FYI June 2022 by Hurst Design Co.

Business Spotlight Active+ Neuro fills a crucial health void pg 17

Sustainability

Community

Eco priorities grow for businesses - and customers pg 24

‘Move Your Butt’ to beat bowel cancer pg 34

JUNE 2022

DIVERSITY, EQUITY, The 21st Century cornerstones for long-term business success

AND

INCLUSION MEMBER NEWS AND INFORMATION

businessnh.org.nz

Business North Harbour provides a voice for your concerns, networking opportunities for your business development, and access to key stakeholders and decision makers who may affect your investment.

Crime Prevention We support our members by managing the contracted nightly security patrols of our Business Improvement District area, 365 days of the year. We conduct safety, security, and communications briefings with the North Shore Police.

Events Our events programme provides members with an extensive range of networking, mentoring, wellbeing, training, and educational opportunities.

Advocacy We provide an advocacy voice to local and central government for our members’ concerns on local, regional, and national issues, and provide access to key stakeholders and decision makers who may affect your investment.

Member Communications Members are kept informed of relevant news, updates and events and are provided with useful business support resources and information.

Traffic, Transport & Roading We work with all council-controlled agencies to develop initiatives that address access and environmental concerns, including congestion reduction. We also provide information on alternative modes of transport.

Business Directory Our online Business Directory provides free listings for businesses operating within our Business Improvement District and allows businesses to update and manage their listing information online.

Sustainability We provide the resources and operational support to encourage business sustainability by enabling members to access food waste and inorganic waste collections along with pallet and cardboard box swaps.

Other Services Members can take advantage of more benefits and activities, such as our Showcase North Harbour business expo, One Day Sale, candidate employment and internship opportunities along with complimentary member hireage of the Business North Harbour training room.

09 968 2222 www.businessnh.org.nz

FROM THE GM

B U S I N E SS N H .O R G . N Z

In this issue 4 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 14 17 18 20 24 28 29 32 34

In Brief Past Events David Nottage Diary Dates BNH news Advocacy 2022 Post Budget Luncheon Professional Development: Benefitz Cover Story Local Business Spotlight: Active+ Neuro Professional Development: North Shore Golf Club Transport Sustainability NZ Police Update Professional Development: Waste Management Property Matters Community: Bowel Cancer New Zealand

Contact FYI Magazine Business North Harbour General Manager Kevin O’Leary kevin@businessnh.org.nz Advertising Peter Green comms@businessnh.org.nz Editor Lizzie Brandon lizzie@writesphere.co.nz Design Lewis Hurst lewis@hurstmedia.nz Printer PrintLounge printlounge.co.nz The opinions expressed in this publication are not necessarily the views of the publishers. The publishers do not endorse any person, company or organisation that advertises in this publication.

Business North Harbour,

Unit 2, Level 1, 322 Rosedale Road, Rosedale, 0632. PO Box 303 126, North Harbour 0751 OFFICE 09 968 2222 WEB businessnh.org.nz

Welcome from the GM I’m delighted to announce that Business North Harbour is once again running in-person events, giving members access to a variety of subject matter experts, whilst also providing excellent networking opportunities that have been sorely missed by many. In this issue of FYI, we look at the essential soft skills that make any successful team and business tick and the importance of diversity and inclusion as crucial elements in any organisation. In our Community section, we profile Bowel Cancer NZ, who are promoting the Move Your Butt campaign as part of their awareness month in June. Unfortunately, 3,000 Kiwis will be diagnosed this year, and sadly 1,200 will die from the disease, so we need to remove the stigma and embarrassment connected to the condition that prevent people from seeking help, until for some it’s too late. I wish you all well, and the Team and I look forward to seeing you in person at one of our events, now that current restrictions allow.

THE GOVERNMENT’S ANNOUNCEMENT to move New Zealand into the Orange setting of the Covid-19 Protection Framework in time for the Easter break will, I’m sure, have come as a huge relief for many members. Fewer limitations on our daily and business lives has meant that those of us who feel comfortable doing so have been able to relax a little more outside of our work and home environments, and enjoy some of the activities that were restricted during the pandemic, either by personal choice or government guidelines. The move to Orange has been described by some commentators as the start of the rebuild for Auckland, as across the city, many of the businesses who have managed to stay afloat start their journey towards sustainable economic recovery. This won’t necessarily be a quick fix. In fact, for some members, it may take several years, but at least it’s a step in the right direction. It remains imperative that collectively we continue to support our local businesses, as we look to re-establish the thriving communities, town centres and business districts from which we can all benefit. The positivity brought about by the move to Orange cannot hide the fact that members are still facing many significant challenges, as we all try to manage rising costs and interest rates that are fuelling inflation levels, the likes of which we haven’t seen for a long time. Add the ongoing supply chain issues and labour shortages, and we’re certainly not out of the woods yet.

Kia kaha

Kevin O’Leary General Manager, Business North Harbour

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IN BRIEF

J U N E 2022 F Y I

Winter foot health

THE STORIES BEHIND OUR STREET NAMES:

YALE UNIVERSITY, University Communications & Information

Beatrice Tinsley Crescent

SPEAKING TO THE NZ Herald in 2018, executive director of the New Zealand Astrobiology Network (NZAN) Haritina Mogoșanu said: “Before her, there were theories, there were observations. After Beatrice Tinsley, there is almost this unified understanding of what is happening out there in the sky. I would consider her of the calibre of Einstein or Newton. She’s one of the giants.” Born in 1941 in Chester, England, Beatrice’s family emigrated to New Zealand, living first in Christchurch and then New Plymouth. She attended New Plymouth Girls’ High School and then the University of Canterbury, earning her MSc. Dr Tinsley was a battler – challenging established theories and fighting gender barriers. She couldn’t teach at the University of Canterbury because women were barred from teaching if their husbands worked there. She was similarly discriminated against after moving to Dallas, Texas. However, finally, in 1975, Beatrice was offered an assistant professor’s role at Yale University. Faced with the agonising choice between her family or her career, she moved more than 2,500km and had to leave her children behind. Three years later, Beatrice was 4

promoted to become the first female professor of astronomy. Tragically, Professor Tinsley’s life was cut short by melanoma. She died aged just 40. There have been numerous posthumous tributes to Beatrice Tinsley, including an American Astronomical award for “an outstanding research contribution to astronomy or astrophysics, of an exceptionally creative or innovative character”, and a Doodle (from Google) on what would have been her 75th birthday. She also has a mountain in Fiordland and an asteroid named in her honour.

shoe-prints Make sure your shoes fit properly and are comfortable. Ill-fitting shoes can cause nasty corns and calluses from pressure areas. A too-tight toe box can also exacerbate ingrown toenails. shoe-prints During the cooler months, it’s best to choose socks that will wick the sweat away and keep your feet warm and dry. Wool or other moisture-wicking materials such as bamboo can help keep athlete’s foot at bay. shoe-prints Stepping in puddles on your way to pick up your coffee? Make sure to change your socks as soon as they get wet. Wet feet are susceptible to fungal and bacterial infections. YALE UNIVERSITY, University Communications & Information

Beatrice Tinsley (née Hill) was a world-renowned astrophysicist and a trailblazer for women in science.

LIKE IT OR not, winter’s on the way. Many of us will be swapping casual shoes or open-toed sandals for more formal socks and shoes. FYI asked BNH member Trish Beard of Miss Clip-It Podiatry in Corinthian Drive for some advice about how to keep our feet in tip-top condition through these cooler, damper months.

shoe-prints During the winter months, skin can dry out as dry air and heaters zap moisture. Regular use of a good quality moisturiser can prevent this from happening. shoe-prints The last tip is for those who wear nail polish. Now is the time to give your nails a break and layer them up with cuticle oil to have them in the best condition for summer.

IN BRIEF

B U S I N E SS N H .O R G . N Z

Do this one thing to help bring birdsong back to your garden PEST ANIMALS AND plants are our native birds’ most significant threats. Pest plants smother and strangle native plants, so there’s less food for native birds. Getting rid of them creates a safer environment and helps bring beautiful native birdsong back into our yards. Some of the worst weeds are moth plant, climbing asparagus, wild ginger, Japanese honeysuckle, and woolly nightshade. Restore Hibiscus & Bays has some great resources on its website about how to recognise and effectively remove these pest plants, including the locations of community pest plant disposal bins. To learn more about how you can help to protect New Zealand’s native flora and fauna, go to restorehb.org.nz

Uru-ā-rangi Tupu-ā-rangi Matariki Waipuna-ā-rangi

Tupu-ā-nuku

Matariki Waitā

The first public holiday to recognise Te Ao Māori

Waitī FRIDAY, 24 JUNE, is Aotearoa New Zealand’s first public holiday celebrating Matariki, Māori new year. The date will vary from year to year (as the Gregorian calendar has to synch with the Māori lunar calendar). Still, it will always fall on the Friday closest to the Tangaroa lunar calendar period of the correct lunar calendar month. A full list of upcoming dates can be found at beehive.govt.nz/release/matariki-holiday-datesnext-thirty-years-announced

Moth plant

Matariki (also known as Pleiades, Makali’i, and Subaru in various parts of the world) is not a constellation but a cluster of some 500 stars, only a few of which can be seen without a telescope. It’s approximately 440 lightyears from Earth – which is actually considered quite close in astronomical terms! Matariki’s midwinter appearance has traditionally been a time to reflect on the past (including those who have passed before us), celebrate the present, and plan for the future. Employers should be aware that Matariki is a standard national public holiday. For more information and advice, go to employment.govt.nz/leave-andholidays/public-holidays

Wooly nightshade

If you’d like to look to the heavens, Te Papa’s website has a short video about how to find the Matariki cluster: tepapa.govt.nz/watch-how-find-matarikistar-cluster

BNH’s ‘Nominate a Hero’: Margaret Pelley BNH ASSOCIATE MEMBER Ruth Wilson of iT360 contacted BNH to celebrate “an absolute star of the community”. Since 2000, Margaret Pelley has faithfully provided the wonderful service of sorting and filling the post boxes for many North Shore businesses. She also created an amazing sports-related wall for her clients to enjoy as we came into the lobby to collect our mail. She’s a delightful lady who goes above and beyond in her service to local businesses. And as a recipient of this,

iT360 has been very grateful. I present this lovely lady to you as it would be very special for Business North Harbour to honour her too and to cheer her on for the next chapter of her life. Sadly, the NZ Post box lobby in Croftfield Lane has been closed, leaving Margaret without a job. If any BNH member would like to employ this public-spirited lady, please email comms@businessnh.org.nz so that we can connect you. 5

PAST E V E N TS

J U N E 2022 F Y I

Business Resilience Webinar Series IN FEBRUARY, BUSINESS North Harbour (BNH) surveyed members to gain additional feedback and insights into the business resilience within our area and to understand what additional support BNH could provide. The Business Resilience Survey’s nine questions covered key issues around staff working from home, Covid impacts on business, significant issues being faced, and areas for support and staff wellbeing. A total of 237 survey responses were received and this quickly translated into a series of six online webinar events, for which BNH utilised subject matter experts who each discussed and addressed identified issues.

