Players from the Bay of Plenty Steamers will be at Bayfair Shopping Centre next week to meet and greet fans, and thank them for their steadfast support season after season.

With their eyes firmly set on the 2010 ITM Cup, the Bay of Plenty Steamers turn their attention to Bayfair Shopping Centre for a signing evening on Thursday 12 August, from 7pm to 8pm. 

This is your chance to get up close and personal with 13 Bay of Plenty Steamers stars, including Captain Colin Burke, Lance MacDonald and Jason Hona. The players will be signing free posters that are available from the Bayfair Shopping Centre Information Desk from Friday 6 August onwards, while stocks last.

Getting out in the community is an important part of the Steamers’ schedule. The team is looking forward to meeting its supporters first-hand and generating interest.

Bay of Plenty Steamers Sales and Marketing Executive Warren Kibur says, “Meet and greets are fantastic. Bayfair Shopping Centre is helping the team give back personally and opportunities like this generate great enthusiasm among players and supporters alike. These occasions are our way of saying thank you.”

Bayfair Shopping Centre Marketing Manager Nina Rivett says, “Bayfair is proud to support the Bay of Plenty Steamers and help bring them closer to our community. It is a pleasure to be associated with the team.”

From Thursday 12 August to Sunday 22 August, Bay of Plenty Steamers fans will be given the chance to win two signed Bay of Plenty Steamers jerseys. Anyone that purchases a snack or meal from participating retailers at Bayfair can enter the draw to win one of the two jerseys.

In addition, if a shopper discovers a rugby ball sticker on a soft drink purchased from the same retailer, he or she has won two tickets to see the Bay of Plenty Steamers vs. Southland game at 2.35pm on Saturday 16 October at Baypark, Mount Maunganui.

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Lowndes Associates and Unlimited magazine are pleased to invite you to the 2010 Business Intelligence breakfast workshop series. Now in their eighth year, these superior content-rich workshops are for busy executives, owners, directors, managers, advisers and corporate counsel.

Learn more about:
Concept — the key initial questions: Will it work? Does the market want it? Will customers buy it?
People — how to find, motivate, reward and keep the people you need. Finding the right mix of skills.
Funding — once the seed capital has been spent, where do you find the development capital and funding for the longer term?
Development — getting to market without running out of money in the process.
Growth — when to bring in new talent and experience. Must the founding group stay in control?
Governance — getting the right balance of skills and experience on the board. Key issues for the directors and senior management.
Exit strategy — developing and executing a successful sale/divestment process.

Workshop two: Flying Kiwis: Startup to success — overcoming startup problems, is on 25 Wednesday August, 2010 from 7.30 – 9.30am at Auckland’s, Stamford Plaza.

For More information:

Click on to Unlimited.co.nz or at the Lowndes Associates Business Intelligence website

The immigration to New Zealand of a leading international dance director is a boon to young disciples of the art. Lisa Carter, a former Royal Academy of Dance examiner who trained in her native South Africa and has taught there and in Asia, Europe, the UK and the United States, has moved to New Zealand to lead the dance department at Corelli School in Auckland. Ms Carter and Corelli are jointly offering 12 scholarships over three years to talented young dancers.

“We chose to move to New Zealand so that I could take up this extraordinary opportunity at Corelli School.

“Through my earlier work I have been able to see the impact that good training can have on a young dancer. By 18, it is often too late to train as a professional dancer, and my vision, with Corelli and our scholarship programme, is to open the door to youngsters with a passion for dance, and to encourage and mentor them as they train.

“The scholarships are open to those with a passion for dance and will be offered alongside an excellent education curriculum. Corelli School strives for excellence in arts while offering its students the internationally recognized Cambridge educational programme. 

Ms Carter intends that the scholarships will help to advance New Zealand ballet across the board. “Overall, ballet here is very good. The difficulty is that there are not enough professional opportunities and many dancers have to go overseas to find work. The growth of New Zealand dance is part of my own future plan and vision.”

Her vision also includes ‘training for excellence’, not only as a dancer but in all aspects of life. “Dance training can enrich children’s lives in many ways, to be disciplined, to push through and be the best that one can – these are invaluable life skills.”
That attitude is shared by Corelli’s faculty, Ms Carter says, “An arts specialist education facility such as Corelli is an excellent environment which encourages and develops creative minds. It is a place where students find peers who think alike, behave similarly and understand one another. Young artists and performers, such as dancers, also need the discipline of a challenging and rewarding academic environment, and Corelli provides this.”

