Heart disease is the single biggest cause of death for women in New Zealand. It takes four times as many lives as breast cancer, yet most women do not know they are at risk.

Sue Cremer was unaware of the risk. Despite having a family history of heart disease, she never saw herself being affected. A year after her brother had heart surgery, she finally underwent a series of heart health checks. The results were alarming. Even with a healthy lifestyle and zest for life, the tests showed significant blockages in her arteries and a high cholesterol level. Although she was fit and active, Sue was very close to needing a bypass.

“I got such a shock. I thought I was invincible,” says Sue. “It wasn’t as if I was given a death sentence, because I had a choice. But if I had not taken heed of what my doctor said, death may have been looming. 

“It has been two years since I had my checks and the turn around has been amazing. I have changed my diet and exercise more regularly, often walking 14 to 15 kilometres a week. At Christmas, I had an angiogram and the results were astounding. I now have unblocked arteries, which is a direct result of my diet and exercise.

“Now all my friends are rushing off to their doctor and I’d encourage any woman to do likewise. I’m like a little evangelist. I’m spreading the word and it has really got my friends thinking about their health.”

Like Sue, Botany Town Centre will be helping to raise awareness about the risk of heart disease in Kiwi women, while supporting the Heart Foundation. On Thursday 6 May between 6pm and 10pm, Botany Town Centre will be hosting a ‘Splash of Red’ VIP night, offering a great night out for all, including a live charity auction with proceeds going to the Heart Foundation, live entertainment and free giveaways.

A not-for-profit organisation, the Heart Foundation funds research and promotes heart health in order to help stop New Zealanders dying prematurely from heart disease. The Foundation is hosting a series of ‘Go Red for Women’ breakfast events from 1 to 6 May, and with the ‘Splash of Red’ VIP night aims to empower women to take charge of their own health, know their heart health numbers and enjoy life. 

A heart disease survivor and patron to the Go Red for Women programme, former Prime Minister Jenny Shipley says if women took the time to visit to their GP, find out their numbers (blood pressure and cholesterol) and use the Heart Foundation’s new Know Your Numbers website, they would know what lifestyle, dietary and health changes to make to ensure they are doing everything possible for their heart health.

“It is a fact that heart disease is responsible for four times as many deaths as breast cancer. And while breast cancer is an important health issue, my hope is that these events will encourage women to treat themselves this Mother’s Day and get a handle on their heart health by having a heart health check. No one wants to die early.

“By using the Know Your Numbers website, a person can calculate their current and future heart risk using two of the most important numbers they’ll ever need to know – blood pressure and cholesterol ratio. These numbers, in conjunction with a person’s heart story – including age, ethnicity, smoking and family history – can offer a striking insight into a person’s health and the effect lifestyle choices are having on their body.”

Botany Town Centre Senior Marketing Manager Desiree Clark said, “It is a pleasure to be supporting the Heart Foundation and the great work that it does for New Zealanders.

“It is important that women take some time out to look after their own health and wellbeing and with the ‘Splash of Red’ event we hope to encourage those women to do so by having a heart health check.”

For more information on the ‘Splash of Red’ VIP Night at Botany Town Centre visit www.botanytowncentre.co.nz

‘A Splash of Red’ VIP Night – Botany Town Centre Thursday 6 May

• A live charity auction in support of the Heart Foundation will take place at 7.30pm.
• Heart Foundation volunteers will be in-centre to speak to guests and provide information regarding the Foundation and heart disease.
• A great line-up of entertainment including, The Peter Koopman Jazz Duo, keyboard jazz musician Mike Walker, fire dancers, and Ceroc performers.
• Roaming characters Austin Powers, the Queen of Hearts and Spiderman will be handing out free giveaways and vouchers.
• Every customer who makes a purchase on the night is eligible to receive an entry into the draw to win a $2,000 shopping spree at Botany Town Centre. The winner will be drawn live at 9.40pm.

