Beercycle

Photo by RMO

In one of my infrequent trips to the Auckland CBD, I chanced upon this odd-looking vehicle, traversing the streets around the viaduct.  It's called a beercycle, pedal powered by people while having a drink of beer.  Kiwis really know how to party.

This fun way of drinking beer and biking at the same time is now available in Auckland, Wellington, and Christchurch.  This 15-person party bike comes with a hefty price of $450 for two hours and if you're a bigger crowd, it's $800 for two bikes.  It makes 3-5 stops along the way, for the drinkers/bikers to get a drink in the pubs, bars and restaurants on the route. And true to the adage of no drinking and driving, the drinking is only allowed during the brief stops.  But of course the revelry, boisterousness and fun keep on going all through the trip: from the bike to the pub to the bike.  And folks along the streets seem to be amused by this contraption on the street.  Plus the obligatory selfie and photo opp comes into play by the same people.

This beercycle has similar features and design as the party bike invented in 1997 by Het Fietscafe BV, Netherlands.  It is a multi-passenger human-powered vehicle with the passenger’s pedalling while the steering and braking is controlled by the driver.  Aside from the Netherlands, they are also popular in the United States, Germany and other European countries.

On its website it proudly says New Zealand's Only Party Bike Pub Crawl.  I guess this is one more creative and ingenious way of enjoying what the City of Sails has to offer to.  I also saw another thing though, a huge bus filled with revelers.  And it's called a party bus.  But that's another story.

Q&A: Denise Roche, MP - Green Party

Photo c/o of Denise's Facebook account

First time I met Denise Roche was in the Lingaw-Duwa event in Auckland, a Filipino gathering focused on indigenous games.  I was impressed with her humility and simplicity and as I did my research later on, was doubly elated by what she has advocated in Parliament: increasing the refugee quota, banishing zero hour contracts, spearheaded a campaign for single-use plastic bags which paved the way for a recycling collection for soft plastics.  

Denise has been a Green Party MP since 2011. Her portfolios included immigration, waste, workplace relations and safety.  She has spent her life campaigning fro peace, decent wages, for the protection of our planet and the wise stewardship of our natural resources.

Not many people know that Denise loves to sing, a trait that many Filipinos are also fond of.  We'll have to invite her to our Karaoke or Magic Sing sessions then.  Thank you Denise, knowing that you have a very busy schedule, you still got time for this Q&A.

Q: What motivates you?
A: I have a very strong sense of fairness so most of my adult life has been spent fighting for social justice - I think this is a trait that a Catholic upbringing fosters. I think it's only fair that our children, and our children's children, should have enough to live a decent life; have access to health services and education and a warm healthy secure home to live in. I think it's only fair that these generations can swim in clean rivers, like my generation did, and gather food from our seas and rivers without fear that they will cause us harm.

Q: What is your proudest achievement up to this moment?
A: Aside from raising two fine young adults the thing I'm most proud of is ensuring that my community kept local representation in the Auckland local government reforms when I was the Auckland City Councillor for the Hauraki Gulf. In 2008 as the Royal Commission for Auckland Governance started their proceedings and during the subsequent forced amalgamation of the 8 councils in the Auckland region I lead the fight for Waiheke to keep our local democracy. Our organising resulted in nearly a quarter of all the submissions received by the Royal Commission from the eligible 1.8 million people in Auckland coming from the communities I represented - about .8 percent of the population. Both the Royal Commission and subsequent Local Government Select Committee hearings were held in our community. And in the end Waiheke and Great Barrier Island, the smallest communities in the entire region, won the right to have local political representation with the creation of our own local boards.

Q: What attracts you to politics?
A: In 2006 I was fortunate to do one of my papers for my Graduate Diploma in Not For Profit Management in the highlands of Papua New Guinea with local community activists. Many of these people faced terrible risks while fighting to protect their communities interests - some had been beaten and raped. I considered my own life and when I got back to my comfortable life on Waiheke realised there was nothing stopping me from stepping up and becoming a decision maker. I have been an activist most of my life. Having now stepped 'inside the tent' (as opposed to fighting from the outside) I see my role as being responsive to the needs of our communities and making the change that they want to see happen.

Q: How will you spend the first 100 days if elected?
A: If elected, in the first 100 hundred days I'd like to see some quick solutions to our waste problems. We could immediately introduce a charge on single-use plastic bags which would radically reduce our consumption of the 1.6 billion we use in NZ every year. And then we could introduce refunds on drink containers which would reduce littering, improve recycling rates and be a community fundraising avenue. Both these waste minimisation actions are cost-neutral. It might take a bit longer than 100 days but I would like to see our lowest paid members of the workforce given some protections, so I would explore the possibility of introducing minimum industry standards, especially for workers where they are frequently contracted out when their employers change due top open tendering processes. (For example cleaners, hospital laundry services, bus drivers etc.).

Q: Name 3 people, dead or alive, you'll like to have dinner with, why?
A: Nelson Mandela - because I am in awe of his ability to be steadfast in his convictions despite being unfairly imprisoned for so long and then going on to try to heal the divisions in his country once he became his country's leader. Helen Kelly - because she died too soon. She had a truly remarkable mind - with enormous creativity and optimism and an incisiveness that sometimes astounded me. Te Rauparaha. I am a direct descendant of this fearsome warrior and while I espouse peace, his strategic mind would be interesting to explore.

