Waikato Business News March/April 2018

4 WAIKATO BUSINESS NEWS March/April 2018
Conversations
with William
William Durning -
chief executive, Waikato Chamber of Commerce
There’s a saying that everyone has a
book in them. I don’t know if that’s
necessarily true, but what I do know
is that everyone has a story in them.
People, companies, not-for-profits,
teams, clubs… all around the Waikato
there are compelling, heart-warming stories
just waiting to be told. And those of
us behind The Waikato Story want to hear
about them so we can share them and celebrate
them!
The Waikato Chamber of Commerce
has teamed up with brand and marketing
expert Vicki Jones of Dugmore Jones and
Dani Simpson and her team of journalists
and social media experts at Dynamic Media.
Together we’re helping tell stories
about the incredible things that are happening
in the Waikato – and about people and
companies who from the Waikato and are
making a name for themselves around the
world.
Grab a cuppa or better still an espresso
and take a look around www.waikatostory.
nz. It’s there you’ll find our blog that showcases
incredible stories about the #mighty-
Waikato and its people. We also share
those same stories across our social media
platforms – look up The Waikato Story on
Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn and Twitter.
Like the pages and feel free to tag us
into things you think would make a great
Waikato story so we can share them, or our
journalists can write about them.
The Mighty Waikato truly is a
place of powerful possibilities.
We want to hear about your
powerful stories so we can
celebrate the world-changers,
the local innovators, the
inspiring champions.
The stories we write and share are incredibly
diverse. There’s one about the
innovative couple who started Kowhai
Creamery in Waharoa. There’s another
about the new 10-year Māori economic development
plan that aims to ensure future
generations of Waikato Māori will have a
brighter future. And there’s the story of the
Melbourne couple who fell in love with a
property in the Karangahake Gorge and
have forged a thriving business there.
While you’re on the Waikato Story
website, check out the toolkit – a suite of
digital assets that you can use for free. Yes
– free! There is an abundance of photos,
videos, case studies, infographics, presentations
and research that you can use
for zero cost. And it’s easy to sign up and
download.
How could you use the assets? Well,
we heard about a Waikato company that
recently used some of the video content in
a presentation they put together for a pitch
they were involved in in the United States.
Momentum Foundation’s Gemma Major
told us she’s used some of the photos in the
Foundation’s annual reports. Others have
used them on their websites. Wintec journalism
students say they may use them to
illustrate stories they’re producing.
Finally, if you’re on social media use
the #mightyWaikato hashtag where you
think it’s appropriate and become part of
the increasingly vocal, proud supporters of
our region.
Through the use of the toolkit, through
the blog, through social media, and the
discussions and amplification that all of
this content prompts, a tribe is forming. A
tribe of #MightyWaikato supporters and
cheerleaders. Those who love living here,
working here, investing here, studying
here, visiting here. Who are proud to talk
about the virtues of living here and doing
business here. Who are proud to live in the
community and raise families in the beautiful
region.
The Mighty Waikato truly is a place
of powerful possibilities. We want to hear
about your powerful stories so we can celebrate
the world-changers, the local innovators,
the inspiring champions.
Get in touch with any of us! Email or
phone William 0274 300 006 or William.
durning@waikatochamber.co.nz, Dani
021 225 0012 or dani@dynamicmedia.
co.nz or Vicki 027496 151 or vicki@dugmorejones.co.nz.
We’d love to speak or
meet with you and we’re happy to show
you around the toolkit and answer any
questions you may have about your story
- The Waikato Story.
CHAMBER EVENTS
William Durning - chief executive,
Waikato Chamber of Commerce.
Monday 9th April, 6pm – 7.30pm. A League of Extraordinary Women. With
guest speakers Nichola Te Kiri, Shelley Campbell and Dani Simpson
Tuesday 10th April, 5pm – 7pm. BA5 Hamilton Operatic Society.
Thursday 12th April, 7.30am. Drug and Alcohol Testing in the Workplace.
Thursday 12th April, 10am – 11.30am. Franchise Information Briefing
Wednesday 18th April 9.30am. The Effect: Developing better leaders with
psychology
Wednesday 2nd May, 9.30am. Tour of Ruakura with Tainui Group Holdings
Waikato Chamber of Commerce
Business Floor, Wintec House
Cnr Nisbet and Anglesea Street, HAMILTON
07 839 5895 | help@waikatochamber.co.nz
www.waikatochamber.co.nz
Hamilton Airport
wins from Auckland
congestion
Congested Auckland roads may be
contributing to an ongoing increase in air
travellers choosing to use Hamilton Airport.