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Just in time for the new school year, Botany Town Centre has further expanded its ever-growing retail offer with the opening of Stomp Kids Shoes. The store, entirely dedicated to providing the right measure and fit in children’s footwear, features an extensive range of quality brands for infants to teens.

Botany local and Stomp Kids Shoes founder Daren Leng has more knowledge of shoes than most, having previously been National Retail Operations Manager for adidas New Zealand and run his own sportswear and footwear business in the United Kingdom.

Daren identified a gap in the market, seeing that there were no quality children’s shoe stores in the eastern suburbs that properly measured a child’s foot. “I have two girls and found it very difficult to find good quality shoes for them as they both have narrow feet. Very few places in New Zealand do narrow-fitting shoes.

“At Stomp Kids Shoes we measure all children’s feet to ensure we fit them into the right-sized shoes and get that perfect match. Our staff are specially trained by a podiatrist on the development stages of a child’s foot, knowing what type of shoe to fit at the right age from infant to teen.”

The store’s specialist approach ensures that children are fitted in footwear of the correct size, giving the opportunity for their feet to grow naturally and preventing any problems from ill-fitted shoes later on in life. Kids won’t look past the store’s popular footwear brands, including Clarks, Ecco, McKinlays, Lelli Kelly, OshKosh, Birkenstock, Skechers and New Balance.

Botany Town Centre Senior Centre Manager Jennifer Andrews says her team is thrilled to welcome the new store. “Stomp’s broad range of quality footwear is sure to appeal to any child needing a pair of shoes with the perfect fit. It is a great addition to the centre, complementing some of our already existing retailers and providing a unique retail offer.”

Stomp Kids Shoes is located in Garden Lane, opposite Pumpkin Patch.

For more information on new stores at Botany Town Centre, visit www.botanytowncentre.co.nz

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About Botany Town Centre

Situated approximately 19km southeast of Auckland, Botany Town Centre is one of New Zealand’s largest retail developments, with 169 specialty stores. Its retailers range from Dick Smith Electronics to Rebel Sports and a full complement of banks, fashion stores, and New Zealand’s most popular café and restaurant chains. The centre includes one of Auckland’s largest Farmers stores and a New World supermarket. The centre provides diverse entertainment choices from the Circle Lounge at Berkeley Cinema to the award-winning Cock and Bull pub. In addition to its retail offering, Botany Town Centre is a community hub for other services including the Botany Library, the Community Constable, and a variety of medical and health providers.

Campaign Overview

Kim Crossman and Ido Drent celebrate with young friends after finishing the Fit2Fly adventure course. Image courtesy of the Western Leader, By Luke Parker

This July the school holidays were a buzz with excitement over the Botany Town Centre and LynnMall Shopping Centre Fit2Fly adventure course. In conjunction with the Foundation for Youth Development (FYD), the malls help launch the Fit2Fly campaign for the second year running.

The adventure course was set up to encourage kids’ activity and to put their skills to test, all for a good cause; the $1 entry fee went directly to the FYD’s Project K programme. 

The two week campaign gained positive media attention, especially with some celebrities who showed their support.  Studio 2 and Shortland Street stars Faye Smythe, Kiel McNaughton, Kim Crossman and Ido Drent all tested their adventure skills as did sporting stars from the NZ Breakers Acadmey and Steelers Counties Manukau.

Results

The Fit2Fly adventure course drew crowds of excited school holiday children; over 2700 children tested their skills on the specially built course and $2900 was raised for FYD’s Project K Programme. 

Sunrise TV included four live crossover weather segments, several ad-lib presentations and interviews from Botany Town Centre, concluding with Josh Aston giving it his all on the course. 

The NZ Women’s Weekly featured a lovely story about Shortland Street’s Faye and Kiel’s involvement in the campaign.

Howick & Pakuranga Times, Eastern Courier and the Western Leader were just some of the community papers who covered the Fit2Fly campaign with articles and great action images of children out on the course. 

