Andrea Martinisi placed 2nd at the ASI Association of Sommeliers Asia-Oceania Competition in Tokyo. This competition is the most important international event for wine and beverage professionals working in restaurants and hotels in Asia and Oceania. Held every three years, 24 candidates from 13 countries lined up for the 2022 contest.

Over two days candidates worked through a series of assessments and practical service tasks to challenge and showcase their sommelier skills,

The New Zealand Sommeliers and Wine Professionals is very proud of Andrea’s achievement and our second candidate, Marek Pryzborek was also a semi-finalist.

“It takes a lot of motivation and dedication to prepare and put yourself up for such competitions, says Andrea Martinisi.

“I was fortunate to compete for New Zealand at the 2019 World Best Sommelier Competition and I learnt so much from this event that I was determined to do the best I could in the Asia Oceania Competition. This is also a great help for my preparation for the World Competition in February.

“Standing on a stage, thinking on your feet, because you’re not sure what the next task will be, while being filmed and live-streamed is daunting but it’s also exciting to be personally challenged is such ways. I am very grateful for this opportunity,” comments Andrea Martinisi.

Andrea will go forward to compete at the ASI World Best Sommelier Competition in Paris in February 2023.

Winners
1st Mason Ng, Singapore
2nd Andrea Martinisi, New Zealand
3rd Loic Avril, Australia
About Andrea
Originally from Italy, Andrea is Beverage Director of Michael Dearth’s The Grove Restaurant in Auckland City.

Following high school, Andrea trained as an electrician and ended up in UK working for Heston Blumenthal at The Fat Duck. Later, he worked for the legendary Gerard Basset MS, MW at Hotel TerraVina, near Southampton. Andrea is a permanent resident of New Zealand.

The New Zealand Sommeliers and Wine Professionals Association is a non-profit registered society supporting people working in wine and hospitality in New Zealand. It is a member of ASI Association of Sommeliers International who run regular competitions around the world.

Media Release 14 November 2022.

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Since 2017, Feefo has recognised Momentum Life as a business who delivers exceptional customer experiences, having been awarded Feefo’s highest accolades – Gold Trusted Service and the Platinum Trusted Service Awards for the past six consecutive years.

The Awards are unique as they are based purely on feedback from real customers. This means they are a true reflection of commitment to outstanding customer service.

Feefo have given Platinum Trusted Service awards to businesses who have achieved Gold standard for three consecutive years. To receive a Gold Trusted Service award, businesses must have collected at least 50 reviews from verified customers with a Feefo service rating of between 4.5 and 4.9 between 1st January 2020 and 31st December 2021.

Eugeniu Jalba, Chief Executive Officer for Momentum Life commented: “We put our customers at the heart of everything we do at Momentum Life, so to receive this award for the sixth year from Feefo, means so much to us. As it is based on genuine feedback from our customers, we are reassured to know that we are, ultimately, providing them the very best in customer service. This award also highlights just how tremendously our staff have performed over what has been a very difficult past two years. No matter what the coming year has in store, Momentum Life remains fully committed to providing our customers the highest quality of service.”

Congratulating Momentum Life, Kim Burgess, Head of Customer Success at Feefo, said:
“The Trusted Service Awards recognise companies who go above and beyond to provide the very best customer experience.

“I’m so impressed by how our customers have overcome the challenges of the past two years. A particular congratulations to our Platinum Trusted Service winners. It’s an extremely tough challenge.

“I can’t wait to see what our customers achieve in 2022.”

Reader’s Digest NZ also recognised Momentum Life’s ongoing dedication to providing best in class products and experiences by awarding them the 2022 Silver Quality Service Award for Funeral Insurance for the second year running. This award recognises New Zealand companies that truly understand and value consumer needs.

New Zealanders can call 0800 111 679 for a no-obligation quote.

-Ends-

About Momentum Life

Momentum Life is a licensed New Zealand life insurance company, providing New Zealanders with easy and straightforward insurance solutions. They specialise in life insurance and funeral insurance.
Momentum Life is also a proud supporter of Heart Kids, the only charity in New Zealand dedicated to providing lifelong care and support for children and families living with childhood heart defects. A portion of all Momentum Life’s first-year insurance premiums are donated to support the valuable work Heart Kids does across the country.
To learn more please visit momentumlife.co.nz

Disclaimer: The information provided in this article is of a general nature only and does not take into account your personal situation or goals. You should consider whether the information is appropriate to your needs and seek independent financial advice, if required, to ensure an insurance product is suitable for you.
Any product information is correct at the time this article was published. For current product information, please visit the Momentum Life website.

Media Contact
Ginny Rolls, Momentum Life
momentumlife.co.nz
ginny.rolls@momentumlife.co.nz
+61403701751

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The annual awards, hosted by Registered Master Landscapers New Zealand, showcase the very best in professional landscaping practices. The awards recognise achievement in landscape construction and design and maintenance across both residential and commercial projects, and represent the highest professional accolade in the industry.

