Blossoming with care

A newly opened childcare centre in the Mount
holds true to its philosophy of creating authentic, inspiring early childhood experiences.

Words Catherine Sylvester 

Alisha Merriman had a clear vision of exactly what gap she wanted to fill when creating an early childhood education centre. She knew, not only because of her many years as a teacher in this sector, but also firsthand, as a mother of two young children. What she envisioned was a unique learning environment for children and their whānau, where they could thrive, grow and learn. 

Bloesem (“Blossom”) –  a nod to Alisha’s Dutch heritage – is precisely what the centre believes its tāmariki will do. Backed by research highlighting the importance of environment being pivotal to learning, the centre has a calming feel to it. Walls are painted in neutral colours, with spaces left uncluttered. “Aesthically pleasing environments enhance the children’s learning journey,” Alisha explains. 

By creating physical spaces that are enriching for children to learn and grow in, Alisha and her team share their passion for creating inspiring new experiences daily. The team carefully create a teaching plan together, incorporating invitations to play based on suggestions from the children. Their aim is to instil a love of learning in their community.

With the first Bloesem opening in Te Puke in April 2019, the team have taken the time to firmly establish their vision and strong relationships with the children, whānau and staff. A high priority for Alisha is that they stay true to the “why” of Bloesem, and that means ensuring the right team of people working together to uphold the vision, philosophy and consistency of the centre. “Keeping it authentic is so important,” says Alisha.

“At Bloesem, children and whānau are part of a nurturing, caring, joyful, tranquil environment.” 

The Te Puke centre has thrived, despite the unexpected arrival of a global pandemic less than a year after opening. So when a spacious site opened up in Alisha’s own neighbourhood, the Mount, she knew it was the perfect time to expand the vision and provide another community with the inspiring Bloesem way of early childhood learning. 

Opened in August, Bloesem Mount Maunganui also carries the vision statement: “Value and honour whanaungatanga, taiao, rangatiratanga which reflects the good of reciprocal relationships, for the good of the environment and for the good of growing self-confidence.”

With a strong philosophy and a growing need for more quality early childhood education centres, Bloesem is sure of its identity and what it offers the communities it is part of. 

bloesem.co.nz

The big squeeze

Are rising interest rates and low capitalisation rates making you nervous?
Owen Cooney from OC Consulting advises investors on how to withstand “yield squeeze”.

Photo Jahl Marshall

Commercial property has been a passion of mine for decades, but the economic environment we are all accustomed to operating in is changing.

For as long as I can remember, there has been a differential between the interest rate paid on mortgage debt and the yield (or capitalisation rate) received from a property. However, with interest rates now rising, the cost of debt will soon be similar to, if not greater, than the capitalisation rates a commercial property can reasonably generate.

In recent years it has been common to use debt to increase yield to an investor because that debt was so cheap. But thanks to inflationary pressures and rising interest rates, investor yields are being squeezed – and will continue to be squeezed until the market adjusts. 

These comments are, of course, a generalisation. There are always markets where some purchasers will happily accept a very low capitalisation rate for a particular property. It’s also worth pointing out that investors who don’t need to take on debt to purchase a commercial property will not feel that same squeeze!

But the investor collectives we help set up at OC Consultancy Ltd do use non-recourse debt and will continue to do so. Instead of leveraging a property at 45 percent to 50 percent of LVR, we now intend to leverage at around 30 percent to ensure the smoothest path forward as New Zealand’s Reserve Bank battles to bring inflation back under control. 

In our post-pandemic climate, there’s no escaping yield squeeze for the foreseeable future. But our message to investors is this – yields are only one factor that should be considered when making an investment decision.

You may be familiar with the advice of Warren Buffett regarding investment as a long-term game. Buffett famously said, “If you aren’t willing to own a stock for 10 years, don’t even think about owning it for 10 minutes.” Unfortunately, in our recent bull market, this message has been forgotten by many.

In the commercial property context, our focus is on securing long-term leases with good quality tenants and covenants. This, coupled with robust rent review mechanisms, is the best way to protect your investment from the effects of inflation and yield squeeze.

To be a successful property investor, you must look beyond what’s happening right now and see what is most likely to occur in the future.

We are confident that good commercial property will stand the test of time and be resilient. Just like any other investment, you must be prepared to weather the ups and downs of each economic cycle and keep your eyes firmly on the horizon of what’s to come. 

The right building, with the right tenant and the right lease arrangements in place, will always be profitable in the long run. 

occ.nz

Bella Italia

Impressive and imposing, this Italian-styled home brings a taste of the Mediterranean to Tauranga.

Words Jo Ferris

Sharing more in common with some of the finest estates on Waiheke Island or Auckland’s blue-chip suburbs of Herne Bay and Remuera, the fact this prestigious property even exists here in Tauranga is testament to its owners’ foresight and belief in the district’s future. This home will defy time
– and remain as rock solid as it stands today – long into the future.

This home’s design, construction and innate essence are born from the Italian aristocratic palazzos it pays homage to. Solid concrete – including internal walls – construction and quality finish throughout totally belies any initial perception some buyers could be forgiven for thinking, according to Oliver Road’s Cam Winter.

Viewing is essential – if only to confirm the extent of this home’s magnitude. On the surface, the epic design and unique finish extols the Italian penchant for grandeur. Beneath all this however, the home hides well-considered attention to the fundamentals of a warm, healthy environment.

It epitomises the Mediterranean appreciation of family and nourishment. Togetherness feeds the soul - and this home instils that village philosophy in every conceivable way. Layered – like family – it revolves around the main household. This is magnanimous, and caters for crowds as effortlessly as it does for intimate dinners for a few. From here, the house embraces inter-generational unity with two individual, self-contained suites. The largest provides a two-bedroom apartment on the upper level. The second is a New York style one-bedroom apartment cleverly built into the basement level. Separate living for elders or extended members with children – together, yet independent.

Being multi-faceted, this home’s capacity for accommodating staff is also brilliant – from groundspeople to nannies or private tutors. A property of stature that also lends to boutique accommodation or an intimate function venue. Entertaining inside or out, the focus revolves around nurture and nourishment. It’s easy to envision long, lazy lunches outside, or lingering dinner parties in the soaring luxury of the banquet hall inside.

Such status personifies the luxury of international grand homes and estates often featured on TV programmes and in exclusive magazines. And deservedly so. Seen firsthand, the quality here is clearly apparent – from the concrete construction to the interior finish that mixes genuine Italian materials with exquisite New Zealand and accents. It is an intricate fusion of ancient Mediterranean heritage with hi-tech innovation and engineering ingenuity. Safely guarded behind gated security, within nearly an acre, this haven ensures seclusion and solace, protection, and privacy. Manicured gardens and courtyard corners, topiary pathways and sloping lawns,
a heated pool for year-round leisure, a spa for added bliss – it is the quintessential lifestyle.

Cam Winter notes that its relative length of time-on-market can be almost entirely attributed to perception, both with respect to its construction (given Tauranga’s and New Zealand’s unfortunate “leaky home era”), which this property sits so far beyond – not only in age (built 2008) but also in the reality of its solid-concrete construction. Possibly also some concern about the future Takitimu North Link. 

Now under construction and, with clear evidence of what will eventuate on Waka Kotahi, NZTA’s website, far away from producing any audible impact on this property, the highway will actually improve surrounding traffic and shorten distances to key arterial connections including shortening the distances both into Tauranga’s CBD and north towards Auckland. The scenic beauty of Wairoa Valley will remain, and its uninterrupted west-facing aspect will continue to produce magnificent afternoon sunshine which become romantic late-evening sunsets. With only 14 neighbours spaced in their own settings, life in this elite enclave can only improve. 

5 Sunny Downs Drive, Tauriko

Oliverroadestateagents.com        

Back to the future

A lifetime of adventure and careers abroad has seen Jason Eves return to a family-focused BOP lifestyle and a professional role that offers challenge, reward and an outlet for excellence.

Words Jo Ferris

When it comes to Tauranga, I can’t help but connect with the idiom “born and bred”. Born in Tauranga Hospital and a pupil of Tauranga Primary School, Tauranga Intermediate and finally Tauranga Boys’ College, the main homes of my childhood were on Grace Road and Eleventh Avenue. I still very much connect
with these areas, having recently moved back to Grace Road late last year.

I met my wife Abigail at a conference while living in Auckland and working as national sales manager for the Animal Health division of Pfizer Pharmaceuticals. Abigail at the time was a key accounts manager based in Wellington. About eight months into a long-distance relationship, she joined me in Auckland and moved into a licensing executive role at TVNZ.

In our mid-thirties I had already lived five years overseas in Australia and the UK, but Abigail was keen to travel, so we picked up sticks and sailed off on an adventure. After varying directorship and management roles centred around high value assets and property in North America, we returned to New Zealand 12 years and one three-year-old daughter later.

Our decision to return to New Zealand was largely centred around our daughter, Harper, who is now seven years old and enjoying the same school playground that I did back in the 70s. We also wanted the lifestyle that Tauranga could provide for our family, and were excited by the opportunity to properly reconnect with family and friends who had remained in, or had also returned to, the Bay of Plenty.

Oliver Road is very much a family business. While it doesn’t bear the surnames of my business partner Cam Winter, nor mine (as was the case with my father Max Eves, who established EVES Real Estate in the late 60s,) we are personally connected to everything it stands for: The company’s values, reputation, level of service and outcomes delivered for clients are all reflective and representative of who we are. For us, Oliver Road was about rethinking and rebuilding the entire approach to selling real estate from the ground up, starting with a clear understanding of just how significantly technology and lifestyles have changed since the standard industry platform was established. Every field has had to deal with faster delivery of larger volumes of information, and we’ve all needed to specialise in order to contend with this ever-evolving landscape.

Narrowing our focus, increasing our level of understanding, and deepening our knowledge grows our capacity to deliver improved outcomes.
By looking inward and taking the time and space to explore our insights, we can question what we’ve previously done or held true – and then we can develop hypotheses, apply changes, and pave our own way forward. I think this best sums up Oliver Road’s journey so far.

At Oliver Road, we don’t have a phalanx of salespeople or subscribe to the “bigger is better” philosophy. Rather, we instead support our clients, customers, and outcomes by adding roles that enhance the single service we offer. Every decision we make about how to structure our business, including those people we select to join the Oliver Road family, is born out of our desire to constantly evolve and improve our specialist endeavour. We are dedicated to offering our clients an alternative, and are excited about what the future of real estate will bring.

oliverroadestateagents.com

Days to treasure

When someone’s life is to be tragically cut short by illness, it takes a special kind of person to reach out and gift a day full of magic for them and their family. This is precisely what Melanie Quin was inspired to do and now she has a vision to make this a choice for as many people as possible - so that life’s magical moments can be celebrated to the very end.

