Dean Taylor

Waikato

Editor at Te Awamutu Courier

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Articles

Westend Autos Te Awamutu wins BuyerScore award for No 1 in Waikato

2 months ago | nzherald.co.nz | Dean Taylor

Pana Bulsara (left) with his BuyerScore 2025 Top Waikato Salesman award and with his brother and co-owner, Hamish, and their 2025 BuyerScore Top Waikato Small Dealership award and Top 20 New Zealand award across all categories.
AI and Emotional Intelligence: Can Chatbots Ever Truly Understand Customers?

Mar 19, 2025 | itsupplychain.com | Dean Taylor

AI customer service solutions are revolutionizing customer support by providing faster and more efficient service. However, a critical question remains: “Can AI truly replicate human emotional intelligence (EQ)?” Comprehending customer emotions is essential for enhancing satisfaction and reducing churn. While customer service AI can analyze information and recognize patterns, it often falls short in bridging the empathy gap that human agents naturally fill.
Outdoor Journal Radio: The Podcast

Jan 13, 2025 | podnews.net | Angelo Viola |Pete Bowman |Dean Taylor

Drawing from their experience as two of Canada’s most prominent outdoor personalities, hosts Angelo Viola and Peter Bowman explore the environmental topics, issues, and events that matter to the everyday outdoorsman. Joined by a wide variety of guests, ODJ Radio seeks to answer the questions and tell the stories of all those who enjoy being outside. Your stories, your questions, on your scheduleHost: . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Host: . . . .
Te Awamutu medical couple officially retires after nearly 50-year career in health care

Dec 10, 2024 | nzherald.co.nz | Dean Taylor

Te Awamutu Medical Centre's long-serving couple doctors Richard and Mary Ballantyne are retiring. Photo / Dean TaylorRichard and Mary Ballantyne have been part of Te Awamutu’s community for so long that it is easy to assume they are Kiwi, but the fact is they came to New Zealand from England on a working holiday in the 1970s - and never left.
Billion dollar prison extension nearing completion - new project announced

Dec 4, 2024 | nzherald.co.nz | Dean Taylor

Corrections project manager Jack Harrison explains the gatehouse entrance area that leads to the security area. Everyone enters and exits the prison at this point. Photo / Dean Taylor Waikeria Prison’s new facilities were on show to VIPs, guests and the media last week as the rush is on to commission the units, initially expected to be ready in 2022.
Last chapter in project to document historic Te Awamutu buildings

Dec 4, 2024 | nzherald.co.nz | Dean Taylor

The Bricks & Mortar team at the book launch. Photo / Dean TaylorThe project that started as a small-scale investigation by members of the Te Awamutu Genealogy Group into eight of Te Awamutu’s early buildings had its final chapter last week when A Bricks & Mortar Legacy: Stories of Commercial Buildings in Te Awamutu, 1890-1957 was launched.
Prison targets rely on good infrastructure and design

Nov 26, 2024 | nzherald.co.nz | Dean Taylor

The Minister of Corrections, Mark Mitchell (right) and Department of Corrections chief executive Jeremy Lightfoot turning the first sods on the site of Waikeria Prison's 810-bed extension announced earlier this year. Photo / Dean TaylorCorrections Minister Mark Mitchell was the guest of honour at Waikeria Prison on Tuesday, one of several officials gathered to mark the sod-turning for the next expansion at the facility which will almost double capacity.
Te Awamutu teenager Corey Powell spends school holidays volunteering

Nov 21, 2024 | nzherald.co.nz | Dean Taylor

Corey Powell wears his suit made from a tablecloth and holds Christmas-themed bags he has made. Photo / Dean Taylor While some of Corey Powell’s Te Awamutu Intermediate schoolmates were using their recent school holidays to do kids’ stuff, which is what they are for, he was putting some effort into helping others. Corey spends some of his holidays as a volunteer at the Red Cross Shop – but his efforts don’t stop there.
Reflection Day: Chance to showcase environmental gains

Nov 20, 2024 | nzherald.co.nz | Dean Taylor

Students involved in the Gardenator Club, a Tuesday lunchtime activity managed and run by a group of dedicated parents. Photo / Dean Taylor Pirongia School is proud of the gains it is making through the Enviroschools programme - so proud it held a Reflection Day this term to show the community. Principal Kelly Bicknell said every team in the school is engaged in environmental education, shown the way superbly, and with passion and dedication, by lead teacher Deanne Wilson.
Social action spurs student to help foodbank

Nov 20, 2024 | nzherald.co.nz | Dean Taylor

Te Awamutu College Year 10 students Sophie Hammersley (left), Sophie Burgoyne-Thomas, Samara Gwynn, Nicole Kinston, Thomasina Salt, Audrey Calingacion and Emma Martin with the cans they have donated to Te Awamutu Foodbank as part of their social activity. Photo / Dean TaylorIt seems this time every year we report record demand for the services of Te Awamutu Combined Churches and Community Foodbank on top of a previous record year. It is exactly the same in 2024.