. We don’t believe in cost

Top export tips GRS, like any company new to exporting, had to forge its way in the vast international landscape, constantly making decisions and learning as they went. Here are some of their top tips for exporters.

• Get involved in the markets you want to trade in - visit often and learn about your potential customer, your competition and the local business climate there • Build partnerships and strategic alliances with successful businesses that can complement and strengthen what you are doing • Understand your sales cycle - how long will it take from your first conversation to the close of the sale? Learn to recognise a qualified lead and focus on them first • Even within a country there can be different business cultures - research, explore and talk to people already doing business in these areas. The one glove fits all approach does not work • Surround yourself with a robust board of advisors and seek advice and knowledge from professionals, including NZTE, lawyers, accountants and export groups • Test and measure, then continually change your business model to deliver what it is your customers want - not what you think they need.

cutting or a lock and load approach - we look for the best solutions and support others along the way.”

Invented in New Zealand in the 1950s, and used as a staple roofing material during the rapid growth in demand for affordable housing of the post-war baby boom, the metal tile roof quickly spread, around the globe.

And, most importantly, the GRS business model is about measuring and monitoring every step of every process.

The GRS team has 25 years' experience in metal tile roofing and enjoy taking the lessons learned here to the world.

“You have to be open minded and try something. If it works, great - if not, change it. For us, we are selling our knowledge and experience in the industry, so it’s vital we are always constantly updating and staying ahead of others in the industry.”

He recognises that being a sector leader brings with it threats, but again, the positives outweigh the threats and to date his stance of delivering a service better than anything else out there is working... and working well. CNT

Global Roofing Solutions 10 Cessna Place Mt Maunganui T (07) 5757 692 E lance@globalroofing.co.nz www.globalroofing.co.nz — Advertising Feature

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www.centraltoday.co.nz November 2014 | 51

Solutions | Farmers Transport

Innovative stock tracking delivers results Farmers Transport Limited in Hastings has turned the business of moving stock around the country into a high-tech operation.

The company has developed its own IT management system in response to the need to improve its service to customers and be more efficient and cost effective.

Farmers Transport is the North Island’s largest privately owned rural transport business, with a fleet of around 100 trucks and 10 operating bases focused mostly on the East Coast and central North Island regions, with operations regularly extending into the South Island.

New rural operating system

Farmers Transport operates a fleet of more than 100 trucks

>

Chief executive Jason Roebuck says Farmers Transport needed something to manage its trucking capacity and dispatch of trucks to jobs. After failing to find a suitable off-theshelf product to digitise its growing operation, the company went in-house and devised an innovative IT management system that has put it at the forefront of New Zealand’s rural transport industry. Called FROST (Farmers Rural Operating System for Transport), the system harnesses the power of GPS, radio and mobile communication platforms to capture every detail of a job as it progresses, enabling better use of resources and more accurate calculation of service delivery costs.

FROST offers up-to-the minute information on the movement of stock and goods, with information tailored to meet the needs of farmers, meat companies, banks, stock companies or registered security holders.

“We’ve put in-cab equipment in our trucks that receives job information remotely, and those jobs can be updated in real time,” Jason Roebuck says. “If a truck gets dispatched to

pick up 500 lambs but gets to the property and finds there are only 450 lambs, then that gets updated at the completion of loading.

It allows us to try to optimise our loading capabilities in a day; that truck can then potentially call in somewhere else to top up that load space.” Customers are able to make savings on small jobs by pre-planned loadsharing, while the technology also improves traceability, an important factor in the meat industry.

A leader in innovation Farmers Transport is known for being an industry leader. In 2012 it was New Zealand’s first accredited transport operator to NAIT (National Animal Identification and Tracing), a radio frequency-based system that uses electric ear tags to monitor stock movements.

“We’re recognised as a supplier to the food industry; that there’s a growing demand both here and offshore for maximum traceability and information that gives consumers some

security about what they are buying,” Roebuck says.

“That gives the seller another proposition for buyers to have confidence in their product, and we’re responding to that.”

