NEW ZEALAND BUSINESS MENTORS START WORK COACHING FIJI BUSINESSES IN SUCCESS

Fijian businesses who are interested in improving their businesses  performance can now take advantage of the free Pacific Islands Business Mentoring Programme from Business Mentors New Zealand (BMNZ) which kicks off this month with an introductory briefing in Suva on 5^th March.

Fiji is the latest of 11 Pacific island countries to be included in the BMNZ managed project with funding provided by New Zealand’s Aid Programme. The ten strong team of mentors is twice as large as the usual contingent because Fiji is a much larger economy than most of the other Pacific Islands.

There will be two one hour presentations for Fijian business owners at the Holiday Inn Hotel, Suva starting at noon and 5 pm on 5^th March and all business owners are invited to attend.

The Pacific Business Mentoring programme aims to assist small and medium sized businesses in the Pacific to manage and grow their businesses in a way that supports sustained increases in production and employment over time.  It is hoped the programme will be a catalyst for identifying other business needs such as training, and create opportunities for partnerships and joint ventures, and increased Pacific exports.

Suka Salusalu, Training and Research Coordinator at the Fiji Commerce and Employers Federation who is the Business Mentors’ Agent in Fiji says: `The Mentoring programme will encourage upskilling of our business people and undoubtably will lead to a boost to profits for our smaller and medium sized enterprises. I am so excited to be part of the coordinating team and am sure its going to make a tremendous difference.’

Ian Furlong, General Manager of the Business Mentors Pacific Programme adds: ‘Experienced Independent NZ business mentors bring a fresh perspective and approach to analysing existing business performance and opportunities in smaller business communities. Often the range of expertise provided by the NZ mentors is simply not available in many pacific island countries.

Ian has a wealth of corporate experience with General Foods, Watties and Coca Cola Amatil where he was a member of the leadership team for many years and the CEO of Coca Cola Amatil in Fiji for three years returning to NZ in 2008.

He explains: ‘The situation in the Pacific over recent times has seen many business owners under pressure and having  to cope in  a very challenging business environment. Many lack the experience to get through and this is where a business mentor can help.

Countries benefiting from the BMNZ Pacific Mentoring Programme include the Cook Islands, Tonga, Samoa, Niue, Vanuatu, the Solomon Islands, Kiribati and Tuvalu, Papua New Guinea, Fiji and Tokelau.

For more information on Business Mentors in the Pacific visit

http://www.businessmentorspacific.org.nz/

OAMARU MUM WINS LUMINO FIJI HOLIDAY

Oamaru mum, Joanne Prouting has won five nights in Fiji with return airfares for two, staying at the Sofitel Resort and Spa. Joanne, a long standing patient at Lumino The Dentists (Shearer Dental) in Oamaru took part in the company’s initiative to get New Zealanders thinking about their dental care.

‘I thought I was dreaming because I never win anything,’ laughs Joanne. ‘I’ve never been to Fiji before so it’ll be a nice break; I’m really looking forward to it. I don’t think I’ll believe it until I step off the plane though!’

Lumino The Dentists, the country’s only national provider, is concerned that people are storing up trouble by pushing concerns about their oral health to the back of their minds. Andy Tapper, Lumino managing director explains: `We’re trying to get people to come in and see their dentist so that any small problems they may have don’t get worse through neglect. With any consultation or treatment at a Lumino practice we offered the chance to go into a draw to win a fabulous holiday and Joanne is our very lucky winner.’

The Oamaru practice has recently added a second dentist. UK migrant Steven Fletcher is now working three days per week at Oamaru, including two additional late nights.

The latest initiative follows a study of over 18,000 people by the University of Otago in Wellington which showed that 23% of New Zealanders had put off going to the dentist in the last 12 months.

To find out more about Lumino The Dentists, visit http://www.lumino.co.nz/