Canterbury Today Magazine 126 by Academy Group

Issue 126 | June/July 2014

Hot property While some might baulk at reinvesting in the city centre, Antony Gough isn’t holding back

King of the road How Tim Alpe turned Jucy Rentals into the hottest business on wheels

Coastal concerns Bringing New Brighton alive

Left field ideas How to trigger creativity and improve decision making

This Is Us video

• 3 Top Scholar awards for highest marks in New Zealand in Agriculture (Thomas Traill), Drama (Keegan Bragg) and Music (Ben Murray) for New Zealand Scholarship exams; • Top NCEA results (2013) with 34 tertiary scholarship offers for 2014. Students gained NCEA 97% (Level 1), 100% (Level 2) and 94% (Level 3); • Gold medal winners in ICAS Exams in 2010, 2011, 2012 and 2013; • Wil Undy (Year 13) placed seventh at the national Chemistry Olympiad camp.

• Connor Bland (Year 13) travelled to Fiji with the rugby gear he collected to donate to local students with limited resources; • Students travelled to Cambodia on a service trip in conjunction with Partnership Cambodia; • Students fundraised to buy textbooks to take on their service trip to Onesua Presbyterian College in Vanuatu; • Community Service leaders are working with World Vision to promote 40 hour famine at the College; • 13 Community Service leaders attended the World Vision Global Leadership Day.

• Charlotte Elley (Year 13) was named in the New Zealand Secondary Schools netball team; • Ari Graham (Year 11) and Caitlin Dore (Year 13) were selected for Athletics New Zealand Pathways to Podium programme; • 1 silver and 1 bronze medal at Maadi Cup for rowing with 11 crews reaching the A finals putting them in the top eight in New Zealand in their age group; • StAC mixed touch team placed second at South Island Championships; • StAC mixed tennis won gold at the South Island Championships and silver at the Nationals; • StAC netball were hosted by and competed with the Singapore Sports School in Singapore; • StAC Athletics won 11 titles, broke four South Island records and one national Paralympic record at the South Island Athletics Championships.

ENQUIRIES WELCOME NOW FOR 2015

• Pipe Band won the Juvenile grade title for the eighth year in a row and won Grade 2 against all adult bands. The Drum Corp also won first place in Grade 2; • Two StAC groups will be representing Canterbury at the national University of Otago Sheilah Winn Shakespeare Festival competition; • Daniel Bridgman (Year 4), Danielle Musgrave (Year 6) and Archie Milligan (Year 7) were selected for the 12 member children’s chorus for New Zealand Opera’s upcoming production of La Bohème; • Harry Grigg (Year 13) is the co-leader of the New Zealand Secondary Schools Choir; • Isaac Shatford (Year 13) is the leader of the New Zealand Secondary Schools Orchestra; • Congratulations to all our students who took part in the highly successful Senior College production of Guys and Dolls.

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Issue 126 June/July 2014

In this issue... Viewpoints

Features

In Business

6 The Prime Minister’s desk

18 Royal musings

John Key outlines how the rebuild’s momentum continues to gather pace

CECC boss Peter Townsend talks about how the royal visit was worth more than many thought

34 Property & Construction

6 Leadership HRINZ chief executive Chris Till shares the personal lessons he learned from the quakes Canterbury Today

Issue 126

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David Shearer on better ways to make our money work for us

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NEWSROOM EDITOR JOURNALISTS

Caroline Duke Carolynne Brown Sarah Betman Olivia O'Callaghan Alyssa Watson Jenna Day Luke Wattchow Jarred Shakespeare Phone: Fax: Email:

Bringing New Brighton alive

10 Accounting Martz Group boss Martz Witty on getting ready for the looming tax payment changes

12 HR Angela Atkins from the HRINZ demystifies the Holidays Act

12 Sales Whitehot Jewellery’s Sharron Le Riche talks about building a white hot sales team

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

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14 Tactics Business coach Dave Sewell explains how to bring your critical number to life

16 Sustainability DESIGNER & ONLINE

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

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22 Getting serious about LinkedIn Why it’s time to take this platform seriously

22 Customer experiences The key to driving business growth

88 Education St Marks School, Waimairi School and Avonside Girls’ High School

92 Hospitality Tutis Restaurant and Bar, Jagz of Styx Mill, The Grosvenor, Catering by Nikki, the Valley Inn, Hello Sunday Cafe, Chillingworth Road and Café 218

While some property owners have been hesitant to reinvest in the city centre, Antony Gough isn’t holding back

26 King of the road How Tim Alpe turned Jucy Rentals into the hottest business on wheels

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

30 Been seen Checking out the faces at all the right places

33 Left field ideas How to trigger creativity and improve decision making

98 Goods & Services How Prime Foods NZ keeps dishing out the flavour

Reader rewards in this issue…

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24 Hot property

16 Events diary

KNOWLEDGE FOR GROWING BUSINESS SINCE 1985

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14 Working life

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64 Focus

Conversion Foundry boss Brendan Sullivan says paying attention to Google pays off

Chris Reid from Stimulus Creative explains how to create a logo you love

SALES & ADVERTISING

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Getting connected with Glenn Roberts Electrical and Solar Smart Energy

8 Online

10 Branding

Jonathon Taylor Davina Richards Laura Hall Peter Loakman Marie Sherry

62 Business development

Business consultant Kevin Vincent about becoming a customer focused company

Gary Collins

Clive Greenwood Marion Kaglund Melissa Sinclair Akash Sandhu Peter Loakman Chris Graves Allan Buzan Seth Riley

How Hansen Contractors can help get your lifestyle sorted

Craigs Investment Partners’ Martin FraserAllen answers common investor questions

8 Politics

Kylie Palermo Kelly Allen Jade Haylett Shannen Johnson Penny Duns

60 Civil Contracting

7 Money

7 Management

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Viewpoints | The PM's desk/Leadership

The rebuild - gaining momentum Personal lessons learned from the earthquakes By Rt Hon John Key, Prime Minister

The rebuild of earthquake damaged Christchurch is gaining momentum. One of the Government’s four main priorities this term is to support the rebuilding of our second biggest city following the devastating earthquakes of 2010 and 2011. The Government’s total contribution to the rebuild is now expected to be around $15 billion. We are currently paying an estimated $9 million every working day in rebuild invoices. ANZ releases a regular Regional Trends report and February’s edition measured Canterbury economic growth at 5.6 percent for 2013. In almost every measure the region is moving ahead – including retail sales, employment, house and section sales and dwelling approvals. The activity driving the economy can be seen throughout the city. I want to acknowledge the leadership role, resilience and flexibility the business community showed in the aftermath of the earthquakes by keeping their firms going and employing people. I also want to acknowledge the frustration some feel about the rebuild and what might be seen as slow progress. All these views are legitimate and it’s just a reflection of the scale of this event; New Zealand’s most costly natural disaster. Some issues are taking time to resolve and complexities have arisen which nobody saw coming. But we are working through these challenges, along with local authorities and institutions, and the private sector. Progress is being made in the central city, both with anchor projects and private sector development. The public can see the progress on an interactive map on the Christchurch Central Development Unit website. Of the anchor projects, a number are due to start construction this year. In January I turned the first sod on the $300 million Justice and Emergency Services precinct. Outside the central city, we are planning a community participation process to help determine the future use of the residential red zones in Christchurch and Kaiapoi, an area that is around four times the size of Hagley Park. In total, more than 7,300 flat land properties in Christchurch and Kaiapoi were zoned red due to the degree of land damage. Over half the homes on these properties have now been removed and the vast majority of former homeowners have accepted the Crown’s offer. We want to hear from the people of Christchurch and Kaiapoi about what they want to see happen to this land – whether that is parks, playing fields, cycleways or any other innovative ideas. 6 | June/July 2014

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Earthquake Recovery Minister Gerry Brownlee will be working with the Mayors of Christchurch and Waimakariri, Ngai Tahu, and other relevant agencies and organisations, to design the community participation process. In terms of residential insurance settlements, progress is being made. Following the earthquakes there were just over 450,000 claims on more than 170,000 dwellings. Behind the scenes, a lot of effort is going into speeding up settlements, finding innovative solutions, and getting better co-ordination. Another significant recent development has been the signing of a Housing Accord with the Christchurch City Council. The earthquakes obviously had a major impact on housing. The best estimate is that 91 percent of the city’s dwellings were damaged, with 10 percent confirmed as having damage over the $100,000 threshold. More than 7,000 dwellings were also lost in the residential red zone. Taking into account population movements, including an influx of rebuild workers, it is estimated there is now a shortfall of 12,000 dwellings. New residential areas are being developed, particularly on the city’s outskirts, and Housing New Zealand expects to build 700 new state houses and complete repairs on 5000 existing houses by the end of next year. But more needs to be done and that is why a Housing Accord was signed in April between Housing Minister Nick Smith and the Christchurch City Council. The accord aims to boost temporary and affordable housing supply, improve supply and quality of social housing through a new Council entity with other providers, and remove regulatory barriers to more residential development. The accord also provides for surplus government and Council land to be identified, including sites at Awatea, Colombo Street and Welles Street, so up to 450 new dwellings can be built. We are also making considerable progress on infrastructure repairs. The Stronger Christchurch Infrastructure Rebuild Team (SCIRT) is now 44 percent of the way through repairs to quake-damaged roads, freshwater, wastewater and storm water networks. The Government is also embarking on the repair and construction of new educational facilities in Christchurch, in both primary and secondary schools and tertiary institutions, at a cost of more than $1 billion. The Christchurch rebuild is an enormous challenge, but I’m determined we will rebuild the city as a great place to live, work, and raise a family in.

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

I’ve been rather keen to relay this small account for some years now.

Contacting them all and checking they are OK and how they are going is a good start

• Actions speak much louder than words This is really about lessons, following considerable personal reflection, that I learned • Get all your team together in one place as soon as you can. You could have a get through handling the challenges thrown up in together or even a barbie! Strength lies in responding to the devastation inflicted by the solidarity. Strength lies in the team Canterbury earthquakes. In this respect I include the second “disaster” that often occurs after a natural calamity - the recovery period. The story begins in earnest on 22nd February 2011… which seems like such a long time ago now! At the time I was the general manager of Human Resources at the Christchurch City Council. So… we probably all know about the terrible events that happened at 12:51 (by my watch) on the 22nd. The next day we got the Council’s executive team together in the CBD. We assembled in the Civic Offices at 53 Hereford Street. Everyone looked a bit shocked but strength of leadership was there in everyone - especially in our purportedly “controversial” CEO, Tony Marryatt. He led from the front right from the start and divided the team into those who’d keep the 3,000 person organisation going – which included me – and those who’d focus on the disaster – which included those GMs who fell into the so called “operational” areas. Right through that first meeting the ground continued to shake, growl and grumble. No one left, no one freaked out and everyone got on with their job. The only HR contribution I made at that meeting was basic, but important. Lesson number one • Make sure we get people paid • Try to assert some sense of normalcy as quickly, clearly and confidently as possible • Don’t send out silly messages trying to “rack” everyone up – they misfire every time • Communicate through the normal chain of command as much as possible to assert the accountability, role and importance of all our leaders in the organisation – but especially front line team leaders with teams of people reporting directly to them. Lesson number two As the days unfolded after that first meeting it became very clear that many of our staff were traumatised, behaving oddly and, in some cases were “somewhere else” – either physically or mentally.

• Don’t assume everyone feels as strong as you do • Put in cool stuff to support people – training, understanding, counselling, support days, listening, lunch time learning sessions • Be human, be humble and be real. Putting yourself in other people’s shoes and seeing it from their point of view - “outside in” can really work wonders in terms of building insight and empathy • Help people to get back into the building they work in, if it is safe, as soon as they can – even when they might be scared. Some come quickly, some take longer. Be patient, be understanding and be gentle • Getting great advice from professionals like psychologists, registered nurses, doctors and counsellors is also pretty helpful • Learn by trial and error, as you go, what will work to get your best outcome. In this case to help people to get back into work and settled as soon as is practicable • Recognise that people’s work, home and health/well being circumstances are all different. One size definitely does not fit all. Lesson number three This one may sound obvious, but when you have learned that what you previously suspected might be true, actually is true, then it is sometimes worth stating it! I know this to be true because I was “on the inside” throughout this period. What was reported was often at variance with the perceived reality within the organisation. Probably not a surprise to anyone but now I know this to be true. Lesson number four You will be put to the test… and ultimately this is a test of the strength of your personal values or moral principles and fibre. If you don’t know what your personal values are or they are weakly held then you may find yourself quite severely tested in this space. So the final Lesson is: If you want to navigate yourself through any disaster, like an earthquake, it helps a lot if you know what your values are and then hold true to them and yourself.

If you can do this you will reach a point where you become proud of your own response and often proud of the responses of people We did loads of stuff to support staff but these around you. are the big items I can remember: In many cases small issues became big issues in a really “out of character” way.

• If you really care about your staff as a leader you’ll show it in your genuine behaviour.

Viewpoints | Money/Management

Topical questions from investors

Become a customer focussed company

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

We recently completed our State of the Nation tour around 27 venues throughout New Zealand. So I thought it might be interesting to share the answers to common questions from clients on a range of topics. Why do you focus on dividends and income when it is total return that matters most? Total return (capital gain plus income) is important, but we also believe portfolios should deliver a solid cash flow from interest and dividends. The aim should be to earn a yield of perhaps four to five percent a year and then grow this income over time, at a rate of three to five percent a year, to keep the real spending power of the portfolio and income stream ahead of inflation.

Shares are no different. They are a share in the ownership of a business. Comparing a share with a bank deposit is like comparing apples with oranges. Over time, a balanced portfolio should provide a higher return than cash deposits. More importantly, it should also keep ahead of inflation. I am reluctant to invest at present because shares look expensive and bonds offer low yields. Should I wait and hold my capital in cash or should I just invest it immediately? Neither. One of the fundamental rules of investing is to invest in instalments. This mitigates the risk of investing, or not investing, ‘at the wrong time’. Markets do indeed look expensive in some areas at present and it is prudent to manage any investing to focus on stocks, sectors and markets that look better value.

Your adviser can put together a plan and timetable for how your portfolio can be Dividends are much more reliable and less volatile than share prices and can generally be invested gradually over time. relied upon to be maintained year after year, What risk does the election pose for irrespective of whether share prices are up 10 my portfolio? percent or down 10 percent. There is some risk around the power sector. Investors who have a portfolio with no Under a Labour-led government, the single income and instead rely only on capital return buyer model, if implemented, would impinge are vulnerable to market downturns. on earnings for most of the electricity generators/retailers. Why can’t I get a portfolio that simply Apart from that, we see no specific material ‘beats the bank’? risks from the election that warrant any Once you start investing you can’t control portfolio changes. what markets give you. Some people will do better than others simply because they invested at different times and markets performed differently over their investment horizon. We do not try to ‘beat the bank’. We aim to control what we can for clients; stock and security selection, quality, diversification, costs and income generation, so their portfolio is placed as well as it can be. Markets, though, will have the final say. We buy real assets (shares and property) along with fixed income. If someone buys a rental property or a farm (which are also real assets) they wouldn’t think of comparing how well it does to a bank deposit.

There is likely to be the usual degree of uncertainty that follows an MMP election during inter-party negotiations, but the markets have tended to look through this in the past. For Investment Advice please contact Martin Fraser Allen, Investment Adviser at Craigs Investment Partners Christchurch branch, by phoning 03 964 3246 or visit www.craigsip. com for more information. Mark Lister is Head of Private Wealth Research at Craigs Investment Partners. His disclosure statement is available free of charge under his profile on www.craigsip.com. This column is general in nature and should not be regarded as specific investment advice.

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

• A customer is the most important visitor on our premises • He is not dependent on us; we are dependent on him • He is not an interruption on our work: he is the purpose of it • He is not an outsider on our business; He is the part of it • We are not doing him a favour by serving him • He is doing a favour by giving us an opportunity to do so. - Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi In order for organisations to excel, they must do more than simply satisfy their customers. They must differentiate themselves and their employees in significant ways that add value to the customer’s experience. They must provide service that is unique, faster, more reliable, more responsive and more caring than ever before. Organisations must:

organist, philosopher, physician and medical missionary who famously said “I don’t know what your destiny will be, but one thing I know: the only ones among you who will be happy are those who will have sought and found how to serve”. This sentiment needs to be embraced by all in business who by their very existence pursue the exchange of goods and services for payment. Organisations must focus on customer service. It is true that many companies have the same levels of technology, similar equipment and processes and that the only real opportunity to differentiate or stand out from your competitors is to provide better service and constantly seek ways to add additional value. It is clear company goals must focus on obtaining and retaining satisfied and loyal customers. My tips for the provision of best service include: • Know your customer well. Understand their needs and your capabilities to meet those needs. Learn and understand their needs, wants, desires, issues and goals

• Demonstrate an understanding of the customer’s needs and expectations

• Constantly seek ways to add value to the customer relationship

• Exceed the customer’s needs and expectations.

• Listen to your customers. Listen to hear, listen to understand and listen to communicate your understanding. Everyone loves a listener

Customer service is everyone’s responsibility and the secret is simple - make it easy and pleasant for your customers to do business with you. Customers are really everything. We all recognise the importance of the provision of best possible customer service and that adding value to the customer experience will enhance our chances of future growth. Why then do we encounter and are subjected to shoddy, sloppy and thoroughly unprofessional service? When was the last time you felt neglected, frustrated and annoyed at the service you received?

• Do the right things for your customer. Be empathetic and see things from their perspective. Have a real integrity and strong values with your customer. Treat your customer as you would like to be treated • Provide best possible service to your internal customers. Try it, the results will delight. As we treat each other better so we will all play our part in the provision of best service to our external customers. Customer service is contagious • Trust your customer and be trusted. It is the foundation of relationship.

I expect it wasn’t that long ago. Dr. Albert Schweitzer (1875 – 1965) was a German and then French theologian,

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Viewpoints | Politics/Online

Making our money work for us

Why must you pay attention to google?

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

Here’s a question: would you prefer your money going into your retirement savings for the future, or pay higher mortgage and credit card payments? I know what almost everyone would go for. Of course we prefer money being put into our savings. And that’s why Labour will bring in changes to the Reserve Bank. Right now, if the Reserve Bank wants to bring down inflation, it raises interest rates. But that means people pay higher interest rates on their mortgages, with most of that money going offshore because our main banks are foreign owned. Higher mortgages make our houses less affordable because families can’t afford to pay the loans. It also pushes the value of our dollar up and clobbers our exporters because the price of our goods shoots up in our overseas markets. So what David Parker, Labour’s finance spokesperson put forward, is that when inflation needs to be brought down, rather than simply putting up interest rates, we’ll let the KiwiSaver contribution rate be adjusted. That means the money will be going into your Kiwisaver account not into bankers’ pockets. We save more as a country and pay less in interest.

It’s also important to tackle the sources of inflation, not just the symptoms. A big part of our problem is our overinflated housing market, especially in Christchurch and Auckland. Labour will tackle prices going up by building more affordable houses with our KiwiBuild policy. A Capital Gains Tax will be brought in to target property speculators. And foreign speculators will be prevented from buying houses and pushing prices up beyond the reach of Kiwis. Australia has $1.5 trillion tucked away from their compulsory version of Kiwisaver. We are already 25 years behind them and playing catch-up. Universal KiwiSaver and the new VSR mechanism will mean everyone will be better off because we will not only have a low interest rate and fair exchange rate regime, but everyone will have their own savings nest egg as well. So that’s Labour’s plan: we’ll deliver lower mortgage rates, a fair exchange rate, more jobs, and higher wages. We will preserve the good things about the current system, while making it fit for the 21st century. We can’t simply operate as we have done for 25 years when it isn’t working for New Zealand. By international standards we have higher interest rates, higher mortgage payments and an over-valued currency, which forces our exporters out of business and sees our firms undercut at home.

In turn, that will mean lower mortgage and credit card payments for families, as well as lower borrowing costs for businesses. That will This is costing Kiwis jobs, making home flow on to a lower exchange rate, which will ownership unaffordable for many, and leaving boost our exporters and create jobs. us with international debt. Labour will make KiwiSaver universal so It doesn’t have to be this way. Labour’s got a everyone is included. smarter approach. That’s just one idea on how to change the Labour’s vision is for our exporters to thrive, economy. There are many others, because bringing in more income into New Zealand despite what some people say, there is no and creating more jobs and higher wages for easy quick fix. all New Zealanders. This policy will help to achieve that vision. So a Labour government will also broaden the Reserve Bank’s objectives so it’s not just Labour’s monetary policy has received about managing inflation, but also building a support from exporters and economics healthier economy. commentators across the board. While the current government is stuck in the past, we’re That’s better than a narrow focus on offering a plan for the future. inflation alone.

Remember us in your Will and leave a legacy of hope By including The Salvation Army in your Will you’ll help those in need; the poor, homeless and addicted. Its easy to provide this lasting legacy.

For more information call:

8 | June/July 2014

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Brendan Sullivan is the managing director at Conversion Foundry. www.conversionfoundry.com

Like it or not – we are beholden to Google. Survey after survey across the world shows us that using a search engine is the most popular online activity, and more than 80 percent of us use Google as our first point of call. If you want to be found online, you need to take notice of how this supergiant works. The BBC tells us that Google handles more than 100 billion searches per month and sorts through 60 trillion online pages to find your answers in less than half a second. Simply put, if you don’t follow their rules (which are ever-changing) then you just won’t get found. Google has recently changed how it ranks websites in its results because it wanted to: • Give better quality results to users • Lower websites with false or invaluable content down its results • Give Google users a better experience by providing the best, most useful results possible (whether that be web pages, images, videos or news). These changes were mostly rolled out in three major algorithm updates (algorithm being the set of rules that determines a site’s position in search results): The major updates were: • Google Panda (released 2011, aimed to lower the rank of low quality sites) • Google Penguin (2012, aimed to lower the rank of sites that violate Google’s Webmaster Guidelines, particularly those with unnatural links) • Google Hummingbird (2013, aimed to make Google more ‘semantic’ (meaningful) by providing more direct answers to people’s queries, regardless of how they search. Google’s most recent update, Hummingbird, was actually a total replacement of its previous algorithm. It has forced online marketers and website owners to change direction, because old

SEO tactics just don’t work anymore – in fact, they can seriously damage your site’s ranking in search results and drastically reduce your traffic. Your site needs to be useful and customer friendly to rank well. The more useful your website is, the better you’ll be able to retain and convert visitors onsite. Google not only knows when a user types a keyword, goes to your webpage, but then immediately returns to search results - it learns these patterns and ranks your site accordingly. So think about the following to make your site more useful: • Does your website display and function properly on all devices including tablets and phones (not just desktop computers)? Google actually recommends responsive website design for this • Does your site have robust content? Regularly updated, useful web pages targeted to your audience help your search ranking as well as visitors. This has a twofold affect by helping users onsite, but also creating content that people share on social platforms, which sends positive signals to Google. Make sure your site adheres to the rules and best practices The easier your site is for real people to use, and the easier it is for search engines to find all your pages, the better your chance of ranking well. Don’t rely on ranking reports Google has now encrypted all searches so no keyword data gets passed on to third party tools (e.g. Google Analytics). Keyword rankings are subjective depending on where you’re running them from geographically, your search history, preferences and more. It’s rare for people to get the exact same search results. Instead, focus on landing page performance and conversions instead – this tells you if you’re getting the right quality traffic to your site in the first place.

Send for FREE booklet to: Director, Wills and Bequests PO Box 27-001, Marion Square, Wellington 6141 Name: Address:

Phone: ❑ I have already Included The Salvation Army in my Will.

Viewpoints | Branding/Accounting

Falling in love with your logo

Christopher Reid is the managing director of branding, design, advertising and promotion agency, Stimulus Creative. Visit www.stimuluscreative.co.nz

Do you love your logo? Does it reflect the real you? A great logo is more than just a onedimensional identification mark. It’s an integral part of your overall brand and it’s often the first opportunity your customers get to meet you – and first impressions count! Your brand is the personality of your business. It communicates key messages about who you are, what you offer and how you make a difference. Its purpose is to create a relationship – an emotional connection between you and your audience. If your brand is your personality, your logo is the face of your business. Its purpose is to ensure your business is easily identified at a glance. It provides instant and powerful recognition of your brand and the services or products you offer. Get your logo right and you’re one important step closer to creating a strong brand. Logos evolve as businesses evolve A quick Google search on logo evolution makes for a great history lesson. Take Apple, for example. In 1976, its logo featured a scene depicting Sir Isaac Newton under an apple tree. To keep pace with changing market, the logo has evolved into the stylised, monochromatic image of an apple with a bite out of it that we all recognise today. A brand or logo refresh is a great way to ensure the elements that make up your corporate identity still reflect who you are today.

competitors. It’s important to research your competitors but don’t be tempted to imitate them - it’s unoriginal, not to mention illegal. Simple or complex? Striking a balance is important so that the design draws the audience in easily but also sparks curiosity. Text only, symbol only, or text and symbol? Some companies are so recognisable they can omit their company name and rely only on a symbol; for example, Apple and Nike. What’s right for your business will depend on your current market position and your overall branding strategy. Back to basics Your logo needs to be adaptable in order to function well in a variety of applications – print, online, signage, maybe even on the back of a bus. Here are some tips to ensure your logo can handle everything you throw at it. If your logo uses colours, be sure to test it in black and white as well – there will be times it needs to work in both. Is it flexible enough to work in a number of variations and formats? For example, you may need a wider, landscape format to fit the proportions of a website banner or header, and you may need a reversed colour variation to create a different look for certain situations. A lot of successful brands use only one colour. To create the greatest impact, choose two or three at most unless there is a specific reason to use more.

So what makes a great logo?

Your logo needs to work well no matter what the size. Viewing it in the smallest size is a good test to ensure it maintains its impact and integrity.

The big picture stuff

The design process

Looking nice is just one aspect of logo design – your logo also needs to convey a host of messages about your business. Here are some points to consider when you are creating or refreshing your logo:

A solid design process (and ideally a full brand consultation) is essential to capture the essence of what a business is all about. The essence of your brand is something that holds an energy and life of its own.

Is it memorable? A good logo should clearly represent who you are, what you offer and how you are different. It should be recognisable in an instant. Is it original? Your logo should be distinctive – it needs to differentiate you from your

You’ve really got to love your brand – hopefully you’ll be together for a long time!

Big tax payment changes are afoot - are you ready? Martz Witty heads the Martz Group, aligning chartered accountancy with the creativity of business development. Visit www.martz.co.nz

From October 1, 2014 there’s changes that may materially affect the way you make payments to the Inland Revenue Department. Change is an ever increasing and challenging thing in business. As business owners and managers we need to know what’s happening and then asses our systems and procedures to cope with the change. It’s relentless, but it’s a given so best we keep abreast of things and plan for it sooner rather than later.

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Another change from October 1, is that Westpac will no longer be able to accept counter cheque payments and drop off returns. You can still make cash and eftpos payments, though these will be treated as received by due-date. IRD’s logic in removing this service from Westpac is that IRD offices can accept cheque payments, returns and forms directly.

Recent moves have seen a desire by IRD for taxpayers to use more online technology, from filing returns through to making online From October 1 payments made to the IRD payments. It is fair to state that digital need to be received by IRD on or before due payments are more secure and faster than date to avoid payment penalties and interest. traditional payment methods. They’re also No longer will a payment posted on or before available 24 hours and seven days a week. due date be accepted. It must be received When a due date falls on a weekend from on or before due date by the Inland October 1, 2014 the return forms need to be in Revenue Department. Inland Revenue’s hands on or before the due Cash is king in any business and managing date together with payment in full. The next cash flow is a crucially important function for trading day will become the due date and every business, no matter what line of work receipt of forms needs to be before business you choose to operate in. Paying bills on closes on that day. Payment that evening will time keeps your credit ratings in good shape, still be accepted by IRD as being received on paying IRD on time is equally important. due date. Late payment fines, penalties and Use of It might seem a minor change, but the Money Interest all contribute to spending implications for businesses that have relied money on items you don’t want to. on keeping that payment out as long as Penalties and late filing fees aren’t even tax possible will need some managing. So too deductible; at least Use of Money Interest is will office procedures around the sending in but then why pay it if you don’t need to. of the returns if these are still going to be The days of using IRD as a bank have long since ended. That’s why they introduced Use of Money Interest all those years ago. It was a common ploy by businesses to try and squeeze a few extra days’ time for payments by posting a cheque on the due date, then wait for the post to deliver a few days later. So long as it was postmarked with the due date or earlier everything was sweet with the Inland Revenue and you got to keep your money in your bank for another couple or three days – sometimes even longer. Many businesses even relied on those few days as they waited eagerly for their creditors to pay them on the 20th of the month whilst their PAYE cheque (for example) was lurking in a post office bag somewhere up and down the country.

OFFSHORE 3D RENDERING

10 | June/July 2014

When a due date fell on a weekend you got an extra few days advantage.

sent by post. You can’t control the post and a post mark will no longer be argument enough that you fulfilled your obligations. Fines for late filing of returns can really mount up depending on the tax type you’re filing, be it Goods and Services Tax, P.A.Y.E., or Resident Withholding Tax to name just three. A recent statistic from IRD informed us that they have about 70 percent of payments to them made electronically now. This hardened stand on payment due dates will bring all taxpayers into line so that they can all be treated equally. If you have any concern about this planned change in policy from the Inland Revenue Department we recommend you have a chat with your accountant or financial advisors.

Viewpoints | HR/Sales

Help! Ben’s going on holiday. What leave applies? Angela Atkins is GM of Elephant Training and HR, and president of HRINZ Auckland. Visit www.elephanthr.co.nz

The Holidays Act 2003 can be a little bit confusing in some circumstances. When you have employees taking holidays are you sure that you’re legally complying?

of his holiday he was actually really sick and had to go to the doctor. He wants to change his annual leave for those days to sick leave. Can he?

It may seem fairly simple - an employee wants to take a holiday - but what happens if you can’t cover their role for that long? Or they go anyway? Or they get sick while they’re on annual leave?

B: Yes he can change it to sick leave but only if his manager agrees to it.

There are a number of sticky issues around annual leave and we’ve got some cases we’ve had to deal with at Elephant to test you out. Can you deal with our favourite fake employee Ben and see if you’d comply with the Holidays Act? Case study 1: You can’t turn me down! Ben applies for three weeks annual leave but as his manager you turn down his request as it will be too hard to cover his role for that long. You offer that he can take two weeks. Ben wants to know what will happen if he takes the holiday anyway. Which statements are correct? A: Under the Holidays Act an employee has the right to take three weeks in a block. B: An employer can turn down annual leave requests if there is a genuine reason for saying no. C: If an employee takes leave that has been declined, they could get a warning or even dismissal as this could be misconduct or serious misconduct. D: The employee has the right to take annual leave whenever they want. Answer: The two correct statements are B and C. With A, an employee does have the right to a block of two weeks, so you need to make sure they are able to take this at some point. As for D, annual leave is by mutual agreement. Case study 2: I got sick Ben has taken two weeks annual leave and returns to work saying that the first four days

A: No under the Holidays Act if you’re on annual leave it can’t be changed to sick.

C: If Ben got sick the day before be went on annual leave then he can change it to sick leave automatically. D: Yes the employee has the right to change annual leave to sick leave if they have gone to the doctor. Answer: The correct answers are B and C. If you’re already on annual leave and you get sick, you can ask to change it to sick leave, but a company can say no. However, if an employees gets sick before they go on annual leave, then they can automatically change it to sick leave. Case Study 3: Daylight Savings It’s October. Ben comes and tells you that he had to work a special shift last weekend, from midnight to 6am, as the IT team were changing systems and needed some people to be at work to test it out. The clocks went forward at 2am on Sunday morning and Ben wants to know what he’ll be paid and also what would happen if the clocks had gone backwards. Do you tell him: A: He only worked five hours so he gets paid for five hours. B: Even though he only worked five hours, he’ll be paid for six (12 to 6am). C: If the clocks go backwards, he has to work seven hours, but only gets paid for six hours as it was 12 – 6am. D: In going backwards he actually worked seven hours, so he gets paid seven hours. Answer: The answer? B and D are correct. The employee gets the benefit each time. It’s about what time you start and finish! Of course this only happens twice a year and most people don’t have to work that shift.

Build a dynamic sales team

Sharron Le Riche is the founder and director of Whitehot Jewellery - a direct selling company that operates across New Zealand. Visit www.whitehot.co.nz

Sales success is all about people and their performance. But, more than that, it’s about how each individual works, relates and achieves within a team, while still maintaining their own identity and personality.

This sharing will help others be more successful and help solve problems. It also gives people the chance to get to know each other on a personal level. It is much easier to get teams working together when they know each other and view others as team mates, not competitors.

At Whitehot Jewellery our culture is one of supporting each other, working with a positive, can-do attitude, creating the best customer experience possible, and providing flexibility, support and training.

everyone’s skill levels.

In our business, many of our reps work remotely (away from their team leader and other team members), but we are still Building a strong and productive culture able to create productive working teams within your business takes time, commitment through virtual meetings – Skype, webinars, and consistency from the leadership team. conference calls and social media pages. Culture is more than a statement on display We also put people in touch with others in in a photo frame; it’s a way of doing business their team or company who have expertise and it requires everyone in the company to in different areas of the business, enabling be committed to the collective end goals. them to share their expertise and build

Maintaining and growing a dynamic team culture relies heavily on the recruitment process. In my experience, attitude always outweighs skill. You must recruit people with similar attitudes (not skills) as they embrace and relate to your culture more easily. Your training will then provide the necessary skills for the right people to become successful within your culture. Your training programme needs to continually expand on the company’s key attitudes and provide the necessary skills to be successful within your culture. Then you need to back with continual and genuine support to everyone. Even the most seasoned and successful sales rep needs ongoing support and feedback. Value authentic communication Regular communication is vital in maintaining your team culture. Transparently and authentically share the company and team goals with everyone. And encourage your people to speak up, share ideas, ask questions, become involved and help each other. This provides a sense of belonging and a feeling of genuinely being involved in the success of the company. Real communication within a team helps people to work together, rather than against each other. Within our team we communicate changes quickly and often ask for ideas before making any changes, as this helps people feel involved; as opposed to feeling they are the “last to know”.

74 Hawdon Street, Sydenham P: (03) 366 5070 www.eastmure.co.nz

Compliance Contracting Accounting Services Business Advisory Pleased to be providing accounting services and business development solutions to businesses throughout Canterbury. 12 | June/July 2014

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As well as team and companywide communication platforms (online, newsletters and phone conferences) it’s essential to have regular face to face meetings. An engaged sales team needs a chance to get together - talk about their progress and challenges and share their experiences.

Celebrate success Keeping people engaged requires recognition and rewards. Set goals with every individual and then always encourage and recognise achievements. It’s important to celebrate the success of individuals and the team as a whole. I believe a heartfelt “well done” is worth more than the income earned from the sale. On the flip side – address negative behaviours and attitudes when they arise, if ignored, these negatives can spread to others in the team. Lead by example Trust is essential in a successful and dynamic team, and this means leading by example. Show others you trust them by delegating responsibilities and letting them know you rely on them to deliver. Trust in others improves communication, ideas and productivity. And when things don’t always go according to plan, encourage and help people to think of solutions to the issues, rather than dwelling on the problem or looking for someone or something to blame. Through a planned schedule of training, support, trust and communication your team dynamics will improve, and managed consistently, this can only lead to increased success.

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Riverhead presents a quiet rural atmosphere within close proximity to Auckland City. Travelling by car to the CBD takes 20 minutes with 5 minutes to the new North Western Motorway extension. Riverhead has great local activities with Huapai Golf Course, the historic Riverhead Tavern ,Hallertau Micro-brewery, and nearby local restaurants. Riverhead primary School is within walking distance. Sections sizes from 600m2 - 800m2 Sunny North facing. Services includes gas and fibre optics

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Viewpoints | Working Life/Tactics

Bring your critical number to life

The perils of inactivity

Dave Sewell is one of only two Gazelles International certified business coaches in New Zealand. Visit www.davesewell.co.nz

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

Are you reading this standing up? Sitting down? Maybe you’re at your desk, browsing magazines in a reception area or perhaps waiting for a coffee. Whatever you’re doing, I have a suggestion for you... please MOVE! Yes move... right now! If you’re sitting, ideally please stand up. If you’re standing, please stretch out. Why? Well, because even though it’s fairly common knowledge these days that inactivity is bad for us, it’s still very easy to seize up as we focus on whatever task we have at hand. Did you know that on average, office workers spend five hours, 41 minutes sitting down? As a workplace wellness specialist I spend a lot of time helping people who have workrelated issues such as low back pain, neck and shoulder pain and tired eyes or headaches. While some of these issues are caused by sports injuries or poorly positioned screens, most are caused by long periods of sitting, looking at a computer screen - an activity many of us who work in an office take for granted as being a part of our everyday life. You may well have heard the pithy new phrase that ‘Sitting is the new smoking’! Now, whether it’s quite that bad is debatable however, research does confirm that a sedentary lifestyle is detrimental to health long term and there is growing evidence to show that spending more of your day standing could reduce the risk of obesity, diabetes, cardiovascular disease and cancer. It takes more than a work-out to keep us moving. While we used to think the answer was to go to the gym for a rigorous workout after a day sitting in the office, new evidence suggests that it takes more than brief bouts of strenuous exercise to negate extended periods of sitting. Instead, the solution is to try and incorporate standing, pacing and other forms of activity into your day along with some sitting. Being able to stand at your desk for some of the time is by far the easiest way to achieve this. Is the solution really as simple as standing up? There’s a growing buzz around sit-stand desks at the moment and people are increasingly

asking me about these when discussing their furniture purchases. While I would love to say buying a sit-stand desk provides a simple solution, there is a lot more to buying a desk (and chair) than meets the eye. If sit-stand desks are to work, you must consider each situation in your workplace individually before you purchase. For example: One height does not work for everyone. If people share hot desks, or work in a call centre with shared workspaces, will they be able to/know how to adjust their desks to suit? If a desk is at a fixed height, is it realistic to expect people to stand for the entire day? If not, do you have space for a standard desk which they can also sit down at? (Even if there are tall architectural chairs available, unless they are also the right height for the person sitting at them, they’ll need an additional foot stool to otherwise avoid health problems may well arise). Standing is not an easy option for everyone, for example, anyone with hip or knee problems, severe back issues, low back problems or varicose veins simply cannot stand for long periods. Using a standard sitting height desk and incorporating some movement strategies as suggested below is a better option for them. Overall however, if you do have the option to use a sit-stand desk, provided you have them correctly set-up, both for the role they’re to be used for and for the person who is using them, they do provide a healthier alternative to sitting all day. So will you sit, stand or sit-stand? Take a moment now to think about how much time you sit down during your day and consider what action you could take to improve your health in both the short and long term. Can you incorporate regular stretches into your day, get up to fill your water bottle or have walking meetings rather than sitting around a table? And if you’re considering new office furniture, as long as you think why before you buy, maybe this could be the year of the standing desk for you?

