Latest news with #ŌtūmoetaiCollege
Scoop
23-05-2025
- General
- Scoop
Community Drills Boost Tauranga's Emergency Response
Practicing responding to an emergency with neighbours at a Community Emergency Hub has been described as beneficial by participants. Readiness drills are taking place as part of Tauranga City Council's pilot programme to launch these hubs, where you can go to share skills and resources with your neighbours, information about what's happening in an emergency, and support others who are in the same situation as you and your family. Once hubs are launched, readiness drills take place to simulate how they might run. These readiness drills walk participants through setting up, working together, and problem solving. Raewyn Bell attended the readiness drill at C3 Church / The Atrium. Having lived in Christchurch during the earthquakes, she says being able to help in an emergency felt good. 'Disasters can be challenging and it's better not to be alone. I've enjoyed getting to know more about my own neighbourhood from other locals. They know things that I don't which benefits me for everyday living, but I also feel a bit better prepared for an emergency.' Kathy Webb attended two readiness drills as a participant. She says having the practice is reassuring, knowing how to respond if the time ever comes. 'While we hope it's never needed, it's comforting to know there are well-prepared places ready to support us in an emergency like the hubs.' Council's Emergency Management Team Leader, Daniel Pearce, says the hubs aim to empower the community with knowledge to help the people closest to them. 'It's human nature to want to help in emergencies. Getting involved with your nearest hub is a great way to offer your skills and support the people around you while the most urgent callouts are prioritised by emergency services.' You do not need to attend a launch event to join a readiness drill. Everyone is welcome to get involved. 'If you live nearby and want to get some more information about the hubs – we'd love to have you come down to upcoming events. If you can't make the next ones due to other commitments, that's no worries, we'll keep hosting events in the future to give participants the confidence to stand up and run the hubs - if a disaster does strike.' Hubs have been launched in Matua, Ōtūmoetai, Bellevue and Brookfield as part of the pilot programme. Readiness drills are taking place at three hubs in the coming weeks: one at Ōtūmoetai College on 25 May between 2 and 4pm, another at Matua Bowls Club on 8 June between 2 and 4pm, and the third at Te Kura o Manunui on 11 June between 6 and 8pm. The next locations for Community Emergency Hubs are in the process of being identified, meaning the programme will expand into other areas in Tauranga. 'Come to a local meeting or practice night, bring a neighbour or local friend with you, and break the ice before it's the "real deal". It's quite reassuring to learn about your local community and the hubs before you absolutely need it,' says Raewyn. For more information, and to find locations and dates for upcoming hub launches and readiness drills, head to
NZ Herald
21-05-2025
- Business
- NZ Herald
Pals co-founders: How they went from surfing buddies to RTD moguls
In this case, the big stress is picking the new flavours and colours for the Pals RTD range, which has built its brand on a soft pastel palette of sophisticated fruit flavours. 'When it's finally released into the market. It's not like a celebration moment. It is for the team, but for Nick and I, it's just this huge sigh of relief.' It's no small thing for a drinks brand that has built its reputation on fresh flavour and a colourful non-gendered approach to look and feel. 'I think the portfolio has to adapt over time, which is quite hard because you get your loyalists who are like, not the pink one or the yellow,' says Croad partner and long-time pal Nick Marshall. 'How can you kill those flavours? But there's a mixture of data, there's some intuition, there's some trend-based stuff.' Being in a consumer business, you have to be adaptable, he says. 'For us it's making sure that we're not always chopping and changing, but we are trying new things and still taking has definitely been part of our business model from day dot.' For the record, Croad and Marshall aren't about to give away what the next flavour will be. The pair have been friends since they were 11. So the Pals name is pretty apt. They founded the drinks company in 2019 with another old friend, broadcaster Jay Reeve (and his wife Anna). But in a sense, it's a partnership that was forged at Ōtūmoetai College in Tauranga and in years of surfing at Mount Maunganui. But despite that early connection, the pair have had long and different career paths. Both studied commerce at university, although Croad went to Waikato and Marshall headed to Otago. Apart from catching up during summer holidays, that's where their paths diverged for many years. Marshall's career path is a diverse one. He started out in sales – selling HRV air conditioning systems door to door, before moving to real estate and then heading to Australia to work in mining. 'I always, from quite a young age, wanted to do my own thing. What that was gonna materialise into, I never really knew, but I tried a lot of things,' he says. Croad, on the other hand, took a more traditional corporate path. He started straight out of university in marketing roles in the fast-moving consumer goods (FMCG) sector. He ended up in senior marketing roles for NZ Wine Cellars and Woolworths. It was from there that the passion for building something in the liquor industry started. Croad and Marshall had stayed in touch. 'It was sort of like a once every few months [we'd] Skype and talk about different business ideas,' Croad says. There was always a plan to start a business of some sort, he says. 'It just got to a point, it was like, let's just start something. It may not be 100% the right option from day one, but it's gonna give us the learnings to evolve.' So the pair (with the Reeves) started a wine brand in 2016. Pals was born of necessity to some extent, says Marshall. 'We were looking at all sorts of things,' he says. 'We were quite innovative, doing the first five-litre bottles, we did a collaboration with Stolen Girlfriends Club, which was, an amazing brand partnership, we looked at wine-based slushies, wine-based ice blocks, you name it, we tried it.' Eventually, though, they realised it was selling wine itself that was the problem. Looking back at the almost immediate success of the Pals brand, it all seems quite obvious, Marshall says. 'But at the time, it was actually quite novel.' There were plenty of RTDs on the market, but people would bring a couple to a party and try and hide them, he says. 'No one really resonated with the brands, that's where we felt we had real connection with consumers.' Croad credits the success to a combination of small things they got right with the brand. When it comes to how they approach the financial side and generally deal with money, Croad says he has a highly analytical approach. 'Not through choice. It's just how I'm wired. For me to make any decision with a financial implication, I look at every possible scenario there is.' Marshall admits he started with a more relaxed attitude to money. 'Early on, it was whatever came in went out, and [his spending] was mostly experience driven,' he says. 'For me, money has always been more of a freedom thing than it has been about buying stuff. I've certainly stuck with that. But I've learned over time that, for a rainy day, it's good to have some in the back pocket. Mat's been really good for that.' 'We've grown up and we are a proper business now with official titles and proper responsibilities.' Listen to the full episode to hear more from Money Talks is a podcast run by the NZ Herald. It isn't about personal finance and isn't about economics - it's just well-known New Zealanders talking about money and sharing some stories about the impact it's had on their lives and how it has shaped them. The series is hosted by Liam Dann, business editor-at-large for the Herald. He is a senior writer and columnist, and also presents and produces videos and podcasts. He joined the Herald in 2003. Money Talks is available on iHeartRadio, Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts.
