On The Up: Northland mobile AED business named The Pick 2025 winner
From there, 28 businesses entered the competition and six finalists were chosen to pitch their concepts in a Dragon's Den-style finals night on July 10.
McInnes said Keys ticked all the boxes with MAED Innovations: a smartphone-integrated AED with the potential to save lives both in New Zealand and internationally.
The first runner-up was awarded to Shane Stewart of Stewart Piping for his innovative bagpipe chanter.
Second runner-up was awarded to Helen Horrocks of Girls Got Game, a coaching programme to encourage female confidence in boating.
Frank Manifold also received a Highly Commended award for his natural anti-fouling system for watercraft.
Keys said joining The Pick not only helped her learn more about running a business but has given her many opportunities for MEAD Innovations.
The Pick 2025 finalists were Frank Manifold, Shane Stewart, winner Georgia Keys, Helen Horrocks, Jess and David Croft, and Jodeci Jusharna, with facilitator Tania McInnes.
The Paihia mother-of-five is a first responder with Hato Hone St John and was inspired to buy an AED after attending an incident where a young woman died from cardiac arrest.
However, when Keys started researching, she found AEDs cost thousands of dollars, putting them out of reach for most people.
She designed a mobile AED device, no bigger than a power bank, to cost around $400 to $500. The first prototype is now being developed by the University of Canterbury.
'The whole point is to create a device that everyone can afford to have in their vehicles,' she said.
Keys said she is now seeking investors and hopes to sell MEAD to 5% of all smartphone users in New Zealand, Australia and the US.
Potential investors can contact her on mead.innovations@outlook.co.nz for more information.
Her prize package from The Pick includes growth adviser support from Northland Inc, registration of her business with New Zealand Companies Office and other sponsorship.
This year's The Pick was delivered in partnership with NorthChamber, MSD and Whāriki - Māori Business Network Aotearoa, with more than 60% of participants identifying as Māori.
The Pick 2025 Pitch Night on July 10 was held at Whangārei District Council's Te Iwitahi building and attended by more than 70 people.
Denise Piper is a news reporter for the Northern Advocate, focusing on health and business. She has more than 20 years in journalism and is passionate about covering stories that make a difference.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Scoop
4 days ago
- Scoop
Cafe Owner Protests Punakaiki Parking Charges
A Punakaiki café owner is urging the Conservation Department to rethink its plan to charge for parking at the famous Pancake Rocks on the West Coast. Grant Parrett told a meeting of the West Coast Tai o Poutini Conservation Board this week (subs: Tuesday 22/7) that parking charges create de facto entry fee to (Paparoa) National Park, which was unlawful. Conservation Minister Tama Potaka has asked for a trial of paid parking to boost revenue. DOC is aiming to launch a pilot programme in October at Punakaiki, Franz Josef and White Horse Hill at Aoraki Mt Cook. Project manager John Dore told the Board that DOC had serious budget pressures including a 30 percent shortfall in funding for its visitor network and a huge deficit in the amount available for biodiversity. 'For protection of all endangered species we have a budget of $300 million - but a need of $2.3 billion," Mr Dore said. Climate events in the last few years had added $90 million in costs, he added. Paid parking was a tool used internationally in nature parks and would help manage overcrowding at busy sites, he told the Board. But Mr Parrett said the move would turn public conservation land into a Wilsons-style parking lot, and urged the Board to oppose it. 'However you label it, it's a National Park entry fee; it contravenes the National Parks Act and it diminishes DOC's social license to operate.' There were no free parks at Punakaiki because they had been removed to make room for the new Visitor Centre development and people would have no option but to pay to walk around the Pancake Rocks, Mr Parrett said. Unlike Franz Josef or Aoraki Mt Cook, Punakaiki was not a tourist destination but a stop-off attraction for people driving the scenic Coast Road, and for most of the year there was no congestion or capacity problem in the carpark, he said. 