The Fleet Air Arm Our Contribution          I wonder how many people fully realize the important role played by the New Zealand Navy Fleet Air Arm during the Second World War just over 80 years ago?          Five hundred and eighty NA2s were given their basic training on ‘The Rock’.          An NA2 was a…

Soil & Water (Mud and Slush) When will we learn?          We should not forget our history, otherwise, we will repeat our mistakes.          This is not the first time we have had soil and water problems in the Esk Valley region of Hawke’s Bay. In 1938 we had bad floods in the Esk Valley. …

Memories At the Wellington Cenotaph on 25 April I accepted the wreaths on behalf of the City Council and the Wellington Returned Servicemen’s Association. This was the 19 th yesr I had carried out this duty.          This year we had wreaths from 39 groups of people in memory of thousands who died in the…

MANAGEMENT TIPS (M T) 50 topics                This set of topics was taken from the 26 books written and published by Moss Associates Ltd, Wellington, New Zealand. These books were written for new managers,  communicators, and trainers in the Pacific Region.          Eight-six editions have been published by 31 publishers in 18 countries and in…

         Most people are self-motivated, enjoy developing their skills and work best when they are given the freedom and the responsibility to get on with the job.          Poor management and supervision or the use of inferior resources and equipment can prevent an organization from giving clients the best service possible.          Quality can always…

        After working in Asia for two years I returned home to find the Ministry I had worked in for 39 years had been restructured and all the people I had recruited and trained had been made redundant.         I was very upset. Imagine the effect on their families!         That is when I wrote…

         Giving praise doesn’t always come naturally but it is a skill well worth developing.          “The two things people want most are recognition and praise.”          Discover the power of praise – it will make your world a better place.          Saying “Thank you, well done! ” is a neglected skill.          A few…

         A Sound Investment            Managers and leaders should be involved in the planning training of staff. Without their full support, encouragement, and follow-up, expensive training can be wasted.          When seniors show an interest in a training program the trainees make a greater effort to learn and perform.          Training should be linked…

Handling Complaints          The greatest assets an organization can have are happy staff and satisfied clients.          Businesses will thrive only if customers and clients are satisfied with the products and the service given.          All complaints must be handled skilfully and quickly otherwise valued clients will be lost.          Genuine complaints should be treated…

Self Improvement         Over the next decade, you will need many new skills. The best jobs will go to those who update their qualifications and master new skills.           Most things get done in small doses. Try to improve things one step at a time. A Handful of Tips to help you make life improvements…