Some of the following links are to PDF documents. You can view these files using the Adobe Acrobat Reader.
Who's Got Your Back [PDF 1.6MB]
Looking after your back while you're working is key to being able to earn a living over the long-term. Everyone can get the odd backache after a day on the job but if you have chronic or acute pain, you need to visit your GP...
Living Greener at Home [PDF 2MB]
When architect Johann Bernhardt left his native Germany to immigrate to New Zealand, the European nation hadn't made the huge strides toward eco-housing that it has today. But they were realising that they needed to do something to curb their effect on the environment. "In Germany there were so many problems. The environment was deteriorating at a fast rate and it was very visible," says Johann...
Succeeding in Tough Times [PDF 1.8MB]
It may be gloomy outside, but that doesn't mean your business has to follow the trend. Find five ways to make hay when the sun isn't shining...
Hedgehog Haven [PDF 1MB]
I'd left the jar of peanut butter outside on the ground for the birds to finish off. The little hedgie had obviously been trying to free itself for quite a while and was none too happy about his predicament. As soon as I picked up the jar, he balled up and easily slid out to freedom. He looked a mess and had peanut butter all over his face. I cleaned him up as best I could and set him free...
Dogs Making a Difference [PDF 5.3MB]
When people think of someone having a dog in their home, they usually assume it's a pet. But for some dogs it's their job. Working dogs are an invaluable part of the lives of many people with physical disabilities...
A Friend in Need [PDF 2.2MB]
For the past 16 years he has greeted you with enthusiasm and unconditional love, but now he's approaching the end of his life. You'd do anything for him, like you've always done, and would love to have more time with him. There is a chance that modern medicine could save him, but it's risky and very expensive. Is euthanasia the right thing to do?..
Horse Riding For The Disabled [PDF 3.2MB]
Seven-year-old Grant Celliers has attention deficit disorder and Asperger's Syndrome, a disorder similat to autism, which makes him vety anxious. But once a week he gets to go horse riding at the North Shore Riding for the Disabled Association (NSRDA) and his mother, Dianne, says the results are amazing...
Addicted to Animals [PDF 2.12MB]
Indeed, a house can feel much more like a home with a couple of furry friends around you. But people who have so many animals in their care that they can no longer look after all of them properly are deemed to be animal hoarders. Defined as someone who accumulates large numbers of animals and then fails to provide them with proper food, water, sanitation or veterinary care, hoarders are of particular concern to animal rights groups...
As I set out on the seafood and aquaculture trail around the coastline of the Eyre Peninsula, South Australia, I knew to expect something different. Over the next five days I would experience swimming with wild sea lions, eating fresh oysters seconds after opening and tasting abalone for the first time...
Flash Back - Iconic photographer Frank Habicht talks of the swinging '60s [PDF 4.7MB]
Frank Habicht viewed the 1960s through the lens of his camera with an exhuberance that only his photos can reveal. In London, the Carnaby Street era was a time of dramatic change, experimentation and social discovery that proved fertile ground for the son of a German chemist...
Married to Weddings: A Discussion With Yervant [PDF 5.8MB]
When Yervant Zanzanian began studying at Melbourne's Photographic College they told him not to bother if he just wanted to shoot weddings. "They said you shouldn't be here if you're going to become a wedding photographer, you can go and just pick up your camera," he says...
Let Your Investments Grow - Dollars & Sense Money Management [PDF 1.6MB]
For many New Zealanders their home has long been their financial nest egg. Most people expect that paying off their mortgage will hold the key to financial security later in life. Unfortunately, with house prices out of control and the highest interest rate in the OECD, a mortgage-free home is something many of us will never attain...
Cutting it in Business [PDF 2.1MB]
Let's say you're the mother of a young family. There's no need to mention how much you always have to do: get the husband and the kids off to work and school, ferry kids around to school sports and activities, run a household and of course, think constantly about family meals. Chances are you would love the idea of being able to simply click your computer mouse, select a convenient time and then head off to a stylish venue where, amongst pleasant company and with a glass of wine, you could prepare up to 12 appetising and nutritious meals for your family in only an hour or two...
The Midas Touch [PDF 2MB]
A franchise is a great way to start yourself up in a new business without all the pressure and stress of going out on your own, says Elizabeth Anglesey, co-franchisee with her partner Marcus of the Midas vehicle services outlet in the Auckland suburb of New Lynn...