Leadership & People Management 16 March Simon Weakley, Director of Training and Sales, Dale Carnegie

Attendees were provided with valuable advice and techniques around how to deal with workplace stress and anxiety during these very uncertain times along with strategies on how to create and build resilience amongst their team, their business and for their leaders. Simon Weakley shared that these experiences are not unique to us; indeed, these issues are being faced worldwide.

Business Strategy, Planning & Sustainability 23 March Richard Orsbourn, Chief Pathfinder, Pathfinder Solutions

Richard Orsbourn’s presentation addressed the challenges that businesses are currently facing along with commonsense advice on embracing change and focusing on what you can control as a business owner. The essential aspects of finance, profitability and cashflow aspects were covered along with the importance of having a solid plan to get back to business. 6

Recruitment, Staff Retention & Managing Staff Shortages 30 March Lisa Hill, Managing Director, Eclipse Recruitment

Practical advice for employers on staff retention were presented by Lisa Hill with a focus on remuneration, reward, recognition, training, and career progression. Fantastic insights on combating staff shortages and recruitment strategies were addressed with a real focus on ways to widen the candidate pool, which included thinking outside the square in such an employee driven market.

Supply Chain Management 6 April Chris Edwards, Co-founder and Group Managing Director, GO Logistics Group

Chris Edwards’ informative presentation on New Zealand’s wide-ranging supply chain issues and challenges focused on three distinct areas: short, medium, and long-term. The key issues driving the global supply chain chaos were covered, including Covid (e.g., major areas/cities still in lockdown, staff isolation), rising fuel costs, immigration, inflation, air and sea freight supply, ports, and geo-political issues.

PAST E V E N TS

B U S I N E SS N H .O R G . N Z

Legal Compliance & Employment Law

Making your marketing more efficient

13 April Bronwen Newcombe, Director, Davenports Law

4 May Bex Taylor, Marketing Manager, The Mind Lab

The impacts of staff isolation requirements were presented in detail by Bronwen Newcombe, along with vaccine mandate implications, which have placed increased pressure on businesses, their staff, suppliers, and clients. The need for business leaders to be open and fully communicative with their staff around business operations and changes to any employment conditions were of upmost importance.

This presentation provided business owners with quick and affordable ways to make their marketing more efficient whilst not compromising on output or relevancy. Bex Taylor provided useful and highly practical insights about how to streamline your presence, prioritise your stories (not product details), use your mobile phone camera more often, and reinforcing that all roads lead to your website.

All past BNH webinars can be accessed via the Member Area – Members Resources page on the BNH website.

IN MEMORIAM

SCAN TO DONATE

David Nottage PSANZ Educator of the Year 2020, 1996 World Champion of Public Speaking 31 May 1959-12 April 2022 LIKE SO MANY others, the BNH team was shocked and saddened by David Nottage’s recent passing, following a short and unexpected illness. An Australian by birth, a Kiwi by choice, David’s kindness, humour, generosity, and talent touched the lives of thousands of people. Yet, despite his success and renown, he remained humble, devoid of airs and graces. In 1996, David triumphed over 20,000 entrants to win the World Championship of Public Speaking for Toastmasters. This is an outstanding achievement by anyone’s standards but extraordinary in context because, in his early twenties, David couldn’t even speak to his team of four staff without a panic attack. Joining Toastmasters, he said, was life-changing.

In 1994, he founded TORQUE Business, which has been based in North Harbour since 2002. In his inimitable style, David shared the same techniques and skills with his clients that helped him win that prestigious award, become a

...“an entertainer” who was devoted to helping others. Certified Speaking Professional (CSP) and made him one of NZ’s most in-demand MCs (master of ceremonies). Indeed, exhibitors and visitors at BNH’s 2021 Showcase North Harbour business expo will undoubtedly remember his exuberant energy.

A celebration of David’s life was held on 21 April. Those paying tribute included friends and representatives from Toastmasters, the Professional Speakers Association of New Zealand, the Global Speakers Federation, and the National Speakers Association. Their recollections added extra colour to a truly larger than life character. David’s portrayals of Dame Edna Everage (which included a trip down Queen Street in a limo to surprise someone!), a gorilla, a Catholic priest, and the captain of Focker Airlines sounded legendary. And time and again, they described David as a gentleman who was “an inspiration”, “an amazing person”, and “an entertainer” who was devoted to helping others. David’s life philosophy and subject of his Championship-winning presentation was “Get up, get up, get up”. His wife Julie has pledged that his legacy will endure through TORQUE Business. All of us at BNH send our sympathy and support to Julie and the family, and to the team at TORQUE. The David Nottage Foundation has been set up to fund public speaking scholarships and contribute to the Hibiscus Hospice (where David had exceptional support and care from their extraordinary staff). If you would like to donate, please go to givealittle.co.nz/cause/davidnottage-foundation 7

D I A RY D AT E S

Upcoming Events June 16 Women in Business: New Zealand’s Media Superstar, Hilary Barry *** SOLD OUT *** Time: 10.00 am-12.00 pm Venue: North Shore Golf Club, 51 Appleby Road, Albany Hilary is a multi-award-winning newsreader and presenter and an accomplished public speaker with a particular passion and focus on issues that affect women. A proud North Shore local, she’s both funny and personable, sharing stories and learnings that are guaranteed to resonate with her audience. Sponsored by:

July 1-2 North Shore Home, Leisure & Entertaining Expo Time: 9.00 am-4.00 pm Venue: BNZ North Shore Partners Centre, 55 Corinthian Drive, Albany

J U N E 2022 F Y I

Business North Harbour (BNH) in partnership with BNZ is proud to present this inaugural expo, bringing together the very best businesses from within the home, garden, and lifestyle industries. Ninety organisations will have an excellent opportunity to showcase their products and services to the local business community and members of the public.

three largest competitor companies in any one market. As the single longest-serving chief executive in the New Zealand life insurance sector, her work outcomes over the past 39 years are evident. Naomi will share the story of her journey, and the lessons learned, including mistakes along the way. Sponsored by:

August September

3 First on the Scene First Aid Workshop with St John

22 Business After Five: Mixing Business & Sport

Time: 1.00 pm-3.00 pm Venue: Business North Harbour, 322 Rosedale Road, Rosedale Attendees will be shown how to deal with the five most common “first response” situations in a workplace environment, including cardiac arrest, a falling injury, or a person cut and badly bleeding.

4 Women in Business: Naomi Ballantyne, New Zealand’s Leader of Life Insurance Time: 10.00 am-12.00 pm Venue: North Shore Golf Club, 51 Appleby Road, Albany

Time: 5.00 pm-7.00 pm Venue: National Hockey Centre, 159 Bush Road, Rosedale Jointly organised by BNH and Harbour Sport, we plan to bring together 30 local and regional sporting bodies with North Harbour business owners and managers, to connect and help facilitate new opportunities. Sponsored by:

For more information and to register for any of these events, please go to businessnh.org.nz/ whats-on/

Naomi Ballantyne is likely the only woman in the world to have started and built the

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email: peter@primacc.co.nz www.primacc.co.nz

BNH NEWS

B U S I N E SS N H .O R G . N Z

Pink Ribbon Breakfast fundraiser, 12 May “So many women are diagnosed with breast cancer every year. It’s scary,” says BNH ambassador Sandra Craze. NOW THAT NEW Zealand is in the Orange setting, Sandra suggested hosting a Pink Ribbon Breakfast at a BNH team meeting. “Everyone totally embraced the idea,” she smiles. “It’s wonderful to be part of such an inclusive and supportive team.” Indeed, Kevin, Peter, Isabella, Sarah, and Tracey were all there bright and early on the day to help beautify the BNH boardroom and assemble a delicious spread, including cupcakes, fruit yogurt and muesli, and filled croissants. For many guests, May 12th was the first open networking event they’d attended in 2022. There was a buzz in the air as everyone enjoyed the “double feel-good” of reconnecting and for such a good cause. And it was great to see male guests donning something pink for the occasion; they wore it with style!

$812,000

22 advocacy

spent on research projects & the Breast Cancer Foundation National Register

engagements with decision-makers to drive change

9,244 breast nurse helpline calls

Where your money goes

1,757 funded

patients

for counselling, physio and lymphoedema therapy

From ground-breaking research to vital hospital equipment, here’s how your support helped Kiwis in 2021. By taking part in Pink Ribbon Breakfast, you’re helping make more of this amazing work possible.

downloaded more than

13,000 times

people spoken to

face-to-face

405,186 P R E C H E C K app

14,615

printed educational resources given out

1,130 people registered for webinars

1,581 private messages and emails sent to patients

So far, BNH’s Pink Ribbon Breakfast has raised more than $650. If you’d like to donate, it’s not too late! Simply go to takeaction.org.nz/page/businessnorthharbourpinkribbonfundraiser

Welcome Isabella to the BNH team FRESH PERSPECTIVES AND energies help a team thrive, so BNH is delighted to welcome new marketing intern, Isabella Bowman. In her final year at Massey University, Isabella is studying communications, with a particular focus on digital marketing. She’s already showing her flair, collating the fortnightly e-newsletter and relishing the chance to be involved with multiple projects at once. Isabella applied for internships at several organisations. “As soon as I had my interview with Kevin and Peter, it just felt right! This was where I wanted to be,” she says. It’s quite a commitment, as Isabella lives in Papakura. Fortunately, she’s been able to utilise the half-price public transport initiative. A one-way ticket costs just $2.30, which, she says, is “very helpful”, even if she does have to get up earlier to catch the bus! When she’s not at the office or uni, you’ll find Isabella having fun with her three dogs, Frankie, Lulu, and Poppy. Or she might lose herself in a whimsical romance novel. 9

A D V O C AC Y

J U N E 2022 F Y I

Business resilience, parking strategies, and regional growth In response to the ongoing challenges caused by the pandemic, which continue to impact businesses, Business North Harbour (BNH) recently conducted a Business Resilience Survey. WE ASKED FOR members’ feedback on the main issues they were facing and what support they required from both a financial and capability perspective to enable them to mitigate these issues as far as is practicable. The information received from hundreds of responses allowed me to continue to advocate directly to government ministers and local MPs, highlighting that 86 per cent of respondents noted major concerns regarding the effects of Covid-19 on their business. I asked for Government action in several areas, including additional financial support, the use and availability of RATs testing, easing MIQ requirements, easing supply chain issues,

and providing a reliable roadmap out of lockdowns and restrictions to enable businesses to make both short and long-term plans with some degree of certainty. The letters can all be viewed on the BNH website: businessnh.org.nz/ formal-submissions We remain proactive in encouraging consumers to continue buying local and

