bartercard
issue seven
Where Are All The Leaders . Bartercard Boosts Relief Efforts . . Asking For The Sale . Protect Your Identity Online . . Relax In Waikato . Human Behaviour & The Environment .
CONTENTS
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THE CEO’S DESK 3 FROM Where are all the leaders
BEHAVIOUR & THE 10 HUMAN ENVIRONMENT
4 CALENDAR Keep up to date with what is happening in your
HAVE HOTEL, 13 BARTERING: NEED HAIRCUT
area over the next two months
5 NEWS BOOSTS SAMOA RELIEF 6 BARTERCARD EFFORTS MARKETING FOR SUCCESS 7 TRADE Bartercard wins Actionmail Excellence in Marketing Award at
this years Westpac Enterprise North Shore Business Excellence Awards
Article on Bartercard which appeared in TIME
YOUR PERSONAL 14 PROTECTING IDENTITY ONLINE IN WAIKATO 16 RELAX Central North Island, New Zealand
19 CHARITIES Ronald McDonald House - South Island
THE BUSINESS & ASKING 8 CLOSING FOR THE SALE
www.bartercard.co.nz Not a member of Bartercard? To find out more and join the world’s largest trade exchange phone 0508 BARTER (227 837) or visit www.bartercard.co.nz
bartercard vivere PRODUCED BY Bartercard New Zealand Marketing Team Marketing Manager: Emma Oliver Graphic Designer: Juran Haurua Marketing Assistants: Melissa Marcinkowski, Lindsay Jopson Please contact your Trade Broker with any Advertising queries. CONTRIBUTING WRITERS 2 vivere Sarah Ferguson, Emma Oliver, Lindsay Jopson
Bartercard New Zealand Limited PO Box 101 563 NSMC, Auckland Email: info@bartercard.co.nz Website: www.bartercard.co.nz
FROM THE CEO’S DESK
Where are all the Leaders I
t takes leadership to make things happen, in business, in politics, in sport and in fact most walks of life leadership is needed. I see what we are lacking in New Zealand business, is for people to stand up and say I am accountable, to set the vision and inspire their people to achieve great things. Leadership doesn’t only have to come from the CEO or business owner it can come from team leaders & managers at all levels. Have you ever put a bunch of people together who don’t normally work together and asked them to complete a task, I guarantee you the leader in the group will take responsibility for making it happen. New Zealand needs more leaders. I am passionate about a concept called Servant Leadership; it is a style of leadership that is almost opposed to the standard thinking on leadership. Many people think that being the leader gives you power and control and yet Servant Leadership is about sacrifice & service. If you imagine the standard corporate structure with the CEO at the top and take that structure and turn it totally upside down, the Chief Executive is now sitting at the bottom of the corporate structure and sees themselves as the Chief Servant. Their role is to serve their executive team to ensure they have everything they need to maximise their ability to serve their managers & staff so they have everything they need to maximise their ability to serve their customers. How important does the customer feel if they know they are sitting at the top of your corporate structure? Too often we wonder why our staff members are not achieving their potential; as a Servant Leader the answer is more about what can I do to have a greater impact on that staff member achieving their potential. Do they have all the tools they need to complete their tasks efficiently & effectively, do they have the resources they need, do they have the knowledge or skills required to achieve their task. A simple example I found when starting with Bartercard was when I asked our Administration Manager, who is also a whiz when it comes to data base management and programming, what I could to do or supply to help maximise his ability to perform his role and his answer was a simple one, he needed a new computer capable of processing a lot faster than his current computer, when I looked at how long his current computer was taking to process even a simple spreadsheet I could see his point and so he got his new computer. Have you ever asked your staff what they need from you to improve their performance, you might be surprised at the answers. Let me challenge you today to ask this simple question to your staff, start with your most senior staff and teach them to ask the same question of their staff. Take your first steps at becoming a Servant Leader and watch your people thrive.
