Welcome to Canterbury Today’s final fling for 2022, which features a frank conversation with anti-violence activist Matt Brown about masculine identity in our society and breaking generational trends.
We look at the importance communication skills play in navigating days of change, and launch into the rapidly arriving silly season with a number of Christmas break themed pieces, such as how to reduce workplace stress leading up to Xmas, hosting successful work functions, preparing for the summer break and the shock and horror of returning to work.
There’s also information about giving experiences as presents, rather than offering up mere items, and some unique businesses to visit during the break for anyone searching for inspiration.
Throughout the magazine, features provide insights into successful companies and organisations, and the people working in them, and as always, we thank all our columnists for their expertise, along with the views, opinions and predictions of all those who contributed.
Hiring -
Motoring and transport
Taking road safety seriously
Focus On 58 Kaiapoi’s credentials continue to rise 60 Ryman Healthcare plans new village for Rolleston 62 Nelson city works to secure its future 69 Timaru District’s climate change action
the retail experience
Supporting local and small businesses Destinations
Escape to Nelson
Wonderful Waiheke Island
Gateways to the West Coast
The low down on glamping
Millbrook Resort ups its game
Property & Construction 70 The superhome design difference 76 Clyne and Bennie’s suite of services Security 78 Getting the right people for the job Health & Safety 80 Reducing risks when working at heights Manufacturing 82 Daiken’s industrial innovation
Business Support 84 Enterprise North Canterbury’s 20 years supporting locals
Viticulture
Conditions of entry: One entry only per person and must be sent on the official entry form or as otherwise stated. Entry is free and open to all residents of New Zealand. All entrants must be over the age of 18, proof of identity and date of birth may be requested. Employees and their immediate families of Academy Group, the promoter and agencies associated with any promotion in this publication are ineligible to enter. Winner(s) will be notified by email/phone. The judges’ decision is final, no correspondence will be entered into. No responsibility is accepted for late, lost or misdirected mail. Prizes are not transferable or redeemable for cash. Academy Group, the promoter and agencies associated with any promotion in this publication shall not be liable for any loss or damage whatsoever suffered (including but not limited to direct or consequential loss) or personal injury suffered or sustained, during the course of prize winning travel or in connection with any other prizes won. Academy Group, the promoter and agencies associated with any promotion in this publication accept no responsibility for health, luggage, insurances, travel, personal expenses and transfers other than specified. Entries remain the property of Academy Group, the promoter and agencies associated with any promotion in this publication and cannot be returned. Academy Group, the promoter and
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At
changed
As a mortgage adviser committed to providing the best advice for my clients, I keep a close eye on what the economists are saying. I analyse their insights through the real-world lens of what I see happening in our busy Christchurch and Canterbury offices to shape my view of the mortgage and property market.
So, it was fascinating to listen to the keynote speaker at a property investment seminar we hosted recently in Christchurch, economist Tony Alexander (former chief economist of the BNZ), as he revealed a new perspective on where interest rates are going – and the need
for a new mortgage strategy in response.
Tony explained that wholesale rates are so volatile now, he is recommending borrowers to fix their mortgages for two to three years.
That’s a shift from the view widely held over the past few months: that borrowers should fix their mortgages for just one year because interest rates are likely to come down in 2023. It was a view I certainly shared and I fixed my own mortgage for one year.
Tony’s new belief is that rates might keep going up – or stay around the current level –throughout most of 2023, with a fall in interest
rates only likely toward the end of the year or even early in 2024. Which means that it could be a good idea for borrowers to fix for a longer term, perhaps two or three years.
Although the interest rate respite that borrowers will have been hoping for now looks a little further off, there was still plenty of good news from Tony Alexander.
Overall, the New Zealand economy is looking strong, especially when compared against others on the world stage. Exports are at an all-time high and with 35% of exports now heading to China, we have good ties to a market where the commodities we produce are in big demand. Our debt position is also very low compared to other countries. So, in the coming months, as economies may start to struggle in Europe, Tony believes New Zealand will remain relatively stable.
He regards Canterbury as one of the safest places to buy property in New Zealand, with property here still undervalued compared to other main centres, and suggested that when policy and/or interest rate changes lead to investors getting active again, Christchurch will be one of the key regions they look to.
If you’re wondering about your mortgage strategy, please call the Loan Market Paramount team on 0800 100 300 for free, independent and no-obligation advice.
a recent Loan Market Paramount seminar, acclaimed economist Tony Alexander shared his view that the market outlook has
again. Time to rethink your mortgage strategy, says award-winning Mortgage Adviser and Owner of Loan Market Paramount, Nathan Miglani.
Images – Left: Tony Alexander Right: Lance Edmonds and Nathan Miglani.
As the year comes to a close, let’s reflect on our position as a region as we head into a new year with new opportunities.
Our regional economy, despite all the warnings and predictions of a recession, is performing well compared to our regional counterparts. It remains buoyant and in a strong position to withstand shocks without toppling over.
Canterbury’s primary industries continue to provide a strong backbone with new and emerging sectors within food and fibre, aeronautics and advanced manufacturing well and truly having found their feet.
Despite the robustness of our economy, business sentiment within the region is still low. Confidence in the national economy and our global competitiveness is falling flat however, there is some confidence on the horizon that the predominant issue of labour market shortages will slowly, but surely, get better.
One of the highlights of summer, for me, is seeing our city well and truly come alive. The return of cruise ships, and the hustle and bustle, is slowly returning and should bring a level of confidence that our operating environment is beginning to improve.
The Chamber is quite excited for next year. The lingering challenges of labour market constraints putting many businesses in a position where they just cannot operate to full capacity aside, the return to near-normality brings with it exciting opportunities. The certainty that this year will not be disrupted with lockdowns has brought a sense of relief to many of us, as the ability to connect and network with each other, and business partners overseas, is so important.
The Chamber, as the South Island’s leading business association, has already begun work to identify the areas in which we can influence to create better outcomes for both businesses, and residents, within the Canterbury region.
One of the areas we are focusing on, right now, is the level of crime within the city. We don’t want residents and visitors to feel unsafe. The Chamber, alongside the business community, has requested that the government take action, right now, because we are all proud of our city. We are not proud of what is occurring, and it is having a detrimental effect on everyone who lives and visits.
At a national level, the legislation allowing Fair Pay Agreements to be put in place has been enacted. We expect to see bargaining begin in a handful of sectors throughout 2023 and for employers, this will add a layer of complexity and challenges, which The Chamber alongside our BusinessNZ Network will be supporting you through.
From all of us at The Chamber, we wish you all the best for an enjoyable festive season with your family and friends, and a very happy new year.
Associate at MDS Law www.mdslaw.co.nz
As the restrictions imposed as part of New Zealand’s response to the pandemic are now for the most part removed, 2023 will for many present opportunities for growth.
For some this will take the form of a business purchase, for others this will be to promote existing or recruit new employees.
In either case, it is essential employers are familiar with their obligations under New Zealand’s work visa regime.
Any due diligence on a business purchase must include reviewing employee visa conditions. Many working visas have conditions, including working for a particular employer in a particular position.
If this will change as part of a business acquisition, then any employees on working visas will have to apply for a change of condition. This can typically take three to four weeks to process and is likely to impact upon the timing of any settlement.
Those with existing employees on work visas who wish to promote or change conditions of the employee’s terms of employment to meet the changing business needs for 2023 will also need to ensure any required visa changes have been approved before implementing change.
Not doing so will have consequences.
The employee who breaches their visa conditions may receive a deportation notice or it could impact upon their future visa applications. It could also impact upon the employer’s ability to retain and hire immigrant staff in the future, or result in a fine of $50,000 in accordance with the penalty provisions of the Immigration Act 2009.
Those looking to recruit from overseas in 2023, or with existing employees on visas due to expire, will need to be familiar with the new Accredited Employer Work Visa regime. From July 4, 2022, the Accredited Employer Work Visa replaced all existing work visa categories.
Employers who wish to support existing employees with visa renewals, or hire new employees from overseas, must now be accredited under the new scheme. They will also need to provide evidence that they have been unable to fill a position within New Zealand by providing evidence of a national advertising campaign within 90 days of the visa application (unless the occupation is on the green list of highly skilled or hard to fill occupations).
To take advantage of the opportunities 2023 presents, employers should familiarise themselves now with New Zealand’s working visa regime, so that they can hit the ground running in 2023.
Witz Endz Limited has been running two-hour workshops for MBIEs on being more “digitally savvy” in your SME.
It’s been quite the wake-up call about how SMEs are operating day to day in what is very much a digital world.
Old ways have their place. Tried and true can win the race, but they could be achieving so much more by adopting at least some of the digital options, applications and software that are out there.
We’re not professing full immersion. An all or nothing approach will certainly pull your business apart.
It’s also true that there is no “one size fits all” approach to digital either. Just as you grow through shoe sizes as you get older, so too does your business grow though applications and systems.
It’s quite possible there’s a throat hold restricting the growth you work so hard for and deserve.
As soon as you Google something (such as business to business marketing), your inbox and Facebook feeds will be flooded with options and alternatives.
That’s how the digital world works and maybe, just maybe, you should be part of it with what you bring to the table for prospective clients.
All solutions are not the same. Some are better marketers with an inferior product, some are poor marketers with a solution just right for you. You need to discern all the options.
We suggest starting with a shopping list of what you need and want out of an application or software.
Break these up between ‘must have’, ‘like to have’ and ‘be nice if’ categories; then you have a levelling scorecard as you research the options.
Or you can hire someone to do all the discernment for you. There are businesses who specialise in just this and they are great timesavers, but they’re only going to be as good as your shopping list – so spend time on that.
Digital sales are not for everyone. Maybe you can’t sell what you do online. Digital marketing however, is likely a different story - getting your message out there in front of prospective new customers and existing customers alike.
But what content to add, what platform or channel to use? This is where the overwhelm kicks in. Facebook? Instagram? Twitter? LinkedIn? YouTube? TikTok?
Each has its place, purpose and client demographics. Which lines up with your preferred client profile or persona?
Do you even have a documented client persona?
On the digital workshops that we have been running, not many did, now they all do!
Ask yourself… “One day?” or “Day One!” Choose the latter.
• Your work ethic and discipline is essential
• Honesty is a must - humour appreciated
• You will need a good understanding of business and be able to talk to everyone from trades people to CEOs
• You MUST be oozing enthusiasm!
• Experience preferred, but not necessary as initial and on-going training and support provided
• Various remuneration packages available-made up of retainer plus commission, plus monthly bonuses, flexible hours and subsidised health insurance for you and your family.
Contact: Monice Kruger on: (03) 961 5083 or email sales@academygroup.co.nz | www.magazinestoday.co.nz
First home buyers are increasingly present in the market. However, following the latest rise in mortgage interest rates they too are slowing, with investors also stepping back.
To help sliding property values, perhaps it’s time to widen the net. November’s REINZ and Tony Alexander Real Estate Survey reported that, “There is minimal interest in New Zealand property from people located offshore, with a net 39 percent of agents reporting reduced enquiries. People overseas lost interest in the New Zealand residential real estate market late in 2020 and remain disinterested.”
When the market was heating up, the government limited investment to try to cool it. Now with a cooling market - is it time to reopen the doors to investment?
Immigration remains well down, and all non-residents remain banned from buying existing Kiwi homes.
Maybe it’s time to carefully revisit the 2018 foreign buyer ban? At least very strategically and for parts of the country really hurting.
With the likes of Queenstown and Rotorua battling, an injection of offshore investment in those property markets would make a real difference.
Other regions, or even types of housing stock, could also be made exempt from the Overseas Investment Amendment Act. The reality is people overseas are now looking elsewhere for investment property.
We know this because our foreign buyer enquiries through Century 21’s global website are well down this year.
With interest rates rising and consumer and business confidence sliding, domestic demand for housing will continue to weaken.
Carefully filling any obvious gaps with targeted overseas investment would help to support and sustain New Zealand’s all-important property sector at this critical time.
Sadly, New Zealand has lost appeal for overseas investors and migrants despite the Reserve Bank’s assurances that our financial system remains stable.
Should the government now dangle some carrots, identify and attract the right foreign and human capital, to ensure Kiwi homeowners can weather the storm and protect their greatest asset?
Securing a good real estate agent and agency has never been more important.
The contracting market has led to many real estate agents exiting the industry.
In contrast, Century 21 continues to expand in New Zealand, with new offices now open in Northland’s Dargaville and Auckland’s Epsom.
Mastering the art of self-awareness is key to success as a business leader and in life.
So here are some top tips for how people can cultivate more self-awareness in their lives.
The fast brain engages the parts of the brain that act impul sively, habitually and with short term comfort in mind.
The slow brain, on the other hand, engages parts of the brain that enable us to act with intention and awareness before our fast-brain reflex response takes over.
To shift from our fast to our slow brain, we need to have clear intentions and deliberately choose our values and responses, rather than being held hostage by habitual responses formed in our past.
Between our comfort zone and our terror zone is what we call the growth edge.
We can become comfortable in patterns that don’t serve us.
So, in order to grow again we first must disrupt our sense of order and move outside of our comfort zone to build a new, more functional order.
Values are far more than “yawn worthy” statements on a website.
They represent an invitation to grow towards more functional order in our lives and organisations.
When applied with self-regulation and internal honesty, they are living, breathing forces that direct our behaviour for our own happiness and that of others.
Are your values a living practice?
What practices do you use and what actions do you take daily to align with what you stand for?
If you need to think about it, then it’s probably not operational in your life.
It’s pointless to choose values without a daily commitment to deliberately cultivating that value in action.
It’s the daily commitment that gives you the opportunity to notice your habitual fast brain patterns.
This commitment allows you to then engage the slow brain by consciously regulating out of those patterns, into a more values congruent, self-aware state.
Otautahi Smoke BBQ Festival
Saturday, December 17th, 2022
For top notch food, refreshing drinks and entertaining acts, look no further than Otautahi Smoke. Held in Hagley Park, this event brings together the best of BBQ. Featuring slow cooked brisket, marbled steaks, a huge range of seasoned meats and much more, it’s sure to get your mouth watering.
For more information and to secure tickets, go to: www.smokebbqfest.com
Elton John, Farewell Yellow Brick Road Tuesday, January 24th, 2023
The legend is returning to Christchurch after 30 years for a final tour. He’s set to bring the house down at Orangetheory Stadium. For a night of fabulous entertainment, delightful vocals and hilarity, look no further than the Farewell Yellow Brick Road tour. Get in quick as tickets are selling fast.
For more information and to get tickets, go to: www.eltonjohn.com/tours
Great Kiwi Beer Festival
Saturday, January 28th, 2023
Hagley Park is hosting over 35 craft breweries and craft beer producers. If you’re a beer connoisseur, then this is the spot for you! With food and drinks abound, this celebration of New Zealand’s brewing industry will knock your socks off. There are also live performances, cooking demonstrations, seminars, and more.
For more information and to book tickets, go to: www.greatkiwibeerfestival.co.nz/christchurch
Lexus Urban Polo
Saturday, February 11th, 2023
Once again, Hagley Park is hosting the unforgettable day of sport, music, fashion, and food. Lexus Urban Polo boasts a stunning lineup of sporting prowess and puts a contemporary spin on the traditional game of polo. You’re also able to try polo for yourself with the sideline hitting game and meet the players.
For more information and to buy tickets, go to: www.urbanpolo.co.nz/buytickets
Electric Avenue Music Festival
Saturday, February 25th, 2023
New Zealand’s boldest, brightest and biggest celebration of music is back for another year. The event showcases a stunning range of kiwi music so if you’re ready for an electric event, Hagley Park is the place to be. Featuring top artists such as Lorde, Fat Freddy’s Drop, Peking Duk and many more, prepare for a fantastic event.
For more information and to book tickets, go to: www.electricavenuefestival.co.nz
Independent human resource consultant, Libby Fraser, offers some sage advice on reducing workplace stress for both employees and employers in this hectic period.
“We can get so frantic in the last part of the year and it’s exhausting for people,” Libby explains.
“People often end up going into the Christmas period feeling very burnt out, which is no fun when it’s meant to be a wellearned holiday time and you’re exhausted.”
Libby suggests employers should work on stopping and thinking about their people and their wellbeing during this time. Slowing down can help people focus on what’s important and revise upcoming tasks.
She notes that reducing workplace stress, in theory, seems simple. “How it looks in practice, however, can be tricky.”
Taking a realistic and pragmatic approach regarding what can be done with the time left in the year and what can wait until next year can be a massive help in this undertaking.
“This might look like resetting some goals and targets. If it can wait, why not wait until next year when everyone comes back refreshed. Wait until the stress levels are down,” she explains.
However, Libby understands that the mindset around getting things done at the end of the year is one that’s unaccustomed to slowing down. “It’s tricky. It often goes against the ‘push, push, push’ before the end of the year kind of rush.”
Libby says these moments of slowing down don’t need to look like accepting less productivity. It just means working with what people, employers and employees alike can get done in the time that’s given without placing undue stress on them.
“You’ve just got to be really pragmatic about what you can achieve. You might need to re-meet with your team and have those conversations and re-set some of those targets,” she says.
Not only that, but Libby has always believed in a ‘looking after our people’ approach. “I’m a big believer in praising and thanking staff for their contribution in a genuine and meaningful way,” Libby suggests.
“Not just at the end but certainly at least at the end of the year.”
She explains that this may not be able to be an act of extravagance or even in a monetary way from the employers.
“But an employer making the team feel valued and appreciated for their contribution, particularly in the year that’s been, I think it really makes a difference to people.” CT
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RRP: $6,429 www.outdoorconcepts.co.nz
Experience magical details you’ve never heard before – lush lows, punchy mids and crisp highs with these ultimate overear headphones from Bang and Olufsen. With five levels of noise cancellation, these handle everything from the hum of home life to the commotion of a commute. Crafted from soft lambskin leather and a precision cut aluminium frame these headphones are both luxurious to wear and unbeatable in sound quality.
RRP: $899 www.bang-olufsen.com
Individually crafted from solid gold and sterling silver, studded with precious gems, this stunning fountain pen is as much art as it is a writing instrument. It represents true luxury and is part of a range created for those who seek the ultimate in British design and craftsmanship in precious materials.
RRP: $11,776.21 www.thepencompany.com
This knife is a beautiful, Asian-inspired chef’s knife that many cooks have added to their kitchen favourites. Slightly shorter than the standard chef’s knife, this is light, agile and very easy to manoeuvre. Featuring stainless steel Damascus cladding and a contoured, ambidextrous walnut coloured Pakka Wood handle, this premium knife is versatile and a pleasure to use.
RRP: $349 www.knifeshop.co.nz
For the epitome of luxury, look no further than this incredibly plush bean bag. The upper is crafted from New Zealand wool sheepskin and the base is made from cowhide suede to create a truly beautiful and comfortable beanbag. The Shaggy Beanbag is one of Wilson and Dorset’s most transportive furniture designs and brings wrap around comfort wherever and whenever you need it.
RRP: $1,690 www.wilsondorset.com
Check out Kisa’s delicious range of Middle Eastern cuisine at 195 Cuba Street, Te Aro, Wellington.
Follow them to stay in the know below: Website: www.kisarestaurant.co.nz/kitchen Facebook: www.facebook.com/kisawellington Instagram: www.instagram.com/kisa_wgtn
As 2022 comes to an end, many businesses are celebrating another year going by, which is a huge achievement.
It’s also a time for celebration for new businesses that have survived during what has been another chaotic 12 months, with Covid and economic challenges taking their toll on many.
But out of chaos order can form and there’s one new business that’s caught a lot of attention from Wellingtonians and tourists.