Fit2Fly also received great radio coverage with the ZM Black Thunders visiting Botany Town Centre on two different occasions, the two Robbies from The Breeze testing out the Lynn Mall course and Desiree Clark securing an interview on Big FM. 

We also gained great online media coverage hitting both social and educational sites.  The holiday event could be found on Eventfinder and on supporting radio station’s websites, Shortland Street’s network as well as school and educational websites.

During the July school holidays kids were encouraged to abandon the couch, DVDs and Playstation in favour of getting active and shaking off stress – all in aid of a fabulous cause.

From Monday 6 July to Sunday 19 July, Botany Town Centre and LynnMall Shopping Mall in Auckland, and The Palms Shopping Centre in Christchurch, set up specially-built Fit2Fly adventure courses to encourage kids to keep moving during the holidays.

For every child that had a go on the Fit2Fly course, $1 was be donated to the Foundation for Youth Development’s (FYD) Project K – a proactive programme that involves three key stages: a three week Wilderness Adventure that provides challenges and grows self-confidence, away from students’ normal environment; a 10-day Community Challenge that helps transfer new found confidence into day-to-day life and build knowledge of community resources; and finally a year-long mentoring partnership that focuses on providing support and encouragement towards achieving goals.

Over the two weeks of the holidays, the shopping centres aim was to get more than 10,000 kids moving, and in the process raise as much as possible for the work of Project K.

Bruce Pilbrow, a Families Commissioner and CEO of Parenting Inc, says it’s important for kids to let off steam when they’re not at school. “Kids can get just as stressed as adults, and they need activity. Sitting in front of the TV or computer, especially if the weather is grim, means they’re not getting a much-needed energy vent, and it’s important for kids to keep active daily – the more the better,” he says.

The Fit2Fly course let kids loose on an activity course where they test their abilities running through tyres, sliding under cargo nets, balancing on low beams, navigating obstacles, walking the plank and shooting basketball hoops.

As an added incentive, each child that takes on the adventure course went into a draw to win an extreme adventure prize pack, with the winner and a friend taken on an extreme day out. The prize was be drawn randomly from the pool of entries, so the more turns they took on the adventure course the greater their chance of winning.

Kids could also win points for their schools, so schools with the highest percentage of entrants were awarded LynnMall, Botany and The Palms shopping vouchers. First prize was be $2,000, second prize $1,000, and third prize $500. The winning school  also got the chance to nominate a deserving student and a friend to fill two extra spots on the extreme adventure day out.

“We’re delighted to be helping to get kids stimulated during the holidays and offering prizes to encourage them to get involved,” says Botany Town Centre manager Jennifer Manning.  “We hope to raise even more money for Project K this year and would love to see 20,000 kids through the Fit2Fly courses, to help get behind this wonderful cause.”

The centres’ Fit2Fly activities in 2008 raised $10,000 around the country for Project K.
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For further information, please contact:
Petra Mihaljevich
Alexander Communications
+64 (0)7 522 5544
+64 (0)27 477 1573
petra@alexandercomms.co.nz

Jennifer Manning
Botany Town Centre
+64 (0)9 272 3888
jennifer.manning@ampcapital.com

Shelley Jenkin
LynnMall Shopping Centre
+ 64 (0)9 826 2336
Shelley.Jenkin@ampcapital.co.nz
Notes for editors

About Botany Town Centre
Situated approximately 19km southeast of Auckland, Botany Town Centre is one of New Zealand’s largest retail developments, with 169 specialty stores. Its retailers range from Dick Smith Electronics to Rebel Sports and a full complement of banks, fashion stores, and New Zealand’s most popular café and restaurant chains. The centre includes one of Auckland’s largest Farmers stores and a New World supermarket. The centre provides diverse entertainment choices from the Circle Lounge at Berkeley Cinema to the award-winning Cock and Bull pub.

