TVNZ's ONE News Breakfast host Tamati Coffey with children at the Kids Cook at LynnMall kitchen

Inspired by the huge popularity of MasterChef, LynnMall Shopping Centre briefed the Alexander Communications team with a creative cooking concept to encourage kids to embrace healthy eating and learn basic cooking skills.

During the July school holidays, kids were invited to don their chef’s apron and hat and come down to the Kids Cook kitchen at LynnMall. For $5 per class, children got the chance to create a delicious and nutritious 5+ A Day approved recipe with all proceeds going to the Foundation for Youth Development (FYD).

More than 370 children participated in the cooking classes over the two-week period, creating pizza, fruit parfait, oaty pancakes and pizza kebabs in the Fisher and Paykel kitchen. Fresh produce and products were supplied by Countdown and Healtheries.

Kids Cook at LynnMall was an event for the whole family to take part in, and with the Family Cook-Off challenge, several families took up the opportunity to submit their favourite family recipe online. Team Madison and Team Hannah took out the top two spots and were challenged to a cook-off on Sunday 18 July. 

The special guest judges – Nestle Hottest Home Baker winner Toni Causley, Deputy Mayor of Waitakere City Penny Hulse, and TV personality Trudi Nelson – had a difficult time deciding between the two dishes created by Team Madison and Team Hannah. In the end, Team Madison won the overall prize for their chicken pesto wrapped in bacon, while Team Hannah received a runner-up prize.

The Saxon Twins Olivia and Hayley with a variety of pizza toppings

In addition to the funds raised from the children’s cooking classes, LynnMall Shopping Centre was proud to present an even bigger cheque to the Foundation for Youth Development, with money raised from a charity auction that took place after Family Cook-Off.

The celebrity guest visits by Sticky TV’s Sam Wallace and Auckland Blues players caught the attention and interest of shoppers who passed by the Kids Cook kitchen.   

The concept received great reviews. Kids Cook at LynnMall was an unforgettable learning experience for everyone who participated.  
 

Results

TV1’s Breakfast programme broadcast live from the Kids Cook at LynnMall kitchen on Friday 2 July 2010. The five weather segments were presented by Tamati Coffey outside LynnMall Shopping Centre and around the Fisher and Paykel kitchen. 

The community papers and children’s publications were also supportive and keen to find out what the children created. We achieved front-page coverage in Education Weekly, a feature in the Western Leader and coverage in the Titirangi Tatler.

We were also supported radio stations The Edge, Easy Mix and The Breeze also supported Kids Cook at LynnMall by giving ad-lib mentions about the programme.

There was an excellent response from online media with posts at Eduvac.co.nz, Freshinthekitchen.co.nz, whatnow.co.nz, familytimes.co.nz and on various event-listing pages – Eventfinder.co.nz, whatsonmsn.co.nz and eventsyahoo.co.nz, among others.

Auckland Blues Communications Assistant James Rigby filmed the players’ visit to LynnMall and as a result, the footage is now featured on Youtube.com, Aucklandrugby.co.nz and worldcuprugbynewzealand.com.

Challenge Trust Chief Executive Clive Plucknett

Challenge Trust chief executive Clive Plucknett tackles the silent epidemic that is depression head-on today in the National Business Review, 05 March.

In his interview with Niko Kloeten, Plucknett says depression is the next global crisis, it happens to more people than we realise, the problem is, NZ executives are too afraid to open up and confide in one another.

Depression the silent epidemic for executives uncovers another side of the corporate world and identifies several issues;

• Boards are not dealing with the issue effectively;
• Outlines NZ within the global context;
• Depression does not necessarily happen gradually, and it may strike anyone, at any time;
• Challenge Trust offers help at hand with the Wellness & Recovery model based on International Benchmarking, a model that may be applied to a whole organisation or individual;
• Challenge Trust runs sessions on emotional resilience;
• Sufferers should not go-it-alone, support in recovery is key;

Clive also appeared on TVNZ’s NZI Business, 16 March, to discuss the ‘corporate’ attitude of depression among New Zealand offices.  In this segment he reiterated the culture of ‘macho’ bullet proof executives and stressed the importance of support structures for leading business likening the countries’ support of the All Blacks. 

