ISSUE
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MOVING TO NEW ZEALAND?
December 2017
In this issue... State of the nation P.1 Uniquely Christmas P.2 Best spots for fine weather on Christmas Day P.3 Mirry Christmus: Air NZ’s hilariously Kiwi Christmas ad P.3 Best Christmas Light Street displays in New Zealand P.4
Get in touch There are many ways to keep in touch with us at Catalyst. Obviously this monthly newsletter is one but we are very active on Linked In and would encourage those not already there to join our groups and link to our company page in order to receive the latest news. If that’s not enough we also have our blog pages, job board and Facebook pages to keep you in the loop. Having your details is only the first step in making the move to New Zealand a reality so get in touch now to discuss your plans and aspirations and we’ll do all we can to help. Follow us via the links below; linkedin.com/company/ catalyst-recruitment catalystrecruit.wordpress.com/ catalystjobs.co.nz/ christchurchrebuild.co.nz/ facebook.com/CatalystRecNZ
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State of the nation Welcome to the Catalyst state of the nation for December, and the final newsletter for 2017. On the whole 2017 has been busier than 2016 and we are hopeful that 2018 will be busier again. Already clients are discussing their requirements for next year, not yet in specific terms but certainly enough to give us a broad view of what’s ahead. For now though most of us are looking forward to a nice break over the Christmas and New Year period so that we are recharged and fully prepared for a busy 12 months ahead. I know I mention this every year but Christmas means summertime for those of us in New Zealand and hopefully that means good weather. So far the signs have been very encouraging with summer kicking off a little earlier than usual, though I’m sure it won’t be long before the farmers start to complain about the lack of water! Because of the timing many Kiwis take much of their leave during January, a time when the schools are also closed for the summer, allowing for family summer holidays. This does tend to mean that this is a fairly quiet period in terms of recruitment but this often quickly picks up in February as people return to work. As ever at this time of year there is little in the way of announcements around civil, infrastructure and construction projects and so I have dedicated this newsletter more to a Kiwi Christmas than anything else. It just leaves me to wish you all a very Merry Christmas and a safe and happy New Year from the team at Catalyst Recruitment, and we look forward to speaking and dealing with you in 2018. What does 2018 hold for Engineering Consultants? Despite the recent slow down following the election and change of Government, there is still considerable optimism. New Zealand’s economy and population are growing considerably and we are suffering from a considerable Infrastructure Deficit. There are so many roads and bridges as well as light rail and heavy civil projects to flow in 2018… very exciting…Contact Andy ahopkins@catalystrecruitment.co.nz What does 2018 hold for construction? It is anticipated that 2018 will see a lift in construction activity, particularly in and around Auckland. Many of the companies involved in that activity are already at capacity and so will be looking for people to join their team. Commercial construction and commercial fit out will be busy areas and so anybody who currently works in those sectors as an engineer, foremen, site manager, project manager, quantity surveyor or other related role is encouraged to get in touch so that we can start having conversations at the beginning of 2018. Contact Phil on pponder@catalystrecruitment.co.nz
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What does 2018 hold for civil and infrastructure? There are a significant number of civil and infrastructure projects getting underway in the New Year and although there has been a first wave of recruitment for these roles, managers on the ground are expecting a second wave of requirement early in 2018. Aside from major projects, water infrastructure is of growing concern in New Zealand and subsequently there will be a significant amount of activity in that space. This focus, on top of the normal infrastructure work in the roads and general civil space, means that there is every chance 2018 will be a very busy year. If you are an engineer, site manager, foreman/supervisor, site agent, project manager or you hold a related role in the civil and infrastructure space, then I am very keen to hear from you to discuss opportunities in the New Year. Contact Phil on pponder@catalystrecruitment.co.nz As you know there are various ways to keep in touch with Catalyst and at the moment we are making significant efforts to improve those lines of communication. LinkedIn is one of those formats and I am regularly posting articles and job vacancies on our company page. To make sure that you see those regular updates click this link, https://www.linkedin.com/ company/catalyst-recruitment and click the follow button on the company page. We look forward to seeing you there. Also keep an eye on our job board www.catalystjobs.co.nz where we will regularly place vacancies we are currently working on.
