When Sales Managers Steve Cooke and Rick Spencer first spotted distinctive shell shaped framing emerging from land which, in a previous life, was a bowling green, they wondered what the site might become.
Situated in Mill Street across the road from FMG stadium in Hamilton, they were witnessing the beginnings of an impressive dome shaped structure, a huge fale, or meeting house, which sits within the K'aute Pasifika Community Village, the first of its kind in New Zealand and opening early 2023.
The pair jotted down the names of the parties involved in the development from a signboard outside the site, and contacted Rachel Karalus, Chief Executive of the K’aute Pasifika Trust to learn more about the project and see if Gallagher might help.
For Steve and Rick, both long-time members of Gallagher security’s sales team, staying connected to what’s going on locally is important. Rick explains: “It is a case of keeping an eye out as to what’s happening in the community from various perspectives.
"Part of our role is to help Gallagher help businesses around us, and to deliver on our social responsibility to our community.”
They learned that K’aute Pasifika is a charitable trust based in Hamilton providing health, education, employment and social services to Pasifika communities and all other ethnicities who wish to access their services.
Once complete, the K'aute Pasifika Community Village will house a fale-style space for programmes as well as community and cultural events, wellbeing, and support services such as a GP and pharmacy, and an early learning and childcare facility, as well as social, employment and housing services.
"The hub will be a place to belong, a place where people from all walks of life and backgrounds can receive support to improve their wellbeing," explains Rachel Karalus, Chief Executive, K’aute Pasifika Trust.
Rick spoke with Mark Junge, Global General Manager for Security, about how we could get involved. “Gallagher has had such a fantastic ethos supporting community, so it was a case of exploring internally at Gallagher to work out how we could best lend a hand. Steve and I got warm enthusiasm from Mark and Brad Small, our Regional Manager for New Zealand, so we had the green light to get stuck in and help.”
One of Gallagher’s Central North Island Channel Partners, Watchu Security were tasked with scoping and installing security across the K’aute Pasifika Village. Rick contacted Justin Fisher, a Director of Watchu, to explore how they might work together to support the community initiative through the donation of Gallagher’s industry leading security hardware and software.
“Because Watchu is such a highly trusted Channel Partner, we really let their experience and relationship with iLine Construction guide what was needed to secure the site,” says Rick.
Justin Fisher from Watchu Security was wrapped when Gallagher offered to support the project.
“We were working closely with Ben Webby and the team at iLine Construction to ensure the K'aute Pasifika trust was getting the best security products and value possible, for both the fale and support buildings.
"Having the opportunity to provide the quality of the Gallagher solution including access and intruder systems at a much lower cost to the trust was fantastic. We are grateful to the teams at Gallagher, iLine Construction, and of course K'aute Pasifika for allowing us to work alongside them.”
Leaupepe Rachel Karalus, and Namulau’ulu Lale Ieremia, Interim Board Chair of K’aute Pasifika, were thrilled with the outcomes for the project: “We want to acknowledge the really generous and unsolicited support received from Gallagher for our K’aute Pasifika Village. We very much appreciate this spontaneous act of generosity and look forward to future opportunities to work together.”
Supporting the Pacific region forms part of the important work of the Gallagher New Zealand security sales team who enjoyed helping to fulfil this purpose right here in Hamilton. They are proud to be a part of this impactful community cause.
Rick sums it up: “Helping with this visionary Pasifika project is less a responsibility and more a privilege.”
The K’aute Pasifika Village held their grand opening ceremony on January 17.