Kisa – a Middle Eastern-inspired restaurant first opened in March 2021 as a pop-up restaurant.
Owner Dean White (who is also the owner of Wellington’s popular restaurants Mr. Go’s and Ombra), says the team re-purposed Limited (a concept event space that hosts pop-ups and other food and drinks experiences), away from private functions and events, and into their own pop-ups and ticketed dinners.
“Kisa was the first pop-up and we planned to only run it for three to four months. It was very popular virtually from day one,” he says.
In July 2021, Dean and his team found out the space opposite Ombra became available and they saw some plans for its redevelopment, so they signed the lease, he says.
“It felt natural to keep the pop-up going, eventually ending in December that year. We started fit-out work in January and opened permanently in June.”
The casual dining restaurant was opened because Dean enjoys the culture and cuisine after travelling overseas and also admired it from afar.
He also says it was only “right for the restaurant landscape of the city”.
Kisa means ‘short’ in Turkish. The word was decided “to play into” the name of the restaurant because initially, Kisa had been a ‘short-term’ pop-up restaurant, he says.
He talked to the team about changing it when they opened the restaurant permanently on Cuba Street, but it has since made a name for itself, and customers feel it is “approachable.”
It also sounds nice - so it remains, Dean says.
Fortunately for the team, Kisa has been doing very well, Dean says.
Currently, the restaurant is open from Tuesday (4pm until late) and Wednesday to Sunday (12pm until late).
“We’ve been rapt with the reception from our guests and hope to expand to open on Mondays in early 2023.”
Kisa will also be open for lunch from 12pm on Tuesday 20th of December and Tuesday the 3rd of January 2023.
The feedback Kisa is receiving from customers has been very pleasant, which the team is happy about.
“There are also a few surprises, both positive and constructive. We hit the ground running pretty hard when we opened, with some big weeks that haven’t stopped, so there’s always a few tweaks.”
Dean is very proud of the team. He’s hired 32 staff members, which is a huge accomplishment because opening a new restaurant in the current labour environment is challenging, he says.
“They’ve been excellent and really delivered. I’m proud of the service/hospitality compliments we’ve been getting, and the consistency of the food.
“We employ many students, particularly in our front-of-house team.”
The team had posted advertisements previously but really relied on their pop-up, experience of owning other restaurants, the fit-out/quality of cooking appliances, and so on, for exposure and attracting people.
“It all helps and I had always kept in mind that people want to work in a good establishment. Experience has taught me what that looks like.”
Future goals Kisa has is expanding opening hours and to “keep on keeping on,” Dean says. The restaurant has a 10-year lease and the team intends on being there the whole time if not, longer.
“So, it’s a marathon - the fit-out and opening is the easy part - now we need to operate.
“I remind myself and the team that every day starts fresh. New guests that expect good service, a good product and we need to serve consistently.”
Kisa is unique compared to Dean’s other restaurants because it offers an entirely new cuisine, but business-wise –the restaurants are run in a similar way, he says.
It’s all about providing “good hospitality, approachable - yet distinct offerings.”
In terms of what’s happening in the future, Dean says, “We have a project in the pipeline for early/mid next year but that will be it for a while!
“We’ve always wanted to be ready for growth, not to force it. Given current world events, the economy and labour shortages, keeping things tight will be sensible for the next wee while.”
CT
At this time of year, after spring’s turned to summer and a new year awaits, it brings with it a sense of optimism and change.
Often with this change in seasons come new opportunities, particularly now as different industries recover and reset after the disruption of the last few years, or tackle new environmental and economic challenges.
As we now know, change can come at us really fast and when it does, we have to rapidly change focus and the way we do things.
People’s roles may need to change; you may have to lay off staff or hire new employees, or diversify your products and services to keep your business afloat.
Whatever your circumstances, whether you are looking at scaling up, downsizing, streamlining operations or diversifying, clear communication ensures people know where they stand and what is expected of them.
And while it’s impossible to predict exactly what upcoming changes and challenges will look like, you can anticipate the different types of information you might need to address. For example:
• Changes to policies and procedures
• Staff changes and role expectations
• Environmental changes, supply chain issues.
Anticipate problems and pitfalls
While countless books have been written on this topic, here are a few common pitfalls that see communications fail:
• Information overload
• Poor timing, wrong channel
• Lack of process documentation and training
• Unclear or mixed messages creating confusion.
So. how do you know if the quality of the communication in your organisation is fit for purpose?
A good place to start is by reviewing the systems, processes and channels you currently use to identify what works well, and what could be improved. And as you do so, consider some worst case scenarios you might encounter to help you avoid potential pitfalls, for example:
• Systems access gets lost when a staff member keeps business passwords in a personal notebook and forgets to pass them on when they leave
• People save files locally to their desktop instead of in the centralised file management system, which means that others waste valuable time tracking information down
• Unclear sales and customer service processes result in multiple people contacting the same client, giving them mixed messages; or conversely, nobody contacts them at all. This can impact the quality of the customer experience, damage your reputation and cost you money
• Lack of documented induction and training processes sees new staff come on board and make things up on the fly in a way that misaligns with your goals, values or organisational culture
• People leave your business expressing frustration which reflects poorly on your reputation as an employer.
Taking the time to identify gaps can also provide opportunities to improve your organisational productivity and culture, For example:
• Improving the user experience for your systems and processes so people know how to get the best out of them. This can free up their energy to improve customer satisfaction
• Ensuring there are processes in place that enable people to deal with situations as they arise
• Identifying ways to improve relationships with suppliers or vendors
• People leaving your organisation can attest to having had a positive experience, potentially becoming an advocate, helping you attract new talent.
It’s essential to consider the different communication needs of team members. Some people will be happy to be given a taste of what’s on the horizon and told where they can find information as/when they need it. Others will prefer to receive, digest and reflect on as much information as they can access, particularly in times of change.
Similarly, you need to consider and select the most effective method and channel, so that messages are not inadvertently overlooked or intentionally ignored. And if you are sharing information that will have a personal impact on people, it’s vitally important that you use a suitable channel and approach that reflects empathy and care.
Seeking feedback will give you a sense of how communication flows and you might be surprised how a small change can make a big difference.
However you choose to communicate in times of change, make sure that you provide clarity and assurance to people. Important aspects to include:
• A big picture overview to give context
• Details and steps to give guidance
• Emotional assurance to give certainty
• Expectations of timelines so people get the information they need.
Provide information in a timely manner via suitable channels so they can understand issues in a way that makes sense to them.
No two organisations are alike when it comes to communication needs, especially in times of change.
However, poor communication can cause numerous problems in every organisation, so it’s crucial that your internal communication channels are robust and fit for purpose.
As the end of the year approaches, look ahead and prioritise the areas for improvement based on your strategy and goals for the next 12 months.
Talk to people, review the systems across a range of areas to make sure you have a clear communication plan. That way, should change come at you fast, you’ll be ready to get the message across to your team.
Increasing the effectiveness of your communication will make your business more resilient to future changes, so you can adapt quickly. So, what can you do to turn these gaps into opportunities? CT
People’s roles may need to change; you may have to lay off staff or hire new employees, or diversify your products and services to keep your business afloat.
“ ”
By Michaela Pointon
A humble barber shop on the corner of Riccarton Road, Christchurch, has subtle nuances of hip-hop culture imagined in the barber shops of New York. My Fathers Barbers is ambient and fresh, with a vibrant masculine-like energy. There’s gentle chatter, soft music in the background and the air smells of familiar aftershave products.
Owner of My Father’s Barbers, Matt Brown (36), was born in Tamaki Makaurau and raised in Otautahi, Christchurch. He wears many caps respectfully, including being an anti-violence activist, barber, author, speaker, husband, and loving father.
He is also a survivor of family violence and childhood sexual assault, often sharing his story with men who visit his barbering chair.
It’s clear Matt leads all conversations authentically with kindness. He encourages vulnerability and openness from men to speak out about personal experiences. His down-toearth approach to healing from generational trauma, can only be admired.
Sharing his story of growing up in a house of violence and poverty, Matt says, “My story is not unique in Aotearoa”.
He’s done the self-work to help break this cycle, showing others change is possible.
Matt released his first book ‘She Is Not Your Rehab’ in 2021, co-written with his wife Sarah. It is a work designed to change the narrative about men being vulnerable, discussing emotions, as well as healing from generational cycles.
His core message focuses on breaking the cycle of family violence and unhealthy ideals of masculinity. Experiencing this throughout his childhood, he is an advocate for men taking responsibility to do their own healing.
“Your childhood trauma is not your fault, but healing is your responsibility,” he says.
Matt has received many awards recognising the work he does. Both Matt and Sarah were in the last cohort to receive an Order of Merit from Her Late Majesty the Queen in September 2022.
As Head of the Commonwealth in March, Her Late Majesty the Queen recognised both Matt and Sarah as the 218th Commonwealth Points of Light Award recipients. This was received for founding the She Is Not Your Rehab movement, specifically in honour for their voluntary contributions.
Other recognitions include winning Westfield Local Hero of the Year Award 2020 and being publicly recognised by Dwayne Johnson ‘The Rock’ on social media for the She Is Not Your Rehab Annual White Ribbon Day campaign.
Sarah took time out in a remote location to write their book. She would send Matt drafts of the manuscript and they would edit it together.
“I really wanted to do justice to Matt’s story. We wanted a collaborative story highlighting hope and redemption.
“We took all the work we did in real life such as brainstorms, notes and presentations. I would do the physical writing, then he would critique it.
“He was very much part of the writing process. It had to authentically be his voice.”
Both Matt and Sarah said at the core, the book had to resonate with men, as well as being direct and solution based.
He says it’s surreal to see his book now in shops such as Whitcoulls.
“It’s humbling, knowing where I come from, but the sad reality is my story is not unique. There are so many kids in our backyard who are still in the same cycle of violence and abuse.”
Learning to own his story in its entirety, the good and the ugly, was part of the journey of writing the book.
He says healing is not all rainbows and unicorns. “Healing is uncomfortable and men have to be willing to put in the work to change.
For me, my children are my greatest invitation to do the work of healing.
“I had to remind myself of my ‘why’. I was speaking on behalf of kids like me who grew up in homes of violence, kids in state care and kids who would go to school without lunch.”
The couple thoughtfully considered making this healing tool easily accessible to everyone, with an audiobook version available online.
The couple approached their publisher Penguin early on, asking what the cost was to have their book gifted to every prisoner across Aotearoa.
At the time of publishing in 2021 there were 9350 people who were incarcerated in New Zealand prisons.
Matt says, “Sadly, more than half of our prison population is indigenous with Maori and Pasifika making up a large majority.
“That’s where my heart really lay, so we reached out to friends, organisations and businesses and raised over $100,000 to get the book printed.”
By Christmas 2021, every person in prison received a copy of She Is Not Your Rehab.
If you want to see how deeply Matt’s influence impacts men and other people around him, while sitting in the cafe discussing his story for this interview, a man from the public walks up to Matt.
“Are you Matt Brown, Brother?” says the man.
“Yes, I am Brother,” says Matt.
“I watched your TED talk, and I just want to say thank you.”
Matt humbly moves the conversation on quickly, despite this short interaction reflecting the respect men have for the work he does in the community.
He says listening is more important than speaking. “Stories are taonga and they are a gift. People’s mana and pain is a gift.
“I see my barbering chair as a Fala (Samoan mat) where we sit, talk, break bread and share our pain, but it stays on the chair.
“I know when I go home it’s not fair to take the store home to my wife and kids.”
Matt is launching a brand-new campaign opening up the She Is Not Your Rehab art gallery on White Ribbon Day (25th of November).
The campaign is an art exhibition in collaboration with world renowned Maori artist, Mr G and will be on display for a year from their brand-new Christchurch central gallery.
“It’s the evolution of our message and the first of its kind in the world, as we exist solely to inspire respectful relationships and domestic violence prevention.”
All 100 paintings were part of a global submission process that asked men all over the world the question; “If she is not your rehab then who is she?”.
Men online would submit a word they felt best described who “she” is along with an accompanying 100 words about why she is that word to him. My word for my wife is ‘prolific’, he says.
“The exhibition of these words will hopefully tour the world after our Christchurch exhibition finishes.”
The She Is Not Your Rehab organisation hopes to host free creative group therapy sessions held at the gallery, where men, women and young people can interact themselves with the message.
“I believe this is how we really influence culture. When we model the way men should
be, other men respond and think oh yes this is how it should be”, says Matt.
The gallery opens on White Ribbon Day, November the 25th at their gallery in the Guthrey Centre. The exhibition is open to the public for one year.
Joiner by trade, Matt wanted to change careers in 2011 to become a barber. “I have always cut my own brothers’ hair, but it wasn’t until I cut my brothers’ (friends) hair in my neighbourhood where they encouraged me and said ‘Bro! You should do this for a living’.”
He started cutting hair in his garage at the time, which eventually turned into Matt purchasing a small tin shed. My Fathers Barbers grew from there.
My Fathers Barbers previously opened another barber shop in Palmerston North, which has since been sold.
However, despite Matt once wanting to open more barbershops around the country, he says his goal right now is continuing to work on the She Is Not Your Rehab movement. Matt has also recently founded a new mental health service named iconnect.nz.
His wife, Sarah Brown, was working for a non-profit organisation fighting against child poverty and human trafficking, when the couple first met in 2011.
The couple connected when Sarah invited Matt’s band (at the time) to speak on her national tour. The tour was centred around stories from people who had grown up in trauma and poverty in New Zealand.
The couple now have three children together; Oceana, 19, Angelou, 7 and Frida, 4.
Sarah says, “The kids absolutely adore him, he is the favourite! He’s very present, hands on, soft-ball-of-love for them.
“The kids always want to be with him. He’s beautiful to watch and to witness him being the dad he always longed for”.
Matt says, “When I’m around my children I’m dry. Well - my children think I’m funny, my wife thinks I’m dry!” he jokes.
“I’m goofy, playful and my ‘cool’ hat comes off when I’m around them.”
Sarah says vulnerability has always been welcomed in their relationship.
“Vulnerability is a gift, when he wants to share things with me, I want to be a soft place, where he can be open and he doesn’t have to wear masks anymore.”
Matt was first recognised on social media when his hair portrait of Tupac Shakur went viral on Facebook.
“That’s kind of how my social media started. No one was really putting hair art on socials ten years ago,” he says.
“People still ask me how I have so many followers, but I have been in the social media game for a long time, before anyone in the industry was really using it how they are now.”
Matt now has collectively over 129,000 followers on Facebook pages ‘She Is Not Your Rehab’ and ‘My Fathers Barbers’ alone.
He says he is grateful for barbering taking him around the world and the industry giving him a platform to meet many people.
To find out more about the She Is Not Your Rehab organisation, check out sheisnotyourrehab.com. Or follow Matt and Sarah on socials by following She Is Not Your Rehab on Facebook and Instagram. CT
Back in 2016, Sally Paterson and Sarah Gamble started a little shop in the Christchurch CBD. From there, it’s grown into a gorgeous gift store in Little Riverside Laneway that specialises in supporting New Zealand makers and designers.
Canterbury Today speaks to Sally and Sarah to find out how the journey began and how they’re getting on now.
What inspired the creation of Shopology?
We are both really creative and like quality products with a story. Initially, we both had our own businesses that needed a retail outlet and we started a collective; sharing a large site in the old container mall.
It was super successful and really fun working with other small business owners. After the container mall finished, we decided to open up elsewhere and had a couple of really great years in the Christchurch Arts Centre.
We have progressively moved away from the collective model but still focus on providing products from smaller, bespoke makers who have original products with a story. Sally is from a farming background and supporting farmers and the wool industry is something we both care about.
What challenges have you faced in creating and running this business?
I think we’ve progressed a lot despite the bumps and hurdles. Christchurch has had its fair share of hurdles.
When we started six years ago, Christchurch was still recovering from the earthquakes, then three years ago we had the Mosque shooting, which was really traumatizing.
Then, when we moved to the Riverside store three years ago, it took about a year for people to start coming back into the city. Then Covid happened!
There are a lot of changes happening in retail too, with the growth of online shopping. Despite all these challenges, we love being a bricks and mortar store and have pride in our products and service. We think there will always be a need for good shops with excellent service and quality original products.
What’s been the most rewarding part of Shopology?
Happy customers. We meet amazing people from all around the world every day, and with the recent return of cruise ships it has been transformed.
We love hearing the positive feedback from everyone about the store, and Christchurch in general. Other kiwis who haven’t been to Christchurch in ages just rave about it and we find that really rewarding.
We feel like we are a real part of the change and love being part of the Riverside development.
Our laneway has a unique vibe that locals and visitors just love. We also have staff that have been with us pretty much since the beginning and we work together well as a team - so that’s also very rewarding.
What’s one piece of advice you would want to give to yourself back when you first started Shopology?
You need to be driven and passionate and it’s a lot easier selling things you love than items you don’t believe in. You’re going to need persistence. And, surround yourself with good people – that’s really key.
What does the future hold for Shopology? We are super excited about the future of the business, as the tourists are starting to return. Until you’ve worked in a tourist industry, you can’t really appreciate what good spenders they are!
We are also excited about the growth of Christchurch too and the general buzz around town. We are really proud to have a business in the CBD and be part of this new era for Christchurch.
For more information, visit: www.shopology. co.nz, or pop instore and visit the team at Little Riverside Lane, Riverside Market, 6/86 Cashel Street, Christchurch. CT
Three for the price of one represents exceptional value for money in anyone’s books. That’s certainly how Debbie Pettigrew’s clients feel, who are lucky enough to get not one but three experienced and successful real estate professionals as part of the package!
Armed with a Bachelor’s degree in valuation and property management, Debbie embarked on her career in real estate more than a decade ago. Since then, she’s earned a reputation as one of the region’s leading agents, consistently ranking amongst Harcourts Grenadier’s Top 10, and winning the Top Sales Consultant award for the Beckenham office on numerous occasions. In January this year she was ranked 5th in Canterbury across the entire Harcourts network.
But she hasn’t done it alone. In the last two years Debbie has made some significant changes to her business, bringing two other highly-driven individuals onboard to create a powerful combination of ideas, expertise and capabilities.
The first to join was Sally McMillian, a licensed real estate salesperson whose background in high-level customer service roles helped hone her exceptional people skills. Hard-working and detail-orientated, Sally’s empathetic approach helps her build strong relationships with her clients and develop tailored strategies designed to embrace their unique needs.
Then there’s Carole Le Beau, who keeps the wheels in motion behind the scenes. Drawing on more than 25 years of real estate and customer service experience, Carol ensures every ‘I’ is dotted and ever ‘t’ is crossed from a logistical perspective. Between them, the three women deliver a blend of creative thinking, marketing nous and systematic excellence which invariably produces outstanding results.
For Debbie, having three different personalities and perspectives working together is invaluable. ‘We really complement each other”, she says. “There’s never any shortage of ideas and viewpoints, which is priceless when you’re coming up with strategies or striving to solve challenges. We’re certainly stronger together”.
Of course, there have been plenty of challenges over the last two years, with the world thrown into turmoil by Covid19. But another of the team’s core traits – the ability to embrace an agile mindset – has held them in good stead throughout. “We’re really open-minded, and really solutions-focused”, says Debbie. “We care deeply about getting great results for our clients and, to put it simply, we don’t rest until we figure out a way to do just that!”.
The concept of care and responsibility is something which resonates with all three members of the team. ‘When we partner with a client, we commit fully”,
says Sally. ‘It’s never enough to just ‘get the job done’ – we’ve built our reputation around going above and beyond to exceed our client’s expectations and deliver uncommonly good results’.