Words Nicky Adams / Photos Jahl Marshall + supplied

The idea of a bucket list is born of the belief that there will be the opportunity at some point to complete it. However, for some, blindsided by terminal illness, time is a luxury that is tragically snatched away. Melanie Quin believes in celebrating life, and for those who have had their timeframe shortened, she has created the concept of A Day Of Magic, where dreams come true. 

For founder Melanie, the idea of starting a charity happened unexpectedly. In August 2019 she was touched to the core when she heard some devastating news about a local woman she remembered from college. “Out of the blue, I caught wind of the news of Kristie. When I heard she had four weeks left to live, I couldn’t even comprehend it. I called her and I asked if there was something she wished she could have done if she had more time. She said she would love to fly in a helicopter.”

This felt achievable, so Melanie set about making it happen. Except that she didn’t just stop at a helicopter ride. Working for three days and nights straight, she organised an experience for Kristie’s husband and children that also included a limousine, launch, lunch, a room at Twin Towers, an afternoon at Eagle Ridge with family and friends and an intimate gig with Tiki Taane. Oh, and a photographer and videographer to boot. The joy that this experience brought to Kristie, her family and indeed Melanie was something that left Melanie with the unshakable feeling that this was something that everyone in similar situations deserved to experience.

Since registering as a charity in August 2020, growth has been organic. Melanie has had five applicants and rolled out five equally thoughtful, beautiful events – among them a fishing charter, yachting experience, and time at Waihi Beach. She is now entering what she considers ‘Stage Two’ where she plans to take the concept to a whole new level, with a national reach. Melanie combines thoroughness with compassion, vision and a ‘make it happen’ attitude. Her business background enables her to operate effectively entirely on her own, and with no charge for her time, she relies on the backing of sponsors to roll out her plans. She has recently taken on a premises which will serve as both a base and an income stream for A Day Of Magic. Her plan is to find backers who share her vision.

When it comes to the wishes that she has so far granted, the experiences have been heartwarming. “People’s requests are incredibly modest. When I get the enquiry, I have a call with the person and tell them to go and talk to loved ones and think about what in their life has made them sparkle. So far no one has asked for anything extreme. If they do, I’m open to it – anything is possible I believe.”

The modest requests, Melanie reiterates, are a common thread: people don’t ask for the moon, just for things that resonate with them and their loved ones. Melanie has been blown away by the generosity of the companies she has reached out to along the way – and she is heartened by the knowledge that although she is the one physically making it happen, there’s a whole raft of people out there that believe in what she’s doing and want to help her do it.

It is this that spurs Melanie on and fuels her belief that with the right help she will be able to keep that magic happening. 

Adayofmagic.org.nz

Honouring memories

Jono Gibson of Cambridge Funerals believes funerals are for the living, and the industry is becoming more innovative every day.

Sharing a person’s life story and keeping their memory alive is what funeral director, Jono Gibson, likes best about his job. “It’s an honour to tell someone’s story. You don’t get a second chance, so it’s important it’s done right.” 

Jono’s interest in the funeral industry was first piqued in his early 20s, when he lost a good friend to a car accident. “The funeral process was new to me. It was very sad, but also fascinating. I spent time wondering about the journey my friend had taken from being in the car, to lying in a casket in front of me. I filed that in the back of my mind as something I’d like to investigate one day.”

After spending the first decade of his career in the radio business and sales, Jono eventually took some annual leave and spent a week doing work experience at a funeral home.

“When I joined the funeral industry in 2013, TV shows like Six Feet Under had glorifed it. A lot of people were entering the industry, but it’s a job you really need to be passionate about.  You soon learn if you’re cut out for it. Thankfully, I was.”  

Today, Jono is the funeral director at Cambridge Funerals in Cambridge, Waikato. Owned by Tauranga’s Legacy Trust, the Cambridge branch has recently been modernised, refurbished and will soon be renamed in keeping with the Legacy brand. Legacy Funerals has plans to expand further into the Waikato this year too, with a new office in Hamilton.

Jono offers the Cambridge community the same compassionate care that Legacy Funerals is known for. And like its sister company in Tauranga, profits from the business are gifted back to the local Cambridge community.  

For Jono it’s the people, the families of those who have passed on, that make the job rewarding. “I believe the funeral service is for the living; the people who are left behind. Making funeral services really special and memorable for them is my aim.”

Thankfully, Jono says, the industry is becoming more innovative, so a service and the venue can feel more personalised. Alongside the newly renovated Cambridge funeral home, the world is your oyster when it comes to places to hold a funeral with Legacy Funerals.

“Instead of a traditional church service, people now are choosing to farewell their loved ones in different ways. I’ve organised several funerals on the beach, services held at wedding venues, a hearse driving a lap of a horse racetrack, and arranged for an opera singer to sing hymns at one funeral so attendees didn’t feel pressured to. Making the whole process unique and relevant to the person concerned and their family is what matters most.”

Legacyfunerals.co.nz

Will Johnston

Will Johnston vows to keep it cool. It took some matrimonial mayhem to inspire Will to become a celebrant himself. Cringeworthy, cookie cutter nuptials? Awkward side eyes in the aisles? Not on his watch!

I pride myself on not being a boring old lady dressed in a curtain, adorned with some form of floral headdress, spouting love metaphors like I’m channelling Mr Darcy. 

Allow me to give you some context on this. I have three celebrants to thank (or blame, depending on how you look at it) for becoming a celebrant myself. They are the three who ran the weddings of mates of mine all over one memorable summer a few years back.

Culprit one, mid-ceremony, broke into prayer, followed sharply with a hymn – high-pitched and solo – at a wedding that the couple specifically requested be free of religion.

The second spent the entire ceremony calling the groom Max. His name is Matt. 

And the third opened the ceremony with the words, “Love is like a river…”. That’s where I tuned out. I couldn’t tell you a word of the rest of it. She also got in the car with the bride when she arrived and asked “if she was sure she wanted to go through with it.” Then said, “It’s not too late to back out”. Read the room, lady!

Don’t get me wrong, I’m sure that there are many who haven’t been taken with the untraditional diatribe I spout as a celebrant. But I’ve never sung a hymn at an atheist wedding. 

On the contrary, we are living in the Bay of Plenty of exceptional celebrants. I’m constantly blown away by the great people who get into the wedding industry full stop, actually. And the vastly experienced vendors that have constantly evolved with ever-moving wedding trends. 

There is one concept that I have held as gospel over the years I’ve been a celebrant: It’s such an honour to be invited to marry a couple, you owe it to them to not make it like every other ceremony they’ve been to. You must do something different every ceremony.

I remember doing a ceremony in Rarotonga a few years ago for some friends and there was a celebrant there who had three ceremonies to choose from. As in you pick one, write your names at the top and the bottom and it was done. Literally the definition of ‘insert your name here’. Seems a shame for such an idyllic setting.

Speaking of idyllic settings, the BOP has had a hell of a time over the last few years when it comes to weddings. Imagine buying a wedding venue, getting it all up to scratch ready for the summer ahead and then all of a sudden, it’s a global pandemic, the borders are shut, no one is allowed to leave their regions and there’s a 10-person limit at weddings. I’d cancel it too! 

I have a couple I’m going to be celebrant for at the end of 2023. They were supposed to get married on the first day of the first lockdown a few years ago. They rebooked right as we all got locked down again. And then again when the regional palaver kicked in. So they’ve just rebooked for two years’ time… Surely?!

At the end of every season, I look back on the weddings I’ve been part of and the people I’ve met over that time. There’s always a sentiment I feel at that point. It’s different at the end of every season, much like every wedding is different. But this last season was really one of thankfulness. If nothing else, the weird Covid world we’ve inhabited the last few years has given us perspective on when to be thankful. 

If you’re going to have literally the most expensive party of your lives, you may as well start it with a few laughs. If you’re getting married sometime soon, make sure you tell the person you’re using as a celebrant that. Otherwise, you might get a hymn-signing, curtain-clad lady. Ain’t no one got time for that, especially when there’s an open bar waiting! 

@radiowill

A will to give

The Acorn Foundation hands over millions every year to deserving community projects. But, what sets them apart from many other charities, is that they’ve succeeded in creating an innovative way to ensure their precious donors’ money is a gift that keeps on giving.

Words Nicky Adams / Photos supplied

Established 19 years ago, the Acorn Foundation may have started as a seed of an idea, but fast forward to now, and it’s grown into a whopping, solid oak. As with anything, it’s important to be innovative to succeed, and whilst Acorn is often known as the charity that many people donate to via their will, corporate giving is a vital part of the donation system. It is through this avenue that Farmer Autovillage, to celebrate its 30th anniversary, has chosen to support the Acorn Foundation. The Farmer Autovillage programme is a scholarship aimed at helping school leavers put funds towards tertiary education to be run at Mount Maunganui, Papamoa and Te Puke colleges, and implemented for the first time this year.

As a community organisation, Acorn Foundation is based upon the concept of place-based giving. CEO Lori Luke explains: “The way Acorn is different is the whole idea of the perpetuity model – our capital is invested – Craigs is our partner, and what we distribute is a percentage of the returns. That makes us different from a standard charity that’s raising money on an annual basis. The perpetuity model is a powerful one.” Essentially this is a way of donating to your community via a charity that invests the funds on your behalf. The dividends are then passed on to the charities of your choice, meaning that it’s not just donors that have grown over the years, but also the funds – unbelievably, there is currently almost $60 million under management.

Lori Luke continues: “We’ve grown really rapidly. Historically, we were always known as the organisation that gifts in a will – that’s still our primary business – but there’s a lot more living giving now, and all sorts of other ways to do it, such as small groups and corporate giving, which is how Farmer Autovillage came to us.”

While primarily centred on Western Bay of Plenty, Acorn does help donors nationally. Indeed, as well as other scholarships and awards, it distributes the prestigious Jann Medlicott prize for fiction. However, it’s the local stories that resonate the most, such as that of The Eva Trowbridge Scholarship, says Lori. “Eva left money locally to support adult learners – that’s been going for 15 years – Eva was a cleaner at the hospital and saved her coins and those coins have helped 15 women finish school. The one thing that a lot of people think is that you must be very wealthy to give back to a community. To be honest most of our donors are very humble people who just want to make a difference.”

With Acorn, everyone chooses what they want to support – some will leave their money unrestricted, but about 60 % of the money is tagged which means either specific charities or a field of interest like animals or the environment can be supported. “We have an anonymous donor who donates swimming lessons because he lost a child at age four to a drowning accident, so he now pays for two or three entire schools to get swimming lessons.” Another inspirational donation comes via a gift from the Roy and Mary McGowan estate, which has enabled the launch of a Vital Signs Youth Report. “They didn’t have children of their own but had a huge interest in the wellbeing of young people. We have a big initiative in the youth space at the moment. That will be a strong focus – the idea of helping young people in this region to live lives that they value and smoothing the path to adulthood.”