We remain proactive in encouraging consumers to continue buying local and utilising locally available services.

utilising locally available services. We understand that many members still face an uphill battle to regain financial sustainability as they try to manage rising costs, rising interest rates, supply chain issues, and labour shortages, as noted in my GM’s intro on page 3. BNH made a formal submission to Auckland Council (AC) on the Annual Budget 2022-2023, about which I encouraged members to take the opportunity to have their say. I also submitted on AC’s proposed Removal of Car Parking Minimums, asking that each development be viewed case-bycase. Additionally, I attended an online advocacy session giving feedback to Finance Minister Grant Robertson on the proposed NZ Income Insurance Scheme. Sarah de Zwart has continued to provide feedback to Auckland Transport (AT) on several of their proposals within our area. She asked for feedback from members on AT’s highly controversial Parking Strategy, which has been included in our most recent submission on this topic. Following a series of meetings, the working group for the Activate North initiative received support for the project from four of our five ward councillors – a very positive outcome. The group will continue to raise awareness and gather support for the project as they look to work closely with central and local government and other key stakeholders to achieve positive growth and development north of the Harbour Bridge. Kevin O’Leary GM, Business North Harbour

2022 P O ST B U D G E T L U N C H E O N

B U S I N E SS N H .O R G . N Z

2022 Post Budget Luncheon 24 May, 12.30 pm-2.30 pm Speakers Hon Stuart Nash, MP for Napier - Minister for Economic and Regional Development, Tourism Minister, Forestry Minister and Minister for Small Business Vanushi Walters, MP for Upper Harbour Nicola Willis, List MP - Deputy Leader of the Opposition Erica Stanford, MP for East Coast Bays THE ATMOSPHERE AT the National Hockey Centre was nothing short of exuberant for Business North Harbour’s (BNH’s) first in-person event since August 2021. There were many new faces amongst the guests, and everyone took full advantage of the opportunity to meet or reconnect with their business neighbours. Nicola Willis stated the three ways National believes that Labour’s was a “backwards Budget”. She then explained how National would provide solutions to current challenges, saying that the vision is to “create more opportunity” whilst acknowledging that the cost of living crisis is here to stay for some time and calling inflation “the robber at everyone’s door.” Ms Willis explained the five-step plan that National would implement to put a lid on inflation. These included refocusing the Reserve Bank on its single mandate to take care of price stability, and an inflation-adjustment to tax thresholds. There was a lively Q+A session, during which Erica Stanford joined Ms Willis at the podium. Topics ranged from climate emission targets, the proposed income insurance scheme, and how to help long-term benefit recipients return to the workforce. Having provided some global context, the Hon Stuart Nash set out the facts and figures from the Budget, with a particular emphasis on business support. He informed guests of various government initiatives, including the Business Growth Fund, the Regional Strategic Partnership Fund, and Industry Transformation Plans, all of which were allocated significant funding. Mr Nash acknowledged that Auckland had suffered from the lack of overseas visitors and employees. He presented information about a $54 million innovation programme for tourism recovery. He also highlighted strategies to help attract international talent to fill 85 hard-to-fill roles (the “Green List”), such as a streamlined pathway to residency. Once again, the Q+A was spirited and varied, covering health, private funding of essential services (e.g., St John), crime, truancy, the government’s fiscal accountability, and the definition of “high value” tourists. Guests lingered after the official event, keen to extend the networking for as long as possible.

P R O F E SS I O N A L D E V E LO P M E N T: B E N E F I T Z

J U N E 2022 F Y I

Benefitz helps Michelangelo exhibition come alive in Auckland The “Michelangelo – A Different View” exhibition included over 50 large images, mostly printed on fabric.

The team at Benefitz completed a significant project recently that demonstrated the business’ wide-ranging capability. This was for the “Michelangelo – A Different View” exhibition held over six weeks at the Aotea Centre. UNDER LICENSE FROM the Vatican Museums, this extraordinary exhibition was an authentic reproduction of Michelangelo’s beautiful ceiling frescoes of the Sistine Chapel. “We were contacted by the exhibition promoters in mid-2021 asking the question if we were able to print the reproductions as they were nervous about the reliability of shipping from Europe in Covid-times,” explains Benefitz MD Aidan Bennett.

“The reproductions needed to be printed high Above. The 64-page souvenir book that was designed and resolution on a fabric specprinted by Benefitz. ified, then stretched and Below left. Aidan Bennett and the 20 by 4.6-metre floor framed for the exhibition.” image that was printed in one piece by Benefitz. The “Michelangelo – A Different View” exhibitional signage for the event, including tion consisted of over 50 the installation.” images of the ceiling frescoes of the “The promoter is based in Sistine Chapel. The images that Benethe Wellington region. With the fitz produced were up to 4.6 metres wide pre-Christmas Covid-19 travel restricand almost 20 metres long. That partictions in place they were unable to get to Auckland. They were able to depend on “We ended up doing all the us to work with the Auckland Live team design, printing, merchandise, at the Aotea Centre venue to build-up the event and make it come to a reality.” display and directional The Benefitz team ended up designing and printing all of the items for the signage for the event, event, including the impressive 64-page including the installation.” souvenir programme as well as guidebooks in both English and te reo Māori. “Michelangelo – A Different View” ran from 3rd to 30th January at the ular reproduction, called “The Genesis” Aotea Centre. Due to its popularity was the feature floor display of the exhithe event was extended through until bition. All other reproductions were hung mid-February. from the ceiling or displayed on easels. “We tackled the project as we came benefitz.co.nz out of Alert Level 4 Covid-19 lockdown late last year and the task grew for us, which we were thrilled with,” adds Aidan. “We ended up doing all the design, printing, merchandise, display and direc-

A D V E R TO R I A L

B U S I N E SS N H .O R G . N Z

Understanding and preparing for cyber threats in 2022 Cyber attacks remain a very real source of concern for New Zealand businesses of all sizes, including those in North Harbour. Rothbury’s insurance brokers are all North Harbour locals who live and work in the community and are passionate about getting North Harbour businesses the right protection. Not only are such attacks deeply disruptive and costly to a business to rectify, they may also present a business with a great deal of customer dissatisfaction. THE NATIONAL COMPUTER Emergency Response Team (CERT NZ) is the Government agency responsible for gathering data on cybercrime, and their numbers paint a worrying picture. There were 2,072 incidents responded to by CERT NZ in Q3 2021, which represents a 53% increase from Q2 2021 and equates to a direct financial loss of $3.3M*. Historically, there has been a perception that our relative geographical isolation from the rest of the world has shielded us from attention of cyber criminals. This is no longer the case and has been demonstrated through a series of high-profile cyber attacks to businesses such as Air New Zealand (via its passenger processing system SITA), Kiwibank and NZ Police to name a few. So much has changed in the last year and getting insurance right is crucial in these uncertain times.

Cyber insurance is becoming an increasing necessity to help protect your business against exposure to cyber threats.

between Russia and Ukraine and the overall global threat environment, the National Cyber Security Centre encourages New Zealanders to strengthen their cyber security readiness. Garry and the North Harbour team employ the very latest tools to assess your risk. They have access to over 60 insurance companies and work diligently to make sure you get the protection your business needs. And as you are working with a local team, you can rest easy knowing help is always available just down the road at Rothbury North Harbour.

What can cyber insurance cover? So what are the common threats to look out for? One of the most common threats impacting small and medium sized businesses is ransomware attacks. This occurs when criminals deploy malicious software and target businesses to access and encrypt files (thus rendered unusable). They then demand a ransom in return for their release. One emerging ransomware risk is known as “double extortion”, whereby criminals demand payment for a decryption key, as well as a separate payment to avoid the release of data.

The benefits of Cyber Insurance will depend on the type of policy you take out but can include: • Access to specialists to assist in • • • • •

Our brokers are well versed in advising on cyber insurance policies to meet your business needs. Talk to Garry Bray today to see how we can help protect your business.

Evolving situation in 2022

In response to the heightened tensions

containing the cyber attack Ransom costs and extortion Protection from your loss and third party loss Crisis management and legal costs Business interruption Social engineering

*CERT NZ Quarterly Highlights Q3 2021.

Your business is unique, and so are your insurance needs FOR A SECOND OPINION, CALL ME TODAY Garry Bray | Commercial Broker P: 021 0818 9329 E: garry.bray@rothbury.co.nz rothbury.co.nz 13

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Diversity, equity, and inclusion The 21st Century cornerstones for long-term business success In 1972, New Zealand’s Equal Pay Act passed into law, making it unlawful to pay women and men differently for doing the same job. And yet, fifty years later, disparity remains with a gender pay gap of more than 9 per cent. Essentially, from 29 November, Kiwi women are working the rest of the year for free. The stats are worse for Māori and Pasifika women, whose “work for free” dates are 10 November and 18 October, respectively. GENDERTICK OFFERS ORGANISATIONS independent assurance around gender policies and practices to increase the attraction and retention of women employees. Claire Stuart is the YWCA’s GenderTick manager. “Most of the businesses that contact us are excited and passionate about this initiative,” she says. “Often we find it’s people in HR or development roles who are driving this change, and occasionally it can be a struggle to get sign-off from top tier management.” Claire believes this is down to mindset – senior managers who’ve worked a certain way for years (maybe decades) and haven’t broadened their thinking as external working

Claire Stuart YWCA GenderTick Manager

practices have evolved. “Traditional work processes were established in the 1900s for a predominantly white, male, Christian workforce. The landscape has changed immensely, and some organisations haven’t kept up. There can be an attitude: ‘We’re already successful. Our system isn’t broken; why fix it?’ “However, others really grasp the importance of a diverse team, not least for improved productivity and creativity from different kinds of brilliant minds to an improved bottom line.” To achieve GenderTick accreditation, an organisation must fulfil five criteria 1. 2. 3. 4. 5.

