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Crowne Plaza Auckland has traded a three nights’ stay in one of its incredible Executive Suites – a multi-level room with incredible views of the city, plus breakfast daily for two valued at $2,150 — for a previously donated Peregrine Wine voucher.

The latest trade (trade 7) happened yesterday Monday March 27 2017.

The hotel has helped mentor her throughout the school project and IHG’s Marketing Manager Rachel Peacock said the property was “delighted” to help Sakira on her journey.

“We were inspired by Sakira’s idea of the Lightbulb Trade Relay and have loved being a part of her project,” she said. “We can’t wait to see how far she goes.”

Ms Peacock said one of Crowne Plaza Auckland’s mottos was to strive for success.

“Sakira is the perfect example that at any age you can reach for the stars and achieve incredible things, and we’re thoroughly impressed with her determination and passion to support the research centres.”

Happy with the trade, Sakira Knights said she was “incredibly excited” that Crowne Plaza Auckland agreed to being part of the trade relay.

They are a fantastic hotel sought after by many companies and they have been very generous,” she said. I can’t thank the team enough for mentoring me through my project.”

“I will continue to trade throughout New Zealand and hopefully Australia until late October, so would love to invite companies to check out the Facebook page and jump on board!

“Hopefully by all working together we can make a difference in the world and help find a cure for Parkinson’s disease.”

The Neurological Foundation Douglas Human Brain Bank, based in Auckland, and Shake It Up Australia Foundation, based in Silverwater New South Wales, are fully on board with Sakira’s fundraising efforts and look forward to receiving the cheques later this year.

For further information on the Lightbulb Trade Relay project go to https://www.facebook.com/search/top/?q=lightbulb%20trade%20relay

Click here to visit Crowne Plaza Auckland’s website.

Picture caption:

1/ Thirteen-year-old Sakira Knights with “Lex” the lightbulb

His meeting with Peregrine Wines’ owners the McLachlan family will see Peregrine Wines continue as its sole New Zealand wine producer after the two businesses signed a long-term agreement.

Mr Doody also introduced Vineyard Brands’ recently-appointed New Zealand Brand Manager Tommy Oldre to the Peregrine team.

“This is a huge milestone for us because it gives us the reach into the world’s biggest wine market with nationwide placement, something we never envisaged we would have access to,” said Peregrine Wines managing director Lindsay McLachlan.

“We’re absolutely thrilled they have selected us; delighted they enjoy the wines and recognise the quality. What we have here is a long-term channel to be able to take wines we’re really proud of to a huge wine market, and we couldn’t do it without them.

“As a result of this trip they’ll take the range of wines we make because they’re committed to building the Peregrine brand in the US and already have a growing market for our stunning Pinot Noirs.

“Those Pinots are already distributed across 30 states and this agreement will broaden that portfolio.”

Figures show that the US was the largest export market for New Zealand wine in the world in 2015, overtaking Australia, and is on a rapid growth path for New Zealand wine exports.

Greg Doody said his company was “quite picky” about who they worked with but that they “loved the wines and the people” at Peregrine.

“We’re a family business and so are they; we have a good track record of working with families looking to the future, planting for their children or grandchildren,” he said.

“There’s a really good story to tell about Peregrine and Central Otago back in the US and that’s important to us when we’re so much more than a delivery system. We can ‘sell’ that story to our distributors and in turn their sales reps can sell it to retail outlets and restaurants.

“We work across all 50 states which is very different to a lot of US importers and we’re now in a good position to cement this business relationship because Peregrine has become established. We’re investing in the brand from our perspective.”

Both Mr Doody and Mr McLachlan said they shared the same philosophy when it came to being ‘hands on’ in their business.

“If your goal is to capture the hearts and minds of your sales people then the way to do it is to come here to meet the winemakers, see how people are treated, and understand how being clean, green and organic makes better wine, which in turn tells a better story,” said Mr Doody.

“Our clients in the US want to feel that the wine was grown somewhere, not made somewhere. They want to ‘feel’ the people in the wine.

“The US overtook France as the world’s largest consumer of wine back in 2013. Our consumers are now much smarter, millennials who want authenticity and transparency, to find out what the wine is all about.”

Although the Vineyard Brands company was founded in 1970, Mr Doody said the founding family of Vineyard Brands originally started in 1928 with one Burgundy vineyard.

“We still work with that vineyard so that’s proof that we tend to stick with people and they stick with us, which is good news for Peregrine!”

Mr McLachlan acknowledged that while Peregrine Wines was thrilled to have been chosen by Vineyard Brands, the brand had built on the loyalty of its New Zealand-based customers

“Everything we’ve done has been done to ensure we never rock that core, because they’re our foundation stone,” he said. “We’re careful not to ever be fully reliant on one market.”

Peregrine Wines produced its first vintage in 1998, and although known as a specialist multi-award-winning Pinot Noir house it also produces excellent Rosé, Chardonnay, Pinot Gris, Riesling, Sauvignon Blanc and sparkling wine.

