There has been a lot made of the plight of New Zealand's biggest exporter - Fonterra, and the farmers whose incomes have been plummeting more quickly than the popularity of certain MP's.Exporting has always been a tough game, particularly if your 500gms of butter or cheese is pretty similar to everybody else's.
We suffer from the "tyranny of distance", being a long way from our nearest neighbour, and a very, very long way from Europe - so exporters from NZ have had to overcome the time, distance and cost that other competitors closer to the action may not have to consider.Whilst many Kiwi exporters have succumbed and faltered over the years, some closing their doors, others moving manufacturing overseas, at least one has not. One of the companies in our group, Bio-Bottle Ltd has exported since the early 1990's. Bio-Bottle is a major global supplier of infectious Substances packaging to laboratories, hospitals, universities and Health Authorities, and has distributors in Australia, UK, France, Germany, The Netherlands, Switzerland, Singapore, Japan, Korea, and more recently, Saudi Arabia A business that evolved from opportunity, Bio-Bottle was an early entrant into what soon became quite a crowded and competitive market. We saw that the only Infectious Substance packaging available (and it was a magnificent piece of engineering) cost US$300 - quite simply - the market was forced by expense to "ignore" the rules. We (and others) developed a range that sold for less than $10 per unit, and away we went. Being innovative, Bio-Bottle developed a colour coded system that was quickly copied and embraced by most of our competitors. In addition, we developed a range of packaging specifically related to temperature control that remains unique to this day. It has been a very tough road, especially when the exchange rate was against us as the NZ$ strengthened - often meaning every item we sold actually cost us money, but playing the long game, we remained ever hopeful that the market would change. The temptation was to follow so many others and move our manufacturing offshore - whilst we'd have been better off financially, I made the decision to stand firm - we are first and foremost a Kiwi company - we employ Kiwi's and we're proud Kiwi's. www.bio-bottle.com Today was another day of superlatives - too much scenery, too many photos - too much of everything to do justice to anything. Yesterday some of our group got very close to a bear, something very special. Apparently he was just wandering along enjoying the late afternoon sun.i have been emailed the phote but cannot figure out how to post it (bugger). Today we went from West Yellowstone in Montana, back into Utah, (if only for a few minutes) then onwards to Billings Montana, via the world famous Beartooh Pass. As much as yesterday was a surpurb day, today was even better. Beartooth pass seperates Yellowstone from the plains of Montana, and is universially accepted as being one of the very best roads for motorcyclists in the whole of the US. No arguement from me - steep and quite tight switchbacks, climbing to over 12000ft, then down the otherside . If only we could enjoy it without any other traffic. Mel, a superbike racer and someone who can really get the most from a Harley, did a couple of runs on some stretches of the pass - something those of us with pillions can only dream of! We saw some cyclists making the ascent(and subsequent descent at great speed) and I can attest that this would be a great achievement- superhuman in fact, better suited to the scrawny athletic type rather than the typical Harley guy, rugged and relient on 1690cc for hill climbing. Other highlights of the day were feeding the chipmucks ($5000 instant fine) and getting very close to the bison - magnificent creatures, huge. We came across a motorcyclist in Yellowstone Park sprawled on the roadway being attended to by medicos and good samaritans, feeling quite sorry for himself. He'd forgotten the golden rule and was watching wildlife rather than other vehicles on the road - bang. By remarkable coincidence we saw him with friends (his bike relatively unscathed but on a trailer) at a gas station in Billings. He was less a wee bit of skin - not bad considering he was riding sans helmet, just a T shirt and jeans. The numbers of motorcycles (and mainly Harleys) on the road is phenomenal - all headed for Sturgis, South Dakota, by one route or another. Imagine 1000 Harleys, imagine 100,000 Harleys, now try 1,000,000 - that is 6 zeros... To say that we're slightly anxious would be to understate the obvious. As we were about to leave a rest stop lTe in the day, in pulled an ancient Harley with a dog (apparently a comination Australian Shepperd / Border Collie cross) called Zeke, as pillion complete with "doggles" over his eyes. He sat on the rear seat and whereever the boss went, Zeke went too, quite the celebrity. So,another day where scenery changed dramatically as the day progressed, from forest to volcanic moonscapes, to bowling green surfaces on the upper slopes (until you got close) and even a bit of snow. I feel embarrassed even trying to