Gender Inclusive Culture Safe Workplace Flexible Work & Leave Leadership Representation Equal Pay

GenderTick demonstrates a business’ commitment to gender equity to its employees, customers, and stake-

Yellow® CEO Tracey Taylor

holders. Membership organisations, including Xero, Genesis Energy, and AIA Insurance, also verify that workplace culture is enhanced. Here’s what Yellow® told FYI: The programme has helped us stretch ourselves…as we continue to push the boundaries and make courageous decisions to shift systems and cultures that suppress minorities. Our CEO, Tracey Taylor, leads with love, and this has enabled everyone at Yellow to advocate for change in a vulnerable and courageous way. Our people are really proud of our commitment to gender equity, and it has been one of the driving factors behind our cultural transformation. It has also given us an advantage when recruiting as we know ever more people are choosing their prospective employers based on an alignment of values. Being GenderTick accredited has also inspired

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us to adapt our recruitment process to encourage applications from a diverse range of people, and we have specifically cited research to encourage female applicants to back themselves, which has been hugely successful. We’re excited to continue on this journey alongside GenderTick. However, true diversity, equity, and inclusion extend well beyond demographic differences, as Ola Ioane, head of membership at Diversity Works New Zealand, explains. “It’s about age and life transition, disability, neurodiversity, immigration, religion, education, language, and more.” “Diversity Works New Zealand exists to help organisations do workplace inclusion well, and do well because of it,” he adds. Nor is diversity about “tokenism”. One woman on a committee cannot speak for all women, just as one Samoan man cannot represent all Pasifika peoples. “We know there’s a lot of ad hoc mahi being done with the best of intentions,” observes Ola. “But a lunch to celebrate different cultures needs to be part of a connected, formalised process. Otherwise, you run the risk, for example, of one person leaving and taking that event planning enthusiasm with them.” Just as with any other business activity (e.g., marketing), diversity and inclusion should be a strategy. “So, we help businesses channel their energies positively into an ongoing process, and help them differentiate between strategy, policy, and initiatives.” The next generations of employees and customers are driving transforma-

The Aotearoa Inclusivity Matrix is an evidencebased framework developed specifically for New Zealand workplaces. It enables organisations to identify the maturity of their policies across seven key components.

“If you have 50 business people in a room, you could get 50 different definitions of ‘diversity’!” says Ola Ioane.

tional change. Millennials and Gen Z are clear that they favour working for and doing business with sustainable and inclusive organisations. But, with such broad scope, where to start? Ola cautions against just diving in. Instead, he says there’s a Step Zero before a Step One – and that’s important kōrero, openly and honestly asking, “Are we ready to have this conversation?” “Then we move to Step One: community willingness. This is when we work through everyone’s perceptions of diversity, the challenges it may bring, and its huge potential benefits. When we align definitions, that’s when organisations have their ‘Aha!’ moment.” He acknowledges that many businesses may feel that inclusion is too

Ola Ioane Diversity Works New Zealand Head of Membership

complex. However, some industry sectors are leading the way for them. “We recently had 200 construction companies collaborating to identify critical diversity and inclusion gaps and see how they could support their sector’s cohesive approach towards improvement.” Clearly, this won’t be a quick fix. But, says Ola, “It’s more important to understand the problem than to have an immediate answer.” What’s not in doubt is that when diversity, equity, and inclusion are embedded facets of company culture, there are three key achievements: • Societal benefits – with customers,

Social impact

Leadership

Diversity infrastructure Inclusive collaboration Diverse recruitment Bi-culturalism

Inclusive career development

stakeholders, and the broader community • Improved productivity, innovation, and motivation • Being better placed to predict and prepare for the future, as the business’ make-up reflects its customers And if it all seems overwhelming or momentum flags a little, Ola offers this advice. “Just pause! Remember, this is a long-term, ongoing strategy. Progress is progress, even just a metaphorical one centimetre at a time.” GenderTick and Diversity Works New Zealand have a wealth of information and resources on their respective websites, including details of workshops and events. ywca.org.nz/workplace/gendertick diversityworksnz.org.nz 15

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ALONGSIDE DIVERSITY, EQUITY, and inclusion, expert opinion strongly advises that businesses hiring for soft skills are the ones that will survive and thrive longterm. Deloitte predicts the number of jobs in soft skill-intensive occupations will grow at 2.5 times the rate of roles in other occupations, and soft skilled-based occupations will account for two-thirds of all jobs by 2030. An interesting article in Harvard Business Review suggests that “…the best way to make your organization more data-centric and digital is to selectively invest in those who are most adaptable, curious, and flexible in the first place. Since nobody knows what the key future hard skills will be, the best action is to bet on the people who are most likely to develop them.” So, what are the crucial soft skills that business owners should seek and develop? Amongst the qualities listed by Deloitte’s report Soft skills for business success are: Self-management Communication Problem-solving Critical thinking Emotional judgement (emotional intelligence) • Professional ethics (integrity) • • • • •

The good news is that, although at first glance, many of these appear to be innate human qualities, they and other essential soft skills can be learned and enhanced, as Julie Nottage (née Raine) of JR Talks and Torque Business explained to FYI.

Emotional intelligence (EI)

Evidence proves that teams with EI have a competitive advantage, and the essential quality to nurture EI is empathy. “Being able to sense and respect a co-worker or

J U N E 2022 F Y I

“Recognise another person’s perspectives and consider why they might hold those opinions.”

Julie Nottage JR Talks and Torque Business

client’s unspoken thoughts and feelings can definitely improve productivity and customer service delivery,” says Julie. Being curious can help develop this skill. “When you talk to someone you don’t know, for example, at a networking event, ask them meaningful questions and really listen to the answers.”

Ethical responsibility and integrity

Warren Buffett famously said: “We look for three things when we hire people. We look for intelligence, we look for initiative or energy, and we look for integrity. And if they don’t have the latter, the first two will kill you, because if you’re going to get someone without integrity, you want them lazy and dumb.” Julie provides some more context. “When someone tells you they’ve made a mistake and how they intend to fix it, you know you can trust them. Therefore,

to nurture a culture of integrity, leaders need to admit to their own mistakes and encourage other team members to do likewise. This requires a company culture of psychological safety.”

Self-management and self-motivation

Self-motivated people are easier to manage and require less supervision. “Because they have a vision, they generally set themselves sensible goals and timeframes,” Julie comments. For people wishing to boost their self-motivation, this goal setting is vital. “Be realistic but challenge yourself, break bigger tasks into smaller steps, and create a reward system to celebrate progress.” Moreover, renowned motivational speaker Tony Robbins writes, “’The one common denominator of all successful people is their hunger to push through their fears.’ When you have enough hunger, you can easily learn how to self-motivate to meet the goals you’ve set your mind and focus on.”

Flexibility and resilience

Especially in these unpredictable times, team members need to be open-minded, be willing to accept diverse responsibilities, manage uncertainty, and adapt their behaviour by understanding colleagues’ challenges and needs. “Resilience is the ability to ‘bounce back’, which some people seem to do naturally,” says Julie. “Once again, psychological safety as part of workplace culture is key. For example, employees should be encouraged to voice concerns or ask questions, and supported when they do so.” Further reading:

“Resilience is a skill that can be nurtured. With the right support, people with less natural resilience can learn how to improve their coping strategies and flourish in challenging times.”

hbr.org/2020/05/digital-transformation-is-about-talent-nottechnology forbes.com/sites/forbeshumanresourcescouncil/2021/01/20/ soft-skills-are-essential-to-the-future-of-work/ forbes.com/sites/williamarruda/2022/05/08/4-steps-to-rampup-your-resilience-at-work-and-in-your-companys-culture tonyrobbins.com/personal-growth/what-is-self-motivation www2.deloitte.com/au/en/pages/economics/articles/soft-skillsbusiness-success.html

B U S I N E SS S P OT L I G H T: AC T I V E + N E U R O

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Push yourself hard for the good of your brain It’s estimated that one in five New Zealanders will experience brain disease during their lifetime, and neurological conditions are among the most common causes of long-term disability.* And yet, for people living with the likes of Parkinson’s disease (PD), multiple sclerosis (MS), cerebral palsy, and the repercussions of stroke, there is only minimal physiotherapy rehab or support available. ACTIVE+ NEURO IN Rosedale Road aims to fill this crucial void, providing clients with essential tools and techniques to help protect their quality of life. Clinic co-owner Steph Lane has run Active+ Physio in Don McKinnon Drive since 2016. She says that she’s immensely proud of the new neuro clinic, which is arguably unique in Aotearoa. “We’re the only clinic in the country to have a REX Bionics exoskeleton, a state-of-the-art robot. This enables clients with limited mobility or in a wheelchair to stand and move in all directions to complete robust rehabilitation programmes. There are extensive benefits to strengthening the body up against gravity. The REX also improves spasticity [muscle tightness], range of movement, bladder and bowel function.” The clinic supports patients of all ages; well-publicised cases, such as Michael J Fox’s early Parkinson’s diagnosis, have helped dispel the myth that neurological conditions only affect elderly or vulnerable people. “In addition to people in their thirties and forties living with an ongoing condition, we have a significant number of even younger clients, including rugby players, surfers and skateboarders

who’re suffering the longer-term effects of concussion,” Steph confirms. There are classes too, including PD Warrior and MS Head Start, internationally recognised neuro programmes, which are due to be further assessed by Harbour Sport in the near future. During these sessions participants are seriously put through their paces, as neuro physiotherapist clinical lead Gilly Davy explains. “These are high intensity, evidence-based programmes that empower our clients. Cardiovascular training is an absolute game-changer. Science tells us that when we work at 80 per cent of our predicted heart rate max – the point where you’re really puffing and panting – we cause neurotrophins to be released. These are insulin-like growth proteins that promote synaptic activity, and it’s this synaptic activity that reduces axon dieback. “When we talk about neurological protection, we don’t claim to be able to cure anything and we can’t promise to slow the condition’s progression. However, we can genuinely say that, through hard cardiovascular exercise, you will reduce the natural ageing dieback effect.”

Neuro physiotherapist clinical lead Gilly Davy issues an important challenge to everyone. “For the good of your brain, push yourself to 80 per cent, three or four times every week.” As much as these classes are about physical health, Steph and Gilly agree that clients value other aspects too. “Having a sense of belonging within a supported group, socialising, sharing experiences, realising that they’re not alone with their challenges – this is how our clients help each other feel stronger, empowered, more confident,” says Steph. “I’m so proud of the team’s work here at the clinic, and our clients’ grit and gratitude blow me away.” Figures from The Centre for Brain Research, auckland.ac.nz/ en/fmhs/research/cbr/about/about-us.html

Active+ Neuro activeplus.co.nz/locations/albany-neurophysio-clinic

P R O F E SS I O N A L D E V E LO P M E N T: N O R T H S H O R E G O L F C L U B

J U N E 2022 F Y I

The golfing industry and Covid’s positive impact Covid. Normally, mentioning the phenomenon that thrust itself into our lives in 2020 provokes feelings of dread, frustration and anger. However, for the golfing industry, Covid created a positive impact, for the most part, across membership, rounds played, and inclusion. DURING LEVEL 3, when most other sports establishments were still unable to open, golf was allowed to partly reopen its doors. North Shore Golf Club (NSGC) was able to let their members back onto the course to get their fix, and discovered a lot of new members joining during this time. Throughout the golfing industry worldwide, this increase in new membership was happening. “Here in New Zealand alone, we were seeing an increase in membership of 6.5 per cent and rounds being played up by 24 per cent during those beginning months of Covid,” says NSGC’s corporate sales and events manager Georgie Roberts. For years, golf has been perceived as an older generation’s game. However, as Covid struck and we were all limited

in activities that kept our mental health in check (gyms closing, separated from family, no overseas travel, and so on), a large percentage of people of all ages and walks of life, turned to try their hand at golf. “And why not?!” exclaims Georgie. “Golf allows us to hit some of our key requirements after a long week – exercise, social interaction, and the ability to be outside. Plus, with working