However, Lori points out that over the last six or seven years, the focus has moved to living giving, so that donors can give money while they’re alive “that way they can see where it’s going and who its helping – and they get a tax credit!” With 99% of the money remaining within the charity, the amount of work from volunteers and the team is incredible. Lori is herself from a business background, and grateful for the opportunity to be a part of it all. “I’m at a point in my life where giving something back is tremendously personally beneficial so it’s a fantastic job. All of us involved are very privileged because we really feel like we can make a difference. Over the years heaps of community people have put their hands up to help Acorn succeed.”

And succeed it certainly has – with Acorn seeing some important milestones over the last couple of years – it has given to more than 200 causes, passed the $50million mark in funds under management, this year distributed $2million for the first time, and given $10million in total over the life of the foundation. That’s one mighty Acorn all right.

acornfoundation.org.nz

farmerautovillage.co.nz

Smooth ride

Fancy a road trip? Douglas and Heather Stewart took in the South Island’s stunning autumn foliage in their brand-new EV.

Words Jo Ferris / Photos Jahl Marshall

Douglas and Heather Stewart’s transition from their petrol Toyota RAV to a Lexus EV might have begun knowing Lexus is the luxury brand within Toyota’s stable. Their decision to buy a Lexus, however, involved learning about EVs – then driving one around the South Island soon after.

After 45 years overseas, the couple came home for their final retirement phase. Settling in Katikati in March 2019, and aware of the move towards clean cars, Heather says they “wanted to do their bit”. She was quite happy, however, that Douglas did the research.

While the technology, terminology, and types of low-emission vehicles can be confusing, Douglas learned quickly. Having looked at hybrids, it was full EV or nothing. Then it simply boiled down to brand.

Looking across the board, nothing else but Lexus stood out. It wasn’t until a Tauranga dealership opened in June 2021 that the Stewarts took the next step.

”We saw the first demo in November, went for a test drive, and ordered one straightaway.”

Although an “EV virgin”, Douglas was smitten. The Lexus doesn’t top the price range, but the UX300e Limited SUV still had all the bells and whistles. It was the capacity, comfort, and safety the Stewarts really liked.

So much so that, within weeks of getting their car in March, they were off to explore the South Island’s autumnal glory. Comfortable with the car’s mileage capacity, Douglas planned their trip around charging stations – an aspect he cannot stress enough. That even includes booking accommodation that offers charging.

New Zealand’s growing range of charging stations made the trip easy. It was a major journey – some 4300 kms; leaving Katitkati for a night at their favourite Creel Lodge in Turangi, then to Wellington and the ferry. In three weeks, the Stewarts travelled from Picton to Te Anau, Wanaka and Geraldine; up to Hanmer Springs, Murchison, Nelson; back to Picton and the ferry for a final night at Turangi.

A huge effort by anyone’s standards – let alone in an EV, bought just weeks prior. The only hiccup occurred on the way to Murchison. With no charging facilities in Hanmer, the plan was to top up in Murchison to make Nelson. Douglas hadn’t allowed for rain, wipers, and lights – and the subsequent power reduction. AA membership is handy at times.

As to cost, Douglas estimates the journey was under a third of his petrol car. Charging at home is also minimal compared with the alternative petrol outlay. Otherwise, it’s a trip to a rapid charger nearby, when out shopping. While his Lexus battery is guaranteed for eight years, Douglas believes ongoing research will reduce degradation, lighten their weight, and  improve disposal.

EVs may still be cost-prohibitive to many right now, but Douglas believes they are the future, and he cannot praise Lexus Tauranga enough.

“Would I buy an EV again? Most certainly,” he says. “Would it be a Lexus? Absolutely. And would I buy in Tauranga? No doubt about it.”

Good to know

Douglas says the Lexus UX300e Limited SUV has a number of features that made their road trip a (mostly) smooth success.

• 360km (approx), 300km (average) capacity 

• 7.5s acceleration (0-100km/hr)

• Road stability and road handling

• Weight distribution of battery pack and sectional componentry  

• 360-degree camera in the console

• Cruise control 

• Triple-brake configuration 

• Pre-collision system with visual and audio alerts 

• Brake assist system with automatic application in an emergency

Douglas’ top tips

• Top up to 80 percent. The final 20 percent takes longer to charge than the 80 percent.

• A full three-point plug charge takes 16 to 18 hours. Rapid is about one hour and 10 minutes.

• Join ChargeNet for access to more than 250 fast-charge stations in New Zealand.

• PlugShare app maps all free-to-use stations around the country.

• Join AA.

lexus.co.nz

Selling trust

Owen Cooney Consultancy brings a change of mindset to traditional investment strategies.

Words Nicky Adams / Photos Jahl Marshall

Before making any investment decision, Owen Cooney uses what he calls the “mum test”. “I ask myself if this is something I would want my mother involved in – if the answer is no, then I walk away.”

A partner at Tauranga-based law firm Cooney Lees Morgan (CLM) since the 1980s, Owen was founding partner of the firm’s hugely successful property development division. Owen was responsible for putting together groups to acquire premium property assets. Not only did he enjoy this, but he saw the benefits that could be gained. As his appetite increased, Owen’s career saw a shift in direction, and after retiring as a partner from CLM in 2020, he decided to continue with what had developed into a passion project.

Establishing Owen Cooney Consultancy at the end of 2021 seemed like the next natural step in a journey that had really started as far back as 2008 when, together with his mother and brother Pete (managing director of Classic Group), the family had been keen to purchase an investment property. “When we started looking around, we couldn’t see anything that we considered premium in that $2-3 million range. That led us to the conclusion that looking in the $10 million-plus range took us out of the ruck and above a lot of the private buyers. There was less competition, and at that price we found a different level of building.” 

When it came to starting up the consultancy, Owen already had an established client base, most of whom would have known or dealt with him over his many years at Cooney Lees Morgan. It also provided a seamless opportunity to continue working alongside his family, with OC Consultancy operating in conjunction with Classic Collectives Ltd (a joint venture company). However, part of the business model for OCC is the idea of bringing investment opportunities to a bracket who hitherto may not have looked to large commercial investment as a viable option. Those with less financial resources to invest quite feasibly might not have considered this type of opportunity would be open to them. 

“Traditionally, young Kiwis wanting to build a bit of wealth for themselves have bought a rental property. In the early 2000s there was a real boom in the concept of residential property investments – that’s been the formula for generations of Kiwis. But now it’s not quite the same – residential property has increased by 40 percent in the past 18 months, raising the deposit has become too hard for a lot of people, and the government has taken off the tax deductibility. Plus, there’s the complexity now of the tenancy laws. So, owning a private rental property is less attractive and quite hard for a lot of people.”

Commercial investment, on the other hand, requires something of a mindset change, as does the concept of pooling resources. “You’re playing as a team rather than individually. It’s risk free from the point of view that in the structures we set up you’re not exposed to risk personally. The only risk you have is losing the money you put in, which is a risk any investment has. You put your money in, you get a yield straight away – a monthly return on your money. Being involved in a larger team we can access better properties with better tenants that are going to pay the bills.”

The skill of OCC is sourcing premium properties that will bring passive investment. “Developments are too risky; we don’t bring those to these clients. Under the banner of commercial, industrial properties are considered the darling of the market. Supermarkets are a great investment. We’ve got an open mind as long as it ticks the box of long-term security of the rent.” For their part, investors need to consider this a long-term prospect, of a five-year time horizon. After this there is a strategic review (although an exit strategy can be triggered before five years).

With the benefit and comparative ease when put against a residential investment, the appeal for not just the seasoned investor, but also the younger market looking for a way onto the wealth ladder is multi-faceted. Spearheading this aspect alongside Owen is business development manager Melanie. Having worked with Owen since last year, she is excited not just about the prospects for younger clients, but also about Owen’s personal mentoring skills. “Owen would never say this about himself, but he’s awesome at helping others do better, educate and grow. There’s a better future when you’re in the game with Owen.”

As for the bottom line, Owen states: “In terms of the amount invested by individuals, of the existing investor groups we have, it varies from $250,000 to $1.5 million. As for the question of how you qualify, for now we’re working on the basis that we’re a boutique business with many of our investors being old clients of mine. What we’re selling is trust. If someone trusts us and they want to be a part of this, we’re happy to talk to them.”

Email info@occ.nz and reference: UNO 

occ.nz

A Winter kitchen

In contrast to the less-is-more theory, Isis Winter believes sometimes more is just more.

Words Jo Ferris / Photos supplied

Isis and Cam both have a passion for homes – either selling them as Cam does, or renovating them, which is Isis’ specialty.

Having renovated around 20 houses, she loves working within the confines of existing architectural style. Built in 1999, their current home is nearing the completion of a full refurbishment. Most recently, the all-important kitchen.

“This home lends itself to ‘contemporary traditional’ which, although it sounds like an oxymoron, actually works really well. Something old, something new, with a healthy dose of luxury for good measure.”

And this kitchen has oodles of that. Dark cabinetry, heavy-duty marble and splashes of brass.

Looking to international trends to design something not often seen locally, the Winters are self-confessed Pinterest addicts and agree these types of platforms open up a world of ideas that can guide a direction with more confidence.

Whakatane-based Beaver Kitchens were totally on board in what became an all-encompassing team effort. Interestingly, it started where Cam and Isis wanted to finish – marble benchtops throughout the kitchen into the scullery, requiring two separate insets for butler’s sinks.

“It was a risky call to design and order pre-cut marble from overseas before doing anything else. Especially given that all other choices were made in context of a small sample piece of what would eventually become the star of the show: an island measuring 2700x1700mm, encased in 60mm marble with a stunning waterfall end.”

With the old kitchen stripped out, only minor changes were required to the structural layout.  

“The kitchen is very much its own space, with wrap-around windows providing views across the grounds. A natural open connection exists with the dining space, through to the family room and formal lounge.”

A matching bar unit is that link – an extension into the dining area that houses the compulsory drinks’ fridge and cabinet, where normal glass doors give way to brass netting.

Brass is a statement feature and the perfect complement to the kitchen cabinetry’s smoky darkness. The colour is two-tone; Slate on lower units and soft grey Lana above – finished with brass drawer pulls, knobs, tapware from ABI interiors and pendants from Hinkley’s Clarke collection, sourced through Vogue Lighting.

While eyes draw initially to the striking combination of light marble and dark cabinetry, the cook station is hard to ignore.

A dual-fuel Falcon range was a clear choice. However, there was slight concern as to how country or modern this key component should be. In search for balance, the Winters’ decision was made when a preferred model became available in almost the identical colour of cabinetry. Lucky! The Elise is no longer produced.

The bespoke rangehood was all Beaver’s Michelle McAnulty – creating this unique and one-off piece – and another reason why the Winters cannot praise Beaver’s entire team enough for their endless patience and passion.