Head of Performing Arts at Corelli School, David Selfe (Professional Certificate and Licentiate of the Royal Academy of Music) says the pursuit of excellence in arts should ideally be supported with a good educational foundation. “This is what we seek to provide. It is much easier for children to fulfil their potential, artistic and otherwise, when they have a well-rounded approach. Lisa holds the same view and will be a tremendous asset to Corelli.”

Ms Carter travelled internationally as an examiner for the Royal Academy of Dance (RAD) for five years from 2004, taking a sabbatical with the birth of her daughter Caitlin. She does not rule out a return to examining in the future.

RAD examiners are a small select group, with only a handful of active examiners worldwide at any given time. RAD examiners are appointed by invitation only and undergo extensive training. Their extensive international schedules can take them on trips as long as six weeks at a stretch.

Among Ms Carter’s career achievements are her contribution to the programmes and standard dance offered at Creighton University in Nebraska. During her time there she was responsible for implementing the Dance Major now on offer and seeing the increase of dance students come on board.

In addition, she recently published a book, Introduction to Ballet (Kendall Hunt Publishers), which is being used in the United States and features her students in step-by-step movement photographs designed for easy understanding of dance terminology and steps.

Open auditions for the scholarships will take place at 1pm on Thursday 12 August at the Corelli School. To register your interest, please contact Christine or Claire on 09 476 5043 or visit: www.corelli.school.nz.

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About Lisa Carter

Lisa Carter, the daughter of a dancer and dance teacher, started dancing at three in Cape Town, South Africa. She was trained by Elisabeth Millington and Sheila Stirling (F.R.A.D.) at the University of Cape Town, where she obtained her Royal Academy of Dance Teaching Certification and a BMus degree in piano. Two years after graduating, she joined the ballet faculty, teaching ballet there while maintaining her own private studios in Cape Town. In 1998, Lisa and her husband travelled to Hong Kong where she trained ballet students at a private school which she headed. She also taught at the RAD summer school and won a choreographic award at the Hong Kong Arts Festival. At the end of 1998, Lisa moved to the United Kingdom and taught at the Italia Conti School of Dance and Drama and the Central School of Ballet in London.

In 2002, Lisa joined the faculty of Creighton University, a private Jesuit university in Nebraska, as director of the dance department and artistic director of the Creighton Dance Company. In 2004 she became an examiner for the Royal Academy of Dance and for five years travelled internationally for examinations. Lisa has given master class in Hong Kong, South Africa, Europe and the United States of America. She has choreographed many ballet productions including Coppélia, The Nutcracker, Giselle and Raymonda as well as musicals including The Boyfriend, The Mikado and Joseph.

Lisa’s book on beginning ballet was published this year by Kendall Hunt Publishers. Before leaving for New Zealand, Lisa choreographed Romeo and Juliet for the Nebraska Shakespeare Festival and taught summer school to young local and national dancers.

Vodafone Warriors Reading Captain Jerome Ropati reads with students from Te Papapa School, Onehunga

“Kevin Locke attacks the other team like he is a champion of wrestling. Steve Price is as tough as elephant skin, yet moves as slippery as a gecko. Brent Tate is like a train with no brakes – accelerating, huffing but never puffing.”

This inventive description of three Vodafone Warriors is the work of one of the many Auckland children whose creative juices are still flowing after the success of the Vodafone Warriors League in Libraries programme with two Auckland schools in 2008, and 50 schools (more than 500 entries) in 2009.

While the Vodafone Warriors aim to make their way up the National Rugby League (NRL) ladder this season, their latest endeavour off the field is continuing to inspire Auckland children to get reading and writing through the third annual League in Libraries programme, supported by Konica Minolta.

The League in Libraries initiative aims to improve the literacy levels of children aged seven to nine by encouraging them to learn the valuable life skills of reading and writing at an age where reading can become difficult.

“Konica Minolta has strong partnerships with many schools so we’re delighted to be supporting child development and education through the League in Libraries programme for a third year in a row and to help give Year Four and Five kids throughout Auckland a chance to be involved,” says National Marketing Manager Josh Byers. “The Vodafone Warriors are great ambassadors for the programme. If they say reading is cool, it means a lot in the minds of their young fans and we hope it will inspire kids to put pen to paper and get stuck into a good book.”