describe what we've experienced today. Tomorrow, the site of Custers fateful last stand, the rapid city, the base for our odyssey to Sturgis. We were recently in Yosemite National Park with our Harley friends, and as well as the awe of the mighty bison and the elusive bear, we enjoyed the antics of the ever cute squirrels. Unfortunately they are in the news for being anything other than cute - the Californian Department of Public Health has closed several camp grounds in Yosemite after a child was infected and hospitalised with the plague (yep, THAT plague, the bad one...) - squirrels have been tested and found to be the carrier.. After a late night, and still nursing the last of the flu, we slept until 10 then enjoyed a late breakfast. Our room had a small balcony overlooking the pool, and that was where I spent most of the day, reading- Linda slept. The Marriott is right at the airport so plenty of low flying aircraft. The hotel is very 1960's but serves it's purpose very well. Just as well we took the option traveling last night - if we'd deferred as requested we'd have lost another day - flights ex Las Vegas delayed again. We hooked up by chance with Harley friends Brian & Monica at the airline lounge - very nice. Looking forward to boarding in a few minutes, home to Puss. "It is not what happens to us, but how we cope with it ". I have a well earned reputation for expressing my frustration fairly openly, (and probably too often), especially when my own failings come to the fore. Unfortunately today was no different... We left our Las Vegas hotel in good time (2 hours allowed for check in) but we were delayed slightly due to thunderstorms and flooding. The check in girl indicated some delay then went quiet - a very American way of skirting a potential problem. Our 1850 flight was first delayed to 2100, still allowing us to catch our Air NZ connection. Annoying but not critical. Subsequent further delays to 2130 then 2200, followed by 30 minutes (engines off) on the taxi way put paid to that. Initially the Virgin America staff were dismissive, but eventually got with the program - angry (frustrated) Don probably did not make things any better - occasionally pretty intimidating apparently. Fortunately, I have learnt that the best way to deal with problems is to rely on experts - travel agent Katrina to the rescue. She found us a hotel at LAX when Virgin assured us there were none (when trying to persuade us to take tomorrow's flight -from Las Vegas to LAX - no chance!). We're now booked on one of tomorrow 's (today actually) flights - a relief as both of us have been sick for a few days. Any way, it is now just after 1am at we're at the Marriott so what was actually a 75 minute flight has taken us quite a long time. Hmmm It looks like another day in the sun by the pool may be some consolation for the delay. Rod Stewart was booked for last night at Caesars Palace Colloseum - we had to collect tickets between 4 and 6:30, so had dinner at Gordon Ramsey's Pub then wandered around for a hour before 7:30 performance. Caesar's was much busier than our Hotel, Encore at Wynn, lots of money being stuffed into pokies and across tables - the owner of our flash pad should be worried. As you'd expect, the show was spectacular, Rod at his best (even at 70), accompanied on stage by many talented and leggy blonde musicians - I like his style! It is apparent that he is as popular as ever, with many devoted fans having traveled far, and dressed in Celtic colours or matching T shirts. I guess there were 10,000 fans, each having paid $150-300, so the arithmetic is staggering. On the way back to our room we stopped for a drink and a set at one of the bars in our hotel - a Frank Sinatra knock off, a pleasant end (other than the cigarette smoke still legal in LV) to a busy day. Tomorrow- a day by the pool then homeward bound. Today was a special treat- after an even more depressing walk this morning (different direction) and an average (but very expensive) breakfast, we caught the 940 shuttle to Boulder City Airport. Travel agent Katrina had recommended the Papillon Helicopter Tour to the Grand Canyon. An impressive operation involving nearly 100 Eurocopters (or Airbus Helicopters), at $4m a shot.... You can stick the bright lights and bullshit of Vegas - this is more like it Venice - Las Vegas! I went for a wander at dawn having been up and down all night. Like most cities, Las Vegas is not at its best in the early mornings, the rubbish and detris, the still sleeping or recently awakened homeless more visible than in the garish neon of night. Some already had their rough hand writen plea's for cash in hand, ever hopeful that early morning joggers and walkers may be feeling benevolent (or have cash in their pockets). I enjoyed the relative cool of the morning, with clear skies warning that another very hot day lay ahead (35-39C). The gondolas were still parked up, and I guess will be drawn into service the extract tourist dollars soon enough. |
Don MalcolmA perfect day involves being on my Harley with a long ride ahead.
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