The academy is a partnership between the Jarrod Cunningham Youth Sport Trust and Havelock North High School.

The trust approached Sir Graham to launch the academy, who was quick to say “it would be a pleasure”.

“This is a fantastic initiative, that will help develop those that are lucky enough to be chosen.

“Jarrod had a very professional approach to his chosen sport, when back in 1996 rugby was just finding its place on the professional sport scene,” Sir Graham said.

Sir Graham coached Jarrod, a former Havelock North High School pupil, at the Auckland Blues in 1996 before playing for the Hurricanes and then continuing his professional career in the United Kingdom.

The academy concept was initiated last year following discussions between the Trust and HNHS students and teachers.

The first induction is 14 year ten students and more will be added to the academy from the junior school each year. In three years over 50 students are likely to be part of the academy.

The aim of the academy is to nurture and develop life skills to talented young sports people at the school.

Jarrod Cunningham Youth Sport Trust spokesperson Damon Harvey said the trust was approached by the school for some type of partnership since Jarrod was a former student.

“Although many ideas were thrown about, the students were really excited about the concept of a sport academy.

“The school has many talented sports people achieving in a wide range of sports, many in non-traditional sports, so the concept of an academy really took with them.

“They wanted a sports academy that was desirable to be named in and one where they would learn all the elements that are required of top sports people.

“They especially wanted an academy which put as much emphasis on academic and citizenship as it did on sport,” he said.

Havelock North High School has appointed Craig McDougall to head the academy.

Mr McDougall said the students will learn about goal setting, motivation, improving fitness and nutrition, dealing with the media and sponsors. They will also be allocated a mentor.

“They will learn how to become well rounded athletes with the focus on creating a really balanced young person.

“Talent alone doesn’t make a top sportsperson, so we want to prepare them for the high and lows,” Mr McDougall said.

HNHS principal Bill Adams is thrilled that the academy has been set up and is looking forward to how it evolves throughout 2012 and beyond.

“We have many talented sportspeople and we want to see them reach their potential across a number of areas.  We are not in the business of producing sports jocks.  Their plans must include academic success as well.

“The academy will have a positive impact on the individuals in the academy but also the sport and the teams they are involved in,” he said.

The Jarrod Cunningham Youth Sport Trust announced a long term commitment to the academy.

One of Hawke’s Bay rugby’s favourite sons Jarrod Cunningham bequeathed $750,000 to launch a trust to promote participation in sport by the regions youth.

Jarrod was a successful professional rugby player that was diagnosed with Motor Neuron disease. When he passed away in 2007, it was his wish to ensure that youth in Hawke’s Bay had access to sport and that they could compete to the highest level.

He gave $750,000 to be used in promoting sport and nurturing local talent.

The Jarrod Cunningham Youth Sport Trust was set up in 2008 and since then over $150,000 has gone back into the local community.

The mix of girl and boy players aged between 12-18 years have been split into squads of 12 to train at Flaxmere, Hastings and Napier.

Paora Winitana says the players in Hawkes Bay have plenty of raw ability, which now needs to refined, so that they can fully understand the tactics and plays of basketball.

“We’re not short of talent but you don’t reach the top on talent alone.  Its about developing a strong work ethic, improving their skills, helping them to understand the game and becoming mentally strong.

“They will all have to train hard, train smart and train together over the 26 weeks, it is a big commitment not just from them but also from their families, this was a crucial part to their final selection into our Academy,” he said.

Winitana was also thrilled to announce some more sponsors to join IMS Payroll. The Jarrod Cunningham Youth Sport Trust has come on board as has Unison, Service Trust, Konica Minolta. HBS Bank, Prolife Food Ltd, Raiseys Original, Hastings District Council, Y-Life Insurance, and Basketball Hawke’s Bay.

Jarrod Cunningham Youth Sport Trustee Tony Maidens said the academies principles aligned perfectly with the Trust.

“The players have to make a real commitment in the academy, both on and off the court.

“They will learn so much from Paora and Paul and we hope that they all take this opportunity with both hands.

The players will begin training the week starting February 20 from 6:00am.

The Hastings and Flaxmere squads will train two times a week and the Napier squad once a week.

“They have some early starts to get used to, it’s not going to be easy but this special group is determined and focussed and it will be great to see their progress over the year,” Paul Henare said.

Wear It Out is New Zealand’s biggest on line costume rental and purchase site.

