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.

 ends

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

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.

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.

ends

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!

ends

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

Paper Plus books spokesperson Kerre Woodham is visiting Napier on Friday 11 September to chat about her favourite reads alongside two special guest authors. David and Karen Anderson from Paper Plus Napier invite the community to attend the evening event and enjoy a glass of bubbly while talking with Kerre and other guests about favourite books.

Guests will enjoy special appearances by authors Nicky Pellegrino and Dr Dave Baldwin. Nicky started writing the day she learned that Angela D’Audney, a close acquaintance, had a brain tumour – and she hasn’t stopped since. She started with Angela’s autobiography, A Wonderful Life, and then moved on to her signature Italy-themed novels, Delicious, The Gypsy Tearoom, and her latest, The Italian Wedding. The latter, about discovering who your family members really are, is a feast of food and love.

New Zealand’s first and only Flying Doctor, Dr Dave Baldwin provides an aviation medical service to pilots in remote areas of the country. Dave’s book Healthy Bastards provides the essential prescription for every bloke – laughter! Dr Dave has taken every common health problem affecting the average bloke and summarised the remedies into main points, making for a painless and easy read.

In addition to being a bookworm Kerre is a writer, having published last year’s bestseller Short Fat Chick to Marathon Runner, a characteristically witty and candid account of how she worked her way to fitness and completed both the Auckland and New York Marathons – all after inauspiciously turning up to her very first training session with a hangover.

David and Karen say the evening will be a celebration of great reading and a chance for the guests to chat about their favourite books while relaxing with a glass of bubbly.

The event will be held at Paper Plus Napier from 6pm. Entry to the VIP night costs $10, and tickets can be purchased from Paper Plus Napier. Along with sumptuous nibbles courtesy of Regal Salmon and a glass of bubbly, there will be goody bags for each guest and the chance to win a fabulous $500 L’Oréal Paris hamper and $100 Regal Salmon prize. Audience members will be able to make a donation to Cure Kids if they wish.

Kerre is a well-known presence on television, on the Paper Plus website and in stores. Each month she announces and reviews her preferred latest books in Kerre’s Choices, and shares her thoughts in the Paper Plus Book Club online discussion forum. The Paper Plus Book Club gives readers the opportunity to review books they love, add comments to other reviews and receive special book offers.

ends

For more information please contact:

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

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

About Paper Plus

The Paper Plus Group began 26 years ago and is New Zealand’s largest stationery and bookseller. The Group incorporates three separate retail brands: Paper Plus, which has 104 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.

Shoppers were quick to lend support to St John last week, opening their wallets for the Flash a Light for St John Appeal to help fund the charity’s work in the community. NZ Safety showed its backing of St John by pounding the pavements and collecting donations that contributed to the estimated $25,000 raised by the business for the charity during June.

The contribution made by NZ Safety, in addition to last week’s street appeal, included a percentage of their sales across the country for the month of June. NZ Safety National Manager Tim Searle said he was delighted with the generous response, and wanted to thank his colleagues for getting behind such a great cause. “St John does very important work by providing various programmes and services nationwide, and NZ Safety was pleased to give its support.

“NZ Safety is a keen supporter of St John’s work – we raised almost $13,000 last year to buy a second-hand community service vehicle. This year we hope our donation will go even further to help St John continue providing its vital services.”

St John provides ambulance services to 85% of New Zealanders, and delivers an extensive range of other services and products in the health and health-related fields. St John relies on public donations to help fund the work it does in communities around the country.

NZ Safety will continue its support for St John this year by again including them as a beneficiary of their annual charity golf day in November.

ends

About NZ Safety
NZ Safety is New Zealand’s most trusted and experienced supplier of personal protective equipment, workwear and related safety products and services. The company operates through a network of 24 branches, complementing an extensive product range of the world’s major brands with industry specific education training and consulting services. NZ Safety is part of Wesfarmers Industrial and Safety New Zealand.

About Wesfarmers Industrial and Safety New Zealand
WIS NZ is New Zealand’s largest and leading industrial distribution company. The company operates through five independent business units: Blackwoods Paykels, NZ Safety, Protector Safety, Packaging House and Safety Source. Activities are centred in three key industrial market segments:
• Personal protective equipment, work apparel and related safety products,
• Industrial packaging, food service and hygiene products,
• Maintenance repair and operating consumables (MRO)

WIS NZ operates throughout New Zealand and undertakes some exports to Pacific Rim and some European countries. The company operates through a network of 75 branches and three manufacturing operations, and employs approximately 700 people. For the year ending June 2008, total sales revenue was NZ$251million and NPBT was NZ$6.8million.
For further information, please contact:
Dwayne Alexander
Alexander Communications
+64 (0)9 522 5541
+64 (0)21 324 463
dwayne@alexanderonlinepr.co.nz 

Tim Searle
NZ Safety National Manager
+64 9 2632906
+64 27 280 7041
tim.searle@nzsafety.co.nz

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.
ends

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.