Break your business down to its basics, people aside, and it’s all about numbers; money in and money out being the most basic and important. But beyond this - what numbers should you be watching? An integral part of the Gazelles’ Mastering the Rockefeller Habits is about identifying your critical number. What is your critical number? It’s a goal (number) that when achieved will help your business grow. Your critical number is not a dollar figure. So it definitely isn’t “we want to have a turnover of $1m next financial year”. A number like this is too difficult to stay focussed on. Rather, it is a breakdown of how you might get to that target. The critical number must always be aligned to your number one priority in your business. The smaller the number can be, the better - it’s much easier to maintain a focus on it. It might be “we need to bring in 10 new clients, or increase all current clients’ purchases over the year by five percent”. In these examples - the critical number is 10 or five. While it is essential to begin the process of finding your critical number with the end in mind, you need to break the final goal down. What do you need to do to meet this increased turnover? Your critical number must make you uncomfortable, but not sick - it needs to be achievable, but you need to stretch the whole team to achieve it. And team is paramount here. Your critical number must be shared with them - it is a living breathing part of your day to day business. I will share with you the example of a client of mine - Stu Andrews who owns and manages NZ Plumbing and Solar in Christchurch. Stu approached his team and explained that the critical number was about brining on a certain number of new clients each quarter. Of those new clients - a smaller number would be complete plumbing and solar jobs on new homes.

The concept was explained to the team, and a competition put in place to come up with a visual way to represent the quarterly and annual goals set by Stu. The winning representation was an adapted monopoly board. Each side being a quarter and each corner being a celebration when they reach the targets of that three month period. Integrated is a brick and pipe system to identify the different types of jobs secured, not unlike the house and hotel placement on the original game. Stu says it is a highly visual and a fun way for everyone to see exactly where sales are at, what type of sales they are and what needs to be done to get the appropriate pieces (jobs) onto the board. “It is always in sight and it helps us all to focus better.” Celebrating along the way is critical - every win is important and help keeps the team aligned and engaged. The NZ Plumbing and Solar team know that if they fill the board the appropriate way, by focusing on the small critical numbers set for each 90 day period, the business will prosper. If Stu had calculated a number based on what dollar figure these new clients represented - it would have been meaningless to the team - and most likely he would not want to share this financial goal anyway. However, by breaking it down to a small number - a process, everyone is engaged and working hard towards it - ultimately Stu will achieve (if not surpass) the financial goal he has set. “It’s a small focus for a big goal,” Stu says. Finding a way to breakdown your numbers and find a proactive way to engage the team is critical. Let’s face it - numbers can be boring and demotivational, so find a way to bring your critical numbers to life and you will see your business grow.

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Viewpoints | Sustainability/Events

Quality - you get what you pay for right? Trevor Foster is the general manager at EnaSolar. Visit www.enasolar.net

Welcome back! In this issue we are going be looking at the question of quality in solar installations. Without question the title is true, but be aware as not all are created equal! Quality is not just hardware – it must also be considered in terms of performance and reliability. You must take into account the design, software, warranty and support and how this effects your solar installation many years from now. When considering solar we have the three primary building blocks: the PV panels, the inverter and the installation. However, ‘quality’ extends beyond this and attention should also be given to the quality of the warranty, support and the manufacturing company itself. Hardware Let’s look at the hardware, such as solar panels. They all look same, right? How can I tell the difference I hear you say? So here are some tips on what to look for and what to ask about: Warranty: There are usually two parts to a PV solar panel warranty: The module warranty, which should be in the region of 10 years, and the performance warranty. A quality brand will offer a 20-25 year warranty on performance in that it will be performing to more than 80 percent of its original performance 25 years from now. A key consideration now is the company! A warranty is only as good as the company’s ability to honour that warranty and if an unknown brand is used, then the warranty may be at risk. While an extended warranty does not necessarily mean a quality panel! I have been offered a warranty of up to 99 years from several Asian branded PV panel companies during the last two years. Needless to say, at least two are no longer in business. However, they were cheap!

components, the efficiency and again its design. The biggest killer of all electronics is heat! The more efficiency an inverter has the less heat it will generate inside, adding to the life expectancy. So, quality, high temperature rated components and how you cool the inverter is crucial and should be a major consideration in determining the quality, regardless of what the brochure and warranty say. When considering an inverter the most common questions that should be asked are: Efficiency: Make sure it is >96 percent and be sure to ask if this is peak or nominal. Standards: What standard/s does it meet - AS5033~2, AS62109, AS4777. Voltage range: Ideally you need low start-up voltage, say 120V as this will give better performance in low light conditions. Ask for voltage range, ideally 120V min to 500V/600V max. Panel expansion: Can you add more panels to this inverter, if so, how many? The solar inverter should allow you to increase the number of panels for greater generation harvesting, without the need to upgrade your inverter. Cooling: How is the unit cooled? Can you “hosedown” your inverter to clean it? Warranty: What does the warranty cover, is it repair only or full replacement? Do you have local support? Performance: Ask how the inverter can independently monitor your solar system and the inverter performance for the life of the warranty. Check what this may cost, hardware needed, installation cost, subscription, or is it included already? There are some very good, well priced panel manufacturers out there with a good selection to choose from. Be very careful about brand and excessive warranty and performance claims from unknown brands and small suppliers.

EVENTS DIARY

What’s happening on the business and entertainment front

TUESDAY, MAY 27 The Benefits of a Wise Business Advisor The founder of the Icehouse and former CEO of Heinz/Watties will impart his tips on how to find the right advisor for your business. A fresh set of eyes from a business advisor can offer massive help; including moving your business forward, increasing your customer base and profits. In the free seminar you will learn how to identify the capabilities you and your business require and more. To register, visit: www.theicehouse.co.nz

TUESDAY, MAY 27 Inspire Canterbury Be inspired, discover invaluable business secrets and rub shoulders with Canterbury business leaders at Inspire Canterbury. The morning event features speeches from four of this year’s World Class New Zealand award winners, plus hear from entrepreneurs making it their way. Discover what drives these people, how they’ve overcome major challenges in their business life and discuss what New Zealand businesses need to do to get to the next level. To register, visit: www.inspirecanterbury.co.nz

SUNDAY, JUNE 1 Christchurch Airport Marathon The Christchurch Marathon, inspired by the 1974 Commonwealth Games Marathon, is renowned as one of the fastest courses in the world. This event based near the Christchurch Airport consists of a full marathon (42.2km) run, half marathon (21.2km) run and walk, 10km run and walk and the Kids Mara’Fun (3k). Categories are divided into men and women competitors and the full and half marathon have age group category options. To register, visit: www. christchurchmarathon.co.nz

WEDNESDAY, JUNE 4 Develop your Company through your People

Connectors: What types are they and what rating should they have ~ look for IP67 rating.

Your staff are one of your company’s greatest assets - so it pays to learn how to indentify and motivate your top performers. In this short two and a half hour workshop, guided by experienced facilitators, you will experience learning tailored to your needs. This course is suited to business owners or managers who want to see their staff reach their full potential and work hard for you. To register, visit: www.theicehouse.co.nz

Framing: Enquire as to how the framing is constructed and ensure that mechanical strength is to New Zealand conditions.

WEDNESDAY, JUNE 11

Panels When discussing panel options you must look for and ask about the following: Glass: Durability, weight and if it is tempered. Does it have high impact resistance and high transmission?

Temperature: We have extreme temperature and wind conditions in New Zealand. Be sure to understand the temperature coefficients of the panel. Good quality panels will be warranted to cope with -40C and up to 90C. Inverters These do not all look the same. One key element in an inverter is the unseen 16 | June/July 2014 www.canterburytoday.co.nz

In the next issue: the truth about Feed-inTariffs, credit issues and what to watch out for by your electricity retailer.

Elite6 Business Networking Elite6 City is an exciting, innovative group which brings local business people together once a week, on Wednesday mornings at 7.30am for an hour long networking meeting, to share ideas, referrals and help people their businesses. Each session has guest speakers and/or group discussions which encourage you to think ‘outside the

box’ in order to promote and improve your business. The aim is to bring together hard working, positive professionals who want to build up the local business community in Christchurch. To find out more visit: www.elite6.co.nz

WEDNESDAY, JUNE 25 Management and Leadership Transiting from team member to manager can be a difficult leap. This Management and Leadership course will give you the tools to be a well liked, helpful and respected leader that others will follow. You will learn how to set expectation for your staff, set SMART goals for yourself and your staff, assign and delegate work, provide effective feedback, resolve conflicts and manage your time. This one day workshop is designed for people who have recently move into management positioned, or for those in managements roles that want to improve their leadership skills. To register, visit: www.biztrainers.co.nz

THURSDAY, JUNE 26 Time Management Does time ever slip away on you? Is a successful day’s work also a day well spent? Then learn how to make the most of your time with this Time Management course. This one day workshop will teach your useful time management skills including personal motivation, delegation skills, organisational tools and crisis management tools. Workshop objectives include planning and prioritising each day’s activities, overcoming procrastination quickly, delegating more efficiently, handling interruptions and using rituals to make your life run smoother. To register, visit: www.biztrainers.co.nz

WEDNESDAY, JULY 2 Customer Service Skills This half day course is designed for businesses owners, managers, frontline staff and anyone working in face to face customer service. You will learn about the benefits of putting your focus on customers as a part of your organisation’s core values and mission, identify customer quality requirements, from both a technical and service perspective, and how to deal with difficult customers in a sensitive and professional manner. To register, visit: www.cecc.org.nz

TUESDAY, JULY 22 Smart Marketing This practical seminar will help you create an effective marketing plan for your own business and is packed full of practical tips and advice. During the half day you’ll learn how to identify your most lucrative target markets, what makes your product unique, devise a realistic, affordable marketing budget and how to measure your marketing success. Topics include a four point checklist, budgeting and market research. It is designed for owners/managers and those responsible for marketing within the organisation. To register, visit: www.cecc.org.nz

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News | About the town

Royal musings By Peter Townsend | Images provided courtesy of Woolf/Crown

The Canterbury Employers’ Chamber of Commerce (CECC) was asked to host Their Royal Highnesses by the Department of Internal Affairs Royal Visit Committee. The CECC has a long history in running high quality events and this was recognised with our selection.

We identified early on that the Air Force Museum of New Zealand would be the logical venue for the function given that the Aircraft Hall has its own magical ambience and can be effectively locked down.

on various Royal visits between 1953 and 1977. On the day the Duke took a real interest in that plane and its history. One of the more challenging aspects of hosting the lunch was determining who should be invited to attend. At the end of the day there were the obvious candidates and on top of that we balloted our members to ensure that we had an unbiased invitation list. We also invited other key influencers from across our community who were not necessarily involved in business but who have much to offer Christchurch in the postearthquake environment. It was a great honour after welcoming the Duke and Duchess to the Air Force Museum to have private time with them and my general manager (Leeann Watson) to discuss some of the critical issues around Christchurch and some of the highlights of their visit to date.

The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge, accompanied by Peter Townsend, arrive in Christchurch

It did not take long to accept the request to host the lunch and not much longer to find good entities around Christchurch who were prepared to support us with the luncheon budget (obviously it would be inappropriate to charge guests to attend such a function).

The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge with Therese Walsh, head of New Zealand ICC Cricket World Cup 2015 and Canterbury Cricket CEO Lee Germon

The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge visit Wynyard Quarter as part of the Royal Tour of New Zealand

As someone who has been pretty much fully immersed in a postearthquake Christchurch since 4 September 2010, it was a truly refreshing break from the pressures of the rebuild to take some time out to host Their Royal Highnesses, The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge, at the Air Force Museum of New Zealand on Monday, 14 April.

The Duke spoke well of his impressions of Christchurch, the stoic nature of our people and the optimism for the future. We played a video, especially prepared by Ian Taylor of Animation Research Ltd which focused on our people and our future. That video has since gone viral and has attracted worldwide attention.

Of course the Duke is an aircraft buff and we knew he would really enjoy having lunch surrounded by a collection of Royal New Zealand Air Force Planes. The highlight was the DC3 plane that flew Queen Elizabeth II and the Queen Mother around New Zealand

It was a great day for Christchurch and it was a great time for New Zealand.

The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge with Canterbury Earthquake Recovery Minister Gerry Brownlee

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There was much discussion about flying; clearly the Duke enjoys his time in the air and is very keen to get back to operating aircraft as soon as he can. He made it quite clear over lunch he loves New Zealand and enjoys its people and that one of his objectives during his trip here was to ensure that the Duchess fell in love with New Zealand also. He indicated that he had achieved that objective! Hosting the Royal couple was a really rewarding experience. It was so nice to be able to talk to two genuinely interesting people, who although are amongst the most famous in the world, are so easy to converse with, so easy to relate to, and so easy to get on with.

t i g n i k ma la l add up

The Duke and Duchess are amazingly relaxed people without pretence and are genuinely interested in New Zealand, Christchurch, and its people.

One of the critical outcomes from my perspective was that the news media took messages from Christchurch and put them around the world instantly. Those messages were very much about a city that is healing, a city that is full of opportunity, and a city that is aspiring to be the best in Australasia. That sort of publicity is priceless. Peter Townsend is chief executive of the Canterbury Employers’ Chamber of Commerce. Visit www.cecc.org.nz

IS THIS THE BEST AND MOST COST EFFECTIVE PET FOOD AVAILABLE IN NZ? We are certain it is and here’s why Not all dog foods are equal – in many respects Firstly not all bags of dog food are the same size, making it hard to compare costs. But most people can soon work out what the cost is per kilo. However what most people don’t have time to calculate is what it costs to feed their dog per meal, as some require a lot of food to meet the correct daily requirements, and others, not so much. The reason for this is that quality foods generally require less as they have less fillers such as corn, soy, grain etc. And it’s these fillers that are the main reason for allergies. Which can be costly if you need to visit the vet. And of course if the dog is eating less and able to digest more of the human grade ingredients

(as in Canidae) then it means there’s less “excess” on the lawn. Below is a comparison between some of the “premium” brands available in NZ. This is based on a 10kg dog, so if you have a large dog the savings will be multiplied. These guideline amounts are based on the recommended feeding requirements per day as stated by the manufacturer. They are a starting point and your dog may need more or less food depending upon age, breed, activity and climate. In order to reach optimal body condition, you may need to adjust food intake.

Grams required

Cost per feed

Cost per Kg

CANIDAE

96gms

$1.12

$11.73

Orijen

150gms

$1.72

$11.50

Nutrience

180gms

$1.43

$7.97

Purina

158gms

$1.36

$8.62

Eukanuba

140gms

$1.24

$8.88

Hills Science Diet

181gms

$1.81

$10.00

SAVE UP TO 38%

on other “leading” brands with Canidae These calculations are based on a 10kg dog. These figures are correct as at 18/2/13. We assumed an active dog, older than 1 year, that is exercised. Based on buying 15kg bags or the nearest the manufacturer had.

Goes beyond just feeding your pet The Confidential Dog Food report recently assessed over 2000 dog foods, including all the brands you’re familiar with that have huge marketing budgets and selected the best nine in the world. Canidae was one. The others aren’t available in New Zealand. Each year the Whole Dog Journal, one of the most respected dog journals in the world, generates a list of approximately 25 ‘Approved Foods’ from around the world. Once again Canidae is on this list and has been for many years. In fact here’s a quote from their publication “I’d like to quickly dismiss the idea that any of the giants – Iams and Eukanuba, Purina, Science Diet, et. al. - could possibly make dry foods that are as good as the foods that have a regular presence on WDJ’s ‘approved foods list’. The fact is, though, of course they could; they have all the resources needed to do so. They could bury most of the competition in the “natural and holistic” niche... if they followed through and used only the same high quality ingredients typically used by the smaller boutique brands. But they generally stop short – perhaps because they are unaccustomed to paying a lot for their raw materials, or marketing the products at a correspondingly high sales price?”

Call now for a

Both of the independent studies above look at the ingredients, the manufacturing plant and most importantly the nutritional benefits to the dog. They aren’t swayed by marketing hype. At Canidae Pet Foods we are committed to providing you, our valued customer and your pets, the highest standard of excellence in product quality and customer satisfaction. If you are not completely satisfied with any of our products, please call our team for a no questions asked refund. In fact if you don’t become a raving fan of Canidae/Felidae by the end of your first bag I would personally like to know about it. Kind regards, Gary Collins - Managing Director

FREE SAMPLE and info pack ph 0800 101 729 or www.canidae.co.nz

News | Local moves

The Wave Garden; a proposed artificial wave facility for New Brighton that will be a key investor for Surf Investments

Coastal concerns The old adage says that if you want something done properly – then do it yourself. So that’s exactly what New Brighton is doing, they are taking the lead in the rebuild and rejuvenation of their community. And they’re using a business model to do it. Local businessman Tony Brooks has established Surf - the Strategic Urban Rejuvenation Force, a private company committed to enabling a series of key projects that have been designed to rejuvenate both the CBD of New Brighton and surrounding suburb. “Surf will tackle a mix of social projects and business propositions with the view to attracting investment and business to the area,” Brooks says. Surf intendeds to put New Brighton back on the map, and while this involves numerous business and investment projects – the first step is all about engaging and empowering the community. 20 | June/July 2014

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“It’s rejuvenation from within,” Brooks says. “This is a grassroots initiative that needs the community, the country, the world, to buy into this concept. We are going to address the social needs of this area, and then we are going to stimulate, promote and encourage private enterprise in the New Brighton area.”

So why a business model? Unlike community organisations, a business has the ability to be agile and act quickly. Brooks sat on the board of the New Brighton Business and Land Owners Association and it became apparent that there was the need for a company/ organisation to step into the mix to enable the planned the projects it was investigating. Surf was established in April and has just launched Surf Community, which is the not for profit arm of Surf, 100 percent dedicated to the people of New Brighton. It is the entity running the local and international donation campaign ‘Change our world in 28 days’ which ends on June 8. All donations received will be held until a Board of Directors is appointed. The company will then begin to share the business cases and proposals it has been preparing for a number of projects. Brooks says Surf is a task driven organisation and while it is doing the work behind the scenes on a number of rejuvenation projects - it is ultimately the people of New Brighton that will help make the decision on where the donated funds will be spent.

What really makes Surf Community different is that every resident, business owner and land owner of the suburb can impact how money raised through donations is spent via a voting system. Voting rights will automatically be given to each adult resident, land and business owner in the suburb. “The worst thing Surf can do is deliver projects the community does not want. This is entirely about giving the power back to the people and allowing the community to make the right decisions for New Brighton. “So while we have business cases prepared for a number of projects – the community ultimately will decide where the donation money is invested.” Proposals put forward will proceed, or stop, based on what the community decides. For any project to proceed, it will require a 60 percent majority of positive votes. Those living outside New Brighton, but with an interest in seeing it rejuvenated, can purchase a vote. “Ultimately all donated money is there to fund initiatives that will make New Brighton a desirable place to live and do business, which will then help us establish the projects designed to generate revenue.” Profits from these revenue generating projects will then be directed back into Surf. Surf Investments will also be formed to manage key investor projects for the area. It will then raise equity to fund the development of these projects. Shares in

“

This is a grassroots initiative that needs the community, the country, the world, to buy into this concept. We are going to address the social needs of this area, and then we are going to stimulate, promote and encourage private enterprise in the New Brighton area.

- TONY BROOKS

”

this company will be offered to New Brighton residents first before being offered to the market “This company is a vital ingredient in the development of key investment projects in the area and is being established to actively secure investors and investment,” Brooks adds. www.surfnewbrighton.co.nz

News | Tools/The front line

Get serious about LinkedIn By Davina Richards

Ahh LinkedIn… it’s one of those words we drop into a conversation to make others think we mean business. And we do. But even as an active user, can you honestly admit you know how to use LinkedIn to your best advantage? As of February, 2014, LinkedIn has 277 million users. It’s one of the most powerful tools for making valuable business associates and building a professional network is just as important as retaining your staff, because without both, what exactly are you trying to build? When it comes to LinkedIn, we sign up, we log in, take a look around, upload a good selfie and fill in the blank boxes - but remember this is no Facebook page. For one thing, LinkedIn is relevant (did I say that out loud?), when it comes to business anyway. Think about what you want to get out of your profile and set it up according to what you want to achieve.

company, not what the company does itself. Be specific about your tasks and include results to support achievements. Tell people a story of your history which they are compelled to read • Just how we like to post Facebook statuses about completing a half marathon run or successfully reaching a wedding anniversary, let people know about your achievements. Whether you’ve secured a valuable client, exceeded company goals or landed a new job, update your status by sharing good news or something you’re contacts might be interested in so other users will notice you

• There are many strangers on LinkedIn who nosey-about looking for connections. If this People are going to read it and what you stranger is you and there’s someone you’d write will be a reflection of yourself, so like to connect with, but are unsure if they’ll don’t just put your best face forward, put respond, send them a message explaining your best skills, expertise, experience, why you would like to connect with them recommendations, products and your passions and why they might want to connect with forward, too. you. It pays well to personalise a message and it almost always results in a connection Sell yourself and the responses you receive will have value and truth to it. In doing so, • Try to start a short conversation when you you will get introduced to the right people, accept a new connection. Take a look at get answers from people who are experts in their profile and see if there’s any common their field and hit upon new business deals ground which could be a conversation and marketing opportunities. starter. Make an effort and it could be the start of a beautiful relationship Alex Pirouz, business advisor and founder of Linkfluencer.com, failed his first four businesses and lost more than half a million dollars, only making his first modest profit after four years. He recognises the challenges within LinkedIn which urged him to launch Linkfluencer.com. Linkfluencer.com, which states 85 percent of business owners are unable to effectively use LinkedIn, teaches professionals how to master the social media platform by taking them on a programme which focusses on planning, connecting and making profit through interactive online videos, exercises and activities. Alex has accumulated an impressive 6,800 connections in just two years and through his website wants to educate others on how to build customers, and their brand through media. Optimise your profile so you have a compelling LinkedIn presence and get those professional invitations rolling in by following these steps. • What’s the purpose of having a LinkedIn profile? What do you want from being a LinkedIn member? Are you seeking an employer, investor, partner or a new career path? Use key words to get the right attention • Write information which is to the point. Inform people about what you do at a 22 | June/July 2014

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• Extend your network database further by joining groups which are relevant and interesting to you. Be active: introduce yourself, participate in conversations and ask questions. Stay up to date and you may be surprised how much you learn from other professionals and in turn inadvertently reach your goal • Share your expertise – upload relevant videos, tutorials, webinars and presentations, anything which adds value to you as a contact. This will grab attention from those you’re already connected with and also attract new contacts • Include recommendations on your profile, but make sure they’re from the right people. Ask for a recommendation request from someone you’ve worked closely with someone who’s heard you speak at a conference, or someone reputable who can vouch for your qualifications and expertise. Ideally, they need to contribute a few sentences which make you stand out from others in your field

Best and worst customer service industries revealed Customer service satisfaction in New Zealand has doubled from 2012. The results of the fifth annual KiwiHost Perceptions of Customer Service Survey of more than 1,250 New Zealanders, carried out late last year, reveals the private sector appears to be heeding the call for better customer service. The survey covers customer service across 16 different industries, from automotive repairers, hotels/motels, banks and accounts/legal to supermarkets, medical centres, local councils, Government agencies and Internet service providers.

“

It appears we have hit a critical point where the general level of service has improved to a level at which most organisations are providing somewhat satisfactory service.

”

Companies are rated by customers according to a ‘Happiness Rating’, which applies to the number of satisfied responses minus the number of unsatisfied responses, represented as a percentage of the total number of responses for each company.

The bad

A Happiness Rating of 100 would indicate that all responses from the company were positive, while a negative Happiness Rating means that responses suggest that the company has more unsatisfied customers than satisfied ones. The survey has a margin of error of 3.6 percent.

Star performers

KiwiHost managing director, Jared Brixton says half of the industry sectors surveyed came out with a Happiness Rating of 50 or more, which is double that of 2012 when only four sectors achieved a similar result. “At the other end of the scale, no sectors scored a negative rating, which is a tremendous improvement over the previous year. Unfortunately Government agencies, while making a big improvement from last year, just scrape home with a Happiness Rating of three. “It appears we have hit a critical point where the general level of service has improved to a level at which most organisations are providing somewhat satisfactory service." The perception of satisfactory customer service levels increased by 16 percent, jumping up to 64 percent, compared to 48 percent in 2012 and 54 percent in 2010. However, the increase in satisfaction is not necessarily reflected in what customers believe, with only 32 percent of customers saying that customer service is getting better. But this is also a marked improvement on 24 percent from the previous year.

Social media a growing influence

• Don’t be lazy: Spell check, spell check, spell check. Check for typos in company names, user names and throughout your profile. Review spelling and grammar errors

Social media continues to surge as a popular medium for communicating with companies, whether to express satisfaction or dissatisfaction with the level of service.

• Read through your profile and check it’s 100 percent complete. This way you’ll get ‘checked out’ more often.

“If companies use social media to respond to both positive and negative feedback, the survey would suggest that

they stand a better chance of retaining their customers.”

Industries that rate the worst for customer service in New Zealand are Government agencies and local councils, and telecommunications, utilities and insurance companies.

Air New Zealand remains the star performer when it comes to performance across the customer service landscape with a Happiness Rating of higher than 80, compared to other international airlines. ASB leads the banking industry with a Happiness Rating in the mid-50s, while 2 Degrees heads the telecommunications industry with a Happiness Rating in the mid-40s. Those surveyed gave the retail hospitality industry (cafés, bars and restaurants) a combined Happiness Rating of nearly 70. “Respondents have a more favourable perception of the level of customer service provided by banks overall, but the retail hospitality industry and supermarkets are right up there with them – the retail hospitality industry and hotels/motels had the least number of negative responses. “Telecommunications and Internet Service Providers have clearly got the message and improved the most from last year, going up by 34 Happiness Rating points. On the other hand, Government agencies are still barely making a positive impact. “It may be easy to say that nobody ever feels favourably disposed towards Government agencies, but the same can be said of local councils, yet local councils – while being the other cellar dweller – still significantly outperform government.”

Reasons influencing perceptions of customer service

The KiwiHost Perceptions of Customer Service Survey revealed that New Zealand customers have three basic expectations of an organisation: • Listen to me and understand my needs. • Demonstrate a willingness to help. • Respond to me in a timely manner.

Businesses stand up to solve youth social issues As New Zealand’s youth organisations face an unprecedented funding crisis, businesses nationwide are standing up with new social brand Y for YOUTH to solve our serious youth social issues. New Zealand has the highest youth suicide rate in the developed world, yet there are more than 6,000 charities dedicated to assisting our youth throughout the country. Y for YOUTH co-founder Alex Greig says “There are hundreds of very successful programmes out there already in the community. The problem is that they are competing with each other for a diminishing pool of government grants, public donations and gaming trust money, which is limiting their ability to scale and expand capacity and in some instances threatening their very survival.” Find Your Field of Dreams Foundation CEO, Craig Pollock says he and his organisation are fully aware of the impending youth sector funding crisis. “Even as one of the larger youth organisations, it is a major challenge finding alternative revenue streams just to fund our current programmes. I suspect a lot of smaller youth organisations may simply not survive the next few years.” Yet as traditional funding sources for the charity sector continue to decline, New Zealand’s alarming youth social statistics, such as bullying and suicide, continue to increase. Just last year there was a 40 percent increase in youth suicide for 15 – 19 year olds.

What can we do about our youth social issues and the youth sector funding crisis? “New Zealand’s youth social problems are not going to be solved with sausage sizzles and the old method of rattling the bucket outside shopping centres. Our serious social problems require serious resources and funding,” Greig says. Y for YOUTH is a turnkey corporate social responsibility platform that enables businesses to contribute to the youth sector in such a way that they benefit from positive publicity and increased sales. Businesses and brands contribute a percentage of their profits to the Y for YOUTH support network. In return companies display the Y for YOUTH trademark on their products and advertising, similar to Fairtrade or the Heart Foundation Tick branding models. Consumers are then encouraged to purchase from these companies. Consumers want to buy from companies that support our communities Greig says that today more than ever, consumers want to buy from companies that contribute to our communities. “We have developed a system that makes it easy for companies to donate to the youth sector, but in such a way that they

benefit from increased sales, positive publicity and an improved brand image. It’s a win-win.” Through the creation of a sustained funding platform for New Zealand’s youth sector, youth organisations’ fundraising burdens can be alleviated so they can focus on expanding their programmes and impacting as many youth as possible throughout New Zealand. Y for YOUTH co-founder Lara Jane says “We’re talking about transformation and positive social change for all of New Zealand. The more youth that are positively impacted, the more youth that grow up to be happy, healthy, contributing members in our communities.” 100 Founding Angels As Y for YOUTH works towards becoming financially sustainable, it has created an opportunity for 100 forward thinking businesses and community focused individuals who wish to be involved in a movement to reduce New Zealand’s youth social statistics, to become Founding Angels.

Founding Angels support the development of Y for YOUTH by making an initial $5,000 donation (or $500 per month x 10 months), then $100 per month for three years. Well known entrepreneur Michael Mayell, founder of Cookie Time, was one of the first to step up and claims that becoming a Founding Angel is a good way of practising corporate social responsibility. “This is just a great opportunity to give back, and it makes it very easy for businesses to do it.” Twenty eight companies and individuals have already come on board as Founding Angels to support the development and growth of Y for YOUTH including Blacksmith Ltd, Navman Wireless, Academy Publishing, Coca–Cola, Tiki Taane, Kim and Mona Dotcom and Sales Star. For further information and to get involved visit www.yforyouth.org

News | Cover Story

Hot property By Laura Hall

On a gloomy Christchurch day among The Terrace’s chaotic, mud trodden construction site, Antony Gough lights up the temporary onsite offices. It’s not just his blinding, fluorescent yellow suit and matching accessories that radiate off him; it’s his personality and entire persona that shine. His flamboyant signature style certainly stands out in a crowd, just the way he likes it but it is his outspoken, gung-ho attitude that is the real head turner. Come hell or high water Antony has pressed on with his grand plans for the half block entertainment precinct on Oxford Terrace called The Terrace, which will replace The Strip. It is his approach that has made this rich-lister the face of the city centre’s rebuild. A title he is more than happy to flaunt. Yes, Cantabrians are familiar with the name and the face of the developer who is getting stuck into the rebuild. However, there are a few fascinating facts that aren’t so commonly known among the masses. This fashionista once worked the land on a sheep farm in Chertsey, Canterbury for 13 years. And what’s possibly even more surprising, he has an honours degree in physics. While some property owners have been hesitant to reinvest in the city centre Antony isn’t holding back. The entertainment precinct featuring restaurants, bars and shops will offer a shopping and dining experience like no other in the city, with visitors invited to promenade down the lane ways in a space Antony hopes will become the “living room” of the city.

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News | Cover Story

“

At the moment I have plenty on my plate to wake me up at three in the morning. I sometimes think ‘what are you doing Antony’, which is pretty normal these days. - ANTONY GOUGH

”

Despite the naysayers repeatedly telling Antony he won’t find anyone to fill the buildings, he already has tenants lined up for most of the offices along Oxford Terrace and names against around 80 percent of the hospitality space in stage one. The first of three buildings is already taking shape and stage one is expected to be open by Autumn 2015. He promises the build will be something truly special, a “gift to Christchurch”. And it is one pricy gift with the insurance pay out of $40 million estimated to cover just a quarter of the cost to build the full precinct; the rest is coming from his own pockets and other investors. But Antony is casually waving off the escalating $100 million dollar bill he’s footing. For him it’s not about the cost rather a unique opportunity to start over. “It is our duty to better the city and make it an exciting, vibrant place people want to come to.” As Antony’s towers rise up from the rubble, rubber stamping his mark on the city, he admits he is extremely fortunate to be in his position. “No, I wouldn’t be where I am today without family money, but I think everyone gets something in their life that comes their way and the thing is not to waste that opportunity.” The family money that gave Antony his kick-start in life was hard earned by his grandfather Tracy Gough. About 85 years ago Tracy founded and ran the New Zealand Caterpillar franchise, dealing in tractors and heavy machinery. The Caterpillar business has developed and expanded a number of times during the years and now employs around 900 staff from Auckland to Invercargill, all the while maintaining the family fortune through the Gough, Gough and Hamer business, which is still privately owned today.

The making of the man Antony is 65 and proud of it, “I feel I’m almost at that point where I don’t care about my age and I almost can’t believe I got here,” he says. He is a Christchurch boy through and through attending all the right schools; firstly the prestigious Medbury School followed by Christ’s College. He then went on to study at the University of Canterbury achieving a physics honours degree with a special interest in nuclear physics. “That’s a specialist degree where they put you in a tiny little room and pressure cook you on physics for fours years.” He soon realised a nuclear physics degree was “a bit of a joke” in New Zealand and there were certainly no jobs for a nuclear physicist in a nuclear free country.

His father Owen recommended he should try his hand at computers, so he went to work at the family business as a computer programmer. Computers clicked with his mathematical brain and within five years he was manager of the department with 25 staff under him. But shortly after starting work at the company his attention turned to property investment. “To me it seemed natural. I could see potential in things that other people obviously couldn’t,” he says. His grandfather had died many years previously and he received a small inheritance at age 21, which came locked into Christchurch City Council bonds for 20 years. His parents kept a tight control on the family money; they never overspent and rarely bought exorbitant items, “we were asset rich and cash poor,” he says. But when a corner property came up for sale next to The Bridge of Remembrance the opportunity was too good to pass up. He suggested to his father that the company should consider buying the site but Owen didn’t share his son’s ambitious views. “My father said you get on with your studies and we’ll get on with selling tractors. But those words to me were like a red flag is to a bull.” So, much to his parent’s absolute horror he stuck his neck out and sold his Christchurch City Council bonds on the stock exchange at a capital loss. Then he went into partnership with his twin sister Avenal and bought the building.

More recently his business partner, who jointly owned the Poplars Apartments with him went bankrupt. So Antony bought him out, changed the whole project from apartments to sell to a boutique hotel and then ran the hotel called The Poplars Apartment Hotel and Oasis restaurant himself. These difficult times prepared for the challenges he now faces.

Where to next “At the moment I have plenty on my plate to wake me up at three in the morning. I sometimes think ‘what are you doing Antony’? which is pretty normal these days. I’m taking a huge risk. I’ve got no income at the moment, but plenty of money going out.” Under the Crown’s compulsory land acquisition for the city’s blueprint Antony lost two key corner sites overlooking the Avon River and parks. “I’ll never be able to buy them back at the price I had to sell them to the Crown at, but it is also important to move on and not dwell on negatives.” But he’s not holding any grudges – that’s just not his style. “A lot of people dwell on things and you’ll notice I don’t; I’ve learnt to let go and move on. I always say my glass is half full not half empty; it’s my positive philosophy that has helped me keep going." After two years in a battle with his insurance companies he is now fully settled for the buildings themselves and looking to the future. “My insurance outstanding issues are minor these days.

