November 2012
The Trusts Arena Evolves P9
t s e w our
brought to you by
Soljans Celebrate 75 Years of Wine-making Out West P5 "Giving Back" - what it means for the West P6 Icon of the West Dame June Mariu P8 Great November liquor specials P11 For more information on The Trusts, visit our website www.thetrusts.co.nz or email us at info@thetrusts.co.nz
our west Moon Festival and Festival of Rona
2
The Trusts Arts and Sculpture Awards 3 The Whau's Got Talent
3
Prolific Waitakere Athletics Club marks 60 years
4
Soljans Celebrate 75 Years of Wine-making Out West 5 "Giving Back" - what it means for the West 6 The Trusts Most Improved in Workplace Survey 7 Icon of the West Dame June Mariu
8
The Trusts Stadium Evolves 9
2
The Good Times Guide
10
Great Liquor Savings
11
Moon Festival and Festival of Rona New Lynn blazed with colour and action recently, created by the 10th annual Moon Festival and the inaugural Maori Festival of Rona staged under the collective heading of “Legends of the Moon”. Legends of the Moon is a new initiative to encourage a number of cultures in the Whau Local Board area to share their legends and festivals associated with the Moon. The Board has appointed a steering committee to advise the form and format for this “festival season” for 2013. As these pictures show The Moon Festival was, as always, a wonderful kaleidoscope of colour, action and cultures, and the Rona Festival made a brave start that will build into the future.
The Trusts Arts and Sculpture Awards
SA
e’ Winner TTA Sabine Poppe ‘Pensiv
This year’s The Trusts Arts and Sculpture Awards was a resounding success with 400 entries, a big increase in visitors, a 50% increase in sales of artworks with the amount paid in total up by 35%. Overall winner was Sabine Poppe with “Pensive”, a work described by the Judges as having “confidence and attack, allied to vivid colour with a strong sense of character...so that the painting succeeds on several levels.” Second prize was Gabor Toth’s painting, “the Lake” and Lynette McKinstrie: took 3rd with “Defying the Odds.” Raewyn Turner & Brian Harris won the sculpture top prize with “Downwind”; second was “The Price of Milk” by Donna Sarten and third, “Story of Chance” by Ramon Robertson. The Judges were T J McNamara and Judy Darragh. Raewyn Turner (Sc ulpture Winner), Judy Darragh (Sc and Brian Harris ulpture Judge) (Sculpture Winner )
The Whau's Got Talent The Whau Board is offering the chance for the next generation of entertainers to claim their place in the spotlight, with the first ever "The Whau's got talent" show. The six categories are Cultural, Music (song multi-piece), Music (song-solo), Music (instrumental), Dance or General. The competition will be held over three heats, with the winner and runner up in each category in each heat going forward to a grand final on 1 December at the Liberty Church, in Avondale. In the final there will be a winner in each category and an overall winner who (if a musician) will win a mastered CD recording session, at the ZEAL studios in Henderson and a booking at the Glen Eden Christmas Carnival on December 15th 2012.
All category finals winners will be booked to the 2013 Rhythm at Riversdale in February. Heat 1 Heat 2 Heat 3 FINAL
Liberty Church, Avondale, 24th November. Kelston Community Centre, 25th November. Blockhouse Bay Community Centre, 30th November. Liberty Church, Avondale, 1st December. 3
Prolific Waitakere Athletics Club marks 60 years A West Auckland sports club with a glittering history, celebrates its Diamond Jubilee with a reunion dinner on 23rd November, 2012. In its 60 years, the Waitakere City Athletic Club (formerly Waitemata Amateur Athletics Club) has nurtured thousands of youngsters and produced 140 New Zealand champions (who between them set 64 New Zealand records), 30 New Zealand representatives, 8 Commonwealth Games representatives and 2 Olympians - along with eight athletes who went on to international status in other sports. This was achieved under the tutelage of famous coaches including former Commonwealth Champion Decathlete Roy Williams, Ross Dallow, and current top international coach Russ Hoggard, to name but a few. This glittering roll call of achievement at the highest level began humbly in 1952, when the late George Searle initiated the formation of the club. Typical of the times, fundraising was local and imaginative and a great deal of the labour was volunteer. Indeed two women committee members were reported as helping to lay drainage pipes while “up to their hips in mud”! Essentially a children’s club in the ‘50’s and 60’s, its first stadium was located between Great North Road and Ratanui Street. During this era, it nurtured the immensely talented Joe “Big Apple” Antunovich, a national junior discus and shot champion. Joe went on the University of Southern California and represented his country at the 1970 Edinburgh Commonwealth Games.
