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PRESIDENT'S MESSAGE
Dear Members
Apologies for our sending out this months newsletter later than usual. We had decided to wait to be able to confirm that we would be able to have our usual monthly Corporate Knight, which we we cancelled last month due to the turmoil in Bangkok. With things coming back to a more normal status and the BTS and MRT running again we will be having our networking event this coming Thursday as scheduled. Our sponsor this month is New Zealand Trade & Enterprise, a long term member of the Chamber, our thanks to them for supporting us this month. This month the location will be Bar Su at the Sheraton Grande, and our previous Corporate Knights there have always been very popular. We hope there will be a strong turnout as we all try to get back to “business as usual” in our lives.
We hope that the events of the last month have not had to severe an impact on our members both from a business and personal perspective and that a way can be found for on going dialogue and arbitration between the various groups within Thailand.
Within the Chamber we have started making payments for the CSR projects at the schools in Kanchanaburi that we are jointly supporting with the New Zealand Society. There is a real appreciation at the schools of the funding that is being provided and we look forward to it making a real difference to the education of young children in Kanchanaburi.
Over the last month we also had to postpone a joint chamber breakfast briefing and a luncheon that we had to was cancelled, so we will be working to see if these can be rescheduled. As a part of our efforts to provide the best value we can to our members, we are looking at ways to make some positive changes to the various networking, briefings and other events we hold. While we have some ideas from the committee we would appreciate any feedback from you as to any thoughts you might have on these events - these could include potential topics, formats etc fro for future events. At the bottom of this newsletter there is an address where you can send your thoughts and ideas to us.
Its now only just over a year to the 2011 Rugby World Cup and there are already some initiatives under way from organisations like KEA and their ”Pass It On” campaign. Certainly based on the Super 14 results were disappointing for the Kiwi teams , hopefully we will see an improvement in the upcoming games against Northern Hemisphere teams and in this years Tri-Nations. If we can identify some useful events for members over the year to support and promote the 2011 RWC then we certainly will be.
On 18th June there is the first joint chambers embassy golf tournament being held at Thana City. Its a team made up of 4 persons per Chamber (Minimum of 1 Embassy and or 1 Chamber member in a team). We hope some you can join the NZ-Thai Chamber as part of our team. Please contact me or Julie if you would like to join.
As I said at the start lets hope we now in for a long period of relative stability for the country and our businesses. Look forward to seeing you at the Corporate Knight on Thursday.
Kind regards,
Nikki Cox
President
UPCOMING CHAMBER NETWORKING EVENTS
Corporate Knight Networking Event
Thursday, 27th May 2010 6.30pm
@ Sheraton Grande
Kindly sponsored by
About New Zealand Trade & Enteprise
New Zealand Trade and Enterprise (NZTE) is the New Zealand Government's economic
development agency. NZTE is a Crown Entity with a Board appointed from the
private sector.
Through our global network of offices, we aim to grow New Zealand's economy by building the capability of businesses and profitable participation in overseas markets. To do this we work in partnership with sectors of the economy where competitive New Zealand products and services can meet growing international demands.
NZTE facilitates collaboration by industry, government and international partners to identify and address issues concerning investment and growth in these sectors.
Refer to www.nzte.govt.nz
The 1st Joint Chambers Embassy Golf Tournament
Friday,18th June 2010 12.30pm
@ Thana City Golf and Sports Club
Tee off: 12.30 pm SHOTGUN START.
Location: Thana City Golf and Sports Club, Km 14 Bangna Trad Road, Samutprakarn.
Format: Team event – Team made up of 4 persons per Chamber (Minimum of 1 Embassy
and or 1 Chamber in a team). A team that does not have an Embassy player may request a player from another Embassy to join their team.
KIWI CORNER
Some recent Kiwi Snippets and Kiwis in the news:
Flying the flag – Kiwis asked to spill the beans on their favourite places
Kiwis are being urged to spill the beans on their favourite local destinations on two new not-for-profit websites aimed at helping holiday-makers uncover New Zealand’s best backyard secrets.
The websites – newzealandsouth.com and newzealandnorth.com - are the brainchild of Christchurch creative director Simon Darby and tap into the collective knowledge of Kiwis to give visitors to our shores information on everything from how to handle sandflies on the West Coast to where to find the best fish and chip shops and hide-away picnic spots.
They are an online guide to New Zealand written by the people who know the country best and who are the most qualified to market it – ordinary New Zealanders.
NZ racecar seat maker leads new world safety standards
The governing body of world MotorSport, the FIA has just approved the first racecar seats under the new 8862-2009 safety standards, and four of the six are made by Racetech in Lower Hutt.
Racetech started in 1992 as manufacturer and supplier of racing equipment based out of Christchurch NZ; in 1996 the company produced its first FIA homologated race seat
Four new Racetech seats have been homologated by the FIA this with the appointment of a distributer in Britain to deal with the prestigious UK motorsport market and Racetech looks set to enjoy a dynamic decade and make a serious impact on the world motor sport market.
