The search is officially on for Central Auckland’s best and brightest businesses after the launch of the Westpac Auckland Central Business Awards 2011. Held at Orams Marine Boatpark on Tuesday May 3, the official opening attracted over 150 attendees from Central Auckland businesses.

Auckland Chamber of Commerce Chief Executive Michael Barnett says that the chance to recognise and reward those businesses who are outstanding in their field should not be passed up. “Awards like this highlight true excellence in business and lift benchmarks for everyone” he says.

Entering the Awards has a business value of its own: it encourages you to review your performance and identify your business strengths which can lead to future growth.

Westpac General Manager Business Banking, Ian Blair agrees. “This is an outstanding opportunity for Auckland Central businesses, both big and small, to recognise their own hard work and achievements.  As proud supporters of national, regional and local business, Westpac is thrilled to be associated with these prestigious awards and we look forward to building on this new partnership in the future.”

The Awards entry process is open from Wednesday 4 May to Friday 1 July.

The Westpac Auckland Central Business Awards 2011 categories are:

• Excellence in Innovation
• Excellence in Workplace Safety
• Excellence in Marketing
• Best Emerging Business
• Excellence in Exporting
• Excellence in Service Delivery
• Excellence in Retail
• Excellence in Business Leadership.

From the winners of the eight categories, the Westpac Supreme Business Excellence Award winner will be selected.

Category winners and the overall winner will be announced at a black-tie Gala Dinner on November 10.

For more information contact Michael Barnett, Chief Executive, Auckland Chamber of Commerce: Mobile 0275 631 150

Westpac provides free operational hub for any Christchurch business
The recovery of hard hit Christchurch businesses will be boosted by free access to the essentials of day to day trading with the launch of The Westpac Business Hub.

The Westpac Business Hub will be open to any Christchurch business and provide a range of services free of charge including phone, broadband, video conferencing, service work spaces, formal and casual meeting places and a corporate lounge.

Located next to C.B.S Arena, the Westpac Business Hub will cover 2,500sqm and can be extended to meet additional demand. It is likely to be open for up to 18 months.

Ian Blair, Westpac’s General Manager of Business Bank, said the Hub is a result of feedback from customers. Since the February 22nd quake, Westpac has contacted nearly 3000 of its relationship managed business customers in Christchurch city. A recurring theme has been the practical difficulties of doing business on a day-to-day basis.

Mr Blair said “The Westpac Business Hub will offer all the essential tools of doing business – phone, photocopying, office space and video conferencing capability and the fit-out will have the look and feel of a business environment. All free of charge.

Another impact from the quake has been that not only has a business had to relocate, but so have their suppliers and customers. Therefore, being able to have those regular and important face to face meetings and build and maintain those relationships has become more difficult. The Westpac Business Hub is easy to access from most parts of the city and can act as a central meeting place to help with those types of problems.

Many businesses are also dealing with insurance and other important issues and meeting with paid advisors has not been easy. To help with that, we are looking at those supporting services such as lawyers, accountants and other advisors being available on site at the The Westpac Business Hub.”

The Canterbury Employers Chamber of Commerce and Recovery Canterbury will both have a presence at the Hub.

All Christchurch businesses will have access to the facilities although Westpac customers will have some priority. The Westpac Business Hub is expected to be operational in May and Westpac will align with strategic partners to help broaden its capability and support the effort to get Christchurch business back on its feet.

“Westpac has been integral to New Zealand and Canterbury through good times and bad for 150 years. We pride ourselves on that and we pride ourselves on listening to our customers. The Westpac Business Hub is an example of those two attributes,” Mr Blair said.

For more information you can log on to: www.westpacbusinesshub.co.nz

An annual survey by the Ethisphere Institute has named The Westpac Group as one of the world’s most ethical companies for the fourth consecutive year.

The Westpac Group was one of only three Australasian companies represented in the list that includes global brands American Express, eBay, Ford Motor Company, Adidas, Starbucks, PepsiCo and Xerox Corporation.

