Snapshots: A super celebration

AUT's Derek McCormack (left) with Graeme Hansen of TPT Group, Mike Marr of Advanced Security and Professor Geoff Perry.

Auckland Super City's fifth birthday and the 10th year of the New Zealand Herald's Project Auckland report were celebrated last week at an intimate lunch at exclusive venue The Northern Club in Auckland. Just over 100 guests attended the luncheon where Mayor Len Brown discussed the success of the council amalgamation as well as plans for the city's future.

Brown apologised to all the lawyers in the room before pointing out that $20 million had been saved on litigation with the formation of the Super City, drawing laughter from the crowd. His passion for the Super City was certainly there for all to see but he is still playing his cards close to his chest on whether he will stand again next year.

Other speakers included ATEED's Brett O'Riley, who called for a "unified story" for Auckland, and NZME chief executive Jane Hastings, who also wanted to see the city develop a unique and distinct brand.

Sugar, spice and all things nice

Coca-Cola seems to be putting in some overtime when it comes to their brand message, sending out product samples, hosting media lunches and trying to promote a generally more positive image amid the growing global anti-sugar movement.

The company attended the Fizz (fighting sugar in soft drinks) conference last month where general manager for Coca-Cola South Pacific Paul Fitzgerald spoke about the actions the company was taking - including selling smaller drink sizes, providing more information on their packaging and selling low or no sugar options such as coke zero.

Coca-Cola has also been putting out a range of press releases around the national health strategy plan, saying it welcomed the inclusion of the food and beverage industry in the government's plan to reduce childhood obesity. Although it is the right move to make, Coca-Cola is fighting a tough battle.

Tech Talk

Later this month marketing and innovation conference ad:tech tackles the topic: "Crossing the digital divide and championing collaboration" with speakers from some leading media and technology companies.

The event, in its second year in Auckland, takes place on November 17th at AUT Business School.

It has been held around the world - from London to Shanghai - for the past 15 years.

Register at www.ad-tech.co.nz.

Tech Talk2

New Zealand's tech community will be celebrating this month after the launch of the 11th annual TIN100 report, produced by Technology Investment Network (TIN), which showed record growth figures across the sector. The launch of the report was held at ASB's offices at North Wharf over drinks and canapes. Minister for Economic Development Steven Joyce was in attendance to congratulate the attendees which included top executives and business leaders from across the high-tech manufacturing, ICT and Biotech industries. This year's report showed revenue growth across all regions of New Zealand, as well as increasing exports, employment numbers and research and development.

Murray Holdaway, Greg Shanahan and Mary Quin at the TIN100 launch at ASB Auckland.

MP lauds kill rate of 1080

The Langham hotel was decked out last week for the annual AUT Excellence in Business Support Awards, emceed by Carol Hirschfeld and with special guest MP Maggie Barry. A surprising highlight, the Minister of Conservation's speech touched onthe 1080 protest that threatened to contaminate infant formula with the poison, saying the alleged culprit's actions were despicable. Barry went on to say her current pest kill rate was in the millions - something that wouldn't be possible without the product. She mentioned Winston Peters, who she described as being "all mouth and trousers", and Bill English, who she said had the shortest arms and longest pockets of anyone she had ever met. Winners for the ten categories were announced before Advanced Security Group was crowned the supreme winner. The Hip Op-eration Crew, the the world's oldest dance group, entertained with a sprightly hip hop dance routine.

Let us know

This is not a gossip column but ... The weekly Page 2 is a chance to share stories and pictures about business personalities and events so please drop us a line at page2@nzherald.co.nz