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Alongside baches, family homes and commercial developments, a humble garden shed on a Te Puke farm has received a top architecture award.
The Te Puke shed was named a winner at the prestigious Te Kāhui Whaihanga New
Zealand Institute of Architects Waikato Bay of Plenty architecture awards in Tauranga on April
28.
The potting shed, which doubles as a washing line and a shelter for Jenny and Andrew Natusch's ute, took out an award for best Small Project Architecture, alongside a DoC hut-inspired home in the foothills of the Kaimai Range, a Pāpāmoa beach house and a studio beside a Bethlehem restaurant.
Architect Claire Natusch of Common Space, who designed the shed for her dairy farmer and kiwifruit grower parents, described the structure as "a utility space made beautiful".
A cow got into the garden a week before the judges came to view the shed, so for Claire's mum Jenny, the win came as quite a shock.
"When I think of award-winning architecture, I think of high-profile houses and beautiful kitchen or bathroom renovations," Jenny said. "But to me, this shed is just as important as a kitchen or bathroom, because we use it every day."
Other Bay winners on the night included an eco-friendly waterfront lodge in Te Puna, constructed using timber grown on-site, designed by Brendon Gordon Architects.
Rotorua's SCION Innovation Hub - Te Whare Nui o Tuteata - took out an award for commercial architecture, with awards for housing also going to properties in Hamilton, Mount Maunganui, Raglan, Otama beach and Whangamatā.
An Enduring Architecture Award also went to a 1987 earth-sheltered concrete house in Omori, on Lake Taupō, by WATT architects.
An investment in rangatahi
The Graeme Dingle Foundation has announced it has partnered with Claymark, New Zealand's premium radiata pine manufacturer.
The new partnership will see Claymark provide programme support for up to 800 students within the Bay of Plenty.
With a 25-year history, the Graeme Dingle Foundation delivers programmes - which teach tamariki and rangatahi skills needed to be successful in the workplaces and future communities - to more than 4300 young people across the region.
Western Bay of Plenty manager Dan Allen Gordon has been at the forefront of the Foundation's work across the Bay for 18-plus years and knows how much of a difference this support will make.
"Change is so rapid that today's rangatahi will work in jobs that don't even exist yet. It's more important than ever that we support them to find their pathways.
"Our work not only improves the social fabric of the region but has significant long-term economic benefits."
The foundation's Rotorua manager, Nicola Smallwood, is excited at the opportunity to expand Kiwi Can – a values and life skills programme designed for primary and intermediate school students.
"We've been delivering Kiwi Can in Rotorua since 2018 and have already seen some great outcomes for our tamariki.
"We're delighted to partner with Claymark and reach more tamariki in Rotorua."
As one of the foundation's newest supporters, Claymark employs more than 500 staff at multiple processing sites throughout the Central North Island including Rotorua, Katikati, Thames and Te Kuiti.
Claymark's executive director Paul Pedersen says Claymark recognise the great importance of supporting the community long term.
"Our investment in rangatahi comes with a genuine desire to consistently invest in the future of this region.
"We know the impact the foundation's programmes have, not just for the students, but for the entire community."
Rotorua Airport nominated in Property Industry Awards
Rotorua Airport's terminal redevelopment has been nominated in New Zealand's most prestigious property awards for 2021.
Hosted by Property Council New Zealand, the Property Industry Awards celebrate excellence in design and innovation in the built environment.
The list of 2021 nominees has just been released with Rotorua Airport nominated in the Tourism & Leisure Property Award category for its full redevelopment of the airport terminal.
The two-year project, totalling $5.3 million, was carried out while the terminal continued to operate and proved to be more than just a refresh with significant seismic upgrades, the establishment of a business hub and collaboration with mana whenua to incorporate te reo Māori in the fabric of the overall redevelopment.
The new arrival and departure areas, a food and beverage experience with Terrace Airside and the recent additions of a parents' room and meeting room have all been well received by passengers and the wider community.
Rotorua Airport chief executive Mark Gibb said the team was "extremely honoured" to be nominated for the award.
"In a lot of ways the Property Industry Awards are a benchmark for commercial property development, so we are pleased to see acknowledgement for this significant kaupapa, which continued to progress through the impacts of Covid-19."
The Property Council New Zealand Rider Levett Bucknall Property Industry Awards culminate at the awards dinner in August.
New CEO announced for Western Bay
A new chief executive officer has been announced for the Western Bay of Plenty District Council.
John Holyoake will take the role of retiring chief executive officer Miriam Taris, who was appointed to the role in 2014.
Holyoake is currently chief executive of the Tamaki Regeneration Company - a role he has held since 2015.
Previously, Holyoake has worked for Serco NZ, Housing NZ and the Department of Corrections in senior leadership roles.
"I'm looking forward to leading the Western Bay through this period of change and the opportunities that this will bring for the council and the communities it serves," Holyoake says.
Holyoake will take up the role on July 19.
Engineering scholarship 2021 winners selected
The Acorn Foundation is pleased to announce the five recipients of the 2021 Page/Acorn Engineering Scholarship.
Members of the Acorn Scholarship Committee review applications put forward from local engineering firms, including references and progress reports provided by Competenz to select the best second-year apprentice candidates each year.