Paul Bolte, CEO Bartercard New Zealand
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CALENDAR
V O N 09
SPONSORSHIP
AUCKLAND
DUNEDIN
WAIKATO
Manaakitanga Awards
Auckland Central Speed Networking
After 5
WAIKATO Christmas Trade Night Waikato Racing Club, Hamilton 5pm - 8.30pm
Adidas Auckland Marathon
1
3
5 23
18
TAURANGA
AUCKLAND
OAMARU
AUCKLAND
CHRISTCHURCH
AUCKLAND
Christmas Trade Night Classic Flyers, Mt Maunganui 4pm - 8.30pm
Gold Card Christmas Cruise 1
After 5
Platinum Card Christmas Function
After 5 Function
Gold Card Christmas Cruise 2
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17
12
18
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HAWKES BAY
SOUTH ISLAND
AUCKLAND
MANAWATU
Christmas Trade Night Park Estate Winery 5.30pm - 9pm
Christmas Trade Show Cowles Stadium, Christchurch
Christmas Trade Show ASB Showgrounds, Greenlane 2pm - 9pm
Christmas Trade Show Palmerston North RSA 5pm - 8.30pm
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24
257
25
OTAGO Christmas After 5 Function
25
C E D 09
NELSON
TAURANGA
ROTORUA
After 5 Function
Christmas After 5 Function
Christmas After 5 Function
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3
4
AUCKLAND
WAIKATO BAY OF PLENTY
CHRISTMAS DAY
BOXING DAY
UPCOMING DIRECTORY DEADLINES
Auckland North Top Trader Luncheon
Christmas Function
Merry Christmas From Bartercard
Public Holiday
15th Jan - Listing Alterations Cut Off 29th Jan - Display Ad Cut Off
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NEWS Bartercard News
Congratulations to Sombreros of Queenstown
On winning a T$300 Travel voucher for the month of September just for trading more than T$1,000 during the month! To qualify to be in to win next month all you need to do is transact a minimum of T$1,000 during November and you are automatically entered into the draw. Octobers winner will be announced next month.
BURGER KING NZ BREAKERS
Bartercard is proud to be associated with the Burger King NZ Breakers again this season. If there is one place to be seen this summer it is at a Breakers Game! Home Games are played at the North Shore Events Centre with a 7pm tip off. It is a fantastic night of entertainment so if you haven’t been to a game before you must get along this season, talk to your Trade Broker if you are interested in attending a game. This is your quick guide on ‘How to Be a Breaker’ on game nights: What you MUST do: Bang your thundersticks - Be Loud - Laugh - Go Crazy - Have Fun When the Breakers have the ball: Hands up on free throws Yell “CHARGE” when you hear the charge music When the visting team have the ball: Shout “DE-FENCE” clap (x), clap (x) At the beginning of the third quarter: STAND UP, CLAP and don’t sit down until the music stops! Visit www.nzbreakers.co.nz for a copy of their game schedule. SEE YOU AT THE GAME!
TIME CONVENTION 2009 Paul Bolte won the TIME Trials and consequently a spot to speak at this highly acclaimed business and networking event on the 29th & 30th of October. Other speakers include John Shackleton, Mark Inglis, Lee Parore & Robyn Pearce. Visit the TIME Convention website for more information or see the BC Trader (28 October 2009) for your complimentary ticket.
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NEWS Bartercard provides relief for Samoa
BARTERCARD BOOSTS SAMOA RELIEF EFFORT B
artercard New Zealand has provided a handsome boost to the funds raised for the Samoan Tsunami 2009 Appeal. $31,000 was raised through the ‘League 4 Samoa’ event at Mt Smart Stadium on 10 October, when the best Samoa based players (Toa Samoa Domestic) played the best of New Zealand’s local talent (Bartercard Premiership Selection). Bartercard donated $10,000 Bartercard Trade Dollars to the tsunami relief fund. “That will enable relief organizations to purchase goods and services to that value from any of the 6,800 New Zealand companies that are members of the Bartercard network,” said Paul Bolte, Bartercard New Zealand’s CEO. “We acknowledge the great contribution the Samoan community has made to rugby league during the past decade and are glad to be able to help support them as they rebuild after these disastrous events.” Like Bartercard, Just Water International has made some significant contributions to the Samoa Tsunami Relief effort. They donated hundreds of 15 litre bottles of water, plus food and clothing. They are currently the only company to donate a vehicle (a van) which will be used as a work horse in the rebuilding of the villages, and particularly the village of Lepa. Thanks to Russell Baldwin of North Harbour Heavy Salvage and Towing Ltd, as he donated transportation of the van to the Freyberg wharf at no cost.
