Why Good Privacy is Good Business?
Next month New Zealand’s Privacy Commissioner Marie Schroff will be explaining to Northland Businesses and HR people how to ensure that they are complying with NZs Privacy regulations.
Businesses that take privacy seriously have a competitive edge according to the Privacy Commissioner.
Information and technology are increasingly the key to business success in the 21st century. Marie Shroff will talk about how to handle personal information well to give you a competitive edge. She will explain how good privacy practice can help you gain and retain customer and employee trust, and will give commonsense tips on how to improve your information handling.
Marie Shroff was appointed to the independent statutory position of Privacy Commissioner in late 2003. Her responsibilities include independent comment on significant personal information policies and issues, providing opinions on privacy complaints made against government and business, monitoring government data matching and promoting good personal information handling practices in New Zealand.
The Privacy Commission has published a simple 6 step guide that should just about keep most businesses within the law. These are;
1 Tell people what you are doing and why.If you’re collecting information about someone, tell them what you’re doing.
Tell them why you need it, and what you plan to use it for. Tell them if you intend to send the information to another business or person.
2 Keep information safe.Many people, including your customers and suppliers, worry about the security of their personal details.
The more sensitive the information is, the more careful you need to be. Make sure your staff know how information should be handled – this will avoid many mistakes.
3 Obtain only the personal information that you need to do your business.
4 Only use personal information if you’re reasonably sure it’s accurate and up to date.
5 If someone tells you that the information you hold about them is wrong, correct it if you can. If there’s a difference of opinion about whether the information is right, make a note on the file of the person’s view.
6 If someone asks for a copy of their information, you usually have to give it to them – and do so as promptly as you can.
Collecting and using information about people – even if it’s just a phone number and address for invoicing – is an everyday part of doing business. Keeping that information safe and secure should be too. But mistakes happen – and they can have a major effect on a business. For example:
- Oscar owns a panel and paint firm. One day he answers a phone call from a friend about a mutual customer. The friend is concerned about the customer’s credit-worthiness, so Oscar tells him about a large unpaid bill. As a result, Oscar’s friend refuses to give the customer credit. Oscar then gets an angry call from the customer who had actually paid the bill early, though the payment went into the wrong account. The customer says he will tell everyone he can that Oscar’s firm is lousy.
- Anna works at a beauty salon. A man rings asking for a client’s new address so he can “send flowers”. She provides the information. A week later the client threatens legal action. Anna had not been aware the man was her client’s abusive former partner.
Any business or organisation that is interested in attending the presentation by the privacy commissioner on November 15th can contact Janette at Northland Chamber to reserve a place on 438-4771.
The Northland Chamber of Commerce is the networking, education, advocacy and marketing group for Northland business, and is part of a nationwide network of 30 and a world-wide movement of 21,000 chambers. Subscription to the free fortnightly chamber e-news can be arranged on info@northchamber.co.nz. Enquiries to 09-4384771 or www.northchamber.co.nz, www.kaiparachamber.co.nz and www.farnorthchamber.co.nz
You can have a say on this by going to the Northland Chamber of Commerce Feedback website on www.northchamber.blogspot.com
23 October 2007
12 October 2007
Whangarei Flood Submission
Submission to:
The Whangarei District Council
Submission regarding:
CBD Flood Management Consultation
Submission by:
The Northland Chamber of Commerce
Decision sought from District Council
Consideration to Vince Cocurullos Submission below and particularly the ‘Viable Options’ and then…
To Commit exploring an extra option and gaining a professional opinion to the concept outlined in the appendixed paper by our board member Jeroen Jongejans
The Application
The Northland Chamber of Commerce currently has 350 financial members that employ the equivalent of 4000 full time employees.
Since 1903, the Northland Chamber of Commerce has served the needs of the Northland business community through its public policy and advocacy initiatives and its business development programs and services.
