Grounded Company takes home Supreme Award at Te Manu Atatū Māori Business Awards
The biennial awards recognise the success of Māori-owned businesses in Whanganui across a range of specialities.
The awards are hosted by Te Manu
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Otago Daily Times
12 hours ago
- Otago Daily Times
‘Ultra-luxury' hotel ‘something truly different'
Queenstown's new $70 million ROKI Collection hotel is due to open on September 1. PHOTO: SUPPLIED It is quite the transformation. An "ultra-luxury" Queenstown hotel is opening on a lakefront, edge-of-the-CBD site that was formerly home to the humble Bumbles backpackers. The Brisbane-based developer of New Zealand's first ROKI Collection hotel is announcing today it will be opening for guests and casual diners on September 1. General manager Stephen McAteer said the $70 million hotel included 15 suites ranging from one- to four-bedders and a "Grand ROKI" seven-bedder would be available too. Rates range from $1800 to $32,000 a night, but Mr McAteer said the hotel was also offering locals "celebration rates" over its first few months. He believed it was bringing "something truly different to New Zealand — an urban retreat that combines the tranquillity of a lodge with the energy of a hotel in stunning Queenstown". "We're giving guests the expansiveness of a countryside lodge in this urban environment." "Roki" meant "tranquil" in te reo Māori and "every aspect has been thoughtfully designed to be a space to pause and breathe, a sanctuary of calm" — the concept having been carried through by Auckland-based Sumich Chaplin Architects and leading interior designer Virginia Fisher. Mr McAteer said what would make the hotel "ultra-luxury" would be the quality of the staff and the service it delivered. "We've got a very high staff-to-guest ratio, our capacity is only 46 and we're running one-to-one on open, and we anticipate that growing to about 60-plus over summer." The main third floor would house two restaurants that would also be open to the public — seafood-inspired The Terrace, overlooking the lake, and "signature" modern fine dining restaurant Essence. Mr McAteer said what was exciting was that "director of culinary" Paul Froggatt — Luxury Lodges of NZ Chef of the Year 2023-24 — had only cheffed in remote lodges, but would now show off his skills to all. The public could also visit The Library Bar. Open just for guests would be the hotel's "hidden sanctuary within the sanctuary", an elaborate wellness offering called "ROKI Pure". "We've got a lap pool, jacuzzi, ice bath, saunas — we will meet our guests on whatever stage of the wellness journey they're on." The hotel was even employing a "sleep concierge". "What better opportunity for these guests flying into a different time zone, different temperature, a different firmness of bed and pillows to have a sleep concierge come to their suite and offer the latest in health technology, allowing them to sleep and be restful and awaken rejuvenated?" Mr McAteer said the hotel was also taking sustainability and conservation seriously, whether with "keep cups" and no single-use plastic water bottles, or by partnering with predator control group Southern Lakes Sanctuary and the Kea Conservation Trust — the hotel's logo is the kea. The hotel would donate an amount each month to head-of-the-lake conservation work and also offer guests a hands-on experience if they were keen.
Scoop
a day ago
- Scoop
Reviewers Of Legislation Treaty Clauses Expected To Report Back In Months
Friday, 11 July 2025, 4:43 pm Article: RNZ Russell Palmer, Political Reporter The reviewers of all Treaty of Waitangi clauses in legislation include three lawyers and a director, and will be expected to report back "within months". New Zealand First secured the commitment to a comprehensive review of all legislation (except when it is related to, or substantive to, existing full and final Treaty settlements) that includes "The Principles of the Treaty of Waitangi and replace all such references with specific words relating to the relevance and application of the Treaty, or repeal the references" in its coalition deal with National. The creation of the group has been led by Justice Minister Paul Goldsmith, who is also the Treaty Negotiations Minister. His office confirmed former Waitangi Tribunal member David Cochrane would chair the review group, which also includes Marama Royal, James Christmas and John Walters. They would be "reporting back in the next few months". Cochrane is a Wellington-based lawyer who has been practising public and commercial law since the 1980s, has worked on the Parliamentary Counsel which drafts legislation, and has been a member of the Law Society's Reform Committee and the Legislation Advisory Committee. Royal (Ngāti Whātua ki Tāmaki) is a former public servant and chairs - or is a member of - several boards including Ngāti Whātua Ōrākei Trust, Pou Take Āhuarangi under the National Iwi Chairs Forum, the Variety children's charity, Sky City Community Trust and several Māori or community trusts. She previously worked for the Courts and Ministry of Justice, and was last year named a member of the New Zealand Order of Merit. Christmas is a lawyer and former