The trio also share a deep passion for Christchurch and the wider region. “I’m a born-and-bred Cantabrian’, says Debbie. “I’ve travelled extensively over the years, but every trip away serves to remind me of how lucky we are to live in this very special part of the world’.
That love for, and knowledge of, the local market helps the team market a huge variety of properties right across the city. “While we sell a lot of homes around Cashmere and the surrounding areas, we’re in no way restricted to this part of town”, adds Sally.
Nor are they confined to a particular type of property. “We’ve definitely earned a reputation for marketing high-end properties”, comments Debbie. “But that certainly isn’t all we do. We love helping first home buyers start their journeys. And we love helping downsizers embark on the next exciting chapter. We list everything from townhouses and rentals to family homes and lifestyle properties – we even dabble in commercial property on the odd occasion!”
Of course, the power of the Harcourts brand has also played an integral part in the success Debbie and her team have achieved to date. “There are huge benefits to being part of the Harcourts network”, says Carol. “The training is world-class, as are the resources at our disposal, and the support available for our clients. We have everything we need to ensure each, and every property gets the reach and exposure it deserves”.
As far as the market goes right now, Debbie believes things are still incredibly buoyant in Canterbury. “Things certainly aren’t buttoning off”, she says. “While other main centres like Auckland and Wellington may be approaching their peak right now, the market here still feels like it has some way to go before we realise the true value of property. Interest rates are still low (relative to some of the highs of years gone by), and there’s still significant demand from buyers.
If you’re thinking of buying or selling property in or around Christchurch, and you’d like to work alongside Debbie, Sally and Carol, you can reach them on debbie.pettigrew@harcourts.co.nz
South Island event and wedding planner, Emma Newman, shares her tips and advice for hosting an impressive work function.
Emma has 20 years’ experience in the entertainment industry, specialising in coordinating a wide range of events.
“I have an eye for detail, excellent organisational skills and specifically a passion for weddings and hosting a great day,” she says.
“I also appreciate the need for a well-run corporate or charitable event. As well as other private and public events such as birthdays, anniversaries, launches, and centenaries.”
When creating and planning a fun, vibrant, work function, Emma says there are multiple things to consider making sure the event runs smoothly.
“To start with, don’t always leave it up to the poor receptionist who has a mountain of preChristmas work to do.”
Allowing people to mix and mingle is one way she suggests ensuring the work function is easy-going and relaxed as possible.
Opting for canapes and cocktails on arrival, rather than a formal seated function, often means guests are more likely to remember the night and enjoy themselves.
“Bosses, say something!” She exclaims.
It doesn’t have to be long, but a short speech thanking your staff for the work they have done that year is an important aspect to the function.
The choice of location for the function is important. Choosing a location close to work means most staff would be familiar
with the area and typically have transportation organised.
“Keep the function central to where you work. Or, if you’re out in town make it easy for people to come and go.
“Not everyone loves to be in the office or at a winery until one in the morning!” says Emma.
Another important aspect to consider when hosting a work function is ensuring everyone can get home safely if alcohol is involved.
“If you are doing an activity-based celebration or function, make sure people can be warm, fed, watered, and safe.”
If you’re thinking about hosting a game night for your function, Emma suggests keeping it simple. Try to avoid multiple activities for people to have to participate in.
Rather, enjoy one activity as a group of coworkers before eating and wrapping the night up to celebrate the year.
Hosting a successful work function is possible and can be enjoyable for everyone. Keeping the location, food and activity simple can make the night run smoothly.
To find out more about Emma visit enevents. co.nz to help organise your next work function or event. CT
The season of gift giving is almost upon us and while shopping for friends and family can be hard enough, many people will be involved with some form of work based Secret Santa event.
Even if you know your co-workers really well, it can be tricky finding something within the given budget, appropriate and not overwhelmingly boring.
This is just another layer of stress that isn’t needed in an already stressful time. Coco Gifts owner, Liz Van Montfort, has some tips and advice to get you through this Secret Santa season with minimal worry.
“I think you’ve got to be a bit careful about anything too personal because you’ve got to remember that you’re always in the work environment and you don’t want to cross the line,” Liz says.
She explains that a personal item can be something like lotion or soaps.
Coco Gifts will always recommend something really neutral and nothing personal for a Secret
Santa gift. “Anything that is too fragrant I’d say would be a no-no unless you know them really well,” she says.
So, what’s a safe but not completely boring road to go down? Liz recommends a gift that can be used.
“We recommend our food items like mustards and sauces. Also consider something Christmas themed so it’s consumable over
Christmas and not hanging around all year,” she says.
“It depends on your budget but I’d definitely go for a consumable item. There’s plenty of options, no matter what your dietary requirements might be.”
She also says that if you’re going to give someone something like a candle, you ought to go with a well-known brand.
“
Consider something Christmas themed so it’s consumable over Christmas and not hanging around all year.
”
“When you get something that is branded, you understand the cost components as well.”
Buying a good gift for your co-worker this Secret Santa season isn’t impossible – just remember to avoid personal items and get something consumable. Coco Gifts has a great range of consumable items from pistachio Russian fudge and bubbly bears sweets to various wine jellies and breakfast tea.
And, if you’re still stuck on what to buy, head in to Coco Gifts. The team at Coco Gifts pride themselves on being able to find something even for the most difficult person.
“We have something for every budget, even those under $10 and we do gift wrapping,” says Liz. “Don’t spend ages blindly searching either. Just ask for help.”
You can visit Liz and the team at Coco Gifts at 63 Rutland Street, Merivale or grab something from the online store at: www.cocogifts.co.nz CT
A successful work function is all about celebrating the year with co-workers. With the holiday season fast approaching, if you haven’t already sorted this year’s Xmas party do – it’s time to move.
Many Aotearoa companies are preparing for the Christmas and New Year break, as it’s not too far away now. Most employees want to stay on top of their tasks leading up to the busy period, so the new year isn’t too stressful.
So, what do employees need to do before their company shuts down?
My Food Bag (MFB) South Island operations manager David Nokes says the team will continue working throughout the summer break. They’ve got weekly meal kits and Christmas boxes scheduled for delivery right up to Christmas and throughout the break. Work finishes on Christmas and New Year’s for the distribution team.
“We pack three brands out of the Christchurch distribution centre – MFB, Bargain Box, and Fresh Start. Plus, we’ve got our full MFB kitchen curated with a range of everything from everyday essentials to local bespoke ingredients, indulgent baking kits, and seasonal goodies. So, there are lots to do…”
Leading up to the summer break is the busiest time for MFB, which usually starts from the 12th of December until the 27th of December, he says.
“Since we’re providing a great selection of Christmas boxes, in addition to our standard weekly meal kit offering, our workload during this three-week period is significantly heightened.”
MFB likes to spread the workload out across early December.
“This helps to reduce stress and ensure the process is more enjoyable for our team during the week of Christmas.”
MFB ensures Christmas is enjoyable. The Christchurch distribution centre has a Christmas Pick Day, which provides Christmas pies, snacks, and festive music playing in the warehouse.
Priority Communications also comments on what needs to be done before the break.
“About six weeks before Christmas, we start looking at the key pieces of work that need to be completed before the end of the year, so our clients meet their targets, and we can all relax over the holiday period. This quite often includes finishing marketing and communications strategies, so that companies can start on new pieces of work when they get back,” Priority Communications director Michele Hider says.
“We plan social media schedules for December/January and help clients communicate their Christmas messages. We also make sure these tasks are covered for
“We know it’s important for our people to take a break and spend time recharging over the summer, which is why we shut down for two weeks (starting December 23rd this year).
“We’re a flexible workplace all year round and we empower our people to structure their weeks around what works best for them and their team.
The office is always decorated, there’s lots of chocolate around, and we have more social events, like our annual Christmas dinner and a picnic in the park before we head off.
our own business and set up work for us to do when things are quieter in January.”
Some of the team has longer breaks than others. Michele says, “While we are always available to help with crisis comms issues, we will be staying out of the office between December 22nd and January 4th. Some of us will start back after the public holiday period but others will take another one or two weeks off.”
Priority Communications’ employees are highly motivated and love what they do, so they’re happy to keep working hard until the break. They have lots of fun in December.
“The office is always decorated, there’s lots of chocolate around, and we have more social events, like our annual Christmas dinner and a picnic in the park before we head off.”
The Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment (MBIE) acting head of employment relations Victoria (Tory) Bourne says MBIE does not have an agency-wide shutdown during summer.
“Some of our buildings close on the days between Christmas and New Year.”
In terms of work-from-home flexibility, Victoria says, “People may be able to work from home depending on their work and roles.
“Where possible, we strongly encourage employees to take time away from the workplace during the summer period.”
MBIE has flexible work practices in place. “This allows employees to have a good work/life balance. It helps employees’ transition back to their work in the office or home environments at any time of the year.”
Trade Me chief people officer Annie Brown also discusses how essential it is for their employees to have a break.
“We offer a work-from-home allowance to help our people get set up and a monthly utility allowance.”
Trade Me’s employees’ well-being is also prioritised at work. “We know our people are our biggest asset at Trade Me, so we work hard to take care of them.”
Xero’s APAC people experience director Amanda Penny says the team has a three-week shutdown in the Southern Hemisphere, which can be taken anywhere within four weeks from mid-December to mid-January.
“We gift our Xero’s the days in between Christmas Day and New Year’s Day. Xero encourages the team to relax/unwind so that when they come back, they are “feeling rejuvenated and re-energised.”
Xero keeps their staff feeling motivated after the summer break. “When staff return to work after the summer break we host welcome back morning teas, and social events in the office,” she says.
Staff can decide if/when they want to come into the office. “Xero’s flexible working policy gives them the opportunity to work where they perform best.”
The New Zealand Automobile Association (AA)’s national manager talent and culture development Aman Dhaliwal says their support office often closes for two weeks over the festive period, but AA has some crews available mostly 24/7, such as AA Roadservice and retail centres.
Health and well-being are important to AA. Therefore, summer is “a great time for a refresh with warm weather and quality time with family and friends.
“We are encouraging all our people to take a break, as it has been a tough few years, and we are very proud of our frontline and wider teams for their hard work during such challenging times.”
Post-Covid, hybrid working has remained, which varies depending on an employee’s division and location.
“We have been quick to adopt a flexible working arrangement that brings people back into the office environment twothree days a week, as we believe social connectivity and engagement are highly important.” CT
How can employees prepare themselves for the shock and horror of returning to the office after the break?
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Gifting an experience is the new way to celebrate your friends, family or work colleagues this holiday season.
Whether you are a business looking for a unique staff gift, or you’re searching for the perfect gift to chip in together with friends, Chuffed Gifts has exactly what you need.
Chuffed Gifts is a New Zealand owned and operated company who are incredible supporters of tourism across Aotearoa.
The business was launched during the Covid lockdown in 2020 when the tourism industry was suffering.
Their gift boxes are packed full of unique experiences to do across New Zealand.
Simply select which box suits your budget and leave decision making up to the receiver. For example, the ‘Gifts for Two’ package include activities such as the Rotorua Canopy Tours or tickets to the Hobbiton in Matamata.
Other experiences include; sailing, ziplines, animals and wildlife, kayaking, horse trekking, scenic flights, vineyards and wineries, hot pools and spas, food experiences, star gazing and many more options.
Co-founder and director, James Fitzgerald says, “Essentially Chuffed creates a way to buy experiences as gifts, but the recipient can choose what they do.
“To name a few, options include seeing the Akaroa Dolphins down South, visiting many adventure parks across Aotearoa, or Hanmer Springs to unwind and relax.
“There’s a network of experiences across the country to explore,” says James.
Choosing the perfect gift for someone can sometimes be challenging. Chuffed Gifts allows you to decide the budget and the receiver of the gift to choose exactly where they want to celebrate.
The pressure is taken out of selecting the right gift and instead creates an experience for both you and the person to enjoy.
James says Chuffed Gifts makes the process of being given a gift a journey where gift culture becomes about life experiences and creating memories.
“We can see how people giving gift experiences is having an impact.
“Whether it is businesses or family purchases traditionally opting for cheap and thoughtless hampers from the supermarket, are now instead giving incredibly exciting and interactive gifts.”
Chuffed Gifts celebrates how giving a gift is more than dollar value by influencing change in gift culture and thoughtful gifts.
There are many benefits including economic support and environmental sustainability through reducing waste.
“A huge benefit to purchasing Chuffed is there are many strings of sustainability involved.
“One sustainability point of view is supporting locally kiwi owned, family operated businesses in regions such as Raglan.”
Economic sustainability of small businesses post-Covid is incredibly important. Making sure as New Zealanders we get out there and support businesses rather than relying on tourists from overseas, is one way we can collectively make big impact.
There’s also the environmental side of producing less waste and carbon footprint when purchasing an experience gift.
Instead of purchasing a gift which, might make its way to the landfill after the holiday season has ended, James says this is another positive of choosing Chuffed.
“There’s a lot less waste in terms of buying something from a shop and throwing it away.
“The whole idea of wellness, new experiences, new ways of living is at the core of our business.”
Learning about aspects to New Zealand such as marine life and reserves is a part of the journey too.
“When you get out there and learn a whole lot about aspects such as marine reserve and action companies are taking, then we are all better off,” says James.
Chuffed Gifts have considered everything. Each gift comes with a two-year validity period on each gift, so there’s no rush, plus up to 120 options to choose from in every box.
Different package options include; Gifts for Him and Her, Gifts for Families, Gifts for Clients, and Gifts for Staff.
All experiences are equal to the amount you have selected. Boxes range in price from $99 NZD to $1,000 NZD.
There’s something for everyone and any occasion. Whether you’re wanting a creative, innovative gift to give to your staff over the end of year period, or needing the perfect gift for Dad, the wide selection from Chuffed Gifts will make gift buying easy this year.
If you’re wanting to purchase a Chuffed Gift for someone you know, make sure to visit their website at chuffedgifts.co.nz to find out more. CT
GiftsThere are many great places to explore around the country, including our breathtakingly beautiful outdoor environment in Aotearoa.
Here are some unique businesses to check out on your summer roadie across the country.
From cherry picking down South, to cheese Delis up North, to mosaic cafes and boutique lolly shops, this list has everything you need to discover this summer.
The Cheese Barn is located in Matatoki and has been operating for nearly 25 years.
Owned and operated by Cathy and Kelvin Haigh, The Cheese Barn is a must-visit to explore their wide range of delicacies.
From imported cheese, chutneys, salamis, fruit pastes, and crackers, you’ll find the most luxurious types of deli foods at The Cheese Barn.
“It’s an everything factory, we’re a cheese shop and a whole lot of other things!” says Cathy.
The business is also certified organic, which ensures only the best quality ingredients have been used.
Cheese maker Kelvin, creates all products by hand. He has been in the dairy industry for many years from milking cows, studying science and working on farms.
The Cheese Barn is a BYO cafe. “Make sure to bring your favourite wine and have a cheese board in the sun,” says Cathy.
“We have a lovely outdoor area with trees to sit under. There’s also animals for children to feed.”
The Cheese Barn is open seven days a week and it’s the perfect place to relax, unwind and enjoy during the summer period.
Address: 4 Wainui Road, Matatoki To find out more: thecheesebarn.co.nz
Visit the unique Mosaic Cafe and Gallery in Tauo to see ceramic artist Judi Brennan’s creative designs made in clay and pottery.
Owner of L’Arte Cafe, Jo Brennan says, “Mum started clay when I was a kid. I used to follow her around at shows on the weekends”.
L’Arte is a sought-after local cafe and art gallery. “We produce all our own ceramic items on site,” says Jo.
Outside there is the stunning mosaic lounge room where you can sit and eat lunch, or take photos with the kids.
“There’s so much outdoor area, plus it’s away from the hustle and bustle of town,” says Jo.
Make sure to stop at L’Arte to grab a coffee shop, visit their gallery and see the mosaic creations.
Address: 255 Mapara Road, Taupo To find out more: larte.co.nz
Based in Cromwell, Cheeki Cherries give you a premium ‘pick your own’ cherry picking experience.
Owner of Cheeki Cherries, Martin Milne says, “We have 22 varieties of cherries and over 2000 trees to pick from”.
They open in late November and the cherry season runs through until early February.
“We’re family oriented. It’s one of the cheaper things to do as a family.
“You can have a picnic under the trees and take a bottle of wine and enjoy the sunshine,” says Martin.
He says his cherry is the Kordia, which is a dark cherry with a long stalk and is heart shaped.
“It’s a very sexy looking cherry,” jokes Martin.
Everyone will go home with a cheeky smile on their face after a day at the orchard. Spend a day in the sun picking this delightful stone fruit for an enjoyable experience to remember.
Address: 216 Ripponvale Road, Cromwell. To find out more: cheekicherries.co.nz
Enjoy the experience of an old-fashioned vintage sweet shop and take a moment back in time at Birdwoods Sweet Shop.
After you have filled a bag with sweets, make sure to visit next door at the Birdwoods Art Gallery. The gallery celebrates traditional African artworks from artists in Zimbabwe.
Co-director Jack Stobart says, “My parents Louise and Bruce, started Birdwoods in 1991 when they lived in Zimbabwe. My mum made metal birds from old oil drums.”
When the family moved to New Zealand in 2004, they brought Birdwoods with them.
“It started as a small, local group of African artists who we represented in the gallery.
“It slowly grew before adding a cafe and garden. Once it kept growing, we added the traditional English sweet shop,” says Jack.
The artwork is imported from primitive rural areas in Africa. “A lot of people enjoy our story. We give them a voice and provide a very good income.”
Visiting Birdwoods is the perfect summer afternoon activity, or to stop by with friends.
“There is an ice cream shop, a beautiful garden and a duck pond. People sit in the sunshine and enjoy the food from our restaurant.”
Make sure to stop by at Birdwoods to see life sized elephants, hippopotamuses and Giraffes crafted from metal. Locations in Havelock North, Auckland and Arrowtown.
Address: 298 Middle Road, Havelock North To find out more: birdwoods.co.nz
Looking for school camp options? Come and stay at the Whakatāne Holiday Park, centrally located in sunny Whakatāne in the heart of the Eastern Bay of Plenty.
Just a short river-side walk to Whakatāne town centre where you’ll find the library and galleries, yummy eateries, local parks and Mataatua Wharenui, Whakatāne Holiday Park has it all. With great facilities the park caters for all group sizes offering accommodation options from cabins to fully self-contained motel units. For those who love to camp, both powered and non-powered sites are available for caravans and tents.
Amenities include a large, covered outdoor dining area perfect for the adults to chill in while the kids enjoy the swimming pool nearby. The jumping pillow, TV room, Berg Bikes and Choppers will entertain the whole family, and there’s free wi-fi so you can stay connected while at your home away from home.
To find out more, visit whakataneholidaypark.co.nz email whakataneholidaypark@gmail.com or phone 07 308 8694.
Whakatāne Holiday Park - McGarvey Road, Whakatāne whakataneholidaypark@gmail.com whakataneholidaypark.co.nz
If you’re heading to the Eastern Bay and looking for a fun activity to tick off, add Whakatāne Aquatic and Fitness Centre to your list.
The Centre boasts a 25-metre indoor pool, 33-metre enclosed outdoor pool (open year-round) and a learners pool with play area. The Centre also offers thrill seekers an adrenaline rush with the ever-popular hydroslide, there’s a super-sized inflatable playground to burn off all that energy, while those wanting to relax can chill in one of two large spas.
Whakatāne is within one hours drive of Tauranga and Rotorua and boasts a variety of family-friendly activities while also being on the doorstep of some of New Zealand’s best beaches, lakes, parks and forests.