The Chamber also works to ensure that Northland has a business-friendly environment where all businesses can grow and prosper. With this, also comes paying close attention to the quality of life the region offers our members’ employees and families. The Chamber works to make a difference in Northland’s future and to help Northland grow.
The Northland Chamber of Commerce generally favour well researched development projects that add value to the economy, community and infrastructure of the region especially those projects that undergo rigorous scrutiny to ensure that the community and environment are protected.
Submission to:
The Whangarei District Council
Submission regarding:
CBD Flood Management Consultation
Submission by:
The Northland Chamber of Commerce
Decision sought from District Council
Consideration to Vince Cocurullos Submission below and particularly the ‘Viable Options’ and then…
To Commit exploring an extra option and gaining a professional opinion to the concept outlined in the appendixed paper by our board member Jeroen Jongejans
The Application
The Northland Chamber of Commerce currently has 350 financial members that employ the equivalent of 4000 full time employees.
Since 1903, the Northland Chamber of Commerce has served the needs of the Northland business community through its public policy and advocacy initiatives and its business development programs and services.
The Chamber also works to ensure that Northland has a business-friendly environment where all businesses can grow and prosper. With this, also comes paying close attention to the quality of life the region offers our members’ employees and families. The Chamber works to make a difference in Northland’s future and to help Northland grow.
The Northland Chamber of Commerce generally favour well researched development projects that add value to the economy, community and infrastructure of the region especially those projects that undergo rigorous scrutiny to ensure that the community and environment are protected.
CBD Flood Management
The Northland Chamber of Commerce has requested its members to give us a lead on the Flood Control proposals recently put forward by the Whangarei District Council. Two members Vince Cocurullo and Jeroen Jongejans have forwarded submissions to the council as individuals separately (appendixed below) and the Northland Chamber of Commerce recommend the following actions be taken as a result of these submissions
1. In the first instance - Consideration to the proposal appendixed by Vince Cocurullo
Cocurullo has outlined some quick fix or maintenance options below that can be implemented – these are;
Dredging the harbour to depths greater than that is presently being done.
Upgrading sewer and storm-water pipes within the CBD.
Cleaning out the waterways and streams of rubbish and debris regularly.
Cleaning the cesspits and kerb and channel regularly.
Removing the Mangroves within the harbour entrance, and therefore create more spots for the boats to park.
Before all sub-divisions start they must provide approved and adequate methods of dealing with the silt from the area.
The Northland Chamber would support any combination of these activities which would reduce the immediate effect of Flooding in the CBD
2. Further investigation into the ‘Dyke’ option as outlined in the following appendix by Jeroen Jongejans.
Although some excellent work has been done to date on the 7 options we would like to see some professional consideration given to a ‘dyke’ option.
As outlined in Jongejans proposal it is possible that the ‘Dyke’ option has not been considered due to it not being a usual practice in New Zealand as it is in the Netherlands.
Initially, the Chamber can see some clear advantage with a number of additional problems being solved by utilising this option.
Tidal Control – Restricting high tides during periods of high ‘flood’ causing rainfall
Traffic Flows – Improved by double usage of the Dyke as the ‘Second Harbour Crossing’
Potential ‘Iconic feature’ – A unique point of difference for the city to assist with the Destination marketing Effort.
Control of Tide levels in the Town Basin – During times of low flood risk to enable maximum recreational and visitor usage on the water and enhancing the visual effect of the Harbourside by hiding unsightly features such as Mud Flats etc during daylight hours.
The Chamber feels that it would be prudent to invest in a professional opinion due to the potential positive effects this option could have on Flooding, Traffic and Visitor Industry issues.
We recommend that resources be earmarked for an overview opinion from a suitably qualified engineer answering the following questions.
Could a Dyke option around the Lime Burners Creek area reduce or eliminate the flooding problems in the affected area?
Would a harbour Crossing in the same area reduce or eliminate traffic congestion problems in Whangarei CBD?