Getting Staff Engaged [PDF 560KB]
Recruit for fit. Train for skill. You can teach anyone anything but you will never change who they are, says Simon Mundell, Director of the business development and business coaching company, The Results Group...
Coasting Along Nicely [PDF 1.8MB]
With most businesses, one of the key things to get right is advertising. But in the tourism industry, deciding where to spend your advertising dollar might be the most important business decision you can make. Dan Saward, Director of Whitianga Adventures, says he has learned along the way...
Break through the growth ceiling [PDF 500KB]
As most business start to expand and pick up speed they they often run into a barrier that business development specialist Simon Mundell calls the "ceiling of complexity". He says that business owners should recognise this syndrome and proactively take steps to deal with it....
Fuel for Global Growth [PDF 3.7MB]
The Burger Fuel franchise chain started from humble beginnings, but owners Chris Mason and Joseph Roberts now have their company name and website addresses reserved in 20 countries. "We certainly intend to go all the way. We've registered trade marks in all the major markets around the world," says Managing Director Chris Mason...
Can I see your CV? [PDF 2.3MB]
Drafting a CV or resume is something that few people say they like to do, but Tom and Sarah O'Neill have built an entire business around this career-crucial document - for the very good reason that many CVs are pretty abysmal!...
Plenty of Horsepower [PDF 2MB]
The Ford Mustang has captured the imagination of generations - and business partners Malcolm Sankey and lan Kenyon have turned that fascination into a lucrative restoration business that's unique in this part of the world...
A Load off Everybody's Mind [PDF 1.3MB]
Wayne West never really set out to be a captain of industry, but if what he calls "the gadget" takes off, that might be where he finds himself. In partnership with instrumentation engineer Adrian Ruthe, Hamilton based West has designed, built, patented and brought to market the TallyClerk Load Volume Scanner, a non-contact "drive-through" instrument for the measurement, recording and reporting of bulk materials such as aggregate, sand, soil, spoil, bark and wood chips...
Making a good crust [PDF 1.5MB]
"One of the great things about operating a franchise is that once you've done one thing right, you can do it over and over again." That's the word from Brian Lea, whose family owns three Domino's Pizza franchises in Auckland and is currently eyeing up more....
A Career that Took Off [PDF 2MB]
"You can't do it. You're too remote. It's got to be done face to face. It's got to be retailed through a shop." Paul Aston knows all the arguments and a decade later takes a quiet pleasure in seeing them all overturned. With his wife Shannon, he runs a steadily growing stable of travel services companies from Waiheke Island, 35 minutes out into the Hauraki Gulf by high speed ferry...
Dressed for Success [PDF 1.4MB]
A creative approach to the wonderful properties of New Zealand merino wool has transformed the lives of childrenswear designers Clive and Tracy Heaven...
Bright Shiny Things [PDF 1.3MB]
The ability to spot new ideas and opportunities has paid off handsomely for an Auckland business owner. So too has forward planning and investment back into his enterprise...
Advantages of being in the Loop [PDF 650KB]
The Nelson Loop is a fibre-optic and wireless network that's delivering Internet connection speeds of up to 1GB to schools in the Nelson /Marlborough region - schools who previously had not even enjoyed basic broad band, let alone speeds comparable to the best in the country. Charles Newton, principal of Nayland College in Nelson and chairman of the Nelson Loop, says it's amazing...
Violin via videoconference [PDF 600KB]
If you're in a rural school, chances are music lessons are not that easy to come by. So, if you have a budding Dame Kiri or Neil Finn growing up in your classroom - or kids who just want to give a musical instrument a try - what do you do? David Maida takes notes...
Leaving IT to the pros [PDF 1.1MB]
As technology gets ever more complex, so too does the job of looking after it. Should you be trusting your technology to the pros? David Maida discovers a 'can do' attitude will get you only so far...
Now that we have the technology, what do we do with it? [PDF 1.5MB]
Over the past five years, Waikato Diocesan School for Girls has worked hard on getting really good ICT infrastructure in place but not necessarily looking ahead from an education perspective. But that's changing, according to Deputy Principal Juliette Hayes and chair of the school's 'Future Makers', a group which aims to focus on ways technology can achieve the best educational value...
The Accidental ICT Manager [PDF 1.3MB]
David Day is one of a special group of people. Officially, his job title is Deputy Principal for Piopio College. Unofficially, however, he knows that when he walks into a classroom, teachers more often than not will ask him to fix something technological...