This year’s awards attracted a record number of entries says Registered Master Landscapers chief executive officer, Janine Scott.

“We are thrilled by the level of interest this year, and pleased to see so many new entrants,” says Scott. “In total, we received nearly 90 entries, which is 50 percent up on last year.

“We are also seeing an increase in the quality, scope, and uniqueness of the entries being submitted. Our industry is in good heart despite the challenges of the times and that is a tribute to the dedication and high standards of our members.”

The awards are independently judged by a panel of leading New Zealand landscape industry practitioners, each with their own speciality.

The judges say that, “the Herne Bay House is a triumph of engineering, construction, landscape technology, design, and plant management. The double sloping coastal cliff section has been structurally stabilised in order to support a large house and garden complex. The lush resort-style landscape provides a truly luxurious outdoor living environment, with highest quality materials, planting, and maintenance.

“This garden truly demonstrates a high level of landscape design, engineering and technology, along with masterful gardening, to deliver the Master Landscapers Landscape of the Year for 2021.”

In addition to the supreme Landscape of the Year award, there are several premier categories that recognise the best overall projects from the winning entries. Finalists are recognised for the vision and skill they have demonstrated in New Zealand landscaping projects. Premier award winners are judged across residential and commercial projects categories for: Best Construction Project of the Year, Best Design Project of the Year, Best Horticultural Project of the Year, Best Maintenance Project of the Year, People’s Choice Award, and Special Feature Awards.

This full list of this year’s premier award winners is: Humphreys Landscaping’s entry for the Auckland-based ‘Herne Bay House’ in all three construction, horticulture and design categories, and Diva Landscapes’ entry for Arrowtown’s ‘The Lodge at the Hills’ in the garden maintenance/management category. Special feature awards go to HEB Construction for its entry ‘Maungawhau / Mt Eden Tihi Boardwalk’, and Natural Habitats Landscapes for its entry ‘Westfield Newmarket Greenwalls’.

The 2021 People’s Choice Award was awarded to Christchurch business Onlandscapes Ltd for its entry ‘40 Thorrington Road’.

Media Release on 29 March 2021

Media Contact

Lea Boodee, Registered Master Landscapers
Emil: lea@on-cue.co.nz
Phone: 0211170916
Website: https://www.masterlandscapers.org.nz/awards/results/2021

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Part of the Global Fleet Champions Awards held by road-safety charity Brake, the Australasian division recognises the achievements of organisations working to prevent crashes and reduce pollution caused by work vehicles. Organisations from New Zealand, Australia, and the Pacific running any size or type of fleet can submit themselves for any of seven awards or be nominated by others.

TIL Logistics Group won the Company Driver Safety Award, which recognises organisations that have implemented initiatives that enable drivers to be safe, including safe driving education and awareness-raising initiatives.

Fulton Hogan took home the Safe Vehicles Award, with EnviroWaste being highly commended in the same category. The Safe Vehicles Award recognises organisations that have improved the safety and environmental impact of their vehicles.

Awards recognising individuals included Colin Blakemore of the New Zealand Defence Force, who won the Road Risk Manager of the Year Award, with Jason Karauti of Livestock Improvement Corporation (LIC) receiving a highly commended distinction.

Dr Bryan Pidwerbesky of Fulton Hogan won the Outstanding Commitment to Road Safety Award for going above and beyond in terms of safety, not just within his company but also the wider community. Entrants in this prestigious category, sponsored by Waka Kotahi NZ Transport Agency, must be nominated by someone outside their organisation.

About EROAD
EROAD is an Auckland-based provider of integrated fleet management technology, designing and developing in-vehicle hardware and web-based value-added services, including secure payment for road user charges (RUC). Modernising road transport compliance by replacing paper-based systems with easy-to-use electronics, EROAD is the largest provider of RUC compliance in New Zealand and is listed on the New Zealand Stock Exchange (NZX) as ERD.

For more information, visit www.eroad.co.nz.

Media Release on 12 January 2021

Media Contact
Genevieve Tearle, Chief Marketing Officer – EROAD
Email: genevieve.tearle@eroad.com
Phone: +64 9 927 4700 

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Leading edtech company Education Perfect (EP) (http://www.epforlearning.com/) – in conjunction with The Big Smoke (https://www.thebigsmoke.com.au/) – is pleased to announce the winner of their inaugural Student Voices competition.

Keelan Heesterman, 17, from Karuma High School in New Zealand has won the competition with his essay, ‘The Free Trial No-one Asked For’ (https://www.thebigsmoke.com.au/2020/11/03/the-free-trial-no-one-asked-for/).