To find out more, visit whakatane.govt.nz/aquatic, email AquaticCentre@whakatane.govt.nz or phone 07 308 4192.
Christchurch is set to be a hub of entertainment this summer with highly anticipated concerts, social events and much, much more.
From overseas artists and sports teams to entertainers from the home turf, the next few months will be spectacular.
YouTube sensation, Daniel Howell is performing his 2023 world tour “We’re All Doomed” at the Christchurch Town Hall on the 25th of January, 2023.
For those who grew up in the earlier days of YouTube, this promises to be a night of sarcastic comedy and throwbacks.
Award-winning comedian and writer, Sarah Millican is coming to the Christchurch Town Hall with her “Bobby Dazzler” New Zealand Tour. This will take place on the 28th of January, 2023.
UK’s comedy star, Michael McIntyre is returning to Christchurch on the 21st of March, 2023 for his show, Jet-lagged and Jolly, which promises to be a show making mirth from the madness of the last few years. Set in the Christchurch Arena, get ready for side-splitting comedy.
It’s all happening in Christchurch this entertainment season so get ready! From concerts to comedy, sports to pets, this summer promises to never get boring.
Homegrown band, Six60 will be playing in the Orangetheory Stadium on the 10th of December 2022 for their Stadium Tour. According to Christchurch NZ, this will be the first time any artist has embarked on a 100 percent stadium tour throughout all of New Zealand which, as they remark, is history.
The 24th of January, 2023 sees Elton John return to New Zealand for the first time in over 30 years for his final goodbye; Farewell Yellow Brick Road Tour. Join the Rocket Man himself in the Orangetheory Stadium for what the Herald Sun is calling a “once-in-ageneration farewell.”
Not to mention, the annual music festival, Electric Avenue will be held in Hagley Park on the 25th of February, 2023. Featuring a
wonderful line up of Lorde, Fat Freddy’s Drop, Peking Duk and many, many more, it’s set to be an exciting night.
Sting is another world class act returning to New Zealand. He hasn’t been in the country for eight years and now brings Christchurch Arena his tour “My Songs” on the 1st of March, 2023. Featuring his most beloved songs, it’s set to be an exuberant and dynamic show.
The Proclaimers and their four-piece band will perform hits such as “I’m Gonna Be (500 Miles” in the Isaac Theatre Royal on the 17th of March, 2023.
The brothers, Craig and Charlie Reid are visiting Christchurch as part of their biggest ever New Zealand tour and will play favourites from across their entire career.
On the 3rd and 4th of December, the Christchurch Pet and Animal Expo brings the fluffy, feathered and scaled creatures to the Pioneer Leisure Centre. From dogs and cats to mice and rats, fish and turtles to lizards and more, the pet expo is a great event for all ages.
In pop culture and social entertainment, Armageddon is taking place on the 10th and 11th of December, 2022 with fantastically creative stalls, merchandise and events.
There will also be the first in person panel since Covid, featuring actors such as Graham McTavish from The Witcher, Veronica Taylor from Pokémon, Liam McIntyre from The Flash, and many more.
Sports is having a bit of a bonanza in Christchurch with cricket, sailing, hockey and more. On the 20th of January 2023, the Hagley Oval will be hosting the T20 Black Clash, which pits New Zealand’s biggest stars of rugby and cricket against each other.
Meanwhile, on the 18th and 19th of March, 2023, the inaugural New Zealand Sail Grand Prix will be held on the Whakaraupo Lyttleton harbour.
And, the FIH Hockey Pro League is coming to Nga Puna Wai from the 22nd of April 2023 to the 30th of April, 2023. It will feature both the Vantage Black Sticks Men and Women as they face Australia and Great Britain.
Modern retail hub, The Crossing, is located in the heart of Christchurch city on Cashel Street. The retail sanctuary is all-inclusive with endless opportunity to explore.
Whether you want to shop designer, small businesses, experience exquisite cuisine, or pamper yourself with one of their beauty salons, there is something for everyone to enjoy.
Centre manager, Kelly Morison says tourism is important for businesses, but people from around Aotearoa or locals in Christchurch, can come to The Crossing to enjoy a day out.
“Experiencing shopping at The Crossing is pleasant. You could spend a day here shopping, pampering yourself, or eating.
“Take the time to enjoy the experience and explore the lanes to find little details we have created,” she says.
Shopping in the fresh air and luscious environment is what creates the vibrancy and uniqueness of The Crossing.
“We offer the experience of shopping in an outdoor mall, which lets you enjoy fresh air and space without overcrowding, while browsing for the perfect outfit or gift.”
Kelly says there are not many cities who have had to grow ground-up in 10 years post the Christchurch earthquakes.
“The modern environment of The Crossing showcases the growth we have done. We want to show this off to our tourists and locals.
“We also want people from Wellington and Auckland to see and enjoy the future of Christchurch.”
The multi-use shopping centre specialises in fashion, including supporting NZ designer brands such as Nicole Rebstock, Ruby and Workshop with their only South Island stores.
As well as supporting local fashion stores, gift stores, cafes, and locally owned beauticians, The Crossing compliments these stores with more familiar brands, too.
Stores such as Country Road, Witchery and H&M are amongst the list for you to enjoy while visiting.
The Crossing gives back to the Christchurch community, including partnering with the Christchurch Women’s Netball Team Mainland Tactix and also participating as the named sponsor for the fashion competition at Addington Raceway’s NZ Trotting Cup 2022.
Make sure you spend some time this weekend or plan a trip over the holiday season to visit The Crossing on Cashel Street Christchurch. Have a new shopping experience while supporting the local community and business to grow.
To find out more about The Crossing make sure to visit thecrossing.co.nz. CT
The Crossing 166 Cashel Street Central City Christchurch 027 506 8149
hello@thecrossing.co.nz www.thecrossing.co.nz
During the past couple of years, we have all become familiar with the phrase ‘shop local’. But what are the benefits of shopping locally?
Supporting local and small businesses helps to keep revenue inside towns and cities, ensuring local start-ups can continue, despite inflation and possible financial hardship.
Small acts such as purchasing your fruit and veg from a local fruit shop or buying bread from a locally owned bakery, all adds to the longevity and success of family-owned businesses.
Plus, by purchasing local you get the bonus of feeling of participating in helping your community continue to thrive.
Many people may feel time poor, therefore opting for more ‘convenient’ options such as big-name supermarkets.
Allocating an extra hour of shopping time to your typical Sunday grocery shop means you can add in necessary extra shops.
You could also opt for an enjoyable shopping outing with friends. Find a time which suits you best and grab a coffee at your favourite local coffee shop before heading to the bakery and fruit shops.
There’s many locally owned clothing shops and home decor places to visit too, with options to suit everyone and every style.
Websites such as neatplaces.co.nz or christchurchnz.com provide lists of locally owned businesses specifically in Christchurch for you to explore.
Getting into the habit of making a conscious choice to shop locally means you will feel better about your purchases, as well as supporting the cycle of small business. CT
Here are a few local Christchurch businesses to check out:
20 Welles Street, Christchurch
Committed to bringing integrity back to the commercial bakery, the team ensures every baked good is crafted with care and passion. Make sure to visit Grizzly for one of their infamous bagels, freshly baked bread loafs or pimped up croissants.
254 Saint Asaph Street, Christchurch
Stop by Unknown Chapter to grab your Sunday morning coffee, knowing you are supporting traceable, ethically sourced straight from the farmers or transparent trading partners, as well as supporting a local business to thrive.
Funky Pumpkin Fruit and Vegetable Retail Store
290c Colombo Street, Christchurch
The home of fresh, fabulous and funky fruits and vegetables. The Funky Pumpkin sources the most delicious and delightfully fresh produce. There is the added bonus of affordable prices and supporting a locally owned business.
Phone. 03 374 9425 Email. racing@supakarts.co.nz www.supakarts.co.nz
Making
Himmelsfeld Vineyard never hurry their winemaking – terroir and cellaring deliver wines that reflect the personality of the soils in which they are grown, and only when they have reached the perfect pitch of maturity are they released.
Planning is easy. All you need to do is get to Nelson or Motueka. The Wilson’s team picks you up from there and takes care of every detail, so you switch off and enjoy.
Escape, revive and reconnect on an allinclusive holiday staying at beachfront lodges in the park with every option: boat cruising, guided kayaking and walking (guided or self-guided).
Stay overnight within the boundaries of the national park, to experience the tranquillity of the park after most visitors have left for the day.
Wilsons Abel Tasman have two lodges right on the beach in the national park, ideally spaced for you to explore the length of the spectacular granite coast in comfort.
Each lodge preserves a unique heritage of human endeavour in the region. Meadowbank Homestead at Awaroa is a faithful reproduction of the Wilsons family’s ancestral home, first built in 1884 by the Hadfield family who were pioneering farmers on the coast.
The homestead holds onto its original character with the added comfort of ensuite bedrooms and modern facilities.
Torrent Bay Lodge retains the relaxed beach holiday feel of the Wilson family’s holiday cottage, displaying the nautical history of the coast. The original cottage on the beach has been rebuilt and refurbished to include all modern comforts.
Three-day trips stay one night at each lodge. Five-day trips stay two nights at each lodge. Extra time at the lodges can be spent relaxing on the beach or exploring regions of the national park many visitors don’t get to see.
Relax or adventure through the day, then come home to your ensuite room and freshen up with a hot shower. Treat yourself
with pre-dinner drinks and snacks while your hosts prepare a delicious meal.
After dinner, share stories with like-minded travellers, take a romantic stroll along the beach or find time on your own. Then allow yourself to be lulled to sleep by the rhythm of the tides.
In the morning, awake to birdsong and breakfast served overlooking gardens by the sea. Then, you decide how active or relaxed you want to be. Expert hosts and guides will help you design your day around the weather and tides.
If you are short of time, a full experience of the Abel Tasman National Park can take a half or single day, including cruising, walking and sea kayaking options.
Go to Wilsons Abel Tasman website and use their easy trip finder to design a day that suits your interests, time frame and budget.
This is guilt-free indulgence. The Wilson family has been welcoming visitors to the Nelson region since 1841.
They are industry leaders in adopting the latest technologies to provide modern comforts with the lowest possible environmental impact. Three generations of the Wilson family are working with their team of professional reservationists, guides, boat skippers, lodge, and boat hosts to give you a warm Kiwi welcome.
They know how to show you the very best of their favourite part of world whilst preserving it for future generations. CT
Wilsons Abel Tasman 409 High Street Motueka 7120 0800 223 582 info@AbelTasman.co.nz www.AbelTasman.co.nz
“Outstanding wines from a truly unique vineyard”
Kaiteriteri Recreation Reserve is the gateway to the world renowned Abel Tasman National Park. Famous for golden sand, turquoise water and beautiful climate across all four seasons. Kaiteriteri encompasses our very own accommodation, waterfront dining, recreation and events all within a stunning coastal reserve. A world class beach and a gold level mountain bike park all within the reserve, you can stay at the campground or a luxury apartment, and be at the forefront of adventure within minutes or with three National Parks on our doorstep, bigger adventures start here.
Waiheke Island is renowned for its stunning natural beauty, laid-back coastal lifestyle, artisan products, world-class venues and award-winning restaurants, wines and olive oils.
So, it’s not surprising that it’s also one of the top wedding destinations in New Zealand with more than 1,000 weddings taking place on the island each year at the Island’s many diverse locations offering vineyard, Tuscan, contemporary or coastal settings.
One of the many attractions is the Waiheke Waterfront Lodge.
This stunning lodge is located on gorgeous Waiheke Island, a short 35-minute ferry ride from downtown Auckland harbour.
Waiheke Waterfront Lodge is a deluxe five-star accommodation hotel, providing you with the finest personal luxury experience.
Owners Pip and Andy say they fell in love with Waiheke Island. Since moving there in September they have refurnished the hotel to give you an exceptional experience of luxurious beds and gourmet breakfasts.
The lodge is set in a peaceful, relaxing location on the waterfront.
The main village of Oneroa is only a short 10-15-minute stroll from the lodge. The location of the lodge is handy, near many great restaurants and bars.
All guests have complimentary use of the lodges: electric bikes, mountain bikes, kayaks, paddle boards, golf clubs, spa pool, plus other options available.
Waiheke Waterfront Lodge offers different options for everyone, ranging from a simple relaxing stay, to romance, wine and dinner packages available.
There is endless opportunity for fun and new experiences on Waiheke to relax and enjoy the serene lifestyle away from the business of the city.
Pip and Andy have over 30 years’ experience in the New Zealand hospitality industry. Whether you want to dine out at one of the island’s many restaurants or relax in the subtropical garden Waiheke Waterfront Lodge is the perfect place for you.
To find out more about Waiheke Waterfront Lodge make sure to visit their website at: waihekewaterfrontlodge.co.nz. CT
The secret has been out for some time now – Waiheke Island is one of the world’s nicest destinations.
Way back in 2016 the island was named one of the world’s top 10 regions in Lonely Planet’s Best in Travel 2016 publication.
The travel bible has dubbed the island the “playground of the gods” and ranked it number five in the “Top 10 Regions 2016” list, alongside Transylvania, West Iceland, Valle de Viñales and Friuli’s wine regions in Italy.
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The secret is out… Waiheke Island is welcoming the world to sample from its abundant offering and inviting all visitors to fall under its spell
Aucklanders have always known Waiheke Island is one of the jewels in its crown and this accolade from one of the world’s leading travel authorities echoes that sentiment.
Lonely Planet’s listing arrived hot on the heels of Conde Nast Traveler including Waiheke Island on its Best Islands in the World List.
Lonely Planet’s chapter on Waiheke Island was written by Lonely Planet’s Chris Zeiher, a long-time fan of the region as a whole, but made special mention of Ecozip Adventures, Mudbrick, Cable Bay, Oyster Inn, Wild On Waiheke and Fullers Vineyard Hopper.
“The secret is out… Waiheke Island is welcoming the world to sample from its abundant offering and inviting all visitors to fall under its spell,” he wrote.
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“Waiheke is an electric, heady mix set against a Buddha Bar soundtrack: fast yet slow all at the same time – there’s nowhere else on earth quite like it.”
CT
— Advertising Feature
The airport is an important tourism hub, welcoming visitors with hospitality, a range of rental car services and ample parking.
There are scenic flights operating out of the airport, and the recently completed terminal extension features a new arrivals gate, baggage collection area, open space seating and extended views of the runway.
Arrivals and departures by air into Hokitika come with the visual treat of the Tasman Sea alongside the airport runway, high mountain peaks on the eastern backdrop, and the patchwork Canterbury Plains beyond the Southern Alps — a taste of the region’s impressive natural attributes.
Hokitika Airport serves as the regional airport for Westland and the Grey districts, the towns of Greymouth and Hokitika, and — to the south — the vast wilderness regions of Westland Tai Poutini National Park, Franz Josef and Fox glaciers, Haast and the World Heritage Area of Te Waipounamu New Zealand.
The schedule of daily services to and from Christchurch, and connections to Wellington and Auckland, ensures Hokitika Airport plays a key role in supporting the local economy and community by offering the most convenient, quickest business and leisure travel options in and out of the West Coast region.
Hokitika Airport’s meeting room and event facilities are the perfect solution to saving additional travel time. They are also conveniently situated for a range of uses including board meetings, one-on-one interviews, small workshops, conferences or evening events.
Hokitika itself is a thriving tourist centre with an historic business centre, a wide variety of accommodation, cafes and restaurants.
It’s also a popular setting or overnight stay for cyclists on the multi-day West Coast Wilderness Trail, running between Greymouth and Ross, which helps explain the frequent arrival of bicycles and their riders at the airport.
A member of the New Zealand Airports Association, Hokitika Airport is certificated under Civil Aviation rules Part 139 and operates just like its bigger cousins, hosting regular services, charter and private aircraft 365 days a year (weather-permitting). CT
Connecting people and places, welcoming visitors and locals alike, Hokitika Airport is the main air gateway into and out of the West Coast.
The Hokitika i-SITE Visitor Centre is part of New Zealand’s official nationwide Visitor Information Network.
More than 60 i-SITE Visitor Centres across Aotearoa provide international and domestic travellers with information and booking services for activities, attractions, accommodation and transport.
Retail items and souvenirs are also available at the centre.
Want to make sure you experience all the must-do activities while on the coast? Hokitika i-SITE will make sure you don’t miss a thing.
Needing to book activities, attractions, accommodation or transport? You can trust our i-SITE team to get you sorted. Just want to chat about the area? We’re happy to help.
As a Qualmark-accredited service (New Zealand tourism’s official quality assurance organisation), Hokitika i-SITE provides a trusted guide to iconic travel experiences.
Owned by Tourism New Zealand and backed by leading industry organisations, Qualmark provides a grading system for accommodation providers and a quality endorsement programme for visitor activities,
service and transport providers it acts as an official mark of quality.
The Qualmark logo means you can book with confidence, knowing that the experience is quality-assured to the highest standards.
Whether you’re looking for places to stay, things to do or ways to get around, a business displaying the Qualmark logo represents
the best tourism experience New Zealand has to offer.
There are not many towns that can equal Hokitika’s outlook with its wild and beautiful beach, the blue-green waters of the Hokitika Gorge and superb views of the Southern Alps. Throw in friendly locals, great cafes, galleries, recreation, and our West Coast
Wilderness Cycle Trail, you have the perfect West Coast base.
In addition to offering local advice and support, Hokitika i-SITE also operates as an AA driver licensing agency.
Services include vehicle and driver licensing, overseas conversions, RealMe, IRD and a range of other requirements. CT
m a n a g e m e n t @ h o k i t i k a a i r p o r t . c o . n z w w w . h o k i t i k a a i r p o r t . c o . n z
i r p o r t D r i v e , H o k i t i k a
Hokitika’s annual Wildfoods Festival is a celebration of the West Coast’s unique wild food and lifestyle, accompanied by premier entertainment.
Visitors can sample a wide array of local natural foods, ranging from some of the weirdest and most exotic delicacies to fabulous gourmet specialties.
What’s traditionally found in the heart of the bush and deep in the ocean is served up with a fork for the daring.
After hunting the mountains for pigs, deer, thar and chamois and fishing the sea, keen stallholders have not left many stones unturned in their efforts to explore edible possibilities.
Even garden weeds have been discovered as herbs useful in festival salads and beverages.
The festival first came into fruition in 1990 when Hokitika local, Claire Bryant, instigated the very first celebration of local wild foods. Her wine cellar was very well stocked with a home brew of West Coast gorse flower wine and people were clamouring for a taste of her rose petal brew.
So, why not a festival celebrating the tastes of the wild West Coast!
The first event also coincided with the 125th anniversary celebration of the birth of Hokitika in March 1990.
Locals and the rest of New Zealand were captured by the magic of the idea – a celebration of Hokitika and the wild foods of the West Coast.
As for entertainment, 2023’s festival has a stellar line-up headlined by hall of fame legend, Sir Dave Dobbyn. Other Kiwi class acts include Zed, Greg Johnson and Cassie Henderson.
Those with a creative flair can enter Feral Fashion – a wearable arts style competition
modelled on the racing circuits-Fashion in the Field.
Contestants get creative, forage in their surroundings, and create a wild alter ego to wear to the festival.
If children are not interested in sampling huhu grubs, the Kids Corner will keep them occupied with face painting, a massive inflatable pirate ship, a candy shop and more.
Tickets for the upcoming festival are currently on sale through Eventfinda.
Further information including merchandise, travel and accommodation can be found at: wildfoods.co.nz. CT
I'm a small reputable construction company focused on quality to a high standard.
Mentored by one of Westports’ leading carpenters for 25 years, I have extensive knowledge of local infrastructure and connections with only the best subtrades.