Creating a 'can do' culture for using technology [PDF 1.1MB]
With the speed new computers, software and other ICT equipment comes out, it can sometimes be daunting for teachers to get their head around it all. This is particularly true for those who, having been doing things the 'old fashioned way' for a long time, may find learning new skills a little bit intimidating...
'Goldfish bowl' stops students accessing porn [PDF 566KB]
There are some 4,000 web sites that are designed to help students to slip through most safe surfing measures. Scary, huh! Known as proxy servers or 'anonymisers', these sites act as a relay site between a schools computer and an inappropriate website....
Laying the Groundwork for Success [PDF 1.3MB]
Tokoroa North Principal Stephen Blair wanted every classroom to have good quality high-speed Internet access - and that meant bringing out the heavy works equipment and cutting through a lot of concrete flooring....
It's a question facing many schools looking to upgrade their ICT. Should you buy or lease your technology? David Maida investigates. When sourcing ICT equipment for your school, the decision to buy or lease has become as important as what equipment you choose...
Kiwis Invent Biofuel from Steel Mill Gas Emissions [PDF 700KB]
Have we come up with a world saving fuel US$20 a barrel cheaper than oil? As the world scrambles to come up with a renewable fuel supply, a New Zealand company just might have the answer...
Consumers Revolt Against Patchy Environmental Past [PDF 2.2MB]
Prime Minister Helen Clark believes that New Zealand can lead the world in sustainable business. David Maida meets those who are helping to forge the way - driven not only by responsibility but by consumer demand...
While you were away [PDF 680KB]
Protecting your business from the unexpected absences of your key personnel may not be something you think about everyday. But when it happens, you don't want to find yourself on the back foot...
The Death of the Receptionist [PDF 650KB]
The receptionist has long been the linchpin of many organisations, often doing all the little tasks that no one else seems to have the time to do. But these days it's a job with few takers....
Outsourcing - Pass It On [PDF 2.8MB]
If it's not core business, the trend today is to outsource it, says David Maida. He finds out why outsourcing-and especially recruitment outsourcing- is becoming a popular solution for many organisations...
Working for Cirque du Soleil [PDF 3.2MB]
Cirque du Soleil's latest touring show, Varekai, opens in Auckland in January. David Maida spoke to tour services director Stephane Jodoin about the challenges involved in managing this travelling troupe...
Call it a Deal [PDF 2.1MB]
One of the last things a couple in love wants to deal with is paperwork, fine print and signing on the dotted line. But contract details can either salvage or destroy your big day if the unexpected happens...
Choosing Your Best Man [PDF 862KB]
Selecting someone to be your bestman may seem like a straightforward decision - obviously, you'll pick your brothet or your best mate who you've been friends with since primary school. But your decision should be based upon more than just friendship or family duty...
Worklife - Managing Friends [PDF 1MB]
My best friend and I have worked together for years but I've recently been promoted to manage our team. How should I deal with our friendship at work? Having a friend who reports to you at work can be problematic at best. But the situation can be managed in one of three ways, says Dr Rachel Morrison, lecturer in organisational behaviour at AUT...
Worklife - Induction [PDF 1.1MB]
The first day of my new job and it's like they weren't expecting me. I've got no computer login, no phone number and no business cards. Is this a sign of things to come? Well, it probably is a sign of things to come if you let it slide...
Worklife - The Office Nuisance [PDF 1MB]
There's this person at work who just won't leave me alone and constantly wants to talk to me. What can I do? Some people use the relative closeness of a workplace and try to develop more personal relationships with co-workers...
Worklife - SHUT THE %&*@UP! [PDF 854KB]
My co-worker constantly curses in the office and it gets on my nerves. What is correct office etiquette when it comes to swearing? With increased pressure and time constraints at work, it's no wonder foul language seems to have become the norm...
Worklife - Dead Weight [PDF 1.7MB]
One of my team members never does their share of the work. What can be done? If you ask around it seems most of us have been in a situation where one team member hasn't pulled their weight...
Worklife - Dealing with OOS [PDF 1.5MB]
I think I might be developing OOS. What should I do? OOS, or occupational overuse syndrome, is the plague of our modern workplace...
Heard it Through the Grapevine [PDF 1.7MB]
How well does your company communicate? Have you ever been in a workplace where rumour mongering was rife; where wild speculation ruled in the absence of any definitive statement from management?...
Living Up To It [PDF 1.4MB]
Setting your own salary under a performance remuneration scheme may sound like bliss but you have to then perform to expectation...
Knowing Your Market [PDF 1.6MB]
It can be a hard sell to convince small business owners to spend thousands of dollars on market research. But some who've used it say it has dramatically helped them focus their business...