The airport saw a 13 percent
increase in passengers
across core routes
(Wellington, Christchurch,
Palmerston North) during 2017
with close to 335,000 air travellers
going through the gate.
That trend looks set to continue
with passenger numbers
in January 2018 more than 19
percent ahead compared with
the same month the previous
year.
Waikato Regional Airport
Ltd (WRAL), owned by five
Waikato-based councils, owns
Hamilton Airport. Hamilton &
Waikato Tourism and Titanium
Park Limited are also WRAL
subsidiaries.
WRAL chief executive
Mark Morgan said the passenger
number increase across
core routes was driven by
increased capacity and lower
fares as well as frustrations
over the drive time to and from
Auckland.
“Plenty of people tell us
they aren't prepared to deal
with the unpredictability of
Auckland traffic. When you're
leaving ridiculously early just
to make a flight, and then hit
We're also seeing
very steady growth
in tourism and in
commercial guest
nights so we believe
the future in terms of
passenger numbers is
looking positive.”
bad traffic on the way home, it
makes a long day even longer.
It's a lot easier and faster to
fly in and out of Hamilton and
increasingly, more people are
choosing to do that.”
Increased seating capacity
had also played a role in
the growth, he said. Hamilton
Airport has seen a 12 percent
increase in available seats after
Air New Zealand phased out
its 19-seater Beech aircraft
in August last year, replacing
them with 68 and 50-seater
planes.
“As a result, we've seen
some very competitive prices
and locals have been making
the most of those low fares.
We've seen fares as low as
$19 to key destinations from
Air New Zealand's Grabaseat
and, on top of avoiding Auckland
traffic, that's a pretty good
incentive to fly in and out of
Hamilton.”
He said the perception that
Hamilton was expensive to
commute from was simply
not the case given considerations
like drive time, parking
charges and convenience.
Mr Morgan was buoyant
about ongoing passenger
growth, noting Waikato is one
of the fastest growing regions
in New Zealand.
“We're also seeing very
steady growth in tourism and
in commercial guest nights so
we believe the future in terms
of passenger numbers is looking
positive.”
New city growth manager
GM at City Hall
A
former
Hamilton student
and honours graduate
of University of
Waikato, Jen Baird has been
announced as Hamilton City
Council's general manager city
growth.
Ms Baird replaces Kelvyn
Eglinton, who is moving to
a role as chief executive for
Momentum Waikato.
The council's chief executive
Richard Briggs says Ms
Baird was the standout candidate
in a strong field of internal
applicants.
“Our recruitment process
confirmed we have some
exceptional leaders within
council and have a culture of
developing high performance
teams. Jen brings a great skillset
and outstanding leadership
and commercial experience to
what is a key role for our city's
development. I am delighted
to make this announcement
today and I look forward to Jen
joining our senior leadership
Waikato Regional Airport chief executive Mark Morgan.
team,” Mr Briggs says.
Ms Baird joined the council
in 2017 as communications
and marketing unit manager,
after almost 10 years with
Barfoot & Thompson in Auckland
as chief marketing officer.
Serving on the executive
leadership team, Ms Baird was
a key part of the company’s
international business development
and digital advancement
in recent years.
Ms Baird has a First-Class
Honours degree from the University
of Waikato, majoring in
marketing, international management
and Chinese.
“I love being back in Hamilton
and I am looking forward
to being able to contribute to
the city,” Ms Baird says.
“Hamilton is a city on the
move and there are big things
happening. This is a new phase
in our city's development and
a chance to make the most of
the opportunities of this environment.
People want to live
New Hamilton City Council
general manager city
growth, Jen Baird.
in Hamilton and I want to
encourage a city that supports
growth while retaining the special
qualities and environment
that make it a great city for the
people who live here.
“From Berkley Intermediate
and Hillcrest High to a role
leading the City Growth team
for my city means a lot to me
and I'm looking forward to it.”
Ms Baird, who lives in
Hamilton with her partner Alan
and their dog Max, starts her
new role on March 26.