FEBRUARY
2002

EDITORS LETTER
NATIONAL EXECUTIVE
& BRANCH CONTACTS
PRESIDENTS LETTER
NATIONAL
COMMUNICATIONS
OFFICE
WORLDLY WATCH
WITH WHITE HAT
AUCKLAND NEWS
LETTER FROM
AVALON AND
JOHN FRYER
A YEAR IN
REFLECTION
NEWS FROM
OHAKUNE
NZ CHEFS
MERCHANDISE
LETTER TO THE
EDITOR
HONG KONG NEWS
BARTONS
BANQUETTES
AND BULLSHITE

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The collapse resulted in many of our colleagues looking for work along with suppliers well out of pocket. It also became quickly apparent the directors of the company were not dipping into their pockets to help out those whose livelihoods were threatened by the airline’s collapse.

The follow on collapse of Ansett Australia coupled with the disaster of September 11 in New York indicates it will be sometime before the previous stable airline industry returns to profitability. A fair indication that services enjoyed in the past should not be accepted as the norm and while Qantas Australia have offered an alternative service between the three main centres on the domestic front, there is little choice for the populous of the provinces when making travel arrangements.

The Human Rights Commission managed to be the topic of conversation amongst the Hospitality Industry following their gorilla advertising campaign regarding sexual harassment in the workplace. While the industry acknowledges that people are working in an exciting and vibrant environment, which may lead to suggestive comments or innuendoes being made, there is little evidence of the harassment levels indicated by the Commission being anywhere near correct.

The writer also notes there has been no publicity regarding the cost of the campaign, which I would suggest was way out of proportion when compared to the response from the industry.

The other issue which made the Hospitality Industry sit up and take notice was the release of The Royal Commission on Genetic Modification. The issue remains one of the most confusing for the Hospitality Industry to get their head around.

THE YEAR IN REFLECTION

The differences between genetic engineering as opposed to genetic modification have yet to be explained to us by the experts. Certainly nobody I know would support the splicing of genes from animals to assist the ripening of fruits, which I would class as genetic engineering. However we have to be sensible when we look at minor modifications which results in a better horticultural product for the culinary profession to use and present to their dining guests. A classic example of this would be the modern zespery as compared to the old Chinese gooseberry I recall as a child. The issue is also somewhat confusing when we understand that food production companies must illustrate any ingredients which have been subjected to GM on the labelling yet we as an industry can present that product to our clients in menu form without that indication. As this is not the case in overseas countries, don’t hold your breath here in New Zealand as it could well change in the near future.

Other snippets of interest were the replacement of long serving and industry respected Tony Adcock to the board of the Hospitality Standards Institute. March was when the replacement sought, and December the board finally made the appointment. Not bad for a board in control of the industry training, an industry that understands urgency above most. Also interesting to note is the appointment to the board is made by the board. So if you are buddies with the current members, you have a chance. If not, don’t waste you time.

Montana have reintroduced the “Food & Wine Challenge”, but this time allowing the customers to be the judge. I guess this gives the larger Restaurants a hell of an advantage to be in the money, weather deserving or not!!!

On behalf of the W.A.C.S. President and Board, I now take this opportunity to wish all readers of Stock Pot Magazine a very happy and satisfying Christmas along with a safe and prosperous 2002.
The reason Santa Claus is so jolly at this time of the year is because he knows where all the naughty girls live.