“I want to create something that is a legacy for Christchurch that people can be absolutely “My parents asked me what did I know about proud of. So for me The Terrace is about property? I said nothing, but I’m going to learn putting something back into the city that has quickly.” Considering the state of Antony’s given me so much.” property portfolio you’d have to say he’s a And with this noble vision in mind he created pretty quick study. a few basic rules for his architects. During the years his properties have “Firstly I want to optimise the site, not housed bars and restaurants on The Strip maximise it. Most developers try to max out encompassing Liquidity, Ferment, The Tap the site to make a big return on it, but I am Room, The Bangalore Polo Club and The more interested in building a quality space Boulevard, as well as the Maithai, Vivace that can breathe. Coffee, Shands Emporium, Dimitris Souvlaki, Maher Shoes, Radar Records, a ten storey “Secondly I want to build lanes not arcades; office tower over looking Victoria Square, two lanes are open to the sky and create open air hotels and a retirement village just to name spaces with sunshine and light everywhere. a few. Arcades are covered tunnels. And lastly I want a collection of unique buildings with a To most people this may seem like an timeless look. I have a saying if you see it in a impressive list of properties but for Antony mall you won’t see it here.” it was just a warm up preparing him for the challenge of building The Terrace, his biggest project to date. Don’t be mistaken though, he’s had his fair share of struggles. His first was just a year after buying his first property, the building burnt down and it took six years to recover the money from the insurance company.

The Terrace build is percolating along nicely thanks to Antony’s ever optimistic outlook, high standards and wads of cash, but he says there are other aspects of the city’s rebuild that aren’t looking so bright. “Firstly CERA in all their wisdom thought it was a great idea to lock the city down for 15

months after the earthquake. But that move has set the rebuild back by more than a year and forced many investors and retailers out of the city. “And secondly the anchor projects, which should be the inspiration for the rebuild, are taking far too long to come out of the ground. They should have been the front runners to drive people back into the city and they are the tail wagers. The great thing is these are now starting to happen.” Despite the anchor projects’ start dates falling short of his expectations, Antony is quick to remind me of all the exciting progress that is being made. “I know people are saying ‘the rebuild is so slow and taking forever’. I say to these people wake up and take a look at the city - there is development everywhere.” The foundations are being laid for the $100 million Cashel Square office and retail precient between Cashel, Hereford and Colombo Streets. There are four new buildings going up on Cambridge Terrace. Shaun Stockman has just completed a brand new building on the corner of Lichfield and High Street. Antony expects to hear news of the rebuild on the Triangle Centre area soon and the former Grand Chancellor site has had plans announced for a replacement building on its site. The justice precinct is on its way and the new bus exchange is to be completed in 2015. “Christchurch is having a huge amount of money invested into it. It’s going to be the financial powerhouse of New Zealand. People like me are spending huge amounts of money out of their own pockets to create a new city from nothing.” Antony buzzes with enthusiasm as he talks about the future of the city and it is obvious he is genuinely ecstatic about what the future holds. “I think the future of Christchurch central city is hugely under rated by the general public. The finished product is going to hit Christchurch people by storm. “The reality will exceed what the blueprint plan promises; Christchurch will be the city of the future with other cities looking to it for leadership and inspiration. I don’t think people have seen what’s coming yet.” As the city continues to transform and take on its new shape people will start to get hyped up and excited too. “You’ve got to sell the enthusiasm and the buzz for the city. In the early part of next year we will all be down here having a party, celebrating the opening of The Terrace.” If anyone is capable of selling enthusiasm it’s Antony Gough. All he needs to do is walk into the room. www.canterburytoday.co.nz

June/July 2014 | 25

Interview | Tim Alpe

King of the road By Davina Richards

You’ve probably seen her. Leaning over and blowing a cheeky kiss in your direction, usually accompanied with the slogan ‘Be JUCY, Live JUCY, Rent JUCY’. She appears in all her glory on the back of the distinctive green and purple rental campervans, gracing the roads across New Zealand and abroad. Well her name is Lucy, a fun-loving 1950s pinup girl who revels in adventure and the spirit of travelling, and she anchors the JUCY brand. Behind the scenes is Tim Alpe, one half of JUCY’s founders. He and his brother Dan launched the company 13 years ago, working from a small garage in Parnell, Auckland. Tim was 27 and Dan 25 at the time. Following the success of JUCY here in God’s own, the company jumped across the pond in 2008, stuck a Kiwi flag in the sand and added some street value to Australian roads. America was the latest market JUCY broke into in 2012, but this was no unlikely landing strip for the leading tourism business which already raves JUCY Cruise Milford Sound, a JUCY hotel in Auckland and JUCY car and campervan hire across New Zealand, Australia and the US. 26 | June/July 2014

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“

We are not good at saying no to opportunities and have been fortunate to have a board around us that’s been able to ask tough questions – is this the right thing for the business? And then having the balls to turn around and say ‘no, don’t do it’.

”

Tim and Dan Alpe

The New Zealand tourism industry, much like Kiwi innovation, is a growing success story and still gaining momentum. So what better way to make a living than to help people have a good time on holiday?

The road to success Success is almost never a straight smoothly climbing line. It’s more of a spaghetti junction with the arrow barely piercing through the top. You’ve pretty much made it once you’ve by-crossed the American border, but for Tim, success hasn’t come without the odd blip along the way. One of his earliest and biggest business decisions was to change the company name from Ezy Rentals to JUCY, where he admits they were a bit naïve and didn’t consider trademarks and protecting the brand.

“When we rebranded to JUCY we realised the importance of really focussing on creating a brand, as opposed to just having a business and we have created something with universal appeal that can cross into different sectors. Suffice to say the worst decision was not to focus on the brand at the outset,” Tim says. “I think for us it’s really about ascertaining what are the best opportunities for the business, as there are plenty of opportunities for us to ‘JUCY-fy’ the world. But it’s about selecting the opportunities that best suit the brand and the business, and I suppose concentrating on the ones we know well and not focussing on opportunities that maybe aren’t right for the time being. And making sure we have the right people around us to achieve those goals.” Like for any business, and for any business wanting to permeate the largest market in the world, challenges are inevitable and some seem almost impossible until they’re achieved. Tim says launching into the US was like dealing with 52 different countries. Different states with each detailing red tape and

different time zones were consuming factors; he waited six months to secure a business license and four months to get a bank account. “We overcame these obstacles by placing an employee from NZ HQ into the US for three months to help write the business plan. She understood JUCY and the brand and how we operated, and we put her into California for three months to help us write the business plan. “Then we also looked to work with an existing operator up in the US for the first two years of operation which enabled us to get on the ground without having the expense of big leases and other major overheads. We made sure that we had our own staff in the market early on to really look after the best interests of the business and our customers.”

Onwards and upwards JUCY back home refuses to stand still. It has shifted into a different industry sector by moving from traditional rental cars and campervans into accommodation; the first JUCY hotel opened in Auckland in 2010. “We had a huge amount of interest from our

Interview | Tim Alpe

customers who wanted places to stay and they wanted to stay with JUCY throughout their journey, so we spotted the opportunity and launched the hotel in Auckland. It was a new learning curve for us, but it’s been fantastic,” he says. While the company plans to roll out the hotel/ accommodation offering in Christchurch and other sites, JUCY continues to expand its vehicle side of the business in America and a new range of JUCY rental cars have just hit Australian roads. “We are not good at saying no to opportunities and have been fortunate to have a board around us that’s been able to ask tough questions – is this the right thing for the business? And then having the balls to turn around and say no, don’t do it.” Arguably the biggest game changer for the business was moving from rental cars to campervans. “We worked with boat builders to design a vehicle which was totally unique, using fiberglass and it proved a lot more costeffective than our competitors. Also painting our vehicles green and purple when traditional motor homes were usually white created a huge amount of interest and a community of JUCY people driving and parking up together. “Moving offshore to Australia in 2008 was also a huge milestone – we were unproven in overseas markets at that time and by launching there we proved we could go international, and this led on to the US.” JUCY has its own campervan manufacturing division called JUCY by Design and is where the campervan units are built onto the imported second hand Japanese vans. JBD is based in Auckland and Los Angeles.

Spreading the word These days guerrilla advertising is what successful marketing material is made from and since the beginning JUCY was prone to try a bit of left field advertising to promote the brand, including parking campers outside tourist hotspots to get noticed. “We had quirky merchandise such as branded g-strings and we sponsored unusual events like jelly wrestling – all the things that were a little bit controversial we got involved with. “The guerrilla marketing was an inexpensive way to get our product out there and promote the business as we didn’t have the luxury of spending hundreds of thousands of dollars on advertising. So we had to be creative and by being a little bit risky we definitely caught the attention of people,” he says.

JUCY facts: • 2,700 vehicles • More than 240 staff • One hotel • One cruise boat • Operates in 13 locations in NZ, Australia and USA • 300,000 people drive, sleep and cruise JUCY each year • More than 21,000 Facebook fans • 7,300 Twitter followers • More than one million You Tube views.

A strategy which worked a charm and couldn’t have been pulled off without the help of its dedicated and loyal JUCY crew. It could have been (embarrassingly) misspelled or it could have been intentional, but the letter ‘i’ has been left out in its company name JUCY. I’ll just assume it’s because there is no ‘i’ in team because JUCY is a little family unit drenched in a culture all of its own. In fact, there have been five JUCY weddings and six or seven JUCY babies from people who have met as a result of working together. “Culture is key within any organisation and this is totally true with JUCY. We are a marketing business and our people are our biggest asset. We have a person whose full time role is Queen of Culture and her role is that we get the right people on board, induct them accordingly and really invest in people. We don’t have an HR department at JUCY – we have a Queen of Culture and a People Jucyfier and we are prepared to invest in our people.”

Driving desire Tim’s work life began with Tourism Holdings Ltd in Los Angeles, Auckland and Melbourne. But there’s no denying that even as a young lad, Tim’s fate was always to be in business. His father, Chris, started Maui campervans in the 80s, to which Tim recalls cleaning campervans with his brother Dan every school holidays. “Dad has been instrumental in helping Dan and I grow and establish the business, and he is still very involved. About two years ago we were struggling a little bit in the US and we sent him up there for a month to help out. He ended up buying a house there and spending about seven months of the year there helping us with the business.

“

Culture is key within any organisation and this is totally true with JUCY. We are a marketing business and our people are our biggest asset.

“Dan and I have learnt a lot from him about the industry, how you grow and handle a fast growing, fast moving business and he is hugely influential in the way we have established the business.” His father’s advice was to “employ your weaknesses”. “As it turns out we have about 247 weaknesses. It’s really important to appreciate you can’t do everything yourself and to get the right people around you to help you really achieve your goals.” Tim clearly works hard to make a living, but he also doesn’t forget to make a life too. After all, what’s money and success if you don’t have anyone to share it with? He runs an international business and has a wife and three children aged three to eight, so you can imagine the demands of equal attention. His brother Dan, is equally adept at juggling work and family life with his wife and two young children. But Tim says business and life is all one in the same. “I’m an active relaxer so I’m always out doing stuff with the kids like taking them to tennis, school etc. I went to Hawaii last year with my wife and as long as I got three or four hours work done in the morning, then I was pretty good company in the afternoons. “I’m not good at doing nothing. I’ve never slept-in in my life.”

”

JUCY awards: • Tim Alpe won Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of the Year 2010 • 2011 Winner University of Auckland Business School Entrepreneurs’ Challenge • 2013 Joint winner in the NZTE International Business Awards – AUT Business School Most Innovative Business Model • 2013 Finalist in NZTE International Business Awards – ANZ Best Business category • For the seventh year in a row, JUCY was awarded the prestigious Golden Backpack Award 2013 for Best Car/ Camper Rental in New Zealand.

If you’re not here for a long time, but here for a good time, JUCY keeps its brand promise of funky and comfortable travel services at budget prices for those who’ve got the travel bug. www.jucy.co.nz

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June/July 2014 | 27

News | Lifestyles

Lifestyles By Davina Richards

Digital stick

Wooden USB I imagine one day there will be a flash drive the size of my finger nail which can hold a terabyte of data, but until then I’ll leave it up to product designers to objectify the hell out of USB sticks and turn the common mundane object into something stylish and interesting. Exhibit A celebrates the art form of nature and technology. No trees were harmed in the making of this product – the wood is taken from the forest floor. RRP: 2GB $45, 4GB $49, 8Gb $54 and 16Gb $62 Available from: www.oooms.nl

I’ll be there for you

Central Park rug I won’t abrupt into a one woman band of flash mob singers breaking out the Friends theme tune, but I guarantee this Central Park rug will make you want to lie on the floor, play an episode of the 90s favourite comedy hit show and roll around until you’re a human pancake. Hand woven with felted merino wool, there won't even be a square metre to share with anyone else.

RRP: $468 +GST per square metre Available from: www.artisanflooring.co.nz

Memorable scents

ECOYA candle Many people melt at the smell of freshly baked bread, cut grass or damp earth after a downpour; we try to forget a bad smell as quickly as possible, but the pleasant ones stick around. Don’t let the cold weather desensitise you this winter and fill your home with the sweet smell of French pear. Place it in your bathroom while you relax in the bath, in the hallway or living room. A sweet scent is the remaining element to seal in the cosiness of your home. RRP: $49.95 Available from: www.ecoya.com

Fancy flavours

Colonna lemon infused extra virgin olive oil The story behind Colonna’s Granverde begins in Molise, Italy. Made from handpicked olives and spray-free lemons carefully selected from Marina Colonna’s Bosco Pontini Estate, the sweet olive oil is just too good not to share. RRP: 250ml $29.90 or 500ml $39.90 Available from: www.sabato.co.nz

28 | June/July 2014

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Be in to win: Sabato is kindly giving away one bottle of 250mI Colonna lemon infused extra virgin olive oil. To be in to win simply email your name and address to promotions@sabato.co.nz, with ‘Colonna Giveaway – Canterbury Today’ in the subject line, by Friday, June 20.

News | Lifestyles

Lifestyles 5.

Attractive heating

Cocoon fires

At some time or another we’ve found ourselves staring into a fire, hypnotised by its dancing flames. The Cocoon fire catches your gaze twofold due to its sleek, sexy design. It runs on bio fuel, doesn’t require a flu and as such, is rather environmentally friendly. Hang it from the ceiling or convert into a freestanding “Terra”. You can move it from room to room making it a great stylish addition to interior and exterior spaces. We might not love the cold, but we do love that warm fuzzy feeling. RRP: $4,267 plus GST Available from: www.cocoonfires.co.nz

Top drops

Amisfield Pinot Noir 2011 Hello wine lovers. We know how much you love to get together to enjoy a rant with friends over a glass of wine and laugh it up by the fire - so why not cosy up to one of Amisfield’s finest wines. Fermented naturally and allowed to mature quietly in French oak barriques it’s the perfect drop for winter with its distinct aromatic red cherries, baking spices and fine oak tasting notes. Go on, you big flirt. It’s the best thing you’ve tasted since the last sip you took!

RRP: $45 Available from: www.amisfield.co.nz

Mash it

Electric potato and vegetable masher Potatoes are the ultimate comfort food and as a nation we’re big fans. So this electric vegetable and potato masher is a great kitchen tool likely to make a difference at dinner time. Experiment by whipping up some guacamole, dips, baby food and cake batters. RRP: $69.99 Available from: www.mitre10.co.nz

Threading it

Glück pendant Knitted furniture is underestimated and quite the in item just now. This hand crochet pendant light brings warmth and texture, and possesses a charm which can lack in many hard furniture pieces. Knitting expert Naomi Paul is just one of the creative’s out there who appreciates sustainability and indulges in the beauty of pulling yarn through loops using materials from the fashion industry. Her unique range of cushions and lighting is worth checking out if you ask me. RRP: From $2,404 Available from: www.naomipaul.co.uk

www.canterburytoday.co.nz

June/July 2014 | 29

been seen

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

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

Siliver Stream Estate in Kaiapoi held a special open day for a number of local builders who presented their quality home and land packages. 1. Adrian Everse, Jo Reilly, Levi Davey (Tectonic Construction) 2. Colleen & Michelle 3. Aaron Williams, Jonathan Dixon (DW Construction) 4. Andrew Sandlant, Marg Kraack, Michelle Allan, Fred Rahme (Silverstream Team)

5. Gary Shuttleworth, Yolande Mintrom, Clinton Poole (Compass Homes) 6. Izzy Bloxham, Colleen Christiansen, Kayci McGrath 7. Rebecca Knight, Danny Broom (Devon Construction) 8. Dave Mcleod (Project Homes) 9. Bronwyn Bindon, Tony Hutchison (Newbuild Home Finance) 10. Erica Brown, Bruce Clayton (A1 Homes)

Rangi Ruri Old Girls held a special cocktail party at the school’s new science centre as part of Rangi Ruri 125th Anniversary. 11. Craig Campbell & Nick Hall 12. Brigid Shamy, Anna Raymond, Anthea Prentice 13. Rebecca Aitken & Susan Rowe 14. Juliana Hilson & Nicky Ecroyd 11

15. Genevieve Long & Margot Day 16. Rosemary Whyte, Judith Parkes, Robyn Cartwright 17. Julie Moor (Principal) & Liz Lovell 18. Suse Berwick & Becky Boyce 19. Jan Hadfield, Jill Nazar, Sally Young, Judy Ensor

21. Gerry Shackleton, Jo Hockham (Urban Surf)

20. Sarah Wilkinson & Andrea Innes

Radio Network held an evening at the premier of the Hounds of Baskerville at the Court Theatre for VIP clients.

22. Pete & Sheryl Johnson (Tectonic) 23. Georgia McMecking, Ella Marks 24. Helen Mortimer, Denyse Sanders (DS Management) 25. Nicola Wallace, Maurice Moore (PWC)

26. Mike Gibson & Kim Falconer (Healthy Harvest) 27. Sandy Turner, Danny Broom, Rebecca Knight, Karyn Stewart 28. Ivan Chirino, Chris Lynch (Newstalk ZB)

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The Art Foundation held an informative evening to explain art at the plush function showroom of Archibald Motors in Tuam Street. 29. Simon Unger, Scott Aucutt 30. Mandy Aucutt, David France 31. Sara Daly, Jim Barribeau, Cathy Solomon, Simon Gilroy 32. Tonia & Michael Bullen, Karen Stevenson

33. Neil Pardington, Simon Bowden (The Arts Foundation) 34. Grant & Jacqueline MacLeod (Artist). 35. Rod McKenzie, Bill Bishop, Kerry Porter 36. Angela Busby (Arts Foundation)

Reactive Foundations launched their new home Base Isolation unit that takes the shake out of quakes. The seminar was presented by Holmes Consultant and Robinson Seismic, who gave an in-depth explanation how base isolation has been accepted world wide and now is available here. 37. Steve Hicks (GM) & Craig Crawford (Reactive Foundation Ltd) 38. Daniel Moore, Alan Park, Kate Canderle & Chris Gannon 39. Thomas Tutahione & Craig Crawford (Reactive Foundation Ltd) 37

40. Debbie Hartshorne, Darryn Henderson

Christchurch had a turnout in the thousands to The Food Show at the CBS arena. Everyone got to stock up on the best food, drink, and kitchen equipment. They got to learn how to cook like a star at home, with the impressive roster of top celebrity chefs cooking signature recipes. 41. Kimberley Hicks, Cathie & Mark Hurdle (City Fitness) 42. Johnny Borlase, Andre Joubert (Genesis Energy), Megan James 43. Jessica Tisch, Laura Kerr (Hellers Meats) 44. Tim Matla, Joy Peel (Whirlpool)

45. Beth Wood, Julie & John Davison, Lexie O’Brien (Little Harvest Wines) 46. Stephanie Todd, Jessie Brannigan (Nespresso) 47. Paul O’Regan, Karyn Swallow (Delongi Group) 48. Phil Blomfield, Rebecca Logan (Woll Cookware) 49. Alba Gonzalez, Grace & David Lynch, Richard & Charlotte Neale (Palazzo Kitchens & Appliances) 50. Debbie Kauhou, Janine Kenyon (Divine Cakes) 51. Janice Porter-Hoare (The Store), Ray Watson (Bentwood Wines Tai Tapu), Heather Anderson (Tresillian Wines) 52. Ben Lu, Eliesha Tay (Talzi)

The Inspire foundation held a function at the Archibald’s plush function area to announce the April recipients of the Inspire Scholarships. The evening included an inspiring guest speaker, Steve Trevella who spent time aboard the Steve Irvine protest boat against Japanese whaling in the Antarctic. 53. Reece MacDonald, Tony Mason (BNZ), Paul Rickerby (Moore Stephens Markhams) 54. Chris Nash, Jan Marie Jenkin, Theresa O’Neil 55. Theresa, Nicki & Vanessa O’Neil 53

56. Nick Dore, Sharon Moore, Tania Gorton 57. Nicky & Richard Morgan (Cyclone Computers), Reece Macdonald (BNZ) 58. April recipients with Paul Wright chairman of the Inspire foundation

59. Steve Trevella

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June/July 2014 | 31

been seen

Images taken and supplied by Lynne Puddy-Greenwood If you have an event that youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;d like covered, email Lynne (Canterburyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s been seen events editor) on: lynne.p@academy.net.nz

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

Opening of Wickliffes new premises in Cumnor Terrace, Woolston, after three years of working from their Earthquake damaged premesis in Heathcote. 60. Odelia D Souza, Matthew Findlay 61. Paul Marshall, Marcel Groen 62. Murray Aspinal, Mark Waters 63. Leyton Tremain, Justine Smith, Amelia Kininmonth 60

64. Andrew Beattie, Bryan Grahamm John Parish 65. Johnny McHarg, Mike Carter 66. Dayne D Souza, The Honourable Gerry Brownlee, Steve D Souza 67. Johnny McHarg, Mike Carter

Client and friends of Martz Group enjoyed an afternoon of champagne and canapes to celebrate their new home. 68. Jeanette Beatty (Advance Personnel), Karon Storr 69. Gay Longbottom (Scented Candles), Clive Greenwood (Media Sales Group) 70. Jo Skilling (Colourplus Ashburton), Rob Sloan (Jennian Homes), Bronwyn Johnstone (Colourplus)

71. Martz, Jo, Michael, Bronwyn, Greg, Rob

The Canterbury Fashion Beauty Week Gala Winter Show was held at the Tannery with world class entertainment and 26 fashion designers. The show would have fitted in anywhere in the world, with VIPs being served by aerialists hanging upside down. 72. Madelene Barkman, Ruth Beulink, Watson Barkman 73. Emma Groeneweg, Kim Lane, Earl Hagaman

74. Trevor Cook, James Saunders (Mainland Holdings) 75. Di & Mike (Mint Fitness) 76. Ruth, Suzanne, Denyse 77. Carlad Parker, Bridget DeGoldi 78. Sarah Beulink, Cheryl

79. Rob, Justine, Aaron Knudsen (JBJ Trustees Ltd)

The Canterbury Fashion Beauty week held a cocktail evening at the George Hotel with fashion designer Annah Stretton. 80. Tony Rains (NZCES), Martin Hartley (Jones & Jones Homes) 81. Jane Hasting, Danny Broom (Devon Construction) 82. Christine Wilkinson (The Vintage Cupboard), Phyllis Paul, Denyse Saunders (MD.Canterbury Fashion Beauty Week)

83. Caura & Gaye Kerr 84. Caroline & Colleen Marris, Le Anne Adamson 85. Jess Gunn, Debs Abraham 86. Ken Lord, Paul Stanton (Garden City Rotary) 87. Isobel Devereux, Annah Stretton, Nina McGuire (Cambridge)

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News | Lateral thinking

Left field ideas By Davina Richards

You just can’t turn a three minute timer upside down and expect to immediately churn out original ideas stamped with a 10 year guarantee. Creativity doesn’t work like that. It also works in different ways for different people, but there are solutions to help us trigger our brains into making connections it doesn’t normally make during your standard daily pattern.

• Are you more of a hunter or a gatherer?

So here’s a list of suggestions which could incite great thinking, create creativity, as well as improve decision making by throwing out the odd strange interview questions.

In another direction, you could also consider introducing a potential candidate to play a game which tests physical and mental skill. Employers will get an insight as to whether a candidate works well with others, if they’re competitive, leaders, problem-solvers or thinkers.

Interview questions So, what’s your favourite swear word? If you were a punctuation mark what would you be? We’ve followed the same set of interview questions such as “What are your strengths and weaknesses?” for so long now that some of them should be made redundant, because going by a dozen candidates’ responses you just heard this morning, you probably can’t determine one from another contender. So why not mix things up a bit? If a candidate expects the expected in an interview what do we really know about their skill set or character before we allow them into our business domain? It’s up to the employer to ask the right questions, even if they are a little absurd. Glassdoor.com is a job site which has come up with ‘Top 25 Oddball Interview Questions for 2014’, based on feedback from thousands of UK job candidates. Here is a selection of the questions asked; they may seem completely irrelevant, but actually, are good indications of a candidate’s skill, value, performance and cultural fit. It’s not about right or wrong answers, but about reactions which can say more about a person compared to what is written on their CV. • What makes you happy about work on a Friday evening? • How do you fit a giraffe in a fridge? • Would you rather fight a horse-sized duck or 100 duck-sized horses?

• A penguin walks through that door right now wearing a sombrero. What does he say and why is he here?

Stress relief Sometimes holding a stress ball in your hand just doesn’t cut it. Stress can make you feel like screaming at the top of your lungs – and actually, this isn’t a bad idea. But if this isn’t your thing, how about one of those laughing workshops? Take a look at ‘25 Weird Breaks for Stress Relief’ at www.workhappynow.com to read suggestions, including: • Curl your toes – tighten your toes for 15 seconds, then relax. Do this with all muscle groups working your way up through your body. Finish by wrinkling up your face • Call a friend who you haven’t talked to in more than a year • Admit a weird thing you did as a kid to a co-worker • Ask a co-worker if they could talk to someone about their stress, living or dead, who would it be?

Motivation I think it’s safe to say that not everyone comes into work bouncing off the walls with enthusiasm. Individuals find motivation in different things, so introduce events or activities to fuel their passion. • Allow your employees to take their pets to work for a day/week – it’s amazing how having a furry friend around can change the whole dynamics of a room

• Organise a flash mob dance in the office • Hold a Sumo wrestling match (in Sumo suits, of course) • Instead of recognising employees for making the most sales, reward those who stand out in other, silly ways. www.sillycertificates. com offer funny printable award certificate templates. Some awards may be presented to individuals for ‘coming in under budget and on time’, or ‘for just showing up to work – and you all should be thankful’

• Define a problem and take a random word from the dictionary – now, make a connection between the two.

Team building Some may disagree, but there’s real value in team building exercises, as long as you ensure they are applicable and occur on a regular basis to make them effective. No one ever completed a marathon by running for 20 minutes once a week; practise makes perfect.

• Hold development seminars or workshops – find out what your staff are interested in and It’s a great way of helping employees get use this information to help you determine to know each other, address challenges and the right tutorial. perhaps connect over a shared sense of humour. Even in uncomfortable situations Create creativity it can reveal how they work together and “Creativity involves breaking out of highlights where skills, such as leadership, established patterns in order to look at creative thinking and problem solving, lies things in a different way” said British with individuals. physician, author, inventor and consultant Edward de Bono. Don’t let your mind go stale, • Get the team to play a game of Jenga or the Human Knot approach issues with unexpected angles to solve problems. • Try a cooking game – buy, plan, prepare • Combine – come up with new combinations: a meal. Set them against the clock and images, thoughts, products, places other teams and skills. Throw in your most bizarre • Send them on an Outward Bound course combinations to come up with an original concept or approach • Go to www.corpchallenge.co.nz for team • Think in opposites – check out www.7ideas. net which talks about reverse thinking and how to use it as a tool to find innovation

building exercises including, flat pack frenzy, minute to win it, the big give and much more.

» Our reinvigorated Thai menu is back. » Open late for Thai bar snacks and service » Offering our delivery service

Re -opening in August

Open from 11am until late

Come and see us at 61 Victoria St, Christchurch Central

E jamdamrad@xtra.co.nz

P 03 365 2400

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June/July 2014 | 33

Property Construction | Wynn Williams House

Setting the standard in commercial building design An exceptional corporate space is soon to open up in central Christchurch. When location means everything, but strength, quake proofing and pleasing aesthetics are high priorities, then Wynn Williams House has all this, and more. Sitting proudly on the corner of Montreal and Hereford Street - right next to the Christchurch City Council building, this six storey new building offers office and retail space that boasts the best of the best. Built to at least 180 percent of the earthquake code, the building (on the former St Elmo’s Courts site) is believed to be the only building in the world to feature both base isolators and post-tensioning through the timber beams. The new office building aims to provide a space for interaction and communication between the companies and their network of partners and clients in the local government, courts and arts area of Christchurch. With the Botanic Gardens in sight, the Arts Centre below, Worcester Boulevard knocking on their door, the location is surrounded by vibrant cafes, businesses, services and outdoor spaces. Law firm Wynn Williams is the anchor tenants, occupying three floors, including the stunning penthouse, sitting pride of place on this bronze glass, timber and copper look structure. Building owner Richard Owen says there was no way they could replace or replicate the iconic 1930s St Elmo’s Courts, but he was dedicated to creating a building that had flair and personality.

“St Elmo was one of the most beautiful buildings in Christchurch, its impossible to build like that today.”

The laminated timber sub-frame is then clad in argon-filled, tinted glass, offering expansive views in three directions.

And, while some of the elements Owen wanted incorporated were excluded due to cost - the finished effect will still be stunning. The project combines a copper coloured aluminium composite skin, which protects the most exposed timber parts of the building and core.

The resulting visual effect is that of a precision element. The interplay between the thin copper metal-like pillars and the delicate protective layers frame the façades and underline the contrast between the visible and invisible areas. The exterior space is based on an open space concept of glazed views of the Arts Centre and mountains as a distant vista.

The elevation is modular, with vertical precast concrete columns subdividing the structural aluminium curtain wall.

The design also responds to the Central City Plan as a low rise, safe, resilient and sustainable concept.

Wynn Williams House has a basement car park, a large ground-floor space, with entry from both streets. From a central lobby/service area, there is a further 449 square metre space which has many potential uses including cafe, bar, retail or banking. Rising above this are two more floors available for lease, each with approximately 685 square metres of openplan space available. Owen describes the building as “warm, friendly and glowing,” and with the high specification throughout - it is a corporate space that offers security, location and the ‘wow factor’.

Sinclair & Johnson are proud to provide Project Management Services to R A Owen and the Valinor Trust For the St Elmos Rebuild. We thank the Team for their efforts on the project; the Client; the Consultants – Richard Proko Ltd, Ruamoko Solutions, Cosgroves and Rawlinsons; the Builder – C Lund and Son, and Subcontractors.

Sinclair & Johnson Consulting Group Ltd Phone: (03) 366-1219 │ Cell: 021 3577 87 │ PO Box 2619, Christchurch 8140

Proud structural engineers for Wynn Williams House, a unique combination of innovative structural solutions

Ruamoko Solutions have developed an innovative combination of base-isolation and post-tensioned timber technologies to make Wynn Williams House a truly resilient, cost-effective, and unique structural design

PO Box 12294, Christchurch 34 | June/July 2014

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P: +64 3 366 7714

F: +64 3 366 7715

CONSULTING STRUCTURAL ENGINEERS E: info@ruamoko.co.nz

W: www.ruamoko.co.nz

Property Construction | Wynn Williams House

Sixteen post-tensioned concrete pillars sitting atop base isolators provide some of the superior strength of Wynn Williams House. <

From the corner of Montreal and Hereford Streets, Wynn Williams House boasts exceptional views over the Arts Centre, the Art Gallery and towards the Botanic Gardens.

Wynn Williams House is exceptionally strong – believed to be the only structure of its type in the world, featuring both base isolators and post-tensioned timber frames. fabricated beams ready to be dropped into the building. Each of the 16 precast, post-tensioned concrete columns (each extending over three floors), sit on base isolators in the underground basement car park.

Giant LVL post-tensioned timber beams tie Wynn Williams House together. When complete, the majority of the beam will be covered, but the base of each will add to the architectural elements within the interior

International first brings exceptional strength and durability

essentially spring back into alignment after a major quake. In short - the building remains elastic and structural strength is preserved during movement.

It’s believed to be the only structure of its type in the world featuring both base isolators and post-tensioned timber frames with concrete columns.

The frames of the building are made up from post-tensioned timber frames and precast concrete columns - a combination of materials and systems arising from the latest research results from the University of Canterbury and the research consortium, the Structural Timber Innovation Company.

The Wynn Williams House design incorporates a structure that has a base isolation plane directly below the heavy ground floor, which reduces the overall stress on the structure in a one in 500 year earthquake. Add in the tensioned timber frames and this is a building of exceptional integrity. The timber is threaded with high-tensile steel tendons and shock absorbing steel componentry that enable the building to

Two lift shafts feature the highest in safety mechanisms. Each is constructed from steel framing extended to the basement with a sliding support in order to allow movement

of the lift shaft during strong seismic loading, and a perimeter crush detail has been provided to allow free movement of the structure. No attention to detail has been spared. The lighting throughout is 20 percent more efficient as defined in the building code and is zoned designed to suit the changing daylight in the building. It is anticipated that on completion, Wynn Williams House will have achieved a four star rating with Green Star, which evaluates the environmental attributes and performance of New Zealand’s buildings. The building, expected to be completed by July will feature sympathetic landscaping and cycle racks. >

While the Own family wanted to source the nine metre long LVL (laminated veneer lumber) from a New Zealand manufacturer, the price was prohibitive. The solution was to source the timber onshore; it was then shipped out of Whangarei to a Melbourne company who shipped it back as the

J.L. Decorating Domestic & Commerical

Complete project management service • Painters of decorative & protective coatings • Specialised hangers of wall coverings Contact John Lyall Phone: 027 408 0796 Fax: 383 0285 Email: johnlyall@xtra.co.nz www.jldecorating.co.nz PO Box 38033 Parklands www.canterburytoday.co.nz

June/July 2014 | 35

Property Construction | Wynn Williams House

Wynn Williams House - due to open in July - will be one of the strongest buildings in Christchurch. It features: • Dual seismic strength features - base isolators and post-tensioned timber frame • Built to more than 180 percent of the earthquake code • Designed to withstand a one in 500 year earthquake • Strengthened lift shafts independent of the building • A four-star Green Star rating • Exceptional corporate or retail spaces across three floors - each with in excess of 685sqm of space • Wynn Williams Lawyers as the anchor tenant • Landscaping and basement car parking • Premium location with stunning views.

Committed to Christchurch When the September 2010 quakes damaged the St Elmo’s Courts beyond repair - the Owen family was determined to replace the corporate office building as fast as they could. While it was the first central city building to be demolished, the building has taken more than double the time to build, but despite the setbacks and numerous obstacles, building owners Richard and Ashton Owen are committed to supporting the rebuild and rebirth of the central city. “After the earthquakes we were obviously pretty distressed, but now we are committed to creating something that’s really aesthetically attractive for Christchurch,” Ashton says. For 35 years the Owens owned the much loved St Elmo Courts, which was built in 1930 and was one of the first apartment complexes in the city. The apartments were fully converted into offices in 1957. Fifty seven years later, the building will

RICHARD PROKO ARCHITECTS LTD ARE PROUD SUPPORTERS OF WYNN WILLIAMS HOUSE

PHONE 03 366 2655 MOBILE 021 337 871 EMAIL ricpro@xtra.co.nz UNIT 5/254 MONTREAL ST, CHRISTCHURCH 8141, PO BOX 1232 36 | June/July 2014

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re-open its doors to a new era in corporate life Wynn Williams House 47 Hereford Street in Christchurch. Christchurch “This will be one of the safest buildings in the Ashton Owen city and with its views over the Arts Centre M 021 666 809 towards the Botanic Gardens and over the Art E ashton@orari.co.nz Gallery, its premium space,” Richard adds.

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Property Construction | Fusion Homes

Combining all the elements to make great homes Fusion Homes, a local Christchurch building company, is outperforming the current build standards and offering Cantabrians something different something they believe is far superior. Comfort, warmth, style, efficiency - these are all things we desire in a family home. Strength is also a higher priority than ever before. By taking into consideration the postquake need for extra structural strength, plus Christchurch’s damp and cold environment, the team at Fusion Homes has researched alternative building methods and products.

So what sets Fusion Homes apart? Simply put – it’s the fusion of expertise, techniques and products the team has brought together. Combining individual building products that are proven performers and fusing them together just made sense. The Christchurch Rebuild offers a unique opportunity to introduce these products and raise the standard of housing now and into the future. These premium build products are acceptable as standard in a rebuild package, so the client benefits. It’s what Fusion Homes is all about.

Fusion Home’s ability to find solutions for the more difficult applications, such as residential TC3 land categories and flood zones, is impressive. Examples of such projects: a rebuild on the Southshore spit, which is both a designated flood zone and also a sea spray zone. Engineered foundations give the extra required height with the combination of materials and techniques, has resulted in this finely detailed rebuild becoming a reality. Another application currently in its final design is a two storey rebuild on TC3 land near the Avon River. Specialised engineered foundations, which include extensive excavation and compact hard fill, then a Ribraft foundation, combined with superior structural engineering make this a standout project to be watched in the city’s rebuild. The Fusion Lifecycle Build is a package of products designed to last a lifecycle. Minimal maintenance, ongoing savings in energy costs, The Fusion Homes team at the only completed CCC social housing units in Dundee Place. super strong, healthy living environment. Add in the Lifemark Design accreditation - and you (L to R) are project manager Jeremy Cambie, contracts manager Kieran McErlain and planning and consents manager Craig Davies. have a home that is future proofed and will grow old with you. <

Builder of 28 years and company director, Chris Haughey says what they have ended up with quality, strong and sustainable building products.