We would welcome the opportunity to be heard on this application
08 October 2007
Chamber of Commerce Business Confidence
One of the great things about being part of an international oprganisation is the ability to benchmark your economy against other regions. The Chamber of Commerce carries out as quarterly survey on business confidence in regions from Taupo to Northland.
Business Confidence measures how confident respondents are in the Economy and their own business prospects.
The decline in business confidence in provincial centres that hit a 12 month low in June appears to have bottomed out
Key messages from the survey that asked businesses to look ahead at conditions for the next six months showed a slight improvement in overall confidence despite a continued fall in demand, and deep concerns over margins, interest and exchange rates, and difficulties finding suitable staff.
Findings could possibly reflect anticipations of a stronger period ahead in the lead-up to Christmas fuelled by the higher returns generated by the dairy sector and relief at the Reserve Bank’s latest announcement holding interest rates for the time period ahead.
But overall confidence remains low, with only 25% of businesses expecting the economy overall to improve and just 53% expecting their own prospects to improve over the next six months, which compares to the 33% and 65% respectively of this view last December.
Main survey findings were:
On Confidence
· 28% of provincial firms believe conditions for business will get worse over the next six months, compared with 29% in the June survey and 13% last December. 25% now believe conditions will improve compared to 23% in June and 33% last December. In urban Auckland 38% believe conditions will get worse over the next six months, down from 40% in June. The result suggests less pessimism in provincial areas than urban Auckland about prospects in the next 6 months.
· 53% of provincial firms believe conditions for their own individual business will improve over the next six months, up from 52% in June and compared to 65% last December, while 10% believe they will get worse, compared to 13% in June and 6% last December. Comparable figures for urban Auckland were 43% expecting conditions to improve and 17% expecting conditions to get worse, reinforcing the view that provincial centre businesses are less pessimistic about the future than their urban counterparts.
On Skills
· 41% of provincial firms believe it will continue to be harder to employ people with the right skills, compared with 44% of this view in June. Comparable figures in urban Auckland were 42% in both September and June surveys.
On Interest Rates
· 49% of respondents believe interest rates will rise, compared with 88% in June and just 38% last December. Urban Auckland shows a similar trend, with 52% in the September survey expecting interest rates to rise, compared with 86% in June and just 37% last December.
· 14% of provincial respondents believe interest rates will decrease in the next 12 months, compared to just 1% in June and the 5% who held this view last December. Comparable results for urban Auckland were 14% believing interest rates would fall in the September survey compared to 1% in June and 3% of this view in December.
In a comparison of responses by city and town, optimism about prospects in the next six months was highest in Rotorua with 36% of respondents expecting the general business situation to improve in the next six months, followed by Taupo (29%), Waikato (27%), Northland (21%) and Tauranga (17%) – compared with 19% for urban Auckland.
Pessimism about prospects in the next six months was highest in Tauranga at 32% followed by Taupo and Waikato 29%, Northland 26% and Rotorua 20% but all less pessimistic than Auckland at 38%.
The Northland Chamber of Commerce is the networking, education, advocacy and marketing group for Northland business, and is part of a nationwide network of 30 and a world-wide movement of 21,000 chambers. Subscription to the free fortnightly chamber e-news can be arranged on info@northchamber.co.nz. Enquiries to 09-4384771 or www.northchamber.co.nz, www.kaiparachamber.co.nz and www.farnorthchamber.co.nz
You can have a say on this by going to the Northland Chamber of Commerce Feedback website on www.northchamber.blogspot.com
One of the great things about being part of an international oprganisation is the ability to benchmark your economy against other regions. The Chamber of Commerce carries out as quarterly survey on business confidence in regions from Taupo to Northland.
Business Confidence measures how confident respondents are in the Economy and their own business prospects.
The decline in business confidence in provincial centres that hit a 12 month low in June appears to have bottomed out
Key messages from the survey that asked businesses to look ahead at conditions for the next six months showed a slight improvement in overall confidence despite a continued fall in demand, and deep concerns over margins, interest and exchange rates, and difficulties finding suitable staff.
