48 WAIKATO BUSINESS NEWS <strong>November</strong>/<strong>December</strong> <strong>2019</strong> CONFERENCE, EVENTS AND VENUES Location is important to the success of your business event, but it’s our people that make all the difference. Bringing together three of the very best venues in Hamilton combined with experienced and passionate staff provides you with unrivalled service every step of the way. Whether you are planning a small, intimate business meeting or a large-scale conference, our people are here to help you find the perfect space and ensure you have everything you need for a successful event. Contact us today on 07 929 3000 or businessevents@h3group.co.nz to talk to the team who specialise in bringing people together. B&H3G0207 CLAUDELANDS A spacious venue with on-site parking, awardwinning catering and spaces to suit all events. FMG STADIUM WAIKATO An inspiring location offering spaces with impressive views across the field. SEDDON PARK Tucked away in the CBD, this venue offers affordable spaces overlooking the grounds. h3group.co.nz People ‘true stars’ of H3 With its suite of award-winning Hamilton venues and team of dedicated event specialists, H3 is an obvious first port of call for local business event organisers. Home to Claudelands, FMG Stadium <strong>Waikato</strong> and Seddon Park, H3 has earned a strong reputation in the events and venue industry – racking up an impressive collection of accolades over Future of tea tied to sustainability The world’s biggest beverage has a bright future, but it all relies on sustainability. One <strong>Waikato</strong> tea producer is dedicated to making sure every leaf is as green as it can be. At <strong>Waikato</strong>’s Zealong Tea Estate, ensuring the tea is grown with sustainability in mind is important. Zealong general manager Gigi Crawford said that from the get-go, the team at Zealong realised how essential it is for them as a business to show just how they grow their tea, as the global tea industry shifts towards more ethical production. “You need to prove beyond a logo on a package that what customers are buying is both clean and fair.” Proving their tea is produced ethically and sustainably isn’t as simple as inviting inspectors around for a quick cuppa, though: rigorous checks and tests take place to ensure the tea being produced at the <strong>Waikato</strong> plantation meets all industry standards. From planting to packaging, every process is checked. No synthetic pesticides are used on the plantation, and no harmful chemicals are used in the packaging of the tea. Even the tea bags are made from a compostable, non-gmo corn starch. With the increasing scrutiny of the world tea industry over the exploitation of workers the years. In the past 12 months, FMG Stadium <strong>Waikato</strong> has been named Best Venue 2018 by the New Zealand Events Association (NZEA), while sister stadium Seddon Park took out the H3 stadia venue manager Ben Slatter (left) and director of operations Chad Hooker (centre) at the New Zealand Events Association Awards earlier this year. They are pictured with Alex Devereux from Sidekicker. Claudelands is a finalist for Large Venue of the Year at this year’s Entertainment Venues Association of New Zealand Awards. and the use of harmful pesticides Crawford said ensuring Zealong was well ahead of the curve was essential. Ticking boxes in the food industry is one thing, but easing the growing conscience of tea drinkers is another. That’s why every tea in Zealong’s range is BioGro certified, meaning whether its title of Domestic Short Form Pitch of the Year at this year’s New Zealand Cricket Awards. Claudelands is also a finalist for Large Venue of the Year at the <strong>2019</strong> Entertainment Venues Association New Zealand (EVANZ) Awards, with winners due to be announced this month. Sean Murray, Hamilton City Council general manager of venues, tourism and major events, says the venue awards are outstanding recognition, however it is the awards received by the H3 team that truly cement H3’s position as a leading venue group. “Our venues often take centre stage but it is our people who are the true stars,” says Murray. “We have extremely talented and experienced people throughout our business who live and breathe events, and who are committed to working with clients to deliver exceptional event experiences.” Members of the H3 team have secured EVANZ’s Operational Manager of the Year title for three years running – going to technical services manager Sven Ladewig in 2016, operations manager Claire Toko in 2017 and stadia venue manager Ben Slatter in 2018. This year Melissa Williams, H3’s business development manager – business events, has been named as a finalist for Operational Manager of the Year, while lead event technician Kyle Evelyn has been shortlisted in EVANZ’s Rising Star of the Year category. “These awards are fantastic recognition for our team and reinforce what we already know – that our team truly are the best in the business,” says Murray. - Supplied copy green tea or chamomile you’re craving, there’s an ease-of-conscience option for everyone. Crawford said with the chance to lead the way, Zealong Tea Estate is seizing the opportunity by focussing on organic production and sustainability. - Supplied copy
WAIKATO BUSINESS NEWS <strong>November</strong>/<strong>December</strong> <strong>2019</strong> 49 To all our people, thank you for making us number one. To our clients, thank you for trusting us on the matters most important to you. Hamilton Auckland Rotorua Tauranga tompkinswake.co.nz
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