'Parking fees will disadvantage local people who call in for a coffee or to stretch their legs, and we don't want this,' he said. While DOC owned the land, taxpayers had funded the $45 million Dolomite Point Visitor Centre development and the building was gifted by the last Government to manawhenua, NgatiWaewae, who now leased office space back to DOC. The public has paid for this development and costs should be kept low, he said. "I am surprised that the iwi has supported the paid parking trial … unless they stand to benefit from it," Mr Parrett said. If people had to pay for parking they might be less likely to pay for Ngati Waewae's interactive visitor experience inside, he suggested. Ngati Waewae's representative on the Conservation Board, Francois Tumahai, objected. 'I disagree with everything you've said. The cost of the building was not $45 million and we're not getting a cent from the project. In the early days we suggested we might provide (parking) wardens … that's it.' Mr Parrett suggested it would be good if the iwi put out a statement to that effect in the interests of transparency. The iwi leader responded: 'You're the one causing all the grief - you put it out." Board chair Dr Mike Legge closed off the discussion and thanked Mr Parrett for his contribution to the public forum. The Dolomite Point Visitor Centre, funded by the Provincial Growth Fund, was budgeted to cost $26 million but the project – including the new carparks – received a funding boost of $15 million in 2023 and cost a total of $40.9 million. The paid parking trial, including charging technology and upgrades to carparks at the three sites, is being funded by $3.8 million from the International Visitor Conservation and Tourism Levy. DOC plans to release its pricing strategy early next month and hold public drop-in sessions at Punakaiki, Franz Josef and Aoraki in mid August. Submissions close on August 26 for Punakaiki, and September 30 for Aoraki. *The National Parks Act 1980 gives the public freedom of entry and access to the parks "so that they may receive in full measure the inspiration, enjoyment, recreation and other benefits that may be derived from mountains, forest, sounds, seacoasts, lakes, rivers and other natural features.'
NZ Herald
4 days ago
- NZ Herald
Cafe owner protests Punakaiki parking charges
DoC is aiming to launch a pilot programme in October at Punakaiki, Franz Josef and White Horse Hill at Aoraki Mt Cook. Project manager John Dore told the Board that DoC had serious budget pressures including a 30% shortfall in funding for its visitor network and a huge deficit in the amount available for biodiversity. 'For protection of all endangered species we have a budget of $300 million but a need of $2.3 billion,' Dore said. Climate events in the last few years had added $90m in costs, he added. Paid parking was a tool used internationally in nature parks and would help manage overcrowding at busy sites, he told the board. But Parrett said the move would turn public conservation land into a Wilsons-style parking lot, and urged the board to oppose it. 'However you label it, it's a National Park entry fee. It contravenes the National Parks Act and it diminishes DoC's social licence to operate.' A business owner says parking fees will disadvantage local people who call in for a coffee. Photo / LDR There were no free parks at Punakaiki because they had been removed to make room for the new Visitor Centre development and people would have no option but to pay to walk around the Pancake Rocks, Parrett said. Unlike Franz Josef or Aoraki Mt Cook, Punakaiki was not a tourist destination but a stop-off attraction for people driving the scenic coast road, and, for most of the year, there was no congestion or capacity problem in the carpark, he said. 'Parking fees will disadvantage local people who call in for a coffee or to stretch their legs, and we don't want this,' he said. While DoC owned the land, taxpayers had funded the $45 million Dolomite Point Visitor Centre development and the building was gifted by the last Government to manawhenua, NgatiWaewae, who now leased office space back to DoC. The public had paid for this development and costs should be kept low, he said. 'I am surprised that the iwi has supported the paid parking trial … unless they stand to benefit from it,' Parrett said. If people had to pay for parking they might be less likely to pay for Ngati Waewae's interactive visitor experience inside, he suggested. Ngati Waewae's representative on the Conservation Board, Francois Tumahai, objected. 'I disagree with everything you've said. The cost of the building was not $45 million and we're not getting a cent from the project. In the early days we suggested we might provide [parking] wardens … that's it.' Parrett suggested it would be good if the iwi put out a statement to that effect in the interests of transparency. The iwi leader responded: 'You're the one causing all the grief - you put it out.' Board chairperson Dr Mike Legge closed off the discussion and thanked Parrett for his contribution to the public forum. The Dolomite Point Visitor Centre, funded by the Provincial Growth Fund, was budgeted to cost $26 million but the project - including the new carparks - received a funding boost of $15m in 2023 and cost a total of $40.9m. The paid parking trial, including charging technology and upgrades to carparks at the three sites, is being funded by $3.8m from the International Visitor Conservation and Tourism Levy. DoC plans to release its pricing strategy early next month and hold public drop-in sessions at Punakaiki, Franz Josef and Aoraki in mid-August. Submissions close on August 26 for Punakaiki and September 30 for Aoraki. - RNZ
