In this issue
For Security Help
Onehunga Security Update
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Please check you have Satia’s correct number In the last newsletter we let you know that Satia has changed her number and the correct number to reach her on is 02 0401 13040. Please check you have this number saved in your phone or at your counter so that in the event of an incident, you are able to reach Satia.
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OBA and Christmas holidays The OBA will close at 6pm on 24 December and re-open again on Monday 7 January 2013. If you are planning to be away over the Christmas holidays, please let us know of an alternative contact number we can reach you on — just in case something happens while you’re away. Call us on 636 8535. Keep your cell phone safe Retailers are still falling victim to thieves stealing their phones from behind the counter. It seems to be a common occurrence and we encourage you to be vigilant. We have heard that young boys have been going into shops asking for bus money or some other distraction and running off with the owner’s cell phone. Other retailers have told us that they have noticed suspicious activity in their shop — one young man came appeared to be checking out the shop and used the excuse that he was checking out the time. If you do notice anything suspicious like this, contact Onehunga’s Security Guard, Satia on 02 0401 13040. Asking for money There are a lot of youth that ask for bus money. Don’t give it to them—they don’t use it on the bus!
21 December, 2012 Call Onehunga Town Centre’s Security Guard
Satia Sami
02 0401 13040 Or contact the OBA office ph
636 8535
Outside business hours, on Sundays & Public Holidays please call Police —Dial 111
Look Sharp Store robbed Look Sharp store Onehunga was robbed on Monday 17 December. During the busy afternoon rush, a thief jimmied the door to the office which had a combination lock and stole a considerable sum of money. It would appear this is a professional who may work in a group. Look Sharp are not 100% sure but they believe the photo they have captured here is of the guy who was acting suspiciously in their CBD store and is linked to the burglary in Onehunga. He is Maori or Pacific Islander, late 20s to early 30s, not tall but well-built with muscles, both arms with obvious tattoos, wearing a cap and NIKE shoes. He was using an iphone and staff saw him riding a flash bicycle outside the CBD store. This guy asked the back section if he could use their toilet urgently and was acting very strangely. He was texting someone for about a minute before leaving the store. The guy in the picture was wearing a cross bag and the Onehunga thief was wearing a grey satchel cross bag. Please contact Police if you recognise this man and or can help with their investigation.
Onehunga Event Calendar
See more events at www.onehunga.net.nz/events Tell us about your event 24 December — 5.30pm Service and Midnight Mass at St Peter’s 25 December — Eucharist for Christmas Day 21 February — CEO Breakfast
www.onehunga.net.nz www.facebook.com/onehunga
Merry Christmas from the OBA When we reflect on the year of 2012 — it’s fair to say, it’s been an action-packed year. There has been a raft of issues that affect businesses that we have been involved with and as I write we are still busy having meetings with local businesses regarding the ongoing concerns for Transpower’s Corridor Management Plan. The Unitary Plan is due out in March and it is vital the plan takes into consideration the concerns of businesses and land-owners. We are aware that it is tough out there for retailers, but according to recent statistics, Onehunga is performing better than our major competititors for the same period. This year the OBA introduced its new Business Plan, which sets the Association’s direction and focus for the next two years. The Business Plan is available in printed form and online here : http:// www.onehunga.net.nz/featured/onehunga-precinct-plan-2050/. The Church-Neilson business precinct plan is also available online here: http://www.onehunga.net.nz/ featured/church-neilson-business-plan-2050/
Bringing Satia Sami into the OBA team as Onehunga’s Security Guard has proved invaluable. She has been keeping a watchful eye on the community and has had numerous enquiries from Police and calls from businesses requiring assistance. With 27 security cameras around Onehunga, Satia has been able to prevent trouble from happening when she’s spotted suspicious activity and in some instances she has managed to locate offenders and direct the Police to them. The OBA office closes on Monday 24 December and reopens again on Monday 7 January 2013 with another year of activities already planned including a CEO Breakfast on 21 February. Many thanks to the OBA committee who give up their time to make certain the OBA is doing its best for you. Thank you Peter, Debbie, Elizabeth, Gaylene, Ross, Rob, Ross, Bridget, Dana and Andy Waugh, our Council Economic Development liaison. Finally, a big thank you to you — our members, for all the support you have shown. Whether it has been informing us of business issues, looking out for other retailers or passing on vital information, we really appreciate your engagement with us and look forward to working with you next year.