The following recipients and their respective workplaces will receive funding to assist with expenses and equipment for the next two years from the Bob & Pat Page Fund:
Torin Bryon from Boshier Engineering in Te Puna, Omri Cook from Gamminco Industrial in Pāpāmoa Beach, Giovanni Dryfhout from Page Macrae Engineering in Te Puke, Ronan Mitchell from Page Macrae Engineering in Mount Maunganui and Connor Watkins from Contract Mechanical Services Ltd in Pāpāmoa Beach.
Acorn Foundation general manager Lori Luke said the Page/Acorn Engineering Scholarship programme has been running for 13 years.
"Nearly 60 well-deserving apprentices and their workplaces have now received support due to the generosity of Bob and Pat Page.
"It is wonderful to have the Acorn Foundation manage such a worthwhile endeavour."
The Page Macrae Engineering team were thrilled with the awards.
New organisational adviser to help social agencies
SociaLink has a new organisational adviser.
Luke Wilson comes from an extensive background in finance and accounting for public and private sectors.
Wilson has worked for the district health boards, health and disability organisations and national government organisations.
Based in Hamilton, Wilson said will aim to be in the Bay of Plenty at least one day a week.
SociaLink is the Western Bay umbrella group for social service providers and community organisations, and Wilson's role is to help those thinking about establishing a group or already running one find funding, set up a workable structure and put them in touch with like-minded organisations to collaborate and learn from each other.
"I can help with financial knowledge and services, assist with ongoing governance, help organisations identify areas they want to see improvement and we offer 12 months of ongoing organisational support."
Wilson says despite the changes after Covid there's still plenty of money about, but there is more accountability for how it is spent.
"Agencies need to be able to fill in those checklists and tick all the boxes."
Growing your business by design thinking
Clare Swallow knows how powerful design thinking can be for businesses.
Her business, Mulberry St, focuses on helping other businesses have lightbulb moments by using the technique of design thinking.
The University of Waikato alumna, who in 2015 was named as one of New Zealand's most digitally savvy women, will deliver a paper on design thinking through the University of Waikato's Master of Business Administration course this year called Creating Positive Disruption.
"The basic premise of design thinking is to bring human beings back into the centre of our problem solving," says Swallow.
"For so long we have been taught, 'Don't come with a problem, come with a solution' and now we need to break that model."
Swallow says design thinking takes people on a journey into the minds of their customers or employees and, depending on the challenge or opportunity, by using the process they will discover what actions are needed.
In addition to teaching the paper, Swallow is also helping to deliver a short course in design thinking through Priority One and the University of Waikato called Design Thinking for Business Impact.
"After speaking with CEOs in the Bay of Plenty we found a step change was needed in how businesses were addressing innovation and growth. There was a desire to come at innovation from a fresh perspective.
"Organisations often create a new role because they think they need an innovation manager, or they need to create an innovation lab. Some of those things are certainly an enabler but really it is a cultural change that's needed."
The short course will start in May.
Māori language course for business and accounting sector
Taurua Grant (Ngāti Whakaue) of Reo Whairawa Limited came away from Kura Reo Pakihi excited and enthused about the future of te reo Māori in the business and accounting sector.
Kura Reo Pakihi is a Māori language course focussed on te reo Māori me ngā tikanga (the Māori language and culture) for use in the business workplace.
More than 100 business people attended the Māori language course hosted by Reo Whairawa Limited at Toi Ohomai Institute of Technology's Rotorua campus on April 19 and 20.
Taurua established Kura Reo Pakihi in 2019, in an effort to support the use of te reo Māori in the sector that he works in.
"It is my opinion that we need to develop the Māori language in all areas and sectors that we as Māori are active in, to keep our treasured language relevant and prevent it from going obsolete."
After being postponed in 2020 due to Covid, this year's Kura Reo Pakihi event was increased to 100 attendees from 80 attendees in 2019 due to demand.
Attendees came from as far north as Whangārei and Ngāti Hine, down to Ōtautahi (Christchurch) and Ngāi Tahu. There was representation from over 25 different organisations, including banks, accountants, fund managers, and iwi entities.
Kura Reo Pakihi is held at Tangatarua Marae (Toi Ohomai campus), with attendees sleeping overnight in Ihenga (the wharenui) to enhance the learning experience.
Class topics include mihi (introductions), whakataukī (proverbs), grammar, and business terminology. Taurua said that Kura Reo Pakihi is privileged to be able to call on the expertise of such highly regarded tutors, who are all from Rotorua, and whakapapa to Te Arawa: Anaha Hiini, Kanapu Rangitauira, Mataia Keepa and Rie Morris.
Taurua is already planning the 2022 event.
Tourism Bay of Plenty seeks new chief executive
Tourism Bay of Plenty's chief executive Kristin Dunne is moving on after five years at the helm.
Now, Tāpoi Te Moananui ā Toi is searching for a new leader to step into her shoes.
Reflecting on her five years at the helm, Dunne says it had been an "extremely rewarding" experience.
"This has not been an easy decision for me, but I will be forever grateful for the opportunity to lead the Tourism Bay of Plenty team, all of whom are so talented.
"I will miss them greatly."
Current Tourism Bay of Plenty trustee Oscar Nathan will step down from the board to fulfil the acting leadership role until July 1 while searching for a permanent chief executive.
Police arrested members and seized over $1.5m in assets in the western Bay of Plenty. Video / Tom Eley