The Ethisphere Institute is a leading international think tank dedicated to the creation, advancement and sharing of best practices in business ethics, corporate social responsibility, anti-corruption and sustainability.

The selection process was stringent with the Ethisphere Institute reviewing thousands of companies and evaluating a record number of applications to identify the 110 companies that were named on this year’s World’s Most Ethical Companies list.

“Each year, the competition gets more intense for the World’s Most Ethical Companies and this year was no exception with a record number of organisations vying for this distinguished honour,” said Alex Brigham, Executive Director of the Ethisphere Institute.

“As companies strive to maintain a competitive advantage, good ethics translate into better business, and better business means better bottom lines. The Westpac Group recognises the important role that principled practices play in brand reputation, which ultimately is the most valuable asset for a corporation.”

Methodology
The methodology for the WME ranking includes reviewing codes of ethics, litigation and regulatory infraction histories; evaluating the investment in innovation and sustainable business practices; looking at activities designed to improve corporate citizenship; and studying nominations from senior executives, industry peers, suppliers and customers.

You can read more about the methodology and view the complete list of the 2011 World’s Most Ethical Companies at http://ethisphere.com/worlds-most-ethical-companies-rankings/.

This is a story of a young boy who at the age of 12 dreamed of being a watchmaker, and like all good stories, this has a very happy ending.

Now 71, David Brownson has certainly come a long way since he was 12.  He now owns Brownson’s Jewellers in New Plymouth, an extremely successful jewellery business that his father began in 1929, but through David’s willingness to embrace technology, his client base stretches far and wide.

David was in his teens when he began to learn about the jewellery business.  “At the age of 16 I was not that keen on learning French and heading down an academic path,” he says.

At 18 David joined forces with his father in the family business, Brownson’s Jewellers in New Plymouth, which he eventually took over when his father retired.  Things seemed to be going well and falling into place nicely for David, but like anyone in business knows, you have your ups and your downs.

“One of the mistakes I made,” David candidly admits, “was trying to compete with the multi-nationals on price.  The more I did this, my turnover increased but it seriously eroded my profits to the point where the margins were all but non-existent.”

He then took a radical step: he stopped all advertising, got back to the basics and moved into one-off manufactured jewellery.  He not only bought new machinery to create the pieces, but also the computer software needed to create the unique designs which has had a welcome add-on effect.

“I have the best job in the world,” David declares.  “I now get all these hugs from women who just have tears in their eyes when they see the final piece created for them.”

Retaining that family legacy, David’s son Wayne is now part of the business and David laughs at any suggestion he may retire soon.

“My father worked until he was 75 so I look forward to learning a lot more yet.”

David also says he is appalled when he hears people can’t understand the latest technology. “It’s all a mindset. There is no reason for anyone not to continue learning and taking up new challenges.  My motto is ‘never say die’. When it got tough we looked at what we could do differently and the answer was there in the computer.”

This attitude has seen the business nearly double in growth over the past two years, to the extent they have to expand their floor space.

 David has a new range of special Kiwiana jewellery in the making, which includes a silver fern he is particularly proud of. He also points out that aside from the diamonds, everything about his products are New Zealand made, even down to the castings.

 “I love my work and I love making people’s dreams come true.”

 So as we stated in the beginning, this story has a happy ending for everyone.

This time next year Jess Britten, the winner of the Westpac Young Fashion Designer Award, hopes to be enrolled at London’s Central St Martin’s College of Art and Design, a school that has produced some of the world’s most well known fashion designers.

With famed motorcycle inventor and engineer John Britten and former international model Kirsteen Britten as parents, it’s little wonder that Jess has her sights set at the top.

But it takes more than good genes to be a success.

Meeting at their Christchurch home, love RED met with Jess, Kirsteen and sister Izzy, and it quickly became clear the Britten women aren’t afraid of a bit of hard work.

“It’s about acknowledging what you’re good at and going for it,” says the 20 year-old. “My theory is that if you are passionate and have a bit of natural talent then all that stands between you and your dreams is hard work. And that just makes success sweeter when you achieve what you set out to.” 