Coaching the Bosses [PDF 1.74MB]
Senior executives who want to be more effective leaders are turning to executive coaching to help lift their game...
Making Light of Christmas [PDF 1.6MB]
Most people know her as the renowned nutritionist and dietitian who is in hot demand on the speaking circuit, but when the holiday season rolls around, Jeni Pearce has another obsession....
Performer with Pizzazz [PDF 1.6MB]
Helen Medlyn is one spunky lady. Her spiked hair and booming personality give her an unmistakable presence both on and off the stage. The self-described "Westie chick" is one of New Zealand's most celebrated opera divas...
Kiwi Connection [PDF 1.3MB]
David Maida talks to celebrity chef lain Hewitson about his favourite New Zealand tucker, Jenny Craig and life in the restaurant business...
Food Poisoning - How to make sure your food doesn't make you sick [PDF 3.4MB]
Nothing Can Spoil the satisfaction of having had a great meal like a sickening bout of food poisoning. The ensuing misery serves as a painful reminder of just how important food hygiene is. But it's not difficult to protect yourself and your family from those dangerous micro-organisms if you follow basic food safety guidelines...
More Than Just Petrol [PDF 1MB]
Imagine buying an MP3 player from a vending machine or surfing the net on a wireless Internet connection, all provided by your local convenience store. According to Bryce Taylor, Lead Category Manager for Chevron New Zealand, service stations are changing and forecourt offerings may soon be offering things you've never thought of..
Imagine being able to find out exactly where and when a particular piece of fruit or vegetable was harvested. With a new labelling system called a YottaMark, reports David Maida, it's now possible...
A category based on emotion? And instant gratification? Yes, but cosmetics can smarten up a grocery store's business quite dramatically, reports David Maida...
An overwhelming percentage of grocers are blokes - and how can blokes be expected to know a helluva lot about skin creams? If they value extremely good margins, they should be very interested, says David Maida...
Meeting the challenges: 1.Think SMArt
The NZ grocery landscape is now tough and fast-changing. GR offers three ways in which players can adapt...
In an increasingly competitive fresh food market, how can New Zealand supermarkets lift their game in food presentation and service? David Maida talks to some experts and finds that the devil is in the details...
Staying on top of the ice cream market
In New Zealand and Australia, our per capita consumption of ice cream is one of the highest in the world. In fact, in the week leading up to Christmas last year, New Zealanders purchased 1.19M litres of ice cream...
People aged 55-64 will outspend people aged 25-34 over the next five years. Anybody who ignores this vital market - including the grocery industry - is committing financial suicide...
Y Bother Employing the Y Generation?
The "spoiled brat" attitude of today's younger workforce is leaving many grocery industry managers totally perplexed. Here's a guide on how to work with Generation Y employees. Take deep breaths and try to remain calm while reading it...
There's an endless number of ways in which employers can make their workplaces more enticing for workers, but finding out what employees truly appreciate can be a challenge, writes David Maida...
The One-Stop Shops [PDF 2.3MB]
When radio, television and the internet debuted on Planet Earth (at roughly 50-year intervals), each was met with a chorus of predictions about the imminent demise of daily newspapers. Well, just how wrong can you be?
Creating Top Desserts [PDF 2.2MB]
Creating a signature dessert dish takes hard work and a lot of trial and error, says chef Bernard Barnabe at Auckland's Viaduct Harbour Hilton. But if you can discover an amazing new dessert, there can be great rewards...
Restaurant And Bar Design [PDF 4MB]
Creative designers, modern materials and contemporary furnishings can turn a restaurant or bar into anything you wish but designers warn to plan things out and think it through before tearing into it...
Choosing a Deep Fryer [PDF 1.28MB]
Selecting the right deep fryer for a food outlet can be a bit of a mission. Even the leading fast food giants are divided over what types to use. But one thing everyone agrees on is that these appliances are huge energy hogs so power is a major concern...
Profile - Building Practitioners Board Chairperson Alan Bickers [PDF 820KB]
Alan Bickers has been involved with the control and inspection of buildings since he was in his mid 20s. Over that time he has been responsible for building inspectors and has reviewed administration and practice of building and resource consents and compliance for several local authorities...
Trade Qualifications Will Stay [PDF 1.2MB]
Introducing building practitioner licensing has been driven bv a need to strengthen construction industry standards. David Maida talked to Certified Builders' Chief Executive, Derek Baxter, to uncover his views on the proposals...