Dark, engineered oak flooring, while not part of the kitchen per se, is an essential element. This entails 190mm planks within the kitchen, and a stunning herringbone pattern using 610mm pieces throughout the dining, lounge and entrance - all framed and connected by brass inlays. Each space offers tones to the next – clear connections with the flooring and brass, but also subtle nods – such as the herringbone tiled splashbacks and herringbone flooring elsewhere.

A work of art. Finished on time, on budget. Preferring edgy design, while paying respect to timeless style, Isis says their kitchen was inspired by this notion. She also admits both she and Cam are the complete opposite of minimalists.

Which is why their story ends where it began:

“60mm marble benchtops, two-tone cabinetry, brass-knurled handles, a bespoke timeless rangehood? Sometimes more is - just more.”

oliverroadestateagents.com

Secret garden

Pulling from Hawke’s Bay’s Black Barn, Glenorchy’s Blanket Bay, and Huka Lodge in Taupō; Te Māra commands equal status as one of Bay of Plenty’s finest country homes.

Words Jo Ferris / Photos supplied

From its secluded plateau in Whakamārama hills, the timeless design and nuance of this property applauds the collaborative approach of architectural and interior designers. But it’s mostly down to the lady of the house, whose vision entailed matching her dream home with a garden that would eventually embrace it.

Bare land five years ago, the home now melts into a garden, blending symmetry and corridors to frame the outstanding coastal views, an orchard and home for chickens, as well as a poolside haven and meandering pockets where potager gardens and herbs interweave seasons, colour, and inspiration.

Two te māra, Yoshino cherry trees, grace the entrance and give the property its name. That it took just five years to cultivate the depth and scale of this garden heaps further praise on the owners. Both the garden and home look and feel like they have been entrenched in seclusion far longer. Which was the plan from the outset, of course.

For the home, the brief was small but detailed – emphasis on “home”. Its intimate embrace graces every corner. It is somehow familiar, yet utterly unique. The tone and texture rest on the seemingly complicated, yet incredibly simple way each element fits like Lego. In fact, the owner utilised her son’s Lego bricks to construct her vision.

Architectural designer John Little was delighted by this novel approach.

“I style my designs on the enduring principles of good scale and proportions – and simple form.”

Based  on that, and nodding to good New Zealand vernacular, the result is a three-bedroom ranch-style dwelling with verandah corners and garden pathway to the separate garage and studio accommodation. This intimate unit also bears Te Māra’s name in booking circles, and is deservedly ranked with A-reserve popularity. Black dominates the exterior board and batten and corrugated roofing to show how a simple building form and modest materials can successfully execute unpretentious expense. 

Built by Mark Leppard with refined detail, the home’s north orientation follows the sun. Colonial timber joinery matches the underlying approach of a simple country cottage. In truth, there’s nothing simple in the way every detail is meticulously crafted. The house simply belies its age, thanks to its timeless affinity and connection with the scenery and outdoor flow. 

The family relationship focuses on a farmhouse kitchen that celebrates infinite craftsmanship and French influences. High studs throughout enhance space. Dining and fireside gathering all revolves around togetherness and that familiar sense of home – one that invites entertaining for large occasions. As living slips into the cosier intimacy of the library snug, this home embodies its appreciation for privacy, while remaining connected and true.

Interior designer Terry Walsh says what separates this home is its use of materials.

“The painted timber joinery visually illustrates what an investment into signature elements can achieve. Other materials have been kept honest with their simplicity. The client and I always knew what we aspired to. It’s a no fuss look, while capturing a luxurious feel, combined with ‘less-than-perfect’ aspects.” 

Wire-brushed herringbone flooring runs the length of the passage and living areas to instil that initial sense of age. European tiling in bathrooms and laundry feature patterned styling that also flatters the appeal of legacy, while heritage hardware throughout accentuates the significance of detail.

Beamed ceilings and battened walls unite the symmetry, while various angles and stud heights accentuate each room’s mood. But the gabled height of the lounge, with its concrete fireplace and antler chandelier, draws immediate attention.

Bespoke finish is epitomised by the owners’ ability to source individual pieces – for the home itself and personal collectables gathered over the years. Built-in units have no place in the likes of the bathrooms or laundry. Stand-alone pieces instil the intrigue of antique heritage with the knowledge that nothing else exists in the delivery of these rooms.

It was important to set the foundation for the furnishings that were to come. Whether it’s the flooring from Auckland’s Artedomus, delicious hues of Porter’s Paints personalising each room, or the final dressings with lighting, drapes and imported antique items from Auckland’s Vitrine store; the extent of detail and placement of beloved items honour every layer of design expertise. 

In his first visit, Cam Winter from Oliver Road Luxury Real Estate says Te Māra is one of the finest country homes in the Bay of Plenty. 

“This truly world-class, seemingly-effortless execution of magazine-worthy interior and timeless architectural design is a pleasure within which to spend a single moment, let alone a lifetime. It’s also available for inspection by qualified buyers and those interested should visit our website for more information. “

Oliverroadestateagents.com

Being the change

The Graeme Dingle Foundation improves the lives of our youth by not only equipping them with skills to build bright futures, but opening their eyes to the exciting possibilities around them. And it’s not just the children who are benefiting from the foundation’s programmes.

Accomplished adventurer, mountaineer, author, artist, filmmaker and philanthropist Sir Graeme Dingle knows how to squeeze the very most out of what life has to offer – and he sees it as his calling to equip New Zealand’s youth with the same limitless sense of possibility. More than 25 years ago, he pledged to improve our country’s concerning youth statistics, and so the Graeme Dingle Foundation was born. The vision is to positively impact the lives of our tamariki, and make Aotearoa the best place in the world

for children to flourish.

Today, Graeme and partner Lady Dingle, Jo-anne Wilkinson, are proud to see the foundation’s programmes reach 28,000 school-aged rangatahi across the country. The programme seeks to improve self-esteem, educate about positive choices and values for health and happiness, offer practical life skills and impart a sense of adventure. The ultimate goal is a positive attitude, useful skills and real future possibilities.

The couple are adventurers in the truest sense. Graeme has ascended the world’s most challenging mountains, sometimes with climbing buddy, the late Sir Edmund Hillary, and Jo-anne’s epic Arctic and Antarctic traverses and mountaineering achievements also attest to the couple’s grit and determination to succeed. It’s the same drive and courage that underpins the foundation’s objectives to make a real difference in the lives of our youth so they too can thrive and surmount any challenges life throws at them.

But creating an aspiring generation requires inspiring role models and this is where the foundation’s mentor program plays a crucial and highly-rewarding part in its success. Lynette and Dave Gillies of Z Energy have mentored five students between them. They were involved with the Graeme Dingle Foundation through Z Energy’s ‘Good in the Hood’ initiative, when the foundation’s Western Bay of Plenty manager Dan Allen-Gordon approached them about mentoring. Although experienced in business coaching and management, mentoring rangatahi was totally new to them. However, not only was the mentor training day extremely helpful in preparing them, they also found the foundation always available for support if needed. 

So what does the role of mentor actually involve? The expectation is to meet up once every fortnight but to have contact once a week, with fun group activities for all the students and their mentors arranged periodically throughout the year. “The idea is to find things to do together that create space to talk,” says Dave. And although the experiences they have shared with their mentees is impressive – surfing, mountain biking, mud runs, baking and cooking at their home as well as work experience and community events within Z – Dave insists the most important thing is to simply lend an ear to the young people under their mentorship. “It’s important to listen to both what they say and what they don’t say” says Dave. Lynette agrees, “Listening skills are the biggest thing you need. Often you don’t need to talk, just to listen.”

Both Dave and Lynette speak enthusiastically about what they’ve gained from mentoring. “The opportunity to learn about yourself is huge,” says Dave. Lynette says young people have shown

her a different view of the world. “It really opened my eyes and reinforced that we must listen to young people more. They have so much to offer.”

What advice would they give to people considering mentoring? “Just do it!” says Dave. “An hour a week is not a big commitment to make a huge difference. When you see where these students end up after their mentoring period, it’s awesome.” Lynette says mentoring has improved her own personal growth, too. “You give, but you get so much back. The feeling you get when you see them go from where they were, to blossoming young adults, is just amazing.”

When Helen Fraser, the owner of Mount Maunganui store Bettie Monroe, heard about mentoring at the Dingle Foundation, she knew it was the right option for her. She wanted to volunteer in the community and had always loved being around children and teenagers. “Being a teenager is difficult,” says Helen. “The chance to help, to give opportunities and be a positive role model and inspire young people is amazing, I love it.”

Helen says the mentor matching process is a bit like speed dating – a really fun way for both students and mentors to work out who they connect with. Helen’s mentorship activities arranged by the foundation, included skydiving, paddle boarding, inspirational talks and once, an evening walk round the Mount with a DOC ranger where they witnessed the penguins returning. “There were a lot of opportunities for us both to experience new things and learn together.” Helen also enjoyed one-on-one time on days out, shopping trips and meeting for hot chocolates. A big part of mentoring is also goal setting,” says Helen. “Each student has a book and we set goals then revisit and evaluate them. They also learn lots of life skills like CV writing and interview practice.”

Helen enjoyed mentoring so much, she has gone on to do it twice more. Seeing students grow and being beside them as they overcome challenges and accomplish their goals is just amazing. And it isn’t difficult, it’s just about being a friend, a listening ear and a sounding board – and loving life and being up for a challenge!” Paris, who was the first young person Helen mentored, went on to be a mentor herself – testament to the positive impact mentoring, and the Project K (a 14-month program for year 10 students that incorporates a wilderness adventure and community challenge) had on her life.

Dan Allen-Gordon says, “Our mentors come from all walks of life, but the thing they have in common is

passion to make a real difference in the challenging world our rangatahi face. Every one of us that overcame major obstacles as a young person has had a significant adult help us succeed. It is the greatest gift we can give to care and not judge.”

The Graeme Dingle Foundation Western Bay of Plenty reaches over 3,700 tamariki and rangatahi each week with their proven programmes, building resilience and well-being in young people. From Kiwi Can, a values and life skills primary school programme to whole school peer-mentoring and ready for work programmes such as Stars, Career Navigator and Project K. The programmes cater to young people aged 5 to 18, helping the participants to thrive and understand what they have inside is greater than any obstacle they may face. A key part of some of these programmes is mentoring, and for both the students and mentors this represents an extremely rewarding, and life-changing experience.  

dinglefoundation.org.nz  

Home truths

Jason Bywater-Lutman  and Thomas Refoy-Butler from Mackenzie Elvin Law

explain the legal considerations around home renos.

Interview Nicky Adams Photos supplied

Q: I’m thinking about renovations to my property. What are the risk areas I should be aware of?

Renovating your home can be both exciting and terrifying. What you don’t need is the added stress of legalities when things go wrong. Read on to find out about new home building laws and how to navigate and prevent problems with future renos.