Kirsteen agrees, comparing Jess’s drive to her father’s, who tragically passed away in 1995. “John always used to say that he wasn’t actually more talented than other people – and that’s debatable – but he had tenacity. That was the one different thing he had. He always finished the things he started.”

It was apparent from an early age that Jess would have a career in fashion, begging Kirsteen for sewing lessons at just seven years old.

“The first thing I made, and I think mum still has it somewhere, is a full length polar fleece skirt that was baby purple with green flowers all over it.”

“I think she wore it to bed for a while as well,” laughs Kirsteen. “Everywhere she went people said ‘wow, what a cool skirt’. Everyone wanted to know where she got it. I wanted to respect all their journeys and I could see that fashion was where she was heading and where she had great talent.”

Jess says it was this kind of encouragement that meant her ideas never stopped.

“No one ever said to me ‘you look crazy or bizarre’ – I thought I looked great. The way you are nurtured is a huge part of it. In my opinion, no matter what you are born with, it can be trodden down by people telling you what you should do and

I can’t remember mum ever saying ‘yes’ or ‘no’ or ‘that looks hideous’. She let me form my own opinion, whatever I thought looked great – that was what mattered.”

It was Izzy who suggested Jess enter the Westpac Young Designer Competition, even missing a lecture at Polytechnic just hours before the competition closed to model for Jess’s entry.

But Izzy, a commerce student at Christchurch Polytechnic Institute of Technology, jokes she’s yet to see any personal benefits.

“I bought a dress in an op shop a year ago and I’m still waiting for Jess to hem it!”

Apart from studying at St Martins, Jess’s short term goals include work experience with a New Zealand label and an internship overseas.

Ultimately she hopes all this hard work and training will one day lead to her having her own label.

“I’m still figuring out where I’m best placed in the market. You have to find the balance between being commercial and being a creative genius. I don’t find it useful to look at books or what other people are doing because it affects you subconsciously. I see everything around me and what it could be.”

But in the meantime, Jess’s $5,000 prize money from the Westpac Young Fashion Designer Award and mentoring from Kiwi designers Huffer will go a long way to getting her to London.

What is a Business Banking review?

We can work with you to suggest new or better ways to do things, including:

• cash flow management
• lending structure
• almost anything to do with money in your business

Getting a Business Banking review:

• is quick
• there’s no obligation
• you don’t have to be a Westpac customer

How to set up a Business Banking review:

• complete the online form to request a Business Banking review

The information on this page is presented subject to our legal page and any other terms and conditions that Westpac may impose from time to time. It is subject to change without notification.

Copyright©2008 Westpac New Zealand Limited

We can help with:

• cashflow management
• smart investment opportunities
• flexible and cost effective finance options
• additional services for staff and students

Cash flow management

• review of your cash management, payment and banking processes
• save on your day-to-day banking with a schools transaction account
• view accounts and authorise payments simply and easily with Business Online banking – and pay no monthly subscription fee
• overdrafts available to help manage cash flow variations
• streamline staff expense management with MasterCard BusinessCard
• advice and products to make and receive international payments
• special rates for credit card processing and for leasing an EFTPOS terminal

Smart investment opportunities

• on-call savings account to earn interest on your school’s deposits
• term deposits to park surplus funds
• advice from Investment Advisers on developing your investment portfolio

Flexible and cost-effective finance options

• loan and interest rate options for bridging finance or longer-term finance needs
• up to 100% finance of the GST exclusive purchase price of new capital equipment or new vehicles, using the purchased assets as security in most cases.

Additional services for staff and students

• staff could be eligible for ‘mates rates’ on their personal banking with our Government Employee Pac
• students can learn about saving and managing their money with Westpac’s range of workshops, online tools and calculators
• students could gain by being involved in our work experience programme
• schools could access advice, resources and people as a result of our major sponsorships of the Halberg Trust, Sir Peter Blake Trust, and Westpac Rescue Helicopters.