...in New Zealand alone we were seeing an increase in membership of 6.5% and rounds being played up by 24%... from home and being stuck inside for a large portion of the last few years, golf became the escape people needed. “We were finding that many of our members were not only getting their fix but were also using their love of

the game to keep in contact and stay connected with others as they were allowed to play with one other household during Level 3. A lot of these playing relationships have continued post lockdown, on and off the course.” Another impact was some of the “new normal” effects positively impacting the game. With people having more flexible working times, the ability to work from home and no commuting, it has become much easier for members to come out in the middle of the day for nine holes or clock off early to get a round and socialise after work. “At North Shore Golf Club, we’re all about keeping these relationships and club spirit alive,” Georgie confirms. “One of the ways we’re looking to keep this increase in membership is with our Learn and Play women’s programme. This group meets once a week over six weeks and runs through every aspect of the game, from their grip and swing to golf etiquette on the course. Of course, there’s a well-deserved drink at the end of the session! We see these programmes as one way to help build a community for like-minded individuals starting off their journey with the game. “These types of initiatives, and others being developed, help create an inclusive and enjoyable sport and will continue to be a part of our strategy as a golf club.”

georgie@nsgc.co.nz Instagram @northshore_golfclub Facebook @NSGCAlbany northshoregolfclub.co.nz 18

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Beat the bike thieves: love it, lock it, log it BETWEEN 500 AND 1,000 bikes are reported stolen in Auckland every year. However, according to Bike Auckland, the actual number of thefts could be as high as 5,000. The organisation’s website says: “This is because many people do not report it when their bike is stolen, and sometimes bike theft is listed more generally as ‘theft’ or ‘burglary’ in the police database.” It continues: “With such a high incidence [of] bike theft, insurers are reconsidering their coverage of bikes.” 529 Garage is a free bike registration system that helps to get bikes that are stolen back to their owners. Widespread 529 Garage use has the power to make bike theft inconvenient and unprofitable, dampening the stolen bike market. In Vancouver, where it originated, 529 Garage has been very successful, with a 20 per cent year on year decrease in bike theft once it was launched. Once registered, if your bike is stolen, you can use 529 Garage to alert the police and nearby community. People can contact you anonymously through the app if they see your bike, or you can choose to release your contact information publicly for updates. For more information about how to get involved with 529 Garage, tips about bike locks, and ideas for employers who want to support their cycling employees, go to bikeauckland.org.nz/beat-the-bike-thieveslove-it-lock-it-log-it

Half-price public transport until 31 August IN JUNE, TWO long weekends for Queen’s Birthday and Matariki could be the perfect time to get out and about, taking advantage of reduced fares on public transport. Around Auckland, this means 50 per cent off bus, train, and ferry services. Even better, there’s an extra 10 per cent off during off-peak times, which include all weekends and public holidays! All you need is your AT HOP card. To find out more and plan your journey, visit at.govt.nz/bus-train-ferry/ fares-discounts/halfprice-discount-on-publictransport-fares

Clean Car rebate scheme ‘exceeds expectations’ in first nine months “THE CLEAN CAR discount scheme is off to an electric start, helping to get more Kiwis behind the wheel of cheaper electric vehicles,” said Transport Minister Michael Wood in April, adding that the scheme had “exceeded expectations”, having already reached 12,000 approved rebates. The Clean Car rebate provides a maximum of $8,625 for low and zero-emission new and used imports. 20

The Ministry of Transport’s tracker reports that there are now 38,000 EVs in the country’s fleet, having grown by nearly half in just eight months. “[This] milestone means that electric and hybrid vehicles now make up around 1 per cent of Aotearoa’s light-vehicle fleet. This is a promising start, but we need to keep building on this momentum. As demand for electric and hybrid vehi-

cles grows worldwide, Aotearoa needs to be an active participant in this market, and avoid being in a position where we are the dumping ground for high-emitting vehicles from other countries moving ahead in the decarbonisation of their fleet,” said Minister Wood. As of 1 April, clean car rebates have applied to a wider range of used and new fuel-efficient, hybrid, and electric vehicles.

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Northern Busway extension to Albany is now open PUBLIC TRANSPORT COMMUTERS on Te whenua roa o kahu North Shore have been enjoying a more reliable journey time over the past few weeks as the extension of the Northern Busway out to Albany opened in early May. “A great transport network does more than just help people get around; it creates thriving communities by connecting people with whānau and friends, getting to and from work and accessing essential services and education,” says Steve Mutton, Waka Kotahi director regional relationships Te Tai Tokerau me Tāmaki Makaurau. “Reliable public transport options make it more appealing for people to leave their car at home and hop on the bus to get around. Growing the number of people who use public transport helps make our transport system safer for everyone, as well as support Aotearoa’s move towards a low carbon transport system.” Waka Kotahi NZTA has partnered with

Left to right: Steve Mutton (Waka Kotahi), Minister of Transport, Hon Michael Wood, Carmen Hetaraka (Ngāti Manuhiri Settlement Trust), Auckland Mayor Phil Goff, and Dave Hilson (Auckland Transport)

Auckland Transport to deliver the package of works to extend the northern busway to Albany, and upgrade Constellation Station as part of the Northern Corridor Improvements (NCI) project. A new busway bridge connects the Northern Busway on the eastern side of SH1 with Albany Station on the western side, and the extension is expected to provide a time saving of two to three minutes in each direction. Upgrades to Constellation Station include a new northbound platform connected to the south-

DR TIMOTHY F WELCH, senior lecturer in architecture and planning at the University of Auckland, wrote a thought-provoking piece for GreaterAuckland.org.nz, entitled “Your next car should be a bike”. In it, he discussed five “myths” that potentially cloud people’s opinions of reducing our “auto-centric” (i.e., focused on cars) thinking and improving facilities for cyclists and pedestrians. This includes the suggestion that adding road capacity reduces congestion. Dr Welch argues that this is “perhaps the most widely understood, yet universally ignored”, commenting that: “…when new highway capacity is added, people see the potential time savings and change their behaviour to take advantage of the faster travel times. This behaviour change includes switching back to driving from another mode, driving on the expanded highway rather than local or arterial roads, or travelling at peak hours rather than during less congested off-peak times. In the long-run, peak hour congestion will return to the level it was before the road expansion.” After presenting supporting data and the argument for improved public transport, he concludes:

FLOW

Busting myths about auto-centricity Development Forecast Trend Induced Demand

Predicted Traffic and Actual Traffic after a road widening. Widening

“For almost 150 years we have had one of the most efficient, sustainable, accessible and safe modes of transport available. It requires no fossil fuel to transport individuals across a city. It has virtually no negative impacts on the climate, does not make the air dirty, it doesn’t clog streets, nor does it demand city altering infrastructure. It is perhaps the most equitable form of transportation, and it compliments rather than competes with public transport. If you want to help make our transportation system sustainable, your next car should be a bike.”

bound platform by an overbridge as well as lifts, additional toilets, driver facilities and a kiosk area. “The Northern Busway is the main arterial of the public transport network to and from the North Shore. At its pre-Covid peak, it transported over 36,000 people to and from work, study and play every day, representing 12 per cent of all bus trips for the Auckland region,” says Shane Ellison, Auckland Transport CEO. “Investment in fast and efficient public transport infrastructure is the only way to keep our growing city moving and reduce emissions to protect our planet for future generations of Aucklanders and New Zealanders. And it is what Aucklanders and visitors expect from a world-class city.”

Want to free yourself from fuel price hikes? RESEARCH BY THE EECA (Energy Efficiency and Conservation Authority) suggests that more than 40 per cent of purchasers would consider an EV for their next vehicle. To help calculate the potential cost savings and emissions reduction, Gen Less has created an online calculator to compare the costs of buying, running, and on-selling new EVs with hybrid, petrol, and diesel alternatives. You can apply filters like price, make, and model to get as relevant a result as possible. To weigh up your options, go to genless.govt.nz/for-business/ moving-people/vehicle-total-costof-ownership-calculator

To read Dr Welch’s article in full, go to greaterauckland. org.nz/2021/11/17/your-nextcar-should-be-a-bike-busting5-myths-about-reducing-autocentricity 21

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Don’t know where to start with IT? Is your business prepared for the worst? SPARK BUSINESS HUB Auckland North can take an objective look at your current situation, explain the risks, and offer practical advice around backup and IT solutions. Devices can get lost, hardware can fail, and data can be corrupted, so a solid backup strategy is one of the critical elements of being prepared. According to Richmond House Group 2020, “20 per cent of small to medium-sized businesses will suffer a major disaster causing loss of critical data every five years.”

Cloud backups are no longer a luxury but a necessity for every business.

Backup solutions take time and effort, but imagine trying to recreate lost data! It can result in frustrated employees, disappointed clients, and missing out on sales. The Spark Business Hub Auckland North team can help you create a backup and recovery plan that will keep all your data safe and accessible, regardless of where it is stored.