JASON: Construction can be seen as scary, but there are lots of standard form contracts available, including a basic construction contract released by NZ Standards. The first step is to talk to your builder, get the plans and a quote, then come and see a solicitor to talk through the contract. 

THOMAS: It doesn’t have to be a substantial engagement; we can just highlight some of the risk areas, which will give you peace of mind.

JASON: Standard contracts published by the government are designed to make sure the builder gets paid regularly. You need to be conscious that the builder is entitled to get paid regardless of how bad the job.

THOMAS: The onus has shifted on to the homeowner to articulate the grounds on which they’re not prepared to pay for work they’re not happy with. If that’s not communicated in the right way, the payment plan is deemed valid and enforceable as a debt due.

JASON: If a problem arises with the build, then a ‘handshake deal’ that it will be fixed doesn’t cut it under the construction contracts act. When you haven’t got it in writing, in accordance with the act, then you’re not able to withhold payment. And if you’re spending more than $30,000 on renovations, the contract is required to be in writing, so you should be getting that before paying any money over. 

THOMAS: At the conceptual phase, when you’re looking at plans and engaging with a designer, talk to your builder about your wish list – if you can find a circle pairing between designer and builder, that’s key. When they can work harmoniously, the job runs in a far more streamlined, cost-effective manner.

JASON: Focus on quality communication – if changes crop up, the best thing for a builder is to have the conversation with the client and reduce it to writing so it’s understood that there’s a variation from the fixed price contract. It’s important to communicate effectively. The builder should confirm in writing to the client, and record site meetings. Keep a record so there is a nice contemporaneous note of the meeting to provide to the client. Ninety percent of legal problems are caused by poor communication. If people know what to expect, they’re going to be happy to pay.

THOMAS: Considerations for a renovation are understanding the difference between a labour-only contract and a fixed-price contract, as well as what a prime cost sum is – and a provisional cost sum. Remember that price variations may arise. Also clarify who has responsibility for insuring the work? There is an obligation on the homeowner for renovations under $100,000 to have a contract works insurance policy (your house and contents insurance won’t cover this). When over $100,000 it’s generally the responsibility of the builder. 

JASON: The builder does want to do a good job. It’s about the client having reasonable expectations and the builder communicating clearly with clients so they understand what they’re getting into.

mackenzie-elvin.com

Lasting legacies

Kiri Randall from Legacy Funerals explains the importance of giving back.

Photos Salina Galvan

Kiri Randall from Legacy Funerals

Gifting back profits to the community is by no means a new concept, but it’s not a common one in today’s business world. Which is surprising considering how much a business gets back if they choose to go down this road. For us, it’s built into the way we run.

Legacy Funerals here in Tauranga and its sister funeral home in Cambridge are both owned by Legacy Trust, and as far as I’m aware, the only funeral homes in the country to operate as not-for-profit businesses. This means it isn’t owned by any individual or private organisation. 

The charitable trust was established in 2007 after the founder, former funeral director Greg Brownless, travelled to Thailand to assist with the repatriation of the deceased lost during the Boxing Day tsunami in 2006. Greg owned a funeral business in Tauranga, Greg Brownless Funeral Homes, but after that life-changing experience, he returned and set up Legacy Trust, vowing to make a difference in his own small part of the world. 

So how does Tauranga’s local community benefit? Families who choose Legacy Funerals to farewell a loved one pay a normal fee and, after our usual operating costs are taken care of, the profits are returned to the local community. The Trust has gifted over $3.6 million since its inception directly back to local Tauranga-based charities, secondary schools and clubs. Not only do our families appreciate that in choosing Legacy’s service, their actions make a real and tangible difference to our local community, but our staff really value being part of a socially minded business too. Day to day we provide a caring and compassionate service to our families and it’s nice knowing that this extends far beyond our funeral homes through gifting our profits. 

People can apply directly to the Trust for funding and our directors and trustees meet every month where we review applications from schools, community groups and charitable organisations and allocate our profits accordingly. We do also have some organisations that we regularly donate to. Waipuna Hospice is one local organisation that we are a principal supporter of. Close to $300,000 has been donated to assist the Hospice, helping to provide specialist palliative care for patients living with a life-limiting illness.

Greg’s Thailand experience completely changed the way the business worked and is therefore changing lives. In turn, this way of working gives us a greater sense of purpose in our everyday working lives. Every business should consider finding a way to give back.

legacyfunerals.co.nz

Food for thought

Local food charity Kura Kai is bringing whānau and the wider community together.

words Nicky Adams / photos Salina Galvan + align creative

Marie, Makaia and Anna cook up a recipe for teen success.

Makaia Carr seems to be someone who sees an opportunity, an opening, or a need and gets in there and plugs that gap. A successful early social media influencer, in May 2020 she saw the opportunity to use her platform to make a difference. Now, together with Marie Paterson, Anna Watkins and a team of volunteers, she uses her position in the online space to spearhead social change in the form of charitable trust Kura Kai.

The charity is making such a big impact in the Bay that it caught the attention of Farmer Autovillage. The car dealership, based in Mount Maunganui, recently celebrated 30 years in business, and to thank the community for its support in achieving this milestone, chose a number of local charities to invest in, one of which is Kura Kai. Farmer Autovillage generously donated a long-lease Nissan Qashqai, which allows staff to stay mobile and connected. As managing director Mike Farmer says, “Kura Kai is an organisation that has all the values that we support, that works within our community as well as the wider community, so is very valid and worthwhile getting behind.” 

Kura Kai is a volunteer-driven service designed to support whānau across New Zealand. Funds are raised to donate chest freezers to high schools, which are then filled with food that can be accessed by the students. With social needs putting added pressure on our youth, Kura Kai sees this as a multifaceted way to help our teenagers. Makaia herself is passionate about keeping our kids in school. “My drive has always been helping rangatahi and getting in at that age of teenagers and high schools. Purely because I left high school early. I was a teenage mum and I understand the struggle to get through education.” This backdrop drew Makaia into a space of promoting female self-belief and empowerment. As her public profile grew as an influencer, along with her thousands of followers came an increased desire to find ways in which her influencing could be used for greater good. “I was asking myself how we could all be better using our platforms – something that came with age and self-assessment.”

It was the first lockdown of March 2020 that bought things into focus. “People were losing jobs, whānau were struggling – students were being sent home from school to look after kids, leaving school to get jobs to support their whānau – all that stuff was really coming to the forefront. I was open to looking at ways I could use my social media to help.” At this stage Makaia and her family were living in Auckland when Gemma, a follower from Tauranga, messaged asking if Makaia could put a shout out to her followers for meal contributions to the compassion freezer at Otumoetai Primary School. This Makaia did, and within a week 80 meals had arrived.  

The more Makaia found out about the system, the more she liked what she heard. “I loved how it was really grassroots, that it was direct with kai going straight to the whānau. I think there’s such a beauty in that way to help. Especially in a Maori whānau, where showing up with kai is such a beautiful way to show love and manaakitanga.” She looked for a way that she could develop her support into a more cohesive concept. Via her social media she was able to, not only raise awareness, but also fundraise. Buying more freezers for more schools was a start point, followed by accruing volunteers to cook and coordinators to organise. Quickly the dots were joined, and Kura Kai was born. Makaia and her family moved to Pāpāmoa, and the Bay became the heart of the national charity.

Then Makaia’s personal life nose-dived. Her marriage fell apart, and she was floored. During this time what she found was that all she wanted to do was cook, cook and cook some more, so it made sense to reach out and find a team who could take over the other operational aspects of the charity. In June 2021, Marie Paterson joined initially as admin/fundraising manager, then general manager. “I’ve worked with volunteers for over 20 years, and I love this sort of mahi.” With fresh eyes Marie could see the vast opportunities that could grow from the amazing seed Makaia had planted. “I wanted to focus on making Kura Kai more sustainable, relying less on volunteers.” With Anna then joining as brand manager, the focus is now the future. Marie and Makaia identified it was important for the charity to become more student led. The pilot programme being rolled out sees the students cook to provide the meals for the charity. 

The beauty of this concept is that the rangatahi themselves become empowered by being a part of it. As Makaia says, “one of the messages we want to push to our rangatahi who are teenagers
is that they can contribute to society and do something positive, looking out for whānau or neighbours. It’s a resource they can pull from.” Marie’s focus has been how to make Kura Kai more sustainable by relying less on the volunteers, and importantly, Marie says “youth help youth”.

Of course, there is still a drive for additional help to meet the need. Along with more volunteer coordinators, the next step is to encourage businesses to engage in ‘corporate cook ups.’
The ultimate goal is to fund a commercial kitchen, which would allow groups to come in and create, but importantly volunteers could cook and distribute to the areas where the communities themselves are unable to afford to fill the freezers. Now, with the help of the new team and Farmer Autovillage, increased brand awareness will hopefully bring volunteers flooding to the table.  

kurakai.co.nz

farmerautovillage.co.nz

A class of its own

The luxury and lifestyle experts bridging the gap on the coast

Words Monique Balvert-O’Connor / photos supplied

Oliver Road Estate Agents is adding to its already impressive repertoire.

The luxury and lifestyle specialist company has launched a re-fresh, adding a “coastal” focus to its town and country offerings. 

The company has proven itself to be hugely successful in the absolute upper end of the Tauranga market. Now there are plans to “fill the gap for a specialist luxury approach” over the bridge. The highly impressive number 98 Muricata Avenue, for example, is on its books.

Oliver Road is headed by two passionate professionals – Cameron Winter and Jason Eves – who say their company is poised to deliver results to Mt Maunganui clients and curate experiences for buyers that transcends what the market is used to. 

“We work with a limited number of clients and their unique properties to ensure we are able to consistently deliver a world-class service which includes valuation, discovery, finishing, furnishing, marketing, negotiation, and a wrap-around settlement concierge service,” Cam says. 

In addition, marketing includes architect, builder and interior designer recognition. “Impressive creativity, high value, and talented effort have gone into the homes we market and this deserves acknowledgement.”

Accolades, and client testimonials, whole-heartedly endorse this three-year-old company’s approach. The company were awarded Best Luxury Real Estate Agency in New Zealand last year at the Asia Pacific Property Awards, and also nabbed Best Real Estate Agent in New Zealand, going on to win Best Real Estate Agent in Asia-Pacific. But it didn’t stop there. They also beat out the competition in Best Real Estate Agency Marketing New Zealand and scored runner up in Best Real Estate Agency Single Office.

To top it all off, RateMyAgent and Google both gave the company a 5.0 star rating.

As Jason says, doing things well is the only way to do things. 

Muricata magic

More than a home, this retreat represents the spell-binding epitome of innovative design, craftsmanship and pure allure.

The departing residents of 98 Muricata Ave tell their house it’s been a privilege knowing it. Leaving isn’t easy, but this couple say they have “more chapters in life to ride”.