Plucknett understands pressure and hard-work as the head of Challenge Trust, an organisation dedicated to recovery services for people from all walks of life.

Tyndall Investment Management welcomes new Managing Director Peter Lynn to the helm.

With over 17 years’ experience in investment markets, and an interim role as chief for six months in 2007, Lynn has always been capable of doing the job. Three years on, he is better equipped to lead and to build on Tyndall’s excellent track record.

Making headlines already, Lynn appeared on 2 February on TVNZ’s NZI Business to share his thoughts with Corin Dann on the financial year ahead. The self-confessed maths-lover predicts 2010 will be pivotal in determining how investment markets will react over the next five years, and expects central banks to take the middle ground to help ease the pressure.

No rest for Lynn, he recently spoke to Goodreturns’ Jenha White regarding the future of Tyndall Investment for an article distributed on 5 February; Tyndall Looking To Add More Retail.

Peter’s appointment to Managing Director was also mentioned in New Zealand Asset magazine.  Find out more about Peter Lynn and his journey to the hot seat at Tyndall Investment in the business section of the New Zealand Herald , on goodreturns.co.nz and in the March Issue of NZ Management magazine talking to Reg Birchfield about his new job.

About Tyndall New Zealand

Tyndall, part of ASX-listed Suncorp-Metway Ltd, manages over $3.6 billion in investments for a range of clients, covering KiwiSaver schemes, retail investors, corporates, superannuation schemes, charities and group companies Vero, Asteron and Guardian Trust.

Niko Kloeten interviewed Sara Dennis recently on the subject of Asset Management , Infrastructure planning & development. New Zealand is facing a serious skills shortage in this area  which has long-term implications for our economic development.

In an article published to  subscribers of www.nbr.co.nz Sara discusses the plans with Niko around the course and how the partnership with the Chifley Business School is bringing the Vocational Graduate Certificate in Physical Asset Management to New Zealand this year. 

Sara also appeared on TVNZ’s NZI Business with Corin Dann on 16 February to discuss the launch of the new business course aimed at refining the management and vision of infrastructure projects.   Since the success of the course in Australia, GHD has recently launched the course in Canada, and will soon introduce it to New Zealand in September.

Sara also appears in the March issue of NZ Marketing magazine discussing the topic of asset management.  Click here for the NZ Management article or read the NBR article here behind a log on.

About Sara Dennis

Sara Dennis joined GHD as National Infrastructure Strategy Group Manager six years ago, and now heads a team of 16, providing asset management and management consulting services to clients.

This comprises strategic advice, development of ‘best practice’ policies, strategies, procedures, skills transfer/training/mentoring, asset management planning, asset valuations and financial and improvement planning.Sara is one of the few people in New Zealand who can bridge the gap between asset management, financial planning and strategic planning. She developed much of her experience, before joining GHD, at a local government level, including an eight-year role as Group Manager Business Services at the Far North District Council. Her recent projects with GHD have included asset management and programming for the Rodney District Council, a quality management system for the Dunedin City Council, a gap analysis and improvement plan for the Tauranga City Council, and an asset management plan update for the Whakatane District Council.

Sara has a Bachelor of Business Studies, a Certificate in Business Computing, a Certificate IV in Training and Assessment, and is a Water Services Association of Australia (WSAA) Assessor.

About GHD

GHD is one of the world’s leading engineering, architecture and environmental consulting firms. Established in 1928, GHD employs more than 6,000 people across five continents and serves clients in the global markets of water, energy and resources, environment, property and buildings, and transportation.
 
Wholly owned by its people, GHD is focused on client success. Our global network of engineers, architects, planners, scientists, project managers and economists collaborate to deliver sustainable outcomes for our clients and the community. Our core values of Teamwork, Respect and Integrity help create enduring relationships that deliver exceptional results.
 
GHD is recognised for its commitment to innovation, safety and sustainable development. We care for the wellbeing of our people, communities and the environments in which we operate.
 
A member of the World Business Council for Sustainable Development, GHD operates under a Practice Quality Management System, ISO 9001:2008 and an Environmental Management System, ISO 14001:2008 which are certified by Lloyds Register Quality Assurance.