Paul Bolte presenting the Trade Dollar Donation from Bartercard to representatives from the Samoa Tsunami Charity Fundraising Team
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NEWS Bartercard News
TRADE MARKETING FOR SUCCESS Paul Bolte (CEO Bartercard NZ) & Emma Oliver (Marketing Manager) accepting the award from Actionmail
M
astering self promotion has helped Bartercard New Zealand Limited win the top marketing award at this year’s Westpac Enterprise North Shore Business Excellence Awards.
The company won the 2009 Actionmail Excellence in Marketing Award after wowing judges with their extensive sponsorship coverage. Bartercard, the world’s largest trade exchange, facilitates barter exchange between member organisations, freeing cash flow and guaranteeing new business. Originally founded in 1991 in Australia, Bartercard now spans 12 countries, and transacts $1.5 billion of trade volume internationally. Members earn Bartercard Trade Dollars for the goods and services they sell and this value is recorded electronically in the member’s account database. One Bartercard Trade Dollar is equal to one New Zealand dollar for all accounting purposes, and is treated as such by the Inland Revenue Department. Bartercard chief executive officer Paul Bolte says, “With the current tightening of the cash economy, businesses are being forced to become more creative in the way they do business. For many of them, Bartercard represents an exciting opportunity as it gives them a new way of securing additional customers and gaining an advantage over their competitors.” Judges praised Bartercard’s marketing strategy with challenging targets and an excellent use of self promotion via the media, events and sponsorship. Enterprise North Shore chief executive Terry Hoskins comments, “It’s great to see Bartercard embracing innovative marketing tools to communicate their company message. In these hard economic times, it’s good to see Bartercard marketing valuable services that promote trade.”
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BUSINESS The Business of Closing a Sale
Closing the Business and Asking for the Sale Chris Helder
M
y mentor used to say to me, “Closing the business is the difference between being a good salesperson and a good conversationalist!”
Today, more than ever, it’s important to create a pathway so it becomes easy for people to make buying decisions. Let’s talk through a few effective ideas and tools on the subject of closing the business and asking for the sale.
With the business climate as it is today, it is more important than ever that people are learning to develop their skills in closing business. So many salespeople and business people are afraid to ASK for the business. Many believe they will be seen as pushy and feel uncomfortable in asking the question. Many others believe that they’re NOT even salespeople to begin with. This group believes that by simply “servicing” their clients, new business will take care of itself.
When you finish your presentation (try to finish on some level of emotive high) and deliver a simple trial close question. This may well sound something like, “Based on everything that we have just covered, what are your thoughts?”.
Although it is true that good results are a natural outcome of meeting your client’s needs and developing great rapport. Have you ever found yourself wondering why, despite all your hand written cards, lunch invitations and fantastic solutions, they end up buying from someone else?
The most important thing at this point is NOT TO TALK! It is important to deliver a trial close question and then just be quiet and wait for the response. If the client takes a moment to collect their thoughts, for many people their natural instinct at this point is to jump back in and continue to make their case.
Could it be because they asked for the sale and you didn’t?
Simply ask the trial close question and then calmly wait for their response.
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Trial Close Questioning
Sounds good... BUT!
Ask the Question
Often the response of a client is going to be positive initially and then they will follow up with that dreaded word... BUT. The word “but” obviously erodes everything that precedes it. In other words, if they say “but” it really doesn’t sound good. The truth or the “concern” will follow the “but”.
Once you have worked through everything and anything that you moved to the side, ask the question for the business. “We’ve worked through this process, are you happy to put my firm to work?” or “I feel really good about this...when could we get started?” Once again, do not say anything at this point.
The first step is to understand what your client’s objections really mean. For example, probe deeply into the excuses (concerns about cashflow, delivery time, fee, cost, quality, service competition) by asking them to tell you a little bit more about that. For example, great salespeople are very skilled at staying calm and asking a question like, “just so I fully understand, tell me a little bit more about that?”.