Refer to the relevant brochures or website pages for detailed information on each Westpac product or service mentioned. Terms, conditions, fees and charges apply to Westpac products and services. Applications for finance are subject to Westpac’s current lending criteria.You can get a copy of the current disclosure statement for Westpac New Zealand Limited and the investment statement for any securities for which an investment statement is required from any Westpac branch in New Zealand free of charge. Disclosure Statements for Westpac Investment Advisers are available on request and free of charge from any Westpac Investment Adviser. The information on this page is presented subject to our legal page and any other terms and conditions that Westpac may impose from time to time. It is subject to change without notification.

Copyright©2009 Westpac New Zealand Limited

Flexible and competitive finance solutions:

• loan and interest rate options for bridging finance or longer-term finance needs
• interest rates linked to wholesale financial markets for larger facilities
• up to 100% finance for new equipment, a new plant or a new fleet
• up to 100% finance for new equipment, a new plant or a new fleet, using the purchased assets as security

Cashflow management:

• cash management and banking processes review
• streamlined payment options for making and receiving payments
• convenient, cost efficient payroll systems
• Business Online banking to view accounts and authorise payments simply and easily
• low-security overdrafts—permanent or temporary—or credit
• one of our business card options
• foreign currency accounts and foreign currency payment transfer advice

Risk management:

• interest rate risk management strategies using market derivative products
• foreign exchange rate hedging
• reliable international transaction handling
• range of commercial insurance options
• quarterly economic forecasts and weekly economic commentary
• helping you meet your employer requirements for KiwiSaver

Maximising and protecting your personal wealth:

• financial planning and advice from our qualified investment advisers
• access to the resources and expertise of our specialised investment business
• retirement planning, superannuation and KiwiSaver advice
• managed funds and access to new primary issues

Westpac’s current lending criteria apply to all applications for finance. Full details of the terms, conditions, exclusions, and the underwriters for insurance are contained in the relevant policy documents. Terms and conditions apply to all Westpac products and services. Most of the above products and services are provided by Westpac New Zealand Limited. Some of the above products and services may be provided by Westpac Banking Corporation ABN 33 007 457 141, incorporated in Australia (New Zealand division). For more information or a copy of the Product Disclosure Statement for any product which requires a Product Disclosure Statement, please contact the International Business team.

You can get a copy of the current disclosure statement for Westpac New Zealand Limited and a copy of the investment statement for any securities for which an investment statement is required from any Westpac branch in New Zealand free of charge. Westpac New Zealand Limited.

The information on this page is presented subject to our legal page and any other terms and conditions that Westpac may impose from time to time. It is subject to change without notification.

Copyright©2009 Westpac New Zealand Limited

EFTPOS Solutions

• credit card processing discounts
• discounted prices and deals for EFTPOS terminal leasing

Business banking

• everyday business transaction account discounts
• discounted cash handling charges
• discounted cheque clearance fees
• preferential rates for equipment finance
• discount on business loan establishment fees
• no annual account fee on your BusinessPLUS Gold MasterCard for the first year*

Personal banking

• home loan with no establishment or re-documentation fees
• a discount on our standard home loan interest rates, depending on loan amount and type
• a personal loan with no establishment fee and a discount off our standard rates
• no annual account fee on your Westpac credit card for the first year**
• free hotpoints® membership for the first year
• no additional card fee for the first year if the additional credit card is requested at the time of the card application**
• 10% discount on home, contents and boat insurance#
• 7.5% discount on life and home loan insurance
• no initial entry charges on a unit trust or retirement plan

We provide banking deals to members of these industry associations^

• Booksellers NZ
• Electrical Contractors Association of NZ
• Federated Farmers
• Hire Industry Association of NZ
• Hospitality Association of NZ
• Master Plumbers Gasfitters & Drainlayers NZ
• Nursery and Garden Industry Association
• NZ Association of Optometrists
• NZ Dental Association
• NZ Medical Association
• NZ Retailers Association
• NZ Sports Industry Association
• NZ Veterinary Association
• Restaurant Association of NZ
• Teleflora
• Tourism Industry Association NZ
• Practice Managers and Administrators Association of NZ

*   If you have a personal Westpac Gold or Titanium card, you won’t pay the BusinessPLUS annual account fee while your personal Westpac Gold or Titanium card account is open.