Click here to visit Peregrine Wines’ website.

Picture caption:

1/ Toasting the future of Peregrine Wines and Vineyard Brands are (L to R) Tommy Oldre, Greg Doody, Lindsay McLachlan and Fraser McLachlan

“It’s been very close of late. I’ve been playing pretty nicely without putting any scores on the board. The goal this week is to be in contention come Sunday afternoon and anything can happen from there. I’d love to see my name on the trophy at the end of the week.”

In a drought those ducks would not appreciate, it has been 14 years since a New Zealander has held the Brodie Breeze Trophy.

Fox and Williams both believe this could be the year a local can conquer the fairways and greens at Millbrook and The Hills.

“We’ve got a lot of Kiwi guys playing well and it’s certainly the year to do it. Hopefully it’s me, but if it’s not me, there’s a few other guys with a chance this week,” Fox said.

“For me, I think the golf courses are playing a little tougher than they have in previous years. The greens are pretty firm and definitely around The Hills there’s a lot of the long stuff if you miss fairways. It might be a little more penalising, but there’s definitely some good scores to be had.”

Williams, who has worked with some of the best in the game, including 13 major championship victories with Tiger Woods, has had to learn some new tricks as part of his fledgling association with Fox.

While the pair enjoyed ribbing Fox senior during their Tuesday round, working with 30-year-old Fox will mean plenty of mental arithmetic for Williams this week.

“I’ve caddied for 40 years and never caddied for a player who plays in metres. I’ve got to get my head around that pretty quickly,” Williams, who has always worked in yards, said.

“I haven’t caddied for a New Zealander since 1979 (Sir Bob Charles). I’m ticking off something on my bucket list to caddy for a New Zealander at a New Zealand Open, so I’m really looking forward to the week.”

Also flying the New Zealand flag in Queenstown this week will be the likes of Michael Hendry, Josh Geary and Gareth Paddison.

The international charge will be led by Korea’s Y.E. Yang, the first Asian to win a major with that famous victory over Tiger Woods, and four-time US PGA Tour winner, American Heath Slocum.

The past five New Zealand Open champions, all Australians, are also amongst the field, including defending champion Matt Griffin, top of the Australasian Tour OOM; 2014 winner Dimitrios Papadatos who won the Victorian Open two weeks ago and 2011 champion Brad Kennedy, who was 11th on the Japan Tour OOM last year.

The 93rd ISPS Handa New Zealand Open is a NZ$1 million Tier One event on the PGA Tour of Australasia, in partnership with the Japan Golf Tour and Asian Tour, and is being played at Millbrook Resort and The Hills from 9-12 March.

Click here to visit ISPS Handa New Zealand Open’s website.

Photo caption:

1/ Ryan Fox and Steve Williams talk to the media at the Millbrook Resort today

Despite the assumption that his drive would be a key element of his game, he said his short game was actually better.

“I could try a wind-up spin for my drive, but I’m not sure if there was anyone standing in front of me that would be a good look,” he joked.

“I reckon I could drive somewhere between 270 to 290m off the tee, on a downhill run I might get to 300!

“If I score anything in the mid to high 80’s I’d be really happy with that.”

A mental skill he said he brings to his golf is the ability to forget about the previous shot or throw and just move on.

“That’s probably the difference between top professional golfers and the others so it’s a good skill to have.”

Walsh is playing in the tournament for the first time and said it capped off a “crazy” two years.

“I’ve had some pretty amazing experiences, especially in the last six months,” he said.

“This is an amazing place, they’ve done an amazing job and I can’t wait to play some golf, but I’ve still had a training session in the gym this morning and there’s a throwing session tomorrow.”

Walsh finishes up in Queenstown then the Olympic bronze medallist focuses on the shot put nationals in Hamilton and into the future.

“I’m in great nick for the world championships in London this year, that’s the big goal,” he said.

Walsh joins Olympic gold medallist and America’s Cup sailor Sir Russell Coutts, New Zealand’s most-capped hockey player Ryan Archibald and Pittsburgh Major League baseball player Masumi Kuwata for the ISPS Handa New Zealand Open at Millbrook Resort and The Hills (March 9 – 12). 

Also stepping outside their sporting comfort zone will be NZ cricket legends Brendon McCullum and Stephen Fleming, Aussie cricketers Shane Warne, Allan Border and Ricky Ponting, crowd-pleaser Sir Ian Botham, dual rugby and cricket international Jeff Wilson and former All Black Grant Fox.

They’re joined by celebrity chef Josh Emett and Australian TV personality and singer Kerri-Anne Kennerley, all playing as part of the tournament’s popular and successful Pro-Am format.

The ISPS Handa New Zealand Open is a NZ$1 million Tier One event on the PGA Tour of Australasia, in partnership with the Japan Golf Tour.

Click here to visit ISPS Handa New Zealand Open’s website.

Photo caption (Photosport):

1/ Kiwi Olympian Tom Walsh was on fine form at Millbrook Resort today before the start of tomorrow’s ISPS Handa New Zealand Open