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• Live Chat – Lets the visitor talk directly with a Wear It Out sales representative using an instant messaging service for instant feedback.
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Take a look at Wearitout.co.nz and see why it’s New Zealand’s biggest costume store!

As the New Zealand apple season kicks off, ENZAFOODS will officially open its new $4 million processing line at its Hastings factory, which has been purpose built to produce premium fruit products and will create dozens up to 30 new jobs.

ENZAFOODS is now injecting an estimated $40 million into the economies of Hawke’s Bay and Nelson and providing more profitable contracts to growers for second grade fruit.

General Manager Jon Marks says by pureeing and dicing apples, the company has created huge demand for premium fruit products under the Freshfields brand and is delivering profitable returns to growers.

“We’ve enjoyed tremendous growth, development and innovation, strengthening New Zealand’s international reputation as a premium processor of both fruit and vegetables.”

This year Enzafoods will process 110,000 tonnes of apples, pears, carrots, berries, kiwifruit and feijoas into juices, juice concentrates, purees and diced and sliced products, supplied into industrial, food service, hospitality and retail markets in New Zealand, Australia, Japan, Korea, Southeast Asia and the USA.

As part of the New Zealand Apple and Pear Marketing Board, ENZAFOODS has been recognised for changing the way fresh fruit juice was consumed in New Zealand by making it more affordable for consumers. In 1984 the company introduced Tetra Pak cardboard cartons for retail fruit juice which made it cost effective to produce and more affordable.

“Families no longer had to opt for sugary cordials in the grocery shop. They could afford real fruit juice, which ENZAFOODS packaged economically. It really made a big difference in peoples’ lives and fruit juice has become an important grocery item.”

From humble beginnings, the company was established by the Apple and Pear Marketing Board to juice the export crop by-product in 1962. A processing factory was opened in Nelson and ten years later with the horticultural industry experiencing major growth a juicing plant was built in Hawkes Bay.

The processing technology, research and development abilities and equipment quickly became recognised as some of the most advanced in the world.

Introducing pouch packs and moving away from cans was also a major development in 2003 and helped the company grow.

“It was a significant investment but it was a step into the 21st century because consumers wanted convenient fruit pouches rather than cans.”

FreshFields Apple Sauce packed in innovative 100g pouches sold in a handy 4 pack won the “Grocer’s Choice Award” sponsored by Progressive Enterprises –at the New Zealand Food Awards in 2011.

Today ENZAFOODS is diversifying and focusing on innovative, commodity products like fruit purees for babies and fruit ingredients for food service and restaurants. The company is now encouraging growers to grow directly for process and move their focus out of the fresh export market.

“Growers can now make attractive low risk returns by signing ‘Grow for Process’ deals as an alternative to growing for the export market.”

Former ENZAFOODS employee, Bill Collie worked for the company for 22 years and was one of the driving forces behind its success. He helped design and build the Nelson and Hastings factories.

“Anything to do with apples we did it in those factories. It was a wonderful time to be involved in the fruit processing industry. I was in charge of so many new things this country had never done before.”

Bill helped create the first apple concentrate and the first tear off cans in New Zealand. He was also responsible for helping bring boysenberries to Nelson and producing redcurrant juice.

“We had the equipment to handle any juicing system. Anything that we could can we canned.”

Johnny Appleseed’s Managing Director, John Paynter says ENZAFOODS revolutionised the apple industry creating a market for fruit that used to be mopped up as rubbish.

“ENZAFOODS innovation has meant growers can prosper because they’ve created a growing market for second grade fruit that can’t be exported. ENZAFOODS is a world leader in the international juicing market and should be congratulated on 50 successful years in business.”

General Manager, Jon Marks says the 50th celebrations will not only be a time to reflect on the past but also an opportunity to look forward to a bright future.

“In the next few years we plan to expand our export markets and will continue diversification into a range of related fruit products. Fruit products offer such a healthy platform.  As the world looks for solutions to obesity and diabetes, we are well placed to supply tasty and healthy foods and food ingredients.”

The anniversary will be marked in Hawke’s Bay on the 9th February when the Hastings factory will be officially opened by local MP and Government Minister, Craig Foss. Celebrations will continue the following week in Nelson on the 16th February with a formal dinner.

Key Statistics

History Timeline

1962 – The New Zealand Apple and Pear Marketing Board opens the processing factory in Nelson to process 250,000 cases of lower-grade Nelson apples per annum into juice, puree and diced and sliced apples.