For a chance to meet the rugby league stars, children are asked to express their creative side by submitting an illustrated short story or poem incorporating their favourite Vodafone Warriors player.

The best classroom entries will be judged by Konica Minolta as well as Vodafone Warriors NRL Reading Captain Jerome Ropati. The top eight winning schools will be invited to meet some of the Vodafone Warriors at four special local library visits in July and August. To ensure all the winning schools get the chance to meet their favourite players, Konica Minolta will be providing transport to and from the library visits.

While the players are visiting the library, they will work with children to complete four literary activities, two of them centred on New Zealand books: Papa’s Donuts by Kate Moetaua, and Henry & the Flea by Brian Faulkner, a story about a young boy who dreams of one day playing for the Vodafone Warriors. Each child attending the library visit will receive a free copy of one of these books to take home.

The eight selected schools will also receive two Canterbury of New Zealand rugby league balls and tickets to a Vodafone Warriors home game. The student with the best overall story or poem will receive a signed 2010 Vodafone Warriors rugby league jersey.

“Working with the community is a big part of what we do,” says Vodafone Warriors player Jerome Ropati. “Players need to have more in their lives than simply training and playing, and initiatives such as the League in Libraries programme are a great opportunity to make a difference in the lives of our young people. Helping kids to develop their literacy skills is a really positive way to go.”

Schools can receive entry details by contacting Sonya Mills on 09 356 6897 or email sonya.mills@konicaminolta.co.nz. Completed entry forms and the short stories and poems from year 4 and 5 classrooms in the Auckland region can be sent to: League in Libraries Programme, Konica Minolta, Private Bag 92635 Symonds Street, Auckland. One entry form per classroom (unlimited student entries permitted per class). Entries close on Friday 4 June. The eight winning schools will be notified by 25 June.

The League in Libraries day will take place at the following locations and dates:

Pakuranga Library – Tue 20 July
Waitakere Library – Tue 27 July
Glenfield Library – Tue 3 August
Manurewa Library – Tue 10 August 

Visit www.warriors.co.nz for more information.

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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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LynnMall Shopping Centre is encouraging its retailers and staff to trade in their car keys for pavement-pounding sneakers in support of the annual Walk2Work Day on Wednesday 10 March. The national event, organised by Living Streets Aotearoa, offers free breakfasts to all who pledge to walk to work on the day.

The event is one of two community initiatives that LynnMall Shopping Centre hosts in support of walking. At least twice a week for the past 12 years, members of the New Lynn community have chosen to avoid car emissions and instead enjoy the smell of fresh coffee and muffins on their regular MallWalk at LynnMall Shopping Centre.

LynnMall Acting Centre Manager Linh Luong says the MallWalkers set a great example for staff and retailers. “The Walk2Work Day is all about getting our people thinking about using alternative methods of transport and incorporating that little bit of exercise into our everyday routines. Our MallWalkers are very supportive of this.”

LynnMall Shopping Centre was the first mall in New Zealand to offer MallWalking and over the years, walkers young and old have been showing others how it is done by coming to the mall bright and early for a brisk walk along the passageways.

“We now have over 50 members that take part in the sessions, all of varying ages,” says trainer Zoe Bond. “Occasionally we have mothers who join us, some bring their little ones for a stroll and others take it as an opportunity to have some down time. Others in the group are aged between 50 and 90 years old and we even have a regular walker in her 80’s that joins us.”

“It’s more than just a physical activity for our MallWalkers. It’s a weekly social event they all look forward to, where they often have coffee or breakfast afterwards.

“Walk2Work is a great initiative which has a close alignment with what we do. It is great to see this encouragement to get people out there and increase physical activity in the community.”

Auckland Networker for Living Streets Aotearoa Vincent Dickie says he is thrilled to have LynnMall Shopping Centre on board for the Walk2Work Day and hopes staff and retailers will opt to head to work on foot rather than reaching for the car keys. “We want to encourage people to incorporate health and fitness into their everyday life, and what simpler and better way to do this than by taking to the streets?”

The first 20 participants who pledge or register to walk to work will receive a free breakfast from Walk2Work sponsors McDonalds, One Square Meal, Cyclops Yoghurt and Sanitarium Up n Go. Breakfast will be served in the Lynnmall food court between 8am and 9am.

