Waikato Business News May/June 2020

Road to
Recovery
“No one knows how this is
going to play out. All we can do
is be responsive and adapt.”
Tokoroa business woman
The power of community spirit
Page 4
wel energy trust chair
Mark Ingle reflects on 12
years of milestones Page 5
brad olsen
Economist on Waikato’s
future Page 12

2 WAIKATO BUSINESS NEWS May/June 2020
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WAIKATO BUSINESS NEWS May/June 2020
3
road to recovery
PUBLISHER
Deidre Morris
Ph: (07) 838 1333
Mob: 027 228 8442
Email: deidre@dpmedia.co.nz
This month we return to those Waikato businesses whose stories
we told during lockdown, to find out how they are faring now. We
found teamwork, determination and ingenuity are helping them
through uncertain times.
Coming out of
lockdown stronger
From the editor
Kia ora
“No one knows how
this is going to play
out. All we can do is be responsive
and adapt.” Those are the
apt words of Hamilton man
John-Paul Mclean, of Ryder
Technologies and Stampngo.
Waikato businesses face
uncertain times as we leave
Covid-19 lockdown behind,
and start to get a sense of what
our new normal will mean.
My aim through the pandemic
has been to share a wide
range of business stories, so
readers can learn from the
experience of others or, just
lenge, though, and some key
decisions were put on hold.
“While we’ve experienced
great growth we’re still operating
with some caution due
to the uncertainty of how the
impact will play out over the
longer term.”
Johnson says with the
advent of Covid-19 they went
on the offensive and produced
a huge amount of content, new
features and online classes to
help businesses.
Cambridge website builder
Rocketspark experienced significant
growth in March and
April as businesses launched
ecommerce websites and
online service propositions,
says director Grant Johnson.
New customer enquiries
also increased significantly, he
says. The business uncertainty
early in Covid-19 was a chalas
importantly, be reminded
they are not alone with their
challenges. We badged our
lockdown coverage “Stronger
“We have many clients in
hospitality and food services
so we rapidly developed a
scheduled ordering system that
the likes of restaurants, cafes,
bars, butchers, bakers and florists
could use to set up schedules
for pickup and delivery of
food orders.”
Because of their work to
support businesses’ transition
to ecommerce they have been
invited by Xero to join their
Xero Hour learning sessions.
Rocketspark will be sharing
together” and I believe that still
applies.
So this month I returned to
those whose stories we told
during lockdown, to find out
how they were faring as Level
2 kicked in.
They were generous in
their responses, and you can
read - and perhaps learn from -
their experiences starting with
Rocketspark on this page.
This month, I also interviewed
a remarkable Tokoroa
business woman, Rebekah
Garner, whose response to the
virus has been whole-heartedly
community minded despite her
own company, The Event Girl,
taking a drastic hit. Her story is
told on page 4.
the opportunities for small
businesses to generate business
online.
“As a team of mostly introverts
the lockdown has suited
our personalities quite well,”
Johnson said as Level 2 kicked
in. “From a work perspective
we’ll enjoy spending some
time with the team in the office
but there will also be some routines
from the lockdown that
we’re likely to carry through
such as daily check-ins with
the remote team.
“While a business like
ours is well suited to working
remotely, the more social
aspects of life are a key part of
work-life balance.”
Long term, he says the
online video classes launched
As well as the individual
business stories, I wanted to
include some big picture analysis,
with specific reference to
the Waikato, so I invited Infometrics
senior economist Brad
Olsen to contribute. He and his
firm are well placed to comment
because, despite being
Wellington-based, they do a lot
of data analysis in the regions,
and Brad in particular is well
known in the Waikato. You can
read his overview on page 12,
where he makes the point that
the Waikato will not escape
the general downturn, though
we are helped by our strong
primary sector as well as the
health care and social assistance
sectors.
during lockdown will stay.
“We’ve seen some amazing
success stories during lockdown
and it has highlighted
how important it is to understand
your market and not roll
over in the face of a crisis. For
those who innovated, hustled
and pivoted during lockdown,
many have seen incredible
results where they’ll come out
of lockdown in a stronger position
than they were before.”