I price, project manage and source everything required from start to finish
to ensure the project runs smoothly, trying along the way to support as many local businesses as possible. Because in a small town like ours reputation and word of mouth is paramount.
I have had the pleasure of dealing with many new people moving to the district, clients from Nelson and Christchurch looking for a lifestyle change as well as many locals, whether it be downsizing or upgrading.
The majority of my 25 years experience has been renovating, which proves a lot
more challenging, as new builds in the early years were few and far between.
In the later years specializing in town houses for elderly looking at scaling back, as well as quite a few interesting architectural builds.
I can offer not only a quality home but have a lot of experience with decks, fences concreting, paving and landscaping.
I see myself as approachable and down to earth, always up for a new and exciting challenge.
The company started in 1992 as a butchery and still today everything is produced in our factory at Blackball.
Phillip and Debbie Russ purchased the business 13 years ago. We rebranded, designed a website and setup online ordering. We promoted to supermarkets, attended trade fairs and farmers markets.
We have a range of over 40 different products. All our products except for the black and white pudding are MSG & Gluten free. We produce fresh sausages, speciality goods, bacon and salami.
The salami is made the old fashioned way and naturally cured. Our salami is made from a variation of quality NZ beef, pork and venison. The raw materials in our salami are kept exceptionally lean. Our traditional Italian salami has a fat content added. All the finest herbs and spices are used in all our products to obtain our unique quality. We use only manakau wood smoke during our smoking process. The salami is then hung and cured in our humidity/temp controlled room. Once they have reached their maturity, they are packed to production requirements ready for you. We are committed to providing the very best ingredients and recipes in our range of fine foods... West Coast Perfection, it’s all in the making. www.Blackballsalami.co.nz
Last year the Paparoa track opened, this is New Zealand’s 10th Great Walk. There was a shortage of accommodation in Blackball so we decided to set up three brand new Tinyhouse’s on a section behind the salami shop. These are self contained with a kingsize bed, sink area with a jug, toaster and small fridge. There is also a TV, sofa and a separate bathroom.
Whether you are looking for a relaxed stay or a night to enjoy before or after the Paparoa track our accommodation is top notch.
Check out our website www.paparoaaccommodation.co.nz
Hokitika is a great little town on the West Coast and embodies the best of what the district has to offer.
Filled with captivating historic gems and a distinct charm with welcoming and friendly locals, Hokitika is a great place to visit no matter what age, and families seem to especially love the educational aspect.
Only a three-hour drive away from Christchurch, this is a great long weekend or school holiday destination.
The Hokitika Fire Station Boutique Accommodation is the only 5 star Qualmark in the CBD. They offer an experience like no other with a gorgeously unique building for these apartments.
Their freshly constructed, self-contained apartments are set in Hokitika’s historic fire station. It’s the perfect location to immerse yourself in a little piece of Hokitika history and a stone’s throw from stunning scenery, beautiful beaches, the West Coast cycle trail and the Hokitika Gorge.
They have recently installed each unit with their own personal Air Purifiers which help remove 99.8 percent of viruses, including SARS and COVID-19. This air purification also helps to promote a better night's sleep for when you take a visit to their accommodation.
Each of the five apartments are proudly named after a fire chief who once led the Brigade. A spacious main room sits at the heart of each apartment with either a kitchenette or full kitchen and a modern ensuite bathroom.
Apartment Chief Millard has full wheelchair access. Guests have 24/7 access to their apartment through a secure keypad and full use of clothes washing/drying facilities and bike storage.
We have one large family apartment that can accommodate six people with the other four apartments, each sleeping four — a grand total of 22 guests for group bookings.
The apartments being so centrally located means you are within walking distance of fantastic food options or simply relax about town. Time your trip correctly and you could go check out the iconic Wild Food Festival or hit the slopes at nearby Mt Cheeseman.
The accommodation has received shining reviews, with guests mentioning Hokitika is a ‘hidden gem’ and a ‘must-visit place’ which is unique, quirky, comfortable and beautifully maintained.
They offer easy parking and convenient to access the centre of Hokitika which makes the fire station a great choice for people of all ages — including a family experience to remember, or instead, for those with finer tastes.
There are events throughout the entire year held in the surrounding area of Hokitika, ranging from multi-sport races to beach art and horse racing. A tourist calendar is available for you to fully enjoy your experience in Hokitika.
Whatever you like to do, staying at the Hokitika fire station is a memorable experience in itself so get in contact with us. We would love to have you stay.
Campbell & Associates is a small accounting firm based in Westport in the Buller District.
The business started in May of 1988 and has traded from the office at 68 Russell St, Westport since then.
The accounting practice provides services to clients around the country to clients in all types of business activities with its largest block of Fees being in the Dairy Industry.
Peter Campbell, the owner of the business, realised early in his career that clients were looking for information during the financial year so that they did not get surprised with large tax bills when their business profit had increased.
When GST was enacted it was realised that a lot of clients were not sufficiently able to deal with processing regular GST returns and dealing with complicated matters during that process. Campbell & Associates offered a service to do this and as a result
it produced reports at the end of each GST return indicating the Profit and Loss of the business.
From this, clients asked questions about payroll and wages. It was clear as things got more complicated clients were not able to do Employment contracts and deal with matters in relation to payroll issues. On that basis the firm offered a service to do this and now provides this service to a significant number of business’s.
Initially the firm input bank statements into their accounting software manually then moved to Banklink. In recent times this product has been dropped and the firm is now using Xero to process bank transactions.
With the evolvement of technology Campbell & Associates is able to work with clients all around the country. Distance is not a problem as we like to talk to people about what is happening in their business during the year and also like to know what
they are doing so a visit to them is a plan on a regular basis.
The firm specialises in having a close working relationship with clients so we can work as a team.
At Campbell & Associates we understand that people are unique, businesses are unique, and your situation is unique. To this end we are dedicated to providing timely, accurate solutions tailored to suit individual needs. We will work alongside you with the aim of not only solving problems that arise, but helping you reach your financial goals.
The team of focused, friendly accountants available at Campbell & Associates offers a wide range of expertise and experience in the world of business, taxation, financial planning, and wealth creation.
For more information on how our expertise can benefit you please enquire now and contact us today!
V i s i t t h e N o r t h e r n W e s t C o a s t o f t h e S o u t h I s l a n d , a s t u n n i n g p a r t o f N e w Z e a l a n d t h a t m a n y v i s i t o r s r e g r e t t h e y d i d n o t p l a n t o s t a y i n l o n g e r . B y m a k i n g W e s t p o r t y o u r h o m e b a s e a w i d e v a r i e t y o f u n i q u e , u n t a m e d w i l d e r n e s s a n d a d v e n t u r e s a w a i t y o u !
Y o u c a n t a k e g r e a t s h o r t w a l k s i n t o t h e u n t a m e d w i l d e r n e s s . S w i m a t b e a u t i f u l b e a c h e s . T h e r e a r e m a n y o p p o r t u n i t i e s t o e x p l o r e t h e n a t u r a l b e a u t y o f t h e w i l d W e s t C o a s t b y w a t e r , f o o t o r v e h i c l e . W h e n e x p l o r i n g N e w Z e a l a n d , d o n ' t m i s s o u t o n “ t h e b e s t b i t ! ” P l a n t o s t a y a n d e x p e r i e n c e t h e a w e a n d t h r i l l t h a t a d v e n t u r e t o u r i s m o n t h e W i l d W e s t C o a s t g i ve s y o u o r k i c k b a c k a n d r e l a x i m m e r s i n g y o u r s e l f i n t h e l a i d b a c k W e s t C o a s t l i f e s t y l e !
A f o r t y f i v e m i n u t e d r i v e t h r o u g h t h e s t u n n i n g l y b e a u t i f u l l o w e r B u l l e r g o r g e a n d j u s t p a s t I n a n g a h u a , t h e s i t e o f t h e l a r g e 1 9 6 8 e a r t h q u a k e , i s y o u r n e x t N o r t h e r n W e s t C o a s t w i l d e r n e s s a d v e n t u r e G o i n g a l l t h e w a y f r o m t h e s i t e o f t h e o l d g o l d m i n i n g t o w n o f L y e l l t h r o u g h t o S e d d o n v i l l e i s t h e “ O l d G h o s t R o a d ” – a p u r p o s e b u i l t m o u n t a i n b i k i n g a n d t r a m p i n g t r a i l . I t i s i n a c l a s s o f i t s o w n . A v a r i e t y o f t o u r s t o c a t e r f o r y o u r n e e d s a n d a b i l i t i e s a r e a v a i l a b l e
g j o u r n e y t h r o u g h p r i s t i n e w e t l a n d s , i n t o n a t i v e f o r e s t s , a l o n g m a g n i f i c e n t c o a s t l i n e s a n d t h r o u g h i m p o r t a n t h i s t o r i c l o c a t i o n s T h e t r a i l m e a n d e r s a l o n g t h e c o a s t l i n e , w i t h v i e w s t o w a r d s t h e m a j e s t i c P a p a r o a M o u n t a i n R a n g e a n d t h e w i l d T a s m a n S e a M u l t i p l e a c c e s s p o i n t s m a k e i t e a s y t o t a i l o r t h e j o u r n e y t o t h e l e n g t h p e r f e c t f o r y o u . A s a G r a d e 2 f a m i l y f r i e n d l y c y c l e t r a i l i t i s s u i t a b l e f o r m o s t a g e s a n d a b i l i t i e s a n d o f f e r s t h e c o n v e n i e n c e o f a c c o m m o d a t i o n a n d e a t e r i e s a l o n g t h e w a y T h e P u w a h a S e c t i o n o f t h e K a w a t i r i C o a s t a l T r a i l f r o m W e s t p o r t t o C a r t e r s B e a c h i s f u l l y o p e n a n d t h e s e c t i o n b e t w e e n C a r t e r s B e a c h a n d C a p e F o u l w i n d w i l l o p e n i n N o v e m b e r 2 0 2 2 . T h e t r a i l f r o m W e s t p o r t t o O k a r i L a g o o n i s p a r t l y o p e n a n d w i l l b e c o m p l e t e d b y m i d N o v e m b e r 2 0 2 2 . T h e f u l l 5 0 k m o f t r a i l i s d u e f o r c o m p l e t i o n l a t e 2 0 2 3
E S T P O R T
The Grey District is the perfect base to explore and is at the start or finish of one of the top 10 train trips in the world, the famous Tranz Alpine.
A stopping point for the Tranz Alpine is Lake Brunner - the jewel in the crown of the Grey District, and at Moana the local hospitality, fishing, water sports and outdoor activities is pleasure in this untamed natural wilderness.
The majestic, rugged Coast Road that connects us to Punakaiki Pancake Rocks and Blowholes is classified as one of the top 10 drives in the world.
From Punakaiki you can now enter the Paparoa Track, the new addition to New
Zealand’s Great Walks which is dedicated to the miners and families of the Pike River tragedy.
The track connects to Blackball, one of our historic mining towns where you can find the famous Blackball Salami and Formerly the Blackball Hilton.
By basing yourself in Greymouth there are many other beautiful places you can visit.
Take in our local hospitality and rich pioneering history however, the West Coast is also on the look-out for skilled workers in many areas including healthcare, primary industries, engineering, education and trades.
So, come and visit us and see for yourself what the coast has to offer.
Whether your next holiday adventure is to check out the mighty West Coast, ride the West Coast Wilderness Trail, or relax and put your feet up, then Hokitika’s Kiwi Holiday Park and Motels is the place to stay.
Hokitika’s Kiwi Holiday Park opened in March 2019 and is locally owned and operated. They are the gateway to the Westland and Glacier Country.
Your hosts Kevin and Lois Stevenson, along with their great crew, will make your stay enjoyable and stress free. The kids will love the playground with its big bouncy pillow, skate park, riding the bike track, playing the corn hole games, or the super-sized connect four. Their playground offers hours of entertainment for the children and parents can join in, or instead relax and supervise from their room.
The holiday park offers multiple different accommodation options to suit your needs.
These include; one and two-bedroom motel units, studio units, basic cabins, powered campervan/caravan sites, and non-powered tent sites. They offer a variety of selfcatering and serviced accommodation options. There is an option to suit everyone’s needs during your stay, whether you are single, couple or family. The park also has a games room and a TV lounge.
They also offer multiple utilities to make your stay as enjoyable and easy as possible. Some extras Hokitika's Kiwi Holiday Park and Motels offers include a laundry room on site, a huge kitchen, a waste station for park users, BBQ
area, free unlimited WIFI, bike lock up, plenty of parking, and the showers are a blast!
Hokitika’s Kiwi Holiday Park and Motels is a short 15-minute walk to the town centre and beach, and a two-minute ride from the fantastic West Coast Wilderness Trail. There is plenty to see and do, from checking out the glass blowing at Hokitika Glass Studio, or visiting The National Kiwi Centre and seeing the kiwi’s and huge eels. You can also catch and release a ‘creepy crawly’. There are lots of opportunities for activities to do in the area. You can carve your own pounamu or stone at BonzNStonz,
ride the paddleboat at West Coast Scenic Waterways, and don’t forget to visit the West Coast Treetop Walk. And, of course, Hokitika Gorge is an awesome short walk and a must do! Don’t forget the glow worm dell either. There are plenty of great eating options in town as well.
If you book a stay at the Hokitika Kiwi Holiday Park before January 31st 2023, and mention this article in Canterbury Today, you get 10 percent off your 2023 stay.
The team at Hokitika Kiwi Holiday Park look forward to seeing you soon and accommodating you on your next visit to the West Coast.
Hokitika’s Kiwi Holiday Park and Motels is a short 15-minute walk to the town centre and beach, and a two-minute ride from the fantastic West Coast Wilderness Trail.
Canopy Camping Escapes offers a unique collection of nature-based escapes around New Zealand and provides the ‘magic of camping’ to their local and global guests, cofounder Liz Henderson says.
Friends Liz Henderson and Sonia Minnaar founded the company in 2012 because they wanted to escape with their families to unique, outdoorsy places.
They loved the idea of arriving at a stunning glamping spot in Aotearoa with a luxurious canvas tent that was already set up for them, ready to be enjoyed.
They also liked the idea of having a sense of isolation and privacy with the luxury of being out in nature, surrounded by beautiful scenery but still having access to hot water, a decent toilet, a comfortable bed and warmth.
“A stay at one of our locations helps people to disconnect, reconnect, immerse themselves in nature or just celebrate life - they are very popular ‘special occasion’ destinations,” Liz says.
Canopy Camping Escape has glamping escapes all around Aotearoa – offering lots of places to discover – one of the reasons why Canopy Camping Escapes is so popular.
Customer feedback has been fantastic, Liz mentions.
“They love the opportunity to slow down, relax and reconnect with each other and the natural world. Once people check-in, they often stay and don’t leave the accommodation for their entire visit.”
What makes Canopy Camping Escapes unique compared to other businesses is:
• Their collection is handpicked, meaning only escapes that meet the business’s standards are accepted
• Every stay is different and provides something magical
• Every escape is set in Aotearoa’s beautiful nature. Thus, guests are surrounded by rolling hill country farms, bush blocks, or the water
• The founders work closely with landowners to help create experiences for their guests, not just places to stay. The guests adventure out to other places, which helps support nearby local businesses simultaneously
• It’s a New Zealand-owned and operated business, so Liz and Sonia know exactly what makes Aotearoa special for others. The founders enjoy meeting their hosts and helping them create memorable experiences.
“We’re lucky that we get to travel to all the offthe-beaten-track parts of Aotearoa and stay in these out-of-the-way places,” Liz says.
Canopy Camping Escapes aims to be the number one place guests use to find unique nature-based accommodation in the country, she says.
Accomplishments the team is happy about so far are building various escapes over the last 10 years, and having great relationships with their hosts.
Over the past 10 years, Canopy Camping Escapes has grown to a team of six employees and now has more than 120 locations spread across Aotearoa.
“We’re proud that our guests love what we do and so happy that so many choose to book with us over and over again,” Liz says. CT
Photos kindly supplied by Canopy Camping Escapes.
Canopy Camping Escapes
191 Ngatiawa Road
Reikorangi
Kapiti Coast 5391
Liz’s number: 027 247 3003
hello@canopycamping.co.nz www.canopycamping.co.nz — Advertising Feature
mountain views for golfers on Millbrook’s new Coronet course.
The runaway success of Millbrook Resort’s new 36-hole golf operation has triggered the next stage of development at the luxury Queenstown resort.
Significant investment and improvement works are underway at the resort’s driving range, to cater for increased use of the current range and prepare for the 2023 New Zealand Open.
With a view to improving the experience and overall condition of the range, Millbrook Resort is investing a million dollars into a staged development which will double the available grass hitting area and extend the existing artificial all-weather hitting area on both sides of the current driving range building.
The extension of the artificial turf will increase capacity on that surface from approximately
five spaces to 17, providing more options to use the range over winter when grass isn’t available.
Golfers will love signage highlighting the new distances to coloured flags for more accurate measurements from their location on the range.
To enable it to cope better with increased guest and member use, the additional grass hitting area will be grown in a ‘sand carpet’ with drainage installed, making it more usable when it’s wet and quicker to repair divot damage.
The area will be large enough to cater for an influx of NZ Open golf tournament players. The event runs from March 2 – 5 at Millbrook only for the first time, taking full advantage of the new 36-hole configuration.
The latest improvements are part of continued planned investment in the resort. Work was completed in 2021 on the $50m development of the Mill Farm area of Millbrook including the addition of the new Coronet 9 which opened in January. CT
New Zealand is full of wonderful places to visit and Southland is one of them, with phenomenal views, unique attractions and so much more.
For example, the Ascot Park Christmas at the Races is a festive event on the 10th of December, 2022. For a day of elegant attire, races and so much more, this event is a must do.
Meanwhile, the Mavora Explorer, a multisport event, showcases some of the most spectacular and secluded parts of the south. Taking place on the 28th of January, 2023, this is a challenge for all ages to see more of their back yard.
It’s not just exciting events that the great south has to offer; this region is home to some of the most incredible locations in New Zealand.
Experience the sensational serenity of Fiordland or take a step back in time at the Petrified Forest in Curio Bay.
Fiordland is home to three Great Walks and some truly mind-blowing native bush.
100% Pure New Zealand says Fiordland is made up of 14 fiords that were 100,000 years in the making.
“Final details were added during the most recent ice age just 10,000 years ago,” they say.
Fiordland features swathes of native bush, tumbling waterfalls and crystal-clear waters.
Curio Bay’s Petrified Forest features fossilised trees that were alive around 170 million years ago.
At low tide, take a walk along this ancient landscape and discover what the BBC’s Marian McGuiness calls one of the worlds finest, most accessible and rarest petrified forests.
Not to mention, Curio Bay is home to yelloweyed penguins! From Curio Bay, you can walk around to Porpoise Bay where the swimming is perfect and you may even lay eyes on the endangered Hectors dolphin.
That’s not all; Southland is home to many fascinating towns and cities.
Oamaru features the acclaimed Steampunk Museum while Dunedin boasts the amazing New Zealand Marine Studies Centre which contains some truly fantastic aquatic attractions.
Bluff has the most historic and most southern port town in New Zealand and Jacks Bay shows off the natural wonders of blowholes.
So, for some of the finest outdoor adventures, excellent attractions and variety of events, head down south this summer and visit the gems of Southland.
For more information, activities and cool places to visit, go to www.southlanddc.govt.nz or www.southlandnz.com CT
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Motueka TOP 10 Holiday Park is an award-winning holiday park centrally located in the township of Motueka, the gateway to the stunning Abel Tasman National Park, home to one of New Zealand’s Great Walks.