Findings could possibly reflect anticipations of a stronger period ahead in the lead-up to Christmas fuelled by the higher returns generated by the dairy sector and relief at the Reserve Bank’s latest announcement holding interest rates for the time period ahead.
But overall confidence remains low, with only 25% of businesses expecting the economy overall to improve and just 53% expecting their own prospects to improve over the next six months, which compares to the 33% and 65% respectively of this view last December.
Main survey findings were:
On Confidence
· 28% of provincial firms believe conditions for business will get worse over the next six months, compared with 29% in the June survey and 13% last December. 25% now believe conditions will improve compared to 23% in June and 33% last December. In urban Auckland 38% believe conditions will get worse over the next six months, down from 40% in June. The result suggests less pessimism in provincial areas than urban Auckland about prospects in the next 6 months.
· 53% of provincial firms believe conditions for their own individual business will improve over the next six months, up from 52% in June and compared to 65% last December, while 10% believe they will get worse, compared to 13% in June and 6% last December. Comparable figures for urban Auckland were 43% expecting conditions to improve and 17% expecting conditions to get worse, reinforcing the view that provincial centre businesses are less pessimistic about the future than their urban counterparts.
On Skills
· 41% of provincial firms believe it will continue to be harder to employ people with the right skills, compared with 44% of this view in June. Comparable figures in urban Auckland were 42% in both September and June surveys.
On Interest Rates
· 49% of respondents believe interest rates will rise, compared with 88% in June and just 38% last December. Urban Auckland shows a similar trend, with 52% in the September survey expecting interest rates to rise, compared with 86% in June and just 37% last December.
· 14% of provincial respondents believe interest rates will decrease in the next 12 months, compared to just 1% in June and the 5% who held this view last December. Comparable results for urban Auckland were 14% believing interest rates would fall in the September survey compared to 1% in June and 3% of this view in December.
In a comparison of responses by city and town, optimism about prospects in the next six months was highest in Rotorua with 36% of respondents expecting the general business situation to improve in the next six months, followed by Taupo (29%), Waikato (27%), Northland (21%) and Tauranga (17%) – compared with 19% for urban Auckland.
Pessimism about prospects in the next six months was highest in Tauranga at 32% followed by Taupo and Waikato 29%, Northland 26% and Rotorua 20% but all less pessimistic than Auckland at 38%.
The Northland Chamber of Commerce is the networking, education, advocacy and marketing group for Northland business, and is part of a nationwide network of 30 and a world-wide movement of 21,000 chambers. Subscription to the free fortnightly chamber e-news can be arranged on info@northchamber.co.nz. Enquiries to 09-4384771 or www.northchamber.co.nz, www.kaiparachamber.co.nz and www.farnorthchamber.co.nz
You can have a say on this by going to the Northland Chamber of Commerce Feedback website on www.northchamber.blogspot.com
02 October 2007
Northland business confidence weakens but holding up better than Auckland
Northland business confidence has dropped for the first time in 18 months amidst signs that persistent skill shortages, impact of high interest rates, a continued fall in demand and concerns over margins are starting to impact on the local economy.
However confidence in Northland about the immediate prospects for the economy continues to remain higher than in urban Auckland even though it has slipped below a number of other provincial centres.
These are among findings of regular surveys of Chamber of Commerce members conducted in metropolitan Auckland and major provincial centres in the last fortnight on how they view business prospects in the period ahead.
Main findings for Northland:
On the general business situation, just 21% of Northland businesses expect the general situation to improve over the next six months – down from 34% in June and 27% last December - and compared to 19% in urban Auckland. The 21% in the latest survey is the first time in seven successive quarters that the level of business confidence has failed to increase in regard to how Northland businesses view the economy’s overall performance.
Reinforcing the drop in confidence in Northland, 26% of Northland businesses expect business conditions to deteriorate over the next six months, compared to 24% in June and 13% in December. In contrast, 38% of Auckland businesses expect the general situation to worsen in the next six months, compared to 40% of this view in June.