1964 – 50 tons of raspberries are processed. 9000 tons of apples are processed. Sales are domestic and exports to UK, Australia, Fiji, Hong Kong, Singapore and Kuala Lumpur.

1967 – The ‘Fresh Up’ mini can is launched

1974 – First operational season in Hastings – processing 5000 tonnes of apples into clear apple juice concentrate.

1980 – The first blackcurrants are processed in Nelson

1984 – Tetra Plant for packaging retail juice is installed in the Nelson factory.

1986 – The first cloudy apple juice concentrate is produced in Hastings for the Japanese market.

1987 – Due to continued growth in the apple crop, a major factory expansion is required in Hastings. Freshfields branch also launched.

1995 – Drummed Apple Sauce is processed for the Japanese market. Carrot processing commences in Hastings.

1998 – Frucor Beverages Ltd (FBL) sold and became separate identity.

2003 – Pouch pack equipment to replace the tin can is installed for diced and sliced apples.

2008 – Commence contract growing of process apples, and mechanical harvesting.

2010 – The FreshFields logo is rebranded and re-launched. Retail filling line commences in Nelson.

2011 – A new line to produce apple sauce and diced apple pouch pack and similar fruit products is constructed in Hastings. Apple sauce in 100g pouches is launched in New Zealand.

2012 and Beyond – Enzafoods plans to grow its value-added processed fruit business in retail, food service, and industrial markets in New Zealand, Australia and Asia, continue diversification into in to a range of related fruit products , and to increase the crop volume processed into concentrates.

For more information and photos please contact Media communications Anna Lorck 021 2886 771

The study, commissioned by Sport Hawke’s Bay and undertaken by Auckland based research company Covec reported economic benefits of the event hit $700,000.

The event held in November 2011 was at full entrant capacity of 1500 and overall attracted 2744 visitors to Hawke’s Bay.

The visitors stayed on average 2.55 night and spent $577,000 on the likes of accommodation, food and beverages.

The study which surveyed 544 people also revealed that 81 percent of entrants intend on returning to compete later this year while 86 percent will be recommending the event to others.

Event organiser Heather Skipworth says the rapid success of the event is overwhelming and it was now important to manage the continued growth of the event.

Sport Hawke’s Bay commercial manager Kevin Murphy said the study will be used in the ongoing development of the region’s events strategy, which is being led by Hawke’s Bay Tourism.

“The outcome is significant and proves that sport events are a key economic driver for the region,” Kevin says.

The company has also evaluated many prominent events including Rhythm & Vines, Rowing World Champs, Heineken Open & ASB Classic, Louis Vuitton Pacific Series, World Netball Champs, Ironman New Zealand and the Adidas Auckland Marathon.

Covec’s Shane Vuletich says past event evaluations have typically understated the region’s investment in events, and have therefore overstated the returns on regional investment.

“Our post-event evaluations are based on large-sample surveys of event attendees and comprehensive assessments of regional investment.

The results of the IronMaori evaluation are based on a very robust sample of 544 surveys of event attendees, and a detailed analysis of the event budget.

The event is run by Te Timatanga Ararau Trust led by Heather Skipworth, Missy Mackey and Lee Grace.

The vision of the trust is to improve the health and well-being of Maori people so it is good to see that IronMaori is having a positive financial impact for the region as well.

Additional information in the report highlighted the national flavour of the event with more than half of the participants travelling in from outside of the region.

The report was based on the main IronMaori event and does not include the new tamariki and rangatahi events, which also have significant potential for growth.

Other findings included:

• 59 percent thought that Napier did a great job hosting the event
• 62 percent enjoyed their stay
• 63 percent of entrants came from outside of Hawke’s Bay
• $207,000 was spent on accommodation
• $149,000 on food and beverages
• $123,000 on retail goods

IMS Payroll managing director Kevin Atkinson wants to see upcoming local basketball stars playing professionally throughout the world.

Mr Atkinson today announced his sponsorship of the IMS Payroll Paul Henare and Paora Winitana Basketball Academy.

He shares both Henare’s and Winitana’s vision of developing talented basketball players that are well prepared for the life of a professional sports person.

“Hawke’s Bay is a hot bed for talented basketballers, but we need to harness the opportunity and ensure these young sport stars can handle the pressures of professional sport both on and off the court.

“There are many examples of sports people with natural talent but not life skills to manage their fame, but Paul and Paora are fine examples of well rounded sport achievers and I wanted to back the academy concept they have set up,” Mr Atkinson said.