This address, which they’ve called home since August 2019, is like a tranquil retreat right in the middle of the hurly burly of Mount Maunganui. “It’s been an absolute privilege living there and, in keeping with that privilege, we have kept it absolutely immaculate,” they say.

While originally built for a celebrity chef, those now selling have been its first residents. 

They are joined by many when it comes to singing its praises.

The home’s builders, JC Builders, describe it as “a work of art”.

Its architectural designer, Jason McDonald of JMAC, says it presents a marriage of “meticulous innovative design, masterful craftsmanship, and an absolute refusal to compromise on quality”.

And the interior design team from Gezellig Interiors speak of its bespoke features. Think imported Turkish wall tiles, aged brass fittings, porcelain benches, and hand-blown glass light fittings.

Beyond the alluring, sophisticated exterior of modern cedar and dark accents, cleverly contrasting natural mediums enhance the home's warm and light aesthetic. As do walls of both polished concrete and cedar feature, and oak cabinetry and custom-made organic fixtures. 

All social spaces, including, as one would expect, an incredible cooking zone, are situated on the ground floor, and movement is open and flows from street entry out to a large protected outdoor room at the rear of the property. A natural, light-infused stairwell, with open tread stairs, leads to the upper level’s retreat-like sleep spaces.

While the home is only one accessway from the beach, there’s water closer at hand, courtesy of a swimming pool.

You name it, this property has it.

Oliverroadestateagents.com

All seasons’ sanctuary

This country estate masterfully combines nature and nurture – from the spectacular views through to its timber and glass pods, to the bountiful orchard and garden, it encompasses a sanctum of serenity.

Board and batten Lawson Cypress embraces this Mana Ridge beauty of a home, contributing significantly to its country estate ambience.

Architectural designer Adam Taylor says its architecture delivers an approachable rustic feel that is at the same time modern. Its makeup is a celebration of timber, an infusion of natural light, and a neutral palette. Its current owners (the house is listed with Oliver Road Estate Agents) say these things in combination equal “peaceful sanctuary”.

The home comprises three pods. One is dedicated to garaging with a guest suite above, another houses the main living area with its high-pitched and barn-like aesthetic, and the remaining is a bedroom zone. A glass-walled linkway, connecting the latter two, offers spectacular views (it’s easy to get distracted by the city’s night lights when journeying between pods).

Sited up high, this 1.4 hectare property - which includes an orchard and potager vege gardens - also enjoys expansive green views, and Mauao in the distance.

The house opens up on all sides, with the walkways and courtyards between the pods creating pockets of intimacy. There’s a place outdoors for every time of the day and every season.    

Adam tells how, in a nod to its rural neighbourhood, the design references a cluster of farm buildings joined together to make one whole. (There’s always the opportunity to add a further pod.) 

Three years ago, homeowners and Adam were joined on this house project by an impressive team of creatives - namely Jacqui Mitchell of Twill Interiors, Michelle McDonnell of Michelle McDonnell Landscape Design, and the Lighthouse Group building team. The result is a stunner that oozes country and contemporary charm combined. 

23 Te Auhi Way, Mana Ridge

Oliverroadestateagents.com

Reap the rewards

Thinking of purchasing an investment property? Let Joanna Martinez-Hart from EVES guide you through the ins and outs of becoming a landlord.

interview Monique Balvert-O’Connor / photos Salina Galvan + supplied

Joanna Martinez-Hart is a stress remover and a matchmaker.

As EVES Realty BOP rental property management expert and group manager, she and her team provide peace of mind for landlords, helping them navigate the various aspects of rental ownership. Finding

a suitable tenant match is merely the starting point.

The value of tapping into the services of a rental management team has long been realised, but recent challenges – such as new compliance laws, Covid lockdowns, and huge numbers attempting to find rental accommodation – have made engaging a property manager more appealing than ever.

In addition, certain aspects of society have changed over the decades with people appearing busier with work and family commitments. Employing the services of a property manager to look after rental assets frees up time and gives owners the peace of mind to carry on concentrating with everything else happening in their lives.

Ready to help are Joanna and her large team, who cover the BOP and Waikato regions. Her team members have collated a wealth of experience and knowledge with EVES over the years. They’re loyal to EVES (a company which has been in business for more than 50 years) – which offers great consistency for the landlords and for the tenants whom they work with.

The EVES Property Management team are totally up to speed regarding new compliance requirements, such as the new insurance and tenancy laws, healthy home requirements, and regulations and guidelines for landlords that came into effect earlier this year (some staff members are even landlords themselves). And that’s part of the beauty of using a rental property manager, Joanna says. Having a property manager on board helps landlords pass the sleep test.

“Essentially, we remove any possible stress. We provide peace of mind and help navigate the rental journey,” she says.

All this is of key importance as investing in the rental market remains a preferred investment opportunity for many Kiwis. With a property manager on board, landlords can relax knowing they’ve committed to a solid, well-managed investment that need cause them little, or no, concern.

Owning a quality rental property, like this one from Barrett Homes, can be a secure financial investment.

The positives of investing in the rental market

Owning a rental property continues to be a financially secure investment, Joanna says, with property owners enjoying a good return on their money in terms of rent and capital gains at present (certainly more than they would achieve if their money were in the bank).

Rental property owners enjoy the opportunity this form of investment offers in terms of providing a passive income, and there’s flexibility around choosing the right time to sell.

“Having a rental also provides the option of having a property to move into, if required. It could be that the property is bought as a rental, but the owners later opt to make it home. If owners transfer away for work reasons it can be a good idea to rent their property out, achieve capital gain, and have a home to come back to if that’s how things unfold,” Joanna says.

Hiring a management team for your rental means you don’t have to do the dirty work.

What does a property management team do?

So many things!

“To start with we secure tenants. To do that, we market the property, conduct the viewings and vetting, deal with contracts, initial inspections and hand-overs and liaise with applicants. We make sure the property is presented in the best way and strive to find the best tenant for the property.”

It doesn’t stop there, Joanna adds. There is much to do throughout the tenancy, such as maintenance checks, regular inspections, monitoring of rental payments and liaison with the owners. If there are any payment issues then these too are dealt with by the property management team.

The team also deals with clients giving notice and then the cycle begins again.

On a more advisory level, a property manager can also advise where market rents are at. Keeping up with current market rents (and with maintenance) helps property owners maximise the return on their investment.

Landlords also need not fear they’ve failed to tick all the latest boxes regarding legal requirements

– a property manager will ensure they’re up to speed and there’s nothing to be concerned about.

While it’s not common, things can get complicated and go wrong on the tenancy front. If there’s a need to involve the Tenancy Tribunal this too is an area the EVES Property Management team has experience in. They can remove the “daunting” from the equation.

“Once people use our services, they generally come back to us. They see employing an EVES rental property manager as a good investment. There are no hidden costs, and they can claim tax on our fees,” Joanna shares.

Why now is a good time to employ a property manager Tenancy laws are complex and have undergone change in recent times.

An example is the Residential Tenancies Amendment Act, that largely came into effect in February. Joanna and her team help navigate this. Amendments to the act should not have a negative impact on landlords as long as excellent tenant vetting has been carried out throughout the application process, Joanna assures.

Many layers of compliance have recently been introduced to ensure tenants live in healthy homes.

This shouldn’t put people off being landlords as essentially it is about being prepared to be a good citizen providing warm, dry and safe living conditions, Joanna believes. Landlords can leave this concern to her team as they employ experts to access whether rented properties adhere to the healthy homes legislation. This is a law and a non-negotiable and Joanna and team won’t work with landlords who are not prepared to comply. Most properties do comply with some of the stipulated five standards, she says, and it’s just a matter of working with the property managers to get the property fully compliant.

Managing compliance in general is something landlords can leave to a property manager. The EVES team includes compliance specialists and has access to professional tenancy consultants to ensure landlords are compliant.

Resources, tools, and robust systems required to find good tenants are all part of the EVES team’s arsenal. Tenant selection has become increasingly time consuming because of incredibly high demand. The EVES team deals with the numerous applicants – outsourcing background checks in the process. For a standard three-bedroom home, it’s not unusual to get at least 50 applicants per property these days.

Amendments to The Privacy Act 2020 are coming into effect. This act governs how agencies collect, store, use, disclose, and give access to personal information. The Privacy Office has launched a new compliance monitoring programme to ensure all landlords, managers and property managers comply, which is something a self-managing landlord may not be aware of. A property manager will ensure landlords are not leaving themselves at risk.

And then there is Covid. Throughout the Covid lockdowns, the EVES property management team worked very closely with tenants and landlords to assist tenants in the difficult times and to mitigate loss for the landlords.

Joanna’s FAQ

What happens if a tenancy turns bad? Good tenant selection at the outset is imperative. Ninety percent of landlords and tenants are great. However, when things do go wrong, there are processes to follow in the Tenancy Act, which can be daunting to a landlord, but EVES has the resources to manage this.

As a side note: there is a perception that the law is more in favour of the tenant, but the reality is, the law is there to protect tenants from unfair and unreasonable landlords.

What happens if the tenant doesn’t pay rent? We have good systems and processes in place to mitigate rent arrears. Our property managers are very experienced in dealing with this if need be.

How long will it take to rent the property? There’s nothing to be concerned about on this front as demand is high in this current rental market and Bay of Plenty is a desirable place to live.

What about methamphetamine use and contamination? We tell all owners they should ensure they have comprehensive insurance cover for all aspects of owning a rental – and should take special note of the meth component of their insurance policy. We talk them through the insurance needs.

Should we be concerned about compliance costs and costs in general? Most of the cost is one-off to make rentals healthy home compliant, and then there’s ongoing maintenance. Owners who keep up with maintenance get a better return, so it’s important to expect to spend some money on the upkeep of the property.

Are new regulations putting people off buying rentals? No. Most new landlords coming to the rental market know of, and expect to meet, the current regulations.

Where does the return on investment (ROI) on a rental property sit in the Bay of Plenty? Indicative rental yields for a three-bedroom house (as of June this year) in selected areas with high rental activity are for example: Greerton 4.1 percent; Bethlehem 3.7; Mt Maunganui 3.6; Pyes Pa 4.2; and TePuke 4.3.

NB: A rental yield is determined by the annual rental income divided by the property price.

How can I allay any fears around renting out a property? Give me a call and let our EVES Property Management team assist, so you can sit back and reap the rewards of a sound investment minus any major concerns.

evesrentals.co.nz

Laying down roots

Big on recognising talent, KPMG’s Tauranga office shows off its dynamic team,
working culture and new services.

words Monique Balvert-O’Connor / photos Erin Cave

KPMG Tauranga is building on its already impressive reputation and skills base.