No matter how long it takes, wait for them to speak first. It is more important than ever to continually work on your technique in closing business in more challenging times. Customers have a terrific excuse to hide behind at the moment and it’s your job as the salesperson to make sure you probe deeply enough to move their objections aside, deal with them and then always ASK what needs to be done to close the business.
Then... let them talk. Once you have clarity as to what the objection is really about you are ready to deal with it. In anxious times, many salespeople are too quick here to NEED the business to come to an agreement.
Pace Statement
After listening to what is really holding them back (and BEFORE answering the objection), try making a simple “Pace Statement.” This is a simple statement that recognises we aim to achieve a win-win outcome. An example of this might be: “It’s pretty important that whatever happens it’s important that you get value for the money you are spending, isn’t it?” Of course the answer is “yes” and you have taken a beat to listen to their concerns.
To go back to the original comment by my mentor, THIS is the difference between a great conversationalist and a great salesperson.
Chris Helder is a regular speaker with The Knowledge Gym. To find out more about how you can utilize your Bartercard Trade Dollars to see the best international speakers in the world up close and personal call 0800 WORKOUT or go to www.TheKnowledgeGym.com
Another example might be: “Well, this is only going to work if it works for both of us, true?” And, once again, they will say “absolutely.”
Move to the Side
Taking your time, move the objection to the side to determine if there is anything else stopping them making a favourable decision. For example, “Just moving the cost to the side for a moment, is there anything else that would stop you making this decision?” If there is nothing else, simply confirm this by saying, “Great. Just so I’m clear, hypothetically, if we are able to come to an agreement on cost, we can move forward?” If there is something else, hopefully this will come out at this time. For example, if you move cost to the side, you may discover that there is something else that is holding this transaction back. Move it to the side, as well, to determine if there are other things. If there are more than three things, get out your notebook and write them all down and work through them one by one. Always make sure you are actually talking with the decision maker in going through this process. To determine whether that is the case, a great question is: “Who, apart from and including yourself, is involved in making this final decision?”
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BUSINESS How the Physical Environment affects behaviour
HUMAN BEHAVIOUR AND THE ENVIRONMENT A business’s physical environment can dramatically affect both staff and customer behaviour.
Psychological studies are showing increasing evidence that a significant proportion of variance in behavior can be attributed to situational and environmental variables. A whole raft of factors and not just the product or service influence how a person feels about a business. The five senses are also brought into the equation when it comes to both staff well-being and customer purchasing behaviors. Consider your own buying habits and reasons for shopping at specific businesses and you will soon come to realise that more often than not it is the whole experience that determines if you will purchase from them again. In terms of the service that your customers receive it is also important to realise that favorable working conditions can affect an employee’s sense of well-being which in turn can generate higher levels of employee commitment, contributing to business success. Because so many small and medium sized business owners also work in their business they often miss opportunities to improve the environment. This is usually because they are so busy working in the business it is difficult to take an objective view. The best way to evaluate how your business environment fares is to stand back and see your business through the eyes of your staff and customers.
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Outside Carpark
Street frontage/signage
Front door
Inside To understand how others view your company simply take two steps through the front door, stop and view it objectively.
Sight How an environment looks is key to the customer experience. The look should reflect the brand of the business, the type of product or service offered and the personality. What do you see from the front door of your business? Tidy Clean Organised Friendly Inviting Creative Complicated Cluttered Confused
Scent Often it’s the senses that we are not concentrating on that influence people in the environment. No one wants to spend a great deal of time in a room that has either a strong, unfamiliar or unpleasant odour. What does your business smell like? Fresh Clean Musty Body Odour Flowers Disinfectant
Ambiance Standing in your business and taking in everything in the environment how does it make you feel? Comfortable At ease Tense Confused
Sound
Once you have evaluated how your business’s personality is reflected by the environment you can take steps to improve the experience of both customers and staff. Changes need not be expensive as often subtle enhancements can make a world of difference. One of the easiest first steps can be in terms of the smell. A simple oil burner with a mild fragrance is an economical yet effective way to quickly change this aspect. Depending on the scent, aromatherapy can be used to help nurture the “feel-good” factor and stimulate spending activity as much as it is used to promote an atmosphere of relaxed calm. Plants make people feel as though they are in familiar surroundings and add warmth to an environment. But they do more than just brighten up a room with color and living energy. Along with being pleasing to the eye, they bring real health benefits to your body and help to keep the air clean. Studies have shown that having indoor plants reduces the number of complaints about headaches, stress, heart/circulation-symptoms and colds. Whether these are hired or purchased they provide an inexpensive way to provide a feeling of relaxation and benefit those working in the environment. Enhancing the business need not cost money though. Simply decluttering the space and ensuring that everything is easily viewable and accessible can remove confusion and frustration for customers leading them to spend more time and money with you. Whichever methods you choose to adopt to enhance your working environment an annual audit of how your company presents itself to customers is a valuable tool to use when you’re seeking to grow your business.
