July 2013 2012 Westpac Auckland West Business Awards Gala Dinner, The Trusts Arena
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Mystics on comeback trail P2
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Tribute to honoured Westies P2 Education Centre opens at Piha P3 The Great New Zealand Roast P4 Problem Gambling? Not on our watch P5 Karen Walker Icon of the West P6 Business Awards P7 For more information on The Trusts, visit our website www.thetrusts.co.nz or email us at info@thetrusts.co.nz
Tribute to honoured Westies We extend our very sincere congratulations to all the iconic Westies who were acknowledged in this year's Queen's Birthday Honours. They all, in their own way, typified the generosity with which Westies give to the local community, without thought of reward. Ross Dallow QSO was made MNZM. Ross is, of course, a former Police District Commander and Waitakere City Councillor and more latterly a Local Board member. He was also the driving force behind the development of The Trusts Arena (stadium) and its predecessor and lifelong servant of athletics. Sharon Davies was awarded the QSM. Shaz, as she is universally known, was profiled several issues ago after winning the TVNZ’s Attitude Award for people with disabilities. A former community board member and PA to deputy mayor Penny Hulse, she is a member of many community organisations. Roger Laloli received the QSM. The outgoing president of Henderson Rotary Club, Roger has served the community for 45 years through both Lions and Rotary with whom he has raised funds for hospitals, youth and children’s education.
He also served as a community board member for Waitakere City Council. Brian Edwards received the QSM recognising 49 years in the fire service, including a long period of service in Henderson. Mr Edwards joined the fire service in 1963 and rose through the ranks to become the Fire Chief for the Auckland District Fire Service. He developed fire fighting procedures for major Auckland buildings including the Sky Tower. Peter Wheeler was awarded the QSM to recognise his service to second world war Air Force veterans who are now in their 80s and 90s. Mr Wheeler keeps about 200 veterans in touch though organising events and writing newsletters. He’s also voluntary administrator for the New Zealand Bomber Command Association. Mihi Angell was the recipient of the QSM for services to Maori. Mrs Angell has worked for 40 years promoting understanding of the Maori language, culture and customs in West Auckland schools. She oversaw the creation of marae at both Kelston Girls College and Boys High, and served on the board of the Girls College and Kelston intermediate. Awa Hudson became the holder of the QSO in recognition of her work for Maori and the community. A much beloved teacher at Massey High School, she taught Maori language and culture and promoted general education among Maori. Awa Hudson was also the deputy Mayor of Waitemata City.
Mystics on comeback trail after horror year This year might have been a horrible year for the LG Northern Mystics but CEO Julie Paterson believes that while the results this season have been hard to take, the team will be much better placed next year, and several years to come. “Hand on heart, I think that because we had to give some of our younger players a massive amount of court time this year, we’re now a year ahead of most of the other New Zealand franchises, in terms of team renewal,” Julie told Our West.
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The team, which is sponsored by The Trusts, knew at the beginning of the season that it faced challenges, with Anna Harrison out because of pregnancy, Temapara George retiring, a new captain and several key players struggling with injuries, but they believed they could rise to the challenge. “I still believe that was true but nobody could have foreseen the horror run of injuries that effectively kneecapped the team’s defence” Julie says. In normal circumstances, the team would have developed their young, inexperienced players slowly and within the protection of the experienced players around them. As it was, the senior ranks were decimated by injury after injury, forcing the Mystics into fielding teams of younger, inexperienced players who at first, suffered the full blast of this take-no-prisoners competition.
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It was noticeable, however, that performances improved significantly towards the end of the season and Julie attributes this to players getting past their initial lack of experience and showing real character to learn and take the game back to the opposition.