Botany Town Centre is encouraging people to trade roses for running shoes this Valentine’s Day, so they don’t miss out on the annual Botany Town Centre Summer Fun Run & Walk on Sunday 14 February. The event is open to everyone – whether families, teams or couples – who want a fun way to spend Valentine’s Day with the local community.

Botany Town Centre Senior Centre Manager Jennifer Andrews says the annual 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 in the 10-kilometre and 5-kilometre walk and run, all participants will have plenty of chances to win spot prizes, including a 42” Panasonic high definition plasma TV, and one of four Nike+ packages valued at $290.

“The family entertainment on offer means everybody’s a winner, and what better day to have the event than on Valentine’s Day – a day where people can come together and make it a day out to enjoy. We are excited to host a family-friendly event for the community at our centre and our retailers are looking forward to cheering on the participants,” says Jennifer.

The Botany Town Centre Summer Fun Run & Walk entry fee is either $25 or $30 per person, depending on the chosen distance. The event, which is organised by First Tier, is staged over two distances (5-kilometre and 10-kilometer flat courses) and will start and finish at Botany Town Centre’s Town Square. The event starts at 9.00am.

First Tier Director Frank Clarke says, “Last year about 350 people participated in the event, and this year we are expecting 500 participants to descend on Botany Town Centre to do the fun run or walk. It is great to see the community come together for what is sure to be another enjoyable day out for all.”

The route offers a great chance for locals to familiarise themselves with the area, surrounding roads and many access points into the centre.

For more information on the Botany Town Centre Summer Fun Run & Walk and how to enter, 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.

Four of New Zealand’s top chefs and food writers are being brought together by Paper Plus for a VIP evening of entertainment and foodie banter. The canapé-and-bubbles-fuelled evening will be hosted by food-lover and Paper Plus books spokesperson Kerre Woodham, with the panelists discussing everything food-related about their latest books and favourite recipes.

In the lead up to Christmas, this grand foodie gathering will offer a bounty of inspiration for entertaining at home with family, friends and loved ones over the festive season.

Well known family cook Allyson Gofton, beloved by New Zealanders as the former host of TV One’s popular Food in a Minute, will be discussing her book Cook, which features her favourite recipes for entertaining at home.

Wellington’s own Martin Bosley, Listener food columnist and owner-chef of restaurant Martin Bosley’s at the Port Nicholson Yacht Club (2007 winner of Cuisine Restaurant of the Year) will be talking about his book Martin Bosley Cooks. The recipes are designed “for the home chef who doesn’t have hours to spend on making a splash at dinner parties or even a work night. I want others to enjoy that feeling of comfort and generosity that comes from preparing good food for others.”

Alongside Allyson and Martin will be Sophie Gray, made famous by her Destitute Gourmet philosophy of serving up tasty, fashionable and healthy home-cooked meals on a modest budget. The 10th anniversary edition of the Destitute Gourmet cookbook, Stunning Food from Small Change (centred around family, friends and good food) has just been published, and at the VIP event Sophie will share how she encourages home cooks to innovate and improvise, and shop smart – what you really need in your pantry, and what you can easily do without.

And the fourth guest, cookbook author and long-time Cuisine food editor Lauraine Jacobs, will be discussing the new book she has edited, A Treasury of New Zealand Baking, to which Allyson and Martin, along with more of the country’s top cooks and food writers, have contributed recipes. The book is being released to coincide with Breast Cancer Action Month, with all royalties going to the Breast Cancer Foundation of New Zealand.

“As we are coming into the Christmas holiday season, with its many opportunities to be with family and friends and enjoy delicious, seasonal homemade food, we thought it was timely to bring these great cooks and food writers together for an entertaining evening of canapés, bubbly and food talk,” Paper Plus Group Marketing Manager Lyle Hastings says.

“They all have great recipes and recommendations for fun, food-filled gatherings with loved ones. Kerre is vocal about her love of good food, so she will bring out the best in our guests.”

Details:
Date: 27 November 2009
PAPER PLUS BOOKS & BUBBLES FAB FOODIES
Date: Friday 27 November, 2009
Time: 6pm arrival for 6.30pm start. Approximate duration: 3 hours.