About LynnMall Shopping Centre
LynnMall has more than 120 specialty stores. The centre is situated in New Lynn, West Auckland and is a short drive from Auckland’s CBD. LynnMall caters to all needs and interests, with major retailers including Foodtown, Farmers, JB HI-FI, Bond and Bond, Noel Leeming, Postie+, Stirling Sports, LynnMall Lollipops Educare and Whitcoulls.

Foundation for Youth Development (FYD)
FYD is a not-for-profit organisation founded by Graeme Dingle and Jo-anne Wilkinson and is a leader in the field of youth development in New Zealand.  Foundation for Youth Development provides young people with the opportunity to build self-confidence and learn valuable life skills by participating in unique development programmes from the time they start primary school through to the end of high school.  Through Foundation for Youth Development’s current programmes – Kiwi Can, Stars, Project K and youth offender programmes – they help over 18,000 young people each year to be confident, healthy individuals who contribute positively to society.

The Botany Angels show off their goody-gift baskets

Campaign Overview

Christmas, can often bring stress onto families as they battle the queues at supermarkets and shopping centres, looking for inspiration for that perfect gift for family and friends.

Botany Town Centre took the unusual step of hiring two ‘Botany Angels’ to circulate the centre, committing random acts of kindness onto shoppers to try and make the shopping experience a little less stressful.

Alexander Communications (AC) was briefed to develop a PR campaign to launch the Botany Angels and create awareness of the activities in centre. Glossy feathered wings were imported from the USA and the Botany Angels descended on Botany Town Centre daily between 11 – 24 December.

Results

Reaction to this campaign could have received scepticism; however the concept was taken whole heartedly by both media and the public with an overwhelming response.

 AC created beautifully packaged ‘Angel Packs’, filled with an angelic feather, candle and chocolates which were distributed to key media. Included in the pack was a media release announcing the arrival of the Botany Angels, highlighting the purpose of the Angels as rewarding customers and showing the spirit of goodwill.

The Botany Angels were interviewed by TV One’s Breakfast on the first morning (11 Dec), announced on The Breeze and Easy Mix and local papers Howick & Botany Times and the Eastern Courier visited the centre to photograph and interview the Angels.

The Botany Angels became famous in their own right with shoppers stopping to mention they had seem them on Breakfast – Paul Henry even mentioned “that is a nice thing for a shopping centre to do”.

Media Release 27 February 2009

Two Auckland shopping centres are teaming up with independent money guide Sorted to take some of the financial sting out of the first part of the year which is notoriously hard on the pocket as families face Christmas credit card bills and the costs of the new school year.

In an innovative move Botany Town Centre and LynnMall Shopping Centre are adopting ‘smart spending’ initiatives to help local shoppers better manage their money.

The two centres are teaming up with Sorted, run by the Retirement Commission, to help Kiwi shoppers focus on how they can manage their day-to-day spending and make better use of their money.

Retirement Commissioner Diana Crossan says it’s not about stopping people spending. “It’s about encouraging people to work out their financial goals and a budget to achieve them. Your goals might be to get out of debt, pay off your mortgage faster or simply to have some money left at the end of the month to save or to spend on clothes,” she said.

Sorted.org.nz is full of calculators and information to help people manage their personal finances. It includes a tool called a spendometer to help shoppers work out the true cost of paying for things using different methods like cash, credit cards or a store card.

Senior Centre Manager Jennifer Manning says that teaming up with Sorted is driven by the view that everyone can take control of their spending and have the financial freedom they desire.

“Becoming more knowledgeable about money means people can still get what they want, while putting some savings away for bigger items like electronic appliances or next season’s wardrobe. There are many tools available, such as lay-bys and hire purchase with interest-free terms.

“What people need now is access to good, reliable information about money, of the kind Sorted provides. They can use this information to take control of their spending, so they can feel good about the purchases that need to be made.”

Sorted display stands will be set up in each shopping centre, providing free, independent information on topics like budgeting, managing debt, saving and KiwiSaver.