4
In 1982, with iconic Westie Ross Dallow as project manager, the club built a $1.2 million indoor stadium where The Trusts Stadium
now stands. This incorporated New Zealand’s first indoor rubberised running track and a host of other facilities. The outdoor athletics arena was next door. This facility brought a surge in achievements including having three members selected for the 1982 Brisbane Commonwealth Games: Kim Robertson, the national 100m, 200m, and 400m champion; Janine Robson, the national 400m hurdles champion and Pam Hendren, a national long jump champion and record holder. Over the ensuring decade the club ranked among the best in New Zealand and in 1992 produced its first Olympian, Cameron Taylor. Taylor reached the second round in the 200 metres at Barcelona, bowing out with a 5th and a new national record. The third era began in 2004 with the building of The Trusts Stadium and the Douglas Track and Field - again under the leadership of Ross Dallow. While these world class facilities are not owned by the club, they are its “home”. Thus re-equipped to international status, the club has hosted a range of top line events including IAAF permit meetings in 2008 and 2009, featuring New Zealand’s darling Valerie Adams. It has also seen a steady revival in athletics performances. The biggest name club member to have trained here is Olympian Beatrice Fau’muina. Also notable is Andrea McKee, high jump bronze medallist at the Melbourne Commonwealth Games. Elizabeth Lamb, the national women’s high jump champion competed at the 2010 Delhi Commonwealths, missed selection for the London Olympics by a whisker and has her sights firmly on Rio in four years.
Soljans celebrate 75 years of wine-making out West An internationally respected New Zealand wine company is celebrating its 75th birthday this year. Soljans Estate Winery and Cafe celebrated with a dinner attended by Prime Minister John Key and a guest list that read like a who’s who of New Zealand winemaking. Inevitably, many of the guests had the common bond of Croatian ancestry; people who transplanted their culture, their skill in winemaking and their almost dynastic family traditions to build a world class industry in New Zealand. Third generation Soljan winemaker and managing director of the company, Tony Soljan, believes that without the Croatian community, the New Zealand wine industry as we know it, would not exist. “I believe that without that tight Croatian community, there wouldn’t be a New Zealand wine industry,” Tony said. “They have an affinity with the product but also in those tough early days, there was no money, so they helped each other get started and grew the industry together.” He also believes that because they were continuing family traditions these Croation pioneers developed not just knowledge in the art and skill of wine-making but an affinity that can’t be learned from studying alone. This affinity is handed down enabling each generation to build on what went before.
"I believe we have a duty to build on what our forbearers started, for future generations." Tony says. It was Tony’s grandfather Bartul who put down the first winemaking “roots” in 1932, but the company we know today was established in Lincoln Road in 1937 by Tony’s father, Frank. There it become a West Auckland fixture for 67 years until the encroaching urban sprawl of Waitakere City prompted Tony to take on the huge upheaval of re-building at Kumeu, in 2002.
In many ways this illustrates how the Croatian determination to overcome all obstacles has been central to building the modern and internationally respected New Zealand industry in an incredibly short time. While, European winemaking goes back hundreds of years, New Zealand has seized the attention and respect of the world within the lifetimes of wine making pioneers like Frank and later Tony - many of them of Croatian descent.
At the recent dinner, Tony also paid a tribute to The Trusts, suggesting to the Prime Minister that if the rest of Auckland's liquor industry was managed by The Trusts it would be better for the community and better for the winemakers. "It's the best system," he said.