This is the final metropolitan Paper Plus Books & Bubbles event for the year, and will be hosted in the food capital, Wellington, with a great line-up of authors talking about their latest books and their love of all things food. The speakers are Allyson Gofton, former Food in a Minute host and author of Cook, Wellington’s own Martin Bosley, renowned chef and author of Martin Bosley Cooks, Destitute Gourmet Sophie Gray, whose latest book is Stunning Food from Small Change, and Cuisine food editor Lauraine Jacobs, who is releasing A Treasury of New Zealand Baking. Food-lover and Paper Plus books spokesperson Kerre Woodham will keep the audience entertained and the conversation flowing, and guests will enjoy a complimentary glass of Morton Estate bubbles on arrival with sumptuous canapés from Regal Salmon, with the chance to win a fabulous $500 hamper from L’Oréal Paris. Each guest will also get a goody bag to take home. A fabulous foodie night out not to be missed!

Location: Duxton Hotel, 170 Wakefield Street, Wellington
Tickets: $40 each and available from all Wellington Paper Plus stores or online at www.booksandbubbles.co.nz, with proceeds going to Cure Kids.
More about the panelists:

Allyson Gofton has been cooking for New Zealanders for over 20 years. During her varied career she has assisted Graham Kerr both here and abroad, and became the Chief Executive Officer of the New Zealand Nutrition Foundation. She was also Food Editor for Next magazine for many years and appeared nightly on our screens as presenter for Food In a Minute. Allyson has written 19 cookbooks, including the best-selling Bake and After Work Cookbook. Allyson is a working mum with two young children and a very busy husband who love her home cooking and baking.

Martin Bosley is one of New Zealand’s most highly-regarded chefs, and the owner of the Port Nicholson Yacht Club restaurant on the waterfront at Oriental Bay in Wellington. The restaurant won the coveted Cuisine Restaurant of the Year award in 2007. He writes a weekly column in the Listener and another in the Air New Zealand magazine Kia Ora.

The leading corporate and commercial law firm Lowndes Associates is pitting two stellar teams of academics and commentators against each other in a timely debate over whether New Zealand will reach the top half of the OECD by 2020. The debate will be staged at the final Lowndes Associates Business Intelligence Seminar of 2009 on 18 November. Mark Lowndes and Rod Oram spoke on ASB Business TV about why this is an important discussion.

Business journalist Rod Oram is one of the four panellists, and will pair with author and broadcaster Gordon McLauchlan to make the case that New Zealand will not resume its former place as a leading OECD country by 2020. The other team, arguing the affirmative, consists of Professor Sir Paul Callaghan of Victoria University of Wellington and Jon Mayson, Chairman of New Zealand Trade and Enterprise.

Among the questions the debaters will address is whether New Zealand should continue to rely on agriculture and tourism, or whether we must invest in science and technology, becoming the Switzerland of the South Pacific.

Mr Oram says while he spends his working life arguing in favour of New Zealand’s “amazing” opportunities, “in this case I am happy to argue the negative case, because I have a grave reservation – that is, while we talk a lot about what we can do, if we stay on our current trajectory, we simply won’t achieve it. And I don’t see what’s going to change the game – what’s going to make us wake up and realize how serious the downside is if we don’t seize the opportunities and meet the challenges.”

For starters, he says if we are to meet the National government’s goal of catching up with the Australian economy in per capita terms by 2025, New Zealand’s economy needs to grow at twice the rate of recent years – but a lot of this previous growth has come from debt-driven consumption and a rise in property values.

“We’re the third most indebted developed country in the world, with the second-highest level of household debt in the OECD. What is our plan? We don’t even have ambitious enough economic policies for future growth and OECD achievement, because we don’t know what we want to do.”

Meanwhile, he says, “The developing countries, particularly China, Brazil and India, are adapting far faster and more profoundly to the new global drivers. They understand better than we do that this has been not just a recession and financial crisis, but a systemic failure in finance, economies and resource use.

“It’s very hard to get any acknowledgement that this is more than a normal recession. Most New Zealanders think we’ve had our recession, and now we must just get back to our existing business strategies. I would argue those strategies are already failing.”

He says our strategy to this point, of keeping up with competitors by driving efficiency hard and “hanging on to the coat-tails of others”, was no longer viable. “It won’t work any more because of the increase in competitors with much lower cost bases than us, and the relative decline in value of the commodities we produce.

“An agricultural economy is still feasible, but we need to massively internationalize what we’re very good at – invest in commodity production in South America, for example.”

