Taranaki Business Review
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Spring Edition 2016 Taranaki Business Review From the CEO, Looking after each other Spring 2016 The remarkable story of Jamie Allen is already well known in Taranaki, but it’s worth reminding ourselves of the journey Welcome to the Spring edition of your that ended up with him and wife Suzy establishing a retreat quarterly Chamber of Commerce business at 517 Hurford Rd. magazine. It’s a retreat with a diff erence. There’s no touchy feely stuff , nor In 2016 there’s been a lot of positive change is it connected with the church he has had such a long and occurring at the Chamber of Commerce. high-profi le association with. Internally we have upgraded our CRM and Accounting systems and software. We have re Rather, it is a genuine and intensely personal attempt to fi ll the focused our team to ensure they are supporting our members and void that currently exists by providing a suicide prevention creating fi rst class events which will culminate in the prestigious initiative and to provide a safe haven for people in crisis, both TSB Bank Taranaki Chamber of Commerce Business Excellence individuals and families, to stay for up to three weeks, free Awards evening on November 5. of charge, “During that time they can begin to work through what might make a diff erence long-term to their situation. The New Plymouth franchisee had been hired to build the This is, of course, in addition to our constant core values of This will include access to all kinds of support, from there- retreat, plans were drawn up, but Jamie and Suzy were left TARANAKI CHAMBER OF COMMERCE providing Advocacy and Representation for Taranaki businesses on in, including counselling, medical support, debt-relief or with nothing more than a concrete foundation for the guest 42 Egmont Street, PO Box 2, New Plymouth 4310 both locally and at a national level and through our global assistance with housing,’’ says Jamie. lodge to show for their eff orts. PH: +64 6 759 9080 I www.taranakichamber.co.nz network. The Taranaki Chamber of Commerce has long advocated for, and But let’s not get ahead of ourselves. After much negotiation, they were fi nally given the go-ahead more recently worked with, the four councils in our region. We by the liquidators to use the plans the company had drawn up CEO The English couple arrived in New Plymouth in 2010 when Richard Williams I [email protected] I 027 440 4774 have consistently urged the New Plymouth District Council, the for the retreat. Stratford District Council, the South Taranaki District Council and Jamie became the fi rst Dean of the Taranaki Cathedral Church the Taranaki Regional Council to adopt a common, collaborative of St Mary. So now it’s full steam ahead with the goal of opening the PARTNERSHIP DEVELOPMENT MANAGER and unifi ed strategic approach to those issues, projects and retreat before Christmas this year, with Hoff mans Builders Maura Young I [email protected] I 027 416 0444 services that aff ect our region and its economy. All went well until October last year, when the decision taking over the building. was made to indefi nitely close the church, for earthquake MEMBERSHIP DEVELOPMENT MANAGER With change now in the air for our elected councillors, the strengthening. “I am committed to the Taranaki Retreat as a suicide prevention Rebecca Johnson I [email protected] I 021 778 621 Taranaki Chamber issued to all the candidates standing in the initiative. There were some terrible losses to suicide over Local Government Elections, the following ‘manifesto’ on behalf In the aftermath of the Christchurch earthquakes it was Christmas and New Year and I believe that the Retreat will of not only our members but for all our regions businesses. We classifi ed signifi cantly hazardous. make a diff erence, and needs to. EVENTS DIRECTOR want a thriving economy across all sectors, and this focus for Bob Anderson I [email protected] I 027 752 7044 newly elected councillors will go a long way to enabling this to Jamie resigned in April, and said at the time: “I am simply ’’Christmas can be a very challenging time for families, so happen. See page 12. not the person to see through a lengthy remediation project we’re very keen to be open by then. We’re constantly getting CLIENT SERVICE SUPPORT on a building. My heart is with the lost and the least in our Richard Williams, CEO enquiries from people about their loved ones being able to Abbie White I [email protected] I 027 613 0268 community.’’ come and stay at the retreat. RECEPTIONIST Front Cover photo Jamie and Suzy suff ered a personal tragedy when one of their “If someone they love is depressed or attempted suicide, they Jessica Parker l [email protected] daughters, Carrie, died of cancer, but far from shaking their know they need help. We get requests every week. I try and Taken by Nicholson Photography and Camera Centre in Hawera, the faith, it served to reinforce their desire to do the right thing for photo captures the spirit of the Hawera central business district and suggest alternatives, but there is an unmanageable volume BARA COORDINATOR has as a backdrop the town’s iconic water tower. the community. for our community.” And that, is the whole point of the retreat. Michelle Brennan I [email protected] I 021 710 950 Fiona and Calvin Nicholson own the long-standing family business Jamie explains: “We’d benefi ted from some time on a retreat They are fi lling a vacuum that exists in our society. and are South Taranaki’s Top Shop award winner for 2016. ourselves at Ronald McDonald House at Starship Hospital. YOUNG ENTERPRISE SCHEME COORDINATOR They were thrilled that their photography shop was recognised after “We were really struck by the generosity of the hosts and the Jamie and Suzy have given all they’ve got, and now just need Miranda Williams I [email protected] I 027 751 5100 34 years in Hawera and are naturally delighted their hard work has incredible compassion shown to us, they understood totally. It a little help from good people. paid off . was amazing, incredibly healing. BOARD MEMBERS They are well known to Chamber members and were popular winners And that’s where the Taranaki business community can do its bit. Chair – Sophie Braggins, Strategy Collective of the South Taranaki category of TSB Taranaki Top Shop awards. They “So we thought we could do something better with our lives now go through to the Business Awards night on November 5 as one and give more back. ‘’ The Taranaki Retreat Trust is a registered charitable trust. Jamie Vice Chair – Heather Lucas, Mediaworks Taranaki of the three fi nalists to win the coveted overall award. is the project co-ordinator, (unpaid) and Suzy is the project administrator (also unpaid). Cameron Twigley – BTW Company The other two are, Central Taranaki Automotive and Mode Hair And indeed they are. Design (North Taranaki) . They sold their family home and used the money to buy Charles Duke – TSB Bank Customer service is important to the Nicholsons. They work in a fast- the Hurford Rd property to establish a retreat. But to build A GREAT OFFER FOR CHAMBER MEMBERS Daniel Fleming – King and Queen Hotel Suites paced, ever-changing industry where their services are dictated by what the customer wants. the retreat and create the tranquil Find out more about the retreat on October 19, at a 7am David Leuthart – Timberco The judges’ comments on Nicholson’s business included: “Printing surroundings that were needed breakfast get-together at the Devon Hotel. There’s a short would cost considerably more than Gaylene Findlay – BDO Taranaki documents was quick and easy with assistance from the friendly address from Jamie, who is an entertaining speaker, and a two staff . Product knowledge was excellent and demonstrated great they could manage. minute video on the retreat and that’s it. Network with like- Shane Devlin – Graphix Explosion practical experience when explaining the diff erent style of lenses minded people who care about the community. and mirrorless camera technology.’’ A trust of like-minded people was formed and the vision started to “Many thanks to Rosemary and Peter Tennent, who donated Editor: Gordon Brown - Get it write! become a reality. They eff ectively the venue and are sponsoring breakfast as part of their support Advertise in this magazine. www.writingservicesltd.co.nz lost three months when Stonewood for the Retreat. What a couple they are.” Contact: [email protected] Design & Print: Graphix Explosion Homes were put into receivership The cost: $15 a head, or $10 for Chamber members. www.graphix.co.nz and then wound up. Please register by October 12: [email protected] 2 3 TSB, your business bank New faces at the top of Van Dycks “But we’ve seen a need for us to provide a more specialised After a chance meeting with Noel Yarrow at an international The popular Marcel’s pancakes and crepes will still be found service for some of our customers.’’ food fair, Belgian couple Inge Vercammen and Marcel Naenen in the bakery section of the supermarkets - packaged in the took Noel’s advice and shifted to New Plymouth in 2000. bags. National Manager of Business Banking Aaron Brownlee reinforces that point. By July 2000 Van Dyck Fine Foods was manufacturing their With Rafael now living in New Plymouth, Inge and Marcel can popular range of Marcel’s pancakes and crepes at Bell Block.