In terms of 2013 it was too little too late, but Julie believes that it did the franchise a favour in two ways. First, it turned inexperienced players into battle-hardened experienced players in very short order, putting the Mystics in a strong position for the 2014 season. “Secondly, we were motivated to strip back everything we were doing, on and off the court, and look at everything with a critical eye; how we were training, playing, managing the squad, and all our other processes. It’s not easy but we’re a lot better for having done it,” she says. Welcoming back Debbie Fuller as coach, has been a bonus. She knows the team and was able to hit the ground running with her planning for the year to come.“I expect there will be changes,” Julie says, “but they will all be for the good. They will enable us to go into next year confident that we are well set-up to succeed, not just next year, but for some years into the future.”
Education Centre opens the magic of Piha to school children The magic of Piha is becoming more accessible to future generations, through the creation of a living classroom in a Ministry of Education owned wetland. The Piha Education Trust has been given a 25 year lease on the two hectare wetland, to develop an outdoor education facility for West Auckland schools. After several intensive years of work, the landscaping is well advanced and the old school house already on the site, has been refurbished and painted for its revitalised role of classroom and information centre. Now, Trustees and schools are bending their minds to developing the educational facilities and programmes to be offered at the facility which will hopefully have its own dedicated teacher. The Trust was formed in 2008 by Henderson Rotary Club’s Kerry Dean (incoming President for 2013/14), around a board of trustees, most of whom are Principals and teachers from West Auckland schools. Having guided the Trust and the project through its start-up phase, Kerry is now stepping down as Trust President and being replaced by Linda Mayo, former Principal at Glen Eden Primary School. With funding from a wide range of sources including TTCF, the Lotteries Grants Board, Pub Charity, Henderson Rotary and others, the Trust has in the last several years, removed a stand of pine trees and sourced some 10,000 native plants from Oratia Nurseries. These have been planted by children from 25 West Auckland schools, transported by Ritchies coachlines. A medicinal garden was completed in May this year.
The benefits of the facility are already being seen in the reactions of the children who’ve participated in the planting operations.
"The children we see working at the centre, are always very excited at being involved. For many of them it's their first real exposure to the world of nature and they love it. We come away with beautiful stories about the children's experiences; and they regularly write their own letters and stories about how much they enjoyed the experience." says Kerry. The project has a professionally prepared ecological restoration plan and the landscaping follows a concept plan developed by Waitakere Architects. The concept plan depicts a wheel-like layout with pathways around the perimeter, with earth-path and boardwalk “spokes” linking a building at the centre, with structures where the spokes join the perimeter. These structures are called “education nodes” and function as a series of small classrooms that allow a wide range of different activities to be studied, all at once. However, the education centre itself is basically only a hub and the whole of Piha will offer students a wide range of learning opportunities, potentially contributing to all or a large part of the schools’ annual curriculum. The Piha Education Trust hasn’t yet fixed an opening day for the centre, but expects it will be later this year.
The pathways are in development, managed by the Council Rangers and have been built with assistance from students at Kelston Boys and other voluntary labour. Boardwalks are currently being designed to provide complete access around the site, for students and visitors. A large area such as this now requires year-round maintenance and that requirement has already created some of the on-going projects for children who will be using the centre. West Auckland school children hard
at work at the Piha Outdoor Education Centre
"Billie on the beat" Bartrum Billie the warden has been an identity in New Lynn for the past 15 years. Wanting to put something back into the community in her retirement, Billie, 82, originally joined the Waitakere Wardens. Undeterred when this organisation ceased in 2005 Billie simply created her own uniform and carried on, regardless. Billie is based at the New Lynn Community Policing Centre and patrols the carparks and bus terminal, assisting the public and “advising” the naughty kids to change their ways in a way that seems to have a remarkable success rate. Police staff cannot speak highly enough of Billie, according to Watchhouse Officer Warren Strand. Billie helps out at the counter, picks up lost property from the Mall and Countdown, delivers brochures and messages, keeps the station clean and tidy. She knows all the kids and they know her.
"It's a testament to her, how often they approach her years later and thank her for the advice that she has given. She is an amazing lady, a great help to us," says Warren. Recently, The Trusts have donated funds enabling her to upgrade her uniform to a Hi-Viz vest and jacket, personalised with “Billie on the Beat” on the back of her jacket. Despite the stormy weather, Billie could not wait to get out around the shops to show off the new gear.