However, individual businesses continue to be optimistic in terms of their own prospects. 52% of Northland businesses consider their prospects will improve over the next six months, compared to 50% in June and 48% in March, and compared with 43% in Auckland.
Further, just 8% of individual Northland businesses believe their prospects will deteriorate over the next six months, compared to the 12% of this view last June and compared with 17% in Auckland.
On interest rates, 45% of Northland businesses believe they will rise over the next 12 months compared with 88% in June and matching the 52% in Auckland of this view.
Commenting, Northland Chamber of Commerce head Jeff Smith suggested:
Part of the explanation for the drop in general optimism could relate to higher interest rates starting to bite coupled with less money available for retail.
Spending from the recent positive payout for dairy farmers may also have not yet materialised.
At the same time with 80% of businesses small-medium enterprises, and almost half this group citing finance as the most limiting factor to the ability of the business to expand, the higher interest rates, the dollar and lack of staff able to help businesses expand are a continuing concern.
The Northland Chamber of Commerce is the networking, education, advocacy and marketing group for Northland business, and is part of a nationwide network of 30 and a world-wide movement of 21,000 chambers. Subscription to the free fortnightly chamber e-news can be arranged on info@northchamber.co.nz. Enquiries to 09-4384771 or www.northchamber.co.nz, www.kaiparachamber.co.nz and http://www.farnorthchamber.co.nz/
You can have a say on this by going to the Northland Chamber of Commerce Feedback website on http://www.northchamber.blogspot.com/
270 Words
Jeff Smith
Northland Chamber of Commerce
09-4384771
027-4441010
ceo@northchamber.co.nz
http://www.northchamber.co.nz/
Northland business confidence has dropped for the first time in 18 months amidst signs that persistent skill shortages, impact of high interest rates, a continued fall in demand and concerns over margins are starting to impact on the local economy.
However confidence in Northland about the immediate prospects for the economy continues to remain higher than in urban Auckland even though it has slipped below a number of other provincial centres.
These are among findings of regular surveys of Chamber of Commerce members conducted in metropolitan Auckland and major provincial centres in the last fortnight on how they view business prospects in the period ahead.
Main findings for Northland:
On the general business situation, just 21% of Northland businesses expect the general situation to improve over the next six months – down from 34% in June and 27% last December - and compared to 19% in urban Auckland. The 21% in the latest survey is the first time in seven successive quarters that the level of business confidence has failed to increase in regard to how Northland businesses view the economy’s overall performance.
Reinforcing the drop in confidence in Northland, 26% of Northland businesses expect business conditions to deteriorate over the next six months, compared to 24% in June and 13% in December. In contrast, 38% of Auckland businesses expect the general situation to worsen in the next six months, compared to 40% of this view in June.
However, individual businesses continue to be optimistic in terms of their own prospects. 52% of Northland businesses consider their prospects will improve over the next six months, compared to 50% in June and 48% in March, and compared with 43% in Auckland.
Further, just 8% of individual Northland businesses believe their prospects will deteriorate over the next six months, compared to the 12% of this view last June and compared with 17% in Auckland.
On interest rates, 45% of Northland businesses believe they will rise over the next 12 months compared with 88% in June and matching the 52% in Auckland of this view.
Commenting, Northland Chamber of Commerce head Jeff Smith suggested:
Part of the explanation for the drop in general optimism could relate to higher interest rates starting to bite coupled with less money available for retail.
Spending from the recent positive payout for dairy farmers may also have not yet materialised.
At the same time with 80% of businesses small-medium enterprises, and almost half this group citing finance as the most limiting factor to the ability of the business to expand, the higher interest rates, the dollar and lack of staff able to help businesses expand are a continuing concern.