5
"Giving
What it means You've seen a lot of change in The Trusts in the last few months - new modern stores, new modern brands and colours, new modern logo and new modern attitude. You've also seen our new slogan - "Giving Back". Those are not empty words. Increasingly in the future, you'll be seeing us adopting a new way in which The Trusts are "Giving Back" to the community. We can “give back” in many ways and we intend to use them all. One way is by continuing The Trusts’ responsible approach to the sale and consumption of liquor in West Auckland. You, the community, own this business and you have said you don’t want a liquor store on every corner and in every dairy.
Furthermore, customer satisfaction is our top priority. You can expect world class service in our liquor stores, from people trained by the Dale Carnegie Business Group to be knowledgeable about our products and committed to giving professional service to every customer. We think all that is a form of “Giving Back”. Between the modern stores and customer focus we have created a retail experience that helps make dealing with us a genuine pleasure and helps make “our town” just that bit safer and more pleasant than many others. We also handle sensitive products with great restraint. We don’t sell the so-called “legal highs” and we have designed a very effective staff training programme to prevent alcohol sales to minors. Police conduct Controlled Purchase Operations regularly throughout our retail and hospitality outlets. As responsible retailers we welcome this monitoring and interaction. We’re proud that our systems and procedures reinforce that youngsters will not be able to buy these products from us. I like to think that our “Giving back” also makes the West better and safer for our young people and their families.
So, traditionally we have had a smaller number of retail outlets than elsewhere in Auckland. As a result we do not have the high levels of drunkenness, crime, social and health issues and road crash incidents that many other places do.
6
We will continue to have smaller numbers of outlets but they are going to be very different. As you know, we have embarked on a radical, even revolutionary, make-over of our retail outlets under the West Liquor and Village Wines and Spirits brands. They are bright, attractive, safe and modern, with the right product range and excellent regular prices and specials.
This system is backed up by another innovative, industryleading staff qualification. We call this qualification the Mini LQC and it see all our staff – not just duty managers trained in the Sale of Liquor Act. All of this training is another form of “Giving Back”. As a proud Westie employer we’re committed to providing good and worthwhile employment and training to the people who work with us, delivering skills and qualifications that will help set them up for life. Our vision is to have a growing liquor, entertainment and hospitality business that “Westies” are proud to own and patronise. From the increased profits we will build upon our current range of sponsorships, grants and donations. These include the Northern Mystics and Waitakere United, top national netball and football (soccer) clubs based at The Trusts Arena, a major west Auckland community asset of which we are also proud to be a key supporter.
Back"
for the West
We also support The Trusts Art and Sculpture Awards and the Portage Ceramic Awards among a raft of other sponsorship to groups and events large and small. So, when you look around and see the vibrant new image of The Trusts emerging throughout West Auckland, please remember that this is The Trusts “Giving Back” to you. Finally, a word about gaming. We understand that the public wants gambling to be conducted sensitively and responsibly in West Auckland. While we aren’t in the gambling business, there are some things that we have control of. First, there are gaming machines in our venues and we are committed to providing a “civilised” environment and to keep a close watch to identify and prevent problem behaviour. Second, we choose the gambling operator (Class 4 Gaming Society) that will put machines into our venues. The society we choose will always offer the following combination of benefits: •
ethical business practices that stand close scrutiny
• a commitment to doing all it can to ensure that gaming in our venues is a harmless recreation •
The greatest possible returns to our community
At present we have a chosen TTCFL which returns around 99% of the profits made in West Auckland, to West Auckland. The remaining 1% goes to regional causes that West Aucklanders use - (like MOTAT), for example.
The Trusts Most Improved in Workplace Survey The Trusts has been a stellar performer in this year’s Kenexa Workplace Survey, winning the “most improved” category for large businesses (more than 400 staff), after demonstrating what is regarded as a huge jump in employee “engagement with the company”. Some 289 companies nationwide entered the survey in 2012. The Trusts HR Manager Martha Gibbons says that the company has been entering the survey for several years and has applied the lessons learned in a raft of new initiatives that enable staff to tell management what can be improved and then empower them to act on it. “We believe in asking people to find the solutions because if they think of them and see the company taking them up, they’ll engage with the organisation and implement change,” Ms Gibbons says. This saw the staff’s engagement jump from 19% to 26% - a 7% improvement when 3% is considered significant. It prompted Kenexa’s Tess O’Rourke to write: “to improve your survey score by this magnitude is a real achievement.” Staff were told they were Agents of Change and challenged to help the company set its values. The company has instituted Excellence Awards, a monitoring system involving mystery shoppers, a new two-way performance review system, and targeted career learning opportunities. Coming soon is a management trainee programme. “Our goal is 60% engagement by 2016,” Martha says.