For further information, please contact:

Jennifer Manning
Botany Town Centre
+64 (0)9 272 3888
jennifer.manning@ampcapital.com
Heather Church
Retirement Commission
+64 (0) 4 499 3803
+64 (0) 21 78 29 23
E: heather@munrochurch.co.nz

Bernadette Barrett
Alexander Communications
+64 (0)9 522 5544
+64 (0)27 477 1573
bernadette@alexandercomms.co.nz

About Botany Town Centre
Situated approximately 19km southeast of Auckland, Botany Town Centre is one of New Zealand’s largest retail developments, with 169 specialty stores. Its retailers range from Dick Smith Electronics to Rebel Sports and a full complement of banks, fashion stores, and New Zealand’s most popular café and restaurant chains. The centre includes one of Auckland’s largest Farmers stores and a New World supermarket. The centre provides diverse entertainment choices from the Circle Lounge at Berkeley Cinema to the award-winning Cock and Bull pub. In addition to its retail offering, Botany Town Centre is a community hub for other services including the Botany Library, the Community Constable, and a variety of medical and health providers.
About LynnMall Shopping Centre
LynnMall has more than 120 specialty stores. The centre is situated in New Lynn, West Auckland and is a short drive from Auckland’s CBD. LynnMall caters to all needs and interests, with major retailers including Foodtown, Farmers, JB HI-FI, Bond and Bond, Noel Leeming, Postie+, Stirling Sports, LynnMall Lollipops Educare and Whitcoulls.

Media Release                         February 2009

Howick Plunket will be the big winner when Botany Town Centre’s Summer Fun Run & Walk takes place on February 15, with the event offering local families an ideal opportunity to enjoy some quality time while supporting a worthy cause.
 
Botany Town Centre Manager Jennifer Manning says the Botany Town Centre-hosted event gives families a chance to step out for some sunshine, fresh air, mild exercise and fun – not to mention the opportunity to snag some great prizes.

While top competitors will be rewarded for their efforts, all participants will have plenty of chances to win spot prizes, including a 42” Panasonic plasma TV, Configure Express membership and Berkeley Cinema vouchers.

“The family entertainment on offer means everybody’s a winner, but the cream on the top is the money that’s going to Howick Plunket – Botany Town Centre will match the first 800 entries with a $1 donation to Plunket. It’s exciting to host a family-friendly event at our centre and our retailers are looking forward to cheering on the participants.”

The Botany Town Centre Fun Run & Walk entry fee is $25 per person and the event (which is organised by First Tier) is staged over two distances. The flat 5km and 10km courses will start and finish at Botany Town Centre’s Town Square.

Howick Plunket president, Sally Sumner, welcomed the ongoing support from Botany Town Centre and says the money will be used to ensure the local community continues to benefit from Plunket’s support services.

“We will also be entering a team encouraging mums to get out there with their prams and enjoy a bit of exercise while bonding with their little ones.”

Participants can enter as a runner or a walker and the route offers a great chance for locals to familiarise themselves with the area, surrounding roads and many access points into the centre.

ends

About Botany Town Centre
Situated approximately 19km southeast of Auckland, Botany Town Centre is one of New Zealand’s largest retail developments, with 169 specialty stores. Its retailers range from Dick Smith Electronics to Rebel Sports and a full complement of banks, fashion stores, and New Zealand’s most popular café and restaurant chains. The centre includes one of Auckland’s largest Farmers stores and a New World supermarket. The centre provides diverse entertainment choices from the Circle Lounge at Berkeley Cinema to the award-winning Cock and Bull pub. In addition to its retail offering, Botany Town Centre is a community hub for other services including the Botany Library, the Community Constable, and a variety of medical and health providers.

For further information, please contact:

Jennifer Manning
Botany Town Centre
+64 (0)9 272 3888
jennifer.manning@ampcapital.com
Bernadette Barrett
Alexander Communications
+64 (0)9 522 5544
+64 (0)27 477 1573
bernadette@alexandercomms.co.nz