Gen-i brings together IT and telecommunications services to provide converged ICT solutions for businesses across New Zealand and Australia.  Market demand and new investment has expanded our regional office based in Napier which services Hawkes Bay and Gisborne clients. Already with a staff of 20+, our Napier office is again growing creating exciting new opportunities within our services team.

We have an opportunity for a Senior Systems Engineer who has mastered the server and virtualisation space, so is ready to take the next step in their IT engineering career.  You will have an extensive   all-round knowledge of IT solutions, first rate problem resolution abilities, along with ability to build great customer relationships through superior communication skills.  You'll feel very comfortable in a presales consultancy situation and have project management capabilities   All this while still finding time to enjoy the fine weather, outdoors and great lifestyle that is the Hawkes Bay.

Day to Day you’ll provide all levels of pre and post sales IT support, systems administration, server engineering and implementation services to a range of business clients with a huge variety of IT infrastructures. By exceeding customer expectations, you'll develop a key role in their organisation and become the customer’s trusted IT advisor.  Showcase your excellent judgement and problem solving abilities managing particularly tricky client issues as needed.

You'll possess strong inter-personal skills, and be proactive and energetic whilst taking ownership of issues.  You’ll enjoy sharing knowledge to benefit the wider team as well as mentoring other Engineers. You'll have an area of expertise in Microsoft Exchange, SANS, VMware or Citrix, or a combination of all of them. Couple this with an industry qualification i.e. MCSE, CCEA, CCNA and you'll be on your way.

As a member of the Telecom New Zealand Group, Gen-i has a team of energetic and passionate people in 17 locations.  We're proud of the reputation we have earned as one of Australasia's most preferred ICT services providers with clients that span 3,300 public and private sector organisations. We are totally committed to achieving outcomes for our clients.  Their success drives us. Their success is our success.

What are you waiting for? Take your career to the next level.  Apply today. www.seek.co.nz/Job/gen-i-senior-systems-engineer-napier/in/hawkes-bay-napier/21566826

During his talk, Rob weighed into the amalgamation debate, and talked about the value of us locally marketing ourselves and acting as a single region.   I pondered on this for a few days, and decided to send a note through to Rob.  What I asked of him was to have Air NZ demonstrate their support for the Hawkes Bay brand. 

On the Air NZ website you could only choose to fly to or from Napier/Hastings.  I asked Rob if he would support an additional destination option on the website to include Hawkes Bay.  Rob wrote back personally (yay!) and said he thought this would be a logical step for Hawkes Bay so that people searching under Napier, Hastings or Hawkes Bay can find the destination and schedule they are seeking. 

 It took a couple of months, but I am stoked to announce that you can now to choose to fly to or from Napier/Hastings or Hawkes Bay. 

 I have to say I was fully impressed with both the responsiveness and follow through that Rob and his team at Air NZ demonstrated here.   Rob doesn’t know me at all, and my experience in dealing with him on this aligns entirely with the essence of who Air NZ as a company is.

 Check it out for yourself - http://www.airnewzealand.co.nz/

Ten Twenty Four pre open release

[caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="500" caption="Ten Twenty Four Restaurant"][/caption]

People Central Ltd’s 80% success rate at getting redundant staff back into work within 2 months has been recognised by WINZ who are keen to keep newly redundant people off the dole queue by subsidising redundancy support by up to 100%.

Our mission now is to get the message out to all employers in the region faced with the dilemma of making staff who are often mates, godparents & family members redundant as a way of sweetening a very bitter pill with real prospects of a viable future in the region.  You can demonstrate your support for the region too by spreading the word to business owners and line managers in your network of this services availability.

Call People Central on 06 833 6465 to support your staff or click here for more information.

It's taken way longer than expected, but is well worth the read.  The exec summary is below, with a link to the full report at the foot of the page.

To answer the obvious 'so what?' question on what happens to all these combined suggestions & priorities for our region's future, the report will be forwarded to all participants, who included:

• The Chamber of Commerce & newly formed Business Hawke's Bay Group
• Hawke's Bay's MP's
• Many active Fruitbowlers
• Key influencers in many HB businesses

The Hawke''s Bay HRINZ committee would like to publicly thank our Vice President, Sue Whiteley, for putting in the hours to compile such a diverse group of people's thoughts into one cohesive document, Unison Fibre for their sponsorship of the event & the Opera House for hosting us.

Executive Summary of Findings
In the full document, the method and detailed findings of the workshop are laid out, but by way of executive summary the key findings are as follows.

Human Capital
•    The further development of Literacy and Numeracy (including Computer Literacy) for school aged children must be a focus for all – not just for our educators
•    Local tertiary providers must align with Universities to provide specific degree programmes which genuinely support the needs of the local current and emerging industries/sectors
•    Continued development of  Centre’s of Educational Excellence should be aligned to these key industries and sectors
•    Industries must create developmental opportunities and career paths to retain talent in region
•    An understanding of the infrastructure requirements required to attract and retain young people in the region should be developed
•    The development of leadership and management capability is key to enhancing the productivity and engagement of the human resource
•    Policies and infrastructure to support and enable the aging population to continue their contribution to the region’s economy must be developed
•    Strategies should be developed to ensure that young people see the Bay as a vibrant, dynamic and attractive place to settle
•    Regional pay rates need to attract talent from out of region and retain talent within region – relying on a “lifestyle” and “cheapest is best” approach will stifle regional and organisational development