Lowndes Associates Partner Mark Lowndes says the quality of the participants and the topical nature of the debate makes the final 2009 Lowndes Associates Business Intelligence workshop valuable to businesspeople. “As Rod points out, there are urgent questions facing the nation: what are the policies for government and strategies for business in this new national economy? These are important questions at the heart of future economic strategy and success, and we look forward to a robust and fruitful discussion.”

Details:
Workshop 4: The Big Debate – Will New Zealand Will Get to the Top Half of the OECD by 2020?
Date: Wednesday 18 November 2009
Time: 7.30am–9.30am
Location: Stamford Plaza, Auckland
Tickets: $72 + GST

About the Speakers

Professor Sir Paul Callaghan, Victoria University of Wellington

Sir Paul Callaghan is a graduate of Oxford University (DPhil), and of Victoria University of Wellington where he is Alan MacDiarmid Professor of Physical Sciences. Paul is a Fellow of the Royal Society of London and is currently President of the International Society of Magnetic Resonance. He is a regular public speaker on science matters. In 2007 one of his radio series with Kim Hill appeared in book form, As Far as We Know: Conversations about Science, Life and the Universe, and a 2009 book, Wool to Weta: Transforming New Zealand’s Culture and Economy, deals with the potential for science and technology entrepreneurs to diversify New Zealand’s economy.

Mr Jon Mayson, Chairman New Zealand Trade & Enterprise

Jon Mayson is chair of the board of New Zealand Trade & Enterprise, and a past president of Export New Zealand. Previously CEO of Port of Tauranga Limited, he is a professional director and consultant and currently chairs several private company boards involved in manufactured exports and logistics. His consultancy work in New Zealand and offshore has been focused around port privatization and transport logistics. Jon is a Fellow of the Institute of Management, a member of the Institute of Directors and has an MBA in International Management. He was made a Companion of the New Zealand Order of Merit in 2006.

Mr Gordon McLauchlan, Author and Broadcaster

Gordon McLauchlan has been a freelance journalist/writer since 1973. He has been a books editor (New Zealand Herald), a newspaper columnist, an investigative reporter (National Business Review), and a presenter of radio and television programmes. His books include: The Passionless People (1976), a social commentary; The Acid Test (1981), an anthology of New Zealand humour; Bateman’s New Zealand Encyclopedia (1984); The Big Con (1992), a political commentary; The Story of New Zealand Beer (1995); A History of New Zealand Humour (1998); A Short History of New Zealand (2004); A Life’s Sentences (2004), a memoir; The Farming of New Zealand (2007); The Life and Times of Auckland (2008).

Mr Rod Oram, Business Journalist

Rod Oram has more than 30 years’ experience as an international business journalist, including with the Financial Times in London and New York and as editor of the Business Herald in Auckland. He is currently a columnist for the Sunday Star-Times and Good magazine; a regular broadcaster on radio and television; and a frequent public speaker on business and economic issues. Rod is an adjunct professor in the business faculty at Unitec in Auckland. He is the 2009 winner of Landcorp’s Agricultural Communicator of the Year award, and the author of Reinventing Paradise, a book about the New Zealand economy, published by Penguin in 2007.

Ends

For further information, please contact:

Kate Alexander
Alexander Communications Ltd
+(64) 27 244 6094
kate@alexandercomms.co.nz

About Lowndes Associates
Lowndes Associates is a leading corporate and commercial law firm with a network of trusted associates around the world. It exclusively represents the Multilaw and Legalink international networks in New Zealand.
The firm comprises carefully selected teams of industry-leading specialists. Together they reinforce the firm’s reputation as a law firm with a strong sense of commerce.  Lowndes Associates prides itself on its ability to integrate specialist input from different areas of the law into seamless advice focused on what matters – the commercial outcome. Many of the firm’s lawyers have second degrees in business and management, and have qualifications and major international firm experience, including in Asia, Europe, the United States, the UK and Australia.
In the 2007 to 2009 editions of the Asia Pacific Legal 500 Guide to Asia’s Commercial Law Firms directory, Lowndes Associates has received listings as a leading commercial law firm in the following categories:
• Corporate/M&A
• Dispute Resolution
• Intellectual Property
• Restructuring and Insolvency
• Technology Media & Telecommunications
In the most recent editions of the IFLR1000 guide to the world’s leading financial law firms and the Chambers directory of top lawyers, the firm is highly ranked in the insolvency and restructuring areas.