New stores now open Glendene, Kelston, All Seasons & Avondale
Kind regards to you all
Simon Wickham CHIEF EXECUTIVE
Swanson Village Please let us know what you think at info@thetrusts.co.nz
7
icons west of the
West Auckland/Waitakere has produced an extraordinary number of extraordinary New Zealanders - men, women, families and companies - who have been unique, outstanding and yes, that much overused word, 'iconic'. We will profile one of them each month.
Dame Mabel June Hinekahu kura Mariu, of received the West Aucklan Insignia of a d, Dame Compan Order of Merit ion of the Ne , for services w Zealand to Maori and the community
Dame June Mariu It is hard to imagine anyone who has done more for Maori in general, Maori women and children in particular or for people generally than Te Atatu’s Dame June Mariu. It is also hard to imagine anyone who has packed more into life or, such is her deep humility, anyone quicker to turn the spotlight away from herself. It has been said that she has done a great deal but if you want to know what, you have to dig hard to find it. Don’t expect her to tell you herself; you’re likely to be told “the kumara should not boast of its own sweetness.” As Bob Harvey wrote of her: “she takes little credit for her work or her life’s commitment, maintaining that she is merely the successor of many Maori women who have gone before.” Now 80 and dubbed a Dame in the 2012 Queen’s Birthday Honours, June Mariu has been president of the Maori Women’s Welfare League, a founder (with fellow Westie Dr Pita Sharples) of the kohanga reo movement, a member of the Treaty of Waitangi Fisheries Commission, a member of the Maori Education Commission, a member of The Maori Women’s Development Fund, a member of the 1988 Royal Commission on Social Policy, the Maori representative on the 1990 Commission, member of the Police Maori Focus Forum, Chair of Te Whanau o Waipareira, a triple New Zealand sporting representative (softball, basketball and netball), captain of the Silver Ferns (the first Maori so to do, a foundation member of Aotearoa Maori Netball, a founder of Collegiate netball (where she mentored that other icon, Yvonne Willering) and a member of the Maori Sports Hall of Fame.
8
As these many roles attest, Dame June Mariu has been one of the bridges that many Maori - and not just Maori women - have passed over on their way to the Maori renaissance in the late 20th and early 21st centuries. She demurs but history already ranks her alongside the most outstanding Maori women in post European times and one of the most outstanding women of any race. It some senses, though, that is what she did in her “spare time”, for June Mariu has also been a life- long educator - teaching physical education and Maori at Rutherford College for two decades. Even more, she has been and remains, a perpetual-motion guardian angel for her people, and for at risk children. In the last capacity she is credited with turning around the lives of many troubled youth and setting them on the path to personal success. She and her late husband Joe even found time to be foster parents - carrying on a tradition from her own parents. While at Rutherford College she founded the school marae and created an enduring bond with the school where to this day she is treated as a Taonga. After the 2007 Polyfest pupils paid their own tribute: “To Whaea June Mariu who still holds it all together after 31 years; we cannot even begin to express what you mean to us and the part you play.”
Dame June Mariu, Icon - taonga - of the West, the West salutes you.
The Trusts Stadium Evolves Renowned icon The Trusts Stadium becomes "The Trusts Arena" The Trusts Stadium is renowned in West Auckland for being an iconic venue for quality entertainment, local and international sports, functions, events, fitness and much, much more. Recently, with the rebrand of The Trusts and the placement of the new-look green and blue The Trusts logo button at the end of the building, The Trusts Stadium, saw this as an opportunity for the organisation to evolve.