Spark’s solution benefits include data security, and complete cloud and on-site backups – all of which are cost-effective and custom-built and scalable to your business needs. To see how Spark Business Hub Auckland North can help protect you and your clients, go to spark.co.nz/business/contactus/ business-hubs/aucklandnorth

How the past can help us look ahead RECENT EVENTS, INCLUDING the Covid pandemic and the Russian/Ukrainian war, have severely impacted our access to necessities. Increasing costs for building materials, petrol, power, food and shelter are causing many to question when it will all come to a halt and when we will have some certainty in our everyday lives so we can begin to plan ahead. In our commercial property investment world, we are noticing some trends emerging that we thought might occur when the pandemic started two years ago. As always, Auckland experiences the uplift in buoyant times first and, similarly, is the first to be adversely affected by weaker economic times. The effects of both extremes filter down to the provincial level around 18 months later. Commercial property benefitted from increasing values during the greatest period of growth in the world’s modern history, from 2015 to 2022. Interestingly, the period began following the recovery from the Global Financial Crisis (late 2007 to late 2009) and finished with the world recovering from the economic effects of the Covid-19 pandemic. The period of growth was driven by prolonged low 22

interest rates, government support to many sectors, and a lot of money looking for greater income returns than bank deposits could offer. The current period of economic downturn is marked by rising interest rates, tightening bank liquidity, and careful lending policies of both traditional banks and alternative lending sources. Covid-19’s effect on working habits may prove irreversible. Tenants have had time to experience working from home, and some organisations are now looking at this time as an opportunity to future proof their own business by incorporating remote work/flexibility in the workspace. This may lead to some tenants reducing their spaces in commercial buildings or forgoing them altogether. There will likely always be a need for an office space to create and foster workplace culture. It allows for an osmosis experience for passing knowledge and sharing experience and assistance for all staff members to fulfil their roles. Regardless of this, there will be a shift in the way businesses choose to tenant going forward. The expected rapid rise in interest rates is likely to result in commercial property values reducing, which means that

only landlords with cash reserves will be able to sustain the impact. Prospective investors in commercial property should carefully analyse how the investing entity plans to mitigate the effect of both interest rate rises and the tenancy risks mentioned above. Careful planning and management of finances and tenancies have always been important in owning commercial property, along with the quality of the building. For more information on mitigating commercial property investment risks or any other matters relevant to investing in commercial property through a shareholding in an investment company, please contact us on (09) 414 6078. Alternatively, you can talk with Neil Tuffin directly on (021) 481 441 or myself, Jodi Tuffin, on (021) 0844 2523. maat.co.nz

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Monthly webinars for business owners Learn from our real-world experience. You’ll get practical, actionable information and insights beyond just the numbers to enable you to make smart decisions on achieving your financial, business and personal goals. 01 Jun

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29 Jun

Seven ways to grow your business

20 Jul

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22 Aug Getting paid 21 Sep

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Communication is key! WHEN THE COVID-19 crisis first erupted, businesses across New Zealand were plunged into the uncertainty of how to navigate through such unprecedented times. Businesses have spent the last two years implementing workplace changes in response to the everchanging landscape and this has required employers and employees having to adapt to new ways of working. Many employers have introduced remote working to keep the business wheels turning. Yet, switching to remote working can often lead to a disconnect between an employee and employer with differing levels of expectations between the parties. The issue is simply a lack of communication. Remote workers often feel isolated from their team and are unsure of workload expectations. Whilst those who work on-site can feel trepidation around any health/safety risk and some even feel embarrassed about being asked to disclose their vaccination status before returning to work. Likewise, employers are not sure what parameters to set for working arrangements, whether they can compel staff to be vaccinated and even find themselves worrying about produc-

tivity levels for those remote working. So how do the parties navigate this minefield? Well, the best way is simply by communicating with one another. Keeping in touch with your team is an effective way to manage both parties’ expectations. Managers should have regular catch-ups with their team to ensure everyone feels supported and to set work expectations from the outset. Similarly, employees should not be afraid to speak up if they’re unhappy in any way. Communication works both ways – in fact, it is a legal obligation posed on both parties. Employment law requires both parties to engage in good faith and the early communication of workplace concerns is key if the employment relationship is to remain on foot (important with today’s labour shortages). Work-related grievances could so easily be avoided if the parties just spoke about their concerns rather than opt straight for resolution via the more formal channels of mediation or the Employment Relations Authority which only destroys the employment relationship and puts both parties to expense and heaps of stress. Yet, we are

seeing an influx of cases which could so easily have been avoided just because the parties didn’t feel connected or able to engage with one another. As we are all now living and working in a “new normal” it is important that we all try to adapt to change. However, reactions to change can be different for everyone – there is no “one size fits all”. So, as business owners we need to accept that any change in our working arrangements may be easier for some to adapt to than others. The important point is to continually communicate with the workforce – make sure your managers stay in regular contact with their team (on-site or remotely) and encourage employees to come forward with any concerns. Sometimes issues can be resolved simply by sitting down and talking!

Emma Monsellier | Director 022 376 4977 emma@monsellierlaw.com 2/40 Arrenway Drive, Albany, Auckland 0632 www.monsellierlaw.com 23

S U STA I N A B I L I T Y

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NZ Post collaborates to combat soft plastics waste problem NZ POST HAS teamed up with The Packaging Forum and Future Post on a pilot trial to expand on the Soft Plastic Recycling Scheme by offering Kiwis a courier pick-up of their discarded soft plastics. “Purchase one of NZ Post’s latest pre-paid Soft Plastic Recycle Courier bags, fill it with your clean, soft plastics, book a courier for pick-up, and we will take care of the rest,” NZ Post Group sustainability manager Dawn Baggaley says.

Once collected, the soft plastics are sent to Waiuku-based business Future Post to be recycled into fence posts. Using processing machinery specifically designed and made in New Zealand, the soft plastic packaging is granulated into small chips and put through an extruder before being moulded into fence posts. It takes approximately 1,500 bags to make one standard fence post, and the factory can turn out around 800 posts a day. The $7 courier bags are on sale online and from selected NZ Post stores, New World supermarkets, The Warehouse and Warehouse Stationery stores for a limited trial period until 10 July, or while stocks last. Soft Plastic Recycling Scheme manager Lyn Mayes says the partnership is a way to open the soft plastic recycling scheme to communities who do not have access to a soft plastic recycling bin or those unable to get to their

local store to drop off their soft plastics. “The soft plastics will be collected from NZ Post and baled by Abilities Group and then dropped off at Future Post for recycling,” she explains. The courier bags are made from 80 per cent recycled plastic, and each holds up to three weeks’ worth of soft plastic waste for the average household. The emissions associated with the collection are offset, making it carbon neutral.

Sustainability priorities grow for businesses – and their customers The Sustainable Business Network’s (SBN’s) annual survey helps guide the organisation’s focus, strategy, and activities. Here are some of 2022’s main findings: More than four out of five respondents said they’re working on their carbon footprint.

Only 19 per cent of businesses who completed the survey have done no work on their carbon footprint.

Three-quarters of respondents monitor how much waste they create.

In addition to monitoring waste, 40 per cent of respondents have an action plan to go beyond recycling and design out waste across their operations.

Nearly three in five respondents say they’re proactively supporting nature.

They’re engaged in activities such as tree planting, investing money in regenerative programmes, participating in nature restoration days, or providing expertise or resources to support nature projects.

Just over half say sustainability is a priority in purchasing, even if it costs more. 24

Thirty-two per cent use sustainable procurement tools or processes. As well as being environmentally responsible, businesses that actively pursue greener policies may gain a valuable competitive advantage. According to recent Colmar Brunton Better Futures reports, which survey New Zealand households: 48%

Deliberately switched to a brand/service provider that is more sustainable.

36%

Are committed to living more sustainably

29%

Are actively seeking out “do good” brands and are prepared to invest their time for these companies

38%

Express-selected climate change as an issue of concern

The build-up of plastic in the environment, over packaging, non-recyclable

packaging, and landfill were among respondents’ Top 10 concerns. Moreover, eco-minded businesses with energy-efficient workplaces enjoy reduced energy bills and can save up to $200 per tonne of rubbish that doesn’t go to landfill. You can find loads of tips and advice about how to start or improve your business’ sustainability strategy at sustainable.org.nz/learn

S U STA I N A B I L I T Y

B U S I N E SS N H .O R G . N Z

Round-up of LETF projects The country’s first electric milk tanker, a solar-panelled bus, electric off-road farm vehicles, and new high-powered EV charging stations are just some of the projects to receive co-funding from the government’s new-look Low Emission Transport Fund (LETF). “THE LETF IS all about finding replicable solutions through innovative transport and infrastructure. The projects included in this round show the potential for electric and low-emissions transport across a wide range of sectors: from all-terrain farm vehicles to heavy freight. Some of these are hard to decarbonise, so this is great progress towards reducing our transport emissions,” said Minister of Energy and Resources Dr Megan Woods. In total, 13 vehicle and technology projects will receive $3,452,025, and 13 EV charging projects will receive $3,001,400 in co-funding. Projects include: • Fonterra introducing New Zealand’s

first electric 46-tonne milk tanker with battery-swap technology at the Waitoa Depot, near Tauranga • Bayes Coachlines, based in Dairy Flat, building a passenger bus with solar

panels providing 5-10 per cent of its own power and designed to have greater range and less maintenance than other electric buses • MyFleet Rural launching four Pickman 4WD, fully electric off-road UTVs throughout New Zealand at Field Days and A&P Shows • Firth Industries deploying New Zealand’s first electric battery-swap concrete mixer truck to operate in Penrose • The introduction of a commercialised dual fuel product from the UK, for which Kiwi H2 Ltd has the exclusive licence. This equipment converts diesel vehicles to run on 40 per cent hydrogen, aiming to save 40 per cent emissions. This will help fleets decarbonise until Aotearoa has commercially available and viable 100 per cent zeroemission options.

1313

NEW ZEALAND 867 Installed 446 In Progress

462 AUCKLAND

281 Installed 181 In Progress

1017 NORTH ISLAND 658 Installed 359 In Progress

In this project, Kiwi H2 will convert an initial two trucks to use this technology.

293

SOUTH ISLAND 209 Installed 84 In Progress

Additionally, as part of the LETF, a significant boost to the nationwide electric vehicle charging network has also been confirmed. Award-winning North Harbour business ChargeNet is involved, with plans to install eight ultra-fast chargers in the Auckland CBD, Napier, Whangārei and New Plymouth.

By the numbers: March’s inorganics collection

Businesses that requested collections of items, including e-waste, broken or damaged office furniture, surplus office furniture, files, cardboard, cabinets/drawers, chairs and desks, fridges

34m3

Total amount collected

30m3 4m3 Recycled

Taken to landfill

22 and 23 September Next planned collection dates. Registrations are now open via businessnh.org.nz/greener-business 25

GOLD SPONSORS

J U N E 2022 F Y I

Value and support your diverse workforce – or risk losing their talent THE BENEFITS OF diversity in the workplace include faster problem-solving, better decision-making, increased innovation, employee engagement, and better financial performance. Yet diversity can only deliver on its full potential when it exists in a genuinely inclusive environment. We are not born with an innate ability to navigate diversity with ease. In fact, our brains are wired to mistrust differences with others, which leads us all naturally to develop biases. Because of that, to become effective, trusted leaders within our organisations and communities, we first need to become students of culture, developing competency in effectively understanding, communicating, and interacting with people whose backgrounds and cultures differ from our own. Our ability to mitigate the negative effects of our bias and build strong, trusting, collaborative relationships with

others – regardless of differences in culture and background – begins with an openness which requires self-confidence and a genuine interest in becoming a better version of ourselves. We must also be genuinely interested in bettering ourselves regarding our interactions with and impact on others. Becoming more culturally aware relates to mindset. It requires the self-examination and exploration of our own personal, cultural, and professional backgrounds, and it can increase our sensitivity toward our own biases and their effects on others. Cultural competency relates to the skills involved, and developing those skills is an ongoing process. Communicating with empathy, managing conflict effectively, and adept change leadership are important components. Struggling with our own biases is part of what it is to be human. We are

not born able to read or write, yet it has become an accepted necessity that we learn to do so because those skills are essential for us to succeed. The same could be said for learning cultural awareness and cultural competency in order to contribute to a genuinely inclusive environment that promotes diversity – and all the many advantages it offers. If engaging talent, retaining and empowering a diverse workforce and truly creating an inclusive workplace are key to your future success, we’d love to hear from you to explore how Dale Carnegie can support or partner with you in this journey. Simon Weakley