Continued on page 6
This month I also interviewed
outgoing WEL Energy
Trust chair Mark Ingle, who has
seen the trust achieve a great
deal during his 12 year stint.
The trust is one of the key players
in Waikato when it comes to
social and community impact,
and its milestones over the past
decade are formidable.
There is no doubt that there
is pain to come for many as
coronavirus takes its toll; I hope
that on these pages you can get
some tips, and maybe even gain
some inspiration, to help you
through.
Ngā mihi nui
Richard Walker
Editor
Grant Johnson
EDITOR
Richard Walker
Ph: (07) 838 1333
Mob: 027 814 2914
Email: richard@dpmedia.co.nz
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Rebekah Garner
Tokoroa business woman
shows community spirit
By RICHARD WALKER
A Tokoroa business that exemplifies
the power of community spirit has
responded to Covid-19 by giving back
and supporting locals.
Events company The
Event Girl saw its revenue
disappear with
the Covid-19 lockdown, after
being on track for a great year.
“We were due to have our
biggest year ever,” says owner
Rebekah Garner. “2020 was
going to be massive for us. I
had just hired a full-time event
manager.
“You know, the team has
grown, we’re all prepped, and
probably about 72 hours before
lockdown happened we lost
everything. We went to nothing.”
She turned to Ignite, a
Tokoroa business association
she founded last year, to come
up with a memorable Mother’s
Day initiative that injected
$20,000 into the local community.
Garner could see other local
businesses struggling like hers,
and contacted them through
Ignite to gauge their interest in
being involved in a Mother’s
Day collaboration.
Rebekah Garner and The Event Girl team
She bought vouchers and
products at full price from
local florists, balloon sellers,
hairdressers and clothing
stores, packaging them into
bundles to be sold via a plug-in
on The Event Girl’s website
and Facebook page - provided
free by their web designer, who
is also a local.
The bundles, each with an
Event Girl balloon, allowed
customers to support many different
local businesses in one
convenient purchase, and Garner
and her team were inundated
with orders.
“I didn’t comprehend the
amount of admin to process all
those orders. We got absolutely
slammed,” she says.
“Every day I think we had
three of us working full time,
right up to Mother’s Day.
And then my whole team
came in on Sunday and we
worked 11 hours.
“The community [here] is
really big in supporting each
other and I think that’s why the
Mother’s Day collaboration
went off as much as it did.”
She has had requests for
similar initiatives to be rolled
out on Father’s Day, and yearround
for birthdays. In the
meantime, The Event Girl has
turned to balloons and grazing
platters to help make up some
of its lost income.
“I wouldn’t have survived
without the government wage
subsidy, so that’s been a massive
lifesaver.
“We’re just doing as much
as we can, with the hope that
we go to level 1 soon and can
go back to normal.”
Garner has shown her support
for locals in other ways
beyond the Mother’s Day
offering.
That includes paying her
lease through the lockdown,
despite the plunge in revenue.
She says her landlord is a small
Support networks
for business owners
make businesses
stronger, and that’s
exactly what we’re
trying to achieve with
Ignite.”
business person who owns a
local food outlet, which was
closed during the lockdown.
“So I didn’t want him to suffer.”
She says she also chose,
against the advice of her
accountant and business manager,
to refund all the deposits
The Event Girl had for bookings.
“I thought, you know,
Covid is shitty enough as it is,
and those people are struggling
and hurting too.”
She sees the community
rallying during the pandemic.
“The community is trying to
shop local for everything,” she
says. That includes supporting
her own business through the
purchase of their balloons, and
she says Tokoroa residents are
also asking local businesses if
they can supply products rather
than heading straight to big
box department stores.
“So they’re even trying to
spend local if we don’t already
have it here.”
There’s one part of the story
that isn’t strictly local: Garner
sings the praises of Rotoruabased
business support company
Firestation, which helped
her pivot the business during
Covid-19 and had also helped
her earlier.
“I did one of their courses
and it exploded my business
and so I went to them with the
idea for Ignite and they helped
me work with the council.”