Roebuck says some innovative New Zealand meat companies have jumped at the chance to take advantage of this marketleading logistics capability. They say the ‘just in time’ delivery of livestock to plants

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Solutions | Farmers Transport

Farmers Transport’s new IT transport management system, named FROST, offers huge benefits to customers, including: • Fair and competitive pricing • Potential to make savings on smaller jobs through planned load sharing • Improved timeliness through faster communication of job information • Enhanced capability for handling the big jobs • Industry-leading, client specific livestock transport solutions • Real-time information of the movement of livestock and other goods.

Today Farmers Transport can take care of any rural cartage job, whether it is livestock or farm inputs, including fertiliser, grains, cropping and farm implements.

The company employs 140 staff and operates a fleet of more than 100 trucks, which mainly travel throughout the central plateau, Northland and increasingly into the South Island. It operates 10 branches throughout the North Island.

Livestock customers, including farmers, agents, stock companies and large primary processors and exporters, look to Farmers Transport for its ability to plan, implement and manage livestock movements around the whole of New Zealand, and provide them with a trusted, single transporter option.

“Our network of operations makes us stand out from other rural transport operators, as well as our logistics management capability and our information technology platform.”

Farmers Transport offers a range of rural across regions utilising partner transport transport services to customers, including: companies is a model that represents the • Livestock cartage most efficient use of livestock transport Farmers Transport’s aim is to be a trusted assets nationally. Roebuck is not aware of any partner in the regional trading of livestock. other rural transport operator with a system It has the ability to provide a single like FROST that links dispatch, trucks, third transporter option in the movement of stock party hardware and third-party operating in and out of farms, sale yards, and meat systems. “For us, it’s very important to be works. It is a NAIT accredited information an innovator and a market leader.” The new provider, with information downloaded FROST system has helped Farmers Transport through its FROST information management pick up new customers and extend its offering system and passed on to NAIT. to larger existing clients. “It’s also made our business much more timely, transparent and, • Animal welfare importantly, manageable in a highly dynamic Farmers Transport takes its responsibility for operating environment.” the humane treatment of animals seriously.

Its drivers are experienced stock handlers and the company has an exemplary track A history of rural transport record with adherence to animal welfare Farmers Transport makes the most of its legislation. Crates are built to the correct nationwide network to supply a high quality heights for animal comfort. They are rural transport service throughout covered, well ventilated, and fitted with New Zealand. the right floor types. They are also well maintained and cleaned every day they are The company is a specialist in handling in use. movements of stock around the North and South Islands and can cater to any complex, high compliance, welfare specific movement of animals you may require. It has been moving loads around rural New Zealand since 1966 and is successful due to its commitment to stick to what it’s good at.

Farmers Transport would like to thank Fresh Meats NZ, Tru-Test Group and Carter’s Tyres

Farmers Transport moves both livestock and general rural cartage throughout New Zealand

>

FROST

Programme (Class 1 to 5), all new drivers at Farmers Transport must pass the company’s own internal competence tests. These are assessed by its in-house trainer, who also provides ongoing training and monitoring to ensure driving standards are high.

• Environmental Farmers Transport takes a responsible approach to minimising the impact of its activities on the environment. Its efforts include a scheduled maintenance programme for vehicles to help reduce

emissions, and a significant investment in stock effluent treatment both on truck and at its depots to ensure that effluent is contained and disposed of in the right way. CNT Farmers Transport Limited 1194 Maraekakaho Road Hastings T (06) 878 4040 E ftl.dvr@farmerstransport.co.nz www.farmerstransport.co.nz — Advertising Feature

• Agricultural and general cartage Farmers Transport has a fleet of seven purpose-built ground spreaders servicing properties from north of Napier down to Masterton. They are all Spreadmark certified for the full range of fertilisers and each is fitted with TRACMAP – the industry standard in technology for ensuring even and accurate spreading.

>

A series of collaborations and purchases during the past 35 years have taken the company well beyond the frontiers of Hawke’s • Driver training Bay to become one of New Zealand’s most As well as meeting the requirements of successful rural cartage companies and a the industry standard Graduated Licensing recognised specialist in livestock transport.