Building a stronger tomorrow

The four Fusion points of difference • Get off the ground – Fusion’s lightweight, pile-based foundations and steel sub-floor are precision engineered to provide rapid construction. They can easily be re-levelled. Homeowners can also choose from a more traditional rib-raft foundation • Structural Insulated Panel (SIP) offers high performance and speed with engineered wall, roof, and floor components. The panels are super tough, BRANZ approved for exceptionally high levels of earthquake activity, wind and snow loads

• Foam Insulation with Natural Oil Polyols (NOPs) create an airtight living environment which prevents loss of heat and cuts energy costs. Its insulation is rated higher than traditional insulation types and it does not move or sag over time, contains no ozone depleting CFCs or HFCs, and releases no vapours that can affect the environment and human health • Effective “whole of house” ventilation systems which extract stale air and replace it with fresh pre-warmed and filtered outside air.

Cheaper, faster, stronger Fusion Homes’ rapid delivery model can build you a home in about half the time a standard residential construction would normally take, and the average cost is reduced by around 10 percent. The structural engineered panels, which simply put, are extra long sheets of engineered, pre-surfaced wall, ceiling and floor panels that give you up to six percent more floor space, an ultra tough surface and the ability to easily construct larger than normal rooms.

Kitchens Hagley Kitchens designs your kitchen, manufactures your kitchen and installs your kitchen – we look after the whole process. SHOWROOM HOURS Mon - Fri 8.00am to 5.00pm Sat - By appointment 6 Nazareth ave (off Annex road) P. 03 961 0966 E. sales@hagley.co.nz www.hagley.co.nz

P J Packham Drainage Housing │ Light Commercial/Industrial Country Work │ Repairs and Blockages │ CCTV Work (03) 389 6067 │ (027) 434 5826 │ pjpackham@xtra.co.nz │ Christchurch 38 | June/July 2014

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Property Construction | Fusion Homes

Healthier, warmer and more efficient homes Building a new home means creating a better lifestyle for your family. And if you have asthmatics or allergy sensitive people in the home - the choices you make become even more selective. Fusion Homes is the only New Zealand builder to hold the Sensitive Choice accreditation. This is the New Zealand Asthma Foundation seal of approval for products and services that are beneficial to those with respiratory issues. Fusion Homes has whole house accreditation – meaning they are the only building company recognised to be able to deliver an entire home that will help reduce asthma and allergy triggers. Fusion Homes director, Chris Haughey says this independent endorsement of the company’s revolutionary building philosophy is testament to its innovation and commitment to producing family friendly homes. “We have taken many products and building methods that have proven themselves over the decades and fused them together to come up with a building system that is energy efficient, affordable, stronger, and now they have been independently approved as being healthier.” To achieve this exclusive accreditation, the products used in Fusion builds have gone through a rigorous qualifying process, and have been passed through a panel of experts ranging from chemists, health professionals, industry leaders and asthma sufferers to ensure they are of the highest standards and meet the criteria needed to truly achieve a healthy home which is of benefit to those with respiratory conditions.

Fusion Homes would like to acknoweldge the following business for their contribution to their success: • Hagley Kitchens • Mitre 10 Mega • PJ Packham Drainage • West Timber • Smiths City • Davie Lovell Smith • AG Electrical • Ferrymead Kitchens • Creative Architecture • Blure Print Cionsulting Engineers • Daveron Scaffolding

The Fusion Homes ventilation system:

• NZ Asthma Foundation.

• Draws in fresh outdoor air • Purifies and circulates the air continuously

No other building company in New Zealand has achieved this level of accreditation. “Fusion Homes is very different from the majority of other building companies and the Sensitive Choice accreditation validates that. “We think and operate outside the square, offering the average Kiwi family the ability to build a safe, low energy, healthy and affordable home that has a low carbon footprint; and they are super tough homes – exactly what young families need.”

Superior insulation values

• Retains heat • Assists moisture control • Helps keep heating bills down • Even air temperature • Comfortable living environments. The insulation used by Fusion Homes is premium foam insulation. It has superior R values (that is the measure of thermal efficiency), and is the preferred insulation in freezing regions such as Europe and North America.

This product is a closed cell foam, which is sprayed around and under the entire home. It is exceptionally fast to apply, sets almost immediately and fills all cavity spaces, and leaves no gaps - hence its ability to aid those with repository issues. The product stays put and does not move or sag over time, and is backed by a 50-year guarantee. It is also water proof and mould resistant. The superior insulation means a Fusion home requires considerably less heating and when the full ventilation, heat recovery system is installed, the air inside the building will sit up to 15 degrees warmer than the outside temperature. This unique product ensures that the interior environment is warm, allergen free and remains so over an entire lifecycle. >

The key environmental advantage of designing and building with Fusion Homes is the creation of an airtight, high performance building envelope. The large size panel contributes to the airtight building envelope, and when combined with eco insulation, it makes the buildings less prone to infiltration by moulds, pollen and dust.

“ Proud to be a timber supplier”

WESTIMBER LTD. CHRISTCHURCH BRANCH 15 Broughs Rd, Harewood P.O. Box 5015, Papanui Phone (03) 360 2100 Fax (03) 360 2101 christchurch@westimber.co.nz

WESTCOAST SAWMILL Ngahere NZ Phone (03) 732 4894 Fax (03) 732 4892 ngahere@westimber.co.nz

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June/July 2014 | 39

Property Construction | Fusion Homes

Fusion builds smart social housing solutions Fusion Homes is the building company selected by the Christchurch City Council to build the Maurice Carter Courts - 12 energy efficient units specifically designed for older people.

Caring for our community smart designs for easy living

These were the first confirmed social housing units to be built post-earthquake.

• Entry-level access - making it simple for those in wheelchairs or with limited mobility. No nasty bumps to navigate

In the design of the Dundee Place units, the Fusion Homes team set about taking the quality and design of elderly person’s units to the next level. Part of this process was to consider every difficult scenario possible and provide a solution to reduce the stress of dayto-day living, wherever possible.

• Wider doors make common sense, so Fusion homes made them all 860mm - wider than normal. Great for walking frames and wheelchairs

Haughey is impressed at the approach of the Council and its willingness to embrace the different construction methods and materials used by Fusion.

• Full height doors, from floor to ceiling allow airflow throughout the building, promotes an even living temperature, and is healthier for all • The door handles are all lever handles for ease for those with arthritis or limited mobility. The handles are placed at a lower comfortable height than standard • Light switches and electrical sockets are placed higher than standard. The height is convenient, and easy to access - no need to bend right down to try and reach a switch

“We wanted to deal with a boutique styled team to ensure our passion would fill every aspect of our kitchen - Ferrymead Kitchens nailed it.”

1020 Ferry Road Ferrymead Christchurch

“The Council has said ‘this is new, this could make a difference’. They have thought about what it means for the future, not just accepted the way things have been done in the past,” he says.

“With our future proof building concept in partnership with Lifemark Design, we take into consideration energy efficiency, the environment, sound control and security,” Haughey says.

Built in three separate blocks, this significant building achievement is designed to Lifemark Standards, to maximise ease of accessibility, and promote the comfort and wellbeing of the occupants.

“This is Fusion Home’s way of ensuring your new home will meet your needs now, and in the future.”

SPECIALISING IN RESIDENTIAL AND COMMERCIAL ELECTRICAL SERVICES.

New construction builds, repairs, remodelling and upgrading to existing homes or businesses. Testing, repairing and maintenance. Designs and installations of air conditioning and heating and ventilation systems.

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• Smart bathrooms incorporating a wet area shower, above standard height toilet and a wall hung vanity. Spacious to allow easy movement for a wheelchair

The Lifemark accreditation shows the homes are designed to ensure older people and those with disabilities can continue to live there as their needs change. “We’ve gone out and got all these accreditations because we know we can make a real difference in people’s lives,” he adds. “There is absolutely no reason why New Zealanders should live in cold, damp, unhealthy houses – so we’re determined to build healthy, sustainable and affordable homes for everyone.” Fusion Homes has achieved a Lifemark 5 Star rating - the highest rating possible. “By making some simple changes in the design, day to day living is so much easier for our elderly, and this is how it should be.”

• Spacious bedrooms that allow for a queen bed, with space for manoeuvrability around it. A full size wardrobe offers plenty of storage space, the door handles again are positioned for ease of use and access • Well designed and appointed kitchens with reduced width benches for easy access to all bench spaces and a lever full length kitchen mixer for the tap ware. A host of other clever features make the kitchen and dining a simple and pleasant environment to use • Private yet inclusive outdoor areas incorporating gently sloping pathways an outside courtyard area, with its own vegetable garden. Wooden screens separate each unit, provide privacy, and yet provide the assurance that neighbours can easily visit each other when required.

Civil and Structural Consulting Engineers Multi-storey Commercial, Retail and Apartment structures Seismic building review, assessment and upgrade Residential Division - Raft Slabs CHCH Foundations and Structures

Blueprint will be YOUR preferred Consultant for life - that’s Guaranteed w: www.blueprintatwork.com e: admin@blueprintatwork.com

40 | June/July 2014

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Christchurch Ph: 03 928 2258

Auckland Ph: 09 294 8993

Property Construction | Fusion Homes

Miro Plan (adapted) Southshore Located in the residential floodzone and seaspray zone, this stunning high spec home requires specialised raised foundations, stainless steel fixtures and high speced cladding materials.

Pohutakawa (Heathcote Valley)

Murawai (Sovereign Palms Kaiapoi)

A three bedroom, two bathroom family home, and open plan living dining kitchen area. This is situated for maximum sun aspect, with a nice indoor outdoor flow.

Currently under construction in Soverign Palms Kaiapoi, this four bedroom, two bathroom executive style family home offers privacy with the open plan living, dining kitchen area at the rear of the property; it catches all day sun.

Fusion Homes has a home for everyone. You can select from more than 50 plans or choose an architecturally designed home every choice, every step of the way is yours. However, to make it as simple as possible, there is a full project management team who follow strict guidelines to ensure that the build process runs smoothly. Fusion Homes also offer transportable homes, an option that provides flexibility should the home need to be relocated in the future. Here is a selection of the builds Fusion is currently doing. They are at various stages of construction, but each can be visited by arrangement, allowing you to see the fusion of methods and building materials in use. Check the Fusion Homes website for floor plans for each of the homes below. wwwfusionhomes.co.nz

Kiwi (Mt Pleasant) This smart and functional home is in its early stages. Designed specifically to Lifemark standards, this home provides security and future proofing for its owners.

Hawea (adapted) Central City

A.G EXCAVATION LTD Excavation & Driveway Specialists

Fusion Homes Ltd 94 Bridle Path Road Heathcote Valley Christchurch T 0800 238 746 E office@fusionhomes.co.nz www.fusionhomes.co.nz — Advertising Feature

BUILDING NOW!

Manuka (Central City, TC3 build) Two identical homes on the one site are well on the way to completion in the central city. A smart three bedroom design, it offers more space than what you might expect in a smaller home.

“Don’t risk a fall, give us a call!”

ALL SCAFFOLDING SERVICES Scaffold H Frames • Wooden Planks • Tube and Clips • Swinging Stages • Aluminium Moblies • For Hire • Qualified Scaffolders • Propping Systems

Our clients have adapted this floor plan to suit their needs, the choice of steel cladding for the exterior means no painting is ever needed. A matching garage complements this stylish home.

Improving the lives of NZ families

• Healthy, comfortable living environments • Quality energy efficient buildings • Built with sustainable products that exceed the current build standards

The smart design offers superior indoor outdoor flow, the private master bedroom with ensuite is situated at the opposite end of the home to the other bedrooms and bathrooms. The ideal plan for entertaiing your guests.

PROUD TO SUPPORT FUSION HOMES For After Hours Service Call Peter on 027 435 0676

Tony Cooper Ph: 03 972 5768 M: 021 439 930 F: 03 347 2184

E: daveron.scaffold@xtra.co.nz 16 Hillview Rd, Phillipstown

P.O Box 105, Rolleston, 7643

Ph 366 6227

Living with asthma and allergies? Make a Sensitive Choice® The Sensitive Choice® blue butterfly identifies organisations committed to reducing asthma and allergy triggers. To find out more or to join the programme contact Taniya Wick 04 495 0099 ┃ taniya@asthmafoundation.org.nz www.asthmafoundation.org.nz/sensitive-choice

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June/July 2014 | 41

Property & Construction | Rickie Shore Building

Distinctive, original and liveable When you choose Rickie Shore Building to build your new home, you can rest easy knowing you’re not just another customer. The Timaru company treats all customers as individuals and works hard to ensure you get exactly the home you need.

A history of excellence The experienced team at Rickie Shore Building has built hundreds of new houses and offers a comprehensive building service. Its project managers all have extensive building backgrounds and pride themselves on superior communication throughout every project; ensuring clients are kept informed every step of the way.

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www.nulook.co.nz Trevor Morse │ M: 027 434 3142 P: 03 688 3062 │ F: 03 688 3061 E: morse-aluminium@xtra.co.nz nulook Morse Aluminium Ltd 67 Church Street, Timaru 7910

“To construct quality homes to exacting standards that our clients can describe as ‘uniquely their own’. Homes that not only meet our clients’ needs, but will stand the test of time, and to deliver an enjoyable building experience throughout the process.”

project managers for each job and only partner with dedicated professionals for subcontracting services. Rickie Shore Building’s team of builders is based in Timaru, but are frequently working on projects around South Canterbury, North Otago and the McKenzie Country. Teamwork is the strength of the business, and its size gives it the flexibility to work on large jobs or put specialist teams together for smaller work. All builders are handpicked craftsmen, while its professional partners are also leaders in their fields.

Developing your building concept Rickie Shore Building offers a comprehensive range of construction services, including preparing concept plans. Staff view this process as an essential way

Proudly associated with

Visit us at 55 Sheffield St, Washdyke, Timaru or give us a call on (03) 688 2001 42 | June/July 2014

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The experienced team at Rickie Shore Building has built hundreds of new houses and offers a comprehensive building service.

to understand their clients’ vision, in order to make it a reality. It doesn’t matter whether you’ve sketched up your ideas on the back of a napkin, or already have fully developed plans, Rickie Shore Building will go through your concept to make sure it is exactly what you want and need. The company provides clients with a detailed guide on how their project will be built, a

TRADE RELATED

DECORATING

It will handle all building consents and will stick to the agreed price and specifications. A dedicated site manager will be present when builders and subcontractors are working, providing flexibility throughout the project if you decide to change anything part way through.

Rickie Shore Building also offers a comprehensive design and build service and has the expertise to ensure every client gets exactly what they need.

LTD

The company focusses on what each customer wants, regardless of the size or complexity of the project.

PROUD TO BE ASSOCIATED WITH RICKIE SHORE BUILDING After hours: 03 686 2027 lwandjmwhyte@hotmail.com

specification chart, a list of subcontractors who will be onsite and timeline details outlining delivery dates for each stage of construction.

Design and build projects

Les Whyte 0274 320 150

Subdivisions, driveways, roading, site clearance, house foundations, drainlaying, landscaping, rock retaining walls, dairy conversions and lanes, forestry work, demolition and more...

Rickie Shore Building

Rickie Shore Building offers a comprehensive range of construction services

The team operates under a best practise policy at all times. This means they value great design, come up with innovative solutions, pride themselves on sound communication, provide dedicated

The Rickie Shore Building vision:

Rickie Shore Building was formed more than 25 years ago and has grown to become one of South Canterbury’s largest building companies. It not only builds new houses, but also renovates older homes and builds commercial buildings throughout the Timaru, Tekapo, Geraldine and Temuka areas.

M E M B E R

O F

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C R E A T I N G S A F E R WO R K I N G E N V I R O N M E N T S

Its dedicated team of designers and are committed to delivering buildings that stand the test of time and are designed with you and your family in mind.

Property & Construction | Rickie Shore Building

“

Rickie Shore Building constructs these special homes throughout South Canterbury and whether your holiday home is a small two bedroom hide away, or a luxury lodge, you can be assured of a quality result every time.

”

Rickie Shore Building has completed a number of retirement villages

Residential, lifestyle and farm homes Rickie Shore Building has built hundreds of new homes and commercial buildings around South Canterbury and also offers house and land packages. Your home in a residential area needs to fit in with your unique circumstances and take full advantage of the land size and orientation, climate and your neighbourhood. Rickie Shore Building has a lifetime of experience to ensure all your needs are met. A home built by Rickie Shore Building is a home which meets the requirements of the most discerning homeowners who rightly expect perfectionism and professionalism.

Rickie Shore Building’s portfolio of successful projects includes a range of light commercial work

The company has had the privilege to build hundreds of new, individually designed homes. These can be found all around South Canterbury, including Fairlie, Twizel, Geraldine and Tekapo. Distinctive, original and liveable, these homes are priced from $250,000 - $2 million. Rickie Shore Building has also built a significant number of substantial lifestyle and farm homes, which have seen the dreams of their owners realised through their gracious country living with rural elegance.

Rickie Shore Building in Timaru builds beautiful homes

Dore’s

Ease, efficiency and enjoyment are enhanced by the company’s unique attention to detail, its ability to think outside the square and work with the major stakeholders. Rickie Shore Building also has a reputation for excellence in the construction of units and townhouses, which are ideal for older clients of small families. Stylish, practical, low maintenance and built with your future in mind, its townhouses are snapped up quickly. Holiday homes are extremely important to clients seeking a quiet place to unwind and escape everyday life and work commitments. Rickie Shore Building constructs these special homes throughout South Canterbury and whether your holiday home is a small two bedroom hide away, or a luxury lodge, you can be assured of a quality result every time. >

Rickie Shore Building’s services and capabilities include: • Design and build • Concept plans • Building guide • Finance options • New homes

Retirement villages, units and townhouses

• Townhouses

Rickie Shore Building has completed a number of retirement villages, which are engineered for comfort and to meet the needs of a variety of abilities.

• Lifestyle homes

These villages, including Strathallan Lifecare Complex and Lister Home extension, are life changing, state of the art complexes made up of apartments, units and high dependency facilities.

• Retirement villages

• Holiday homes • Residential • House and land packages • Commercial • Renovations and extensions.

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BRICK & BLOCK LAYING LIMITED

• Carpet • Laminate • Tiles

• Vinyl • Wood

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Registered Applicators of

Proud to support Rickie Shore Building, helping to complete the following: • Interior Plastering • Exterior Plastering • Tile Installation • GIB® Stopping • GIB-Cove® Installation

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June/July 2014 | 43

Property & Construction | Rickie Shore Building

Property & Construction | Design Windows

Superior window systems The windows in your home frame the world around you. So why not enhance your view? See your world in style with Design Windows. The South Island wide business specialises in designing aluminum joinery for architecturally designed homes.

Renovations

Rickie Shore Building’s portfolio of successful projects includes a range of light commercial work, which requires a balance between form and function.

Wanting to increase the value of your home and enhance its liveability?

Its commercial work includes: Le Monde, Zanzibar, Blue Bay restaurants in Timaru, Lone Star, Little Wonders Preschool, Visique Optical, Wallace and Coopers, Barrett’s Joinery in Washdyke, and Barkers Barry Barn and Café and McDonalds Timaru. House and land finance options Rickie Shore Building offers some unique solutions to help finance clients into the homes they want, on the sites they want.

In today’s real estate rollercoaster ride, chances are renovations to your existing home will be one of the most costeffective solutions. Home extensions, renovations or a fullhome makeover with Rickie Shore Building will change your home, add value and be built to last. Renovations can include kitchens, bathrooms, laundry, living spaces, additional bedrooms, garages, decks, outdoor living or a full home makeover.

Whether replacing an existing home or building on a vacant site, the company provides many clients assistance by purchasing the land for them. On completion of the project, your house and land package is handed over at the pre-agreed price at the agreed time.

Why choose Rickie Shore? Choosing Rickie Shore Building for your new home ensure you will not only receive a quality building project, but you’ll also have the peace of mind working with a company that: • Wins awards for its work • Has superior building expertise

Is your house the right temperature?

• Has integrity, always putting the customer first • Will fully project manage your job • Offers innovative house and land packages • Undertakes any sized project • Ensures you receive value for money • Offers a Master Build Guarantee.

Daikin heat pumps allow you to obtain an ideal temperature in your home, providing comfort all year round. Contact your local Daikin specialist dealer today to find out more.

6 Turnbull Street, Timaru - Ph 688 6148 96 East Street, Ashburton - Ph 307 2535

Rickie Shore Building LTD 45 Treneglos St Washdyke Timaru T (03) 688 7313 E office@rsbuilding.co.nz www.rsbuilding.co.nz

Proud to support Rickie Shore Building 44 | June/July 2014

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— Advertising Feature

SHOWROOM & FACTORY 204 Hilton Highway, Timaru PHONE: 03 688 4738 FAX: 03 688 8879 email: barrettjoinery@xtra.co.nz website:www.barrettjoinery.co.nz

If you are beginning the exciting process of designing your new home, don’t leave enlisting your window supplier until the last minute. Get in touch with Design Windows first so they can share their wealth of knowledge from start to finish. “Design windows gets involved at an early stage of the design process to help with the correct selection of materials and sees the project right through to completion,” Gradon says. The design of the window system impacts the appearance, functionality and performance of the building. Thus, it is important to ensure your windows meet these requirements. This is something they can assist you with. No matter where you live in the South Island, Design Windows is never far away. It has factories in Nelson, Hokitika, Cromwell and Dunedin. “Our impressive premises in Nelson and Cromwell have showrooms that feature our wide range of aluminium windows and doors. We also have full showrooms at our factories in Hokitika and Dunedin that service their entire regions.”

An internal light well at the Westport i-site and coal town museum

Commercial projects

West Coast managing director Gradon Conroy says he is proud of his company’s prestigious reputation as one of the South Island’s leading aluminium window systems manufacturer. The Design Windows team manufacture one of the most respected brands in the building industry, Altherm Window Systems.

Fast Facts: • Altherm Residential Thermal Heart is the most popular product • It stocks brands from Architectural Profiles Limited, New Zealand’s largest aluminium windows supplier • Design Windows is currently building a larger factory and showroom in Kaiata Park, Greymouth opening in November. Design Windows really does excel in its field and if the quality products and high standards of workmanship aren’t proof enough of this, just take a look at the company’s award nominations. “We were national finalists in four categories at the 2103 WANZ awards (Window Association of New Zealand) and our fingers are confidently crossed for the 2014 awards in June,” he says. Design Windows have earned their success by providing excellent window and door joinery experiences to all concerned without regret. To do this their core values are:

If you don’t live near one of these locations then an experienced member of the project management team is more than happy to help. No job is too big or difficult thanks to the • Excellence is a way of life “small army of expert joiners”. • Take responsibility for my work Design Windows West Coast has 18 employees including qualified aluminium joiners and several staff currently training for their National Certificate in Architectural Aluminium Joinery. The business is a well-known name among architects in New Zealand and is never short of work. “DW West Coast is currently working on several large architecturally designed houses on the West Coast and in Christchurch, as well as several large commercial jobs in the Christchurch CBD,” Gradon says.

• Tell it straight • Love to win • Put my hand up to help the team • Willing to learn and change. Design Windows PO Box 229 Hokitika T (03) 756 8181 E gradon@designwindows.co.nz www.designwindows.co.nz — Advertising Feature

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Property Construction | Watts & Hughes Construction

Full service construction and project management With a three decade reputation for integrity, superior service and competence in the construction industry, it’s no wonder an Auckland construction leader is making positive waves here in Canterbury. Three years in the local market is being celebrated this autumn by the local team with 30 years of experience in the company. From its small beginnings in 1984 in Auckland, Watts & Hughes, a full-service construction and project management company, has a formidable presence in Hamilton, Mount Maunganui, Gisborne, Wellington and now Christchurch. No man stands alone The team at Watts & Hughes recognise and thank the following companies for their support in the Christchurch market: • Carters Christchurch City • Eurpica Tiles • Southern Comfort Heat Pumps • Stainless Kitchens • Bromley Steel • Designcrete • PBI Electric.

Site manager Jhan Carrothers says throughout the years the company mantra has not wavered. “Our key focus, in all our activities and services, is to concentrate on the fundamental element of good building, which is quality. This is central to our operating principles and fundamental to our promise to deliver projects of excellence that are completed on time and to budget, every time.”

While the company has been heavily involved in residential earthquake repairs as part of the EQR programme, and also with the project management companies of the major insurers, its primary focus is commercial and industrial buildings. From schools, to sport and leisure facilities, central and local Government buildings to movie theatres, private commercial and industrial buildings, Watts & Hughes has more than 550 major builds under its belt. More than a third of these have been design and build contracts. Watts & Hughes contracts generally range in value from $1m through to upwards of $70m and are the selected contractor for a number of national companies. With 30 years of construction comes a wealth of experience and robust systems. There are 18 members in the Christchurch team but behind them is a breadth and depth of international expertise across the New Zealand team. “If something a bit unusual comes up, there is someone in the company who will have encountered that before. The sharing of knowledge helps us find fast and effective solutions to any situation.” Carrothers speaks highly of the strong team culture, the company’s dedication to continual training and the fact that many of its senior people started back in the early days as juniors and have steadily moved their way up the ranks. Watts & Hughes is a highly regarded employer and its exceptional staff retention is testimony to that. >

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• Specialised Applicators

Excellence in Electrical Contracting for New Commercial & Residential

• Covacrete decorative concrete resurfacing

PBI Electrical and Air Conditioning Specialists are a family owned business with vast experience in the heat pump and electrical industry. PBI are a New Zealand wide electrical contracting and heat pump installation company, that has been involved in huge electrical commercial projects for over 10 years, such as the wiring of Countdown Hornby, Ferrymead and the most recent Countdown Amberley Complex.

• Master Shield decorative polymer flooring • Concrete crack repairs • Oamaru Stone cleaning/sealing Mark Wheeler ┃Mobile: 021 365 395 info@design-crete.co.nz www.design-crete.co.nz

PO Box 39036, Harewood 8545, Christchurch Ph: 0800 100 493 Email: info@pbinz.com 46 | June/July 2014

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60 Wickham Street Ph 03 384 1760 Sharing in the success with Watts & Hughes Construction

Property Construction | Watts & Hughes Construction

“

All our trades and professional services are contracted in and we work exceptionally hard to build quality relationships with the best people available. Safety first What distinguishes Watts & Hughes Construction from other construction companies? • The time and effort it dedicates to understanding customer needs and its proven ability to work professionally and efficiently. It values its clients and goes the extra mile to ensure each and every customer is 100 percent satisfied • Experienced and customer focussed individuals get the job done right and on time • Established relationships with a large subcontractor base in Christchurch • Regular, unannounced Site Safe visits checking on site safety • Watts & Hughes is also registered with AppCon (a contractor approval and appraisal management service) and recently received a 97 percent safety rating • Members of the NZ Master Builders Association.

”

“After quality, safety is the next big consideration. We recognise that quality and safety are essential elements required for the satisfactory outcome of a project. During the construction phase of the works, we employ a range of quality initiation, assessment, monitoring, and completion forms all to ISO 9000 standard,” Carrothers says. The company is also registered with AppCon - a joint project between Bware Ltd and Site Safe NZ. It’s a health and safety pre-qualification database for tendering subcontractors that was launched in Canterbury, in response to the rise of subcontractors to the area for the rebuild. The company’s safety rating with it is 97 percent. “Each project has a Contract Quality Plan prepared jointly by the contract manager and respective project manager. A copy of the completed form is issued to the construction director for his review and the form is then monitored throughout the project by the Watts & Hughes in-house consultant.” Onsite, work and materials are also monitored continuously for quality conformance by the business’ supervisors and management. “The safety of our staff, subcontractor and general public is of the utmost importance to us. “Site Safe staff visit at random times during the cycle of any project and we work closely with them to ensure we are adhering to every aspect of health and safety. “Before any project commences, we will provide a methodology statement of how the work will be carried out during the project and what safety requirements will be in place before work starts.”

Top team The extensive team of project managers, site managers, estimators, quantity surveyors, financial and administration staff are supplemented by the most expert subcontractors. “All our trades and professional services are contracted in and we work exceptionally hard to build quality relationships with the best people available.”

From an intimate ensuite or powder room, an entire house concept, to a commercial design and installation project, our creative ideas for you are boundless... 45 Mandeville Street, Riccarton, Christchurch | Phone: (03) 348 3766 | www.europica.co.nz

48 | June/July 2014

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Recent and current projects: • Opus House. Central city. A four-storey office block with a $15 - 20m price tag Among the robust accountability processes is a sophisticated project planning and document tracking system. Add to this the commitment to honest and open communication, and it becomes clear how Watts & Hughes has become a sought after contractor up and down New Zealand. A robust and seamless relationship with its subcontractors and suppliers also plays a critical and integral role in the business’ work. Watts & Hughes looks for quality in its partnerships as they intend to have a long and beneficial relationship with all their tradespeople. “It is vital they have the experience to follow through and we look closely at their previous projects and portfolio to ensure they have the right skills and knowledge required for the project at hand.

• Three factories in Halswell • Supervaule Supermarket (Fendalton) $800,000 • WEFT Wigram Factory - $4m.

“We have a strong professional philosophy, one that is also adopted by out contractors; we are committed to doing the job once and doing it right - every time.”

Watts & Hughes Construction Ltd 71 Orbell Street Sydenham Christchurch T (03) 423 9305 E Christchurch@whconstruction.co.nz www.whconstruction.co.nz — Advertising Feature

★ Air-Conditioning ★ Heat Pumps ★ Fresh Air Systems ★ Sales ★ Heat Recovery Systems ★ Installations ★ Maintenance ★ Repairs Call 021 0284 5009 E: admin@southerncomfort.net.nz www.southerncomfort.net.nz

Inspired design & razor-sharp precision It’s how we won New Zealand’s Supreme Award*, and we’ll bring exactly the same approach to building your new home. We specialise in building new architecturally designed houses, as well as renovations and additions to existing high-quality homes.

positioning of your recessed speakers – is perfect before we hand over the keys. We operate as a highly effective and complementary team, with Phil taking the lead on-site and Dave handling all the essential work that goes on behind the scenes.

We’ll work closely with your architect to make sure you achieve a design you’ll be proud of, and a home that makes everyday living convenient and pleasurable.

Phil is a ‘builders’ builder’, and most days you’ll find him either on-site or in conversation with his builders, the architect, or subcontractors. He stays close to each project to make sure every detail is up to the highest standards and that the build is staying on track.

We’ll always keep our attention fixed on the details, both at the design stage, and during every phase of building. In practice, that means we’ll insist that every feature of your house – from the largest concrete structure, to the installation of the kitchen joinery, to the

Dave manages the preparation for the build, as well as making sure every ‘i’ is dotted and ‘t’ is crossed at the end. That includes quantity surveying and pricing; coordinating with engineers, architects, and subcontractors;

financial oversight; health and safety; and managing consenting and permitting processes. But what’s most important for you to know is that unlike some builders who consider building ‘just another job’, Phil and Dave put everything they’ve got into every project. We are builders of fine homes, not ‘building assemblers’ for hire, and we take huge pride in every new home we build for our clients. That’s the reason we win awards, and it’s also the reason we’re recommended by several high profile architects. Our focus on craftsmanship doesn’t mean we’re above getting our hands dirty. We’ll do whatever it takes to keep things on track for you, right down to cleaning the spouting or clearing the drive if that’s what it takes.

Multi award winning builders N ATIONAL

N ATIONAL

GO LD A WARD

GO LD A WARD 2009

GO LD A WARD 2005

GO LD A WARD 2004

Phone 03 374 6203 eMail admin@philbentonbuilders.co.nz web www.philbentonbuilders.co.nz P O Box 7259 Sydenham Christchurch 8240

* National Supreme Award - Registered Master Builders House of the Year 2013. Canterbury Supreme Award - Registered Master Builders House of the Year 2013. Phil Benton - Canterbury today advertorial.indd 1

15/05/2014 9:29 am

Property & Construction | McEntryre Lund

Complex rebuild issues breed innovation in construction As the rebuild gathers pace, construction experts are being forced to think outside the box to solve the unique and complex issues the Canterbury earthquakes have left in their wake. This is especially true for the engineering and construction team of Structex and McEntyre Lund, who were tasked with re-levelling and repairing The Fitzgerald Centre at 48 Fitzgerald Avenue. This ambitious project, which was successfully completed in October 2013 – with a collective sigh of relief from all involved – represented a first for Christchurch, and perhaps even for the world. The three storey Fitzgerald Centre sank approximately 400mm at its northern end during the February quake. Remarkably, the building itself suffered very little structural damage. For the building’s owner, Tudor Property, rebuilding from scratch after the insurer deemed it uneconomic to repair, just wasn’t an option. The building was only one year old and rebuilding it came at prohibitively high cost. An alternative solution was sought and the team selected to deliver it was engineering consultancy Structex and commercial and industrial construction company McEntyre Lund. Structex was engaged to look at the salvage and remedial work to the building, while concrete structures specialist McEntyre Lund completed the building repair work. Together, these two companies pulled off a remarkable feat. Sixty three steel poles were carefully drilled 26 metres into the ground beneath the existing

The challenges: • Breaking out the foundations without jeopardising the building’s structural integrity • Piling to 26 metres inside the building footprint • Jacking up the building without fracturing the new or old foundations • Marrying up adjacent surfaces and services.

The process: • Systematically cut out the existing concrete foundations • Piling to a depth of 26 metre to the gravel below ground susceptible to liquefaction • Reinstate new foundations

building, which was a feat in itself. The building was then hoisted into the air by jacking it up on the steel poles. Many lifting techniques were explored and in the end a hydraulic synchronous lift system was chosen to hoist the 1,800 tonne building. Foundations were then replaced and the building repair work got underway. The demolition work began in March 2013 and, like many other office workers all around the city, the existing tenants were housed at the rear of the building in a container office for the duration of the project. The re-levelling was completed in August, with the tenants returning home in October of the same year. McEntyre Lund director, Justin McEntyre says that this project represents everything that is exciting about the current work environment in Christchurch. “We’re seeing projects here that you won’t see anywhere else in New Zealand, or even the world.

“It used to be that people went overseas to London and other big cities to get experience and work on big, exciting projects. Now, people are coming here and locals are returning too. Canterbury has lots of one of a kind projects that are a real privilege to work on and really test current construction methodologies,” Justin adds. The Fitzgerald Centre project was such a success that both Structex and McEntyre Lund have been engaged again by Tudor Property to complete remedial work to a smaller warehouse on the same site.

McEntyre Lund 20B Klondyke Drive Hornby Christchurch T (03) 349 5897 E justin@mcentyrelund.co.nz www.mcentyrelund.co.nz — Advertising Feature

• Jack up the building with synchronous lift system • Install liquefaction disbursement floor system • Reinstate concrete slab • Dilapidation and remedial work to building for tenant occupation.

McEntyre Lund have a proven track record in the development of many high profile Commercial & Industrial construction projects across the South Island & have been honoured to be a part of this exciting & challenging project. Commercial and Industrial Construction

The re-level & remedial work to the 48 Fitzgerald Ave project would not have been possible without the right project team & our experienced staff were more than up to the challenge. “The more challenging the project the more interested we are” Our specialist Construction Team & Major plant including Crawler, Tower & Mobile Cranes are capable of building anything from Prisons, Stadiums, Education, Office fit outs, restoration, Dairy, Civil, Coolstore, Strengthening, Historical, ground Justin McEntyre remediation & Architectural features. 223 Barnes Rd, Tai Tapu, Christchurch PO Box 16075, Hornby, Christchurch P: 03 477 5912 ┃ F: 03 477 5906 ┃ M: 027 522 4446 ┃ E: justin@lunds.co.nz

50 | June/July 2014

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Property & Construction | Spencer Painters and Decorators

Making renovation projects painless Spencer Painters and Decorators is flat out painting Christchurch’s new and repaired commercial buildings. The family-owned business has accrued a wealth of experience and knowledge in its 30 plus years of operation.

Project management specialists Choosing Spencer Project Management for your next job will take all the hassle out of any project. The project management division of the Spencer Group was formed after the Canterbury earthquakes and has undertaken a lot of repair projects for Fletchers during the past three years, which have involved more than just painting.

However, director Jeremy Spencer says that earthquake repair work will wind up this year and Spencer Project Management will continue with private, including opt-out, and insurance work. “We employ four project managers, consisting of two licensed building practitioner, an engineer and a coating inspector. They will carry on offering a hassle-free service, delivering projects on time and to a high standard,” he says.

Jeremy Spencer says the company has doubled in size since the Canterbury earthquakes and has spent the past three years doing a large number of commercial repairs and new builds.

The Kaiapoi Aquatic Centre was recently painted by Spencer Painters and Decorators

Spencer Painters and Decorators specialises in all aspects of commercial painting and decorating, from small repairs through to large scale commercial projects. It is the preferred partner of many leading commercial and industrial enterprises in Canterbury. The company works with Dulux Paints for its interior design work for both its commercial and residential customers, offering a valueadded design service for customers using Dulux Paint. Another aspect to the company is that Spencer Painters and Decorators is environmentally aware. It recycles paints, uses environmentally friendly products whenever possible, and adheres to good practice standards regarding washing and caring for our painting equipment.