Studies have shown that sound has a large impact on purchasing habits particularly in the retail and food and beverage sectors. What does your business sound like? Background Music/Radio Type of music playing Silence
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WANT YOUR STAFF TO HAVE THE LEADING EDGE ON YOUR COMPETITORS ? It all comes down to skills! Have they got them? Are they using them? The Knowledge Gym brings the best international speakers and trainers to New Zealand each month to help your staff to: • • • • • • •
Improve and retain relationships with customers Increase sales performance Lead others more effectively Innovate and think out of the box Drive up profitability Cut timewasters and become more efficient Make your organisation a high-performance one.
SPECIAL OFFER! Take out any Core membership by November 30th on Bartercard and receive 6 months FREE online access to Training Resources valued at $500.
0800 WORKOUT
workout@theknowledgegym.com www.TheKnowledgeGym.com
BUSINESS Article from TIME Magazine
Bartering: Have Hotel, Need Haircut Time, William Lee Adams Monday, Nov. 02, 2009
When the check arrives at the Patpong Thai restaurant in Chingford, England, Reg Burrows usually pays with plastic. But Burrows, the owner of an industrial-storage-supply firm, doesn’t pull out Visa or American Express. He pulls out Bartercard. As a member of the Bartercard trading network, Burrows receives “trade pounds” instead of cash whenever his firm, Global Equipment Trading, works for fellow Bartercard clients. He can then spend that credit at any of the 75,000 member businesses around the world, including Patpong Thai, where he frequently entertains clients. So far this year, Burrows has exchanged around $410,000 in goods and services, helping to offset expenses and keep cash available for other outgoings. “Using barter we’ve purchased everything from air-conditioning units, computers and desks, to lorries, forklifts and security gates,” he says. “It’s a phenomenal tool that can enhance almost any company.” As businesses battle to get through the recession, more and more are turning to third-party-exchange networks like Bartercard. According to the International Reciprocal Trade Association, the industry trade body, more than 400,000 businesses transacted $10 billion globally in 2008 — and officials expect trade volume to grow by 15% in 2009. Bartercard, the world’s largest exchange network, is leading the charge. So far this year trades through its network are worth more than $2 billion, up by 20% over 2008. Founded in Australia in 1991, when the country was mired in recession, the firm now does business in nine countries — including New Zealand, Sri Lanka, Thailand and the United Arab Emirates — and boasts clients as diverse as advertising firms, electricians, hotels, paper suppliers, restaurants, translators and even zoos. (See 10 big recession surprises.) Barter, of course, isn’t new: firms routinely arrange exchanges on their own. But cultivating those relationships takes time and presents numerous hurdles. “Many direct-barter transactions don’t succeed outside of our network because businesses have to match one another in timing and interest,” says Wayne Sharpe, Bartercard’s founder and chief executive. While a restaurant owner may need $10,000 worth of printing services in the next week, it’s unlikely that any printshop owner will need the $10,000 worth of fish and chips that the restaurant can provide in return. “With our service, the transaction is complete,” Sharpe says. “The restaurant owes $10,000 to the network, not to the printer.”