Director of Sales and Training Dale Carnegie New Zealand and Pacific Mobile: 027 589 2401 simon@dalecarnegie.co.nz dalecarnegie.co.nz

The special ingredient for company culture and customer service FOR RAMADA ALBANY being an equal opportunities employer is far more than just a tick box. The award-winning hotel’s culture of kindness and mutual respect is reflected internally and externally, as general manager Jacqui Cheal explains. “Diversity within our team brings so many rewards for us and our clients. Different backgrounds and experiences create a rich working environment that enables us to think more broadly and better appreciate our guests’ needs.” Hotel staff have previously described Jacqui as “the glue” that holds the team 26

together, and a manager who “helps us identify our strengths and enables us to perform at our best”. Sometimes this starts even before a staff member joins. “We had a job applicant who showed real aptitude. They were quite new to New Zealand, and their English wasn’t good. So, we had her husband and child in the interview with us translating! “She’s still here, flourishing in her role,” smiles Jacqui. Ramada Albany also likes to acknowledge employees’ cultural days and religious festivals. Days off are granted

appropriately, and the sharing of traditional foods and customs is always encouraged! “The saying that a team is greater than the sum of its parts is absolutely true,” says Jacqui. “But I would add that without diversity, that team is lacking a crucial core strength, which ultimately means that they and their clients miss out.” Jacqui Cheal

General Manager Ph: (09) 974 4568 E: manager@ramadaalbany ramadaalbany.co.nz

GOLD SPONSORS

B U S I N E SS N H .O R G . N Z

Clean Car update The new Clean Car scheme is firing on all cylinders – no pun intended! – and, with stocks of qualifying vehicles starting to make it to market, the team at Driveline is super busy making sure client orders are fulfilled and the right finance or lease package is put in play. Clean Car rebates having a significant impact

The rebates are making a big difference to the overall funding costs on new vehicles, especially when the rebate is applied in full. And it’s not just about EVs, with many petrol and diesel vehicles now qualifying. We are seeing a major increase in enquiries, not just with pure EV vehicles but across the range of lower-emission vehicles currently available in the market.

Price increases on the horizon?

Supply is still causing a few issues. The long-term outlook across the board isn’t that optimistic. However, when it comes to delivery, the key is simply to dive in and get your order into the system – otherwise you will get left behind. With demand growing and supply slowing, we will see increased price pressures from the dealer market. We have already seen examples of second-hand vehicles selling at a premium to new vehicle RRPs! Seriously! You heard it here first.

Become a BNH Sponsor for 2022/23

Complete range at our fingertips

The team at Driveline has pretty much the complete range of qualifying vehicles at hand and can get quotes back to you pronto. So, once you know what your preferences are, give the team a call and let’s see if we can get you zipping down the highway before Christmas! Driveline

Ph: 0800 275 374 facebook Drivelinefleet driveline.co.nz

BNH SPONSORSHIP OPPORTUNITIES can provide you with an extensive range of benefits designed to complement your organisation's strategic marketing objectives. It can also be a great way for you to increase brand awareness and exposure. Available to any Member or Associate Member business, BNH offers four types of sponsorship: Platinum, Gold, Silver, and Event Sponsorship. For further information contact Peter Green on 027 645 5114 or via email, comms@businessnh.org.nz.

Thank you to all of our BNH 2021/22 sponsors below.

2021/22 Gold Sponsors

2021/22 Silver Sponsors

2021/22 Events Sponsor Women in Business Event Series Sponsor

N Z P O L I C E U P D AT E

J U N E 2022 F Y I

Update from Snr Sgt James Hall THERE HAVE BEEN a few changes in the last few months within the Waitematā East community policing team. Firstly to introduce myself, Senior Sergeant James Hall. I took over the role of youth and community manager at the beginning of this year. My background in policing has predominantly been in frontline response roles, my previous position being the response manager in Waitematā East. I look forward to the different challenges that the community role offers. We are in the process of making some changes to the community team, which will include the addition of two more officers. For many years the community team has consisted of a sergeant and nine community constables based in various suburbs throughout the North Shore. The additional two officers have allowed us to create two teams, each comprising one sergeant and five constables. The teams will be responsible for a specific area, with individual constables holding portfolios for suburbs within the region. The two teams will be called Kaipātiki and North Shore. Based in Glenfield, Kaipātiki will cover the area south-west of SH1 and SH18. The North Shore team, with the sergeant based in Browns Bay, will cover from Devonport, through the Bays and into Albany. These teams will take a problem-solving approach to crime issues, which may take considerable time to resolve. However, they will also remain agile in responding to emerging crime issues. Sustainable and enduring iwi and community partnerships are key to the success of the community teams. This new structure

will allow consistency to maintain the momentum of initiatives undertaken in cooperation with partners, regardless of the staff moving on to other roles. The current community sergeant Dave Murden is moving into the Browns Bay community sergeant position. He says he is excited about the new structure; one of the big advantages he sees is that a smaller team will allow him to get out and about and become more involved in the community rather than be tied down with admin. Constable Troy Williamson will remain as community constable for the Albany area, with Constable Brent Stewart joining the team in June, covering Rosedale to Greenhithe. Troy and Brent will work closely together to establish strong community links.

PLEASE DO NOT LEAVE ANY VALUABLES IN YOUR CAR

XXXX

Keep temptation out of sight OPPORTUNISTIC CAR CRIME continues to be a problem. This often occurs when valuables are left in plain sight in the vehicle. Ideally, nothing should be left in your car when it’s parked for any length of time. But, if you must leave items, remember that pulling a cardigan over them does not equate to them being securely out of sight! Before exiting your vehicle, take a moment to check the seats and floors, then lock any items in the boot, if appropriate, with the privacy shelf pulled across. Don’t make it easy for criminals. Taking that extra minute could protect you, your vehicle, and your possessions.

B U S I N E SS N H .O R G . N Z

P R O F E SS I O N A L D E V E LO P M E N T: WAST E M A N AG E M E N T

Leading the way! Waste Management’s Green Star solutions for the construction industry Waste Management has become the first waste company in Aotearoa to meet the New Zealand Green Building Council’s Green Star construction and demolition waste reporting criteria. AWARDED A COMPLIANCE Verification Summary, Waste Management has proven it can support the building and construction industry towards meeting Green Star standards by maximising their resource recovery and minimising waste throughout New Zealand. General manager of customer, strategy & sustainability Ingrid Cronin Knight says New Zealand’s building boom currently contributes 40 to 50 per cent of all waste. “New Zealand can do much better. Our services make it possible for more than 70 per cent of building and construction waste to be recycled. We have solutions for every kind of construction project, small or large-scale, and we can now provide the certified waste reporting to achieve Green Star requirements.” The New Zealand Green Building Council runs Green Star and Homestar, two tools that rate and communicate the sustainability of New Zealand’s buildings. Covering both commercial and residential builds, these ratings systems strongly encourage the sustainable management of waste. “Last year, we told the construction and demolition waste sector that change was coming. After consulting the industry, we added the Waste Reporting Criteria to Green Star, setting in place a

Timber and metal are among the building materials that can be recovered and reused.

third-party audit process to ensure waste contractors and processing facilities are doing what they say they are,” NZGBC chief executive Andrew Eagles says. “By successfully completing this process, Waste Management is providing greater assurance to the wider industry and is helping develop further transparency around our sector’s waste.” And huge gains can be made in resource recovery within the industry

“New Zealand can do much better. Our services make it possible for more than 70 per cent of building and construction waste to be recycled.” because much of the demolition and construction waste thrown out can be diverted to other uses. For example, timber, metals, plasterboard, concrete, bricks, asphalt, clean soils, cardboard, polystyrene, and green waste can all be recovered and transformed into a range of products, including mulch, aggregates, fertiliser, and compost.

Sorting construction waste for better recycling is more straightforward than many might think. Waste Management delivers a variety of bins, so teams working on-site can separate materials easily. Waste Management then efficiently maximises material recovery and supplies the reporting necessary for Green Star and Homestar accreditation. Ingrid Cronin Knight says while the sustainable solution is more expensive than throwing everything away as general waste, it is increasingly favoured by leaders in the building and construction industry. “We all have a responsibility to make better choices. A circular future is the only future that will ensure we make the very best use of our precious resources, minimise waste and reduce our impact on the environment.”

To take your construction business’ sustainability strategy to the next level, go to wastemanagement.co.nz/for-builders

Case study: Waste Management’s Auckland HQ

When Waste Management’s new Auckland HQ was built in 2019, the company used best practice methods, including waste separation on-site, to ensure 99.5 per cent of demolition waste and 76 per cent of construction waste could be recycled or reused. “It’s one of the reasons our new HQ has achieved a 5 Green Star rating (indicating New Zealand excellence) and gives our sustainability team a reallife example of how effective building & construction resource recovery solutions can be.” 29

S I LV E R S P O N S O R S

J U N E 2022 F Y I

sympathetic response as an acceptance by the employee to the restructure. The Authority found the employer’s restructure process was defective. Pandemic or not, all restructure-related employment laws continue to apply as strictly as ever. GET THE PROCESS RIGHT:

Post COVID Business Restructuring.

GET IN TOUCH WITH YOUR EMPLOYMENT LAW YER

before you start the process. 2. UNDERSTAND THE BUSINESS COMMERCIAL REASONS

as to why you are considering a restructure. Are they justifiable? Are they legally sound? 3. ENSURE YOU FOLLOW A FAIR PROCESS

In the current environment, employers might be forgiven for thinking that the pandemic and impact of COVID-19 might mean a relaxing of some legal requirements around restructures. In a recent Authority case, an employer (Kenderdine Electrical Limited) had a phone call with one of their employees during a proposed restructure process. The employer talked through the impact of COVID-19 on the business and mistakenly took the employee’s B RO N W E N N E WC OM B E D I R ECTO R

which complies with legal requirements, despite any urgent impact of the pandemic. 4. CONSIDER REDEPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITIES.