Ignite is aimed at bringing
business owners together to
collaborate, bond, engage, and
learn from one another.
“Support networks for business
owners make businesses
stronger, and that’s exactly
what we’re trying to achieve
with Ignite.”
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WAIKATO BUSINESS NEWS May/June 2020
5
Focus on community from
outgoing WEL trust chair
By RICHARD WALKER flow into the Waikato region. Campbell in 2017.
“The sale of UFF is an Ingle says the discount,
absolute celebration for our after its first year, was based
community through the value on a premium “in which people
are charged more and
WEL Networks’ sale of UFF is a boon for
it’s created which is now going
Waikato that is set to keep giving, says to enable new investment into then they receive their money
outgoing WEL Energy Trust chair Mark Ingle.
the community.”
back”.
Ingle points out that $200 Part of the alternative,
helped by technology
million of the deal will be paid
Ingle, who is stepping down the moment millions of dollars in two years’ time. “That’s a changes, was setting up Our
at the end of June after a annually in interest on UFF really good thing because midlast
year, when the company take on the retailers and the
Power “which can ultimately
12 year stint on the trust, loans are going to overseas
counts the recently announced
sale as one of the highlights
of his time, along with supporting
the establishment of
both Momentum Waikato and
Te Waka, and of electricity
retailer Our Power.
Those are, in anyone’s
banks.
“At the end of the day, the
fibre business was only ever an
investment.”
started to do its capital review,
it didn’t have any intentions of
selling 100 percent of the business.
And so it wasn’t going
out there looking for new
investment opportunities.
“So the delay of settlement
means there will be a really
generators”. He concedes he
believed in the discounts pro-
terms, a strong set of milestones,
and they are joined I think there’s some say, okay, how can the commu-
good process gone through to
by the establishment of the
nity be helped?”
Waikato Wellbeing Project, as
really tough times Questions to consider
WEL Energy Trust, which is ahead and I think that include whether the focus
the 100 percent shareholder of
should be on investing in generation
assets and to support
WEL Networks, increasingly we’ve got to avoid
moves to impact investing.
Our Power, which will then
rushing in using
Ingle’s positivity about the
help to drive better energy
UFF sale to First State Investments
is in contrast to pub-
“Or is it on other commu-
old thinking in our pricing in the region.
lic criticism including from decision making.” nity assets, so should it be
Rob Hamill, the only trustee
opposed to its sale.
Hamill said the fibre business
had “huge potential” to
provide long term return for
the community.
Ingle points out that while
Hamill is correct to note that
future dividends will flow
offshore, assuming the sale
is approved by the Overseas
Investment Commission, at
The ownership was 100
percent debt financed, Ingle
says, which comes with risk.
Its sale for $854 million will
see WEL Networks cash in to
the tune of up to $300 million.
“The numbers are massive
from a regional perspective.
After paying back debt, that’s
the level of benefit that will
going into helping in a post-
Covid world of job creation
and lending money into business
activities that help to create
jobs? So there’s a whole lot
of work that needs to be done.”
Ingle also has strong views
about the ending of the annual
discount for customers, after
the organisation was challenged
over its transparency by
new Wel Networks chair Rob
gramme while it was operating,
but says he is proud of
the change, which he sees as
enabling transparency of pricing
and, alongside that, the
development of Our Power
as New Zealand’s lowest cost
electricity retailer.
When it comes to the post-
Covid landscape, Ingle is
optimistic that the Waikato
Wellbeing Project, set up
by WEL Energy Trust and
Waikato Regional Council,
will have an important part to
play. The project has unveiled
10 Waikato wellbeing targets
that align with the UN’s sustainable
development goals
framework.
The trust is putting $3 million
into the establishment of
a Waikato wellbeing project
leadership organisation over
the next five years that will
be involved in the Covid-19
recovery.
“The role of that entity is to
challenge people’s paradigms
really, on an old way of doing
things.”
Continued on page 15
Mark Ingle can reflect on a number of major milestones
during his 12 year stint on the WEL Energy Trust.