Farmers Transport has been moving loads around rural New Zealand since 1966

www.centraltoday.co.nz November 2014 | 53

Mineral Processing | Blue Pacific Minerals

Zeolite - the super soakers • There are about 40 minerals known as natural zeolites

Blue Pacific’s magic mineral formula

• They are found on most continents • Zeolites have a unique open crystal structure with very high porosity

Like the natural resources Blue Pacific Minerals extract from the earth, the business itself is strong, sustainable and stable… and again poised for massive growth.

The New Zealand owned and operated mineral processing and manufacturing company based in Tokoroa, extracts and refines zeolite and perlite taken from two open quarries just south of Rotorua.

for domestic, commercial, agricultural and industrial applications.

It’s the country’s largest processor of both minerals, captured from its own quarries in the volcanic regions of Bay of Plenty and Waikato. The natural minerals have wide uses

This includes an upgrade to its quarrying equipment and quarry storage facilities, expansion of current buildings and the addition of a 4,500 square metre building to

• Zeolites consist of silicon, aluminium, oxygen and other ions (sodium, calcium, potassium) in a structure resembling hollow cages • This provides a huge surface area for chemical exchange and absorption • Zeolites have vast internal surface areas; one teaspoon has an internal area equivalent to several football fields

To meet the increasing demand for its products Blue Pacific is in the midst of a capital investment programme of $9 million.

• Nutrients from animal wastes, waterways and industrial process can be tied up within this layer structure • Zeolites have also been used overseas for re-habilitating land in Chernobyl, Three Mile Island, and Fukushima nuclear disasters.

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SWPE and Blue Pacific Minerals together growing Tokoroa 54 | November 2014 www.centraltoday.co.nz

Mineral Processing | Blue Pacific Minerals house the new zeolite processing plant that will swing into production in 2015.

Managing director David Hill says the company’s reached the stage where it cannot get any more wholesale capacity improvements from its current plant capital.

“We’re at full capacity, so the next step is to complete these developments to meet projected demand and then continue to invest in product development and in the exploration of new markets.

“Our medium term direction will see significant growth via both capital investment and sales volumes across both domestic and export sectors.

“We have found that the rises and falls of the New Zealand dollar, although having an effect, has not slowed our growth. With the product and market mix we have developed, the company has become a very sustainable, stable business.

“We have resources lasting more than 80 years for both minerals,” he adds.

Strong export demand Sixty percent of its processed products are exported and are in high demand, especially in Australia and South East Asia.

Other specific, targeted high growth markets include Korea, China, Taiwan, Thailand, Bangladesh and Malaysia, with well in excess of 1,000 containers per annum forecast this financial year.

It is this growth which has spearheaded another round of investment for the company.

In 2009 and 2010, Blue Pacific expanded significantly, invested in a rebuild of the existing Tokoroa plant, increasing production four fold since the late nineties.

“Our relocation in 2009 was a big step for the business and the availability of natural gas, transport arteries, proximity to our quarries and the Port of Tauranga have all been significant factors in subsequent growth.”

“This provides advantages for many industrial mineral applications and offers some diversity for customers, away from other traditional minerals.”

“

Blue Pacific receives its zeolite supplies from its quarries 20km south of Rotorua at Ngakuru, and the perlite comes from a quarry on forestry land just south of Tokoroa.

With the present expansion, Hill says the company will comfortably increase production of perlite from 7,000 tonnes to more than 20,000 tonnes, and zeolite from 16,000 dry tonnes to more than 30,000 tonnes within

This provides advantages for many industrial mineral applications and offers some diversity for customers, away from other traditional minerals.

two years. The current investment will see staff numbers increase to around 40 full time equivalents.

Ninety nine percent of the perlite is exported to both South East Asia and Australia, where the total estimated annual consumption in these markets is around 200,000 tonnes per annum. Meanwhile 60 percent of the zeolite is sold in New Zealand and the rest is shipped offshore.

Blue Pacific Minerals zeolite accounts for the majority of the absorbent clay market in New Zealand, and a large proportion of Australia. >

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This new round of investment will see the operation ramp up significantly yet again.

plateaus, Hill says one of the reasons it chose to concentrate on both perlite and zeolite ores is because they can both be commonly extracted and processed using broadly the same plant and equipment.

While New Zealand, and especially the central North Island, has an abundance of natural resources hidden within its valleys and

“The natural New Zealand zeolites and perlites are somewhat globally unique in that they are geologically young.