An employer may be forced to offer redeployment opportunities to an employee who has lost their job in a restructure. Understand your obligations. For further advice on how to avoid personal grievance claims, get in touch with Bronwen, employment law specialist within the Commercial team. DAV E N P O RTS L AW.C O. NZ 0 9 8 8 3 4 400

S I LV E R S P O N S O R

B U S I N E SS N H .O R G . N Z

Time flies as teams and clients reconnect CAN IT REALLY be only in February this year that KC Legal amalgamated with Turner Hopkins? To say it’s been all hands to the pump since then is an understatement! Dare I say, but as we march into the second half of 2022 (where did those first six months go?), I’m happy to report that Turner Hopkin’s offices are fully open for business. All staff have returned to the premises, and our workplaces are finding their hearts again. We’re meeting clients face-to-face but also have the full suite of remote meeting options still in place. If nothing else, Covid has helped many businesses, particularly the legal profession, embrace technology, which in turn has provided more flexibility for both staff and clients. Like many organisations in New Zealand, at Turner Hopkins, we’re now focused on rebuilding our staff culture

and re-establishing the social norms of that long-forgotten morning tea break and social events. There’s much excitement about our first official staff social event of the year: a Primo Italiano class, where we’ll drink wine, and make fresh pasta and a dessert to be devoured at the end of the evening. As always, the team at Turner Hopkins can help with all your business needs, whether you need advice on commercial contracts, commercial leases, franchising, debt recovery, or company (finance or staff) restructures. Be assured that we have the specialists to help you avoid the pitfalls and keep your organisation running smoothly. Our private client, family, immigration, and property teams are all also ready, willing and able to provide trusted advice when you need it. With a larger property team around me, I’m able to concentrate

on property development, subdivision work, and more complex commercial property matters. For me personally, however, the best thing about being a fully integrated part of Turner Hopkins is the camaraderie and support of a truly exceptional team. Kate Chivers Principal Turner Hopkins

400 Lake Road, Takapuna, Auckland 0622 Ph: (09) 801 0776 E: kate.chivers@turnerhopkins.co.nz www.turnerhopkins.co.nz

E V E N TS S P O N S O R

Can interpersonal skills make a difference? WE HAVE INTERVIEWED thousands of candidates over the past few years for extremely diverse roles. There is one common behaviour across all of them that is crucial to employers: good interpersonal skills. Often employers focus on hard skills, the talents that make a person qualified for a role. However, it is the interpersonal skills such as the candidate’s ability to listen, engage and communicate, that are incredibly important, no matter the role. Candidates with these qualities are seen as great contributors to the workplace. They are more likely to engage with others in the business and build great relationships with external customers and third parties. The benefits of these traits to a business are huge. The ability to problem-solve with teammates, to build

collaborative relationships, and to better understand customer needs. One particularly important trait is emotional intelligence. We have a great article on our website covering this but in short it encompasses self-awareness, perceptiveness, consideration for others, empathy, and self-management. Other attributes are effective verbal and digital communication, active listening, reliability, teamwork, and general positivity. Someone lacking interpersonal skills can appear to others as being anti-social. Not to be confused with shyness or introversion, anti-social behaviour in the workplace can lead to miscommunication, errors, and an inability to work effectively. Using effective questioning at the time of interviewing will help you to build up a picture of a person’s interpersonal skills to ensure you get exactly who you need

lisa@eclipserecruitment.co.nz

to fit within your team and your business. Of course, you can always ask for our help… we’re interviewing every day. Lisa Hill

Managing Director

(09) 973 1879

www.eclipserecruitment.co.nz

P R O P E R T Y M AT T E R S

J U N E 2022 F Y I

A career in commercial real estate COMMERCIAL REAL ESTATE brokerage is an exciting and challenging career. It offers a good work-life balance, with weekday business hours rather than the weekend work common in the residential sector. The role also provides autonomy and independence, along with plenty of opportunities to socialise and collaborate. Repeat business is based on building ongoing relationships with clients. While a qualification is not necessary, an understanding of property will provide a good head start, whether from investing in commercial property or knowing others who work in the industry. A core set of skills will allow anyone to thrive in this career: good organisational skills, initiative and discipline, and a competitive streak, which is vital for a commission-driven role. Mental toughness is also crucial. Positivity, resilience and persistence all go a long way. You’ll need to really enjoy working with people and have good communication skills to become a trusted expert to your clients. Commercial real estate includes sales and leasing commercial property,

although Colliers also has a residential project marketing team that specialises in residential projects of high-density developments or greenfield sites. Commercial property encompasses office, industrial, retail, land, hotels/ motels, childcare, and retirement homes.

You will, of course, need to sit your real estate salesperson’s licence. Colliers promotes diversity and inclusion in the industry with mentoring, training and support available to assist all new brokers. A commercial property career provides a high level of flexibility and remote work options, so if you think you have what it takes, whether you are already a leader in the industry or keen to see what opportunities could be at Colliers, please contact Janet on 021 684 775 for a coffee and confidential chat. Janet Marshall, recipient of the Property Council’s Women in Property Award in 2019, understands what it takes to succeed on a career path. Janet became Colliers International’s Rookie of the Year in 2005, Marketer of the Year in 2013, and a director of Colliers in 2016.

Janet Marshall is a director at Colliers NZ’s North Shore office, a business mentor in BMNZ, and was awarded the Women In Property 2019 Award from the Property Council. Contact Janet on 021 684 775 or email janet. marshall@colliers.com

Accelerating success.

For Lease

90 Rosedale Road, Albany Albany Office up to 346 sqm First floor office space within this stand alone building is available now. Air-conditioned offices fitted out with boardroom, a mix of various size meeting rooms, large lunch room and open plan space benefiting from good natural light. Includes separate entry plus lift access. Options to take it all or just a portion of it. Well located with generous parking and close proximity to motorway access. • • • • • •

Total floor area 346 sqm (approx.) Air-conditioned space 13 car parks Options to take it all or only a portion Lift access Good natural light

346 sqm Air-Conditioned office

Mike Ryan 021 402 775 mike.ryan@colliers.com

Flexible options. Take it all or only part

13 Exclusive car parks

Janet Marshall 021 684 775 janet.marshall@colliers.com

Call the Sole Agents to arrange an inspection. Mike Ryan 021 402 461 and Janet Marshall 021 684 775

colliers.co.nz/p-NZL67019117

Colliers NZ Limited Licensed REAA 2008

Accelerating success.

For Lease

55 Corinthian Drive, Albany Albany Office - 5 Star Green Building Highly visible to the surrounding road network, the development harnesses the site’s visual prominence, meeting the tenants’ expectations while positively enhancing the commercial hub within the Albany gateway. Included in the complex is a five-level car parking building with a circular access ramp located on the eastern end of the building.

Suit professional office tenants

Sustainable strategies include maximisation of natural light and external views, passive ventilation, sustainably certified materials and construction methods, electric vehicle charging stations, end-of-trip facilities and rainwater harvesting.

High car park to office ratio

400 - 1,650 sqm

Janet Marshall 021 684 775 janet.marshall@colliers.com

One floor available, from 400 sqm to 1,650 sqm. Please call Janet Marshall on 021 684 775 to view.

Colliers NZ Limited Licensed REAA 2008

colliers.co.nz/p-NZL67002672

Accelerating success.

For Sale

B3, 17 Corinthian Drive, Albany Own and occupy your Office - High Profile Signage Excellent opportunity to own your own premises, currently partially leased but can be sold vacant posession or with some holding income. Features: • • • •

179 sqm plus allocated carparks Secure office park in central Albany Close to motorway access Surrounded by excellent cafes/amenities

Contact the Sole Agents to view and/or for further information.

colliers.co.nz/p-NZL67019286

Modern air-con office with high profile signage facing motorway access

Janet Marshall 021 684 775 janet.marshall@colliers.com

Vacant Possession or own with holding income

179 sqm

Mike Ryan 021 402 775 mike.ryan@colliers.com

Colliers NZ Limited Licensed REAA 2008

C O M M U N I T Y: B OW E L C A N C E R N E W Z E A L A N D | M OV E YO U R B U T T

J U N E 2022 F Y I

Kick the couch this June and help beat bowel cancer JUNE 2022 IS bowel cancer awareness month and the annual Move Your Butt challenge. This fundraiser encourages all New Zealanders to get off the couch and move more, and helps fund vital research and support for bowel cancer patients. Bowel Cancer NZ ambassador and TVNZ Breakfast presenter Jenny-May Clarkson’s brother died from bowel cancer aged just 54. Jenny-May encourages Kiwis to sign up for Move Your Butt. “Sometimes pushing yourself to move isn’t all that comfortable, but neither is bowel cancer. We’re all going through tough times right now, but those with cancer are doing it tougher. “Doing the Move your Butt challenge is just one thing we can all do to raise awareness of bowel cancer and to acknowledge that it is hard for patients and their families, especially in a Covid environment.” In New Zealand, bowel cancer’s mortality rate is similar to breast cancer and prostate cancer combined. Bowel cancer is often described as a silent killer because sufferers may be too embarrassed to talk about their symptoms. That’s why Bowel Cancer New Zealand advocates for open and honest discussion about the disease. If you expe-

rience any of the following, you don’t necessarily have bowel cancer, but you should speak to a medical professional as soon as possible: • Bleeding from the bottom or seeing • • • • •

blood in the toilet after a bowel motion Change of bowel motions over several weeks without returning to normal Persistent or periodic severe pain in the abdomen A lump or mass in the abdomen Tiredness and loss of weight for no particular reason Anaemia

Eating a variety of fruits, vegetables, and wholegrain foods daily helps mitigate the risk of bowel cancer. Activity is important too. The Move Your Butt campaign runs all month, and the challenge does not need to be extreme – it simply means exercising a little more than you usually do. Rebekah Heal, Bowel Cancer NZ’s general manager, says, “Every day, on average, eight Kiwis will be diagnosed with bowel cancer, and three people will die from it. By joining us, you’ll be raising vital funds for research and patient support services such as counselling, which is needed more than ever. We receive no government funding and rely on the generosity of New Zealanders to help us continue the important work we do. “This June, we aim to get all Kiwis off the couch and moving more – even if it’s just a 10-minute walk a day. Everyone who takes part will be helping themselves prevent bowel cancer – and by getting their friends and family to sponsor them, they’ll be raising valuable funds for an important cause. Together, let’s get moving to beat the devastating impact of bowel cancer.” To get involved this June, go to moveyourbutt.org.nz More information about bowel cancer and Bowel Cancer New Zealand can be found at bowelcancernz.org.nz

REDUCE LANDFILL & HELP SAVE THE PLANET

BIN + FIRST 6 COLLECTIONS FREE! TERMS & CONDITIONS APPLY

businessnh.org.nz/foodwastecollection Contact Dave on 021 560 287 to find out more

Do you have spare usable pallets or do you require some? If you answered “yes” to the above, Business North Harbour can introduce you to other local members to help create a win-win relationship! For more information and to register your interest, visit businessnh.org.nz/greener-business and let us know if you have ‘Pallets Available’ or if you are ‘Pallets Wanted’. Alternatively, contact David Loader on 021 560 287 or via email at david@businessnh.org.nz to find out more.

in partnership with BNZ present the

Save the date! Free entry & carparking Prizes, giveaways & expo only specials

businessnh.org.nz/expo2022

FRIDAY 1ST & SATURDAY 2ND JULY 2022 BNZ North Shore Partners Centre, 55 Corinthian Drive, Albany