“While we are not owned by The Trusts, they are a major sponsor and supporter of The Trusts Stadium. It therefore made sense for us to follow suit in their rebrand with a fresh new look and feel, and in turn, a name change.” Says Brian Blake, Chief Executive As a result, and with much consideration, contribution and feedback from West Auckland, The Trusts Stadium will come under the new banner of The Trusts Arena. During consultation with stakeholders it was clearly communicated that the name Arena best represents the facility that welcomed 638,000 visitors per year. The Trusts Arena has recently hosted a number of memorable events including the famous One Direction concert, LG Mystics home Netball matches, Silver Ferns vs England, The Cranberries, Toddlers’ Day Out and Diwali. However the majority of the Arena’s visitors come from those who take part in a range of community sports like Basketball, Roller Skating, Futsal, Roller Derby, Volleyball and Handball. The Trusts Arena takes great pride in subsiding court hire charges to these users to ensure they can continue to operate their successful leagues, trainings and events at The Trusts Arena.
The 'courts' really are a hidden treasure as many people don't realise that for only $3 youth and $5 adult, you can use the courts via the Arena's 'Casual Bookings' campaign. The Trusts Arena has also recently taken over management of the “Precinct” from the Auckland City Council. The Precinct consists of The Douglas Track & Field as well as the back fields (2, 2a & 3), where it currently hosts touch rugby modules, Athletics and AFL 9’s each week as well as regular annual events such as the New Zealand Ukulele Festival and Waitakere Fireworks Show. For commercial or group arrangements, The Trusts Arena manages bookings for the track and fields, so if you are interested in
operating a commercial training or event please call 09-970-5208 to make a booking. Unfortunately, commercial activities such as bootcamps, general and personal training sessions are not permitted to use the facility without a booking and prior approval.
There is a Local School Athletics Day Summer Package available, for just $300.00+GST per day, it includes use of the Douglas Track & Field, Grandstand Seating & PA Sound System. Call 09 970-5208 to make a booking. Stadium Fitness, known for its quality equipment, unique group fitness classes and great environment will become “Arena Fitness”. Now under new management, Arena Fitness has its sights set on becoming the go-to venue for innovative, functional training, including new team programmes on the grounds at The Trusts Arena and classes including suspension and kettle bell training. In 2013 Arena Fitness is opening their services up to the wider public, offering new options for both members and non-members to take their training to the next level. Join the Arena Fitness Facebook page to see the announcements as they occur! The Functions Centre will also undergo a transformation, becoming Arena Functions. Located in the upper level of The Trusts Arena with amazing views of the fields and park, Arena Functions provides a wide array of options for businesses and individuals. From corporate events to weddings, intimate concerts to awards evenings, Arena Functions can cater to all needs with numbers from 10 - 650. With the Day Delegate rate starting from just $49.00 inclusive of lunch, you really should bring your next event ‘Out West!’ As a non-profit organisation, The Trusts Arena reinvests any profits straight back into the organisation to help subsidise community sports and maintain the facilities and the grounds, so that we can continue to bring more sports and events to West Auckland.
The Trusts Arena rebrand will present a fresh, new innovative look that ties everything together and better represent the icon of West Auckland that everyone can feel proud to support. For more information about The Trusts Arena, Arena Fitness or Arena Functions, phone 09 907 5200 or visit www.thetrustsarena.co.nz
Brian Blake Chief Executive The Trusts Stadium
9
The Good Times Guide Tuesday Quiz Night
Experience one of the most successful & well established Quiz Nights in Auckland. Free to enter teams of 2-8, hosted by Simon McKinney. Register by 7pm.
Wednesday Pitcher Club Purchase 4 Pitchers and receive the 5th Free!
MISSING TIME DJ Karn Hall & guests laying down the tracks on Thursdays 9pm – 2am. Perfect weekend warm up with drink specials.
A Tribe Called West
DJ Manchoo & guests spin only the best Hip Hop & RnB. Fridays 10pm until late. The Good, The Bad, The Sexy DJs Alex Q, Doctor J, Elmo & Sunil with their most prized collections of House music. Saturday 10pm until late.