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Ladies love an opportunity for a get together and a glass of bubbles. What better way to do it than with the sensational Kerre Woodham for a good old gossip about chick lit, dating tips, marathon running, being a domestic goddess and why the world is your lobster.

The Paper Plus Group is giving Christchurch women the chance to have a Girls Night Out to remember with a special Books & Bubbles at Hotel Grand Chancellor on Friday 2 October. Hosted by Kerre Woodham, guests will enjoy a panel of high profile authors providing an unforgettable evening of entertainment.

The stellar line-up includes internet dating guru Rachel Goodchild, Christchurch based author and columnist Joe Bennett, media veteran and domestic goddess Wendyl Nissen and author of bestsellers Bonkers and Divine Michelle Holman.

“Women these days balance a busy professional career with parenthood and deserve a night out to unwind” said Paper Plus Group Marketing Manager Lyle Hastings. “They can do just that at Books & Bubbles Girls Night Out and bring along their friends for a great night of entertainment as Kerre Woodham speaks to guests about her experiences going from Short Fat Chick to Marathon Runner and our panel of authors chat about their books.”

The event will be held at Hotel Grand Chancellor from 6pm and guests will be treated to a complimentary glass of bubbles courtesy of Morton Estate on arrival. Along with sumptuous canapés from Regal Salmon, there will be goody bags for each guest, and a fabulous $500 hamper to be won with thanks to L’Oréal Paris.

Entry to the event costs $45 and tickets can be purchased from all Christchurch Paper Plus stores or online at www.booksandbubbles.co.nz, where you will also find a schedule and details of upcoming Books & Bubbles events. All proceeds from the events go towards Paper Plus’ chosen charity Cure Kids.

More about the panelists:

Rachel Goodchild – After trawling the internet for love and friendship, experiencing the highs and lows of cyber match-making, and meeting other people on the same path, Rachel Goodchild decided to compile these stories in a bid to help readers avoid disasters and head straight for the person of their dreams. Rachel is a full time writer for magazines and newspapers as a columnist on the joys of dating, providing some helpful tips and hints along the way.

Joe Bennett – Brighton born, Cambridge University educated and Lyttleton resident, Joe Bennett is a full-time freelance columnist and author. Three-time Qantas Media Columnist of the Year award winner, Joe is one of the country’s most widely read and popular syndicated columnists, both in newspapers and magazines. Joe Bennett’s erudite and wryly amusing commentaries on the foibles and eccentricities of modern life qualify him as one of our best-loved grouches. Joe’s latest The World’s Your Lobster has bottled the best of 2009’s writings and is set to be another hit with fans.

Michelle Holman – After returning from her ‘Big OE’ to the UK which beckoned at the tender age of seventeen, Michelle returned home to New Zealand in 1989 with her ‘Pom’ husband in tow and started a family. Working as a nurse and managing community health projects, Michelle always had the urge to be a published writer and on New Years 2005 set the goal of being just that! Her first book Bonkers was born in 2007 and paved the way for her second successful novel Divine followed by her latest Knotted to be released on October 1^st this year.

Wendyl Nissen – For more than 25 years, Wendyl has been at the front of the media pack – first as an eager young journalist, then as the influential editor of a string of high-profile women’s magazines, a television producer and writer, and a popular radio commentator and columnist. Wendyl’s bestseller Bitch and Famous details her magazine career. Her latest and another bestseller Domestic Goddess on a Budget released in May this year, is a user-friendly guide to saving time and money without losing your sense of style or humour. This how-to for women includes recipes for tried and true environmentally friendly cleaning products providing great alternatives to the expensive and chemical ridden concoctions on the supermarket shelves, as well as beauty products!

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About Paper Plus

The Paper Plus Group began 26 years ago and is f New Zealand’s largest stationery and bookseller. The Group incorporates three separate retail brands: Paper Plus, which has 106 stores; Take Note with 63 stores; and Office Spot with three stores, all offering a great range of stationery, books, magazines, cards and gifts to New Zealand consumers. There is a Paper Plus store in every town and city, from Kaitaia to Invercargill. It is the only New Zealand book and stationery retailer with Fly Buys.

For more information please contact:

Lyle Hastings
Group Marketing Manager
Paper Plus
+64 (0)9 261 0702
lyle.hastings@paperplus.co.nz

Laura Burns
Alexander Communications
+64 (0)9 522 5545
+64 (0)27 232 0009
laura@alexandercomms.co.nz