Cheers
Amanda, Anne, Briar and Satia
Please note: If your business lies within the Onehunga business precinct you are automatically a member of Onehunga Business Association - paying a part of your rates to fund the OBA.
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In November, we were delighted to see the Onehunga restoration project go ahead which will include new beaches, a new boat ramp, 6.8 ha of new park land. This project was a hard fought battle by this community and we were happy to be able to be part of the advocating team.
With Christmas Day falling on a Tuesday, Rubbish will be collected on the following day — Wednesday 26 December and 2nd Jan 2013. The next blue bin date is Tuesday 8 January 2013. *The dates printed in last weeks’ newsletter were incorrect—please follow the dates above.
This e-news is sent to you by Onehunga Business Association, because you are either a member, or you have an interest in the organisation or the area. If you do not wish to receive these communications, please let us know by phoning 636 8535.
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One of the great OBA initiatives this year is the Community Patrol, which is a voluntary group who act as the ‘eyes and ears’ for Police. The OBA supports the Community Patrol with the Police, which actively patrols Onehunga and reports incidents and suspicious activity.
Rubbish collections
NEW OBA Committee (2012/13 year) Peter Gibson, President (Parkinson & Bouskill) - 636 3300 Debbie Leaver (The Library Café & Function Venue) - 636 7292 Elizabeth Bedford (Changes) - 634 1913 Gaylene Powell (Dress Smart) - 622 2400 Rob Gallagher (Westpac) - 634 8555 Ross Mudafar (Onehunga Family Pharmacy) - 622 2865 Bridget Graham (Deputy Chairperson, Maungakiekie-Tamaki Local Board) - 301 0101 Dana Jin (Rainbow D) - 6349068 Ross Reid (Daniel Overton & Goulding) - 6222222
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Merry Christmas from the OBA Street collectors January 2013 Pearce street safety works Christmas at St Peter’s Large numbers at Transpower public meeting Events happening in 2013 Computer maintenance over summer Onehunga’s Security Update Onehunga Event Calendar Rubbish collections over Christmas
Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year to all of you from the team at Onehunga Business Association. Onehunga Business Association Amanda Kinzett, Manager Briar Millar, Events Anne Dunlop, Communications Satia Sami, Security 212A Onehunga Mall (upstairs) P: 09 636 8535 F: 09 636 8542 E: business@onehunga.net.nz
www.onehunga.net.nz
Onehunga
Amanda Kinzett, Manager Onehunga Business Association
Street Collectors January 2013
The following street collectors have gained permission to collect on the following days, anyone else may not be genuine — if you do notice anyone suspicious collecting, please contact us immediately on 636 8542. Tuesday 8 Jan — Green Peace Wednesday 23 Jan — Red Cross Tuesday 15 Jan — World Vision
Pearce Street Safety Works
Safety works planned for February 2013
Events happening in 2013 Mark these dates in your diary now
Auckland Transport has been working with the Maungakiekie-Tāmaki Local Board, investigating safety and accessibility concerns raised by the local community.
B2Bs We will be running another series of our popular B2B Network Events in 2013.
Key concerns include a lack of pedestrian connectivity within Pearce Street and its use as a short cut by bus operators. The following link provides details of proposed safety improvements along Pearce Street, designed to address these safety concerns. http://www.onehunga.net.nz/infrastructure/pearce-st-safety-works/
Hosting a B2B gives you the opportunity to showcase your business to other business people. Catering and refreshments costs are met 50/50 by the OBA and the hosting business.
The works include: -Kerb redesign and installation of speed tables to create a low speed town centre environment. -Footpath widening to improve pedestrian accessibility. -Installation of pram crossings with tactile pavers to create safe crossing points. -Creation of two additional on-street car parks. The works are intended to commence in late February 2013 and will be coordinated with maintenance works on Upper Municipal Place. Please note that works on Upper Municipal Place will be notified separately. Should you wish to provide feedback or if you require further information regarding these safety improvements, please respond in writing by 5pm Friday 18 January 2013 to aaron.hutching@aucklandtransport.govt.nz.