The firm, which is focused on fueling prosperity for its clients and communities, has expanded its Tauranga offering. Services that used to be the realm of large businesses and big cities have arrived here and Tauranga (and Waikato) businesses and organisations are benefitting, thanks to a progressive outlook and a powerhouse of KPMG people.

Services around strategic advisory, deal advisory and taxation have been expanded/enriched in Tauranga. KPMG realised it was time to “put its boots on the ground in Tauranga” and make these services more accessible to Bay of Plenty and Waikato clientele. They have the perfect people on board to do just that.

UNO spoke to KPMG Tauranga partner Tracy Preston-Lett and directors Cushla Parish and Natalie Berkett, associate-director Charmian Mead, and senior manager Michelle Sinclair about the new services they (and their teams) offer, the energy and smarts they bring, and about the many reasons they applaud the KPMG working culture.

Tracy Preston-Lett feels “incredibly lucky” to be trusted with clients’ dreams.

Tracy Preston-Lett feels “incredibly lucky” to be trusted with clients’ dreams, and relishes having a shared-responsibility to help her colleagues be their absolute best.

“I believe in our people and our clients and if there’s any small thing I can do that energises them – be that sharing some words of wisdom, some connection or technical or practical insight, or just being someone to brainstorm with – then I’m up for it.”

As a partner of this Big 4 global accounting firm, Tracy’s come a long way since those leaving-school days when she lacked any real career drive. KPMG creates the same opportunity Tracy embarked on, thanks to its policy of recruiting school leavers – enabling them to learn and earn without necessarily having to leave home.

Tracy worked and studied and earned her degree and promotions while getting valuable experience from a young age.

She’s proud of what she’s achieved within this firm that collaborates nationally, and connects internationally, for the benefit of its clients and advancement of its people. There’s a great diversity of skills and backgrounds to tap into.

She doesn’t have to look far to encounter an impressive skills base – within her office are staff who thrive on using their specialist skills to help businesses find their feet and create long term success. It’s thanks to some of these superstars that the KPMG Tauranga team has been able to up its offerings of late.

Cushla Parish joined KPMG in the consulting division, but 12 months ago, a strategic move was made to create a dedicated audit technology risk team, which she now heads. It’s a national specialist team which Cushla runs from Tauranga.

KPMG Audit Technology Risk director Cushla Parish is one of those who is driving impressive change and is a role model for KPMG’s support for remote working. She joined KPMG in the consulting division, but 12 months ago, a strategic move was made to create a dedicated audit technology risk team, which she now heads. It’s a national specialist team which Cushla runs from Tauranga.

Essentially her team assesses clients’ IT-related controls predominantly focused on access, change management, programme development, automated business process controls and operational controls… all to ensure appropriate measures are in place to mitigate risk.

“The work we do is predominantly to support the audit division across lots of industries. We go into companies, big and small, and look at their internal controls to mitigate any risk around their IT systems and to ensure the integrity and reliability of their systems,” Cushla says.

Another focus area is the provision of governance risk and compliance services, which Cushla delivers through her involvement with the national internal audit consulting team.

Cushla brings to KPMG experience in predominantly the agriculture, manufacturing and local government environments. She has worked in the United Kingdom, Europe and Australia within various industries’ audit teams. Her first job was with another Big 4 firm also within the audit arena and she came to KPMG with previous director experience.

She is a Certified Information Systems Auditor (a globally recognised qualification) and a SAP expert – a highly ranked financial application favoured by big businesses with complex concerns. She left university armed with a Bachelor of Management Studies (honours) degree majoring in information systems and marketing.

KPMG is big on recognising talent and offering leadership opportunities. Cushla is a participant on KPMG’s Leading the Firm programme, that provides additional coaching and opportunities to excel for those identified as having leadership potential.

Natalie Berkett speaks of the growth she’s seen in the KPMG Tauranga tax team numbers over recent years, and an “exciting” focus on building up a Small to Medium Enterprise (SME) tax specialty.

KPMG Tax Division director Natalie Berkett, meanwhile, was nominated by KPMG to attend a full-year New Zealand Leadership course involving self-discovery as well as analysis of issues of national and international significance.

This director thrives on learning opportunities – she has both a Bachelor of Laws and a Bachelor of Commerce. She accepted a graduate position with KPMG back in 2006 and has never moved elsewhere! In those early days she enjoyed a three-month secondment to KPMG’s Beijing department and four months off to travel (her job was held).

Natalie speaks of the growth she’s seen in the KPMG Tauranga tax team numbers over recent years, and an “exciting” focus on building up a Small to Medium Enterprise (SME) tax specialty.

“There are a lot of privately-owned businesses in the Bay of Plenty and a lot of the work our team does is focused on issues quite specific to SMEs like land transactions or expanding offshore.

“What I am leading nationally, is a focus on growing and fostering our SME clients faced with complex tax issues. This involves identifying opportunities where we can assist from a tax perspective and providing a team of tax specialists that understand SME issues.”

It’s exciting, she says, that KPMG is consolidating the expertise that we already have into a more coordinated and focused service offering.

Natalie, who has an interest in the export sector in particular, sits on the Export New Zealand BOP executive committee (she’s just stepped down as Chair). She offers her expertise to this group of exporters and service providers who meet to discuss issues facing their sector and the BOP specifically.

“I enjoy this as I get to hear first-hand the issues businesses are facing and it builds up my commercial understanding, which, of course, benefits clients,” she says.

Charmian Mead’s switch from the Wellington to Tauranga office in July this year meant strategic advisory became more available to businesses and organisations.

Charmian Mead also boasts impressive qualifications, with a Bachelor of Science degree, a Bachelor of Laws, and a Master of Bioethics and Health Law.

Her switch from the Wellington to Tauranga office in July this year meant strategic advisory became more available to businesses and organisations using KPMG services.

Charmian joined the KPMG Tauranga team as Private Enterprise Advisory Team associate director. She not only heads the firm’s strategy advisory services in Tauranga, she is part of a national private enterprise advisory team. Her working day involves helping create or design strategies aimed at enabling businesses and organisations to achieve success, whether that be domestically or on the global stage.

“Our team works with a wide range of clients who, fundamentally, we help grow. We help them achieve high performance and growth through a range of advisory services, such as strategy development and implementation, business and operating model design, market insights and validation, and export planning and activation, to name a few.”

Charmian, who initially worked as an intellectual property lawyer, was keen to get involved in broader aspects of business. She recognised that working for a Big 4 would offer the platform and portfolio from which to reach into organisations she wished to work with and this led her to KPMG – initially in Wellington.

“I like to work with ambitious community and organisational leaders, entrepreneurs, innovators and visionaries. These are the people I think are out there who drive meaningful impact for communities and the New Zealand economy,” says this woman who is big on social justice.

“I know it sounds cheesy, but I just like helping people and love seeing them create impact. I see my job as

the opportunity to really amplify that impact through working with others. On my own, I can come up with ideas, but if I work with 10 peoples’ ideas that’s much more exciting!”

Charmian’s arrival in Tauranga also heralded the launch of the KPMG Business School in the region. She is a key member of a team that delivered this initiative in Wellington, and is now making the opportunity available to BOP and Waikato business and community leaders.

“This school was created because we saw there were a lot of business and organisation leaders who lacked strategic capability. We designed a workshop to help with this and give them tools and a framework to take back to their workplace. Business and organisational leaders, who have been identified as having potential, are invited to attend these interactive learning workshops to understand how they can strategically achieve their ambitions.”

Charmian put her hand up to come to Tauranga as she could identify “huge potential” within the region. She sees how business “complexities and challenges” faced by business owners have grown as the city has grown and applauds KPMG for being in step with that.

She’s enjoying becoming part of the community and the region’s business ecosystem. “It is also exciting to be part of an organisation where everyone is super smart. Anytime a client needs help with something, I know I can find someone within KPMG who can assist.”

Nationally, KPMG has about 1,300 staff, including about 90 partners. And then there are the international offices. Charmian believes KPMG’s international status carries great benefit to clients.

“A big thing that attracts clients – from start ups to big global brands, is we can partner with them throughout their entire business journey as we have depth of expertise, scale and a global footprint.”

Michelle Sinclair brings with her, experience as a business owner in the start up and growth phase.

Also relatively new to KPMG is Michelle Sinclair, a Private Enterprise Team senior manager. Before this she worked elsewhere as a senior tax manager, and before that she and her husband spent 18 years working on their own IT-focused business start-ups – she using her strong accounting background. Through that business experience she identified an interest in tax law. Michelle has also been a lecturer at a tertiary level.

When KPMG Tauranga made the decision to build up its business advisory team, Michelle came on board. “I love tax law and love supporting SMEs. I draw on my own valuable experience as a business owner to work alongside other entrepreneurs navigating the business lifecycle, from start up to exit.”

She’s also particularly passionate about women in business.

“I was the Chief Financial Officer of emerging businesses experiencing rapid growth in a fast-moving industry, a wife, I had children and miscarriages, I moved countries without a support network… Women in business have numerous demands on their time and have to juggle a multitude of things, all while driving business performance.”

Michelle appreciates how KPMG acknowledges she is an avid learner and hence she has Friday’s off for study.

Her initial tertiary qualification was a Bachelor of Management Studies majoring in accounting and finance. Years later she tackled a Master of Taxation Studies, passing with first class honours. She is currently pursuing a law degree – learning about general law provides an underlying layer of knowledge that she can apply to her tax law specialty, all to the benefit of her KPMG clients.

Beyond that? “A PhD in tax law could be a big, hairy audacious goal,” she laughs.

Some more of the good

Work flexibility

KPMG is big on enabling staff to work in a way that suits their circumstances. Staff work from home, can work with ease remotely across the country or any office or location, and can take career breaks to chase sporting or travel dreams, knowing their jobs are being held open for them. They can also work part-time knowing this won’t jeopardise their career pathways.

“We have people come and work in our office from other locations, which supports our community and business ecosystem here in the Bay,” Tracy tells.

“We’ve had team members working remotely from Wanaka enjoying that lifestyle while simultaneously keeping their careers on track within the Big 4. We’ve had employees, employed by the Australian firm, working in Tauranga.”

Helping the younger generation

KPMG recruits five students from local schools in the Tauranga office every year. Summer internships and a graduate intake are also on offer.

Community Spirit

KPMG staff are involved in community projects such as buying Christmas presents for everyone at one of Tauranga’s low decile schools and have recently started a workplace giving programme with Acorn Foundation.

It’s but one of many great things fuelled from KPMG’s Tauranga impressive engine room.

home.kpmg/nz

Denise Arnold: Changemaker

In a world where so much is wrong, BOP legend Denise Arnold makes the right kind of difference – bringing purpose and hope to the abandoned generations of Cambodia.

words nicky adams / photos graeme murray + stacey simpkin

styling lisa shea / hair + makeup desiree osterman

It is relatively rare to meet someone who channels their energies into the greater good rather than individual gain. Even rarer when they seem oblivious to the fact that this trait is in part what makes them exceptional. Denise Arnold, although I’m confident she’ll absolutely hate it being said, is just such a person. In 2007, she founded the Tauranga-based Cambodia Charitable Trust, which, through developing quality education, provides free education to vulnerable Cambodian children (predominantly female). The aim is ultimately to give the children of Cambodia the tools to forge a future for themselves. A future which, otherwise, they would not have even the remotest chance of accessing.