NZ Herald
16-05-2025
- General
- NZ Herald
Ōtūmoetai College marks 60 years of community impact and growth
In Farthing's opinion, the school's longevity and consistency made it a cornerstone of the area. One testament to that stability is its leadership history – five principals in 60 years. Howard Webber was the founding principal from 1965 to 1970. He handed over to Alastair Murray, who served until 1983 and later became chief inspector for the Department of Education in the Waikato and Bay of Plenty. Then came Peter Malcolm, who had a long rein from 1984–2000, followed by Dave Randell, who led for 17 years from 2000-2017. The current principal is Russell Gordon, who Farthing said had continued that legacy. 'It shows great stability.' Farthing served under three of those principals and said while each brought different strengths, they all shared a passion for the school's success. When Ōtūmoetai College opened, it was designed for 800 students with a standard layout of Nelson blocks, an administration area and a library. Growth soon followed. 'A science block was added, then a new library. The original gym was joined by a second one. 'The school has served more than 2000 students for many years now.' As the student population grew, so did the staff. Long-serving educators became part of the institution's DNA – deputy principals like Pip Woodward, Sheryl Dawson, Dallas Collett, and Farthing himself. Heads of departments provided enduring leadership. 'English teachers like Alex Gray and David Shefferd. Science educators Paul Furneaux and Jean Gratten. Technology experts Ross Davidson and Kevin Meyer. 'In PE, we had Noel Hull and Jamie Davis. In social sciences, myself, Larry Dixon, and Nick Page,' Farthing said. Other names were recalled: Brian Ducker, Bob Addison, Barry Herring, Iain MacGregor, Henry Dixon, Eileen Oates, Marny Bradley, Donovan Bell, Bob Walls and caretaker Bill Nicholls. Curriculum, naturally, had evolved with time and changing societal values. 'There's now a greater emphasis on exploring te ao Māori. The college focus is teaching the broader story of Aotearoa New Zealand – and incorporating Māori concepts and values into everyday,' Farthing said. Technology and, more recently, artificial intelligence have dramatically reshaped how education is delivered. 'When I started as DP in 1997, I didn't even have an email address. Now you can't run the school without a phone.' Outside the classroom, Ōtūmoetai College has excelled in extra-curricular pursuits, especially in the arts and sport. 'There's always been an absolute delight in extra-curriculars,' Farthing said. 'From the early 1970s, Bob Addison's musicals earned acclaim, and the school has gained national prominence in drama and debating.' The school's international programme added depth and diversity. 'We have an absolute opportunity in what I call the cultural flowering of NZ – through their food, clothing, traditions, how they celebrate – and it's become woven into our Pākehā and Māori culture,' Farthing said. In 1978, the school was gifted land in the Kaimai Range by the Mackersey family, leading to the establishment of an outdoor education centre. 'That land has been invaluable to our outdoor programmes,' Farthing said. The sense of tradition runs deep. The Cook family was an example of the school's intergenerational legacy. Duncan Cook, son of foundation board member Mrs DNJ Cook, attended the college, as did his children. His daughter, Ashley, is now on staff, and his grandchildren are enrolled. Sporting success has been another source of pride. The school is known nationally for its volleyball and netball programmes, thanks to Stewart Henderson and Sheryl Dawson. 'We've been strong across many sports – basketball, athletics, cricket, hockey, kayaking, rowing, rugby, swimming, squash – it's all been there.' Ōtūmoetai College produced high-achieving alumni. Cricketer Trent Boult, hockey coach Alan Galletly, his Olympian daughter Joanne and All Black Gary Braid and Māori All Black Glen Jackson have walked its halls. Sam Charlton played a record number of games for the NZ Black Sticks. In academics, Rhodes scholar Richard Higgins, engineering professor Jonathan Cullen at Cambridge, choreographer Michael Ralph, Emma Dwight who won a scholarship to Harvard, and others who worked at Nasa, as senior doctors and a King's Counsel were among its most notable graduates. 'At the end of the day, the attitude a student brings often determines their path and how the individual will drive his or her own success,' Farthing said.