Christmas at St Peter’s
Take part in some fantastic Christmas services Monday 24 December 5.30pm — Christmas Pageant: a half-hour acting out of the Christmas story with songs and carols for all ages Monday 24 December 11.30pm — Midnight Mass for Christmas with carols Tuesday 25 December 9.30am — Christ is born today! Eucharist for Christmas Day
If you are interested in hosting a B2B next year please contact our Events Manager Briar Millar on 09 636 8535 or email events@onehunga.net.nz. CEO Breakfast Following on from our very successful launch of this new programme, our first CEO Breakfast for the year will be on Thursday 21 February. Phil O’Reilly, Chief Executive of BusinessNZ, is our guest speaker. He is involved in many aspects of business regulation and will provide an insight into what we can expect within the business environment for 2013. Lunar New Year 2013 is the year of the snake and the next year Lunar New Year (Chinese New Year) will be celebrated in Onehunga on Saturday 16th February. This fun, annual cultural event is co-hosted by the Onehunga Business Association and the Onehunga Library. The lion dancers will be blessing businesses again — if you would like to support the dancers, please contact us to discuss.
Computer Maintenance tips for Summer Extending the life of your computer
1 - Heat. Heat is the invisible killer of computers and is most often attributed to dust build-up on the internal components. Firstly, Make sure enough air is going through your PC case, otherwise the heat cannot escape — this is done with the little fans inside the case.
You are also welcome to join us for Eucharist( Holy Communion) every Sunday at 9.30am and every Wednesday at 10am.
The second thing is dust management — take a quick look at the back of your computer and check for dust build-up around the mesh behind the fans, this will indicate how dusty it is inside. You can remove the side panel from your case and with a soft brush gently brush away the dust from the components and suck it up with your vacuum cleaner.
Large numbers at Transpower public meeting
Be sure to leave it plugged in at the wall, but switched off, because this helps with static electricity build-up. It can be a messy and fiddly job and it is included in all of our Tune-Up packages if you would prefer someone else did this for you.
Discussion surrounding proposed pylon buffer zones A large group of affected property owners and businesses attended a public meeting hosted by Amanda Kinzett, OBA Town Manager, at the Library Cafe on Thursday 13 December. Chaired by Mai Chen of Chen Palmer Lawyers, many people had the chance to raise their issues and concerns relating to the proposed 24 metre buffer zones. The Draft Unitary plan is coming out in March and it is vital that this plan reflects the concerns of businesses and property owners. As the Council has strategic goals to make Auckland the most liveable city, it is contradictory for this plan to include such limiting 24 metre buffer zones. These zones will not only affect businesses but employees and families who will not have work due to the lack of business expansion. There must be a balance between protecting the national grid and ensuring Auckland is a business-friendly and well-functioning city. Peseta Sam Lotu-Iiga, MP for Maungakiekie, presented his concerns and is having a meeting with Transpower and the Minister in the hope that the buffer zone area can be reduced. Please check our website regularly as we will be updating you with further information and
details. The OBA is part of a group of Auckland businesses and land owners that are lobbying against the proposed buffer zones around high-voltage power lines in Onehunga. Click here to read a related article in the Business Herald, Monday 3 Dec 2012. http://www.nzherald.co.nz/business/news/article.cfmc_id=3&objectid=10851523
2 - Power Conservation. Even when your PC is turned off, it is still draining power, including your monitor and printer and anything else you might have plugged in. Switching off your computer at night at the wall switch can help, especially if you have all your devices plugged in to a power strip. Leaving it all running 24/7 can cost over $10 per week - bear this in mind if you are going away on holiday this Christmas. 3 - Back Up Data. I’m not a fan of hard drives - the expected lifespan of a hard drive is only about 3 years but I assure you they start to die the very second it is installed into a computer. We had a client earlier this year who purchased a brand new PC from a reputable retailer, but 6 months later the hard drive failed spectacularly and they lost all their data and we were unable to retrieve it. This end up costing around $800 from a specialised data recovery service! Your hard drive will fail, it is certain, the question is not "if" but "when", so are you prepared? You can back up your data in 2 main ways. First is using an external storage device such as a blank DVD, another hard drive or an external drive. The second method is using cloud services for online backups - there are many providers who can do this, such as the free www.justcloud.com, but be aware that if you back up your whole computer you could exceed your data cap on your internet account very quickly so plan it out first. Merry Christmas from Dean & Sacha of Dean's Computery Stuff—130 D Onehunga Mall