Sit back and relax amongst mature trees and native bird life while the kids enjoy the family friendly facilities located throughout the holiday park. The heated swimming pool, giant jumping pillow, playground, and giant chess sets play a huge part of creating memories for life for families and international travellers holidaying at Motueka TOP 10.
With 34 rooms and 189 camping sites, the park has a wide range of fabulous
and comfortable accommodation options to suit all travellers. Large 3 bedroom / 2-bathroom apartment, studio, one- and two-bedroom motels, kitchen and standard cabins, powered and non-powered sites for caravans, campervans, RV and tents all set in our park like setting amongst mature trees and native bird life. Our accommodation range is matched with excellent communal facilities including a multi-purpose meeting / conference room.
Motueka TOP 10 is no stranger to awards.
Over the last 3 years the park has won Most Improved TOP 10 Holiday Park and the TOP 10 Cleanliness Award.
Motueka TOP 10 has
over 21 years and Ashlee and Ben are extremely honoured to have been given the opportunity to purchase the park. Ashlee is now the third generation at Motueka TOP 10.
Ashlee and Ben emphasise that one day is never enough when choosing your holiday destination. To enable 'Memories for Life' you need to plan, book, and enjoy your time. Relax and unwind and make the most of the fantastic facilities on offer. The park has been built around families, enjoyment and creating ever lasting memories.
Over
last 3 years the
has won Most Improved TOP 10 Holiday Park and the TOP 10 Cleanliness
Last year, Ashlee won the Holiday Park Association New Zealand Emerging Star Award along with being recognised this year as the TOP 10 Group Emerging Leader. This is a testament to her strong dedication and leadership within the industry.
If you are looking for a destination holiday park in the Tasman Region that offers affordable, family friendly offerings, look no further than Motueka TOP 10 Holiday Park. Ashlee and Ben would be delighted to welcome you to their holiday park.
We all know that stress can affect our decisionmaking process. Heightened emotions such as stress, anger or upset are a form of cognitive distraction which can significantly impede drivers’ ability to spot and respond to hazards.
Any number of stressors can affect our driving on a normal day, but during this unprecedented time of a pandemic, in addition to navigating our way through school holiday traffic, our stress levels can go through the roof.
Switching off the mind-clutter can be particularly difficult when we’re behind the wheel making that rare and quick trip for essential supplies, getting to and from work, or helping someone more vulnerable. In these moments, we may find more anxiety and stress creeping into our driving.
You also have to be careful when experiencing a lot less traffic than you’re used to. Traffic often provides drivers with cues to moderate speed and take notice of traffic signals.
Without the traffic in place, we may find ourselves switching to auto pilot and letting the clutter in our minds take over. worse still, some drivers see the open road as an invitation to speed.
When we’re dealing with large, heavy vehicles traveling at speed, the potential for harm is frightening, and drivers cannot afford to get complacent.
It’s also important to remember trucks have a reduced speed limit of 90 km/hr on the open road.
Drivers need to make sure they get a good night’s sleep, take regular breaks, check their speed, and wear seatbelts.
Fatigued drivers’ reactions are much slower, their ability to concentrate is reduced, and it takes longer to interpret and understand the traffic situation.
We know fatigue is a common factor in crashes that cause serious injury and sometimes death. Police want drivers, especially those behind the wheel of a truck, to remember their responsibility to themselves and everyone else on the road to drive alert and distraction free.
Getting into a heavy motor vehicle does not suddenly make you exempt from rules like wearing seatbelts.
We all know wearing your seatbelt means you are less likely to be seriously injured or killed in a crash, so please make it click.
In one incident near Napier recently, a truck was reported to be swerving across the road and involved in several near misses. Police stopped the vehicle and the driver blew an Excess Breath Alcohol reading of over 900 micrograms. The limit for drivers over 20-years-old is 250.
There is one key message for drivers: if you drink alcohol, don’t drive. It’s that simple. With the summer break coming up, there will be more traffic on our roads and even more reason to ensure we take extra care with our driving and do not take any unnecessary risks. All drivers should expect to be stopped by Police at any time.
The message from the Police is “We want to see everybody taking their safety and the safety of other motorists seriously, to help ensure everyone arrives alive”. CT
Distance between your car and the car in front
Always keep a minimum three seconds gap between you and the car in front. When it’s raining and/or foggy double the distance to six seconds no matter what speed you’re doing.
Always indicate when changing lanes, 30-metres wherever practical, to advise other motorists of what you are doing.
Drive with your line of sight parallel to the road not looking down onto it. By doing this you see further into the distance so you can be better prepared if there is a problem ahead. It may even mean you can avoid a crash.
Ensure you have enough room to go past the vehicle you are overtaking and not cut them off. Pick you time carefully as overtaking can be quite dangerous and making the wrong decision may result in a serious crash.
Driving at night requires more skill & concentration than at daytime due to your restricted vision. Oncoming headlights can obscure your vision and pedestrians can be near impossible to see. Leave a bigger gap between you and the car in front to allow for your reduced vision and reaction time.
Stay relaxed and try not to let other people’s driving skills or decisions worry you. If another driver makes a mistake don’t get angry - just concentrate on your own driving skills, behaviour and safety. Remember that travelling during holiday periods can be more-risky because of increased traffic volumes, congestion, tiredness, there are higher numbers of people driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs, and people may be driving in unfamiliar environments.
Being courteous and flexible, remembering to share the road with others, allowing increased time for the journey, and scheduling frequent breaks can help drivers to stay safe during these highpressure periods.
We all know wearing your seatbelt means you are less likely to be seriously injured or killed in a crash, so please make it click.
Damage or loss to a building could cost you time, money and even your reputation. That is why having the right amount and type of contract works insurance is an important part of your business toolkit, allowing you to get on with the job with less stress and worry. In New Zealand, contract works insurance is called several other names, including builder's risk cover, construction insurance, and contractor's all risk coverage, but the purpose remains the same.
If you are building, renovating or altering a property, you need to have insurance that will protect against sudden and unforeseen damage or loss. Most owner-builders take out contract works insurance for a specific contract, while larger builders generally choose an annual policy that covers multiple contracts. If you’re doing an alteration, renovation or work to an existing house, it’s generally the homeowner’s responsibility to arrange construction cover. For a new build, full contract works cover is required and is usually arranged by the builder
Having appropriate Contract Works insurance in place and active is a requirement of all standard construction contracts. Therefore, it is important that it is sorted before the project starts.
When you are working on a construction site, plenty of things can go wrong.
Comprehensive liability insurance policies are also vitally important for both small and large building businesses. It is important that every business has an appropriate Public or General liability policy. This policy protects your business against accidental damage to a third party person or their property that your business may cause. A public or general liability policy does not cover personal injury to an employee. Employers’ liability covers claims made by employees against their employer for injuries sustained that are not covered by ACC. Any business that has employees should have Employer's liability.
Critical changes to New Zealand’s legislation in the past five years have increased the complexity and risks of running a business. Statutory liability provides cover for the company when a law or act has unintentionally been breached.
It can also provide cover to investigate and defend the claim as well. Some of the legislation changes implemented however have seen directors and officers held personally liable for claims made against companies. Liability policies like Directors' and Officer's insurance protect both directors and employees in senior positions, personally against negligence or wrongful acts committed in their role. Like Statutory liability, this policy also covers costs for investigating and defending claims made against the person. As advisers, Cartwrights work for you, not the insurer. We take the time to understand your business and the risks you face.
We are a part of the Steadfast Network which is Australasia's largest general insurance network. With a Steadfast adviser, you can have access to policies from more than 150 national and international insurers – so you can feel confident you have all the coverage you need.
Cartwrights have been operating for over 40 years. With offices in Ashburton and Rolleston, we offer our specialised services Canterbury wide. We have qualified, experienced Advisers specialising in Commercial, Rural, Domestic, Health, Risk and Life Insurances. Please feel free to contact us, we would welcome the opportunity to discuss your insurance requirements!
Kaiapoi Promotions Association (KPA) is an events promoter that organises community events to promote Kaiapoi and support local businesses. Kaiapoi is a town just north of Christchurch and has been around since 1857. It’s well known for its river town, sporting, leisure, trade, food, and history.
KPA promotes Kaiapoi as a great place to work, shop, play, and live, committee chairperson Martin Pinkham says.
“It receives some base funding from Waimakariri District Council but the majority of income for running events and promotions comes from sponsorship and fees from commercial operators.”
KPA is running events that attract visitors to Kaiapoi. The association holds monthly Kaiapoi business korero to help give local businesses the opportunity to show their business, Martin says.
“The balance of the meetings usually involves external speakers to provide expert advice to Kaiapoi businesses.
“The monthly Kaiapoi business korero is a great opportunity for local business operators to network and learn new skills,” Martin says.
The events KPA run include the Kaiapoi Christmas Carnival, a yearly Inflatafest interschool event, and the biannual Kaiapoi River Carnival.
KPA was established in 1972, originally as a business association, but gradually the association has undertaken organising events and supporting Kaiapoi “as a place to do business and being a great destination for Christchurch people,” he says.
The KPA volunteer executive has nine members who are either local business owners or from other community organisations. There are two part-time contractors who do the daily administration and event management.
Kaiapoi Promotions is important to run because although “Enterprise North Canterbury
does a wonderful job of promoting the Waimakariri and Hurunui districts, Kaiapoi Promotions is tasked with promoting the town of Kaiapoi," he says.
KPA is similar to Rangiora Promotions and Oxford Promotions in terms of promoting and supporting its town, but the Kaiapoi Christmas Carnival is an iconic North Canterbury event, Martin says.
“The carnival provides an opportunity for community organisations to raise money by having stalls in the community market, the free entertainment and attractions for children of all ages, together with the Santa Parade over the historic Kaiapoi River bridge, makes the Kaiapoi Christmas Carnival a very special event on the North Canterbury calendar.”
Martin likes that the KPA team gets a huge amount of enjoyment and satisfaction from showing Kaiapoi to many visitors “as one of the most family friend communities in New Zealand.”
It hopes to continue to see Kaiapoi grow and develop as a town. The association is also proud of its role in supporting Kaiapoi and promoting it as a destination for Christchurch visitors, and building a strong local business network. CT
Kaiapoi Promotions Association
2/77 Hilton Street
Kaiapoi North Canterbury 021 361 475 office@kaiapoi.org.nz www.kaiapoi.org.nz
Kaiapoi River Queen was built in 1990 for river cruises. The managing director Judith Andreassend says, “It is powered by two carefully hidden outboard motors. It is a relatively flatbottomed boat, which makes it ideal for cruising the river.”
The boat is originally from Marlborough and was transported to North Canterbury in 2018 where it was restored before entering the Kaiapoi river on the 4th of November 2019.
“There is a view from every seat,” she says. The team offers various cruises, morning and afternoon tea, lunch, and casual cruises. These cruises are one and a half hours long. Dinner cruises are two hours long and occur over the summer, and are very popular among groups of people, especially couples.
The boat can also be privately hired for two and a half hours, which is a great option for birthdays, work functions and weddings.
The River Queen has catering available onboard, a fully licensed bar, and easy access for people in wheelchairs, allowing everyone to “enjoy the experience”.
The business is essential to the community.
“The business has become an important part of Kaiapoi, as when customers disembark, they often go and look at the local shops.
“Our main customer base is not from our local area, although we have noticed that this is beginning to change and our last few cruises have included a number of locals,” she says.
“We have groups from as far away as Timaru to the south and Kaikoura to the north.
“It’s interesting though because the locals that do come always comment on having a different perspective after seeing their neighbourhood from the river.”
Judith is proud to say they’ve also had overseas tourists travel from Germany, England, and Australia.
“Now the borders are open we hope the number of overseas tourists will increase.”
What makes Kaiapoi River Queen unique is it offers a floating café/bar on the river and
people onboard can sightsee from the vessel, so it’s “all rolled into one,” Judith says.
Judith enjoys meeting various people and watching them unwind as they cruise down the river.
“From the very young to the elderly, everyone seems to leave happier and more relaxed than when they arrived. It gives me a sense of pride to know we contributed to this. We have one local couple who have cruised with us at least seven times.”
COVID-19 impacted the business “like every small business,” so its goals are maintaining its services and extending its customer base through word of mouth and marketing, Judith says.
“I am most proud of our wonderful staff who are happy to accommodate the needs of individual customers.” CT
Kaiapoi River Queen
178 Williams Street
Kaiapoi North Canterbury 027 493 6896
kaiapoiriverqueen@gmail.com www.kaiapoiriverqueen.co.nz — Advertising Feature
Ryman Healthcare is planning to build a new $205 million retirement village in the fast-growing town of Rolleston on the outskirts of Christchurch.
The new village in Rolleston’s Faringdon development will be home to more than 280 residents. Ryman plans to build townhouses and serviced apartments along with a care centre offering rest home, hospital and dementia care.
The land is on a 9.5-hectare site on Goulds Rd and would service the growing retirement population to the south of Christchurch and mid-Canterbury.
Ryman chief construction officer, Chris Evans, says Rolleston has doubled in size since the Christchurch earthquakes and had a growing number of retirees. Faringdon is a new master-planned community with brand new infrastructure and is already home to 6,000 residents.
“Our analysis shows there is a shortage of retirement living and care options in the area and this will only grow in the years ahead as the population ages.
“The site is close to everything Rolleston has to offer and makes it a compelling buy
“
Our analysis shows there is a shortage of retirement living and care options in the area and this will only grow in the years ahead as the population ages.
for us. It has all the makings of a fantastic spot for a Ryman community, and we can’t wait to start building.’’
The new village will employ more than 200 construction workers and create about 120 full-and part-time time jobs once the village opens.
Ryman already has eight villages in Canterbury, which are home to 2,080 residents.
Ryman is building new villages at Riccarton Park and Northwood and has permission to build another village on Park Terrace, overlooking Hagley Park in Christchurch.
The company was founded in Christchurch in 1984 and has become New Zealand’s largest retirement village operator. CT
Clubs New Zealand is a not-for-profit, member led association representing more than 300 clubs around the country.
This includes Community Clubs, Cosmopolitan Clubs, Workingmen’s Club, Sports Clubs, and Returned Servicemen’s Associations (RSAs).
Collectively, Clubs New Zealand employ more than 3,000 people and are a home away from home to over 300,000 club members.
The modern club is the backbone of the community and has become a social hub for entertainment, sports and social activity.
There are many reasons to join a club. Clubs provide the means for business meetings, family outings, coffee catch ups, honing sports skills or simply catching up with a mate over a pint.
Clubs are about bringing people together no matter what their background or where they are from.
By joining a club that is a member of Clubs New Zealand you become a part of a network of more than 300 clubs.
You gain access to the numerous benefits and facilities that your home club has to offer
such as: food and beverage, TAB and gaming, sports and recreation and entertainment all within a safe, family friendly environment.
In addition to all this you also gain reciprocal visiting rights to all the other clubs in the Clubs New Zealand family.
If sports are your thing, then we have you covered with more than 50 sporting tournaments, covering 17 sporting codes every year.
Every year more than 8,000 people participate in Clubs New Zealand Sports Tournaments and many more participate at interclub level.
Sporting and social adjuncts provide opportunities for members to join with others who share common interests, forging a strong sense of comradery and fun.
We invite you to visit your local club or www.clubsnz.org.nz for more information.
Unfortunately, as some RSAs in New Zealand have not changed with the times however, the Rangiora RSA has bucked the trend and is one of the biggest and most successful clubs in the country, with a large building and modern facilities, it has become the hub of the community.
As we know the Christchurch RSA’s Business has failed but the movement and the ethos of the RSA has remained strong.
We provide a warm and professional environment, a place to come together, to share in special occasions such as Anzac Day and VE Day.
The Rangiora RSA is fully inclusive and open to all to join, it has over 4,000 members and continues to grow. The club is diversifying with club sections including a veterans and lifestyle, along with the traditional darts, pool, snooker etc.
The veterans section meets once a fortnight, an important part of staying connected, caring for each other, socialising, sharing stories and having a laugh.
The club has a weekly last post and remembrance, something that is very in keeping with the ethos of the RSA.
Club profits support the welfare of their members, thus continuous growth is necessary to enable us to help returned personal and their families from not only previous wars, but Afghanistan and other countries.
Without the work of the club management, we would not be able to continue with this support of our families.
The club also offers meeting and function spaces for local organizations and members to use at minimal or no cost.
The Rangiora RSA is a massive part of the local, as well as the extended returned service community.
Our building offers a safe haven for many and we look forward to continued growth and welcoming new members as time goes on. CT
From funding boosts to a vision of a greener, healthier city, Nelson City is working hard to ensure it continues to forge ahead.
It’s recently received a $36 million infrastructure acceleration funding (IAF) which will support 1,000 more homes in the city.
The Nelson City Council says this funding will support substantial upgrades to water supply, stormwater, wastewater services and transport.
Nelson City mayor, Rachel Reese, says the work could result in a ten-fold increase in the number of central city residents.
“This grant funding is a massive financial saving to Nelson and will have a positive impact on our city centre for generations to come.”
There are set to be multiple projects from water supply constructions, new stormwater mains, a pump station upgrade and general upgrades to transport infrastructure.
Rachel says the upgrades will accelerate plans to support more housing development in the city centre.
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Wakefield Homestead is owned and operated by Hilary Bird and Margaret Bird who are sisters that grew up in the Wakefield area. We are committed to the further development of the Wakefield Homestead to make it a home away from home. Our mission statement is "Family working with families to make a positive difference in people's lives"
Hilary has a team of caring, dedicated staff who support our residents. All have a wide range of health and well-being experience and enjoy sharing their knowledge with other staff to continually increase their knowledge and understanding of supporting people to give them the best day possible. Community is family and Wakefield Homestead is committed to being a central part of the wider Wakefield community by being involved at all levels of village life.
“The next few years will see the city centre become a viable place to live for hundreds more people, especially those who we know need affordable, secure housing,” she says.
“More people living centrally will also bring more life to our streets, a vision contained in Te Ara o Whakatu – our city centre spatial plan.”
The IAF is part of central governments Housing Acceleration Fund which was announced back in March of 2021.
Nelson City Council explains that the fund, which is worth $1 billion, is designed to
bring forward infrastructure projects that will kickstart new housing developments.
It says the fund supports projects that otherwise may not have been able to get off the ground or face significant delays.
“This was a highly competitive fund and it is a credit to council staff that they have produced a compelling case for government investment,” says Rachel.
“Building relationships with private sector landowners and investors has supported the application, with the private sector showing a strong interest in progressing city centre housing and mixed-use developments.”
The council says the overall cost of the projects is $72 million. Part of the councils share of the costs is $32 million, and this is already budgeted in the 2021-31 Long
Term Plan and is debt-funded like all infrastructure investments.
“Over the past few years, we have forged a fantastic working relationship with Kainga Ora and I’d like to express how thankful we are for this financial support. It’s a real game changer for Nelson,” Rachel says.
“It is sometimes hard to draw a link between what goes under the road and what happens above it. These infrastructure upgrades will lay the groundwork for a revitalised, buzzing smart little city; a great place to live, work and visit.”
It’s not just infrastructure that’s getting closely looked at – the future of Nelson’s environment is also under the microscope.
Nelson has a vision to make its city a greener, healthier and more resilient city using the concept of urban greening.
The Nelson City Council says urban greening is the practice of increasing plant life in urban environments for their environmental, economic and social benefits.
Environment and Climate Committee Chair, Kate Fulton, says the adoption of the strategy at a council meeting was an exciting moment for the city.
“Urban greening is a holistic, solution focussed approach to addressing complex issues like emissions reduction, food resiliency, intensification and the impacts of climate change.”