Family Night
Ladies Night Thursday
Only for the ladies, selected $6 RTD’s from 7pm on Thursday nights. Beer O’clock Head to Miss Q’s for a cool beer at the end of the work day, $5 handles from 5-6pm, $6 handles from 6-7pm, selected beers only. Christmas Functions Book your end of year function at Miss Q’s now. Great food and beverage packages are available. Contact missqsmanager@wats.co.nz or call 09-831 0268.
Miss Q’s King of the Table Weekly Pool Comp with $50 cash prize for first and $20 bar tab for second, every Wednesday from 7pm. First Seasons Final is on 5th December. Winner takes $200 and 2nd $50 bar tab. Limited places.
Kids Dine Free (1 kids meal free per adult meal ordered), Thursday between 5-7pm.
Happy Hour Enjoy $5 drink specials on selected beer, wine and spirits. Monday to Saturday 5-7pm.
Monday Pizza Madness
Carlsberg Pool Night
Order any pizza and receive a complimentary Corona, available all day Monday. Tuesday Mussel Mania The best deal in West Auckland, half price mussels available all day Tuesday. Christmas at Origins Book your end of year function at Origins Restaurant now. Great options available including ten-pin bowling and dinner packages starting from $27.50 per person. Phone 831 0266 or email originsmanager@wats.co.nz
Our renovations have just been completed, come in and check out our new look! We are celebrating with live bands every Friday and Saturday, all November!
Weekly Specials Menu*
Monday Kids Eat Free Tuesday Free Breads when 2 a la carte mains ordered Wednesday All pasta $15 Thursday All deserts $9 Friday $10 Cocktails from 5pm Saturday Pie & Guinness $17.50 Sunday Roast $22.50 including wine/beer *Terms and conditions apply
10
Richardson’s Tavern
MID-WEEK WEDNESDAY POOL $5 Entry, starts 7pm, played under ‘2 stroke foul’ rules, 2-life format. FRIDAY’S SOCIAL POOL COMP $10 Entry, starts 7pm, played under ‘honest attempt pub’ rules. WILD BUCK WEDNESDAYS Handles of Wild Buck $4.50, all day Wednesday.
SIZZLING FRIDAYS
Manager’s Special Friday 5.30-7.30pm, tap beers $5.50 and FREE sausage sizzle. NITEOWL KARAOKE Hosted By Craig & Ivan, 17th November 4-8pm.
LIVE MUSIC
Black Rose 8-late, Friday 30th November.
Happy Hour 5-7pm
Enjoy drink specials on selected beer and RTDS, every day from 5-7pm.
Bar & Grill
Every Thursday from 7.30pm, $5 entry, prizes for first and second. Texas Hold’em Poker Every Friday night, free to play, registration from 7pm, kicks off 7.30pm. Karaoke with Wazza Best Karaoke out West, every Saturday night from 7pm.
Wild Buck Fishing
Drink Wild Buck Draught or Lager and go in the draw to win a fishing charter for you and 6 friends. Exclusive to Mainstreet Bar. Enter the draw from 8th October - 21st December 2012. See bar staff for terms and conditions, excludes Wednesdays and Happy Hour. Export Gold Drawn Pairs Pool Competition Sunday 25th November from 2pm. Dinner provided for all players. $10 Entry, a big $300 Prize Pool to be won.
Gold Card $10 Fish & Chips Tuck into our $10 Fish n Chips lunch special from 11am to 3pm, only on Tuesdays and Wednesdays, only for Gold Card Holders.
Quiz Night Wednesday Come on down to Bar159 for quiz night. Free entry, win bar tabs and great spot prizes. Maximum number in a team is 8, Every Wednesday, register from 6.30pm, starts at 7.30pm. Mark James Live and Acoustic Unwind for the weekend whilst listening to Mark James live and acoustic from 7pm, Friday the 16th and Friday 30th of November.
Around the World
Try Beers from all around the world with our bucket deals. Every Friday and Saturday from 5pm, all November.
HAPPY HOUR
THE GLEN
From 5-7pm, $4.50 Wild Buck pints when you use your Loyalty Card. If you would like a loyalty card one please ask our staff. It’s FREE to join! WILD BUCK WEDNESDAY $4.50 Wild Buck pints for everyone, all day. KARAOKE The best Karaoke in West Auckland every Thursday night 9pm to late.