The sponsorship was announced on the eve of the final selection trials to be held at the Hastings Sports Centre on Friday. The academy will be announced on February 13 and will be launched on February 20.

IMS Payroll has been a long-standing supporter of basketball in Hawke’s Bay.

The company has sponsored the Hawks for many years and Mr Atkinson has also previously been an owner of the franchise.

“I’ve seen many professional basketball players come and go and I strongly believe that this academy will identify some hot local talent that will one day go on to play for the Hawks, the Tall Ferns and possibly secure a lucrative NBA contract in the United States,” he says.

The cost of a position in the academy is $1150, but Winitana and Henare are covering the costs of all 36 places in the academy through sponsorships.

“We don’t want to place any financial pressure on families, so they won’t have to pay a cent. Their payment is their commitment as a family to the academies values and standards that we’ve set very high but very achievable, Winitana said.

The academy will run for 26 weeks throughout the year with early morning training sessions in Napier, Hastings and Flaxmere.

IMS Payroll’s sponsorship of the academy is a further addition to supporting sport in Hawke’s Bay.

The national payroll provider also sponsors the Hastings West Ross Shield team, the Magpies rugby team and the Hawks. Last year the company was the naming rights sponsor that brought the Crusaders Super Rugby team to the region.

Henare and Winitana are thrilled to extend their relationship with Mr Atkinson and IMS Payroll.

“Kevin’s been a huge supporter of basketball and the Hawks would not still be around if Kevin had not been involved in the early days.

“He shares our vision and passion to develop young talent that can hold themselves well both on and off the court, so the partnership is one that we sought as a perfect fit,” Paora said.

It’s time to stand up, says Elsthorpe Farmer concerned citizen Greg Hart.

“The rally is part protest against Tag Oils plans to drill and frack “The Bay” but equally it is a celebration of all we are privileged to have in Hawke’s Bay with our beautiful landscape, water and climate and of course all the amazing people that make up our society,” he says.

“The ‘Brighter Future’ promised during the last election campaign is not going to happen by creating more climate change and corporate profits for overseas companies.

“Therefore it is time to rally to send a strong message to councils and government that drilling for oil and fracking is not going to create a better future for our children,” says Greg

“Quite simply when making decisions like drilling for more oil we should ask is this part of the solution or is this part of the problem?

If it isn’t sustainable it isn’t the future we want.”

This is the Hawke’s Bay we want to regenerate and invigorate to pass on to future generations.

The rally will start at Civic Square Napier at 12pm Wednesday 25^th and move to the Hawke’s Bay Regional Council building by 1pm, to attend the meeting and TAG presentation to council.

For more information please contact Greg Hart                   phone 0274990097

The Profiteers for 2012 have been launched in the latest issue of Hawke’s Bays leading business magazine The Profit.

Nominations is the initial process and a range of initial names for the five categories have been nominated.

Nominations can be made by clicking the following link..

http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/profiteers2012

The national in-home childcare education and training provider is also keen to find potential nanny interns to take up the challenge.

“NIPs” aims to gives youth aged between 17 and 25, who are interested in nannying, a career pathway with on-the-job training and professional support in a real home environment.

PORSE Education and Training General Manager Erin Maloney says the hunt is on for suitable families and potential interns to take part in this exciting pilot programme that looks at bringing the traditional “nanny” role back into the family household.

NIPS provides “hands on”, authentic and practical experience in caring for pre-school children and includes free specific training in core childcare skills and home management – along with regular tutor visits in the home, said Mrs Maloney.

NIPS works by placing a nanny intern with a family for five months, who, for a minimum 20 hours a week, cares for at least one child under the age of five years.

In return, families pay a heavily subsidised rate for having a nanny in their home, along with providing free room and board if it is a live-in position.

Parents play an active and important role as part of the internship and need to help with advice, support and feedback to their nanny and to PORSE, she said.

All interns will work through the National Certificate in Early Childhood Education & Care (level 3), which will give them a nationally recognised qualification and valuable practical experience.

“We need the perfect training ground.  Ideally the role of a NIPs family is where a parent is working part-time, or from home requiring support in the daily household duties and care with their children.  Or they may be someone who is keen to get back into the workforce and needs support to take care of the home during their transition.

“Parents must be prepared to play a supporting role in their nanny’s training, as part of a happy family learning environment,” says Erin.

PORSE is recruiting now and is keen to hear from interested families and potential nanny interns.  There will be 10 internships offered in February with another 10 in July.

Register your interest at 0800NANNIES (626 6437)