Q: Are you a dog or cat person, why?
A: Dog person. My partner is allergic to cat hair.

Q: Where in NZ is the place you can call as your sanctuary, why?
A: Waiheke Island is my sanctuary. Sometimes after a really hard week I'll come home and, just throwing myself into the tide, or walking along the beach will restore my equilibrium. My other place of sanctuary is Kaikoura - my brother lives there and I think its the combination of having a sibling that loves me unconditionally, of Kaikoura being an amazing community and being surrounded by the finest scenery ever that can lift my spirits in minutes.

Q: Something not many people know about you?
A: I play guitar and really enjoy singing - particularly with my 5 sisters.

Q: If you could travel back in time, where and when would it be, why?
A: I'd be really interested to see first hand the campaign that ensured that women got the vote in New Zealand. So I'd travel back in time to the late 1880's so I could be there when the law was passed in 1893.

Q: What are your plans for the future?
A: In the immediate future I will be campaigning hard to change the government. I really want an Aotearoa New Zealand where all our people have a good life and where we are careful stewards of our natural resources so that they're there for future generations. I'm pretty sure that fighting for these things, whether in parliament or not, is going to keep me busy for the rest of my life.

Q&A: Lito Banal, NZ-Philippines Business Council

Photo c/o Lito Banal's Facebook account

Some parts of this post has been published in my previous blog.

I've met Lito Banal, Chairman of the NZ-Philippines Business Council, in numerous social and community gatherings.  He is a regular supporter of causes dear to the Filipino community in Auckland.  This likable and amiable fellow always has a ready and welcoming smile.

He is an engineering graduate from Mapua Institute of Technology (Philippines), and the Director of KiwiRoofing Limited.  He took time from his busy schedule for this Q&A.  His answers would help aspiring and existing entrepreneurs who are facing the challenges of starting and maintaining a business in NZ, while raising a family too.

Q: What's the inspiration behind your business?
A: My family is my inspiration why I am in business.  I like to have that freedom where you have control of your own time and activities.  My family inspires and motivates me to be a good businessman and to fulfill my dreams.

Q: What challenges did you meet while building your business and how did you manage it?
A: It is always a constant challenge when you are starting and building up a business. You have to be determined, motivated, and you have to know what will be your goal, what would you want to achieve in a certain time frame.  You have to work on a deadline. You have to ask yourself "will I want to be a market and industry leader or will I be contented with what the majority does"? As much as possible, you have to determine and know the best answers to your questions and anticipate consequences of your actions even during the planning stages and before they will be implemented. Careful planning, analysis and wise decisions will always help you in dealing and facing the challenges in doing business.  It is not always a guaranteed win situation. But don't be afraid or discouraged if you fail.  Go back to the drawing board and take this advantage that now you will know what you should have done better to succeed. This will only make you stronger for your next step.  Moving froward, know your competitors well.  Look after your staff by rewarding them, they are the company's life blood. You don't only lead them, you have to work along side them and work behind them.  Understand your supply chain operations, they are your partners, as their support will be vital to deliver your goods and services to your customers and clients.  It is always challenging to be an industry leader.  You have to be a step ahead, flexible and innovative.  Pressure and hard work will always come with it. But I must tell you, it is more rewarding to be a leader than being a follower.

Q: Name 3 people, dead or alive, you'll like to have dinner with, and why?
A: My great grandfathers (paternal/maternal) - I would like to know how life was during their time.  Dr. Jose Rizal - I would like to know him more because he is the most famous Filipino for me.  U.S. President Barack Obama - why won't you dream of meeting the most powerful person in the world.

Q: Are you a cat or dog person, and why?
A: Dog, I always wanted to be the best friend of everyone, and can always count on me.

Q: Where in NZ is the place you can call your sanctuary, and why?
A: Any golf course for - 4-5 hours, time to relax especially a bonding time when I play with my son Ethan a.k.a. "Mike-Mike".  This is a place that I know where I can be hopefully for many years to come.

Q: Something not many people know about you?
A: I love cooking, in fact, experimental cooking where I don't follow recipes.  I am a very flexible and outgoing person and this reflects on the profile of my friends, who come from all walks of life, from the very young ones to the not very young anymore.  Also, I love watching really really old Filipino comedy movies.

Q: If you could travel back in time, where and when would it be, and why?
A: World War 1 or 2 in the Philippines.  I want to experience living with our forefathers, witness their miseries, hardships and how they fought for our freedom. Hopefully I would come out alive.

Q: What are your plans for the future?
A: I am already happy and very grateful with the blessings I have - my happy and vibrant family.  I'm very fortunate in deed to have all these wonderful and very good friends around me.  So my plan for the future is to enjoy life as always, to continue sharing and ready to help anytime and when there is an opportunity to do so.  But as everyone says, "you just don't know what is a round the corner." I suppose, I juts have to deal with it and be ready for whatever these might be.  May God continue and always guide me along the way.

Who we are

Photo by RMO

We are Vortex NZ Foundation, an Auckland-based social enterprise focusing on media literacy and entrepreneurship for people with all abilities.  Our inclusive ethos is at the core of our existence.  We have two major projects for 2017: The F Network and the search for Ms. Wheelchair New Zealand.  We will also feature people who have been instrumental in uplifting and inspiring the lives of others through their efforts and achievements.  We are hoping that you would join us in our journey.