Leading Transportation
Engineer is in good company
Local Hamilton resident, Judith Makinson,
joined CKL in 2018 to lead the organisation’s
transportation engineering offering.
Judith has built and developed a
dedicated transportation engineering
team and added significant value to
existing and new clients.
Most recently, Judith has been
recognised for her expertise and continued
contribution to engineering practice with
her appointment as a CKL Associate. Judith
joins a team of five Associates, all of whom
have demonstrated strong leadership and
communication skills, technical expertise,
and outstanding results for clients.
Associates are the next generation
of CKL leaders. They work side-by-side
with Directors to grow and expand CKL’s
service offering whilst inspiring a culture
of excellence and high performance.
Associates are driven by a shared
purpose of supporting sustainable
land development that shapes strong
communities for the future.
What is Transportation Engineering?
Working as part of an integrated team
of surveyors, planners and engineers,
Transportation Engineers assess
residential, commercial and industrial
land developments from the perspective of
vehicular and pedestrian access.
Forefront of the Transportation
Engineer’s mind is the safety of those using
the roads and footpaths whilst ensuring
Judith Makinson - Transportation Engineering Manager, Hamilton
traffic is able to flow freely. Integrated
Transportation Assessments and Transport
Master Plans provide developers with the
best solutions to accommodate walking
and cycling routes, as well as commuter
and public transport vehicles.
Judith and her team focus on ensuring
developments meet current and future
needs of residents and building tenants,
and take all the different modes of
transport into consideration when
designing integrated transportation
solutions.
Transportation Engineers play an
important role in shaping the future of
New Zealand’s urban landscape; building
better communities and a better future for
all New Zealanders.
Andrew Wood
Planning Manager, Hamilton
Hamish Ross
Branch Manager, Te Awamutu
Jonathan Gwyn
Survey Manager, Hamilton
Sam Jackman
Engineering Manager, Auckland
Simon Reid
Survey Manager, Auckland
204154AA
hamilton@ckl.co.nz
Tel 07 849 9921
tauranga@ckl.co.nz
Tel 07 262 2282
teawamutu@ckl.co.nz
Tel 07 871 6144
auckland@ckl.co.nz
Tel 09 524 7029

6 WAIKATO BUSINESS NEWS May/June 2020
Opportunity beckons
The recession will be
brutal. They always are and
this one feels a lot bigger
and deeper than the many
that have gone before.
There will be some businesses that
do not survive. The Government
has already told us that they are expecting
a lot of liquidations and they have
instructed the IRD to be accommodating.
Banks are being cautious with lending.
Even if you have a great credit history
the current process for getting a loan is
not straightforward. The wage support
schemes are coming to a close, and it is
decision time in June for many business
owners.
If you feel your business has a bleak
future speak to your accountant and
lawyer early. There may be hope for a
turnaround if there is a valid business
model. Your customers and creditors
will want you to survive and flourish.
Good advice early will save you large
dollars at the last minute.
For those who have successfully
navigated the rocks of the Government
lockdown and come out the other side
with cash, a strong business and good
people, there will be an ocean of opportunity
to enjoy.
For all of you the opportunity
in this recession beckons. It
may not be quite what you
expect, desire, or wish for.
It may exceed your wildest
dreams. Either way it is there
for you to grab and take
advantage of.
There will be fewer competitors,
there may be an opportunity for an advantageous
merger or acquisition, there
will be customers looking for someone
to supply them. Investors will return.
At first it will be the strong-willed bargain
hunters with cash and a belief that
the market has turned, they will be followed
by the second-tier investors who
see those first hardy souls getting a
great return. With a lower risk appetite,
they will follow on with more cash and
as customers return to buying, we will
slowly lift out of the recession.
By Don Good, Waikato Chamber
of Commerce executive director
Will we get back to the pre lockdown
normal? Doubtful? The lockdown
has changed many things, not the
least being an appreciation of working
from home by everyone. Some loved it
and others hated it, but so many experienced
it and many will not go back to
the office.
The changes we will see may include
an office at home, less commuting
traffic (we hope) lower pollution
levels and (we hope) a better work/life
balance. Actually, make that a better
life/work balance.