Otago Daily Times
4 days ago
- Otago Daily Times
Cafe owner protests Punakaiki parking charges
A Punakaiki cafe owner is urging the Department of Conservation to rethink its plan to charge for parking at the famous Pancake Rocks on the West Coast. Grant Parrett told a meeting of the West Coast Tai o Poutini Conservation Board on Tuesday that parking charges created a de facto entry fee to (Paparoa) National Park, which was unlawful. Conservation Minister Tama Potaka has asked for a trial of paid parking to boost revenue. Doc is aiming to launch a pilot programme in October at Punakaiki, Franz Josef and White Horse Hill at Aoraki Mt Cook in Canterbury. Project manager John Dore told the board that Doc had serious budget pressures, including a 30% shortfall in funding for its visitor network and a huge deficit in the amount available for biodiversity. 'For protection of all endangered species we have a budget of $300 million - but a need of $2.3 billion," Mr Dore said. Climate events in the last few years had added $90 million in costs, he added. Paid parking was a tool used internationally in nature parks and would help manage overcrowding at busy sites, he told the board. But Mr Parrett said the move would turn public conservation land into a Wilsons-style parking lot and urged the board to oppose it. 'However you label it, it's a National Park entry fee; it contravenes the National Parks Act and it diminishes DOC's social license to operate.' There were no free parks at Punakaiki because they had been removed to make room for the new Visitor Centre development and people would have no option but to pay to walk around the Pancake Rocks, Mr Parrett said. Unlike Franz Josef or Aoraki Mt Cook, Punakaiki was not a tourist destination but a stop-off attraction for people driving the scenic Coast Road, and for most of the year there was no congestion or capacity problem in the carpark, he said. 'Parking fees will disadvantage local people who call in for a coffee or to stretch their legs, and we don't want this,' he said. While Doc owned the land, taxpayers had funded the $45 million Dolomite Point Visitor Centre development and the building was gifted by the last government to manawhenua, NgatiWaewae, who now leased office space back to the department. The public has paid for this development and costs should be kept low, he said. "I am surprised that the iwi has supported the paid parking trial … unless they stand to benefit from it," Mr Parrett said. If people had to pay for parking they might be less likely to pay for Ngati Waewae's interactive visitor experience inside, he suggested. Ngati Waewae's representative on the Conservation Board, Francois Tumahai, objected. 'I disagree with everything you've said. The cost of the building was not $45 million and we're not getting a cent from the project. In the early days we suggested we might provide (parking) wardens … that's it.' Mr Parrett suggested it would be good if the iwi put out a statement to that effect in the interests of transparency. The iwi leader responded: 'You're the one causing all the grief - you put it out." Board chair Dr Mike Legge closed off the discussion and thanked Mr Parrett for his contribution to the public forum. The Dolomite Point Visitor Centre, funded by the Provincial Growth Fund, was budgeted to cost $26 million but the project - including the new carparks - received a funding boost of $15 million in 2023 and cost a total of $40.9 million. The paid parking trial, including charging technology and upgrades to carparks at the three sites, is being funded by $3.8 million from the International Visitor Conservation and Tourism Levy. Doc plans to release its pricing strategy early next month and hold public drop-in sessions at Punakaiki, Franz Josef and Aoraki in mid-August. Submissions close on August 26 for Punakaiki, and September 30 for Aoraki. • The National Parks Act 1980 gives the public freedom of entry and access to the parks "so that they may receive in full measure the inspiration, enjoyment, recreation and other benefits that may be derived from mountains, forest, sounds, seacoasts, lakes, rivers and other natural features.' By Lois Williams, Local Democracy Reporter