The Northland Chamber of Commerce is the networking, education, advocacy and marketing group for Northland business, and is part of a nationwide network of 30 and a world-wide movement of 21,000 chambers. Subscription to the free fortnightly chamber e-news can be arranged on info@northchamber.co.nz. Enquiries to 09-4384771 or www.northchamber.co.nz, www.kaiparachamber.co.nz and http://www.farnorthchamber.co.nz/
You can have a say on this by going to the Northland Chamber of Commerce Feedback website on http://www.northchamber.blogspot.com/
270 Words
Jeff Smith
Northland Chamber of Commerce
09-4384771
027-4441010
ceo@northchamber.co.nz
http://www.northchamber.co.nz/
Northland Chamber of Commerce reflects Transpowers concerns over Transmission line uprating.
The Northland Chamber of Commerce today reiterated the concern by Transpower over the recent appeals lodged to the environment court on Auckland City Council’s decision to approve Transpower’s resource consent to uprate the Henderson – Otahuhu transmission line during forced outages.
This line affects North Auckland and Northland Regional Transmission Security. The Northland Chamber and a group of Northland Stakeholders including Northpower and Regional Council recently made submissions in favour of upgrading the line capacity during forced outages.
The Henderson to Otahuhu line supplies West Auckland, the North Shore & Northland and is the only transmission line that connects North Auckland and Northland with areas further south. Transpower applied for resource consent to operate the line from 750 MVA per circuit to 986 MVA during forced outages and this was approved by the Auckland City Council last month.
“The Northland Chamber of Commerce strongly believes that the Auckland City Council decision to approve the resource consent application was correct, and it is in the best interest of the country that electricity supply to North Auckland and Northland is reliable and secure. “said Jeff Smith from the Northland Chamber of Commerce.
The Henderson – Otahuhu upgrade project is part of a larger ‘suite’ of enhancements to the National Grid in the Auckland region to ensure reliability and diversity of electricity supply into Auckland and Northland. It is vital that we are very pro-active in ensuring that Northland has transmission security and are prepared to support initiatives all the way to ensure that Northlands Power Supply is guaranteed now and for the future.’
For Example - Last Week Transpower submitted an investment proposal to the Electricity Commission to reinforce supply to North Auckland and Northland. The proposed $521 million project involves installing 37kms of 220 kV underground cable from Pakuranga to Penrose and then to Albany. It also allows for obtaining easements, consents and other preparatory work for a second cable between Penrose and Hobson Street in later years.
The Northland Chamber of Commerce today reiterated the concern by Transpower over the recent appeals lodged to the environment court on Auckland City Council’s decision to approve Transpower’s resource consent to uprate the Henderson – Otahuhu transmission line during forced outages.
This line affects North Auckland and Northland Regional Transmission Security. The Northland Chamber and a group of Northland Stakeholders including Northpower and Regional Council recently made submissions in favour of upgrading the line capacity during forced outages.
The Henderson to Otahuhu line supplies West Auckland, the North Shore & Northland and is the only transmission line that connects North Auckland and Northland with areas further south. Transpower applied for resource consent to operate the line from 750 MVA per circuit to 986 MVA during forced outages and this was approved by the Auckland City Council last month.
“The Northland Chamber of Commerce strongly believes that the Auckland City Council decision to approve the resource consent application was correct, and it is in the best interest of the country that electricity supply to North Auckland and Northland is reliable and secure. “said Jeff Smith from the Northland Chamber of Commerce.
The Henderson – Otahuhu upgrade project is part of a larger ‘suite’ of enhancements to the National Grid in the Auckland region to ensure reliability and diversity of electricity supply into Auckland and Northland. It is vital that we are very pro-active in ensuring that Northland has transmission security and are prepared to support initiatives all the way to ensure that Northlands Power Supply is guaranteed now and for the future.’
For Example - Last Week Transpower submitted an investment proposal to the Electricity Commission to reinforce supply to North Auckland and Northland. The proposed $521 million project involves installing 37kms of 220 kV underground cable from Pakuranga to Penrose and then to Albany. It also allows for obtaining easements, consents and other preparatory work for a second cable between Penrose and Hobson Street in later years.
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