She says it’s also a way of thinking that will create a flourishing and healthy green city.
“It will be one that better connects us with te taiao/the natural environment and with each other, enhancing our own wellbeing.”
Nelson City Council explains that urban greening is widely recognised as playing a critical role in increasing the health and wellbeing of individuals and communities living in cities and towns.
It says urban greening practices like living walls and roofs (where plants grow directly on the structure), accessible community gardens and expanded urban tree canopies have been shown to improve air and water quality, absorb carbon emissions, reduce the impact of climatic change, enhance biodiversity, and support economic development.
“It’ll be up to the next council; to decide how to implement this strategy but there are many things we as a community can do today to begin achieving the vision it lays out,” Kate says. CT
The Two Lads Group was rebranded in 2021 and has been operating for over 20 years under the ownership of Jon Jimmink and continues to go from strength to strength. A multi-faceted transport and automotive business - that can offer you a whole range of services, Two Lads and a Truck is the largest division - a 4.9 google star rated furniture moving business with partnerships in Christchurch and the West Coast, and a new
office in Dunedin as of 1st Feb. Followed by our Two Lads Truck hire, Two Lads Airport Car Storage, and Two Lads Tyres divisions. We also run a mechanical workshop at our 32 Quarantine Road site - that can help you with your vehicle needs. In conjunction with these businesses - Two Lads Group also runs the successful Right Cars Rentals business in Nelson.
The Timaru District is beginning to take action in response to the challenges of climate change.
A public information event in late September set the scene, with concise expert contributions from some of Aotearoa New Zealand’s leading climate scientists.
University of Wellington professors, James Renwick and Tim Naish summarised changes in atmosphere and oceans, and University of Canterbury professor, Bronwyn Hayward discussed key impacts on society and politics.
Peter Cochrane summarised the Canterbury Climate Change Risk Assessment which was commissioned by the Canterbury Mayoral Forum and Timaru District Council’s Mayor. It outlined the Council’s existing strategic commitments, including the endorsement of a suite of Governance Principles and the engagement of a Climate Change Advisor.
Anxiety in the face of human-accelerated climate change is widespread, especially among young people, so psychotherapist James Driver shared some insights how such anxiety can be managed.
Timaru District Council Climate Change Advisor, Rhys Taylor, says everyone can take immediate action through social and business connections while central and local government gear-up for structural changes.
“At the event on 21 September, we provided a platform for local news on positive actions for climate being taken by some larger and smaller businesses across South Canterbury,” he said.
“The event also highlighted key insights from young people, farmers and social welfare agencies. It was a lot to cover but was a be a fascinating evening, laying the foundation to guide our further work.” CT
South Canterbury’s Mayors have thrown their support behind the consensus plan for to improve water management in New Zealand.
The Mayors of Mackenzie, Timaru and Waimate have backed the plan, announced by Wayne Brown, Mayor of Auckland and Phil Mauger, Mayor of Christchurch, which allows for better reform while retaining local ownership and local responsiveness.
Regional Water Organisations (RWOs), which would be unable to be sold outside local authority ownership, would have access to investment capital through a new Water Infrastructure Fund (WIF), administered by central government’s own Crown Infrastructure Partners (CIPs), best known for its successful roll-out of ultra-fast broadband.
Timaru District Mayor Nigel Bowen says it is time for the government to work towards a consensus on Three Waters.
“Through Communities 4 Local Democracy He hapori mo te Manapori we’ve put significant work into a model which is aligned with the objectives the Government set out at the start of this process and could gain wide cross sector and cross-party support.”
“Local Government has sent a clear and unequivocal message to Government that it doesn’t support the three waters model on the table, it’s now time for them to come back to the table and seek a consensus approach for water that works.”
Waimate District Mayor Craig Rowley underlined that it was time to take a united approach to delivering water reform, bringing everyone along on the journey.
“We fully support this new approach and this may be a way forward to stop the divisiveness that we are seeing on this issue around the country. We hope this approach can be considered moving forward.”
Mackenzie District Mayor Anne Munro called for common sense to prevail in the Three Waters discussion.
“I too am supportive of this move – let common sense prevail. This alternative plan offers the potential to get all Councils back on board with the reform.
“Regional Water Organisations would be preferable to the single entity as they would give small Councils like ours a greater voice in the investment decisions.” CT
Once again, the annual Superhome Tours, organised by the Superhome Movement Charitable Trust, proved popular around the country.
Enthusiastic members of both the public and industry are able to explore, in person, what makes a Superhome tick, thanks to the generous owners opening up their homes for viewing.
Often communities are uneducated on how our homes should be built and function, with important design factors overlooked.
“It makes no sense to continue to build codeminimum houses that are cold and expensive to heat,” Prebbleton Superhome owners Paul and Shirley Watson say.
“If all houses were built like ours, families would be living in warm dry houses that are cheap to run.
“There is a lot of evidence this would improve children’s health and reduce demand in the health sector.
“It would also help to reduce the demands on electricity and water infrastructure.”
The majority of New Zealand homes just aren’t healthy enough, often uninhabitable by world standards - too cold, damp, and mouldy.
A study by research organization BRANZ and the University of Auckland found that 1,000 children slept in bedrooms that were below the 18°C — the World Health Organisation recommends for a minimum indoor temperature.
New Zealand also has the highest childhood asthma rate and death rate in the developed world with our healthcare costs for respiratory diseases alone exceeding $5 billion annually.
Bob Burnett Architecture founder, Bob Burnett, has first-hand experience with the impact of poor housing on health.
After the Christchurch earthquakes, his family was forced to relocate from their healthy home into substandard rentals.
The health of his children deteriorated rapidly with doctors attributing this to poor housing. This experience prompted him to create the Superhome Movement.
Many people outside the industry wishing to build assume that all new homes are built on par with leading-edge techniques that ensure healthy and energy-efficient living.
Unfortunately, the current New Zealand building code minimum standards for insulation are around 1/3 of other similar-climate countries.
Many code-minimum new homes can have single-digit room temperatures and are responsible for five to seven times the carbon emissions necessary to meet our global targets.
The public, therefore, needs access to good information to make informed decisions when building or renovating their homes, so they are healthy for people and the planet.
The incongruous approach of selecting a builder first will often set roadblocks for a project, being driven by the practicality of the build instead of the ideas and innovation necessary for thehome to perform at its best.
Prioritising good design at the beginning is crucial, such as correct orientation and glazing ratios to avoid overheating or favouring timber over steel to minimise thermal bridging.
• Design - optimised for orientation, function, and aesthetics
• Modelling - verify energy performance and thermal comfort
• Windows and doors - high-performance, in line with insulation
• Structure - super-insulated with minimal thermal bridging
• Slab foundations - fully insulated and resilient
• Airtightness - appropriate techniques and standards
• Ventilation - appropriate whole home heat recovery systems
• Materials and waste minimisation - low carbon, responsibly sourced, and specified
• Energy-efficient space heating and water heating
• Water efficiency and recycling.
These above key principles form the basis of a holistic standard and ethos for good sustainable high-performance design. It’s time for a change. Together, professionals and businesses both big and small who have already chosen to be superhome participants, show their thoughtful leadership, sharing ideas and resources to leverage and assist those who are wanting to build better homes, with more members joining every month.
Correct design and building techniques can easily be incorporated into any new project.
Booking a consultation with an industry expert, such as Bob Burnett, can ensure your new project will have a well-thought-out design that caters to creating a healthy and energy-efficient home, combined with aesthetical flair.
Healthy for people. Healthy for the planet. CT
9/18 Bernard Street
Addington Christchurch 0800 002 674 bob@bbarc.com www.superhome.co.nz
Starting from November 2022, the most significant change to the New Zealand Building Code in over a decade will come into force. This change is aimed at improving the energy efficiency of New Zealand homes, and while still below standards in equivalent climate zones worldwide, it is a huge step forward.
The changes to the H1 section of the New Zealand Building Code will improve the thermal performance of the building envelope, including windows. These changes will reduce the energy costs of heating and cooling, but more importantly, contribute to drier and healthier homes for New Zealanders.
To understand the impact of this change, there are two important things to understand. Firstly, New Zealand will be split into six new climate zones. Each zone will have different thermal performance requirements for floors, walls, roofs and windows. Secondly, thermal performance is measured using R value, a measure of thermal resistance. The higher the R value, the better the thermal performance.
In the case of windows, the R value for residential buildings is being raised progressively between now and November 2023, from the previous value of R=0.26
(all of New Zealand) to R=0.46 in Zones 1-4 (North Island, Westland, Nelson, Tasman and Marlborough) and R=0.5 in Zones 5 and 6 (rest of the South Island).
These new R values mean that all consented new buildings will need to use thermally broken double-glazed aluminium windows with a good quality Low Emissivity coating on the glass as a minimum. In the case of uPVC and wooden windows, the thermal performance of double glazing with good quality Low Emissivity coatings already comfortably exceeds the new standards, with R values typically over 0.7.
To put this in context, the current Building Code requires a minimum wall R value of 2.0, so the window is still a source of substantial heat loss from the building envelope, typically 35-50%, so any improvement in R value will have a big improvement on building performance.
At NK Windows we believe we all deserve to live in a warm and healthy home, and we have been manufacturing and installing uPVC windows for New Zealand homes owners for over 20 years. Our uPVC window frames come from world-class European suppliers, and we compliment this with high-quality local glass solutions to provide windows that will not only make your home warmer but also quieter and more secure.
At our new production site in Christchurch, we are investing in increased capacity so that we are ready to supply nationwide. We fully support the efforts of MBIE to continue to raise the standard of homes in New Zealand.
These changes will reduce the energy costs of heating and cooling, but more importantly, contribute to drier and healthier homes for New Zealanders.
Hiring new employees is not an easy process. You’ve got to wade through a mountain of applications, weed out the few you’re interested in and then interview all the candidates – all while still running your company.
But if you want your company to grow, you need to hire the right people.
You need people that are not only right for the now but can also help you move the business towards bigger and better things in the future.
This is especially so for smaller businesses and startups because they have fewer employees and a limited income with which to work.
For these companies every single dollar they spend on finding and hiring an employee can affect their longer term success, meaning it’s vital that they avoid making major mistakes while hiring.
But the trouble is that running a small business is hard work and there often simply isn’t the time to commit to a thorough hiring process; and as result, corners get cut.
The good news is that your competitors are probably making these mistakes whilst hiring as well. This means there’s an opportunity for you to seize; to waste less time and money by hiring right so you can get back to running your company.
The single biggest hiring mistake small business owners make is winging it or not having an interview plan. At best they’ll have a few questions written down on a piece of paper, but little else.
You need to treat an interview like a deductive science. You’ve sorted through all the resumes and selected the best individuals to be interviewed – but now you need a better way of evaluating their suitability for the role than just having a chat and going with your gut.
You achieve this by having an interview plan.
First – decide what questions are the most important, and ask them to each candidate.
Second – know what answers you’re looking for. Then you can assess each answer objectively and place candidates in pecking order.
This doesn’t have to be an iron-clad, exactly repeatable process – but it does need to have some consistency to it so you can accurately assess candidates’ answers in relation to each other.
If you just wing each interview, the direction, tone and outcome of each conversation can vary wildly, making it more difficult to compare candidates to each other. The outcome of this can be that, despite spending all that time interviewing people, to a certain extent, you’re still none the wiser.
Then, the chances are, when it comes to deciding who to hire, you’re going to go with your gut, as you won’t reliably be able to compare one answer to another because you didn’t ask each candidate a few standard questions you can compare them by.
So, a little planning can go a long way towards helping you make an informed and considered choice of who to hire, as opposed to just sitting down with each individuals, having a completely random chat, and then hoping you get it right.
It is risky to bet too heavily on how much experience a person has, when there are so many factors that determine whether someone will be successful in the role and a good fit for your organisation.
An applicant’s skills, knowledge, aptitude and personality all factor into the equation.
Because experience is a tangible and measurable component, it is very easy to overvalue it above less easily measurable factors such as intelligence, drive, and other components of raw talent.
Experience accumulates with time in the role and skills can be learned and acquired.
Your next great employee might be someone with limited experience, but who has fantastic aptitude and flexibility.
Placing too much stock on a heavy list of qualifications in your job description, or only considering applicants with x amount of experience and not considering other factors, means you might be turning a blindeye to someone better suited to the role and your company’s culture.
However, this is a double-edged sword and there is a flip side.
If you’re looking to hire someone without any experience in the hope of finding someone cheaper – you might be buying into a false economy.
Ignoring a candidate with what you consider to be necessary experience in the hope of saving a few thousand dollars a year by hiring an unproven person, might not actually save you anything, due to the amount of on-the-job training and potentially decreased productivity the less experienced employee will deliver.
So, as with all aspects of running your business, you need to find a balance.
But it definitely pays to consider more than just the experience a candidate comes with. You want someone with the potential to grow into the perfect for your company.
This is a common mistake many small business owners make.
An employee’s productivity is comprised of 50 percent ability [the reasons you hired them], and 50 percent of what happens once they’re in the workplace.
So conducting a good interview, offering that promising person the job and them saying ‘yes’ is only half the task.
Employees need to be properly induced and introduced to your company, well trained and supported.
It doesn’t matter how impressed you are with someone’s potential – poor training, insufficient access to resources, and little feedback will add up to poor job satisfaction and this will impact their performance.
So recruitment doesn’t stop at the ‘welcome aboard’ handshake – you need to make sure they are introduced, trained and supported every step of the way.
If you would like to talk to one of our consultants about your recruitment needs, please contact us on
Clyne and Bennie are a wellknown plumbing, gas, drainage, and electrical company with a friendly and trusted team that offers a wide range of services to commercial and residential clients in Christchurch, North Canterbury, and the Tasman District.
Our specialised team has been providing services to our clients for over 60 years!
Martin De Gouw and James Cowles, co-directors, deal with the day-to-day management, ensuring everything goes accordingly.
Clyne & Bennie have been around since the mid-50s providing services in Canterbury and the wider regions.
With branches in Christchurch, Rangiora and Nelson, we’ve been able to build an exceptional name for ourselves.
We provide excellent service at fair prices for our clients and are unique, because we’re one of the few businesses that offer a broad range of services, as it’s a one-stop shop!
You can get your plumbing, gas, drainage, and electrical services all in one company.
We also offer a wide range of training and development for our team, we keep them regularly upskilled and updated on industry standards, so we can offer our customers the best advice and workmanship in town.
We understand that clients have plumbing emergencies
The Master Plumber offers a wide range of services from small domestic jobs to large commercial work, including:
• Full repair and maintenance for domestic and commercial clients
• New plumbing for commercial and residential premises
• Residential and commercial plumbing alterations
• Detection service
• Complete drain laying services
• Backflow prevention from design through to consent
• Gas fitting installation and servicing
• A complete design and build package for your home heating systems
• Residential home sprinkler systems
• Eco-plumbing solutions.
Fix it now
Don’t sleep with a drip! Call Clyne and Bennie for your routine maintenance and emergency repairs. Or make Clyne & Bennie your preferred one stop shop for all plumbing drainage and gas fitting projects.
Medallion Award, NZ Training Leader of the Year Award, and so on.
At Clyne and Bennie, you will find our team friendly, and customer service based - repeat customers are the best type of customers. We show up on time, do the job to the best of our abilities, and always with a friendly smile; making sure they’re satisfied with the work completed and singing our praises all around town. CT
Clyne and Bennie
Head office - Christchurch Branch 112 Buchan Street Sydenham Christchurch (03) 366 3058 Free call: 0800 37 47 37 www.clyne-bennie.co.nz
The first consideration is whether or not there is asbestos present, and if there is it needs to be removed prior to demolition.
Common places to find it are soffits and gable ends, house and garage claddings, stipple ceilings and backing to vinyl flooring. However, it is often in other unexpected places as well, and a licenced asbestos assessor is the best person to use to find it all.
In most cases asbestos will need to be removed by a licensed removalist before other work can progress on site. Identifying and removing asbestos correctly is legal requirement and can’t be avoided.
Will you want any trees or garden areas left intact after the demolition work? It’s a bit hard telling a digger operator that just after they have driven over your heritage roses.
Given advance warning we are happy to save garden areas if possible. The same goes for
garden sheds, clotheslines fencing, paving etc – before quoting a job the contractor needs to know exactly what is and isn’t to be removed from site.
Good communication also applies to salvage items. As a credit for salvage value is usually a component of the demolition quote the contractor needs to know if you want to retain any building parts.
This needs to be advised prior to the job being priced.
We value salvage materials and these get recycled through our demolition yard The
Pumphouse in Tuam Street. We also buy in materials to ensure we have a good range available.
A large component of the demolition cost is waste disposal. It’s expensive to take materials to landfill so demolition contractors sort waste as much as possible.
Salvageable materials are removed for resale, concrete and hardfill can be taken for crushing or delivered to Lyttelton for reclamation work. Green waste is taken for shredding and composting and metals can be recycled.
Finally, don’t forget about power. Removal of power to the property is often left to the last minute and this can result in a delayed start date.
It can take 2-3 weeks from the date of contacting the power supplier before power is actually removed, so it pays for the building owner to book this as early as possible.
At City Salvage Contractors we like to make the whole process as easy as possible for clients.
We can usually do a site visit and quote at short notice and can assist with organising an asbestos survey if one hasn’t already been done.
We are licenced to remove asbestos so if it is found there are no holdups before demolition can take place. We are also available to do stand-alone asbestos removal jobs.
So, if you have demolition and/or asbestos removal project in the pipeline and want a competitive price then get in touch with City Salvage Contractors. CT
City Salvage Contractors
544 Tuam St Christchurch (03) 389 9650 0274 324 878
contracts@citysalvage.co.nz
have a project which requires demolition work, then there are plenty of factors you need to consider – and this is why it pays to get professionals to do the job
The private security industry in New Zealand provides a critical and often under appreciated component of the countries national security –protecting supply chains and critical infrastructure.
The industry employs some 25,000 workers –almost double the size of New Zealand’s Police Force and well over five times those deployed within the New Zealand Army.
It also generates in excess of $2.2 billion in annual turnover – approximately 0.8 percent of New Zealand’s GDP.
Security providers (companies and individuals) operate under the Private Security Personnel and Private Investigators Act 2010, which ensures providers are of good standing and have the necessary training and skills relative to the occupational category they come under.
There are a variety of occupational categories but the largest include Security Officer, Electronic Equipment Trades Worker, Locksmiths, Security Consultants and Alarm Monitoring Operators.
The NZSA (New Zealand Security Association) is the representative peak body for the industry and whilst membership is voluntary, the associations members collectively employ over 20,000 workers and generate approximately 85 percent of industry revenues.
The main areas of focus for the NZSA include:
• Promoting viable career pathways and attracting new entrants to the industry
• Ensuring industry training is fit for purpose and meets industry needs
• Shaping and improving industry best practice through standards, codes of practice and guidelines
• Advocacy and education for continuous improvement, licensing adherence and awareness of security’s importance to the wider community.
When selecting a security provider there are some basic checks that we suggest builders and contractors should conduct – they are:
Ensure that they are licensed
You can either ask for a copy of their licence or check via the PSPLA (Private Security Personnel Licensing Authority) Public Register.
Ensure that they are an NZSA Corporate member
This will verify that they are of good standing, hold necessary licences and insurance cover and operate in compliance with Industry Codes of Practice.
Ensure that all operational staff employed by the provider hold a security licence (also known as Certificate of Approval or CoA) Staff assigned to your site should have their licence/CoA on display or be able to provide on request. If the licence is blue in colour, it is a temporary licence and only valid for a threemonth period to allow the holder to complete
necessary training and apply for their full licence (green in colour).