Intumescent and specialist coatings As specialists in protective coatings, including the application of intumescent coatings for fire protection on both steel and timber structures, the company is an approved applicator of intumescent coatings for Altex Paints, Zone Architectural Coatings and International Protective Coatings. It has worked with Christchurch’s leading architects and building companies to provide

Proud to support Spencer Group Contact us today for brilliant legal advice. Celia Barker Phone: 335 3466 Email: celia.barker@cavell.co.nz

Spencer Painters and Decorators can take care of all commercial painting requirements on new buildings

It has a vast amount of experience through its fully qualified subcontractors and has completed house lifts, full foundation replacements, complex repairs on TC3 land and hill areas, as well as the usual earthquake work involving chimneys, roofing, recladding and asbestos removal.

Spencer Painters and Decorators is the main company within the Spencer Group and operates as its commercial painting arm. <

Formed by Peter Spencer, it is now owned by Peter and his son Jeremy, who lead a team of 80 qualified and skilled painters and decorators, plus additional subcontractors and a management team of eight.

The commercial painters

them with fire protection coating solutions to meet the council’s building code and Fire Service regulations. Spencer Painters and Decorators has all the application equipment to handle projects of any size and measurement tools to ensure the required burn time specifications are achieved for both structural steel and wood.

Quality management systems Jeremy Spencer says it is his company’s management team and quality systems that make it stand out from the rest.

“We also have good relationships with the clients we work for, which I think is quite a big deal. I think we have more of a personal approach with the people we work for,” he says. “With our management team, the standard of quality of our work is also very high, as the guys are required to completed QA check sheets on each and every job we complete. Each coat is given a QA and each area, so when the job comes to an end there is minimal remedial work to complete.” >

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Call us today – 0 8 0 0 G O C HC H ( 0 8 0 0 4 6 2 4 2 4 ) www.canterburytoday.co.nz June/July 2014 | 51

Property & Construction | Spencer Painters and Decorators

and/or exterior of a building remains in pristine condition • Painting maintenance • Staggering the introduction of new colours and costs over a set time period • Spencer’s Gold, Silver and Bronze packages for commercial, schools, real estate and residential customers.

Commercial packages Spencer Painters and Decorators recognise the importance clients place on maintaining their commercial premises to a high standard.

No job is too small for Spencer Painters and Decorators

Making life easier for the client Spencer Painters and Decorators has a range of tailor made packages available to help clients achieve a hassle-free completion of all jobs. The Christchurch company offers the most comprehensive range of painting and repainting services in Canterbury, including commercial, residential real estate, body corporate and school packages.

These packages include a range of options, such as: • Midnight makeover – All interior work completed after hours to allow day to day operations to continue • One-week dash – One week start to finish (conditions apply) • Programme the paint – A customised plan aimed at increasing the paint’s life once it has been applied. It also ensures the interior

It offers a specialised Refresh service aimed at cleaning and refreshing the interior and/or exterior of your premises to reinvigorate your company’s colours and public image. Spencer Painters and Decorators will also help clients roll out new imagery and rebrand their business and premises. In addition, it can repaint a building to remove clients’ corporate colours and restore it to its pre-lease condition.

School and real estate packages The company also works with schools, universities and polytechnics throughout the Canterbury region, maintaining and improving the interior and exterior of classrooms, lecture rooms, halls and administration blocks. It can use all of its manpower and quality systems to paint an entire school during the holidays.

Proud to provide the best insurance advice to Spencer Group P (03) 349-5014 M (0274) 318-951

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52 | June/July 2014 www.canterburytoday.co.nz

Christchurch real estate companies can make the most of a number of different painting options, including packages for body corporate and property managers who are keeping tenants happy or preparing a property for lease or sale. Spencer Painters and Decorators will transform the interior of a poorly maintained property into a bright, fresh and clean environment, painting all surfaces white. Investment property owners can also maximise the sale price or rental return on their investment by modernising the interior and/or exterior to appeal to prospective buyers or tenants.

“

Client testimonial: “We have been completely satisfied with Pete the Painter on the three occasions we used them recently. They displayed a prompt and professional attitude in all ways and at a competitive price.” - Malcolm and Margaret Johnson, Christchurch

Successful commercial projects

”

Spencer Painters and Decorators has completed many significant commercial projects in recent years, including the Amberley Countdown and the Ranui House earthquake repairs for the Bone Marrow Trust. It has recently finished three stages at Rangi Ruru Girls’ School and has also painted 210 and 218 Moorhouse Avenue and the Kaiapoi Aquatic Centre.

Paint maintenance programme Spencer Painters and Decorators has tailored comprehensive paint protection maintenance plans for both large and small buildings. Its maintenance programme will increase the paint’s life once it has been applied and ensure the interior and/or exterior of your building remains in pristine condition. All maintenance programmes will be designed free of charge to suit the client’s individual needs, and may include building inspections, paint touch-ups, repainting, water cleaning and blasting, chemical wash, soft wash and interior paint wash.

Access is no problem for Spencers Spencer Painters and Decorators can tackle any job regardless of how difficult the access is. Its “extreme team” is a fully licensed dedicated abseiling team that can handle the most extreme painting projects Canterbury has to offer, from roofs to tall buildings. The company’s general access equipment includes scaffold, cherry pickers and knuckles. It has a preferred contractor relationship with one of Christchurch’s leading scaffolding companies and reputable hire companies.

Property & Construction | Spencer Painters and Decorators

Pete the Painter’s residential services Your home’s paint job is what everyone sees first when they walk in the door. Regardless of how well your house has been built, if the paint work is not up to scratch, nothing else matters. So Pete the Painter, a division of the Spencer Group, will paint your new home to the highest of standards. The Christchurch company was formed 10 years ago by group founder Peter Spencer and takes care of the group’s new residential builds. Pete the Painter offers a comprehensive painting and decorating service to residential customers, employing about 15 fully qualified tradesmen. The company has painted thousands of homes over the years, both old and new. Its experience has allowed it to put together tailored packages based around clients’ needs. These include a roof painting special and a weatherboard makeover. Pete the Painter has the resources to meet any residential interior or exterior painting requirement, including new homes, full

What’s on offer… Spencer Painters and Decorators offers a range of services to commercial customers, including: • Negotiation and tender • Personalised and tailored project management, including daily site inspections and consultation • Premium top-shelf paints • Colour consultation with its qualified interior designer, including in-depth consultations, photo colour scheme development, and full products specification for the project

restorations, single walls or ceilings, roofs, foundations and complete exteriors. The experienced team at Pete the Painter will give you a prompt, free quote on your next painting job, regardless of how small or large your requirements are. This quote will provide a range of information to ensure there are no surprises during or at the end of the job. The quote will include: • Confirmation of the surfaces to be painted • Confirmation of the client’s needs and how they will be addressed • Description of the painting methodology • A list of all products and colours to be used • Advisement of when the job will start • An estimation of how long the project will take • A list of terms and conditions of trade. Pete the Painter understands that every person has different tastes and requirements and can cater to meet all requests while all staff are encouraged to think outside the square to ensure your painting package is tailor made for you. Jeremy Spencer says residential painting work has been growing since the earthquakes, with Pete the Painter primarily focussed on new homes. Pete the Painter backs all its materials and workmanship with a comprehensive warrantee. Spencer Painters and Decorators 11 Vanadium Place Addington Christchurch T (03) 335 0205 M 027 476 1039 www.spencerpaint.co.nz www.petethepainter.co.nz

• Complete removal and reinstallation of external fittings and signs • Building access provided (scaffold, abseil or swinging stage)

• Five year maintenance plan, including annual inspection exterior building wash.

In addition to its quality residential painting and decorating service, Pete the Painter offers additional services to help make your home project easy and successful. These include:

Pete the Painter’s trade-qualified staff can carry out most general maintenance works. If more specialised work is required, the company has strong associations and relationships with trusted and certified tradespeople.

Colour consultancy/design service Pete the Painter partners with professional paint consultants and interior designers to help you with colour choices and interior design matters.

Wallpapering Wallpapering has come back to fashion with an extensive wallpaper range on offer. Pete the Painter employs a number of team members who have the specialist skills and experience to tackle all wallpapering jobs.

Spencer Painters and Decorators specialises in painting commercial buildings, including this one in Victoria Street

Decorative Supplies Ltd “The Painters Warehouse”

Proud to support Spencer Group

• Exterior water blasting before repaint • Five year product and workmanship warranty

General maintenance/handyman

D SL

• Colours matched to company profile or corporate colours

• Complete removal and reinstallation of internal fixtures

Pete the Painter services

— Advertising Feature

• Large range of paint colours and spectrums

• Comprehensive surface preparation

This building in the Hazeldean Business Park was painted by Spencer Painters and Decorators

03 332 7876

6 Huxley Street, Sydenham

03 352 8575

114 Unit 1 Sawyers Arms Road Specialise in all aspects of painting and decorating in jobs of all sizes, from residential renovations to large-scale commercial projects. Provide additional services, including – colour consultancy, interior design, wallpapering, wall stopping, handyman services, general maintenance services, plumbing, and more.

11 Vanadium Place, Middleton, Christchurch 03 335 0205 | www.spencerpaint.co.nz

Preferred partner of many leading commercial and industrial enterprises in Canterbury www.canterburytoday.co.nz June/July 2014 | 53

Property & Construction | Landmark Homes Canterbury

A landmark commitment to Canterbury Getting Cantabrians back into beautiful homes brings Landmark Homes owners Steve and Coralie Pollard a lot of satisfaction. A Landmark Home is not just an ordinary house; every home is a unique vision brought to beautiful reality by the experienced Landmark team. Steve and Coralie have owned Landmark Homes in Canterbury since 2007 and lead a team of highly skilled and enthusiastic people keen to see their customers’ dreams come to fruition.

“Our focus is on bespoke homes, hill homes and lifestyle blocks,” Coralie Pollard says. “We like to build homes that are a little bit different to the rest; they’re not plans that are reproduced 50 times in one subdivision. “Our main emphasis is on architectural homes that are designed for specific sites, however we cater for all manner of customers, from single level smaller homes to larger homes on the hill.” The company has a range of 70 beautiful plans that customers can choose from. They can also modify an existing plan to suit customer needs, or start from scratch with their own architectural design.

Coralie says flexibility is a key feature of building with Landmark Homes. The company’s unique design and build system offers the ultimate in flexibility for clients. The Landmark team will listen carefully to what’s important to each client to ensure there are no grey areas when construction begins. Landmark designers take creative inspiration directly from their client’s needs and combine it with the site’s natural advantages to create the perfect home, ensuring all practical considerations are taken care of. “Since the Canterbury earthquakes there are a lot more families who have joined together and people who are operating their business from home,” she says. “We are able to incorporate people’s wish lists into their new home. We try to give people something individual and something that incorporates their lifestyle with children, teenagers, elderly parents or working from home, future-proofing homes for longevity, we can accommodate a lot of unique requests”.

Landmark Homes’ beautiful new showhome at Sovereign Lakes, Kaiapoi

Landmark Homes is renowned for building beautiful, high quality homes that are designed and built to suit the unique needs of each customer.

Giving customers what they want

Focus on quality Landmark Homes builds a significant number of homes each year but prefers to concentrate on quality over quantity. “We build beautiful homes and we have lots of repeat customers or referrals; people coming back again and again to build,” Coralie says. “We try to achieve a superior finish on all our homes. The products we use in our show homes reflect the quality of the products we use in all our homes.” However, customers are not restricted to choosing fittings and products within a standard range, but can custom choose their products to suit their tastes and budget. Landmark Homes provides a 10 year Masterbuild Guarantee on all its homes.

“We’re all very excited about the opportunities we have and all have to put some effort towards the Canterbury rebuild; I’m pleased to be a part of it.”

New Landmark showhome Landmark Homes has recently completed its beautiful new showhome at Sovereign Lakes in Kaiapoi. The new showhome, on the corner of Bayliss Drive and Lillian Street, features Landmark Homes’ brand new Abel Tasman design, which was designed specifically for the south facing site. The showhome gives potential clients the chance to see what Landmark Homes is capable of, while also providing plenty of ideas and beautiful features to consider.

Rebuilding Canterbury

Landmark Homes is also planning a second Coralie says Landmark Homes is building some new showhome at Styx Mill in Northwood, which should be completed early next year. fantastic homes in Canterbury this year. “We appreciate the fact that we’re getting to work with some really special people following the earthquakes. It’s really rewarding to get some of those people back into their own homes.

The Canterbury company’s two previous showhomes at Sovereign Palms and Northwood were both gold medal winners in the Master Builders’ House of the Year awards.

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Property & Construction | Landmark Homes Canterbury

Recognising women in construction Being awarded a Hays 2014 Women in Construction award was a big feather in Coralie Pollard’s cap. She won the inaugural award in March for her contribution to support women in construction. She and her husband Steve own and operate Landmark Homes in Christchurch. The Hays awards are aimed to recognise and reward women who have achieved excellence in the construction industry, companies that are committed to developing the careers of women in the industry, and individuals who support women in the industry. There were three award categories, with Coralie winning the award for contribution for supporting women in construction.

“These awards recognise the outstanding contribution made by women in construction, and are timely recognition in light of the essential contribution women are making to the rebuild of Christchurch,” Hays managing director Jason Walker says. “Given the sheer scope of the construction work required to rebuild Christchurch, and the ongoing skills shortages within construction, it is essential we recognise and celebrate the success of women in this profession and encourage more women to consider a construction career.”

A career in the building industry Coralie was born in Christchurch, originally leaving to attend Massey University to study veterinary science.

“I quickly realised I wasn’t cut out to be a vet, so I changed direction and did some design courses, which led to a drafting job at a local architectural practice in Palmerston North,” she says. She furthered that education by picking up quantity surveying and project management with various building firms, and found that main contracting was where she excelled. She was offered a contracts manager’s role with a Hawke’s Bay construction company, where she met husband Steve, which then led on to a position with Mainzeal Property and Construction in central North Island, transferring back to Christchurch in 1999. After having her family, Coralie moved back into quantity surveying within the residential building industry, which fitted in better with the demands of family life. Today she takes care of all commercial work for Landmark Homes, including looking after the sales team, planning and construction of showhomes, project quantity surveying and estimating team, while Stephen Pollard runs the Construction Operations side of the company. Coralie says she’s quite honoured and humbled to win the Hays award and had to submit a variety of referees for consideration as part of the selection process. Landmark Homes employs a number of women across a range of occupations. “I have enjoyed a long and varied career in construction throughout New Zealand, but the reason I received this award is because I recognise the value that women bring to construction.

Quality is a feature of every Landmark Home

Giving back to the community In addition to her work within the construction industry, Coralie Pollard works diligently for the Autistic Spectrum Intervention Support (ASIST) Trust, an organisation that provides financial assistance to families with special needs children, primarily with Autism. She has been the trust’s chairperson for the past six years, working hard to raise money for therapists, case management and medical assistance. The role of the trust is to raise awareness of childhood autism and to reduce the financial burden on families whose children are receiving therapy. Local organisations and charities provide financial support to the trust, which is continually seeking donations and sponsorship. “We employ a lot of women as quantity surveyors, sales and administrative staff. There are a lot of very capable women coming into the construction sector, especially with Christchurch needing a lot of people for the rebuild.”

Landmark Homes Canterbury 2a 295 Blenheim Road Christchurch T (03) 961 1048 M 021 272 2112 E adminchch@landmarkhomes.co.nz www.landmarkhomes.co.nz — Advertising Feature

Landmark Homes is renowned for building beautiful high quality homes that are designed and built to suit the unique needs of each customer

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The Complete Aluminium Window & Door Solution 50 Leeds Street, Phillipstown, Christchurch Tel. 03 379 7660 • Email. admin@althermcanterbury.co.nz Proud to support & supply Landmark Homes Canterbury Limited www.canterburytoday.co.nz June/July 2014 | 55

Property & Construction | First Avenue Property

The property management specialists Owning a rental property can be stressful at times: when the roof leaks, the tenant leaves, or you want to sell but don’t know how to go about it without chasing your tenant away. The team at First Avenue Property in central Christchurch can take all of the worry out of owning an investment property. They specialise in rental property management and sales, and pride themselves on the positive relationships they develop and maintain with vendors and tenants. First Avenue Property is owned and managed by Martin and Melissa Benge, who take a hands-on role in the running of their company. The core business of First Avenue Property has always involved managing its customers’ valuable investment properties. The team has more than 50 years’ experience in Christchurch property management and offers a comprehensive service for long term rentals. Staff will conduct a full rental evaluation to assess the best rental price and will advertise your property extensively, carrying out full tenant interviews, reference and credit checks. Property inspections are carried out every three months, or more frequently if you require, with rent collected and paid to you twice a month if required. Melissa Benge says First Avenue Property operates a trust account, which is audited four

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“

We give a more favourable commission rate to our existing customers who we manage a property for, but I pride myself on negotiating hard for every vendor

”

times a year and gives clients peace of mind regarding the security of their rental payments.

“We offer good flexible property management services. If you want to do all the maintenance or gardens you can; we can mix and match it to suit you,” she says. “Or we can arrange a gardener and maintenance work so your property is maintained to a high standard you don’t have to do anything.”

Originally operating strictly as a property management business, First Avenue Property began selling real estate in January 2012. Melissa says the move into sales means the company now offers a turnkey service to investment property owners. The First Avenue Property sales team will undertake a comprehensive assessment of your property and work hard to get the best price for the vendor. “We give a more favourable commission rate to our existing customers who we manage a

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“I believe it’s the negotiating role, regardless of commission rates or how much you spend on advertising, which is the big thing for the vendor. I go back and back and back as many times as I can; I’ll do my best to get your price for you – that’s my job.”

Services on offer First Avenue Property offers a range of property management services, including:

• Extensive advertising of your property to potential tenants online and in print. Visitors to the office have access to photographs of properties available to rent

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property for, but I pride myself on negotiating hard for every vendor,” she says.

• Full rental evaluations to assess the best rental price for your property

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• Checking references and carrying out online credit checks for every prospective tenant • Carrying out full and detailed inspections at the beginning of and at the end of each tenancy • Inspecting your property every three months (unless otherwise instructed) • Collecting your rent, following up on any rental arrears, and if necessary initiating proceedings to terminate unsatisfactory tenancies • Paying rental to you twice a month if required • Long term maintenance planning.

Complementary Sales & Rental Appraisals If you are looking for rental property management or contemplating selling and would like to work with a local, friendly, experienced team, give us a call.

56 | June/July 2014 www.canterburytoday.co.nz

www.firstavenue.co.nz

918 Colombo St, cnr Bealey Ave, Christchurch Phone 03 377 0509

Property & Construction | First Avenue Property

At a glance | Creative Studios

High impact designs With an emphasis on all things visual and detail, award winning architectural design firm Creative Studios in Christchurch has a stellar portfolio to be proud of.

After a run of 15 years working for the same Christchurch design firm, John Ayers felt it was time to try something new and adventurous, and set up his own business, Creative Studios Limited in 2003.

Relationships are critical The team at First Avenue Property take pride in forming close relationships with all its clients and tenants, ensuring the management and sale of your property go as smoothly as possible. Owners Martin and Melissa Benge enjoy relationships with property owners dating back many years. “We’ve carried on those relationships and grown that side with new clients,” Melissa says. “Our relationship with the tenant comes into its own when you’re selling your investment property. If the real estate agent upsets the relationship with the tenant it becomes very difficult to get people through for a viewing. “We have a real specialty around selling any investment property. We’re very good at maintaining that relationship with the tenant; we can take the work out of it for the vendor.” First Avenue Property strives to offer the best service in the industry. “One of our key points of difference is that Marty and I offer real personal service,” she says. “We’re working in the business seven days a week, we’re contactable by any customer and want to give full accountability and personal service. We make sure someone always answers your phone call.”

Creative Studios is best known for hospitality and commercial design both here in New Zealand and abroad. Bars, café and restaurant design, interior and exterior new builds and refurbishments however, affordable architectural new homes and alterations have always formed around half their workload.

“

Client testimonial: “After many years of managing our own investment properties, we decided to place our rentals with First Avenue Property Management. This is one of the best business decisions and actions we have ever made. “Melissa Benge and her team have been outstanding at all times, and there have certainly been some very diverse and challenging situations over the past 12 months. “It is reassuring to know that our investments are being professionally managed to such a very high standard at all times no matter what the problem may be. “We confidently recommend First Avenue to anyone who have rental properties and need to know they are engaging a top management team.” - Colleen and Ian Hamilton

”

First Avenue Property 918 Colombo Street Christchurch 8013 T (03) 377 0509 E info@firstavenue.co.nz www.firstavenue.co.nz — Advertising Feature

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“It’s important that your project is a reflection of who you are, that it’s original and that it satisfies the project brief. We like to form a professional yet friendly attitude with all our clients too.” Creative Studios cover all aspects of building design from the ground up to choosing finishing touches with you. They also provide complete conceptual and brand development, full 3D rendering and graphic workups, total working drawings for consent and tendering, and project management. As a kid in the 70s John would sit outside a random house down the street he appreciated, sketch the house and then hand his work to the owner. It was his art teacher in 6th form who steered him into the architecture direction. “I’ve always enjoyed detail and ensuring that the ‘little things make a difference’. Moving to Christchurch in 1991 I worked on ski fields, and even designed high-end yachts for a while. “I’ve spent a lot of time in the public arena, so I think I’ve got good understanding of how people move around space, relate to spaces and how interiors affect emotion. “In the current Canterbury market and rebuild, we are finding a very high percentage of new homes are being designed and built by the housing companies. This is a market we must

contribute more to and it’s our responsibility as architectural designers to ensure this city and the residential environment is created with individuality, architectural nous, creativity, and not simply replicate the same building as your neighbours. “We offer a down to earth professional, co-operative, systematic and cost-efficient service in the field of architectural design. We can and want to offer everyone a point of difference and to ‘stand out from the rest’. After all, we are all unique people, whom see the world differently… so why should we all live in similar houses?" It’s important to be able to combine form and function as well as reflect the place, the time, and the client. You can count on Creative Studios to make the most of surroundings and enhance the living environment. You probably will have recognised some of their work without realising it: Lone Star on Manchester Street and the Joes Garage Café franchise nationwide. “We also re-branded the Lone Star interior at this time. Our challenge was to reinvent an iconic 25 year old New Zealand Café franchise interior, to go ‘back to future’ if you would. “This was a rebuild of the original 1930s building, so the design had to respect the existing architecture whilst adding a new aesthetic and something more original for Christchurch.”

Creative Studios Ltd 6 Timberlands Terrace Parklands Christchurch M 021 623 730 E John@creativestudios.co.nz www.creativestudios.co.nz — Advertising Feature

Leaders in Residential, Commercial & Architectural Roofing Proud to support Creative Studios 0800 115 232 or visit us at www.roofer.co.nz www.canterburytoday.co.nz June/July 2014 | 57

Property & Construction | Alawin Homes

Building Canterbury homes for 40 years

“

Building beautiful homes for Cantabrians is what Once your new home Alawin Homes is all about. is complete, Alawin The business is one of Christchurch’s most successful family-owned building companies and has been building homes for more than 40 years. Alawin began as a small family business in the suburbs of Halswell in 1972, building architectural and standard plan housing. The team at Alawin Homes understands the commitment involved with building a new home, on a financial and emotional level. Clients can feel confident knowing their building company will be there to help and support them through every step of the construction process. Alawin will work closely with you from the start of your project to ensure all your agreed requirements are met. The company believes in building a strong vision of the completed project before a hammer is picked up. This investment in time and planning means that any misinterpretation or confusion is removed.

Homes offers a maintenance period of up to 90 days, meaning if something breaks or is damaged, the company will fix it at no extra cost.

”

Alawin Homes offers fixed contract prices which means there are no hidden extras; what you see is what you get.

Once your new home is complete, Alawin Homes offers a maintenance period of up to 90 days, meaning if something breaks or is damaged, the company will fix it at no extra cost.

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Customers have a range of options to consider when they choose Alawin Homes. There are a number of construction packages to choose from, including: Specification package - choose from Alawin’s tried and tested designs which have proved popular with clients. Specification with alterations package - choose from Alawin’s range of tried-andtested designs but add your own design elements, such as removing a wall or changing the size of a window. No-plan package – The company has an excellent relationship with several architectural firms in Canterbury and can work on a concept with you and the architect to create a set of plans. Own-plan package - If you have the plans already, come and talk to the team at Alawin about making them a reality; Alawin will quote you for the construction process depending on the level of involvement you would like.

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Property & Construction | Alawin Homes

“

Getting it right doesn’t happen by accident; it takes careful planning, rigorous scheduling and smart communication. Alawin Homes has the experience, expertise and business ethos to meet your quality standards every step of the way. Quality is key at Alawin Nothing is more important to the team at Alawin Homes than quality; something it focusses on throughout every stage of every home it builds or repairs. The company employs its own qualified building contractors and specialised administration staff in order to ensure quality is maintained throughout every job. Alawin Homes recognises it’s the little things that count; attention to detail is what the company is known for. Its experienced onsite project managers ensure Alawin maintains its reputation for quality. Getting it right doesn’t happen by accident; it takes careful planning, rigorous scheduling and smart communication. Alawin Homes has the experience, expertise and business ethos to meet your quality standards every step of the way. You will have peace of mind that a well-established company is standing by its product.

”

Choosing Alawin Homes for your new home means you will receive: • A customer care programme

• A written Build It guarantee if required • A personal one on one relationship • A thorough planning process • Attention to detail • A commitment to quality • Fixed contract price there are no hidden extras.

Alawin Homes Limited Unit 2 213 Blenheim Road Riccarton Christchurch T (03) 348 3999 E terry@alawinhomes.co.nz www.alawinhomes.co.nz — Advertising Feature

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www.canterburytoday.co.nz June/July 2014 | 59

Civil Contracting | Hansen Contractors

Getting your lifestyle block sorted Septic tanks and drainlaying may not be a big focus when it comes to building your dream home in the country, but they’re a critical aspect of every job.

The experienced team at Hansen Contractors will make sure all your septic systems and drainlaying requirements are completed to the highest possible standard, so you don’t have to think about them again. Hansen Contractors in Rangiora is a familyowned business with more than 35 years’ experience in drainage and excavation. It also manufactures its own range of quality, reinforced concrete septic tanks at its Rangiora yard in order to take care of your total septic system and drainlaying requirements. “It makes sense for us to handle the complete package, including compliance issues,” says manager Peter Hansen.

The Hansen 75 septic tank features include: • Rectangular shape means a shallow hole for installation. Good for properties with a high water table • Dripline can irrigate garden or trees • Low power usage • Easy access for pumping out and maintenance • Tank buried below ground. Lids and control box at ground level.

“We consider factors such as groundwater levels, nitrate levels and the lay of the land before providing our clients with several options when it comes to the best type of system for their property. Rather than being biased toward one type of system, we prefer to offer a broad range of products and prices.”

A Hansen 75 septic system being installed

Hansen Septic systems

The septic tank specialists

The Hansen 55 septic tank features include: • Suitable for free-draining soils with deep groundwater levels • Discharge to filter sand trench • One pump • Easy access for pump out and maintenance

Hansen Contractors developed its own pre-cast concrete septic tank after years of seeing what works and what doesn’t.

• Tank buried below ground with lids and control box at ground level

“We have used our years of experience to design a system that is easy to install, access and maintain,” says Peter Hansen.

• Alarm for high level alert.

The Hansen upgrade tank features include:

“We have now passed the 200 tank mark and the demand has increased with all of the building going on in the area. I am happy for people to come to the yard to view the systems and talk through their requirements.”

• Suitable for all soil types and high groundwater levels

There are three key options available to cover all clients’ requirements: the Hansen 75 aerated treatment plant; the Hansen 55 conventional three-chamber tank; and the Hansen Upgrade, which can be added onto an existing tank. Clients can purchase their Hansen septic tank direct from the manufacturer, which will install and service the tank directly. Hansen Contractors also undertake septic tank and effluent designs which are necessary for a building consent to be issued and for ECan approval to be granted.

• Add onto a suitable existing tank to make an aerated treatment plant • Dripline discharge can irrigate garden or trees • Low power usage • Plug-in control box means no electrician needed for change over. If power is off the system can be plugged into a generator • Alarm panel has lights indicating system on, alarm for high level and low pressure alert.

COF Repairs • Brake Roller Testing All Truck & Trailer Servicing and Repairs Arthur Jones Ph. 03 313 5691 13 Station Rd, Rangiora. PO Box 255, Rangiora Mobile. 027 435 1531. Fax 03 313 4307 Proud to be associated with Hansen Contractors

60 | June/July 2014 www.canterburytoday.co.nz

Civil Contracting | Hansen Contractors

YOU’VE ALREADY HEARD OF THE DANGERS OF DRINKING OUT OF PLASTIC Lifestyle blocks Hansen Contractors will take care of all your drainage requirements and has the expertise and experience to offer your lifestyle block a total package. The capable team at Hansen Contractors undertakes a variety of drainage jobs, from new residential drains to alterations, small subdivisions and road openings. The company has the technology for a range of drainage work, such as blocked or broken drains, including DVD cameras to determine where the problem is and water blasters to clear it. The growing number of lifestyle blocks around Canterbury means Hansen Contractors has plenty of experience in all aspects of the job.

Hansen’s also designs stormwater systems and supplies and installs pumps and water tanks. While most work is done within the Canterbury region, the team is happy to travel further afield to assist customers with their drainage needs.

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Hansen Contractors 32 Newnham Street PO Box 32 Rangiora 7440 T (03) 313 8418 M 0274 545 775 E sales@hansencontractors.co.nz www.hansencontractors.co.nz — Advertising Feature

Drainage for new and existing dwellings in residential and rural areas make up a large part of the company’s business, although Hansen’s also have years of experience in alterations and repairs.

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The company can supply and install a variety of options of water tanks in concrete or plastic, from 1,000 to 30,000 litres, which can be installed in ground or on a sand pad base. Additionally, Hansen Contractors offers a fast and efficient service on replacement septic tank pumps, which are the Italian-made Pedrollo brand and come with a good warranty.

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Hansen Contractors undertakes rural and lifestyle driveway excavations, supplying the base shingles, and has a wide range of excavators from 1.5 to 8 tonnes, ensuring it can complete every job with the most economical machine.

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As part of its design consultancy work, the company is equipped to prepare stormwater disposal designs for lifestyle blocks. Its fleet of excavators are able to undertake scrape and founds, driveways and farm clearance work.

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www.canterburytoday.co.nz June/July 2014 | 61

Business Development | Glenn Roberts Electrical and Solar Smart Energy

Northern connections If you live in the Nelson area and own a business, retail store, a loved family home, or look after a large public facility the team at Glenn Roberts Electrical can take care of all your electrical needs.

Located in central Nelson, the business was formed in 1992 by Glenn Roberts but is now owned and operated by Glenn’s son Josh Roberts and his partner Nichola Strom. Glenn Roberts Electrical is one of the largest electrical companies in Nelson and employs 12 tradesmen. “We mainly do residential and commercial work, from small repairs to new house builds and commercial fit-outs, as well as design services,” Josh says.

Each home requires its own individual layout and design, dependent on size, location and budget. Glenn Roberts Electrical will work closely with you throughout your building project to ensure your requirements are understood and met, from lighting and

The team is knowledgeable in local body compliance, electrical wiring regulations, efficiency levels and safe working practices. They can advise clients on the best technologies, approaches and methods of implementation. Glenn Roberts Electrical will also take care of all your maintenance and servicing needs and will schedule regular site visits to ensure your business is kept running smoothly. In addition, the company specialises in servicing and repairing lifts. It is available 24/7 for emergency breakdowns and repairs.

Glenn Roberts Electrical were the main electrical contractors for the new Cawthron Institute Building in Nelson

Commercial capabilities • Re-fits and new builds - shop, office, showroom, warehouses etc • Complete lighting, power, heating and ventilation design and installation • Data wiring • Switchboards – upgrades and new installs • Energy efficient lighting and power solutions – including solar • Solar power installations – using PV panels. • Standby power generator wiring, connections and supply

The team from Glenn Roberts Electrical receives the Supreme Award at the 2013 Nelson Tasman Chamber of Commerce Business Awards. Photo by Harold Mason Photography

The company recognises that if you’re building a new home or doing renovations, it’s important to get your electrical work right, the first time. It offers professional advice, innovative suggestions and product information relevant to your needs and budget.

The company has been involved in many significant commercial projects over the years, from fit-outs to new builds. It has the expertise, experience and manpower to complete all aspects of each project.

Glenn Roberts Electrical is an electrical contracting company that offers a comprehensive service to residential, retail, commercial and industrial customers throughout the Nelson and Tasman regions, specialising in energy efficient lighting, heating and power options.

power design through to home automation, security and heating.

• Signage and landscape lighting • Emergency and security lighting installation and testing • Fire alarm installation and testing • Auto-door installation and servicing.

Glenn Roberts Electrical carries out maintenance and repairs on most types of industrial machinery and equipment, including: • Maintenance and repairs • Fault finding

Specialist Electrical Inspection & Connection Services

• Testing and tagging • New machine installation

• ‘One Stop’ Electrical Inspection and Connection Service to Tasman & Nelson Electricity Networks

• Wiring installations

• Electrical Inspections - Hazardous Areas - Marine - Safety - Insurance - Pre-Purchase

• Breakdowns • Switchboards

• Caravan Electrical Warrants

62 | June/July 2014 www.canterburytoday.co.nz

Glenn Roberts Electrical has won a variety of significant awards in recent years, including several Nelson Tasman Chamber of Commerce Business Awards in 2011, 2012 and 2013. The company was also named the ECANZ Wellington Master Electrician of the year in 2011 and 2012.

• Power reticulation

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Industry recognition and awards

• Control panels

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• Hazardous area installations • IQP inspections and 12A certificates.

Glenn Roberts Electrical (Nelson) Limited 14C Vanguard Street Nelson T (03) 546 9930 E info@glennroberts.co.nz www.glennroberts.co.nz — Advertising Feature

Business Development | Glenn Roberts Electrical and Solar Smart Energy

The smart solar solution Nelson residents keen to cash in on the region’s high sunshine hours are increasingly turning to solar power for their homes and businesses.

Nelson is the sunshine capital, so with the cost of installation coming down and electricity going up, it makes sense to choose solar power.

”

Glenn Roberts Electrical formed a subsidiary company, Solar Smart Energy, a year ago to cater to the growing demand for solar power.

installations in the region, including the Havelock Motel in Marlborough and several significant residential projects.

Solar Smart Energy provides customers with smarter, sustainable power solutions for their home or building through solar photo voltaic (PV) panels and off-grid generators. “An area we see great potential is in energy efficient and alternative energy sources,” director Josh Roberts says. “And it is due to the ever increasing awareness and desire for these products that we have established Solar Smart Why go solar? There are huge benefits to solar power for your home or building. These include: Clean, renewable energy – producing electricity with solar energy emits no greenhouse gases, no pollution and uses no fossil fuels Reduce your power bill – The cost of power is high and is only going to rise. With a Solar Smart Energy system you’ll never have to pay a high power bill again Increase your property value – A solar power system will add value to your home for years to come. By reducing or eliminating your home’s electricity bill, your home will demand a higher value on the market Financial benefits – You can have a solar power system installed without having to spend much more than you currently spend on your existing electricity charges. Once your system is paid off you’ll reap the financial rewards.

“

The company offers free no-obligation quotes, competitive pricing, full supply and installation and customer training. Energy to provide a fully focussed service for sustainable energy products to our customers.”

they want to save from their current power bill, the available roof space and shading angles, and their budget.

The company uses a solar grid tie system and PV panels, which are generally mounted on the roof. The light from the sun is absorbed by semi conductors in the panels, which excite the electrons. This produces an amount of direct current, which is converted into alternating current through an inverter for use in your home or commercial building.

Josh Roberts says the company is receiving a lot of interest from customers throughout the region. “There’s an outlay of cost with solar panels but there’s a good return on investment once people look into it. We’re trying to work with finance companies and banks to get these initial hurdles crossed,” he says.

Any excess power produced that is not used is then sold back to your energy retailer through an import/export meter.

“Nelson is the sunshine capital, so with the cost of installation coming down and electricity going up, it makes sense to choose solar power.”

The team at Solar Smart Energy work with clients to determine which system is best for their requirements, depending on how much

Solar Smart Energy has already completed a number of residential and commercial solar

Solar Smart Energy 14C Vanguard Street Nelson 7010 T (03) 546 9975 E info@solarsmartenergy.co.nz www.solarsmartenergy.co.nz — Advertising Feature

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Focus | Acoustic Engineering Services

Delivering the sweet sound of silence The ability to hear what you need to and minimise unwanted sound is crucial to occupant experience in a building - be it a business, classroom, apartment block or auditorium. And the good news is, its smart design, sound choices and expert advice, not added cost that can make all the difference. Christchurch specialists in the science and engineering of sound, Acoustic Engineering Services (AES), have solutions to any acoustics problem. Whether it is road noise, an overhead airplane, a rumbling air-handling unit, or a co-worker’s enthusiastic phone manner, unwanted sounds can disrupt work and learning; persistent noise can even affect our health. Design and planning strategies implemented when a building project is in its very early stages can optimise acoustic performance, and the use of the right materials can provide further enhancements. Therefore, the time to bring in the specialists is at the beginning of a project. Working as part of the design team on building projects, AES managing director, Dr Jeremy Trevathan says they work closely with the architects and other specialist engineers

to ensure any issue around sound is identified early and dealt with in the design process. “In New Zealand the building code only sets out minimum requirements for sound insulation in apartment developments – however if you want a premium building – an office building that attracts and retains the right tenants or a performance space which leaves audiences and performers wanting to come back for more, then the quality of the acoustic environment you provide is paramount.”

