Komatsu is a major supporter of the IOQ and the AQA, which includes sponsorship of the IOQ annual conference luncheon.
The conference, which was held from July 9-11 at the Hyatt Hotel, attracted key people in the quarry industry from around New Zealand, as well as a number from Australia.
At this year’s conference, the IOQ (NZ) also hosted the International Institute of Quarrying presidents’ meeting – only the third occasion that it has been held here.
This annual conference is the highlight of the New Zealand quarrying and extractive industry’s year and provided an outstanding opportunity for those attending to get together, socialise, network and learn something new from a range of speakers.
It attracted over 300 delegates from all levels of the New Zealand quarrying, extractive and associated industries, as well supplier representatives.
For the conference luncheon, Komatsu NZ opted for a "music through the ages" theme, reflecting the 40th IOQ conference, presenting 40 years of the music and musicals that had been staged at the Auckland Town Hall over that time.
For the grand finale, where all the performers came on stage again, Komatsu NZ sales manager Steve Haines made his triumphant theatrical debut as the Phantom, playing the pipe organ at the top of the stage (complete with smoke and dramatic lighting) – before descending to the front of the stage at the end, revealing himself and thanking everybody for attending.
The show was extremely well received with some highly enthusiastic comments from the audience afterwards.
Rob Kinney, Lime Operations Manager from Ravensdown said he and his wife were totally engrossed in the show.
"My wife and I thoroughly enjoyed it. We were sitting at a table with many of our quarry managers and it wasn’t until one of them spoke to me that I realised they were still there.
"Looking around the room it was interesting to see so many tough quarry men singing along to The Beatles and Abba. It was a really great way to spend an afternoon," he said.
Steve "Phantom" Haines said that, as a major sponsor and supporter of the IOQ and AQA, the company sees its involvement in the annual conference one of the key activities for Komatsu NZ every year.
"It gives the industry an opportunity to meet and discuss issues that are key to the development, growth and improved running and management of their businesses," he said.
"It also gives suppliers such as Komatsu an opportunity to demonstrate their commitment to the industry through the sponsorship and running of functions such as the Komatsu luncheon.
"Every year we are faced with the challenge of ‘how to do it differently’, and this year I believe that we exceeded everyone’s expectations with a fantastic show featuring entertainment from some of NZ’s iconic singers and songwriters and our smorgasbord of music and musical theatre from the past 40 years," said Steve.
In addition to its sponsorship of the conference luncheon, Komatus NZ had a working display, including a BR380JG-1 mobile crusher, WA480-6 wheel loader and PC200LC-8 excavator at Winstone Aggregates’ Puketutu Island Quarry just south of Auckland.
Komatsu Australia and New Zealand team members in attendance include Phil Pritchard, Komatsu NZ’s Regional General Manager; Steve Haines, Sales Manager; Charles Wheeldon, Komatsu Australia’s Business Manager – Quarries; Colin Chamberlain, Komatsu Australia’s Marketing Manager, and Komatsu NZ’s entire sales team.