Uniquely Christmas Traditional Christmas is best ushered under the snow with families snuggling up on the dinner table. But there are some different mores across the world too. A little twist to the axis of the Earth and you have a summer Christmas at hand in the southern hemisphere. So do spare a thought for the jolly good fella, Santa Claus, when he arrives down under and has to endure temperatures of up to 30 degrees C! It’s hardly surprising that he often sheds the heavy woollen suit and boots in favour of speedos, jandals and sunglasses and heads to the beach. Santa’s been spotted surfing, jet skiing, paragliding and sailing, and even doing deliveries by water in a traditional waka Maori canoe. Yes, Christmas in New Zealand is essentially an outdoor experience that includes a leisurely lunch on the barbeque, afternoon fun in the water and casual evening gatherings under a starry sky. Outdoor music festivals, summer sports and an en masse migration to the beach breathe in the Christmas spirit. Kiwis wind up business and schools for the year so major urban areas empty out and families relocate to bachs and cribs (holiday houses) or camping grounds in smaller coastal and lakeside towns. Beaches fill up as never before. Lakes and coastal areas bring the Kiwis to indulge in a range of water sports. Boating, water-skiing, fishing, diving, kayaking, surfing and swimming are all popular recreational activities, with larger settlements providing equipment for hire. Christmas Day itself is low-key as compared to traditional celebrations across the world. Presents are generally opened mid-morning followed by a large lunch meal of traditional Christmas fare with some Kiwi twists such as salads, a barbeque, fresh seafood and Pavlova. While many families decorate a traditional pine or fir tree, New Zealanders regard the native Pohutukawa tree as their Christmas tree owing to its scarlet blooms. The following day is Boxing Day, which sees Kiwis attending race meetings, one-day cricket tests, family picnics, flocking to the Boxing Day sales at retail centres, or simply recovering from the excesses of Christmas Day. While traditions of the northern hemisphere influence Kiwistyle Christmas, there are many festive season experiences uniquely Kiwi: Hangi: The Kiwi version of a traditional roast dinner is cooked in a pit under the ground by Maori and typical fare for a cultural Christmas with large groups of whanau / family and friends. Kiwi ‘barbie’: barbecuing is a popular option on Christmas Day when groups gather at home, the park or the beach for a casual cook up and to eat out of doors. Fresh seafood and quality cuts of meat are complemented with exotic
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salads and seasonal vegetables - an emphasis on simplicity, organic, home-grown and healthy. Pavlova: While plum pudding might still feature on some menus, the standard Kiwi Christmas dessert is a classic pavlova covered in fresh seasonal fruits like strawberries and kiwifruit. Pohutukawa Christmas tree: This coastal species produces dramatic bright red blooms throughout December. For many Kiwis, lazing at the beach on a sunny day, under the shade of these natural Kiwi Christmas trees, is all they want for Christmas. Southern Cross: New Zealand’s most recognised constellation is the Kiwi version of the famous star that guided the three wise men to Bethlehem. It also provides the theme for the New Zealand Christmas carol ‘The Southern Cross looks down’. New Zealand is a star-gazing paradise with its own starlight reserve, the Aoraki Mackenzie Dark Sky Reserve above the South Island’s Mackenzie country. NZ’s tallest ‘Christmas tree’: Auckland’s iconic Sky Tower stands at 328m high and becomes most prominent at Christmas when it is lit up like a giant Christmas tree that changes colour in an orchestrated phase. Kiwi in a tree: New Zealand’s national bird is flightless but at Christmas, can be spotted on tree tops in various decorative guises and vying for pride of place with the traditional fairy. Christmas carols in Maori: New Zealand has its own Christmas songs some of which are set to traditional tunes and have a different dimension when sung in Maori like Marie te po or Silent Night. Other original titles include A pukeko in a ponga tree and Sticky beak the Kiwi. Christmas first & last: After the Chatham Islands, New Zealand is the first place in the world to see the Christmas sun and with the country on summer time or daylight saving, there are maximum daylight hours to enjoy Christmas. In parts of the South Island it’s light by 5 am and doesn’t get dark until 10 pm. Source: Daily pioneer.com
Best spots for fine weather on Christmas Day If you’re keen to have a dry and sunny December 25, your best bet is to head to Wellington or Christchurch. NIWA meteorologist Ben Noll has compiled data from the last 30 Christmas Days, and found that the capital and the Garden City average just one wet December 25 every 7.5 years. A day is deemed wet if more than 1mm of rain falls between 9am that day and 9am the next. Wellington also has the longest streak without a wet Christmas Day out of the main centres, last experiencing rain in 2002. In the last 30 years, rain has dampened Christmas Day in Auckland and Hamilton 11 times each, on eight occasions in Tauranga and just six times in Dunedin. “This might come as a surprise to some people,” Mr Noll said. “There’s a perception that Christmas in New Zealand is more often soggy than dry.”