St Margarets's College

Good design

In short, Trevathan says they remove the risk, providing certainty as to how a building will perform and eliminating the possibility of expensive and difficult modifications being required if issues are discovered only after a building is completed and occupied.

Architect and senior associate at Jasmax, Richard Hayman echoes these sentiments, recommending that those pursuing quality design solutions, where people matter, consult an acoustic engineer at the earliest possible stage.

And experience counts for everything in this sector – through the review of a proposed building design, an experienced acoustics engineer will be able to foresee any potential issues and formulate appropriate solutions, in conjunction with the architect and design team.

“The environments we create (as architects) for people serve to delight them and enhance their experience. To do this we seek to engage the five senses as people move through, around and inhabit the places we design.

“We pride ourselves on being friendly, professional and proactive, working with you to make your business successful.”

“A sensitive and aware response to the aural sense is a key component of the quality of a person’s experience of a place or space. “An acoustic engineer, when fully understanding the design and experiential objectives of a place or space, can add tremendous value to that design solution,” Hayman adds. Examples include allowing children to learn better in classrooms due to ease of hearing, the pleasure of an undisturbed night’s sleep in your favourite hotel, the ability to conduct a private conversation in an open plan office and the zingy chatter of a lively city foyer.

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Focus | Acoustic Engineering Services The facility opened in May 2013, providing a much needed alternative performance venue for Christchurch and has seen a high level of use including as a venue for live television, and extensive use for Christchurch Symphony Orchestra and Chamber Music New Zealand events. In a recent blog on the Chamber Music NZ site, Ken Booth described the acoustics of the exciting new venue as follows: “There is an uncluttered view of the stage; the acoustics are excellent; the soundboard over the stage ensures the sound goes throughout the auditorium; the seating is comfortable and there is no traffic noise. “All the detail (of the performance) was audible because the auditorium made it so accessible to the listener.” UCSA

Earthquake recovery at the University Post-quake, AES was called in to the University of Canterbury to help restore and create a number of student and educational facilities.

A place to relax The Undercroft project involved converting the basement of the library into a multi-use facility for use as social hub, cafés, shops and seminar/learning spaces.

University of Canterbury, Undercroft

Enhancing performance The Charles Luney Auditorium at St Margaret’s College was a recent project that presented some interesting challenges for the AES team. But, as they do with every project, they looked at the unique situation, listened to the client and design team, and found a bespoke solution. The 700 seat auditorium was designed as a semi-circle. While advantageous for the audiences proximity to and view of the stage, it was acoustically difficult. “The curved seating tiers and large curved back wall would have reflected sound back towards the stage - causing large variations in sound level over the audience area, and a very difficult environment for performers.”

Using 3D modelling, AES was able to determine how to control and direct the sound to optimise performer and audience experience, while retaining the semi-circular shape the client and architect loved. This involved the use of a visually impressive array of concentric timber reflectors above the stage and audience area, along with vertical reflectors to make the most of the auditorium side walls and ensure audience members felt ‘enveloped’ by the sound.

architect had in mind. The space also required detailed and complex analysis, as it was actually made up of a number of interconnected volumes, in some places separated by movable partitions,” Trevathan adds. There were considerable constraints in reusing an existing building requiring the acoustic engineer and architect to work closely together, but with the correct use of acoustic absorption materials, a suitable solution was put in place – a solution that not only works well, but looks good too. The Undercroft project was among several AES was involved in that won Canterbury Architecture Awards in 2013.

Containing performance noise Another performance space AES engineered for optimum sound was the temporary UCSA Events Centre. This fast tracked, lightweight building was built to become the home of events and musical performances for the students and the University and now houses the iconic Foundary and Bentleys bars. “While it was a lightweight structure, it was going to be home to some very high levels of noise. The arrangement and layout of the building were critical to helping to contain the noise.

The first stage of the project involved reinterpreting the brutalist-inspired bicycle storage and under-utilised centrally planned double height space into a sophisticated, quiet student lounge. This space replaced the ‘tent city’ - the initial quake response solution that housed student social activity.

“All doors and windows open inwards toward the campus and we used sound lobbies to isolate noise when people were entering and leaving the performance space to help prevent noise spilling out. Inside the building acoustic absorption treatments more commonly used in industrial applications were employed to create an internal environment suitable for a wide range of uses.”

”The large, concrete space was acoustically harsh and uncompromising – nothing like the quiet, relaxed space the University and

Open by April 2012, the UCSA Events Centre is now playing a key role in maintaining and enhancing vibrant student life on campus. >

Potentially problematic reflections and focussing from the curved rear wall were avoided by breaking up and re-orientating surfaces to distribute reflected sound evenly, rather than focus it all in one location, and through the use of acoustic absorption materials.

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Focus | Acoustic Engineering Services

Regional Science and Innovation Centre AES’s current focus at the University of Canterbury is the $212m new Regional Science and Innovation Centre which is currently under design. The team of consultants delivering the building services for this project includes AES sister company Cosgroves, and their Australian-based associates Umow Lai. Comprising of two multi-level buildings, this development will provide teaching, research and support space for the School of Biological Sciences, the departments of Chemistry, Geography, Geological Sciences and Physics and Astronomy. It goes without saying that some spaces within the building will therefore be very specialised.

Air New Zealand Regional Lounge

“There are spaces where researchers will operate precision equipment – microscopes and laser measurement equipment that are incredibly noise and movement sensitive. Then there are other spaces that can produce a lot of noise or vibration – for example in the geology department they cut and crush rocks - the challenge is bringing all of these activates together in one place.”

The highly detailed process means AES has embarked in involved research in and understanding of each activity which will take place in the new buildings - understanding its requirements or potential impacts, and then determining what treatment is required to ensure the activity can be undertaken successfully and does not adversely impact on other parts of the building.

For highly specialised equipment such as the Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (NMR) spectrometers operated by the Chemistry department, the outcome of this process means that the equipment will be located on the ground floor of the building, on a special isolated 30cm thick concrete slab. It is buildings like this one at the University, where research, expertise and precision modelling and measurements all combine to ensure that what is being designed, and ultimately built, is fit for purpose. It is also the sort of job that the team at AES excel in.

Speciality projects Air New Zealand Regional Lounge Projects that are a little outside the norm are always fun for the AES team. One of these was finding clever, aesthetically pleasing solutions for noise control for the Air New Zealand Regional Lounge at Christchurch International Airport.

Regional Science and Innovation Centre

First up - everyone loves to see an airplane, but they don’t want to listen to it. However, in this case the planes were going to sit immediately adjacent to the north face of the building, separated only by a window and automatic sliding glass doors – which are notoriously poor at reducing noise.

As the proposed space also had a high volume, feature polished concrete floors and extensive glazing, it was a perfect candidate to suffer from the ‘café effect’ – where people progressively raise their voices to be heard over the background noise and each other, and the entire experience within the space descends into an unhelpful and tiring hubbub. Not the sort of experience you want immediately before departing on a flight to beautiful regional New Zealand. The solution? Along with using the correct glass and roofing types and arranging the airside walkways to shield the building from as much aircraft noise as possible, AES suggested transforming the architect’s concept for an impressive sawtooth plywood ceiling into a huge acoustic absorption element. Slots in the plywood allow sound to pass through and be absorbed by a polyester blanket concealed behind. The result is a calm, relaxing space where people are free to take some time out, or catch up with others, without worrying about those around them. However, you had better keep an eye out for your plane on the tarmac – as you may not hear it coming! This space was another of the projects AES worked on that won a Canterbury Architecture Award in 2013.

Air New Zealand Regional Lounge

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Focus | Acoustic Engineering Services

“

This building was the first in New Zealand featuring Steel Press technology. This allows the building to move with a seismic event and then settle back into its original position, therefore extensive seismic detailing was required where all walls within the building designed to stop the transmission of noise, met external walls and floor slabs. Forte Health With the design process swinging into gear in early 2012, the Forte Health building on Kilmore Street was one of the first major building projects in the city centre to get underway after the earthquakes. Indeed visits to the prospective site to consider the ‘existing ambient noise’ were difficult as at that time it was still within the central city Red Zone cordon. The building is a three level surgical hospital featuring state of the art patient and surgical facilities and needless to say the ongoing seismic activity was a key consideration in the design – particularly with regard to ensuring that the hospital could continue to function regardless of the circumstances. This key issue flowed right through to the acoustics design for the building, with the AES team required to collaborate extensively with other members of the project team – in particular with Klein Architects who were responsible for the design of the building interior. This building was the first building in New Zealand featuring Steel Press technology. This allows the building to move with a seismic event, and then settle back into its original position, therefore extensive seismic detailing was required where all walls within the building, designed to stop the transmission of noise, met external walls and floor slabs. A variety of details were developed which allowed for significant relative movement in the building structure while not compromising on noise control between spaces within the building, including wall elements which could slide over each other, and the use of flexible barriers to seal gaps. All of this meant that noise sensitive spaces such as operating theatres and recovery rooms could be protected, which a structural system providing 180 percent of building code could still be employed. The project also had a strong sustainability focus. As internal noise is a significant factor in terms of occupant satisfaction and wellbeing, AES considered expected levels of noise due to outside sources like traffic and rain noise, and inside sources such as air conditioning systems. >

”

The building design and mechanical systems were then modified as required to ensure expected noise levels complied with the New Zealand Green Building Council requirements. This work, along with many other sustainability initiatives, meant The Forte Health Building was New Zealand’s first and only hospital to achieve a 4 Green Star rating.

Other projects investing in quality acoustics Some of the other major projects AES has contributed to in post-quake Christchurch include: Healthcare, education, culture and community • Christchurch Hospital including Hagley Outpatients, Parkside Wards and CHOC • Southern Cross Hospitals including Theatre Expansion and Mackintosh House • Nazareth House, Brougham Street • CPIT School of Engineering and Architecture, Moorhouse Avenue • The Arts Centre of Christchurch, Montreal Street

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Focus | Acoustic Engineering Services

St Margarets's College Auditorium

Learning environments New Zealand primary school teachers are recognised internationally for their innovative teaching methods - gone are the days of theatre style education with the teachers up the front talking at the students.

University of Canterbury, Undercroft

desirable. However, for the new classrooms closest to the road this did not initially seem to be a feasible option due to high levels of traffic noise. A solution was devised in collaboration with the other project engineers where an earthen bund with a fence on top was constructed along the roadside. Such a barrier, if it is continuous with no gaps or cracks, can be very effective if the noise source and the noise receiver are close to the barrier.

in the Academic Precinct including Science and Technology building, Gibson Centre learning centre/library, Visual Arts Building and the General Academic Building, which are now all complete or nearing completion.

Challenges of separating high and low noise activities, and providing appropriate internal environments for a wide range of activities were also met head on in the design process for the Music and Drama School, which has now also commenced construction. Stages still on the drawing board include a swimming In the Halswell situation, the arrangement of Company profile the road and proposed closest classroom block pool, sports pavilion, intermediate school, AES is a Christchurch based company which School Hall and Performing Arts Centre. worked perfectly, and the design could be shares offices in central Christchurch with progressed incorporating passive ventilation. As with all projects, Trevathan says it was sister company Cosgroves. absolutely essential to sit down at an early This project also used acoustic ceiling tiles AES is a leader in school acoustics helping Since its inception in April 2006, AES has stage with the clients and project team, to from Ecoplus Systems, developed specifically schools to build or upgrade classrooms to risen rapidly to become one of the leading for schools which provided a reduction in completely understand their needs, and vision meet the Ministry of Educations guidelines acoustic consultancies in New Zealand and the break-in of intrusive external noise, for each space. around noise control. currently consists of five engineers. while also controlling reverberation within This project was lead by AES Senior Acoustic Since the earthquakes, AES has played a the classrooms. Dr Jeremy Trevathan, managing director of Engineer, Tracy Hilliker, who worked closely role in all the new public primary school Acoustic Engineering Services, has a strong As the performance of the tiles had previously with Melbourne-based architects developments in the greater Christchurch background in practical and theoretical been verified via testing at the University McIldowie Partners. Region – Halswell Primary, Pegasus building acoustics. In 2004 Jeremy of Auckland, there was a high degree of Primary School and Clearview Primary completed a doctorate at the University of “It was great to work on a project which certainty as to how they would perform. School in Rolleston. Canterbury in association with Winstone embraced a modern style of teaching which “The Ecoplus tiles are the only product of Wallboards relating to the transmission of As well as protecting learning spaces from focussed on providing flexible spaces – sound through walls. intrusive noise, an acoustic engineer considers its kind in New Zealand. Rating the although this presented some new and performance of an acoustic tile is tricky the ‘reverberation time’ of a classroom. This interesting challenges,” she says. International recognition was received for there is nothing tangible to touch, hold or is a way of quantifying how ‘live’ a space is this work through publication in respected Among the unique aspects of this project smell. So it’s vital to us to have each product – whether noises within the space die away journals Building Acoustics, Applied embraced by the AES team was a preference rigorously tested to endure it does what quickly, or echo around reflecting off hard Acoustics and the Journal of Noise Control for exposed concrete ceilings with cloud we say it will,“ explains Ecoplus sales and surfaces and lingering in the room. Engineering. Jeremy is a full member of panels of acoustic absorption hanging below, marketing manager, Chris Holden. the Acoustical Society of New Zealand, an If there is a lot of reverberation in a classroom, instead of traditional ceiling tiles, and the When completed, the re-built Halswell associate of the New Zealand Planning children will sometimes have difficulty Gibson Centre - a large circular library space Primary School will provide much needed Institute and a member of the Ministry understanding what a teacher is saying – and IT hub. of Business Innovation and Employment children find these type of spaces much more relief for strained educational services resulting for post-earthquake population working group currently working towards The outcome achieved by the AES team difficult to deal with than adults, as they have movement. the revision of Clause G.06 (Airborne within the Collaboration Space associated not yet developed much of an ability and Impact Sound) of the New Zealand with the Science and Technology Building to decipher meaning from snippets of words Building Code. in particular, has gone beyond many people’s Rangi Ruru Project Blue Sky and phrases. original expectations, with the April 2014 Post quake, Rangi Ruru Girls' School decided, Rangi News bulletin, describing the revelation instead of taking the traditional, evolutionary Halswell Primary School Acoustic Engineering Services of the performance-quality acoustics of the approach and just replacing the buildings, Level 3 The complete rebuild of Halswell Primary space during the opening ceremony it had lost, to take the opportunity to 518 Colombo Street School provided the perfect platform for the completely review, revise and potentially PO Box 549 “As guests took their seats the Kapa Haka AES team to ensure all aspects of the new rebuild much of the school in a completely Christchurch 8140 group performed from the stairwell. The school provided an ideal acoustic environment different shape and form. crowd revelled in the unexpected acoustics of T (03) 377 8952 for learning. However, the site itself presented E office @aeservices.co.nz the building and for some, thought turned to some challenges as it is flanked by State Project Blue Sky is a significant and exciting www.aeservices.co.nz future opportunities for the building beyond Highway 75 to the north. project to redevelop the site covering the — Advertising Feature the teaching and research of science.” majority of the land between Merivale Lane, With a major focus of the project also Rossall Street and Hewitts Road. Another example of the value added through being on creating environmentally friendly a collaborative approach, and a team buildings, the use of passive ventilation AES was called in to ensure appropriate acoustic engineering solutions were included opening windows - for air movement was prepared to go above and beyond. Today, a high emphasis is put on the children learning from and communicating with each other in groups scattered over the room. While a successful approach to education, the noise levels in classrooms are undoubtedly higher than in the past and there is no guarantee where in the classroom the teacher will be talking from, and where the children will be.

68 | June/July 2014 www.canterburytoday.co.nz

Focus | Uretek Ground Engineering

Art Gallery re-levelling a ground breaking achievement

If the ground your foundations are laid upon becomes compromised – so does everything built upon them. This is where Uretek Ground Engineering (NZ) Limited comes into play. And a significant example of this is Uretek successfully raised and level corrected the Christchurch Art Gallery no less, using innovative Japanese technology. While the iconic glass building appeared to come through the Canterbury earthquakes in good condition however, it differentially settled when the earth beneath the gallery liquefied, warping the building.

A history of success Uretek Ground Engineering has been raising, level correcting and re-supporting concrete floors, roads, buildings and other structures for 30 years. The company has led the world in developing and delivering the most advanced, accurate geo-polymeric injection systems for ground engineering. Uretek’s capabilities include:

As we’re all now far too well aware, the state of the ground below our homes, buildings and batches really is the be-all and end-all in determining the state of a property.

Residential: Underpinning, fixing cracks, re-levelling concrete floors, re-levelling driveways, building subsidence.

settled about 180mm. “Our role in the project was to get it back to a level correct state”, he says.

Industry: Factory and warehouse floor repairs, revelling offices, re-levelling parking areas, lifting mine structures.

Uretek used Japanese technology to level correct the building, including integrated computer-controlled grout levelling (JOG) and jet grout.

Civil works: Re-levelling roadways, fixing culvert problems, re-levelling airports, railway bridges and platforms, seawalls, wharves, weirs, towers, tanks and pipelines.

which involved the installation of more than 100 jet grout columns into the ground through the bottom of the underground car park.

Leading Japanese technology

Uretek began work on the Art Gallery in October last year and finished in mid-April.

Uretek Ground Engineering was involved in the first phase of the two year repair project,

Business development manager Andrew Masterson says the building had differentially

Uretek Ground Engineering staff at work under the Christchurch Art Gallery

The technology was developed in Japan more than 15 years ago and has been used by Uretek to level correct a six storey building in Carlton Mill Road. Uretek is the only company in New Zealand to use the system to date. “This technology is proven here, as well as in Japan. We’ve only started doing it since the earthquakes and we’ve had to buy a lot of new machinery,” Masterson says. “The jet grout involved injecting under high pressure a cement slurry that mixes in-situ beneath the gallery. The jet grout acted as a reaction platform; when we used

the levelling system it gave us something to push on.”

Critical repair process Christchurch Art Gallery director Jenny Harper says it was critical to have the gallery re-levelled and repaired to the highest possible standard. It is essential the gallery has a “gold plated engineering certificate” so international and local galleries will be confident enough to lend works and bring exhibitions to the city. “Now that we are clearly an earthquake zone, I think it will be an uphill struggle to get other galleries and private owners to lend us works if we don’t improve the building’s performance to a marked level,” Harper says. “We can’t shortcut what is known to be the best technology, or we will never see a Ron Mueck again.” >

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Focus | Uretek Ground Engineering

Uretek Fast facts • Uretek New Zealand has completed more than 200 level correction projects since September 2010 • The company has engineering sign off • All of its products are consentable • Uretek’s range of products is accepted by insurance companies • It can complete large area ground improvement through small penetrations.

Delicate level correcting job

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All level correction work on the Christchurch Art Gallery had to be completed by Uretek within the footprint of the building, with minimal impact to the building itself. Andrew Masterson says all augmentation of the building in terms of level correction and soil modification had to be carried out within the building’s basement.

“With conventional systems you’d have to rip the concrete floor out. We achieved the same result through small penetrations.” Air pollution was another issue that needed to be dealt with. “Air pollution was a big problem downstairs, as we were using dry cement that was turned into a liquid. We had an air purification system so we didn’t have any cement particles going into the air conditioning system. We had to set up a barricade.”

A collaborative approach The re-levelling of the Christchurch Art Gallery involved a specialised team of international experts who helped Uretek achieve a successful outcome. Masterson says the project had a lot of engineering input from KGA Geotechnical, which were the geotechnical engineers for PS1. Geotech Consult worked on PS2, while Harrison Grierson worked with them for the structural component.

“The Art Gallery was still fully occupied upstairs and had art work in it. In no way, shape or form could we vibrate or damage the art. The system we used was very low impact on the environment,” he says.

“The Chemical Grouting Company in Japan provided the technical design input for the jet grout system, while another company from Japan, Heisei Technos Co, provided the technical design input,” Masterson says.

All penetrations in the floor were repaired and resealed back to its original stage.

“Trimble provided the fully automated levelling monitoring system for accurately telling us how much we’d lifted the building on any given day.”

“Everything we do is low destructive in terms of how we augment getting the products into The project also involved a collaborative the ground,” Masterson says. approach from a large range of “With the jet grout products, we pushed the subcontractors, including Drymix New machine into the car park and we drilled Zealand, which supplied the cement. holes that were only 200mm in diameter. Drymix operates manufacturing plants in With the grout level system it only needs a Feilding and Timaru and sources river-run 35mm penetration, while the resin product aggregates and sand for all its products, only has a 16mm penetration.” which are batch mixed to generate the best The structural integrity of the Art Gallery was technology and consistency within never lost at any stage of the levelling work. the industry. >

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Uretek used Japanese technology to level correct the Christchurch Art Gallery, which settled differentially after the earthquakes

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Focus | Uretek Ground Engineering A feather in Uretek’s cap The Christchurch Art Gallery is the largest building in NZ to be level corrected using the integrated computer controlled grout levelling and jet grout system. It is also presumed to be the largest successful level correction project of a heavy weight concrete structure in the Southern Hemisphere. “The gallery is a large-scale heavy loaded structure,” Andrew Masterson says. “We had to de-water the site first and had to work within the confines of the building footprint. “It’s definitely the single largest project for our company. We had to get all our gear purpose made for this job and we used some grout mixes that were specific to what we needed. The computer-controlled monitoring gear was out of Japan.”

The 100 columns Uretek jetted under the building are spaced across the entire footprint of the building in a triangular formation. Once the columns were completed, lasers were used to gauge the injection of grout (JOG) to level the floors a millimetre at a time. The level correction cost in the order of $16 million.

Huge potential for Uretek

The Chemical Grouting Company, which provided the jet grout system, can create columns up to seven metres in diameter, given the right ground conditions. “The machinery is only 2.4 metres long and 1.9 metres high and weighs 4 tonne,” says Masterson.

“We do have a considerable amount of work that we’re looking at. This particular jet grout technology has been accepted by engineers up and down the country and we’re looking at work in Wellington and Auckland,” he says.

“We had a certain competitive edge when it comes to putting those columns in the ground in getting a diameter that no one else can get. For this project the columns installed were up to four metres.”

Uretek Ground Engineering is exploring its options for completing similar re-levelling work throughout the country. Masterson says the company is currently talking to potential clients who are interested in using jet grout to lift their buildings.

“It’s not something that’s ever been in the country before. To the best of our knowledge we’re the only company in New Zealand that has the technology to do this work.” Uretek utilised the technical knowledge and skills of staff directly from Japan for the Art Gallery project.

The Christchurch Art Gallery project was a big success for Uretek, which has a broad range of other capabilities. “We’re more than just a building leveller. Our products and services stretch over all the civil construction sectors from residential, commercial and infrastructure. “We’ve lifted pipelines that were four metres in the ground and we’ve worked with most of the major contractors so we have acceptance there.”

Uretek Ground Engineering (NZ) Limited PO Box 282 Christchurch T (03) 423 9838 E chch@uretek.co.nz www.uretek.co.nz

— Advertising Feature

Orica New Zealand

“Orica is pleased to be a valued supporter of Uretek.”

72 | June/July 2014 www.canterburytoday.co.nz

P O Box 900, Auckland 1140 123 Carlton Gore Road, Newmarket 1023 Customer Service: 0800 22 22 77 Orders: chemnet.nz.orders@orica.com

www.orica.com

Focus | Shape Technology

Manufacturing takes shape thanks to local support For businesses to grow and prosper in Canterbury, one local sheet metal manufacturer believes the solution lies in supporting each other. Shape NZ has become an international player in metal fabrication, but this success is deeply entrenched in local alliances and close to home working relationships. “We have grown alongside many of our customers and now have an exceptional level of expertise, skill and technology to support other Canterbury businesses in their growth journey,” Shape NZ business development manager Nick Cairns says. “We would like to start more conversations and engage with more local businesses that have products, ideas and needs that they want to take to market, and to show them how we can add value to what they are doing.”

Local solutions Finding local solutions is all part of a day’s work at Shape NZ. The company was recently awarded a contract with Chinese technology giant Huawei, to design and build roadside cabinets as part of Enable’s fibre network roll-out. Huawei is a technology partner to Enable, and previously the cabinets were sourced offshore. Enable will consume a large volume of roadside cabinets during the next few years as it completes the deployment of fibre broadband to about 180,000 homes and businesses.

Enable is constantly looking to innovate in the way it rolls out the fibre broadband network, says Enable CEO, Steve Fuller. “As While many look to China for their a Christchurch-focussed company, we used manufacturing needs, Cairns speaks about our own in-house expertise and looked for a numerous customers who have taken their specialist metal fabrication needs to Asia, only local partner to work with to design a cabinet to specifically meet Enable’s needs.” to later bring that manufacturing back home. While manufacturing costs per item might appear to be cheaper ex China, when you add in the cost of transportation, storage, customs and import fees, and the often larger than required runs, the total price is bumped up significantly. Anticipated savings pale into insignificance when difficulties with inconsistent quality and communications begin to surface. “Manufacturing locally means you have total control of the production cycle, modifications, size of runs and you have immediate backup service - something you are unlikely to get from an offshore manufacturer.”

a door for Shape to access global markets through the communications giant. Nick Cairns says the Christchurch work with Huawei will potentially lead to other work with the Chinese company around the globe. Huawei New Zealand CEO Jason Wu says Shape’s collaborative design process, involving

input from Enable and Huawei, had led to a bespoke product which could be easily adopted by other network builders. Shape is currently also in discussions around its patented cabinets with other leading fibre network providers. >

Shape leapt at the opportunity to work with Enable, and the result is Shape’s revolutionary GPON-xxx fibre distribution solutions. “We saw an opportunity to create a new cabinet that was easy to install, easy to work within and smaller – meaning it has less visual impact. The final design is outstanding and has more than met our expectations in the field,” adds Fuller.

When you need steel, there’s only one company worth talking to.

Enable and Shape agreed the best way to get the cabinets into the project was for Shape to partner with Huawei. This allowed Enable to continue to source the cabinets within its agreement, but more importantly open

We process and supply a wide range of quality steel products that you can rely on to be stronger in everyway. With 40 industrial service centres nationwide and around 700 employees, we have people locally to provide the expertise and products you need, no matter the size of your project or where you are.

Steel & Tube

Structural steel, purlins, plate, sheet and bar. Stainless steel plate, sheet, bar, pipe & tube and fittings. Industrial chain & rigging, reinforcing steel, fully compliant SeismicSE ductile reinforcing mesh, commercial pipe, tube, fittings and valves.

Hurricane

Reinforcing mesh, bar chairs, tie wire, wire, hex netting, weldbar, chainlink, carpet film, commercial and domestic fencing, gates and fittings.

Sandvik Materials Technology are proud supporters of Shape Technology Sandvik Materials Technology | 24 Senior Place | Bromley | Christchurch PH. (03) 381 3510 | FAX. (03) 381 3514

CANTMAY2014

Stainless Steel Specialists

Atlas

Nuts, bolts, washers, screws, fasteners, rivets, hinges and nails.

Colorsteel

Long run and cut to length domestic, commercial and industrial roofing, fascia and rainwater systems. Flashings, wall claddings and accessories.

Sikla, Aquatherm, Aquatherm PPR & Reliable

Sikla pipe supports, Aquatherm Firestop pipe and fittings, Aquatherm Climatherm pipe and fittings and Reliable sprinklers. Contact the experts today on 0800 478 335 www.steelandtube.co.nz www.canterburytoday.co.nz June/July 2014 | 73

Focus | Shape Technology

The team at Marriotts is proud to be associated with Shape Technology

International expertise available locally

with a world wide presence in the communications industry.

While the push to work with more local companies gains momentum, Shape currently exports in excess of 60 percent of its work. It would like to see a greater volumes staying onshore.

Shape has preferred manufacturer status in a number of niché markets including traffic control and information, parking, touch-screen kiosks, custom lighting and detention and correctional facilities, producing metal bars, doors, hinges and steel frames.

The majority of Shape’s exports are components for its customer’s production lines - metal parts that contribute to finished proprietary products, sometimes in combination with components from other local manufacturers who produce for the same large customer. A good example is Talbot Technologies, who supply plastic components in parallel with Shape’s metalwork, to a major Australianbased producer of gaming machines for the global gaming industry. “We’re their principal sheet metal supplier, with responsibility for a major proportion of their volume, so there are a lot of containers leaving Christchurch and heading in their direction at the moment,” Cairns says.

“

Manufacturing locally means you have total control of the production cycle, modifications, size of runs and you have immediate backup service - something you are unlikely to get from an offshore manufacturer.

”

Shape NZ is also one of the largest suppliers of metal componentry to Christchurchbased Tait Communications, a very well established Canterbury company

Other important overseas contracts held by Shape NZ are with global giant Bombardier Transportation, a multinational organisation with an Australian base in Melbourne, Australia. “We build structural parts for Bombardier trains and we’re presently manufacturing componentry for huge projects in South Australia and Victoria, so we’ve got two distinct lines going at once.” There are 66 carriages in the Adelaide A-City electrified commuter train project alone, Cairns says. “Shape is a niché manufacturer and is rapidly gaining a strong reputation for quality and innovation within the telecommunications, transport and structural engineering industries,” Cairns adds.

Kiwi ingenuity

Christine Johnston Director

Now supplying industry with a comprehensive range of engineering steels

• Aluminium • Stainless Steel • Brass • Copper • Fasteners 0800 ALL METALS inquiries@wmetals.co.nz

From the first hatching of an idea, the Shape team work alongside the customer through every aspect of design, development and manufacture.

www.wakefieldmetals.co.nz

FASTENING

S O L U T I O N S

2nd Floor, 137 Victoria Street, PO Box 4160, Christchurch 8140 T. 0064 3 359 0829 F. 0064 3 366 7144

• Fully RoHS Compliant Manufacturing Plant on Site • Engineers and CAD are available for design and development

Proud to be associated with Shape Technology

• Rapid lead times with direct from manufacturer pricing

We are proud to support New Zealand’s leading manufacturing companies in all areas of research and development through to procurement of their fastening requirements

• We are specialists in Custom Screws, Clinch Fasteners and Turned Components – all other fasteners are available

CHRISTCHURCH: P. 03 365 2243 | F. 03 365 9623 E. sales@fasteningsolutions.co.nz | www.fasteningsolutions.co.nz

74 | June/July 2014 www.canterburytoday.co.nz

In the typical number eight wire fashion New Zealand manufacturers are renowned for, Shape takes an innovative and analytical approach to evaluating project feasibility, identifying and eliminating any barriers to success for customers.

“Delivering a high-end, top quality product is paramount,” Cairns says, and one positive flow-on from the earthquakes has been the influx of some highly skilled workers into Christchurch; a boost to the expert team that was already in place at Shape. Add to this innovative technology and machinery, and Shape has the ability to deliver flexible solutions to its growing customer base. Like the metal it works with, the Shape NZ team takes pride in its ability to remould, reshape and adapt itself to the market forces which dominate the global manufacturing industry.

Focus | Shape Technology

No sharp edges Shape NZ is committed to being the very best in its field by embracing a philosophy of continual improvement of products, processes and manufacturing techniques, evidence of this is clearly seen in its accreditation to the prestigious ISO 9001: 2008 Total Quality Management System. More importantly, it is totally committed to its people. “The largest part of our success lies in our team, and we are lucky to have so many motivated, and highly skilled people helping us deliver the highest quality products, services and innovative solutions,” Cairns says. With a team of more than 60, a strong inclusive culture, and an active social club, Shape is an excellent place to work - providing many opportunities for ongoing training and skill advancement. For the client, this means a committed and engaged project team. Across its 3,500 sqm Clarence Street facilities, the various departments - design, product procurement, CNC laser, punching (turreting), folding, fabrication, powder coating, engineering, and logistics have access to leading-edge technology and sophisticated state of the art machinery. From experienced administration and management staff to highly skilled designers and tradesman, and right through to dispatch,

company pride is evident in the work it produces. The design team utilise top of the line 3D modelling software, and they complement the skill and experience of the various tradespeople, evidencing why so many clients return to Shape NZ time after time.

Total solution

Functionality of the final product rates top of the output ladder, however producing products that are aesthetically appealing is also a high priority.

“Our engineers bring years of manufacturing experience to bear on even the most complex

“In this environment, success is dependent on remaining highly practical and having the ability to respond effectively and with speed across every area of the business - from initial customer engagement to manufacturing,” Cairns adds.

From design and prototyping to mass production utilising sophisticated machinery, the experienced team at Shape NZ offer solutions tailored for all requirements, including:

The Shape team work hard to allow this to happen with ease - a major factor in the company’s ongoing success. In short, every person in the team has a “can do” attitude, and every problem has a solution that will meet and exceed the client’s needs. This dedication to success was recognised in the Champion Canterbury Awards in 2009 when the company won the medium to large producer/manufacturer award. Shape NZ has again been nominated by several of its customers for the 2014 Champion Canterbury Awards.

Shape NZ prides itself on adding value to its customers’ businesses, Shape’s success is linked intrinsically to its customers’ successes, and naturally, there is a large focus on strong communications and partnerships with all its customers.

• Fabrication Services (heavy and light) • Welding • Folding and forming • Stud welding • Sanding. • CNC • Laser cutting • Press brakes • Turrets • Precision lathing and milling • Insertions. • Powder coating and screen printing • CAD Design and Modelling • Power pressing • Crash forming • Packing and Logistics.

problems, and they have the experience and ability to anticipate and resolve manufacturing challenges even before the manufacturing process has begun. “We endeavour to ensure that we develop products that can not only be manufactured easily and cost-effectively, but once manufactured, can be efficiently tested, certified and shipped as a completed product using a reliable international supply chain.” Cairns and the team, while excited about the international contracts Shape holds, are totally committed to seeing a growing number of local business grow and succeed – on and offshore. “We have the passion, the capability and skill to help other businesses do well. What we need them to do is come and chat with us and see how Shape NZ and our network of affiliated businesses can assist them.”

Shape NZ Limited 44 Clarence Street Christchurch T (03)338 6386 F (03)338 6387 E sales@shapenz.com www.shapenz.com — Advertising Feature

P P P.P.S. Industries Limited S METAL FINISHING SPECIALISTS ABRASIVES-POLISHING-PLATING-ENGINEERING SUPPLIES

PPS Industries are proud to be associated with Shape Technology FREEPHONE 0800

657 894

FREEFAX

0800 454 445

AUCKLAND - HAMILTON - TAURANGA - HASTINGS PALMERSTON NORTH - NELSON - CHRISTCHURCH - DUNEDIN

PROUD TO BE A SUPPLIER OF LOCKS, HINGING & SEALING SOLUTIONS Ph. (09) 836 0964

www.selecklok.co.nz

www.canterburytoday.co.nz June/July 2014 | 75

Focus | Ashton Wheelans

The right tools to help grow your business Running your own business and managing its finances can be daunting for any business owner. But with Xero cloud-based accounting technology, managing your accounts has never been easier. Ashton Wheelans is a Christchurch based chartered accountancy practice which is the largest provider of Xero software in Canterbury. It is fully committed to helping clients make the switch to the easy and accessible system.

Ashton Wheelans practice manager, Marney Price says Xero is a fantastic tool for small to medium businesses. Xero is smart, saves time and is easy to use.

Ashton Wheelans can immediately see the same information the clients sees, which means they can provide more up to date reporting to clients. “We’re becoming

Ashton Wheelans offers a range of quality services to clients, including:

Ashton Wheelans is a leading provider of Xero cloud-based accounting technology

Xero makes accounting easy

“Because Xero is in the cloud, it’s accessible from anywhere in the world and there is seamless integration between us and our clients’ information,” Price says. “It’s linked right into your banking system. The transactions that go through your bank account go directly into the Xero software; no more wasting time on data entry.”

more proactive chartered accountants. We’re currently converting a large number of our clients onto Xero and have made a commitment as a firm to support Xero cloudbased technology going forward.” Price says Xero is extremely easy for clients to use and doesn’t contain confusing accounting terminology. It has been simplified and is user friendly. “Our clients love it. It’s not perfect for everyone but it certainly is a good option for the majority of our clients, although we don’t push it on clients if it’s not the right fit for them.” Ashton Wheelans employs a talented team who are fully embracing the Xero system. “We’re one of the very few accounting firms in Christchurch that has a dedicated Xero development manager.

Receptionist Robyn Jackman takes care of business at Ashton Wheelan’s new offices

“We hold regular events for clients to give them tips and tricks on how to make the most of the software and provide training to our clients, as we know new systems can be a bit daunting to some.”

• Civil Engineering • Construction • Land Development Call us today! 0274 350 859

P 03 982 5282 E office@actionindustries.co.nz 76 | June/July 2014 www.canterburytoday.co.nz

Accounting technology - Xero, Cash Manager, Quickbooks, MYOB, Saasu, evaluation options. Administration services – payroll, payables, receivables and debt collection, processing support, registered office. Assurance – annual audit, reviews, risk management, complementary services. Business advisory – business planning, annual accounts and tax returns. Business recovery and insolvency – business recovery, voluntary administrations, receivership, liquidations. Business sales and valuations – independent business evaluation, sales memorandums, business appraisals. Farming advisory – farm budgeting and cashflows, sales and purchases, ownerships structures, financial statements, taxation, seasonal planning, succession planning. Maori business – Maori facilitator services, Maori land owners’ debate.