The inspirational Billie Bartrum
August 4 is day of days for the great New Zealand Roast The increasingly popular Selaks Roast Day is back again this year, on Sunday 4 August, with chef Nici Wickes sharing her favourite menus and we at The Trusts are doing our part to help make Roast Day one of the signature events of West Auckland in mid-winter. The wine company is putting a massive advertising and marketing push behind the idea that the great Kiwi roast is the very essence of traditional New Zealand cuisine and we should set aside at least one day a year, to celebrate it.
The best West Auckland Venues for an excellent Roast Meal on Sunday August 4th are: Icon Restaurant
This year’s event is described as an exploration of roasts of the world, using a selection of recipes from celebrity chef and Roast Day Ambassador, Nici Wickes. These are available in a free eCookbook that can be downloaded from www.selaks.co.nz.
159 Lincoln Road, Henderson Ph 839 2480
The Trusts agree that we should celebrate New Zealand favourite meal and six of The Trusts restaurants are making the great Kiwi roast the feature of their menu. Furthermore, we’re extending the campaign with great offers on Selaks wines. To whet the appetite (and to wet the palate) during the campaign, there will be wine tastings in-store from 19 July, while purchasers will get discounts on Selaks wines and an offer of a free glass of wine at our restaurants.
The Marina
Selaks note that although the roast was originally quintessentially British, it soon became a treasured part of their own history in New Zealand, when their Croatian immigrant predecessors adopted the roast 79 years ago. The roast today, they believe is still close to the heart of New Zealanders and is finding new fans among a wide variety of new immigrants as they settle into becoming New Zealanders.
Black Salt
The Hangar
104 Central Park Drive, Henderson Ph 835 1056 www.thehangar.co.nz 15 Clearwater Grove, West Harbour Ph 416 6173
Bricklane
5 Clark Street, New Lynn Ph 826 3495 www.bricklane.co.nz Corner Totara Avenue & Great North Road Ph 826 0060 www.blacksaltbar.co.nz
Origins
Westgate Shopping Complex Ph 821 0266 www.originsrestaurant.co.nz
Roast Beef From 12 noon
Roast chicken From 12 noon
Roast pork From 10am
Roast lamb From 11am
Roast venison From 11.30am
Roast lamb From 10.30am
Roast recipes at your fingertips Get your FREE Selaks Roast Day eCookbook when you visit www.selaks.co.nz. Plus stock up on Selaks wines to match your roast and go in the draw to WIN your share of $30,000 in Fisher & Paykel appliances! See instore for details.
Problem Gambling? Not on our watch
We've made a point of emphasising over the last year that we're not in the gambling business. However, we are doing everything we can to ensure that gambling at our venues in West Auckland, is not problem gambling. Gambling is a dilemma for everybody. It’s legal, it’s popular, most people aren’t problem gamblers, and people say that if they want to gamble, that is their business. On top of that, West Auckland has benefitted hugely from the millions of dollars that are returned to hundreds of very worthy causes, from children’s sport and cultural activities through to major public assets like The Trusts Arena. While the public really enjoy those benefits, a large number of our residents have deep concerns about gambling. “We hear and we respect that at a very personal level because we are part of this community and we have made a commitment to being good citizens”. says Richard Griggs, Hospitality Operations manager and the executive directly responsible for harm minimisation measures. “In keeping with our accountability to the public, we are doing everything we can, (and more than is required by the Gambling Act, and much more than many other organisations) to identify, deter, and minimise problem behaviour. It’s another way in which we’re ‘Giving Back’,” Richard says.
twice in one night. We don’t provide less than $10. We generally limit changing large denomination notes for coins to two transactions per customer. But where possible we pay out jackpots in large denomination notes to discourage patrons from putting winnings straight back into the machines.