Ensure documentation is correct
Ensure the security provider documents service requirements in the form of Standard Operating Procedures (for Guarding or Protective services), or a System Operational Requirements (for electronic security including alarms, access control and CCTV).
Particularly from customers within your immediate area and for similar size and scoped service requirements.
Ask the provider to outline training provided to staff – both in-house and NZQA based.
Check the provider’s ability to meet labour requirements
Ask the provider to outline their ability to meet labour resource requirements, and
potential staff absence through illness or isolation requirements.
Challenge any providers who submit pricing significantly lower than other providers and request “open book” pricing:
For physical security providers (guard and patrol services) the main cost component is labour. If one provider is significantly undercutting other providers, potentially they are paying staff below legislated requirements or using sham contracting arrangements
For electronic security providers it is important to ensure that pricing is based on similar equipment specifications – both the quantity being provided and from reputable manufacturers.
By following the recommendations above it is highly probable that you will be engaging with a professional and reputable security provider however, it is also important that the relationship is effectively managed.
1. Ensure clear service delivery expectations using the SOP’s (Standard Operating Procedures) or SRO’s (System Operational Requirements) mentioned above.
2. Establish clear reporting channels between both organisations along with escalation contacts. This should cover scheduled meetings (frequency as appropriate) and who urgent matters can be escalated to with 24 x 7 availability.
3. Ensue that all service issues or concerns are raised with the nominated point of contact for your security provider – they may not be aware of the issue or the need for corrective actions.
4. Pass on appreciation and constructive feedback when appropriate.
The academic definition of security is, “Security is a state or condition, in which people, property and assets are safe and adequately protected from all forms of loss damage and harm”.
With this in mind, it is helpful for prospective stakeholders/end users of security services to determine what assets are they trying to protect and what is the ‘success criteria’ of their intended asset protection requirements.
Once this has been realised, then an adequate scope can be placed around the stakeholders’ asset protection requirements and due diligence regarding engaging a reputable service provider, as clearly outlined, will ensure due diligence in initial asset protection governance decisions.
CT
Working at height is risky, but it should not be dangerous. There are ways of managing the risks to ensure that everyone involved goes home safely at the end of the day.
The duty to manage the risks onsite is not new, nor is the high rate of injury from people slipping and falling from height.
As an industry the construction sector has made some real strides to reduce the number of injuries, but it is clear that we all still have work to do.
The introduction of the Health and Safety at Work Act (HSWA) put a renewed focus on health and safety for many businesses.
The challenge for the construction industry around working from heights is translating this into sustained cultural change that results in fewer injuries and helps your bottom line.
The Act also introduced the concept of overlapping duties. This puts a duty on all parties involved on a site to work together to manage health and safety.
This boils down to having conversations with all players involved onsite and deciding which business should take the lead in managing the identified risks.
For example, as a sparky on site, have you spoken to the gib stopper about keeping the floor clear so you can both use ladders or work platforms safely?
Essentially this is a return to the good old days when we used to talk to each other on site, but now it includes a discussion about risk.
One of the key recommendations was that scaffolding should be used wherever possible, even on residential builds.
Today it is common to see scaffolding on sites and industry has largely embraced this shift in working, with many taking advantage of the onsite efficiencies that come with using scaffolding.
Of course, there are a lot of myths out there.
Everyone’s heard them – you can’t use stepladders or you have to use a scaffold or a harness if you’re working a foot off the ground.
Often people will say, “WorkSafe’s new regulations” or something similar. But the truth is that there are no new hard and fast rules and regulations. In fact, HSWA was deliberately designed to be flexible.
It is up to you how you manage the risk from working at height. While we recommend the use of scaffolding, there is no rule requiring you to do so.
But why wouldn’t you? Not only does a good scaffold improve worker safety – once it’s erected it can lift productivity on site, helping everyone from chippies to sparkies and painters.
Of course not every project requires full-on scaffolding. Sometimes a job is short duration and low risk. That’s when it might be perfectly reasonable to use a step ladder or a safety harness instead.
There’s a big difference between one worker replacing a few weatherboards in a couple of hours and building a new dwelling from the foundations up.
The cultural change has been rapid. It is great to see that it is no longer acceptable for a builder to walk the top plate without safety systems in place. That sort of cowboy behaviour is seen as unprofessional.
While industry has got behind improving the way that working from height is carried out, a fresh look at the risks is required if we are to reduce the injuries further.
What is edge protection?
Edge protection helps prevent people, tools, and materials from falling:
• Around the perimeters of a work area
• Around openings
• Where brittle material cannot safely support the weight of a person.
Edge protection comes in different forms:
• A proprietary system ie a system bought “off the shelf”
• Guardrailing and/or physical barrier constructed from materials or components that form a guardrail and/or physical barrier
• Scaffolding in the form of a temporary edge protection system for working at height
• Where the hazard of working at height cannot be eliminated, edge protection should be used to isolate workers from a fall.
When is edge protection required?
Edge protection is the preferred control for preventing falls from roofs on single-storey buildings because it isolates multiple workers from the risk of a fall.
If this is not practicable then the use of scaffolding (more detail below), mobile elevating work platforms or temporary work platforms are more acceptable alternatives.
Provide edge protection on all the exposed edges of a roof, including the perimeter of buildings, skylights or other fragile roof materials, and any openings in the roof. This also applies to openings and edges of floor areas.
Working at height means working in a place where a person could be injured if they fell from one level to another. Rather than thinking about how high the fall will be, consider how someone could fall and what they might land on.
Planning the work
Plan for when you will need edge protection, how it will be installed, and how to manage risks to safety during installation. Sourcing and erecting edge protection may take time, and the configuration will depend on a number of factors, such as how many workers will be in the work area at any one time, and the pitch of the roof.
Install edge protection as early as possible on a job so multiple groups of contractors, sub-contractors and workers can use it throughout the project (eg builders, electrical workers, and roofers).
Construction and installation must take into account the forces that are likely to be applied to the edge protection as a result of the work undertaken. Do not install it from the roof.
Inspect edge protection regularly, especially after a storm or other occurrence that could affect its ability to prevent falls from height.
Must be Installed by a competent person.
Scaffolding
Installed by a certified scaffolder or competent person depending on height of the scaffold.
Note: Where a person may fall 5 m or more (ie the highest platform is 5m or more above the ground), the work must be notifed to WorkSafe.
Information sourced from: worksafe.govt.nz | 0800 030 040 CT
With almost 30 years’ experience in the access industry, Accessman has cultivated exclusive knowledge and skills, an arsenal that has catered to the trickiest requests across many different markets, and it continues to evolve with the times to predict and cater for the developments of the future.
In 1994 the construction industry was feeling pressure from the Department of Labour to ensure that all work practices complied with national Occupational Safety and Health Standards. At the same time, companies needed to increase their focus on profitability. The entrepreneurial mind of Christchurch-based electrician, Ross Pickersgill was quick to identify a solution to both.
That very same year, Ross purchased his first scissor lift which was hired out to contractors when Ross was not using it. This piece of equipment not only made working at height safe but it increased productivity by removing the need to continually build scaffolding.
“Our business is first and foremost about ‘our people’, both internally and externally. Without the right team we can’t provide the service that we’re renowned for. Team culture and the retention of knowledge that is only gained from extensive experience within the industry is paramount. Our staff are passionate about their roles, and consistently go above and beyond –something that we certainly don’t take for granted”, Accessman Group General Manager, Lena Harrington says.
With 4 locations in the North Island, 5 in the South Island and 4 Training Centres, Accessman’s network is able to provide height solutions to a diverse range of industries.
“The process of transitioning to new markets has been refined with the
knowledge that no two markets are the same, and that there is little room for complacency.”
Lena notes that the strength of the brand speaks for itself. She says Accessman has been instrumental in leading the access industry as technology has changed – and this swift introduction of new models and upgrades, combined with excellent service and high-quality equipment, has solidified the brand at the forefront of the market.
started from humble beginnings and is now New Zealand’s leading specialised hire company, providing scissor lifts, cherry pickers and knuckle booms.
Daiken New Zealand are essential manufacturers of Customwood premium MDF products. The company is renowned for the quality of its products, as well as superior colour and consistency.
Its Southland factory is located in Mataura and specialises in producing niche highly soughtafter Customwood Medium Density Fibreboard. Innovation is at the core of Daiken, making their creative process unique to the business. This has meant 75 percent of the company’s revenue is exported globally to Japan, USA and Asia.
Daiken’s Sales and Marketing manager, Tristan Dawson, explains the process of creating their specialised MDF.
“We take pine logs from the forest and chips from local sawmills. We then break the wood components down into a fibre.
“From there we add glue into the fibre, before taking it to the hot press.
“After this we sand the boards and cut them to a good size,” he says.
Daiken continues to maintain high standards of resource management to ensure impact on the environment is lowered.
Tristan says the company has begun their journey of becoming more environmentally friendly.
“One of the current components in the MDF manufacturing process is Formaldehyde. Looking forward to the future, exploring plant based, eco-friendly and bio-resins will be the way forward.”
He says he is optimistic about the future of MDF having a more positive environmental impact and becoming a part of the circular economy.
Daiken sources their wood resources from FSC (Forest Stewardship Council) certified forests.
Daiken is able to provide customers with ecofriendly sourced wood products.
They are proud to be a forward thinking company who can match good business with awareness of global and local environmental concerns.
Daiken pride themselves in meeting technological, process and engineering challenges. Both of their plants are fine-tuned to ensure they manufacture with efficiency and effectiveness.
The company has multiple different types of MDF available. This includes their classic fibreboard which comes in a wide range of thicknesses, ideal for interior applications.
The classic range can be used for interior applications such as; joinery, lacquered furniture, furniture mouldings, built-in furniture, shelving, wall linings, floor linings, toys, clocks, trophies and many other possibilities.
MDF-Light is another option available from the business. This product will perform well in situations where a lightweight end product is desired.
MDF-Light is a natural choice for laminating with white or light coloured overlays and printing. The lightweight design is easy to work with. The lower density means your tools and equipment blades will last longer too.
Daiken pride themselves in meeting technological, process and engineering challenges. Both of their plants are fine-tuned to ensure they manufacture with efficiency and effectiveness.
MDF-Light is suitable for interior fittings such as doors and wall linings. The lightweight design also offers creative opportunities including DIYing your own furniture or for the more advanced builder, shop fittings and interior signage.
Lastly, another popular option is Daiken’s Melamine Faced Boards, offered in White or Black.
By using Daiken’s Whiteboard or Black melamine solution, means your new wardrobe and kitchen will have a great finish to elevate any project.
For manufacturing excellence, make sure to reach out to Daiken for all your MDF needs. Their extensive range has something for everyone.
No project is too big or too small for Daiken. They will ensure to have the best possible
MDF product for your next project or build, no matter the size.
The team will be happy to help and advise you on the next steps going forward, as well as choosing the appropriate MDF to suit your project, build or fit-out.
To find out more about Daiken and the work they do make sure to visit their website at: daikensouthland.co.nz. CT
Images supplied courtesy of Daiken New Zealand.
Daiken Southland Limited 301 Pioneer Highway RD4, Gore (03) 209 3101
Tristan.Dawson@daiken-nz.com www.daiken-nz.com — Advertising Feature
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The agency is using its recent 20th anniversary to look back on the events and successes that have shaped the organisation to date.
“Right from the get-go, ENC has been all about supporting local,” chief executive Heather Warwick explains, who has been with the agency since 2003.
“We have stuck to this across the board over the past two decades, supporting new and existing local businesses with our economic development team, supporting tourism in the region through the establishment and operation of Visit Waimakariri, and more recently, supporting local food and beverage producers with the creation of the Made North Canterbury brand,” she says.
Despite a clear remit laid out in 2002, nobody could have predicted the sheer number of businesses that would need help and support from the agency in the coming years.
“The past 20 years have thrown a significant number of challenges our way,” Heather explains.
“In September 2010 we experienced the first of the ongoing series of Canterbury earthquakes. This initial jolt significantly impacted Kaiapoi and we are still seeing redevelopments going on from that today.
“So many of our local businesses needed support to rebuild and recover from that catastrophic event, which was of course
followed by aftershocks and more major earthquakes in 2011 and then again in 2016.”
Partnering with the Ministry of Social Development, ENC were able to assist the hundreds of businesses affected by the earthquakes and provide support, advice, information and funding.
March 2020 presented a whole new challenge as Covid-19 forced the country into lockdown, effectively shutting down business for countless local operators.
“This was an unprecedented event for our business community and we had to pull together our small team to process and support over 900 local businesses as they struggled with the impact of this event.
“We created an award-winning triage system that allowed us to efficiently connect hundreds of businesses to the support systems and funding streams that they needed.”
Major challenges aside, ENC has continued to thrive, turning out new projects and partnerships in the name of supporting local.
ENC Business Development
receiving
at the 2021 Economic Development New Zealand (EDNZ) Awards for their Covid-19 response in support of businesses. From left to right: Susan Houston (EDNZ chief executive officer), Heather Warwick (ENC chief executive), Guy Graham (ENC business growth advisor), and Miles Dalton (ENC business support manager).
“Over the years we have been involved in so many key projects and events that have bolstered our local communities and business operators.
“From the Hurunui Water Project back in 2004 to the inception of our very own North Canterbury Business Awards which have been running every second year since 2008, the establishment of the ENC Business Centre in Kaiapoi and the launch of our own provenance brand – Made North Canterbury, we are so proud of all that we have achieved as an organisation,” Heather says.
“And of course, on a day-to-day basis we are on the ground providing advice, support, connection and training opportunities to our local businesses so that North Canterbury continues to be a thriving and prosperous region.”
Visit www.northcanterbury.co.nz to find out more about ENC.
Enterprise North Canterbury 143 Williams Street
Kaiapoi North Canterbury (03) 327 3135 office@enterprisenc.co.nz enterprisenorthcanterbury.co.nz
It’s been 20 years since Enterprise North Canterbury (ENC) was launched by the Waimakariri and Hurunui District Councils with the aim of promoting economic development in North Canterbury and developing an innovative and prosperous region.
breakfasts or dinners, Christmas do’s, and much more. 3600m2 split between two floors, and two amazing venues, The Rockpool and Micky Finns are spacious yet flexible interior design, caters equally to large groups and intimate gatherings.
We have an extensive selection of beverages alongside 25 pool tables, endless entertainment options, as well a range of catering and food options, dance floor, and live music
in Marlborough is the 2022 Tonnellerie de Mercurey NZ Young Winemaker of the Year.
Alun, 28, is the production winemaker at Marisco and has worked in the New Zealand wine industry for 13 years, from Auckland to Central Otago, before settling in Marlborough. He says he is committed to continuously improving the way we make wine and distribute it to the world.
Four talented young winemakers from around the country competed at Kim Crawford winery in Blenheim. The other contestants were Douw Grobler from Trinity Hill in Hawke’s Bay and Eliana Leal from Amisfield in Central Otago.
The judges were very impressed with the high calibre of all the finalists who demonstrated a huge passion for winemaking and a great understanding of the challenges and opportunities for the New Zealand wine industry as a whole.
The finalists were stretched throughout the day as they were tested on their wine market knowledge and laboratory skills.
They had to prepare a plan for producing a premium single vineyard pinot noir, present their views on the best new innovations in the wine industry, undergo an interview, weigh up options for purchasing a new humidifier for a cellar, and then expertly judge wines in a wine show setting.
They finally delivered their Fruitfed Supplies speech at the Awards Dinner at Wither Hills, convincing the audience that their wine region was the first place our returning international visitors should visit when they arrive.
Alun Kilby won best Fruitfed Supplies speech and Georgia Mehlhopt won the Villa MariaIndevin Wine Judging section.
Apart from becoming the 2022 Tonnellerie de Mercurey NZ Young Winemaker of the Year, Alun won $1000 cash, a visit to the Tonnellerie de Mercurey co-operage in Burgundy, will be an associate judge in the New World Wine Awards and will review some of his favourite wines in DrinksBiz magazine. All finalists took home a very special bottle of Church Road’s Tom and will meet up again
early next year on an educational trip hosted by Fruitfed Supplies.
The competition is made possible by all the generous sponsors: Tonnellerie de Mercurey, Fruitfed Supplies, Villa Maria-Indevin, Laffort, Programmed Property Services, Tira Crown, Visy, New World, Winejobsonline, NZSVO and Pernod Ricard. CT
Organisers of the regional programmes have gathered in Rotorua for the annual conference to discuss how to deliver over 48 events and numerous judging days.
General manager Robin Congdon says the conference was an opportunity for the many volunteers from around the country to come together after a busy winter season.
Speaking in the lead-up to the conference, Robin said “The conference will be a busy few days, ensuring everyone knows what’s required to deliver the dynamic programme and bring them up to speed on this year’s changes made to the Share Farmer category judging process.
“The Exec have reviewed extensive feedback on last year’s changes to the Dairy Manager and Dairy Trainee categories, which was overwhelmingly positive.
“They are making changes to streamline the judging process and to align the Share Farmer category into the same format for
this season, which will make the process less daunting and time-consuming for Share Farmer entrants to prepare for.
“The conference is also a chance for personal development and for committee members to meet other regional committee members and share ideas and information, and to finalise their regional launch events, which provide an opportunity for prospective entrants to find out more information about the Awards and which category people are eligible to enter.”
Robin says the regional launch events are typically a lot of fun and provide an opportunity to meet other potential entrants, organisers and sponsors and to learn about the awards from past entrants.
“The functions are very social, with no charge, and are at a time that makes it easy for farmers to attend.”
More information on regional committees and launch events are available at: www. dairyindustryawards.co.nz/regions, and on regional facebook pages.
Entries in the New Zealand Share Farmer of the Year, New Zealand Dairy Manager of the Year and New Zealand Dairy Trainee of the Year categories will be accepted online at www.dairyindustryawards.co.nz
Of utmost importance to Vic is his ability to connect with those he meets, putting honesty and integrity at the fore.
Vic has been passionate about real estate since his earliest years in Rajasthan, India. Having found his true calling in the property industry, he is invested in helping customers and clients, and does this in a real and authentic manner.
Selling all types of real estate, from investment properties and
developments, to first homes, to luxury properties, Vic earns clients’ trust as he provides an unparalleled service that both he and his clients are proud of.
His clients appreciate his patience, his low-pressure approach, and his ability to not only listen, but comprehend what the client wants to accomplish. At the same time, his strength is his tenacious demeanour when working on his client's behalf, and his commitment from the beginning to the end of a sale – and beyond.
Vic is the epitome of dedication and is committed to always working to
the highest of standards. Strongly believing in the philosophy of transparency, he sees this as the solid foundation on which great business can take place, which is beautifully in line with the Najib philosophy.
With his love of Christchurch, its landscape and its architecture, Vic thrives on guiding clients through the selling and buying of what is often their most significant investment.
When Vic isn’t making home ownership dreams come true, he enjoys spending time with his family, and can often be found on a horseback enjoying time in nature.
"Vic made the real estate experience so easy. He was with us every step of the way and always listened to what we wanted and what was important to us. His calm professional manner makes him easy to work with. I would highly recommend him to anyone."
- Bevan and Kerri (Vendors)
"Vic was a great communicator who adapted well to my dislike of phone calls and kept me updated at every step of the process. He understood the changing nature of the market and influencing factors, so could advise on best sale strategy and achieved a good price in a market that was starting to drop."
- Cas (Vendor)
"Vic was professional during all stages of our purchase. Great strategies and smart planning were some of his strong skills which helped us to get the deal done. Highly recommend Vic and his team"
- Jenson (Purchaser)