• Drainage • All Subdivisions • Dewatering Proud to support Ashton Wheelans Ltd

Focus | Ashton Wheelans

Growing clients’ businesses Ashton Wheelans offers a range of valuable services to help Canterbury businesses get established and grow. The chartered accountancy practice has the skills to help clients develop their full potential, identify opportunity, increase profitability, improve cashflows and minimise risk. It covers all aspects of accounting and business development advice, as well as more specialised areas such as audit assurance and insolvency. Ashton Wheelans has offices in Christchurch, Kaiapoi and Wanaka, and employs more than 40 dedicated and skilled staff who are passionate about helping businesses find better financial outcomes. During 50 years of business, Ashton Wheelans has worked with clients of all ages at every stage of their business development. <

Ashton Wheelans’ new Christchurch office at 83 Victoria Street

The company assists clients in virtually every part of planning for new business ventures, from assessing opportunities to risk analysis and management, choosing the best business structure, budgeting and cashflow planning, business mentoring, software solution recommendations, financing arrangements, financial reporting and a sounding board for new ideas. It is involved in all aspects of the planning and execution of growth plans to ensure businesses perform to their potential. Key to this is identifying and measuring the main drivers of profit, cashflow and value, assessing investment or divestment opportunities, financial health checks and benchmarking, strategic planning, risk management and establishing and instituting regular dashboard reporting to monitor progress and measure success.

Ashton Wheelans partners, from left, Justin LeSueur, Mark Tynan, John Wheelans and Andrew Oorschot discuss business.

STRUCTURAL STEEL, SUPPLY FABRICATION & ERECTION SOUTH ISLAND WIDE

JOHN JONES STEEL PROUD TO SUPPORT ASHTON WHEELANS PO Box 4241, Christchurch Email: admin@jjsteel.co.nz Phone 03 366 8679 www.steelworknz.com Fax 03 365 6015 Mobile 021 322 847 (Frank Van Schaijik)

Identifying and retaining the right talent and developing and documenting sound business and financial systems all reduce the risk and reliance on the business owner. This requires careful ongoing planning and implementation not only to enhance the returns to current owners but to enhance the value of the business for a potential buyer.

How Xero works Xero cloud-based accounting technology allows small to medium businesses to run their entire business better and faster. Its features and benefits include: Online accounting See your cashflow in real time at any time, from anywhere. Invite others to view your accounts and provide valuable real-time advice. Your data is completely secure, even if your computer is lost or stolen. Bank reconciliation Get your bank statements imported and categorised automatically, including credit cards, PayPal and support for more than 160 foreign currencies. Keeping your accounts up to date and accurate has never been easier. Invoicing software Get paid faster, receive updates when invoice is opened and connect seamlessly with customers through online invoicing. Create professional recurring invoices and schedule bill payments to manage cashflow. Payments, returns and credits are all tracked automatically. Inventory and purchase orders Track stock movements and make invoicing easier with inventory items. Create and email custom purchase orders and copy bills for payment. Files Attach files and source documents to financial data in Xero. Contacts See your most important customers and suppliers to follow up right away. Fixed asset depreciation Easily update fixed assets and depreciation schedules for accurate reporting. Expense claims

Ashton Wheelans works with its clients to identify the key risks and value drivers to maximise this.

Handle personal expenses; just review and approve receipts.

As business owners and operators themselves, the company knows a business owner’s needs change and evolve, as their business changes and evolves. Staff work closely with clients to account and plan for those changes, with many clients being second generation with the firm. >

Manage all aspects of your business by integrating applications with Xero, including CRM, inventory management, invoicing and job system, payroll plus a wide range of other software.

Add-ons

Proud to have celebrated 25 years in business with Ashton Wheelans Ltd Shop 9, Merivale Mall 189 Papanui Road, Merivale, Christchurch, t +64 3 355 7534 e teaboy@photo.co.nz Like our page on Facebook: facebook.com/photovideonz

www.photo.co.nz www.canterburytoday.co.nz June/July 2014 | 77

Focus | Ashton Wheelans

Business recovery and insolvency Planning for your retirement and the succession of your business may be difficult, let alone dealing with insolvency and business recovery. Ashton Wheelans employs specialist staff who can help you through any tough transition period. If your business is under financial pressure then seeking advice as early as possible about the options available is critical to ensuring the best outcome. “We have a partner who specialises in business recovery and insolvency within our practice,” Marney Price says. “Having a specialist in business recovery and risk management means we can identify where one of our clients may be having a problem and will utilise those skills.” Ashton Wheelans can act as a voluntary administrator in order to independently assess the position of a company in financial difficulty and recommend options to creditors to achieve a better outcome than would occur from liquidation. The company can also act as a receiver or liquidator the difference being a receiver can be appointed by a secured creditor who holds a ‘general security’ over the assets of a company.

The primary duty of the receiver is to realise sufficient assets to repay the debt owing. A liquidator can be appointed by either a shareholder resolution or an order of the court. The role of the liquidator is to realise or liquidate the assets of a company in an orderly fashion and distribute the proceeds in order of legal priority to preferential/ secured and unsecured creditors, respectively. Ashton Wheelans takes a practical approach with the aim of achieving the best outcome for creditors.

Retirement and business succession Ashton Wheelans also undertakes succession planning and retirement planning. “There a lot movement in the market at the moment in Christchurch and many business models are changing due to the rebuild. Some are looking at opportunities to sell their businesses while there is a boom,” Price says. “There are opportunities for us as chartered accountant to ask our clients what direction they want to take businesses in the future. If it’s retirement or selling, then we can work through issues associated with succession planning as well as business valuations. It also gives our staff an opportunity to develop

their skills in areas other than taxation, management accounting and annual reporting.”

Supporting Maori business Ashton Wheelans offers a range of Maori facilitator services to clients, as well as a Major landowners’ database. The company is an approved business mentor with TePuniKokiri for major business. It represents some of the largest South Island land-owning entities, and can help explain the rules and procedures around maintaining owners’ records and making payouts.

New Canterbury offices Ashton Wheelans has recently opened brand new offices in central Christchurch and Kaiapoi. Its original Kaiapoi office was destroyed after the September 2010 earthquake, with staff later working from an old house. The Christchurch Armagh Street office was lost in the February 2011 earthquake, with staff subsequently working in a windowless warehouse. Office manager Marney Price says Ashton Wheelans opened its brand new Kaiapoi office in November and its new Christchurch office in Victoria Street in early December.

The company also operates a branch in Wanaka that is managed and operated by Nigel Perkins, who became a partner in the business in April. The Wanaka office is experiencing good growth primarily through Xero cloud-based technology. “We have a really good mix of staff and we’re gaining more clients all the time. We’re always looking to expand our client base, as there are a lot of opportunities out there, and we know we deliver a great service.”

Ashton Wheelans Limited Level 2 83 Victoria Street Christchurch T (03) 366 7154 E admin@ashtonwheelans.co.nz Cnr Williams Street and Raven Quay Kaiapoi T (03) 327 8962 E kaiapoi@ashtonwheelans.co.nz 6 Balneaves Lane Wanaka T (03) 365 4098 E Wanaka@ashtonwheelans.co.nz www.ashtonwheelans.co.nz — Advertising Feature

Microsoft Small Business Specialists

Proud to provide Network Support to Ashton Wheelans Ltd

Phone 366 3299 www.rlgroup.co.nz

78 | June/July 2014 www.canterburytoday.co.nz

www.paragoncomputers.co.nz

Ashton Wheelans practice manager Marney Price, left, talks with client services accountant Michelle Mckay

Corner Gasson & Carlyle Streets

Focus | Enlightened Solutions

Firing up the rebuild and beyond Ensuring a building has the best possible fire design is not only critical to gaining council consent, but ensures peace of mind for owners and occupiers. Whether it’s a new building project or a refurbishment of a current structure, Enlightened Solutions has the expertise to take care of all your fire engineering needs. Together, the team at Enlightened Solutions has more than 75 years’ experience. “We can put that experience to best use in providing people what they need, when they need it,” director Carol Caldwell says. The company celebrates a decade in business this year. Founded by director Carol Caldwell, a specialist fire engineer with more than 33 years’ experience in the industry, Enlightened Solutions has grown during the past 18 months to a team of five engineers supported by an administration staff of four. <

The talented team at Enlightened Solutions in Christchurch

Communication is key Carol and her skilled team place a high value on one to one communication and as such, she prefers to pick up the telephone, rather than just rely on email. “To me communication is a vital part of what we do and it’s ideal when we get an opportunity to talk to the end user of a building. It’s helpful to fully understand what the client wants,” she says.

Finding the best solution The Enlightened Solutions team realises that fire engineering needs to fit the project design. “It is very important for fire engineering aspects to be included in the early stages of a project,” Carol says. “A collaborative approach provides for the most cost-effectiveness solutions that work best for the fire building design. There is generally more than one way to incorporate a fire design into a building.”

Works of significance A focus of Enlightened Solutions is adding value to each project. “It’s not just about writing a fire report; we work to make sure that what we propose not only meets the Building Code but it makes sense, works operationally and is cost-effective,” she says. “Fire engineering should tie in with the rest of the building design; it shouldn’t be the primary design.” Enlightened Solutions is committed to providing forthright information. That means identifying if a proposed solution has the potential to cost more than it is worth, even if it means recommending a solution that reduces the company’s fee. “We identify advantages and disadvantages of the different fire options put forward.”

New fire regulations Changes made last year to fire regulations mean increased fire safety and consistency in fire design throughout the country, Carol says.

The Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment recently made changes to fire regulations that affect all buildings. These changes have been underway for the past seven years.

• Enlightened Solutions has undertaken many significant projects throughout New Zealand in recent years, including:

“It affects building owners any time they need to alter their building or need consent, or are changing the use of the building. For existing buildings, guidance published in December last year is a boon to building owners and makes things much easier.”

• Hellers meat processing plant, Kaiapoi

For new or innovative buildings, there is a new fire design approach, the Verification Method (C/VM2) available alongside the more traditional ‘acceptable solution’ model. This provides a process to demonstrate whether a design complies with Building Code requirements and generally involves fire computer modelling.

• The Colombo shopping centre

Carol says in some ways New Zealand’s fire regulations are still less prescribed than most countries, although the new Verification Model is world leading.

• New World, Marton

“It provides some new and different opportunities to help get some consistent fire design throughout the country. One of our staff members has been heavily involved in its development.” >

• Palmerston North Boys’ High School, College House dining hall

• Court Theatre, Addington

• Ryman Healthcare facilities in several NZ locations • Registry Building at The Arts Centre • Mitre 10 stores throughout NZ

• Ruapuna Raceway, Christchurch • The Warehouse Limited stores throughout the country • NZI atrium office building, Auckland • Coolstore, Motueka

• Milk Processing Plant, Studholme • The Warehouse Stationary, Gisborne

• Placemakers Taupo.

Providing the best Architecture/Project Management for over 20 years. Extensive experience managing developments from sketch design stage, thru subdivision, siteworks/civil works, Resource Consent, Building Consent & Construction

Phone: 03-318155 or 021-413747

Email: jmccondach@gmail.com www.canterburytoday.co.nz June/July 2014 | 79

Focus | Enlightened Solutions

Enlightened Solutions offers a range of services, including: • Fire design services for new buildings • Fire design services for alterations to buildings • Fire design services for change of use • Acceptable Solutions fire designs • Verification method C/VM2 fire designs • Specific/alternative solutions fire engineering designs • Fire reports for building consents • Fire regulatory reviews • Computer fire modelling; FDS, B-Risk • Specialist fire analysis • Food industry applications • Heritage buildings fire designs

• Fire testing • Training for fire engineers • Training for others in fire related activities such as BCAs • Producer statements for design, design review, construction review • Construction site monitoring • Fire services for subdivisions • Product reviews and appraisal including fire testing as appropriate.

B&W Byrne & Wanty Consultants Ltd

Specialist food industry design consultants thank Enlightened Solutions for their support with Fire Engineering over the past 10 years P O Box 39094, Harewood, Christchurch 8545 11c Sheffield Crescent, Harewood, Christchurch 8053 │ Phone: 03 358-7000 │ Fax: 03 358-7003 Email: office@byrne-wanty.co.nz

Fire engineering services Based in Christchurch, Enlightened Solutions provides a range of fire engineering services to clients throughout New Zealand. These services include specialist fire computer modelling, fire design reports for building consents, fire regulatory review services for councils, development of fire regulations, fire investigation, expertise in heritage building fire designs, radiation expertise and training. The Enlightened Solutions team works with a diverse array of clients and projects, including warehouses, large bulk retail stores, retail shops and malls, residential accommodation, hotels, apartments, resthomes, industrial food processing facilities and offices.

“

To me communication is a vital part of what we do and it’s ideal when we get an opportunity to talk to the end user of a building. It’s helpful to fully understand what the client wants.

- DIRECTOR CAROL CALDWELL

www.byrne-wanty.co.nz

80 | June/July 2014 www.canterburytoday.co.nz

”

Enlightened Solutions designed the fire engineering system for The Colombo. Photo by Simon Kerr

Enlightened Solutions staff inspecting a fire protection system

• Fire investigations

“We provide fire design reports for anyone who needs a building consent,” she says. “We also offer a variety of other fire-related work, such as peer reviews of other people’s work before it goes to council.”

developed in New Zealand by BRANZ and the University of Canterbury.

Enlightened Solutions is available to work with the builder once construction has started on a project, monitoring the correct installation of fire protection features so that the final sign-off process to gain council consent is navigated smoothly.

Enlightened Solutions Limited Unit 1, 31 Carlyle Street Sydenham Christchurch 8023 T (03) 377 4160 E info@enlightenedsolutions.co.nz www.enlightenedsolutions.co.nz

“We also undertake fire investigations and have a special interest in heritage buildings.” Enlightened Solutions takes pride in solving problems and developing creative solutions to suit each building, including advising the client on the advantages and disadvantages of different fire designs. “It is our goal to provide the information necessary for the client to make an informed decision regarding the fire design for their building.”

Focus on quality Enlightened Solutions undertakes a comprehensive internal review of all projects before they go out the door. Carol says maintaining quality and communication during every project, regardless of its size, is critical. “We really make sure that what we’re doing is adding value to the client’s ultimate design.” Enlightened Solutions uses the best fire modelling systems available in the world, including the Fire Dynamics Simulator from America, and the B-Risk fire simulator tool

“We have New Zealand’s expert on FDS fire modelling working with us.”

— Advertising Feature

Focus | Hornby Working Men's Club

The social hub of Hornby It was Groucho Marx who famously said that he would refuse to join any club that would have him as its member, but I’m sure he had not come across the Hornby Working Men’s Club, where the membership is touching 6,500 such is its popularity. While the name itself may appear a tad old fashioned the club is far from it. It is constantly renewing and updating facilities and recently completed a major 2.5 million dollar refit and spruce up with more planned, explains general manager Daniel Ferguson.

Hornby WMC 2014 highlights: • Consistent membership growth • Consistent sales growth in food and beverage, and raffles activity

“Having finished a major refurbishment of the club premises we are focussing on upgrading plant and equipment such as ventilation, refrigeration and air conditioning systems in our next phase. This is all for the comfort of our members. “Major investments such as these, over the next three to four years will ensure that we can continue to offer some of the finest club facilities in New Zealand”. Another area soon to be revamped and modernised will be the club’s online presence to include a new look webpage and involvement in social media such as Facebook. The Hornby Club is uniquely placed because as well as having a very large membership base, it also owns adjoining land parcels which it has commercially developed and leased as part of its investment strategy into retail assets. This long term assured income stream will allow the club to develop and plan strategically well into its future. “We will however be looking at the club itself as the next area of focus – we need to grow our service areas to cater for a growing membership of all ages, particularly at weekend periods,” explains Ferguson with confidence.

Resource Consent Planning

• Significant progress made towards new retail development

What it has always had is a strong, loyal membership base. The Club is fortunate in that it owns significant parcels of ‘Business 2’ zoned land, which it is now developing by building upon and leasing the buildings on long term rental agreements to major well known national retailers.

Everybody knows how business and trade in general suffered, especially around the time of the Christchurch earthquakes and their immediate aftermath. >

By turning this land to account with the development of the bulk retail buildings it has generated a steady and significant income stream that other clubs simply don’t have. This revenue stream gives the club a distinct competitive edge, allowing access to financial resources and permitting it to deliver in several areas other clubs are unable to. This may range from the club’s ability to maintain and upkeep assets in prime condition, or to make significant improvements and upgrades to facilities as and when required. Having a diverse and stable income stream has provided plenty of protection and something of an economic cushion as the harsh commercial environment continually changes.

Land Development

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www.canterburytoday.co.nz June/July 2014 | 81

Focus | Hornby Working Men's Club

Changes in behavioural patterns and the way the Christchurch population has developed together, with drastic changes in the choice and method of entertainment patterns, has unfortunately resulted in several other clubs suffering heavy losses or having to close down due to a lack of turnover and/or poor membership numbers.

Fun and games

“At the end of the day we are competing for people’s discretionary disposable dollars, so we have to provide them with a safe clubhouse environment and good ‘value for money’ facilities. If we do not they will simply go elsewhere or to some other form of entertainment,” rationalises Ferguson - and it is difficult to fault his logic!

This year the Hornby WMC is playing host to a number of prestigious tournaments including the South Island Cribbage, National Snooker and Billiards, National Darts and National Ladies Golf.

Hornby WMC has a staff of some 58 people and all are employed to run the club to its high standards and provide catering and service to all the food and beverage outlets. Staff numbers have remained constant during the last 12 months, but with an upturn in business at the busy weekend and holiday periods, it has been necessary to employ additional part time and trained casual staff. Of course not all of the 6,500 members are currently active, but it is estimated by the management that the club enjoys visits from almost 25 percent of its membership on a regular basis (once or twice a month). Just over half of that number will be regulars that visit at least once a week. On average a typical member might spend 30 to 40 dollars each visit on a couple of drinks and a bite to eat, but for a more formal celebration, such as an anniversary dinner, a birthday party or a more formal dinner in the Chalmers Restaurant, expenditure per head would be higher.

It is a real feather in the cap for the Hornby WMC to host such important national gatherings and competitions. “Some events can attract as many as 400 participants (National Darts championships for example), with entries from all around New Zealand. It is a real opportunity for us to showcase our fine club,” Ferguson says with obvious pride. Talking with Ferguson it is evident that he feels the Hornby WMC has a fantastic future ahead, based on a solid financial base and very strong membership numbers from which to grow. Given the strong demand for new club activities and a desire for a strong monthly events schedule, the club can boast a growing entertainment calendar however, this is again driven by the demand of members.

Conferences and events A diverse range of live entertainment is offered in the Westview Lounge on a weekly basis, with new offerings always under consideration. The Hornby WMC will soon be investigating the use of quiz nights to broaden the entertainment offering.

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Focus | Hornby Working Men's Club

The Hornby WMC plays a tangible role in the local community and provides fantastic facilities for the surrounding community and sporting groups, and is popular with local businesses which are able to utilise excellent facilities on their doorstep at little or no cost. In addition the club is able to offer hundreds of onsite car parking spaces, making the centre an ideal venue for wedding receptions, birthday party celebrations, anniversary parties and the like. The venue is ideal for large format meetings or industry seminars and conferences, and with a wide range of conferencing facilities available can cater for groups of up to 600 (depending on the room configuration). It is also a fabulous venue for sporting and community groups to utilise for meetings and events. A range of set menus can be discussed with the catering manager or a bespoke menu can be created especially for your event, providing sufficient time is incorporated into the event plan. The club has 12 sporting sections, each with fixture lists that keep members busy most evenings (when many of the fixtures tend to take place) against visiting clubs and teams. “Our sports sections are very popular but new players are always very welcome and the level of competition is generally quite high and extremely competitive, especially if we are up against local rival clubs such as Papanui, Cashmere or Woolston for example.”

Of the 12 different sporting sections members can choose to participate within, skills based coaching is available for some sections to allow all levels of player to improve. Each section tends to function autonomously – with each one effectively functioning as its own little social club within the club as a whole.

Looking forward For the immediate future, the club plans to fully develop the new retail premises on the its former outdoor bowling green for a new set of tenants to sit alongside The Warehouse and Briscoes. This entire project should be completed in about 10 months time and will provide further revenue stream, allowing Ferguson and his team the opportunity to focus on adding to the Club premises itself. “We plan to expand our footprint to accommodate demand on weekends for bar space, pool tables and café dining - so we have a very busy and productive time ahead.” The club is already changing with the times - updating facilities and the product and service offerings to meet what the market wants, but as Ferguson points out, “At the end of the day we are a members club and we will do what the membership supports”. One thing is for sure though - the Hornby WMC will be ‘healthy hale and hearty’ for many decades yet.

Hornby WMC sporting sections • Darts • Pool • Golf • Snooker and Billiards • Cricket • Euchre • Travel

Hornby Working Men’s Club & MSA (Inc) 17 Carmen Road Hornby Christchurch 8042 T (03) 349 9026 E reception@hornbywmc.co.nz www.hornbyworkingmensclub.co.nz — Advertising Feature

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hornbyworkingmensclub.co.nz www.canterburytoday.co.nz June/July 2014 | 83

Focus | Living Springs

A haven in the harbour More than 40 years after it was first developed, Living Springs is playing an increasingly vital role in the restoration of Christchurch city. “For us that role doesn’t involve hammer and nails,” CEO Denis Aldridge says. “It’s about creating wellbeing, enriching lives, developing resilience and providing a therapeutic space. We want our visitors to leave here better than when they arrived.”

Recreational recognition

Part of the community

An event, function and activity centre set in the stunning environment of Lyttelton Harbour, just 20 minutes from the heart of Christchurch city, Living Springs offers the ideal conference venue, team building facility, camp and wedding venue.

Last year Living Springs provided 26,000 bed nights, 7,000 school children stayed and the facility served more 80,000 meals, ranging from school barbecues to weddings and corporate functions.

A 450 hectare natural playground, Living Springs has been playing an increasingly important role since the earthquake, offering services and facilities when traditional facilities were unable to. “Learn to swim classes, kayaking, weddings, birthday and family events started coming our way, events which traditionally might have been held in the local town hall, but after the earthquake, suddenly the hall isn’t there anymore.” But an important role, was housing displaced organisations in a healing sanctuary. Cholmondeley children’s home has been housed within the Living Springs facility for more than three years now. “They’re in residence here for probably another year,” Denis says.

“They are housed in a separate facility here, it’s been a great place for them to be.” Denis credits the facility’s therapeutic environment for its popularity with groups such as Curekids, Red Cross and Autism New Zealand. “Canteen have described Living Springs as a natural healing environment,” he says. “They visit 12 times a year. Camp Quality works with younger children living with cancer and this has been their annual camping facility for 27 years.

“There has been significant post-quake demand for our recreational facilities, so we have signed off on a capital fundraising programme aimed at developing a level playing field and outdoor concert project which links to our fundamental aim of providing rich experiences,” he says.

“People are realising the value of these experiences and we are in a position to do this where many others can’t. We’re not going to miss the opportunity to provide that for the region.”

Sheer size and scale

The outdoor camping centre is also being further developed by setting up small chalets which have the best outlook of the harbour. “Some groups which come here want to be self-catered, so these chalets will allow a section of the facility to be completely selfcontained,” Denis says.

The founding families saw the potential of the Living Springs property and today the recreational facility has the capacity to house in excess of 200 people at a given time. “We offer multiple halls, full catering services and a raft of programmes,” Denis says.

The outdoor amphitheatre is also in the process of being built, with the bulk of the work already completed.

“The size and scale of what we have created here is staggering.”

“Many of them are dealing with young people and trying to bring out the best in them, so the setting is really important.” The facility has also become popular with corporate groups and with the increasing popularity, Living Springs has focussed on creating new spaces and improving the existing.

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Living Springs is set to get even better, with a number of improvements in the works. Recently signed off is the level playing field project, Denis says.

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Focus | Living Springs

“

While the founders saw the possibilities in this piece of land, we’ve developed those possibilities, we are making experiences and realising the life impact of them and making it affordable and accessible to a growing number of people. - CEO DENIS ALDRIDGE

”

Last year Living Springs provided 26,000 bed nights. “We had 7,000 school children stay here,” Denis says. “We served over 80,000 meals, ranging from school barbecues to weddings and corporate functions. “But for us, this all comes back to why we are doing this.” At its core, Living Springs is all about the experience. It’s about giving people hope, opening up new possibilities and it’s about the value of community.

“Our visitors may only be here for a short time, but while they are here, they become a community,” Denis says. “Our role is to enrich that community and see those people leave here better than when they arrived.

purchased 300 of the trees. “We are working with schools so we can show children what it used to be like, show them the Totara graveyards and show them what it could be like again.

“While the founders saw the possibilities in this piece of land, we’ve developed those possibilities, we are making experiences and realising the life impact of them and making it affordable and accessible to a growing number of people.”

“In 2012 we planted 2,500 plants here.”

Suitably sustainable

“We take the park and our role here seriously,” Denis says.

“We are very intentional about people, planet and profit,” Denis says of the registered charitable trust. “The key with something of this scale is we have to be sustainable and, while every year is a challenge, we have got to a place where we are sustainable.” With most of the facility’s visitors being very price sensitive, Denis says the focus has been on maintaining the affordability, while improving the property. With 450 hectares of land, Living Springs is a major recreational park. “We’re doing big projects on the waterways with the support of ECAN, we’ve fenced off significant areas of land as bush reserves with no livestock grazing. A native re-vegetation planting programme has just started and we are carrying out two major fencing projects this year, one alone costing $20,000. “It’s not easy and it’s not cheap, but it’s important to us.”

Some 94 percent of Banks Peninsula was covered in native bush. “This went as low as The mission is to create high quality environments where people have experiences one percent and today it is sitting at about 14 percent,” Denis says. that enrich them as human beings, enable them to grow stronger together and inspire Living Springs is planting 100 Totaras a year them to live life to the full. for the next five years and has recently

The camping facility is beginning to work with neighbours to develop a long term predator control programme with a “Predator Free Allandale” goal and the establishment of an important bush and bird sanctuary.

“We are endeavouring to be a responsible organisation to add value to the region. We are a Christian trust, and we express this in practical, life affirming ways.”” When Peter Morrow first found the Living Springs property in 1971, it was just bare hillside and bulrushes. He took a woman to the site on a cold windy day and asked what she thought. It held hidden springs, she said. “People will come here to be refreshed and restored. That day this site was just an empty hillside. Today, 40 years later, 26,000 people a year come here,” Denis says. “She could see what this place had to offer the city, its young people, schools and churches and what it could offer the wider city.”

Living Springs 218 Bamfords Road Allandale RD1 Lyttelton T (03) 329 9788 / 0800 462732 E info@livingsprings.co.nz www.livingsprings.co.nz — Advertising Feature

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www.canterburytoday.co.nz June/July 2014 | 85

Focus | Cholmondeley Children's Centre

Putting Cholmondeley Children’s Centre back on the map Cholmondeley has been offering support to children and their families in Canterbury since 1925 following Hugh Heber Cholmondeley’s generous gift of the triple brick homestead and grounds in Governors Bay, to the Christchurch community. Known originally as the Cholmondeley Memorial Children’s Home, Hugh Cholmondeley’s vision was to ensure that children would always have a place to go in times of crisis. More than 25,000 children have stayed at Cholmondeley since opening its doors.

A new direction The decision to rebuild on the original site at 6 Cholmondeley Lane took the Board just seconds. The superb location is unique and a very special place, perfect for rebuilding and continuing the legacy Hugh Cholmondeley had created.

Today, Cholmondeley is about to launch a significant call for donations as the centre pushes to raise the crucial dollars needed to rebuild.

The education, administration and some storage buildings were still operational onsite and this presented Cholmondeley management and staff with the unique challenge of operating from split sites, The February Earthquake of 2011 was to bring an abrupt end to the substantial historic with the children being transported from their accommodation at Living Springs to homestead, leaving it beyond repair and Cholmondeley Lane throughout the week to unsafe to continue to utilise for the much needed respite care for children in Canterbury. the education space. This continues today. The Cholmondeley Board of Governance and Management moved swiftly to secure leased premises at Living Springs, located several minutes from the Cholmondeley site, to continue the service as quickly as possible to a community that was dealing with extreme situations resulting from the devastating earthquakes.

Cholmondeley has gone from strength to strength meeting challenge upon challenge on a daily basis as a result of the earthquakes and loss of the main homestead, never losing site of the tremendous pressures that families all around Canterbury were under while trying to rebuild their lives, and their city.

The devastation in Canterbury resulted in additional demand for the respite care that Cholmondeley offers children. The significant increase in the number of children coming to Cholmondeley mirrors the many crisis situations that families find themselves in, desperately needing support.

Helping families in crisis Cholmondeley was able to respond quickly to families that needed help and although operating from a temporary site, the Cholmondeley team made it work. In fact in the three years that followed, Cholmondeley continued to develop its Integrated Care and Education programme, with Adventure Based Learning at its core. Throughout this period an independent evaluation on Cholmondeley by Clarity Research continued with information collated from 2009 – 2013. This is now available on the Cholmondeley website and offers an insightful look at Cholmondeley, the service it provides and the outcomes that will influence the organisation into the future. Adventure Based Learning supports a child to build resilience and is a huge favourite with the children when they stay at Cholmondeley. The many activities range from crossing the

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adventure stream, orienteering, raft building, fishing, kayaking, arts and crafts, to food preparation over an open fire. These activities teach the children how to work together, develop confidence by having the courage to try something new and to discover their strengths. The children develop new skills and relationships through the activities. The parents, carers, families and whanau tell of the positive outcomes for the children who have engaged in this programme. At a time when Christchurch families were being challenged by many factors in their lives following the earthquakes, the realisation that many of their own usual supports, like extended family neighbours and friends, were not in a position to help as they too were dealing with their own difficulties, only added more stress. Many families that had never used Cholmondeley before as support realised that Cholmondeley could help and they could contact, phone or email directly with no referrals required. Children that were in a stressful situation at home could stay at Cholmondeley and experience fun and educational activities

Focus | Cholmondeley Children's Centre

Putting Cholmondeley back on the map Cholmondeley needs your help to do this so it can continue to do what it does best - helping children in our community by providing short term respite care and education with the aim to alleviate family pressures.

Sarah Vidette Funding & Marketing Manager Cholmondeley Children’s Centre E sarahv@cholmondeley.org.nz M 027 522 8840 T (03) 329 9832 Sarah Barrer Capital Fundraiser for Help put Cholmondeley Back on the Map E sarahb@colmondeley.org.nz M 027 544 9977

To donate online, or for more information please visit the Cholmondeley websites: www.backonthemap.co.nz www.cholmondeley.org.nz

while in a safe, friendly and positive environment, giving them the opportunity to strengthen their own resilience to better cope with life’s challenges. Cholmondeley Children’s Centre continues to provide short term planned and emergency respite care for children aged 5 – 12 years while relocated at Living Springs and will return to 3 – 12 year olds once the new building is completed. The length of a child’s stay at Cholmondeley can vary depending on the child and their family’s needs, but an average stay for a child

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is three to five days. Children can stay as many times as necessary within the specified age range. Anyone can refer a child to Cholmondeley which means that families can make contact directly to discuss how Cholmondeley can help.

A new era After three years of operating on split sites, all those involved with Cholmondeley are starting to see a glimpse of the light at the end of the tunnel. The “Help put Cholmondeley Back on the Map” campaign to rebuild the main building has been working hard to find the $4 million dollars required over and above the insurance settlement to ensure a fit for purpose building will emerge on the site in Cholmondeley Lane, Governors Bay.

on two sites, all of the Cholmondeley staff and children are looking forward to the day they will all be back together at Cholmondeley Lane. Operational fundraising has continued alongside the rebuild campaign to raise the further $1.2 million for required operational costs to keep the service running each year. This is 70 percent of the funding required and comes from the community. Cholmondeley receives the other 30 percent from the government and other sources.

community donations which will make sure the rebuild happens on time and ensure the building will be completed debt free. The turning of the first sod at the end of this month, on the original site, is a huge milestone. This symbolic act in the project signifies the beginning of the new Cholmondeley building and a new era. The site is clear, and the team at Cholmondeley Children’s Centre are determined that their services will be back on the original site by the first quarter of 2015.

Cholmondeley has incredible support from Canterbury businesses, trusts and organisations that have gone that extra mile to support the organisation over many years and through recent demanding times.

The new building has been cleverly designed to allow children to relax and to be open to new learning experiences. The silver lining to the sad loss of the heritage building has provided an opportunity to build a practical facility with a researched approach to the physical and emotional environment in which the children are cared for.

Community groups, schools, and individuals also play an essential role in fundraising and donating on a regular basis. This diverse array of support demonstrates the depth of understanding from all who support Cholmondeley and the importance they place in ensuring this iconic organisation, Cholmondeley Children’s Centre, continues its wonderful legacy and can carry on making a difference to children and families in our community.

The building will offer a lower maintenance regime with cost-effective heating which will be welcomed by all at Cholmondeley. After years of additional rental costs, travel costs and the pure logistics associated of operating

With all the fantastic efforts and support to date Cholmondeley is grateful for the generosity shown by all of its supporters, but needs to look to the community for a boost to raise the last $1 million dollars. It’s these

Cholmondeley Children’s Centre P O Box 12276 Christchurch 8242 T (03) 3299832 E info@cholmondeley.org.nz www.cholmondeley.org.nz — Advertising Feature

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Education | St Mark's School

St Mark’s School… experience the difference By Peter Loakman

There cannot be many schools in Christchurch with a more tranquil and beautiful setting than St Mark’s Primary School in Opawa. Nestled between the leafy tree-lined Cholmondeley Avenue and the Heathcote River ever since it opened on this site in 1921, sits one of Christchurch’s best kept educational secrets.

The teaching staff also appears to have that right balance of experience and youthfulness that students relate to so well, and it is evident that they’re really enjoying their learning experience.

The setting may be idyllic in this quiet leafy suburb, but you get a real feel and sense of industry and learning when visiting the school. Deputy Principal Keith Moorfield gives me the tour and I am immediately struck by the politeness and courtesy shown by all the children I come across.

“St Mark’s exists to provide a balanced education that is grounded in the ways of Anglican Christianity and supported by a family oriented community,” Keith says. “We try to cater for a child’s cultural, physical, social and spiritual needs as well as the more obvious academic ones.

Smartly dressed in their maroon uniforms, all the boys and girls are deeply engaged in their classroom activity, but their greeting is warm and spontaneous, not at all forced or rehearsed.

“Naturally, like the rest of Christchurch during the immediate aftermath of the quakes, we just got on and adapted to keep school life as normal as possible. The help and assistance we got from the parents and church community was fantastic and within a couple of weeks the school was pretty much running as normal.”

It is apparent to see that these are confident children who are taught to be independent thinkers as they work quietly in small groups.

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As you might expect for a school boasting a tradition of resilience of nearly 90 years as an Anglican independent church school it soon set about reorganising and restructuring to cope with the quake after effects. St Mark’s lost the use of the library, gymnasium and main assembly hall and now, following three years of negotiation, has just settled its insurance claim and as you’d expect, the board is excited by the opportunity of now repairing the school back to its former glory. Well they do say patience is a virtue, but surely this is testing the school board and management to the very boundaries of their Christian faith? Such delays and frustrations would have broken many a lesser school, but not St Mark’s and its tenacious senior management team, which has just been bolstered by the arrival of a new principal Mr Paul Mathews from the North Island. The school has a single form entry covering years zero to eight and the roll totals some 215 pupils at present, which is building steadily back to the pre quake maximum levels.

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It was inevitable that the school would lose some pupils as families were forced to leave Christchurch due to the loss of their homes or businesses. What is perhaps more telling is the fact that St Mark’s also saw a gain from other primary schools in the area as places became available through families having to leave Canterbury. “This ‘flight to quality’ is always encouraging to see and in many ways proves what a fine reputation the school enjoys,” explains Keith with justifiable pride. Each child within each class is both informally and formally assessed and their learning levels are noted so that the class teacher can cater for the child’s individual needs and learning style; this informs planning to maximise potential. This is a formula that can work well in catering to pupils who want to extend themselves and excel in certain fields. Talented and hard working children and Year 8 school leavers from St Mark’s have attained scholarships for prestigious Christchurch secondary schools such as Christ College, St Andrew’s and St Margaret’s.

Education | St Mark's School

The special character of St Mark’s School

remedial resources and learning support – to help them to achieve commensurately.

- Strong association with the Anglican St Mark’s Church which includes religious instruction, observance and worship.

“The special character of the school places emphasis on good Christian attitudes, strong moral fibre and fine academic standards and achievement.”

Philosophical beliefs

Despite being steeped in a long tradition and history, the school has a very fresh and modern outlook.

a) Education as members of a supportive school family group. b) Participate in choral and instrumental music within school and the community in addition to extra curricular sports and cultural pursuits. c) Exhibit high standards of etiquette and behaviour including wearing the school uniform. d) Curriculum and teaching methods focussed on language, reading, maths, social awareness, community, homework, examinations, prize giving and outdoor education.