Exclusions We can exclude (ban) people with possible at-risk behaviour or they can ask to be excluded. This can be done in conjunction with the Salvation Army Oasis (addictions) programme. We will capture each excluded person’s photo and details in the point-of-sale system and share it with all our venues. Thus, if an excluded person enters any of our venues, they can be identified and be asked to leave. If they refuse, we can call the police. Strict confidentiality operates in relation to our exclusion system, and only authorised people can access confidential information.
Among the measures in our Harm Minimisation manual are:
General
Staff training
Unlike many organisations, we do not use sandwich boards in the street, to advertise gaming.
All staff who work in gaming areas, are trained in problem gambling awareness and harm minimisation. Only staff who have completed this training, may be involved with gaming functions. These programmes are backed up with appropriate resources.
Room Monitoring Staff are required to make a physical inspection of the gaming rooms every 15 minutes to check possible excessive gambling. We are trialling “proximity readers” to give independent verification that checks are done. Every room also has CCTV surveillance.
Money control We have no intention of making it easy for anyone to gamble a lot of money at one “sitting”. We don’t have ATMs and Eftpos cash-out is limited to $100 per time. If we don’t know patrons, they can only get cash out
We regularly work with The Department of Internal Affairs, Oasis, TTCF and the community and, at times the Problem Gambling Foundation. Defeating problem gambling is a work in progress but our systems reflect our very serious intention to ensure that gambling in our West Auckland venues, is a problem-free pastime in venues managed responsibly by The Trusts and enjoyed responsibly by our patrons.
Thanks for reading. Kind regards
Simon Wickham CHIEF EXECUTIVE
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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.
Karen Walker If she set out at an early age with a dream of dominating the world of international fashion, we would certainly have to say that Karen Walker is well on the way. Karen Walker is a name known throughout the Western World. It is a name to be reckoned with in the fashion capitals of London, Paris, Hong Kong, Los Angeles, Sydney and elsewhere. The top fashion magazines talk about her. Karen Walker designs are sold in 200 cities in 30 countries. There are more than 140 KW stores. The Karen Walker label is worn by such glittering personalities as Madonna, Rihanna, Kate Winslet, Jennifer Lopez, Anne Hathaway, Claire Danes, Liv Tyler, Alexa Chung, Florence Welch, Zooey Deschanel, Kelly Osbourne and Bjork. That’s quite an empire for the Swanson woman who had achieved all this while still in her 30’s. The Epsom Girls Grammar graduate was on a fast track from the day she left design school. She developed a very distinctive style of cool, high casual, women’s wear, emphasising print and colour and the contrasting of opposites; masculine and feminine, tailored and street, luxury and non-luxury. Within five years of leaving college, she’d opened two Karen Walker stores and was selling her label in Australia. Within eight years, her masculine styles had attracted the attention of Barney’s New York, the luxury department store chain with outlets in New York, Beverly Hills, Boston, Chicago, San Francisco, Las Vegas and smaller centres. Here, the edgy new look from New Zealand sold alongside Yves St Laurent, Christian Louboutin, Fendi, Givenchy and other household fashion names. The trademark style helped make 1998 the year that launched Karen Walker into the world’s consciousness. Madonna, at the height of her fame, came knocking to purchase a pair of Walker’s “Killer Pants” to wear at that year’s MTV Awards. The style also gave rise to “Daddy’s Gone Strange,” the title she chose for
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her first international Runway Collection, developed for the 1998 Hong Kong Fashion Week. Now big news, she went on to showcase her “Live Wire” collection at the 1998 Australian Fashion Week, in Sydney. As a coming giant of the New Zealand industry, she was one of the “New Zealand Four” group of designers to show at the 1999 London Fashion Week. She was there, and at the Australian Fashion Week in 2000 and then stepped up another level entirely, with a solo show at New York Fashion Week. She was the first New Zealander to achieve this recognition. In these two years 1999 and 2000, the fashion press also caught “Walker fever” and her work received rave reviews in the likes of Harper’s Bazaar, Vogue and Elle. In Britain, Time Out London profiled her as one of the magazine’s six favourite designers showing in London and I-D magazine lauded her as one of the best designers in London. The same magazine also later selected her as one of the world’s 160 most important fashion designers. In 2007, Marie Claire, one of the world’s most prestigious women’s style magazines, selected Karen Walker to receive the Prix de Marie Claire Award for the fashion industry’s most creative talent. Two years later she was a key figure in the creation of The Department Store in Takapuna, billed as a new take on the traditional department store concept, that brought together the best in beauty, art, interior, fashion and food. In 2011 she was invited to create costumes for the Royal New Zealand Ballet’s Stravinsky Selection. Today the Karen Walker name is seen on designer jewellery and eyewear together with a range of Resene paint colours sold in New Zealand and Australia.