New Zealand Setting for New Thai Romance
A Thai television crew has been in New Zealand, filming for a romantic-comedy series that will showcase New Zealand's landscapes to six million Thais.
The Thai soap opera The Golden Orange Flowers is currently being filmed in New Zealand in partnership with Thai Airways International and Auckland International Airport. The series stars popular TV drama series actress and model Araya Hargate and the Thai-British actor and pop idol Louis Scott.
Featuring New Zealand North Island attractions and focusing on self-drive and New Zealand contemporary art, culture and lifestyle, the series will boost awareness of what New Zealand has to offer Thai visitors.
Ford - Holden hybrid sold on TradeMe
The FOLDEN is half Ford Mustang and half HQ Holden. It is gun-metal grey with a double orange racing stripe and powered by a 302ci engine. The Folden rolls on 20-inch wheels and has been fitted with central locking and an alarm system, as well as a huge stereo system. There’s even a Folden badge combining the body of a Mustang with the Holden Lion’s head.
The project took more than three months to complete with a staggering total of 800 man hours invested in building the vehicle. More than two dozen businesses and 70 tradespeople were involved in the project.
Proceeds from the auction will go to the Mental Health Foundation of NZ for 'Out of the Blue' an organization combating men’s depression.
NZ AEROSPACE SIGNS UP FIRST FULL VIP AIRCRAFT COMPLETION CONTRACT
Altitude Aerospace Interiors Ltd has signed its first contract to fully fit out a Boeing Business Jet VIP aircraft interior.
The Asian-based customer will deliver the new jet to Altitude’s Christchurch completion facility. The scope of work to complete the fitout will cover entire electrical, entertainment and mechanical system installation within the empty aircraft shell,
Altitude brings experience from over two decades of aircraft interiors development from when they were formerly known as ANZES Design Engineering, operating as part of Air New Zealand. Now a subsidiary of Air New Zealand, Altitude has been operating as a stand alone company for almost two years
Altitude’s strategy is to build a reputation for reliable delivery of a quality product.
Altitude has become the only Boeing recognised supplier of luxury aircraft interiors outside of Europe and the USA.
THAI AIRWAYS TO USE NZ MADE HEADPHONES
 Thai Airways will install noise-cancelling headphones made by Auckland company Phitek in first and business class seats on all of its planes.
The general manager of Phitek's connectivity business unit, Roy Moody, said the contract was significant. Based on the size of Thai Airways' fleet and the cost of Phitek's headphones, the deal is worth several hundred thousand dollars.
Phitek's Active Noise Rejection (ANR) technology eliminates 95 per cent of background noise in aircraft.
Singapore Airlines, Emirates and Air New Zealand are already customers.
Phitek sells headphones through retailers, as well as to airlines, but hopes its technology will be built into many consumer devices, such as MP3 players and mobile phones, opening up a much larger potential market.
ZEALANDIA MAKES GREEN HIT LIST
Wellington's Zealandia eco-sanctuary has been named one of the top 75 green tourism companies in the world by a British newspaper.
The 15-year-old conservation attraction, formerly known as Karori Sanctuary, made the The Guardian's Green Travel List 2010, which lists companies worldwide that have shown commitment to community and environment.
Zealandia chief executive Nancy McIntosh-Ward said it was absolutely thrilled to have made the list.
"It's a great recognition of Zealandia's international reputation as a model eco-tourism attraction, and the ground breaking work we have done to bring many of New Zealand's rarest species back to the mainland.
"Being not-for-profit, every single visitor we get makes a real, tangible contribution to New Zealand's natural heritage. Hopefully they also take away a deeper appreciation of our impact on the natural environment."
The Guardian surveyed more than 200 travel and tourism companies worldwide about action taken to reduce carbon impact and promote water conservation, biodiversity conservation and waste management.
A panel of experts read the questionnaires and decided on the final list.
The Wilderness Lodges, a luxury eco-lodge accommodation in the South Island, also made the list, under the small places to stay category.
NEW ZEALAND'S POPULATION HITS 4.36 MILLION
New Zealand's population grew by an estimated 56,300 people in the year ended March, and now stands at 4.36 million, according to Statistics New Zealand.
The 1.3 percent increase was the highest annual rate of growth since 2004, when the population increased by 1.6 percent.
In the March 2009 year, the population grew by 1.0 percent.
Natural increase, an excess of births over deaths, was the main reason for the increase over the past year, said population statistics manager Denise McGregor.
However, fewer permanent and long-term departures also resulted in an increased net migration, she said. As at March 31, half the male population was older than 35.5, and half the females were over 37.5.
Over the past 10 years, the median age has increased by 2.1 years for males and 2.6 years for females.
This particularly reflected population growth in the 45-69 year age groups, Mrs McGregor said.
CHAMBER UPDATES
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