senior advisor to then-Attorney General Christopher Finlayson, who was also Treaty Negotiations Minister in the John Key government. He also advised Sir John and his successor as Prime Minister, Sir Bill English. Christmas stood for National as a list-only candidate at 28th in 2023, missing out on a seat in Parliament partly as a result of the party's success in electorate races. John Walters is a founding partner at his law firm Walters Law, specialising in property, commercial and trust law, serving clients including large corporates and businesses, Māori Trusts and iwi, and acted as a Treaty claims negotiator for his iwi Te Aupōuri. In a report based on hearings in early May last year on the proposed review, alongside its consideration of the Treaty Principles Bill, the Waitangi Tribunal said the outcomes of the review were pre-determined and the Crown had not acted in good faith by failing to consult with Māori on it. The review would likely remove or narrow Treaty clauses in the law, the Tribunal said, impacting Māori rights and breaching the principles of partnership, active protection, equity, redress, good government and the article 2 guarantee of rangatiratanga. The Tribunal recommended putting the review on hold until it could be reconceptualised through collaboration with Māori. The review will examine about 28 pieces of legislation dating back to 1986. New Zealand First's 2023 election manifesto included no mention of the Treaty, but the party has a long-standing view that the Treaty was what first formed New Zealand as a nation, but it does not have principles - and to try to define principles will not push the country forward. During a media conference last Monday, Goldsmith said the review was underway and a panel had been appointed to give initial advice. "There's about 20 pieces of legislation that we're looking at... over years we've developed a whole lot of references, a wide variety of phrases that have been interpreted very broadly by some government departments and other places. And so we want to be clearer about what we do, and what we don't mean." NZ First leader Winston Peters interjected that, "if they should be there they'll be there, and if they shouldn't be there they won't be there". © Scoop Media
Scoop
a day ago
- Scoop
Chinese Education Leaders Visit Wintec
Wintec continues to grow its relationships in China through its nearly decade-long partnership with the China Education Association of International Exchange (CEAIE), this was recently highlighted by the hosting of representatives from multiple Chinese tertiary institutions and the CEAIE. The visiting group met with Wintec leadership and kaimahi (staff) at Wintec's City campus to discuss New Zealand's vocational education sector and identify opportunities for further collaboration. Warwick Pitts, Wintec Operations Lead, gave the delegation a warm welcome, introducing himself with pepeha, a Māori introduction. 'It [pepeha] is an important part of the way that strangers become friends, and how long partnerships and relationships start and are maintained,' said Warwick. 'Wintec deeply values its long-standing relationship with CEAIE, a relationship that, by extension, connects us with a vast network of Chinese institutions.' Warwick highlighted the importance of vocational learning and acknowledged Wintec's involvement in various collaborative programmes with China. 'Vocational education plays a pivotal role in keeping up with the needs of today's evolving and increasingly complex world. 'Wintec was proud to have led the Sino–New Zealand Model Programme, through which we trained many Chinese leaders and teachers… We look forward to continuing to work with CEAIE to identify further collaboration opportunities.' The head of the visiting delegation, Dr An Yan, CEAIE Deputy Secretary-General, also expressed appreciation for the long-standing partnership between Wintec and the CEAIE and looks forward to more collaboration in the future. "It was a great pleasure to visit the Waikato Institute of Technology with the delegation from higher vocational education institutions. This visit has been highly rewarding, and we believe it will mark the beginning of more collaboration in the future," said An. The campus visit concluded with the exchanging of gifts, a custom in Chinese culture, followed by a waiata (song) from Wintec kaimahi. Wintec has led and contributed to numerous key education partnerships with China, including the Sino–New Zealand Model Programme, interactive design collaborations with Jinhua Vocational and Technical University, and the Train the Trainer initiative. Through its delivery of effective on and offshore programmes, Wintec continues to develop and maintain international partnerships in China. About Wintec Wintec (Waikato Institute of Technology) is an institute of technology based in New Zealand's Waikato region. Wintec offers a wide range of degrees, diplomas and certificates. With a focus on practical, hands-on learning, Wintec is dedicated to equipping students with the skills and knowledge needed to succeed in their chosen careers. Wintec is currently part of Te Pūkenga – New Zealand Institute of Skills and Technology, located in region 2 of the national network.