** Excludes Westpac Low Interest MasterCard and Westpac’s business MasterCards.

# The 10% discount does not apply to the earthquake and fire service levies and GST elements of the insurance premiums.

^Business banking benefits of the association package apply to each store or business that remains a paid member of one of the above associations. The personal banking benefits apply to full members of the association, or to sole traders, or to directors or principal shareholders of an organisation that is a member of one of the above associations.

Westpac Association Package terms and conditions apply. Please refer to the relevant brochures or this website for detailed information on each Westpac product or service mentioned. Terms, conditions, fees and charges may apply. You can get a copy of the current disclosure statement for Westpac New Zealand Limited and the investment statement for any securities for which an investment statement is required from any Westpac branch in New Zealand free of charge.

Refer to our credit cards, hotpoints®, Unit Trust or Retirement Plan pages for more information and terms and conditions. Terms, conditions and exclusions apply to all insurance cover mentioned and can be found in the relevant policy documents.

The information on this page is presented subject to our legal page and any other terms and conditions that Westpac may impose from time to time. It is subject to change without notification.

Copyright©2009 Westpac New Zealand Limited

We can help with:

• flexible and cost effective finance options
• smart investment options for your firm and your clients
• day-to-day banking and settlement needs
• electronic banking
• risk management
• personal banking benefits for the partners

Flexible and cost-effective finance options:

• an overdraft facility to help deal with working capital fluctuations
• loan and interest rate options for longer-term finance needs
• up to 100% finance of the GST exclusive purchase price of new IT or other equipment, using the purchased assets as security in most cases
• loans for your partners to make new capital contributions

Smart investment options for your firm and your clients:

• on-call savings account to earn interest on your firm’s deposits
• Multi-Deposit Scheme (MDS), a money management service, to help you look after money on behalf of your clients (available through DeskBank)
• term deposits to park surplus funds

Day-to-day banking and settlement needs:

• special pricing for professional firms on day-to-day transaction accounts
• easy to set up and manage trust accounts
• same-day transfer of settlement funds to accounts at most NZ banks (specifically designed for solicitors and available through DeskBank)
• streamline staff expense management with MasterCard BusinessCard
• competitive rates for credit card processing and for leasing an EFTPOS terminal
• working with you to enhance your banking and payment processes.

Electronic banking:

You can access and manage your accounts through Deskbank, a Windows® based software package which can be installed on your PC or network; or Business Online, our internet based service.

DeskBank is ideal for firms who need to:

• access their Multi-Deposit Scheme (MDS) to manage and monitor their clients’ deposits
• transfer settlement funds to accounts at most New Zealand banks – in real-time.

Business Online:

• makes it easier to process bulk payments when two or three people need to authorise transactions.

Risk management:

• commercial insurance options – from key person protection to building and contents cover
• interest rate risk management – strategies using market derivative products
• advice and products to help reduce the risk around handling money internationally and converting currencies

Personal banking benefits for the partners:

• ask us about preferential rates and savings for partners of your firm
• access specialist investment advisers who can provide advice across all asset classes and assistance with retirement or succession planning.

Refer to the relevant brochures or website pages for detailed information on each Westpac product or service mentioned. Terms, conditions, fees and charges apply to Westpac products and services. Applications for finance are subject to Westpac’s current lending criteria.You can get a copy of the current disclosure statement for Westpac New Zealand Limited and the investment statement for any securities for which an investment statement is required from any Westpac branch in New Zealand free of charge. Disclosure Statements for Westpac Investment Advisers are available on request and free of charge from any Westpac Investment Adviser. The information on this page is presented subject to our legal page and any other terms and conditions that Westpac may impose from time to time. It is subject to change without notification.

Copyright©2009 Westpac New Zealand Limited