29 Boronia Street, Tokoroa • Phone: 07 886 6822 Alan: 0274 488 978 • James: 027 241 3556 Email: office@awbuilders.co.nz www.alanwilsonbuilding.co.nz

Have a look at the banner sign, I would like a single line of clear words underneath saying something like: Congratulations! Proud Supporters and Suppliers to Blue Pacific Minerals.

I would like the website to be changed from www.bha.com.au to www.bha.co.nz and also somewhere I would like a phone no and email address added

Diesel Delivered To You When & Where You Need It Fast & Efficiently www.directfuels.co.nz

Proud supporters and suppliers to Blue Pacific Minerals

(09) 486 0050 dspencer@bha.co.nz WWW.BHA.CO.NZ www.centraltoday.co.nz November 2014 | 55

Mineral Processing | Blue Pacific Minerals Zeolite - a phenomenal mineral So what are these wondrous minerals Blue Pacific takes from the earth?

Zeolite is a special mineral used for many diverse applications. It is a thermally-altered clay; an inorganic porous material which has a highly regular structure of pores and chambers that allow some molecules to pass through, and causes others to be either excluded, or broken down.

Natural zeolites form where volcanic ash layers accumulate, compress, and finally react with alkaline groundwater.

The highly porous nature of the mineral makes it a diverse material used across many industries and for many applications. It has found an early application in kitty litter here in New Zealand and Australia; it is a valuable cation exchange medium in manufactured turf (on bowling greens, stadium pitches, and golf courses). When added to the sand based turf mat, it effectively acts as a huge nutrient and moisture sponge.

In its non-modified state, it is effective in water management as it “mops up” problematic nitrogen in groundwater.

In a modified form, commercially called Aqual P, it has been used in the central North Island lakes in the battle against nutrient based algal blooms. Hill explains that when applied to the sediment layer in the lake, it absorbs the rogue phosphorus, cutting off the food source for problematic algae. their oxygen in summer. This stopped nutrient levels in the water rising to the point where Rotorua-based Scion started research on blue-green algal bloom can turn the lake into zeolite in 2004 and teamed up with Blue a thick algal soup.

Pacific to develop technology based on the absorbent and cation exchange properties of the mineral.

Trials were conducted at Lake Okaro, a small nutrient-rich lake south of Rotorua. The resulting scientific reports showed significant reductions in phosphorus levels in the water.

The mineral effectively “capped” the lake bed, trapping phosphorus released from the sediment when the deeper water layers lose

“We think the modified product provides local and national governing bodies with another tool that will help them achieve their objective to clean up New Zealand’s waterways,” Hill adds.

Other applications for Aqual P include its use in aquaculture for various purposes, industrial waste water treatment, and non-chlorinated swimming pool systems.

How is the zeolite processed?

• The zeolite is quarried using large excavators - no explosives are used • This ore is extracted during the summer months and then crushed and screened using customised machinery • It is then hauled to be stockpiled under tailor-made storage buildings

at the quarry, holding upwards of 30,000 tonnes • This stock is then drawn down over the course of the year to be processed through gas fired kilns, and further crushed, screened, classified, and finally packaged for dispatch into “B-trains” or shipping containers.

Proud to be an International Logistics supplier to Blue Pacific Minerals

56 | November 2014 www.centraltoday.co.nz

Mineral Processing | Blue Pacific Minerals As a green mineral, zeolite has the potential to help change public perception of the agricultural sector, as it can be used to soak up the nitrogen and phosphate from dairy farms that is polluting streams and lakes, believes Hill.

“Capturing farm run-off using zeolite in pasture soils will help save waterways and fuel grass growth.”

He says there has been a barrier to widespread use on dairy farms where, in order to work properly, the zeolite particles need to be incorporated into the root-zone of pastures, or packed it into trenches, which is relatively costly.

“It’s a matter of having a pragmatic commercial solution. Work is underway presently to load up zeolite particles with nitrogen fertiliser. This value, combined with a slow-release mechanism of the nitrogen, heavily subsidises the cost of getting the zeolite product into the ground. “ Commercial applications of modified zeolite continue to look promising. Potential uses include treatment of lakes, irrigation reservoirs, domestic and commercial fish ponds and aquariums, farm dams and troughs, golf course ponds, water storage systems in nurseries, and non-chlorinated swimming pool systems.