Healthy Heart Award [PDF 1.5MB]
Research shows that heart disease and many other chronic diseases start to form in our youth, so it's important to instil the good habits of eating well and exercising from a young age...
How To Be A Great Dad [PDF 1.5MB]
Perhaps one of the most ironic things in life is that once you've had children, it often feels like there's little time to enjoy them. However, the solution isn't just about finding more time to spend with them, it's also about varying the time you have with them...
Sledding The Remarkables [PDF 3.6MB]
Imagine you're loaded up in your snowmobile gear and jump onto a helicopter for a 12-minute ride from civilization. The copter takes you up to a 7,400- acre snow-covered plateau inside The Remarkables Mountain Range on New Zealand's South Island...
Nestle Elements Magazine (Feb 05) [PDF 623KB]
With an anticipated 15,000 visiting fans all converging on key rugby venues up and down the country, they'll not only have their sights set on top sporting action but also the best wining and dining experiences on offer...
It's in the Mail [PDF 169KB]
A contact centre may stand or fall on the quality of its database, but ensuring that its details remain current is an ongoing and challenging task, as David Maida discovered...
Call for the best [PDF 464KB]
Can the modern contact centre be a template for the ideal office environment, and if so, what are the important design factors that promote a harmonious office culture? David Maida investigates...
Rural Abundance [PDF 217KB]
When a six-tonne satellite launched from French Guiana on 11 August 2005, broadband Internet access became an achievable reality for every farmer in New Zealand. David Maida investigates the range of broadband options available to our farming community...
Ticked Off [PDF 164KB]
The idea behind live web boxes and scrolling tickers in website design is that they improve browser experience. But, as David Maida discovered, in reality they can be a roadblock taht turns users away from the site...
No Level Playing Field [PDF 2.2MB]
The 11th annual TUANZ Education Conference visited 12 centres over five weeks and reached over 2000 teachers and educators nationwide. David Maida attended two conferences and took the pulse on the current state of ICT in today's schools...
Making Sure Content Remains King [PDF 97KB]
Managing the information on your website can be a make or break endeavour. Content is king but, in order to rule, it has to have a decent throne to sit on, as David Maida discovers...
It May be Your Website But it's Not About You [PDF 356KB]
Having a website can mean diddlysquat unless you make sure it draws customers in rather than turns them off, as David Maida discovers...
Smart Dialogue [PDF 154KB]
Every contact centre manager knows that first impressions count, but installing a system that connects the caller to the agent without delay can be problematic. David Maida went looking for solutions...
Try not to be too Flash [PDF 2.3MB]
If you are considering using Flash animation on your website, consider this: Will site visitors see it as web poetry in motion or a pain in the arse? David Maida investigates whether you should be flashing in public...
Searching for a 6-letter alternative [PDF .5MB]
Better than Google? David Maida finds a search engine with a difference - one that's designed specifically for Kiwi conditions...
Finding a Pathway to Local Knowledge [PDF 218KB]
David Maida reports on a huge online undertaking that asked serious questions of the designers - but has all the answers for its users...
Coming to a Screen near You [PDF 142KB]
When most people think of films and broadband they usually think of downloading movies. But David maida and Greg Adams find that film producers all over New Zealand are struggling to upload their content and it's costing them big bucks...
Distinctive Bach Style [PDF 2.6MB]
Quaint Style of Yesteryear [PDF 2.6MB]
Upsized Luxury [PDF 2.4MB]
Indoor Outdoor Living [PDF 2.9MB]
Onwards & Upwards [PDF 3.7MB]
Up & Away [PDF 4.2MB]
Rustic Living with Class [PDF 2.8MB]
Par for the Course [PDF 1.5MB]
Modern Minimalist Renovation [PDF 2.3MB]
A Home Built for a Builder [PDF 4MB]
Romantic Influence [PDF 2.6MB]
Not Your Usual Retirement Home [PDF 2MB]
Suburban Rewind [PDF 2.3MB]
Membership Takes Off at North Shore Aero Club [PDF 2.2MB]
Little Big Man - Toshiba Libretto [PDF 8.3MB]
New Ceramic Metal Halide Lamps [PDF 1.7MB]
Electrical Drives Survive Dust Storm [PDF 828KB]
Brash Announces Electricity Reform [PDF 1.9MB]
The ECANZ Challenge [PDF 2MB]
Industrial Automation News I [PDF 740KB]
Industrial Automation News II [PDF 2MB]