A new multimillion dollar facility was officially launched on July 10th 2009 to leverage operational synergies and meet anticipated growth for DHL, the worlds leading logistics company following 20% company growth in past two years for the company.

The building will enable further increases increase in productivity and processing-time improvements of at least 10%

The “green building” was launched officially in  Auckland on the 10 July 2009. and represents a fresh investment of US$8.8 million (NZ$14M) in New Zealand. The investment goes towards a new 11,600sqm (125,000 sq ft) state-of-the-art building in Westney Industry Park, adjacent to the Auckland International Airport.

The new DHL Global Forwarding office and warehouse facility will support anticipated business growth and offer enhanced logistics solutions to customers from all industry sectors. Auckland Mayor Hon John Banks, who spoke at the official media launch of the new building, and said, “Fourteen million dollars is a significant investment in the city’s infrastructure at a time when it is particularly needed. A major multinational company making a long-term investment in the areas of infrastructure, transport and logistics sends a positive signal to business as we work to strengthen the economy.”

“We have seen our business in New Zealand grow 20% over the past two years with the life science pharmaceutical, industrial and FMCG sectors as primarily sectors of growth. In this current economic climate, businesses are looking to improve logistics efficiencies and stay competitive. We see tremendous opportunity ahead and this investment reinforces our commitment to New Zealand,” said Amadou Diallo, CEO, DHL Global Forwarding South Asia Pacific.

“The new premises will provide for business growth and improved process capabilities will enhance productivity by over 10%. By combining our Auckland operational sites into one purpose-built facility, our ocean freight service is able to use the site for the unpacking of ocean freight containers, providing delivery improvements to customers of at least half a day,” said Tony Boll, CEO, DHL Global Forwarding South Pacific. A specific area of significant expansion over the past 18 months has been the Door to More service, an assembly service, piloted in New Zealand. The service consolidates multiple vendor shipments to a single shipment for the international movement and local customs clearance. This consolidated shipment is then broken down to individual deliveries to multiple customers (retail or domestic).

DHL Global Forwarding New Zealand, Managing Director, Brian Broom said,” Since the introduction of the Door to More service in New Zealand, we have seen significant take-up of this service to and from Australia, New Zealand’s largest trading partner. The success of this service has been evident in measurable growth in the pharmaceutical, industrial and FMCG sectors in particular.” The new DHL Global Forwarding facility and office will meet increasingly complex customer requirements.

The new facility has increased office space and greater warehousing capacity, specifically: • Office space of 2,864 sqm (30,850 sq ft) over two levels; o The design of office space and selection of equipment in consultation with a doctor of ergonomics; all staff members share the same open-plan space; • Warehousing space of 4,941 sqm (53,200 sq ft); o This space includes more bulk areas than in previous premises, supporting the company’s ‘virtual warehouse’ offering extended to customers through the Door to More product; • Building canopies for goods acceptance/dispatch of 3,391 sqm (36,500 sq ft); o The full weather-proof canopies ensure DHL Global Forwarding can protect the integrity of customers’ product as it is moved to and from warehousing; enhanced security features include electric fencing, CCTV, and a security house for entry/exit control; • Chiller/freezer/transit storage of 182 sqm (2000 sq ft); o This supports the life science segment of the DHL Global Forwarding business, by ensuring perishable products are stored at the required temperature – this new capacity has enabled the company to explore new opportunities in this market segment; • Transit depot of 91 sqm (1000 sq ft); o A stand alone warehouse to provide segregation or products when required, and short-term storage from the main facility. The new building is designed to maximize the efficiency of business operations and the work environment, with the architecture aligned with principles of the New Zealand Green Building Council’s ‘4 Star Green Star’ rating : the building includes advanced green features relating to indoor environmental quality measures, energy measures and emissions and pollution control. -

Ends -

Media Contact:

Alexander Communications Stephanie Jones Tel: +64 (0)9 522 5542 Email: stephanie@alexandercomms.co.nz

DHL Asia Pacific Anita Gupta Tel: +65 6216 6290 Fax: +65 6216 6603 Email: APCorporateCommunications@dhl.com

DHL – The Logistics company for the world DHL is the global market leader in the logistics industry and ‘the Logistics company for the world.’ DHL commits its expertise in international express, air and ocean freight, road and rail transportation, contract logistics and international mail services. A global network composed of more than 220 countries and territories and 310,000 employees worldwide offers customers superior service quality and local knowledge to satisfy their supply chain requirements. DHL accepts its social responsibility by supporting climate protection, disaster management and education. DHL is part of Deutsche Post DHL. The Group generated revenue of more than 54 billion Euros in 2008.