Many more choose to leave the independent church school system and return to the state system by taking up places at Christchurch Boys High, Girls High or Cashmere High. Whichever school they choose to continue their education, St Mark’s pupils find themselves extremely well prepared after years of quality and focused education.

“As an integrated school we are fortunate not to be too distracted by the current Christchurch problems of school mergers and closures. By employing excellent teaching staff, we have set high academic, sporting, cultural and spiritual standards. “With small class sizes there is plenty of opportunity for learning programmes, tailored to each child to be designed and implemented. Thus the talented and gifted child can be truly stretched and those needing some learning support are given time and resources to improve and work at optimal levels too. “The levels of achievement and output of well rounded, highly competent, confident Year 8 children, ready to seize their secondary education opportunities with both hands is testament to the school’s special character, fine moral standards and teaching.” The school aims to operate smoothly and efficiently, allowing a large part of the future focus to be on creating a fresh, safe and inspiring environment, replacing the damaged infrastructure and repairing the legacy of the 2010/2011 earthquakes.

Boys and girls tend to learn in different ways, at different speeds and with very different triggers. By catering to individual needs, these This should hopefully pave the way for the differences are actively acknowledged and next 90 years of excellence. Music, art, sport work programmes are geared accordingly. and culture form a large part of the special “Generally it works very well and it identifies fabric and character of the school and remain weaknesses and areas of concern in some extremely popular subjects within the pupils for whom we are then able to provide school curriculum. >

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Proud to support St Mark’s School and wishing Paul Mathews all the best as the new Principal.

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Education | St Mark's School

Education | Waimairi School

Waimairi School marks a milestone One hundred years ago Waimairi School had a large number of children on its roll from two orphanages in the area. The students used to catch frogs in the stream where Boundary Road is today and the school would face the constant problem of stray cattle on the gravel road.

Singing and choral work is regularly performed at the school and reflected at church services. Opportunities exist for children to learn and perform musical instruments throughout their time at St Mark’s school.

“Our aim, once we proceed with our remedial and repair work, is to create, within the next two to three years, an outstanding, environmentally friendly and sustainable, technologically advanced state of the art primary school,” he confirms.

From time to time school choirs, orchestras and instrumental groups will perform at church services, functions and concerts. The school is a frequent participant in Christchurch Primary Schools Music Festival and other choral festivals, regularly winning accolades for its work.

The school is clearly aiming to be there at the leading edge so that St Mark’s young students’ goals, imaginations and career prospects are ignited by what is possible and achievable.

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These are essential building blocks and provide the foundation for much else of what the children do. Once these skills are in place, pupils should be allowed reinforcement on computers using internet based research and communications programs.

Waimairi School puts a strong emphasis on developing student self management supported by an environment that is flexible with well established routines to teach children to become responsible for their own learning over time. A hundred years on the results speak for themselves with a growing school roll and students constantly achieving academically, in culture, and sport, the future looks brighter than ever for Waimairi School.

The technological age is a reality with frequent new developments, but as many of the St Mark’s teachers readily observe, embracing new technology is fine to do, but not at the expense of traditional core skills of reading, writing and numeracy and the ability to exercise critical analysis which have to underpin all new learning. With such an operational philosophy it is not difficult to see why St Mark’s School, Opawa is supremely confident of continuing to provide an excellent and structured education well past the upcoming centenary birthday celebrations in 2021.

Tony Stewart | Ph (03) 322-1314 info@photoshots.co.nz

The high quality of education and personalised care for each and every child creates engaged, confident and focussed learners. Students have strong supportive systems in place to help them excel in all fields including academic, sporting and cultural.

St Mark’s School Cholmondeley Avenue Opawa Christchurch T (03) 332 7339 E office@saintmarks.school.nz www.saintmarks.school.nz — Advertising Feature

The school is also moving towards being technologically wired with both wireless and cable and has high speed broadband Internet connection. Most classrooms have state of the art interactive white boards, ibook computers and access to a pod of computer laptops for integrated computer use.

But for all of its focus on the new, it is clear that St Mark’s has core values from the ‘old school’, in that it firmly believes and instils, that all staff teach the essential core disciplines of numeracy and literacy, as well as engendering the ability for all pupils to create and communicate.

The school can attribute its successful growth and high student achievement to the high level of community involvement and the passionate, hard working team of staff led by principal Mike Anderson.

AN DO IT!

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Every two years the school undertakes a whole school drama production, often written and performed exclusively by the children and staff members and incorporating a full range of drama, music and other performing arts skills; performances are always a sell out!

“We can only provide them, at this relatively early age, with the beginnings of a desire and some of the tools to set them on the long journey towards life long learning skills and the tool kit to pursue this.”

A century later and the school is proud to be celebrating its rich history and exciting future, and as such, would like to recognise this special event with the community.

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Celebrations There are a variety of events planned for later this year to celebrate the momentous milestone. Past pupils and staff current pupils and their families plus anyone who has had involvement with the school are warmly welcomed to join in on the festivities. Friday, October 24 A guided tour of the school in action. See what has changed since you were learning or teaching at Waimairi. During the evening the doors will be open for relaxed chance to catch up with old friends, teachers or colleagues, enjoy a drink and finger food and share your stories. Saturday, October 25 During the day there will be lots of fun activities for all the family. Take a look through the displays of memorabilia, grab a bite to eat and see the children show off their talents. There will be commemorative decade photographs and a celebration cake. And in the evening enjoy dinner and dancing. Sunday, October 26 Celebration church service at St Pauls.

Waimairi School 1 Tillman Avenue Christchurch T (03) 352 9208 E admin@waimairi.school.nz www.waimairi.school.nz

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Education | Avonside Girls' High School

Avonside Girls’ High looks towards a bright future

Avonside Girls’ High School has been a proud educator of many of Canterbury’s young women for almost a century. Starting as an offshoot of Christchurch Girls’ High School, it provided learning for two classes of 40 students in January 1919 on a beautiful setting on the banks of the Avon. In 1928, the school gained its own identity as Avonside Girls’ High School. Avonside’s provision of specialised, girlfocussed learning was threatened in the aftermath of the 2011 earthquakes, as damage to buildings and infrastructure forced a move from the site for a year. However, following an intense period of planning and construction, the school reopened its doors on the site in Avonside Drive at the beginning of the 2012 school year. The new temporary campus that has sprung up to replace the damaged buildings is serving the school community well, with purpose-built specialist rooms of single storey construction, enhanced computer technology provision and attractive landscaping. Avonside Girls’ High School today is an innovative modern school within a traditional framework.

Avonside Girls’ High School Principal, Sue Hume, says “We want every girl to be the best she can be and work hard with them to ensure that success. However, it is also important to us that, when our girls leave, they are able to take their place in the world and be responsible, contributing and caring members of our society. “That’s why, in addition to striving for academic success, we also place emphasis on living out our school values of respect, integrity, self discipline and contribution.” The Minister of Education’s announcement last October of a rebuild for Avonside Girls’ High School was great news, not only for the school community, but for the continuation of the tradition of state girls’ education in Christchurch. With the new school scheduled to open mid-2018, exciting times are ahead as the school embraces the opportunity to plan for the best of modern learning environments for new generations of Avonside Girls' High students. The future is bright! Avonside Girls’ High School 180 Avonside Drive Christchurch T (03) 389 7199 www.avonside.school.nz — Advertising Feature

The school’s vision is to challenge its students to achieve personal excellence in a progressive and supportive learning environment.

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Hospitality | Catering by Nikki

The Manhattan on Avon

Originally set up in the Manhattan on Avon - Avon Rowing Club Catering by Nikki owner, Nikki Harding talks about how the company has gone from strength to strength since the devastating February earthquakes. “With the business growing, we were looking to move to larger premises when the first earthquake hit, forcing our hand. It split the building, which has now been demolished and rebuilt. We briefly worked from my home providing emergency catering to our corporate clients, before moving into our new premises on Moorhouse Avenue. While this was an extremely hectic and trying time for all, we’ve managed to remain open for business which meant our long standing clients always had catering solutions available when needed, plus we could supply those working within the Red Zone with a well deserved homestyle meal - especially when there were no other food outlets available.

Valley and Lincoln - so please just call us to discuss how we can help you. We have hot meals available at our shop Nikki’s Kitchen - from 11am, with a range of salads and fresh sandwiches etc, all made daily. We also make all of our pies and you really must try our sausage rolls. During the winter months we have hot soup available - all made here - all made from scratch. We are committed to providing quality freshly made food to all of our clients whether you’ve just come in off the street for a coffee and a muffin, or if you’re a long standing client of ours.

With the move we inherited a small front shop/deli where we offer café food, including We’re proud of our reputation for delivering hot lunches. If you come into the shop, behind excellent food, having a great variety and that it’s all made with love.” our friendly front of house staff, you’ll see through the golden frame a hive of industry. Catering by Nikki This is where the corporate and function 37 Moorhouse Ave catering magic happens. Christchurch Of course, with so much rebuilding happening T (03) 365 1617 in our new area, we’ve welcomed many M 021 201 0692 new clients. The fact that they keep coming E nikki_harding@xtra.co.nz back reinforces our pride in our team and the www.cateringbynikki.co.nz quality they strive produce every time. — Advertising Feature We make everything from scratch, except our wonderful range of specialty breads - which we source locally. Our scones and muffins are difficult to match - and we never use premix. We cater for a wide range of functions - from intimate picnics to weddings and corporate events. We have many menus available, but because we make everything in-house we can be as flexible as you require. We can easily accommodate special diets where necessary and we can deliver it all to your door, including hot items. We have provided catering solutions for more than 10 years to a wide range of clients and to a wide area - not just Christchurch central. We’ve catered in Port Levy, Rangiora, Greta

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Hospitality | Tuti's Restaurant

Coastal flavour “The staff at Tuti's are amongst the best we have ever encountered anywhere in the world,” reads one of Tuti’s Restaurant’s most recent Trip Advisor reviews, titled ‘Simply the best’. And, while that makes a great first online impression, it is only a snapshot of customer testimonials for the popular location. Tucked comfortably in Kaikoura’s Beach Road, the restaurant is dining for families by a family because, running the business is a family of seven – mum and dad Peter and Tuti McGovern and their five daughters. “Our mum was very passionate about cooking,” Fina McGovern says. “We have always aimed to do things just that little bit differently.” As a strategy, it’s been a success, with the fusion of Indonesian dishes and Kiwi cuisine a massive hit with both locals and visitors to the popular holiday destination.

dish, or if curries aren’t your thing, we also offer a seafood platter. The seafood chowder, aged prime Rib eye steak and fresh Kaikoura rock lobsters are highly acclaimed.”

within the business, now highly qualified and experienced after studying within their own niche areas, from business and bar management through to cooking.

Named after mum Tuti, Tuti’s Restaurant started as a Kaikoura café in 2005, before closing down for two years while the family planned a bigger, better use of their talent in the kitchen.

“We’re very much a family restaurant,” Fina says.

A suitable site was discovered to build on in 2007 and, in 2009 the restaurant and bar located at 35 Beach Road was opened.

“We offer a huge variety of food, including curries, fish and steak,” Fina explains.

From Indonesia, head chef Tuti specialises in Indonesian and Singaporean cuisine. Her five daughters have all discovered their own roles

“Our seafood meals are incredibly popular, including our seafood curry and our prawn

“We offer relaxed, casual dining in a comfortable environment. We are an increasingly popular venue for private functions and events and we have held everything from weddings to birthday parties.”

Dee from Christchurch described her Tuti’s experience as “Amazing food, awesome service”. “I have dined at Tuti’s a couple of times now and both times I have loved it,” she says.

The modern and spacious restaurant and bar is fully licensed, with the capacity to fit 100 customers. The tempting selection of fine cuisine is sure to impress, with a varied all day menu from breakfast until dinner and serving a range of unique dishes from fresh seafood, meat and Indonesian/ Singaporean dishes. Best of all, the meals at Tuti’s are freshly made as they are ordered in the state of the art kitchen. Tuti’s is a popular restaurant and bar open from 5pm until late Monday to Saturday, offering a great place to eat, drink or just relax and sample the extensive range of local and imported beers, wines and organic Underground coffee. “Everything about Tuti’s is nothing short of fantastic,” Presant Singh said after dining at the restaurant in March.

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“The meals are a descent size, unlike many restaurants these days, and should you select one of the delicious curries like I did you’ll find the combination of spicy flavours simply perfect. It totally hits the spot!” Jane, from London described her Tuti’s meal as “the best meal so far in NZ... and we have had some excellent food. The fish was so good, fresh and well cooked. We had calamari and then Indonesian prawn curry and the most delicious mango cheesecake. Lovely family owned and run place. Don’t miss it.”

Tuti’s Restaurant 35 Beach Road Kaikoura T (03) 319 3370 E tutis@xtra.co.nz www.tutis.co.nz — Advertising Feature

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“The warm welcome, atmosphere, easy to follow menus and great staff… the meals are of a very high quality and great portion sizes. No matter how full I am, I desperately try and fit in dessert or a hot chocolate - anything to keep the delicious evening going! Friendly and satisfying; a must have if you’re travelling through Kaikoura.”

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Hospitality | Jagz of Styx Mill

A celebration of suburban success Nestled comfortably within the city’s northern framework, Jagz of Styx Mill really is Christchurch’s best kept secret and a celebration of suburban success. An experienced restauranteur, owner Jane Sommerville knew what she wanted from a premise. “The move to Christchurch represented an opportunity for a new challenge. I was attracted to the Styx Mill area because it’s a real oasis backed up by a strong and welcoming community,” she says. The striking north facing façade of the purpose built café draws the sun in on the bleakest of days, while a covered outdoor area provides shelter from the most scathing of winter chills. Stunning modern décor creates a warm and inviting atmosphere. An exciting and welcome addition to the Styx Mill and Northwood communities, Jagz of Styx Mill offers everything from ready to go cabinet food made on the premises, to an a la carte dining for breakfast, lunch and dinner.

The fabulous food is complemented by the café’s premium beers and a quality wine list, all at very reasonable prices. As with any good café, there’s some degree of importance in the actual coffee and J agz is the only Christchurch stockist of popular coffee brand Bravo Coffee, roasted in Dunedin.

“Everyone rushes all the way into town to check out the latest new places, but we can offer something great in the suburbs,” Jane says. With head chef Greg Sweet, who previously worked at Tiffanys Restaurant and Bar, working tirelessly behind the scenes, Jagz of Styx Mill has a strong focus on good quality, fresh foods. “Greg is English, so he’s very into warm, comforting English foods,” Jane says.

“It’s all about good quality, fresh food and fine dining surroundings with a warm and comfortable feel,” Jane says.

“Everything he creates is fresh and made on the premises. We also have an exciting new winter menu on-board.”

Jagz of Styx Mill has been brought to Christchurch by popular and experienced restauranteur Jane Sommerville, as an extension of her successful Café and Restaurant in Windsor, situated in Invercargill.

Jagz of Styx Mill offers a great selection for weekend brunches and an a la carte evening dining from Tuesday to Saturday. Lunch groups can be catered to for up to 40 people, with loads of free parking available at the back of the restaurant.

Jane has brought the warm, friendly and relaxed atmosphere she developed in the south during the last 10 years to her latest

project at Styx Mill which has become a popular dining destination for the city.

strong part of the community now,” Jane says. “We love it here.”

Established in 2009, the café and restaurant has become popular for walking groups or the morning coffee run and is situated close to dog parks and walking tracks.

It seems the customers do too, if the online reviews are anything to go by. “Made a last minute decision to have dinner here on a Saturday night three weeks ago and what a great decision it was,” one reviewer stated.

“It’s become a real community hub,” Jane says. “There’s always people getting to know each other, groups wanting to push the tables together to catch up or just chatting while they wait, although it’s not just for the locals.”

“The food quality was fantastic and the meal was amazing. We enjoyed every single mouthful and sinfully decided to share the Chef’s Tasting Platter for dessert. It was even more amazing - three fantastic full size desserts to share between us. We will definitely be going back there as soon as we can. Our waitress was friendly and had a good sense of humour. The Chef, magnificent.”

Jagz of Styx Mill has really been getting into the community spirit, with a wine club held once a month, ladies and men’s breakfast groups available for anyone to join, buses to local events such as the popular Waipara Wine Festival and Jane is even hosting an annual Another reviewer says “What a little treasure cruise to Brisbane at the end of July. “We are a hidden amidst a residential subdivision.” >

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At a glance | The Grosvenor

Hospitality | Jagz of Styx Mill Warming up the winter at Jagz

Hotel of modern art Forget identical rooms, corridors and public lobbies - you’ll get anything but at The Grosvenor. According to entrepreneur Ping Lim, when it comes to hotels there are only two types: run of the mill and The Grosvenor, he says with a smile.

Not all of us love the colder months, but at least there’s something to look forward to with Jagz of Styx Mill’s exciting new winter menu. So here’s a sneak peak of what’s on offer:

The Grosvenor in Timaru underwent a renovation in 2010 to include a restaurant, bar, gaming lounge and four conference rooms; making the hotel, bar and restaurant the place to stay, dine and be entertained.

Starters West Coast Whitebait Fritters: Served with petit salad, fresh break and lemon cheek.

Enclosed with high ceilings, nostalgic exposed brick and showcasing local and international artwork, The Grosvenor chimes authenticity and great design. Established in 1875, it is one of the earliest buildings in South Canterbury. Owner Ping Lim took over the business in 2007 when he saw potential in the previously unkempt property.

Prawn Green Curry: Marinated prawns cooked in a light coconut green curry sauce served on Singapore noodles with fresh mint, coriander and Asian slaw. Scallops with Pork: Seared sweet scallops with a pulled pork and gennel salad served on apple and vanilla puree.

Hours Monday: 7.30am - 5pm

Mains Warm Thai Chicken Salad: Thai spiced chicken tenderloins, seared and tossed with mint, coriander, fried shallots and bean sprouts, finished with soy and ginger dressing. Slow roasted Pork Belly: Served with a bubble and squeak potato cake, wilted greens, apple and mustard compote topped off with crispy crackling and pan juices. Moroccan Spiced Lamb Striploin: Cooked medium rare served on roast vegetable couscous with hummus and a light Moroccan carrot and chic pea salad.

Tuesday to Friday: 7.30am - 10pm Saturday: 9am - 10pm Sunday: 9am - 5pm Jagz of Styx Mill 158 Hussey Road Styx Mill Christchurch T (03) 323 5455 E jane@jagz.co.nz www.jagz.co.nz — Advertising Feature

Southern Blue Cod: Pan fried and served with herb potato mash, smashed peas and slow roast tomato finished with hollandaise and fresh lemon.

Butternut Squash and Spinach Risotto: A roasted squash, wilted spinach creamy risotto finished with parmesan and served with a small seasonal salad. Prime Ribeye Steak: Cooked to your liking, served on root vegetables and creamy mash with mini Yorkshire pudding and horseradish butter finished with rich beef jus.

“We also need Grosvenor Hotel to be relevant to the present generation too. In the end, the common thread is the British heritage of Grosvenor Hotel. This is brought to the fore by the patronage of Queen Elizabeth II herself during Her Majesty’s Golden Jubilee Tour in 1954.

broader culinary phase serving its best meals yet thanks to carefully selected exquisite chefs whose cooking is just as distinctive as the historic building in which The Grosvenor resides.

Once an identity is forged, we renamed the hotel as The Grosvenor - HoMA (Hotel of Modern Art), a nod to Banksy and London’s retro-chic culture,” Ping explains.

Two years ago no one in New Zealand had ever tasted the sublime dishes made from one of its finest chefs, Yung, who worked as head chef at Sheraton International Hotel in Sri Lanka for 10 years.

Patrons can stay in a selection of modern suites, superior rooms, including the Ford room, Speights room, Tui room, Jim Beam room and Jack Daniel room.

Seared Akaroa Salmon: On a warm salad of prawns, gourmet potatoes, baby beets, broccoli and feta tossed with lemon and parsley vinaigrette. Venison and Root Vegetable Open Pie: Hot pot style with a puff pastry lid served with colcannon potatoes and seasonal greens.

“For the first three years we worked alongside with the liquidator to bring the business back on deck. The business was completely restructured. It’s like breaking the business apart in order to put it back together again.

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“Being an avid traveller myself, I’m conscious of this reality that when we travel. We want bang for our buck, central location, modern conveniences such as free Wi-Fi, free car parks, latest LCD panel, nice new beds and instant good pressure hot water.” It’s important to acknowledge Pings vision for the venue’s eco-friendly and sustainable living environment. The venue practices its recycling programme by using LED lights, reduces the usage of plastic bottles, has reminders placed in rooms to discourage patrons to wash their towels more than they should and floor coverings are made from recyclable material. All 44 rooms is adorned with vintage furniture, low-VOC (volatile organic compound) paints and recycled material; simple and luxurious without the hefty price tag. It would be unthinkable to pass up a meal from The Grosvenor. The venue has entered a

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Its English pub TGB (abbreviated from The Grosvenor Bar) is highly rated on TripAdvisor.

Other distinguished chefs include Tony, whose culinary background reins from Crowne Plaza of Auckland, and newcomer Frank from Hilton International Hotel of Shanghai, China. The team are masters in creating hearty meals including local old favourites such as roasts, toasties, winter favourite of soups, and steak with a modern twist. The chefs are adept in cooking a range of different meals including Chinese and traditional European faire. For Ping, his vision for the future is to make Timaru a bona fide tourist destination. “A goal that is actually not selfish but a goal that is inclusive of local community”.

The Grosvenor Hotel 26 Cains Terrace Timaru T (03) 687 9190 E reception@thegrosvenor.co.nz www.thegrosvenor.co.nz — Advertising Feature

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Hospitality | Valley Inn Tavern

Mixing the past with the present The Valley Inn Tavern has a long and fascinating history, but it’s the southern hospitality which continues to draw in the punters, 130 years after it was first established. The tavern is a strong part of the community and, with a courtesy van available Thursday to Sunday to and from surrounding areas, Cantabrians are encouraged to try something different and make the trip east. Located only 15 minutes from the city centre, the tavern is nestled comfortably at the foot of the steep volcanic crags that form the northern edge of the hills. Just eight kilometres southeast of the city centre, Heathcote Valley is a stunning destination for a Sunday lunch, birthday celebration or even just a casual afternoon drink. The Valley Inn offers a space designed for a leisurely drink or a restaurant-style meal in traditional old English ambience. You can simply relax in the courtyard in tranquil surrounds – you won’t even know you are only minutes from the city centre. “We have an incredible bunch of locals and we are constantly meeting new people from all walks of life so we do what we can to support them,” co-owner Genaea Calvert says. “We sponsor local initiatives and run raffles for local community projects. We love to get involved in any way we can.” The recent ANZAC Day celebrations offer a great example of the role the bar and restaurant plays in the area. The locals bring their barbecues down to the courtyard and set up to cook a BBQ breakfast to host the hundreds of people that turn out for the dawn parade and all that is asked is a gold coin donation. On a Tuesday night $15 will buy you a steak and a pint, on a Wednesday $15 will buy you a burger and beer. The restaurant is open from 10am to 9pm every day, with bookings required, or order a meal from the comfort of the bar.

RED

SNAPPER 03 326 5726

Phone.

25 Wakefield Ave, Sumner

The tavern’s restaurant specialises in locally sourced ingredients cooked in a modern style, with a vast range of options available from bar snacks to a full restaurant menu.

celebrations to early morning rugby match breakfasts. Keep an eye on the website and Facebook page for what’s happening next.

The menus change frequently with daily specials available, so keep an eye out on the website for the latest dishes from the chef.

While the stylish new triangular building of the Heathcote bar rose from the ruins of the pub that was destroyed in the September 2010 earthquake, there is 130 years of history that has not been left behind, a fantastic atmosphere that has developed and a fun enjoyable place to visit.

The bar hosts big screens for sporting events, self-service TAB terminals, a handful of poker machines, dart boards and a juke box for entertainment. Talk to Dean and Genaea Calvert about hosting a birthday, staff barbecue, drinks or other private function. There’s even a loyalty club available to join, just jump on the website to fill in the form and start benefitting from the promotions. The Valley is becoming renowned for showing all of the major boxing matches and a strong boxing fraternity is developing which makes a great atmosphere to enjoy a day out watching the fights. Any major sporting event is well celebrated with a variety of promotions from Cup Day

During a visit to the tavern, take some time to check out the 12m deep brick lined well that now features in the centre of the bar and provides a great leaner for a group to enjoy a drink over while taking in the old photos, memorabilia and history that line the walls.

than 130 years, so we will continue to promote and support the community behind it,” Genaea says. “Come and meet the locals or come and become one yourself.”

Valley Inn Tavern 2 Flavell Street Heathcote Valley Christchurch T (03) 384 1124 www.valleyinntavern.co.nz — Advertising Feature

In the courtyard you can relax in the sun and enjoy a drink under the stately old pepper trees. “The Valley Inn Tavern has been at the centre of the Heathcote Valley for more

Proud to be associated with both the history, and the future, of the Valley Inn. T (03) 352 2293 E legal@harmans.co.nz A 485 Papanui Road, Christchurch www.harmans.co.nz

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Hospitality | Hello Sunday Café

Hospitality | Chillingworth Road

History in the making

Eat, drink, learn

In a city that’s lost so many of its heritage buildings it’s inspiring to see a team of dedicated, hard working foodies giving a little something back to Christchurch.

Chillingworth Road invites you to experience not just fine dining, but an event all unto itself.

The new Hello Sunday Café, located in Sydenham, is now serving traditional café favourites with a twist in a refurbished post office building.

Based on Cranford Street in Papanui, Chillingworth Road offers diners the best of both worlds - excellent service and great food - and that’s a hallmark to be proud of.

The beautifully restored building has had a number of uses over the years. It began life in the 18th century as a post office and in the 19th century it was the Seventh Day Adventist Church Sunday School.

Owned and operated by husband and wife duo Leanne and Darren Wright, the business was established in November 2012, and previously resided at Harbour 71 in Akaroa before moving to Christchurch.

The owners of Hello Sunday are Jonathan Spark, Yasmeen Clark and Chris Penny.

Darren is originally from Akaroa and his father runs a commercial fishing company. He turned to the hospitality industry instead of fishing with his father. He decided the job wasn’t for him and instead went to the local café on the wharf, and asked to get a job as a kitchen hand so he didn’t have to go fishing. Suffice to say, all of the fresh fish served at Chillingworth Road comes from Darren’s father.

Their dedicated team poured heart and soul into restoring the Sunday School over four challenging but enjoyable months. Hello Sunday was officially opened in February to extremely positive reviews of the atmosphere, restoration, service and especially the food. Jonathan says they have taken great pleasure in bringing new life to the much loved historic building. “There is a lot of love in these buildings. They used to be a place of service and care and we have simply reawakened this.”

Nourishment The hearty meals at Hello Sunday are all made with love by head chef Sam Stewart and they’re starting to create quite a buzz with the locals Jonathan says.

says they are planning some evening events during the winter, plus the occasional Sunday Session music jam, and when the weather gets warmer they will open evenings. But having a sound understanding that all good things take time he says they are not in a rush as they are in it for the long haul. He says his goal for the café is to “To build a sense of community, a little hub of light that fills people up in lots of ways.” And if the loyal following of customers is anything to go by he is well on his way to achieving this honourable ambition.

“Sam is putting out restaurant quality food. His eggs benedict are becoming renowned; as are his fish tacos and the chickpea and polenta fritters are magic.

So treat every day as Sunday at the Hello Sunday Café; embrace the chance to relax, rest and reflect with close family and friends in the easy going atmosphere.

“We serve real, fresh food all prepared onsite in the container kitchen. During the week we have fresh cabinet food with vegetarian and gluten free options. Our café strives to provide great food and coffee to nourish and ultimately bring people together.”

Take your time to savour their nourishing food and coffee and linger in the delightful courtyard or lounge in their warm inviting café. The café recently received five stars across the board in a story by Avenues Magazine.

With such a promising start a bright future lies Hello Sunday Café ahead for this little gem of a café. Jonathan 6 Elgin Street Sydenham Christchurch T (03) 374 2526 E chris@hellosunday.co.nz www.facebook.com/ CRAFTWORX.CO.NZ HelloSundayChristchurchCafe BUILDING & JOINERY | Dirk Heffter 0211 53 96 00

— Advertising Feature

At Chillingworth Road every meal is an experience. The formal dining room, where guests can enjoy the ‘Trust the Chef’ – (the six or eight course degustation menu) or the Bistro. The bistro prides itself on simple but tasty home cooked meals, all made from scratch. With mains starting from a modest $25, you can enjoy a delicious dish in a relaxing atmosphere with friendly service, all encased within a modern, industrial interior.

Whether you’re a first time baker or a professional wanting to expand your skills, there’s a class to suit you no matter what level you’re at. Awaken your taste buds, share recipes, get your questions answered, experiment with cooking ideas, pick up cooking tips and techniques, and indulge in the culinary experience. Chillingworth was recently nominated in two categories for the Christchurch hospitality awards for both chef and restaurant – and is looking forward to the event which will be held on May 26.

Leanne says the key to their business success is “consistency and being really passionate about what we do”. “Our philosophy is eat, drink, learn. That’s why we’ve got a kitchen out the front where people can come up to us. We love interaction; we want people to see what the chefs are doing and talk to them,” Leanne says. Cooking experiences are tied to this fine dining restaurant, bistro and bar which offers guests a chance to tie on their apron and enjoy a hands-on experience at Chillingworth Road cook school. Cooking classes take place in the bistro and are run by qualified baker, Wendy Quinn.

• Five course “Your Choice” menu $75 per person

Learn to make bread, cup cakes or try your hand at cake decorating or fish filleting.

• Six or eight course “Trust the Chef” degustation menu - $95 or $125 per person

Opening Hours Monday – 7.30am till 4.00pm Tuesday to Friday – 7.30am till late Saturday – 3pm till late Sunday – closed

Chillingworth Road 478 Cranford Street Papanui Christchurch T (03) 352 7784 E dine@chillingworthroad.co.nz www.chillingworthroad.co.nz — Advertising Feature

Proud to support the Hello Sunday Cafe

Duck Quail Poussin Turkey Pheasant 96 | June/July 2014 www.canterburytoday.co.nz

Hospitality | Café 218

Café 218 Shopping, coffee and a delicious bite to eat...what could be better! The new Café 218 is situated in the Midway on Moorhouse shopping complex. Its central location, surrounded by popular stores, makes it the perfect café to meet for a business lunch or catch up with friends. So why not take a leisurely weekend stroll through the surrounding stores and unwind in Café 218? The cafe manager Daryl Knowles has owned cafés all her life. Before the earthquakes she ran a Coffee Club franchise in High Street but lost the business in the quakes. With a love for working in hospitality she joined forces with Robert Knowles who owns the business, and opened Café 218 in February. Getting the business up and running was a struggle Daryl says. She explains it took almost a year to open due to council delays but thanks to her persistence the café she calls “her baby” is now open for business.

“

Rave Reviews “A refreshing break from traditional café fare. Humble Benedict already a crowd favourite. Oh, and smooth, delicious coffee too.” - Renee Cornelius

“Always great service, delicious tacos and great coffee.” - Aimee Cane

Classic and contemporary Tucked away in a private corner of Hunter Furniture, Café 218 creates an inviting space with contemporary black, white and red décor. Take your pick from the café table seating, bar leaners, or make yourself comfortable in the intimate booth seating.

“Awesome service, fantastic food and a great atmosphere.....this has quickly become our café of choice.”

“Our customers have said we’ve got a beautiful café. The windows surrounding the space create an open light space and classic lines, while the booth seating and couches around the fire place are very relaxing.

Café 218 Midway on Moorhouse 218 Moorhouse Ave Christchruch T (03) 421 8921 E cafe218hunters@gmail.com www.facebook.com/Cafe218moorhouse

“I’ve worked in hospitality all my life… it’s just me and I love customer service. I’ve had a lot of customers say my staff are so lovely and friendly,” Daryl says.

- Kim Oliver

”

New menu Coffee and Donuts Fresh fried blueberry donuts, lemon cream cheese glaze and a regular hot drink.

Humble Benedict Goat cheese polenta cakes, rocket, tomato, chow chow, eggs and hollandaise served with either bacon or smoked salmon.

Mexican Street Tacos Black bean puree, red cabbage, pickled onion, queso fresco, and salsa verde served with your choice of either traditional roast pork, roast chicken or garlic mushrooms.

Thai Fish and Chips Red curry marinated gurnard, coconut tempura, kumara chips and spicy aioli.

— Advertising Feature

Daryl says there are many advantages of being a part of the Midway on Moorhouse complex. “The carpark is huge, so you’ll never struggle to find a space, the complex has extremely easy access to help make your experience stress free and it has a great central location,” she says.

Fresh as Liam Ruanc is the chef at Café 218. He is an eccentric who believes food should be fresh, full of flavour and creative. He sticks true to his belief serving up deconstructed kiwi favourites like Thai fish and chips which are healthy and flavoursome. Daryl says everything in the cabinet and on the menu is made onsite. The food is very healthy thanks to the organic and spray-free produce and there are plenty of gluten-free products for customers to choice from. Daryl says the most popular item on the menu is the Mexican Street Tacos because Liam has injected them with his own signature style and they are bursting with flavour. “He does them totally different to what most people are used to; I’ve had Australian customers come in and tell me the tacos are a very popular dish in Australia and they were so happy they found them here because they didn’t think Kiwis did them,” she says.

Total Food Equipment is a store selling Homeware, Bakeware, Glassware, Kitchenware, Knives, coffee and more with Store locations around New Zealand.

» CHRISTCHURCH A. 218 Moorhouse Ave E. sandra@tfe.co.nz P. (03) 3666 912 F. (03) 3666 913 www.tfe.co.nz

www.canterburytoday.co.nz June/July 2014 | 97

Goods & Services | Prime Foods NZ

Dishing out the flavour Prime Foods NZ Limited’s joint venture in the Philippines means Kiwi consumers will soon have a better range of delicious fish products to choose from.

“In New Zealand it’s not easy for us to import other salmon species, and trout is completely forbidden, but the good thing is that in the Philippines we’re using salmon from Norway, Alaska and Chile, as well as New Zealand, and trout from Chile; it just gives us a whole lot more flexibility. “In New Zealand our market sales improved by over 20 percent last year. We’re putting a lot of effort into building our Prime Smoke brand, especially now we have more production capacity coming out of our new factory.”

Not only is the company celebrating its 20th anniversary this year, but is in the middle of an exciting development phase, says managing director Henry Studholme.

In 2011 the two companies opened a large new factory on Mindanao Island called the Big Glory Bay Salmon and Seafood Company. It is an ultra-modern facility containing state of the art equipment and is certified for all the major world smoked salmon markets, as well as kosher. “We formed the joint venture to build the factory and market the products internationally,” Studholme says. “The new factory is processing salmon and smoking tuna from the Philippines, as well as trout from Chile. We’re also investigating white fish processing.” Studholme says the desire to form a joint venture and expand offshore was kick started by a dispute with the Selwyn District Council over a community issue which effectively

The joint venture and new factory are good news for Kiwi fish lovers, who will soon have access to an even greater product range. Prime Foods NZ offers a delicious range of salmon products to Kiwi fish lovers

The Canterbury company, which operates a salmon smokehouse at Hororata, formed a joint venture with Alliance Select Foods in the Philippines in 2009. Alliance Select Foods is primarily a tuna processing company, based in General Santos City.

Larger range of fish products

The Prime Foods flavour Prime Foods NZ has developed its own delicious recipe for brining salmon and enhancing the natural flavour of the salmon with the use of herbs, which provides a distinct point of difference from the competition. “Our flavour is characterised by a unique intensity – what we call the Prime Smoke flavour - which is our main brand,” Henry Studholme says. Smoked salmon is available in New Zealand under the Prime Smoke brand, while the company’s export brand is Prime New Zealand. Prime Foods NZ also produces the Studholme brand, which contains a delicious wasabi cream sauce.

stifled Prime Foods’ potential for growth on their Hororata site. “I was hitting my head against a brick wall and needed to do something to secure the future growth of the company. “The joint venture has been a big success. It’s been a great working relationship and I’m excited about the potential going forward,” he says. About 100 people are employed in the Big Glory Bay Salmon and Seafood factory in the Philippines, while 22 are employed at Prime Foods’ factory in Hororata, which is moving towards product dispatching and reduced processing. “The new factory has been a major undertaking, but it’s starting to hit its straps now. Exports to Asian markets are growing strongly, with Australia and the USA coming on stream as well,” he says.

Prime Foods NZ is still processing its delicious range of salmon products, including hot-smoked salmon, marinated salmon and smoked mussels. “We’re on the verge of introducing some new products, like smoked tuna. For consumers there will be a better selection and we should be able to hold our pricing,” Studholme says. “With the cost of production and other advantages we now have, we’re hoping that we can become very competitive in both the New Zealand and export markets. The choice will gradually expand as we develop.” Prime Foods NZ Limited Hororata RD2 Darfield T (03) 318 0895 E sales@primefoodsnz.co.nz www.primefoodsnz.co.nz — Advertising Feature

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98 | June/July 2014 www.canterburytoday.co.nz

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