Karen Walker, Icon of the West.
The West salutes you.
nners ellence Award Wi reme Business Exc any, Westpac Sup mp Co t lle Pa e Th
2012
Business Awards help grow local business and jobs West Auckland continues to showcase its exceptional range of high quality businesses, through the Westpac Auckland West Business Awards, of which The Trusts is both a sponsor and an entrant. The Awards, organised by the West Auckland office of Auckland Tourism, Events and Economic Development (ATEED), are now in their 19th year. Entries are assessed using the Baldridge Criteria, an internationally-used system designed to help organisations become the best in their field, to identify and recognize role-model organisations for others to emulate and to identify and share best management practices, principles, and strategies. Under the Baldridge system, organisations are awarded points for business performance and the way the business is organised to achieve performance. Typically, winners in the West Auckland Business Awards will achieve at a level which marks them out as world class operations that will grow from here. Because of this system, the West Auckland event is far more than just “Gongs for good work”; it’s also about providing tools, assistance and mentoring so that our businesses can measure where they’re at and what they can do to grow performance. Entrants can be mentored at workshops when creating their entries, the judges will visit each entrant to examine the operation for themselves and judges’ feedback is available to entrants so they can see themselves through an objective professional assessment by experts outside their company.
"Quite a lot of companies enter the awards not to win, but to put themselves through this assessment process and learn where they stand on their own development path and how they can improve their performance," says Zane Taylor, Manager of ATEED Business Group, West. The Awards complement the work of the very dynamic and active West Auckland Business Club. With some 2,000 members under the leadership of UHY Haines Norton’s Tim Livingstone, the Club provides networking and mentoring support for
members and holds regular business breakfasts and Business after Five functions. It also acts as an advocate for West Auckland businesses, to Auckland Council, Government and various Government Ministries whose decisions impact on “The West.” “This emphasis on businesses helping each other for the good of the whole community and the West Auckland economy, is why we support both the Awards and the Business Club,” says The Trusts CEO, Simon Wickham. “As one of the larger businesses in West Auckland and being community-owned, we feel it is our duty to support such constructive activity. I know other companies bring a similar ‘one-for-all and all-for-one’ attitude. It’s part of the muchtalked about “Waitakere Way” that sets West Auckland apart and makes it so aspirational,” he says. The Trusts’ sponsorship supports the organisational side of the Awards. Not being a category sponsor means it can also be an entrant, and benefit from being assessed by professional judges as it seeks to become a world-class operation. The Finalists’ function on 14 August at The Trusts Arena, is generally attended by around 700 business people and provides a high value networking opportunity. This is free. And then there’s the glitzy, nationally significant, Awards Gala Dinner in October, again at The Trusts Arena, to honour the entrants in general and the winners in particular. This year’s awards have attracted more than 100 entries from across the region, of which The Trusts is one. Each is entitled to enter up to three of the eight categories and the Westpac Supreme Business Excellence Award winner is chosen from one of the category winners. Because the categories are specifically for different-sized businesses new, small and midsized companies can earn a share of the awards equally with large, well established, businesses. At least some of the entrants and possibly winners, will be newcomers to the Awards. This means that each year, West Auckland’s business sector is growing in size and competence, adding to the strength of the local economy and its capacity to provide local jobs and local wealth and steadily improving community wellbeing.
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