Bartercard’s bank-like system — which includes monthly statements and an interest-free line of credit — also provides security and accountability that informal bartering can’t. Members must pass a credit check and sign a contract pledging to deliver goods in a timely manner. In terms of barter rates, a service that costs $600 is equivalent to 600 trade pounds; members constantly police one another, ensuring that their advertised barter rates match the rates they charge the public. (See 10 ways your job will change.) Members are not obliged to accept barter clients all the time. “There are times of the year when our hotel is full and we know we can generate cash payments,” says Stephen Hill, the owner of the 24-bedroom Hotel Penzance in Cornwall, southwest England. “There are other times when we can’t — and that’s when Bartercard comes into its own.” Whenever Hill has unfilled rooms, he places an appeal for barter business on Bartercard’s online site or through the firm’s brokerages — there are currently 100 offices around the world to help connect members. If the hotel is 70% full, the cost of filling an otherwise empty room is virtually nothing. Plus, it brings in customers who may return to the hotel in the future — and spend cash. Hill, who trades roughly $100,000 a year through the service, uses his credit to pay the hotel’s $650-a-month flower bill, and recently refurnished eight of the hotel’s rooms without spending a penny. He’s also purchased jewelry through barter and then resold it to hotel guests for a profit. The system works for personal use, too. Hill’s wife has spent the hotel’s barter credits on cosmetic dental work and perms, and the family recently went on a ski holiday in France on barter pounds. All that trading means more profit for Bartercard. The privately held company charges a one-time membership fee — $1,200 to $2,400, depending on the size of the business — and a 5.5% cash and 1% trade fee on each transaction. Sharpe is confident the firm will continue to expand even as the economy improves. “Companies will need to hire new staff and restart advertising and marketing campaigns which they pulled during the recession,” he says. “Bartering frees up cash for that.” It’s a concept he obviously believes in: the firm uses its trade credits to pay the rent on its U.K. headquarters.
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TECHNOLOGY Protecting your personal identity online
PROTECTING YOUR PERSONAL IDENTITY ONLINE When people surf the Internet and think about the bad sides of using the Internet, often the words ‘virus’ and ‘Trojan’ come to mind. Virus Scanners and thing like firewalls are usually the first thing people are advised in using whilst on the Internet. However, people often forget about their Personal Identity. Although virus’s still play a large part in online crime, often seen as an annoyance to a system; what would happen if your identity was taken from you? What would you do if the next time you looked at your bank account, it was empty? Would you shop in a store if you knew the credit card machine at the till was likely to send your bank details to an organized gang somewhere abroad? Such incidents happen every day in the physical world. In fact, credit card fraud from all kinds of real world transactions is a major global crime, and there are entire government divisions dedicated to fighting online crime. But it does not stop people from going out to shop with their credit cards. In general, the public trusts that shopping in a physical store is safe, and it generally is. The Internet is quite a safe place to do business too, as long as precautions are taken.
What is Identity Theft? Identity theft is a crime whereby criminals impersonate individuals, usually for financial gain. In today’s society, you often need to reveal personal bits of information about yourself, such as a signature, name, address, phone number, and even banking and credit card information. If a thief is able to access this personal information, he or she can use it to commit fraud in your name. With this information the thief could do things such as apply for loans or new credit card accounts. They can also use counterfeit cheques and credit cards, or authorize electronic bank transfers in your name, to wipe out your bank account. Identity theft can also go beyond this type of a monetary impact. Thieves can use your information to obtain a driver’s license or other documentation that would display their photo but your name and information.
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How to Protect Yourself Almost every agency responsible for identity theft issues will tell you the same thing. The first step to fighting identity theft is to minimize the risk. To do this they urge consumers to protect their personal information. Start by asking companies how they use your information, and for online transactions, take a moment to review a website’s privacy policy; this is often a link near the bottom of the webpage. In offline transactions don’t provide credit card numbers, financial account numbers, or personal identifying information over the phone unless you know the communication line is secure. Ideally, you should initiate the conversation. For Internet transactions, be sure the website offers secure data encryption and other services to protect your personal information. The easiest way to see whether the website you are using is encrypted the appearance of a small padlock at the bottom of your web-browser. There are recommended everyday practices, such as keeping an eye on postal mail to ensure your bills are arriving when they should be, and taking the time to properly dispose of paper documents that may contain credit card numbers and other identifying personal information. The more private and secure you keep your personal identifying information, the less susceptible to identity theft you are. Virus’s can play a part in identity theft by logging key-strokes. These basically remember all the keys pressed on a keyboard and can send these strokes back to the virus creator. These then can be used to log into whatever site they were originally used on. A good idea is to avoid using sensitive details where you are unsure of the computers protection. Internet cafes are a good example for this; without knowing whether the computer at an internet café is protected do not use websites such as your bank, or ordering products online. It would be good if you asked the manager of the internet café about their protection policies and they will be more than able to tell you.