A finalist for this year’s Women Of Influence award, Denise is calm and low key, and what strikes me most as she makes me a cup of tea and we chat about cats, children and COVID, is that while so much of her time must be channeled into the charity, there is a real sense of balance about her. She has a marvellous selection of teas in her tea drawer and has recently rehomed a cat from an aged client at her law firm. Straight away it’s clear she has impeccable taste (the love of tea gave that away) and the kindest of hearts.

A lawyer by profession, in 2006 Denise was busy with two teenage girls and her position as a partner at Tauranga law firm Lyon O’Neale Arnold, when she was galvanised into action by two consecutive events. Her elder daughter Emily had just returned from a school trip to Bangkok, a trip that had heightened every maternal sense of safety and ‘what if’. At the time, Denise was working as a volunteer for ECPAT – End Child Prostitution Pornography And Trafficking (now Child Alert). But with her own daughter away, Denise could not shake the knowledge circling in her head of the literally millions of women and girls who go missing. Around this time, she was triggered by another incident. “I read in the New Zealand Herald about children in Cambodia being rented out of a brothel on a weekly basis – that is no less horrific than on an hourly basis – but for some reason it just hit me to the core. When I read about this I thought emphatically no, no, no, that is not happening on my watch.”

She was told by a friend that a man called Steve Chitty (who became an initial trustee of CCT) was talking about taking businesspeople to Cambodia to introduce honest trade. Steve and Denise spent a year independently researching and learning, during which time Denise became more and more interested in the development aspect. At the end of 2007, the duo headed over to Cambodia. Steve focused on Phnom Penh, and Denise spent about three weeks travelling around rural areas. “That was my way of trying to find out how I was going to bring about long-term change. It’s easy to do good, but it’s harder to do no harm; that’s a really strong principle for me. While we can achieve a goal, we need to be cognitive in our path and the impact that might have.”

Returning from the trip Denise was clear that she wanted to implement change systematically. She identified education as the key, thus the manifesto was set for the establishment of the Cambodian Charitable Trust. The team is made up of key volunteers and educators, as well as Patron Theresa Gattung and Ambassadors Nadia Lim and (former New Zealand prime minister / UN Administrator) Helen Clark. Since 2008 the team in Cambodia has been led by “the truly wonderful, gifted, well respected” country manager Soeun Ouch. Over 14 operational years the organisation may have grown, but the guiding principles remain clear – every person is a volunteer, thus 100 percent of money raised goes exactly where it is intended. Surprisingly, this is actually quite unusual.

Today, the Trust supports 209 schools and tens of thousands of needy children.

Denise doesn’t blather on about how wonderful it feels to make a difference, or the warm fuzzies she gets from providing aid. She is at once compassionate and pragmatic as she talks about the gentle Cambodian culture, and how it is one that welcomes her input. “The people want you to know them – they don’t just want money; they want you to appreciate who they are and the challenges they face.” There was, she says, a learning curve she underwent getting to grips with operating within a totally different economic paradigm, for example quickly realising that instead of handing out pre-made school uniforms, by providing sewing machines and guidance a group of villagers could sew them themselves. The concept of providing the tools, rather than just a pre-packaged solution is an ethos she is passionate about.

When there are so many countries in need, why Cambodia? Simple, says Denise – “I really felt like I was in the right place.” It is perhaps too easy to forget that Cambodia is a country decimated by a brutal 30-year civil war that took place in very recent history. A war which, under the Khmer Rouge regime (1975-9) and Pol Pot, destroyed lives, culture, politicians, leaders, educators, mothers and fathers. An entire generation was wiped out, and another brought up in camps barely surviving starvation and physical abuse. This is a country that was expected to re-learn everything, but in the ultimate of cruel ironies, there was barely anyone left to teach. “The rich history has been dominated by recent history. We’re aware that through Pol Pot a whole generation was lost but also lost were the parenting skills – that will take another generation to correct. Today’s adults were abandoned. There’s a gap that will “take another generation to get right.”

I wonder if, as a conservative society, there is a reluctance to deal with a woman in a position of authority. “Not at all – as a Westerner people turn to you… and I feel we’re sending a strong message to women in Cambodia when our van pulls up and out pile a group of rather rumpled, tired women. They are watching this and thinking, ‘Here are unaccompanied decision makers.’” A turning point for Denise was “the realisation that we had the ability to influence schools far wider than you ever expected. If you retain an open approach to knowledge and expertise and resourcing, then you’re lily jumping. That drove us to think about working into clusters of schools to expand further.” Which all comes back to the concept of teaching someone to fish, rather than giving them a meal.

Still, it must be hard not to be overwhelmed. Denise agrees, but says she took heart when her mother-in-law quoted Eleanor Roosevelt to her: “’It’s better to light a candle than curse the darkness.’ I felt a huge sense of relief that I didn’t need to solve it all, I just needed to do something… My role is to keep my eye on the horizon and keep everyone moving forwards towards a better outcome.” Sometimes, though, such

focus is nigh on impossible. Denise recalls, “We had a baby starving and it really derailed me. I had to try and figure out how to save it. In the end the baby died. I wondered what I could have done differently. My husband said, ‘You’re helping thousands.’ And I said, there’s

no point helping thousands if you lose the value of one. I’ve really struggled with that.”

What drives her, I wonder. “Fundamentally every child deserves to have a childhood and go to school and play, and be happy. They also have a right to the opportunity for a decent life and a good future and education is the key to that I believe.”

The success of the Trust cannot be underestimated. She talks not just of the work of the team but also of the incredible educators – many Tauranga locals – who have generously lent their expertise. Nevertheless, for Denise the years have been filled with constant learning, striving to deliver her best.

As part of her journey, she completed a Masters, and contemplated a PHD.

The pressure must be immense, yet I don’t get the sense that Denise sees the difference between how most of us try to make a difference (I struggle to organise a cake bake) and the incredible work that she is doing. What really strikes me is how she seems to be hands-on in every aspect, from fundraising to liaising with ministries. Her bandwidth seems to be so wide I am frankly floored with admiration. To achieve all she does Denise says she breaks it down into sizeable chunks.

“I will never reach everywhere I want to reach. I’m a one-horse race. I need to focus on what I can do and not be overwhelmed by what I can’t achieve. I can’t afford the mission to drift and dilute us to the point we can’t survive.”

The mission, however, has inevitably been affected by COVID. “The issue last year for Cambodia with COVID wasn’t illness, it was the complete breakdown of the economic system. The families had no work, no income, no food. The contrast between them and us is always grounded in the degree of poverty – we have poverty in New Zealand, but this is poverty with no support network.” Just prior to COVID hitting, she explains that Helen Clark was due to spend four days with them in Cambodia. “I admire her vision and capacity for understanding development issues hugely. I really wanted her to give us an overarching strategic review about where we were going, how we were managing, what our focus could be. Because we do span right from the top, working with the Cambodian Ministry of Education, down to sponsorship and getting children to school – and pretty much everything inbetween. We support schools and teacher training colleges, and the sponsorship of individuals. I was really welcoming Helen’s overview.”

Unfortunately, that trip was cancelled, and instead Denise has found herself dealing with a very different landscape. “Last year it was about the economic impact and verging on starvation. This year the Cambodians have Delta Virus in communities so it’s about economic loss, also the management of the virus in a very poor country with an underprepared health system.” Denise explains how maintaining the educational program requires working with the Ministry to develop strategies for the basics of distance learning, both for the students and the teachers who are training. However, “At the other extreme we

have a humanitarian crisis – no rice, no ability to have medical care… but we can’t let go of the systemic development of education in Cambodia. You also need to make sure the people survive.” So, whereas usually the Trust supports 23 schools and 10,500 children, this has increased to include an additional

186 schools. They have also handed out 1,806 50kg bags of rice.

Denise sees education as key to effecting meaningful change in Cambodia, and Ambassador Nadia Lim is also onboard for the cause.

Peppered through our conversation are loving references to Denise’s husband Doug, their children, grandchildren, her sisters, and nephews. It’s no surprise to find that Denise hasn’t fallen far from her genetic tree – her dad, Brian, is a retired teacher and mum, Fiona, a retired nurse. Both are involved in CCT, combining their skills to set up a system for health screening and training Cambodian nurses to conduct eye tests. Don’t ask me how she keeps all her balls in the air, but it’s apparent her close family help with the juggle. She muses that she sometimes wonders if her daughters Emily and Tegan have missed out in any way by the time she has spent focusing on the Trust – but then she laughs as she points out that as teenagers, they were probably just hugely relieved she had a focus that kept her off their backs.

Clearly her family are immensely proud of her, and they share her philanthropic spirit. Daughter Emily is currently setting up an online business, the Giftery, five percent of the profits from which will go towards the concept of building residential facilities on the school grounds – a vital move to protect the most vulnerable. In this family of overachievers, Denise’s sister Janine is the founder of Bestow Beauty, well-known in New Zealand for its holistic products which promote beauty from within (although its collagen powder also helps with those pesky wrinkles on the outside). Janine and Denise’s other sister Robyn are firm supporters of the Trust, both sponsoring children and through the Bestow Sisterhood program. The Bestow Generositea are beautiful teas, the profits from which are donated to the Trust. This tea and Nadia Lim’s cookbooks will be just some of the products available from the Giftery – raising the funds is, after all, the vital foundation on which the charity is built.

It’s exciting to find out not just how Denise has grown, developed, but how she has rolled with the punches and adapted the Charity to unexpected challenges. Denise is very appreciative of the amazing team – Theresa Gattung, ‘a dear friend and stalwart’, and Nadia Lim, who has been unreserved in her support. It’s little surprise that Denise is a finalist for this year’s Women Of Influence awards. It is an honour for which she is obviously very grateful, but in typical fashion sees it as a reflection of the incredible broader team in both New Zealand and Cambodia. Nevertheless, credit where it is due, Denise is more than just the glue holding all these fantastic people together, she is the tireless champion of the cause: the instigator, the cheerleader, and most importantly the voice that sets the tone, both internally and externally. She has

a very human approach to such a multifaceted task.

If she feels daunted by the fact that this is not a position she can just walk away from, she doesn’t show it. Denise doesn’t miss a beat when she tells me, “I see this as my life’s work and feel really lucky that I have found my calling. Other people spend a lifetime trying to figure out what theirs is.” And this is just one

of many, many reasons that whether she walks away with a trophy or not, she is absolutely a woman of honour.

cctnz.org.nz