Blue Pacific take zeolites from two separate zeolite quarries and has been doing so since 1995.

Zeolite from each of the quarries is unique; one site produces very white zeolite which absorbs odour and liquids extremely

“

Capturing farm run-off using zeolite in pasture soils will help save waterways and fuel grass growth.

”

efficiently, thus its use as kitty litter, as a granular oil/chemical absorbent and as an odour absorbent, etc.

The other site produces zeolite which has a high cation exchange capacity; it absorbs liquids but is very resilient to mechanical breakdown. This product is excellent for absorbing cations from wastewater, as biological/chemical carrier, as a stock feed amendment and as a base for slow release fertilisers.

In 2013 the company launched a new brand product called Optimate. This zeolite-based product is fed to livestock to improve health and productivity.

Hill says it has an extraordinary ability to absorb, hold, release and exchange different chemicals, nutrients and toxins according to conditions of the surrounding environment, whether in the gut of an animal or in the soil.

“The right zeolites have been shown to significantly increase weight gain and milk yield in both ruminants and non-ruminants.

Fed to livestock, the zeolites bind excess nitrogen in the form of ammonium and other nutrients, passing them in the faeces where they then stay in the soil until needed by plant growth.”

New Zealand has some of the best natural zeolites suited to agricultural use in the world, he adds.

Optimate T 0800 678 444 www.optimate.co.nz

Zero waste

The company’s operations are as completely sustainable as an extraction-based business can be, according to Hill.

The resource is plentiful with total surveyed deposits exceeding six million cubic metres.

Everything extracted from the two Blue Pacific Minerals quarries is used.

Hill describes the process like taking slices off a loaf of bread. “It is a clean and simple extraction process. We do not blast; the minerals are extracted using a 30 tonne excavator.” >

Auckland - South Island Daily • Daily freight service • Depart nightly from Christchurch and Auckland • Transport throughout the South Island • Large modern fleet • Road, rail and sea • Competitive rates • Container loads • Specialists in fragile freight 0800 BASCIK (0800 227245) bascik@bascik.co.nz www.bascik.co.nz

Engineering - Transport - Forklifts for sales, hire and lease Wrecking for parts Proud to be associated with Blue Pacific Minerals for almost 20 years Phone 07 829 9753 / Chris 0274 931 768 / Paul 0274 987 838 Email hanes.eng@xtra.co.nz www.centraltoday.co.nz November 2014 | 57

Mineral Processing | Blue Pacific Minerals StockRock wins over farmers at Fieldays

in a fenced area holding a live cow for the duration of the Fieldays.

the concrete yard at the cowshed, it will crush down to a powder, not splitting the hooves or causing lameness.

StockRock has been successfully installed on farm races from Northland to Taranaki for more than 10 years, with an enviable track record.

Existing and potential customers enjoyed the onsite entertainment and learned, and shared StockRock experiences during the four days.

It was first put down on farm races in 2004 in the Hinuera Valley and since then has established itself as the farm race capping material of choice in the central North Island.

As a result, StockRock was awarded Best Medium Outdoor Agribusiness site at Fieldays 2014.

Not only has there been a significant reduction in cow lameness, StockRock dramatically improves the cow flow to and from the shed.

Product manager Shane Smith has been involved in the commercialisation of StockRock since it was identified in 2004 as a superior race surface product, and has been showing it at the National Agricultural Fieldays for the last decade. This year, on a site three times as wide as the standard site.

StockRock was laid as a farm race for people to walk on, demonstrating its “red carpet” qualities. It was also laid From the raw material, 100 percent is processed and sold into suitable markets.

“There is zero waste. The top soil is reclaimed and kept for rehabilitation, as is the ash overburden. We then selectively mine the quarry face to be used for either ex-quarry Stockrock sales, or for re-directing to the Tokoroa facility for further processing.

"Our farming customers are quick to endorse our product and order StockRock for other parts of the farm," says Smith.