Information Sensitivity Table
Some personal information is inevitably going to be made public; there are some items with high sensitivity that should never be made public. See the list below for details. Item Full Name Address Phone Number Date of Birth Birthplace Mother’s Maiden Name IRD Number Bank Account Number Credit Card Number PIN or Password
Sensitivity Low Low Low Medium Medium Medium High High High High
The simplest way to prevent online identity theft comes down to the user. If you don’t feel safe with the site you are using, don’t use it. Take the time to check the privacy policy. Even though you may think ‘it won’t happen to me’ or ‘it hasn’t affected anyone I know’ it does happen every single day. With the ever expanding online world, more and more people are performing business transactions online and this is not a bad thing, just make sure you keep your private information private.
Protecting yourself against identity theft involves nothing more than protecting this personal information, particularly the high sensitivity items. Anyone with knowledge of just one of your high sensitivity items can do a lot of damage.
Checklist Check the Privacy Policy of the website in use. Avoid sending personal information at an Internet Café. Install an anti-virus/firewall utility. Ensure the website uses encryption on the information entered. If you can’t find information regarding privacy, ASK.
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TRAVEL Waikato, New Zealand
RELAX IN WAIKATO W
hen you think of the Waikato, fast paced sporting action such as the V8’s, Heavy Weight Boxing, Rowing or Rugby come to mind. Don’t be fooled by the persona the area takes on during sporting events, the Waikato region is full of lush green rolling hills, parks, gardens, fine cuisine and cafes. The name Waikato translates from Maori as ‘flowing water’. The regions life force, the Waikato River is the longest in New Zealand flowing from Lake Taupo to Port Waikato and running through the Middle of Hamilton. The power stations along the river have created 8 artificial lakes which are popular fishing, boating and swimming spots in the region. Lake Karapiro Lodge Whilst in the Waikato you will be spoilt for choice of natural treasures available to explore. Discover stunning waterfalls, the West Coast surf beaches, mineral pools and of course no visit to this area would be complete without a stop at the magical limestone glow worm caves in Waitomo. There are plenty of accommodation options in the region although if you are looking for luxury, Lake Karapiro Lodge will seduce you. This Edwardian inspired Mansion is exceptional in both its location and the warmth & elegance it radiates. The rooms at Lake Karapiro Lodge boast exquisite views over Lake Karapiro, the surrounding lush countryside and world renowned Maungatautari Scenic Reserve. Spend time relaxing by the open log fire, in the Jacuzzi at this boutique hotel or venture into the Waikato region to Caveworld where at night you will see thousands of incredible glow worms. Caveworld offers a range of experiences, from Black Magic, the ultimate cave hydroslide to their night abseil through 150 feet into Caveworlds jewel; The Canyon.
Versace Suite Lounge View, Lake Karapiro Lodge Waterfall at River Rere
Contact Bartercard Travel for further information on exploring Waikato with Bartercard. Freephone 0800 228 722 or visit www.bartercardtravel.co.nz
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Waikato Address Book The options for dining in the Waikato region are endless, visit Flapjacks in Hamilton for a “Super Brekkie” where breakfast is served all day or The Cook Cafe & Bar which is a real feature for cafe go-ers. Nestled opposite Steele Park on Cook Street in Hamilton East, the building is Hamilton’s second oldest building and has been carefully restored complete with antique furniture and memorabilia. Experience the taste of Thailand in the heart of Hamilton’s hospitality precinct at Thai Village Cafe, a seasonal a la carte meal at Savage Rock or travel to Otorohonga to enjoy the street dining atmosphere at The Thirsty Weta.
Don’t forget your Bartercard when visiting the region as there are ample places to spend your Trade Dollars. From luxury accommodation to cafes and retail there are many great spending options available, so be sure to download a tourist guide from the Bartercard Travel Website www.bartercardtravel.co.nz. The Waikato region makes a fantastic base for holidaying in the Central North Island. Take your time, relax and enjoy!