Looking further back, Christchurch has the dubious honour of experiencing the wettest December 25 on record for any main centre, when 59.7mm fell in 1909. Auckland’s wettest Christmas Day was in 1987, when 24.4mm of rain fell, while Tauranga had 47mm in 1926, Hamilton 37.8mm in 1968, Wellington 48.6mm in 1973 and Dunedin 33.3mm in 1969. Noll said history is one thing, but no one can be certain what 2017 will bring. Source: NZ Herald | Photo / NZME AAP
Mirry Christmus: Air New Zealand’s hilariously Kiwi Christmas ad The Kiwi accent is causing Santa Claus some serious issues in Air New Zealand’s latest Christmas commercial. New Zealand’s characteristic twang trips him up when taking present orders from Kiwi children, and it comes with entertaining consequences. The requests come across as rather unusual to Santa, but he nonetheless forwards the kids’ gift requests onto his elves - with puggy banks (piggy banks), a book of magic trucks (tricks) and biscuitballs (basketballs) all being made in his North Pole factory. The elves pick up that something is wrong, however, and they soon realise that, like in previous years, they’ve let the Kiwi accent trip them up. Air New Zealand staff are then called in to help. The carrier’s chief marketing officer Mike Tod says the airline wanted to commemorate Christmas in a way that was distinctly Kiwi. “While it’s no secret the Kiwi accent has
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been misunderstood at times, it’s also a signature part of our service,” he said. “We wanted to celebrate the festive season and the Kiwi accent in a humorous and uniquely Air New Zealand way.” See the advert via Youtube.com, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2mDoqrhiem0 Source: Newshub.co.nz
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Best Christmas Light Street displays in New Zealand There’s nothing quite like strolling down the road at 9pm at night, taking in the twinkling Christmas lights in your area. With the pre-Christmas feels in full swing, you’re never too young or old to take in the colourful displays. With Santa just around the corner, we’ve compiled a list of the best places to see Christmas lights around the country as recommended by Herald readers. Kirsty & Lee Hamel have spent the last four months prepping their home at 15 Lagoon Way, Auckland. The Franklin Rd tradition has been alive in Ponsonby for 25 years now, attracting thousands of people each year from around NZ and the world. The 2017 Franklin Rd Christmas lights are turned on at 8.30 until 11pm every night from Dec 1 to Dec 26. Light up Karaka Lakes has been running since 2010. The highlight is the flashing lights synchronised to Christmas carols and the soundtrack to the movie Frozen. The light show starts at 9pm and Santa offers free rides on his sleigh from 8pm. Motat is once again celebrating the spirit of giving with its special Christmas Lights. The Museum grounds will be transformed by magical fairy lights illuminating the streetscapes, trams and buildings. There will be live entertainment, Christmas fare and Santa’s grotto. The Harrowfield Christmas lights competition is a muchloved fixture on Hamilton’s Christmas calendar. Thousands of people flock to Harrowfield to catch a glimpse of the Christmas spirit. More than 1500 children walk Harrowfield every Christmas with displays including Christmas songs and Star Wars theme tunes. Christmas Lights competition judging takes place on the evening of Monday, December 18. Pukekura Park
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Each summer the TSB Festival of Lights transforms Pukekura Park, one of New Zealand’s premier botanical gardens, into a magical illuminated night-time wonderland of multi-coloured lights gleaming amongst the trees, attracting more than 100,000 visitors each year. Live night-time entertainment will be on show from national and international performers, stunning lighting features, a fantastic mix of daytime activities for children and families, twilight movies in the park and pop-up performance features. It runs from Saturday December 16 through to Monday February 5. The Tremains Christmas Lights extravaganza is a firm favourite on the calendars of the Hawke’s Bay community each December. Homes, gardens, shops and buildings are transformed into Christmas wonderlands, decorated with magical light displays to celebrate the festive season. Lights will be running from December 1 to 24, with tickets for buses and guided tours $5 each. The Christmas Lights Extravaganza offers a sneak-a-peek at sleeping Santa and an interactive elves workshop surrounded by magical lights and Christmas trees. Source: Dean Purcell, NZ Herald
JOBS JOBS
The Catalyst Team
Construction Andy Hopkins
ahopkins@catalystrecruitment.co.nz
Project Manager
Site Manager
Site Supervisor
Quantity Surveyor
M&E
Design Manager
Phil Ponder
pponder@catalystrecruitment.co.nz
Civil Contractors All Roles
Address:
618a Maungatautari Road RD2 Cambridge 3494
Phone:
+64 9 307 6111
Engineering Consultants
Fax:
+64 9 307 6110
Website:
www.catalystrecruitment.co.nz www.christchurchrebuild.co.nz
Blog:
www.catalystrecruit.wordpress.com
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All Roles