The StockRock website has a calculator and quote request system to enable easy access to sales information.

StockRock T 0800 88 55 55 www.stockrock.co.nz It is a popular choice with central North Island dairy farmers. Used as a “farm race-capping surface” on dairy farms, it provides a softer surface and has proved effective at reducing lameness in cows.

“There is no other product on the market with the cost-effectiveness of StockRock,” says Hill.

StockRock

The combination of volcanic formation and weather elements over a very long period of time has resulted in a very tough zeolite, which looks like a white chalk, but is a hard wearing rock formation.

StockRock is a unique product specially designed to prevent dairy cows from going lame.

It’s laid at 180mm thickness, and cements in place once vibe-rolled. If the cows do pick up StockRock in their hooves and carry it onto

“Everything that comes from the quarries gets sold. There are markets to consume it all.”

DRYCLEANERS Industrial • Laundry • Overalls • Mats

Phone 07 886 6115

38 Cambpell Street, Tokoroa FREE PICKUP & DELIVERY

Perlite - the popcorn rock Commonly known as the popcorn rock, this is a natural volcanic glass, which contains water.

The peculiar attribute of containing water contributes to its most important attribute: expansion when heated. When the raw perlite ore is heated to 850 degrees, the ore expands as the trapped water turns to stream.

A good quality expanded perlite ore will have a volume increase of between 15-20 times, along with a significantly lower bulk density.

The expanded perlite offers excellent thermal and acoustic insulation characteristics.

“The perlite we are extracting is unique and extraordinary in that it expands in excess of 30 times its original volume.”

Among its uses is as a loose fill industrial insulation material and in ceiling and light weight bulking tiles, in foundries in the steel making process, and as a slag coagulant which pulls impurities together and removes them.

The acoustic qualities of perlite lie in the trillions of tiny cells which form on expansion, making it an excellent noise reduction medium and a well used filtration product in the wine industry. Ninety nine percent of this Blue Pacific product is exported.

Traded mineral imports Blue Pacific also imports a range of minerals to be sold into a variety of New Zealand industries. While vital to industries, these imports also allow the company to hedge against currency fluctuations due the significant rise in the company’s exports, Hill says.

The future is bright for Blue Pacific Minerals.

Hill says the location of the quarries, and manufacturing plants, within 70 kilometres of an international deep-water port (Tauranga) which has container and bulk handling facilities, allows the company to be very competitive on the international market.

For instance many similar mines, especially in Australia and Asia, are located many hundreds of miles inland, and/or are on expensive shipping routes.

“Our facilities have the capability to provide a range of standard and specialised grades and specifications over a selection of mineral and ore types. We can provide customised specifications to suit specific markets and applications, such as biological and chemical carriers, as well as a good selection of packaging options. CNT Commercial partnerships Business success is always a team effort and Blue Pacific Minerals would like to acknowledge the following companies in helping them grow.

• Todd McPhee Crane Hire Ltd • Tainui Press Matamata Ltd • Alan Wilson Building Contractors Ltd • BDO Information Systems Ltd • Aurora Agencies • Oceanbridge • Office Products Depot – Waikato • South Waikato Precision Engineering • Electrico Ltd • Hanes Engineering Co Ltd • Bascik Transport Ltd • Bulk Handling New Zealand Pty Ltd • Tokoroa Drycleaners & Laundry Services (Apparelmaster) • Holster Supply Co (2003) Ltd • Barry Wood Automotive Ltd • Direct Fuels Ltd

HOLSTER SUPPLY Co (2003) Ltd

Trade one I N D U S T R I A L

Proud to be suppliers to Blue Pacific Minerals Ltd Chambers Street, PO Box 129, Tokoroa 3444, Fax. (07) 886 7176 Email. holstersupply@xtra.co.nz

Phone. (07) 886 1701

58 | November 2014 www.centraltoday.co.nz

• Dam Country Auto Electrical Co Ltd • Textile Bag & Sack Co Ltd • Alzim Distribution • Transfleet

Blue Pacific Minerals 11-17 Huttloc Drive Tokoroa T (07) 885 0550 E info@bpmnz.co.nz www.bpmnz.co.nz www.stockrock.co.nz www.optimate.co.nz

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