The liquidator for the Blue Chip group of companies, Meltzer Mason Heath, has filed a $40 million claim against the failed property investment group, which banked investors’ funds straight into its own bank accounts instead of into trust accounts.

The statement of claim, lodged in the High Court in Auckland, is against Blue Chip’s former directors and auditors, and on behalf of about 800 investors, says Jeff Meltzer of Meltzer Mason Heath.

Todays announcement featured in a number of key national news outlets including The New Zealand Herald, TVNZ,  Sharechat, National Business Review, Stuff, Interest.co.nz and a number of other news outlets across the country

 Taylor believes the three most likely factors to be compromised within project management are time, quality or cost.

The article explores how project managers can manage compromise, strategies and tactics to use and how to weigh up the cost of implementation.

The full article can be read here.

Controversy, “cool factor” and great pizza have been key ingredients in the development of the highly successful company who have now successfully entered  Asia – opening stores in Seoul, Korea after already making a significant impact on the New Zealand market.

The International development of the brand has been steady with franchises in India, Ireland and Australia.

The Dominion Post, Nelson Mail and the Manawatu Standard  recently ran a page dominant article on HELL Pizza, talking with the founder Stu McMullin. You can read the online version here of the Dominion Post version.

While New Zealanders often view themselves as active, outdoorsy people, a recent study has found that many Kiwis’ feel unhappy with their health.

The survey, conducted by AIA NZ, looked at 10,200 people’s lifestyle habits across 15 Asia Pacific nations. Individual’s satisfaction with their own health and the way they practiced healthy living, were examined. Of the 403 Kiwi’s surveyed, 91% said they wanted to do more to improve their health. Both ‘better quality of life’ and ‘mental health’ featured as main motivators for exercise.

Common health concerns found across the board were issues around lack of sleep, insufficient exercise and carrying extra weight. 72% of Kiwi’s surveyed felt they would like to loose some weight.

Articles exploring the findings featured in both The New Zealand Herald and The Rotorua Daily Post.

An extract below. Read more in the New Zealand Management Magazine:

“Lately our executive search company SEQEL Partners has been working with New Zealand Trade and Enterprise on how to solve the succession problem for business owners, an issue that has occupied my colleagues and business acquaintances for a number of years. Of particular urgency is the matter of the lack of leaders to succeed baby boomers in the New Zealand market.

In observing the market, it’s obvious that the famous line about business owners wanting ‘the boat, the bach and the BMW’ is outdated. The new, post-GFC paradigm is ‘bought, burned or buried’. That is, owners sitting around waiting for a buyer with a fat cheque are out of luck. Rather, their options in the new environment are the following:

• Bought – For the very good businesses (<10% of the market) that are always positioned as ready for sale, there will be opportunities for them to be sold to competitor organisations in the same sector. The private-equity-backed businesses and the effective business leaders who are prepared to invest in acquisitions and market consolidations are likely to be in acquisition mode over the next three to five years. However, they will be acquiring businesses for much lower earnings multiples than were prevalent in the mid-2000s, pre-GFC. The PEs that were paid in that period were fuelled by cheap access to large levels of debt, which is now no longer available.

• Burned – In our observation, most business owners are going to get ‘burned off’ by businesses that are well advised, probably involve private equity, and have smart, independent board members and very effective executive teams. These businesses will burn off a large number of participants in each market sector by simply being better led, better managed, more agile, and more effective and active users of technology – GPS, CRM systems, successful eCommerce and more. Many business owners of medium-sized organisations which are smaller participants in their sector will be burned off by more effective operators.

• Buried – Many businesses will die with the owner, leaving their families very little financial legacy, and a broken or broke business – and potentially a load of issues to resolve. While it might seem a sensible idea to potentially wind a business down by not investing and failing to grow in favour of the immediate return of a comfortable lifestyle, our opinion is that the upshot is in fact an uncomfortable one for the dependents of a business.

Featured on TV3 6PM news – spectacular floats, popular characters and a buzz of Christmas cheer ushered in the 2011 Christchurch Santa Parade, and put smiles on thousands of children’s faces. The parade at 2pm on Sunday 4 December l marked the events 64th year. While taking a different route, the parade was equally as thrilling, as a quarter of Christchurch’s population  lined the streets and share in the festivities.

The events of the past 12 months have meant several changes in and around Christchurch, including the famous CBD route of the Santa Parade. With funding harder to find this year, The Palms came on board to ensure this iconic event is still on the calendar for 2011.

The Palms shopping centre manager, Keryn Ward, is thrilled the parade is still going ahead this year and proud to be collaborating with other Christchurch businesses to sponsor this year’s Santa Parade.

“We are very happy to be able to support the parade and ensure the children in our community still have this exciting event to look forward to. The Santa Parade has become an iconic family event in Christchurch that is a great way to welcome in the Christmas season,” she says.

The Palms’ Beach Hut themed float was a magnificent sight, complete with palm trees.

Following the fun and festivities of the Santa Parade, The Palms  will host a special ’12 Hours of Christmas’ shopping event, on Thursday 8 December. All those who make a purchase of $50 or more on the day could enter to win a family holiday to the Gold Coast. The winner will be announced by a live draw in-centre at 9pm that evening. The winner must be present to claim their prize.

The ’12 Hours of Christmas’ day promises to be an event for all of the family with live music, entertainment and exclusive discounts throughout the centre so shoppers can get a head start and enjoy their Christmas shopping experience.

Keryn Ward says, “It has been a challenging year for the people of Christchurch and The Palms, so we want to give our community a special treat while shopping this Christmas. The ’12 Hours of Christmas’ day will be a fun way for the community to do their Christmas shopping.”

There will be complimentary wine, food tastings, live music and plenty of festive cheer.

For more information about the ’12 Hours of Christmas’ day and other Christmas events at The Palms, check the website: www.thepalms.co.nz. Also, for more information on the Christchurch Santa Parade, check the website: www.christchurchsantaparade.co.nz.

ends

For further information:
Alexander Communications
Laura Burns
021 259 3242
laura@alexandercomms.co.nz

About The Palms
The Palms Shopping Centre in Shirley (four kilometres from the Christchurch CBD), is an asset in the AMP Capital Shopping Centre Fund (ASCF). The Fund has 11 properties under management with a total fund size of over AU$2 billion.

The article looks at the facility and the positive growth it will bring to small and medium sized food manufacturers. The FoodBowl provides New Zealand food developers with access to cutting edge food and beverage manufacturing technology. Pilot testing is usually reserved for larger food manufacturers due to the high costs involved; however, the new FoodBowl facility makes testing more accessible.

As well as providing leading equipment, FoodBowl has the certifications necessary to export products, opening up a whole new market for many food manufacturers.

The facility was endorsed by the government who are fully behind the company’s goal of growing food manufacturing exports by 270 percent in 2025.

The FoodBowl in Auckland has been set up by the New-Zealand Food Innovation Network and is one of four planned hubs to be set up around New Zealand.

Click here to read the full article as it appeared in Exporter magazine.