Regional Competitiveness
•    Greater and more visible integration and collaboration between the councils is required to enhance and develop the region as a whole
•    Regional strategies are required for business development, tourism and other economic development activities
•    Communities must work together for the good of the region.  Fragmented approaches waste energy – we must have a focused and visible approach to addressing issues which prevents such fragmentation – people should know how to and be encouraged to get involved
•    Organisations should seek opportunities to work together for mutual benefit
•    Out of region is not best - buy local.  To facilitate this local providers must ensure they are expert and competitive
•    Leverage what we do well – identify the top ten current and emerging industries in the region and focus development activity in these areas
•    Attract related industries to the region – provide incentives where possible
•    Conduct research into the perception of the region with businesses – why do businesses locate here and why do they choose elsewhere
•    Maximise the tourist spend
•    Ensure our events schedule is attractive to the younger generations not just Baby Boomers

Infrastructure
•    Seek ways to improve access to the region
•    Ensure the port is supported
•    Technology infrastructure is key
•    Improved space based planning is required to improve the ease of access to and aesthetic of our outdoor and shared purpose spaces
•    Cut the red tape required to do business

Social
•    Improve the support migrants to the region obtain
•    Improve the tolerance, acceptance and local perception of migrants
•    Promote success stories in Hawke’s Bay particularly in relation to success in business – tell the world what we do well
•    Seek to reduce the gap between the “have’s” and “have not’s” in the region
•    Improve consultation with and participation from lower socio economic groups in economic development activities
•    Execute with excellence – address the culture of mediocrity of service delivery and the “cheapest is best” mentality – replace it with the understanding that “Do it once, do it right…gives value for money”

Cultural Diversity
•    Continually work to celebrate our cultural diversity
•    Encourage pride in our cultural heritage

Environment
•    Protect our clean green image now
•    Eco Tourism should be encouraged
•    Ensure our water is used productively and is fairly available

See the full report here & click on the pdf for the August event

Thanks Australia, you were a formidable opponent and provided worthy competition but unfortunately I think you were let down by Cooper (Or did he live up to expectections?)

See the flying magpie?

Onto the final......

GO THE ALL BLACKS!

 

To all those history buffs out there here’s a chance to be involved in some history in the making.

So who is this man called William Colenso? He would have been 200 years young this November. In his time he was a printer and missionary, explorer and botanist, an MP and author – he was controversial, opinionated, insightful and passionate.

Not only one of the fathers of New Zealand, Colenso is a central character in 19^th Century Hawke’s Bay life, so it is fitting his bicentenary be celebrated in, what became his home town.

With this in mind Hawke’s Bay Museum & Art Gallery are hosting a special programme of events to celebrate this important figure from 9 – 13 November 2011.

The Bicentenary will be centered on a two-day academic conference with international author and science historian, Dr Jim Endersby of the University of Sussex joining Peter Wells, author of the new book The Hungry Heart – A Journey with William Colenso as keynote speakers for the conference. Twelve speakers will present new research into all aspects of William Colenso’s life.

An accompanying programme of events held across Hawke’s Bay, hosted by HBMAG and partners will include; a journey into William Colenso’s Napier, a tramp to the foot of Colenso Spur in the Ruahine Ranges, a Choral Evensong and Sunday Service at the Waiapu Anglican Cathedral and a exhibition, floortalk and workshop by award winning Havelock North botanical artist Terrie Reddish at the Hastings City Art Gallery.

Go to www.williamcolenso.co.nz to find out more about the full programme of the conference and events taking place, and to register for the bicentenary.

We hope to see you at the celebrations!

The group has been spurred into action to motivate the councils to commit to the study because of the potential Hawke’s Bay has to be one of the most desirable places to live in New Zealand.

Spokesperson and Napier resident Stuart McLauchlan said although the region is falling “further and further below many economic and social indicators, there was a groundswell of people and organisations keen to make Hawke’s Bay a better place to live and work.

“The time is right for us to now look at how Hawke’s Bay is positioned in a changing world. Hawke’s Bay is a proud region with a fantastic climate, lifestyle and has huge potential,”

The world has become smaller, better connected and more competitive. With the advances in technology people, including our best, can now live and work anywhere” says Mr McLauchlan.

He added that two recent examples of organisations set up to improve Hawke’s Bay and attract business and tourists to the region are Business Hawke’s Bay and Tourism Hawke’s Bay.

Both entities are a great example of a private and public partnership.

“We need to develop a regional vision and plan that is future focused, includes all of our community and seeks to deliver a sound economic base and quality of life.

We are concerned that we are missing out on taking the opportunities which will provide the jobs and career prospects here in Hawke’s Bay for our children and grandchildren,” he said.

“Hastings District Council has agreed to a study and a contribution of $50,000 and we’re now asking Napier to reconsider and say yes, the Hawke’s Bay Regional Council to say yes and both the Central Hawke’s Bay Council and Wairoa Council to also say yes.

“What is wrong with at least looking at how we can do better?”

The study would need to look at the economic performance, social wellbeing, local body governance and the region’s environmental challenges. It would need to consider solutions to address these issues.

Among many startling facts is that Hawke’s Bay has higher unemployment than the national average, income levels, economic growth and growth are lower.

“The current approach to local governance in the region is one issue that needs to be considered but at this stage we’re not pushing the councils to merge, we just need the overall study to be done.

Mr McLauchlan said the group approached others in the community to support the campaign for a study and support had been overwhelming.

“Leaders such as businessmen Ken Sutherland, John Newland, Peter Holley, Ray McKimm, Brem Ellingham and Rod Drury along with community leaders such as Alayna Watene and Denis O’Reilly have put their names and faces to the campaign.

“We’re asking people from all walks of life to come forward and collectively we can get our councils to support a study.

The campaign is headed by Mr McLauchlan includes Brian Martin, John Buck, Simon Tremain, Rebecca Turner, Nic Magdalinos, Damon Harvey and Andrew Wares.

“This is our region, we live and work here, and as guardians we all have a responsibility to our future generations to ensure we have a prosperous and healthy region.