Anglesea Motel & Conference Centre 36 Liverpool Street, Hamilton Phone: (07) 834 0010 www.angleseamotel.com Victoria Hotel Suites 303 Victoria Street, Hamilton Phone: (07) 958 1110 www.victoriasuites.co.nz Lake Karapiro Lodge 1829F State Highway 1, Lake Karapiro (East), Cambridge Phone: (07) 823 7414 www.karapirolodge.co.nz Caveworld Cnr Welcome Road & Waitomo Caves Road, Waitomo Caves Phone: (07) 878 6577 www.caveworld.co.nz The Cook Cafe & Bar 7 Cook Street, Hamilton Phone: (07) 856 6088 www.thecook.net.nz Flapjacks 48 Alexandra Street, Hamilton Phone: (07) 839 5969 www.flapjacks.co.nz
Waikato Sunset
Thai Village Cafe Unit 7, The Market Place, Hood Street, Hamilton Phone: (07) 834 9960 www.thaivillage.co.nz The Thirsty Weta Bar & Eatery 57 Maniapoto Street, Otorohanga Phone: (07) 873 6699 Savage Rock Dinsdale Roundabout, Hamilton Phone: (07) 847 7211
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CHARITIES Ronald McDonald House South Island
Ronald McDonald House H
aving a sick child is always a stressful time for parents. Add to the equation the pressure of having to leave your home and relocate to another city for treatment and it can be very tough. When Mark and Myschel Albrecht from Queenstown had to bring their five year old daughter Chamonix to Christchurch to have her kidney removed, they stayed at Ronald McDonald House South Island. “To be told that your child needs to have an organ removed is a very stressful thing to go through” says Myschel “but from the minute we walked in the door, we felt completely at ease. Everyone is aware that you are nervous and anxious and make you feel as de-stressed as you can be. They showed us to our room which was like a beautiful hotel room and showed us all the facilities and the kitchen/dining area. Everything was fantastic and we couldn’t have asked for more.”
Mark, Chamonix & Myschel Albrecht
Chamonix on the Ronald McDonald House playground
The House, conveniently located on the corner of Cashel and Montreal Streets just a few minutes walk away from Christchurch Hospital, provides free support and accommodation to families of children and young people under 21 years of age, with illnesses requiring hospital treatment at any of the Canterbury District Health Board hospitals. Since opening six years ago, over 1,500 families have stayed at Ronald McDonald House’s ‘home away from home’. Being able to stay at Ronald McDonald House South Island went a long way to alleviate the accommodation problem for the Albrechts and the financial consideration of how much their stay in Christchurch was going to cost. “A lot of people think we’re only about providing accommodation for families with children suffering from cancer,” says CEO Nickie Barlow. “In fact, families come to Christchurch for a wide range of treatments with cancer currently making up only twelve percent of our families, although their stays in hospital are usually for a longer time. Nearly one third are here for surgery and with the changes in the provision of maternity services in the South Island, ante and neo natal families are making up twenty one percent of our stays. Our occupancy has been hovering at around 90% so we’re building nine more units next year to meet the demands for our services and we’re also planning to put a Ronald McDonald Family Room in Christchurch Hospital for all families with children receiving treatment in hospital. The Family Rooms are a safe haven away from the wards, where families can rest and relax and we hope to have Family Rooms in hospitals around the South Island. We’re very excited about our expansion plans and the ability to help more families.” The last word about Ronald McDonald House South Island must to go to Chamonix Albrecht. “The House was really cool. My bed was fun. There were heaps of toys and the food was great. We got to pick our own movies, which was really fantastic. I went down the slides really fast and got to go through the inside play tunnel. It was awesome! I remember saying to my Mum and Dad, “When can we go back that Ronald McDonald Motel for a holiday?” It’s really cool and made things easy for my Mum and Dad.”
Myschel, Chamonix & Mark Albrecht before the operation
The Ronald McDonald House South Island accepts Bartercard support. To find out how you can help families like the Albrechts, call Lizzie Dyer, Corporate Sponsorship Manager Ph 03 377 3311.
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