Keelan’s essay was among scores of entries from all over Australia and New Zealand, and was judged the best by both a panel of experts and by a popular vote of The Big Smoke’s readers.

The essay was related to the lockdowns associated with COVID-19 and was a reflection on the hard situations he and his fellow students were suddenly faced with during New Zealand’s lockdown and school closures, and the unique perspectives and coping mechanisms they needed to employ.

Heesterman was grateful that his love of writing has provided an opportunity to have his voice heard by so many people and is looking forward to the editorial mentorship that he has won from The Big Smoke.

“I’m incredibly grateful to all the people who voted for my article and supported me in this competition.

“It is a privilege to have this opportunity to grow as a writer and receive mentorship from professional journalists.

“To say I’m excited would be an understatement,” said Heesterman.

EP’s CEO, Alex Burke, congratulated Keelan and the other finalists and participants, saying that the competition showed the true depth of talent among the youth across Australia and New Zealand.

“Providing a student voice is so important in education, and I encourage everyone to read all the shortlisted entries, as it emphasises how important students’ insights are in creating a future for education,” said Burke.

“Keelan is a very deserving winner with his fantastically cynical, wise and honest entry displaying mature prose.

“His human-first approach is central to any school community, and it also aligns with EP’s mission—humanising technology for lifelong learners,” he continued.

Keelan’s work, as well as the work of all the Student Voices finalists is available on The Big Smoke (https://www.thebigsmoke.com.au/category/society/tbs-next-generation/).

About EP:
Education Perfect (EP) is a leading digital platform, enabling transformative online teaching and learning experiences to power the 21st century classroom. EP supports the engagement of students in online learning, provides effective assessment during the learning online process, and enables the collection and analysis of student feedback. With offices in Australia, NZ, and Singapore, and over 1.2 million students through over 4,000 schools, in 80+ countries globally, EP’s integrated smart technology enhances teaching and learning through curriculum-based content delivery and a ‘learner centred’ approach, improving learning outcomes and creating lifelong learners – for School, for the Home and for Work.

Media Release on 25 November 2020

Media enquiries:
Alana Fisher-Chejoski
alana.fisherchejoski@thebigsmoke.com.au

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The Trends International Design Awards (TIDAs) is a coveted event by Trends, a resource for home design ideas through print, digital, and online media. The team at Design Builders Waikato was not only thrilled to be a part of the event but to win an award for their large family home build with spectacular views over the Waikato River.

Design Builders CEO Andrew Price said the team was ecstatic to be recognised among New Zealand’s best when it came to the design and build process of unique homes.

“The Design Builders Waikato team worked extremely hard on this project, including Jeff Marra and his team, and our in-house design team and interior designer, Emma Fenwick and Paula Waterhouse. We can’t wait for people to see it in person at the open viewings.”

The award-winning show home was designed with New York loft living in mind, but also with the surroundings of both the Waikato River and natural riverside fauna. The design and build team worked with the clients to construct a large family home that offered northern sun, outdoor flow, and innovative use of large open spaces.

They also had to work through challenges such as geotechnical restrictions and steep embankments, but the result was a two-storey home with clever engineered foundations and exquisite styling from top to bottom.

The ground floor of 22 Riverpoint Glade consists of a master wing with ensuite and walk-in wardrobe, a double-height kitchen, living and dining area, and colonial bars for authenticity. On the second floor, homeowners can benefit from three bedrooms, a second living area, a study nook, and seamless flow from one storey to the next.

The Design Builders Waikato team also left no stone unturned in creating perfection on the home’s exterior. Recycled brick, cedar, and trough metal were used to carry on the unique New York loft-style theme, while there is also an outdoor entertainment area with a built-in fireplace, cabinetry, and a beautiful Waikato River backdrop.

See the award-winning home in the flesh at 22 Riverpoint Glade, Hamilton. Open on Saturdays and Sundays from 1 pm – 4 pm. Contact Jeff Marra on 027 488 00 44 or email jeff.marra@designbuilders.co.nz for a private viewing appointment.

If you would like to know more about Design Builders, visit www.designbuilders.co.nz, use the online contact form, phone 0800 456 456, or visit their YouTube channel here.

About Design Builders
Design Builders is a multi-award-winning company with over a quarter of a century of expertise in the designing and building of homes in New Zealand. The experienced team prides itself on designing and building homes that are as unique as their owners. From the initial sketch to the handing over of the keys, you can rely on Design Builders to offer the full package to the highest of standards.

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Media Release on 19 November 2020

Media Contact
Home Builders 22 Riverpoint Glade, Hamilton
Jeff Marra, Design Builders
Email: jeff.marra@designbuilders.co.nz
Phone: 027 488 00 44
Website: https://www.designbuilders.co.nz/
Video: https://youtu.be/4_-ZiSKkLKc

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