ŌTAKI MAIL ©
Established in 1892
PO Box 109 Otaki
otakimail@xtra.co.nz
www.otakimail.co.nz
06 364 5500
November 2019
Supremely New World Ōtaki
Rotary polio initiative p3
Local body Elections p6
Neil Simmonds, Chief Executive of Electra with Ōtaki New World Owners Steven and Janine Cole
BY ANN CHAPMAN After just two years of operating Ōtaki’s New World, Steve and Janine Cole have taken out the big prize in this year’s Electra Business Awards. ‘It’s like we’re living in a dream,’ said Janine still on a high after their big wins. They also won the Large Business Excellence Award and shared the “Give Where You Live” Award with Kāpiti Funeral Home. They are a good pair. Steve did a brain dump, the big picture, when they first decided to enter. Janine attended to the details and put the application together, all 70 pages of it. ‘We did it for ourselves to learn,’ said Steve. That wasn’t the end of the process however as the Awards judges then interrogated the application with the zeal of forensic scientists. ‘The judges were very talented and qualified and thanks to them, they have helped us to grow,’ said Janine. ‘It’s an honour for them to give up their time and their experience to help us.’ ‘They were very thorough,’ said Steve. ‘They tested every claim. It’s provided us with a snapshot of our business and to see where we can
do things better, not only with the finances but also holistically.’ They think the opportunity for self-refection has been good. They can now see ways of doing things better and to see how far they have come in two years. ‘We can now maximise every opportunity to do things better and even going through the process they could see ways to improve.’ ‘Our team here at New World has great dedication. We have been able to build on former owner Mark’s legacy to form a stable workforce where people feel safe coming to work and where they enjoy it once they’re here. I am grateful that we have people around us with a focus on our customers.’ They feel the “Give Where You Live” Award is really special as their kaupapa is to give to the community and rather than donate to national charities. They donate their time, money and goods to our local causes. Congratulations to Ōtaki New World and their staff. Here is Ōtaki punching above its weight again.
Edhouses transformation to Māoriland p7
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sTaTe hIghWaY 1, neXT To KaThManDu
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Harry Hall the Donkey man p10