Many businesses will pivot, innovate,
and come back stronger. Many
baby boomers may elect to sell up
and head to the beach. Many of those
whose businesses fell due to lockdown
will rise again in a different industry
with new and exciting products and
some hard won experience.
For all of you the opportunity in this
recession beckons. It may not be quite
what you expect, desire, or wish for. It
may exceed your wildest dreams. Either
way it is there for you to grab and
take advantage of.
Your Chamber is there for you. The
networking will help you nurture your
new business, whether you are an owner
or an employee. It is what Chambers
have been doing since the 1500s when
they first started to form.
The Waikato Chamber has been here
since 1906. It has seen the Spanish Flu,
the Great Depression, two World Wars,
recessions, share market booms and
busts, the rise of the baby boomer, millennial
and X generations.
It flourishes because getting businesspeople
together to find ways to
mutually prosper has always been its
core function.
We look forward to you joining the
team.
Business Floor, Wintec House Cnr Nisbet and Anglesea Street, HAMILTON
07 839 5895 | help@waikatochamber.co.nz
www.waikatochamber.co.nz
Road to recovery
From page 3
‘No one knows how this is
going to play out’
John-Paul Mclean, of Ryder
Technologies and Stampngo,
says the Covid-19 lockdown
gave the company time to
focus on new solutions for
business and clients, and they
were able to build a stronger
relationship with some key
customers and suppliers.
“Another key success was
the ability of the staff to adapt
and change focus. We have
designed and built new products
that we believe will be in
demand entering into level 2
and beyond; we have created
new websites, sales funnels
and content for these products
in a matter of weeks.
“The ability to collaborate
digitally with tools like Miro
will become a cornerstone of
how we operate in the future.
We have adapted to running
workshops to get away from
unproductive meetings and the
results have been phenomenal.”
He says they had a spike
in sign-ups for the StampnGo
App as they entered Level 3,
from cafes and restaurants
looking for a pre-order, contactless
payment and pick up
solution. “I think we would
have had a year’s worth of
learnings/data within a twoweek
period, which as digital
product designers is really
awesome.”
Long term he says as digital
designers of web platforms and
apps they will move to a build
fee and monthly fee as opposed
to just a build fee.
Now is the time to
get educated about
how technology can
make your business
better.”
“This will reduce the initial
costs to clients but also provide
a better monthly cashflow to
Ryder Technologies,” he says.
Mclean says he heard stories
of SMEs not coping with
the changes involved in lockdown
because they hadn’t kept
up with technological change.
“Now is the time to get educated
about how technology
can make your business better
and get the training to implement
these products. I can see
it being quite normal now for
people to do the accounts/HR/
marketing part time remotely
from home. It will be more
productive and there will be
a larger talent pool for remote
workers now. SMEs need to
have the infrastructure in place
to attract remote workers.
“No one knows how this is
going to play out. All we can
do is be responsive and adapt
to the changing markets.”
‘It’s like being part of a
family’
The Covid-19 lockdown and
aftermath presented a challenge
to Hamilton law firm
Norris Ward McKinnon’s strategy
around culture and growth
over the past 18 months.
“The lockdown has challenged
our growth strategy,
given the uncertainty and the
inevitable recession,” says
managing partner Sam Hood.
“The lockdown has also challenged
the culture aspect of our
strategy, because prolonged
physical separation can be a
barrier to individual wellbeing
and team cohesion. In saying
that, our teams have found new
ways to get together, using
apps and platforms like Zoom
and Teams, and are sharing
information they probably
wouldn’t have before. We’ve
got to know each other better
in that regard.”
Sam Hood
He says morale is high, as
the firm has avoided redundancies
and salary cuts. “We are
continuing to invest heavily
in the well-being of our people.
It’s pleasing to see that
the lockdown has not dented
our confidence or caused us to
retrench.”
There could be a positive
spinoff, as Hood sees the firm
making changes to enable
greater flexibility for people
to work when and where they
want, higher investment in the
resources to enable this, and
less work-related travel.
“During the lockdown
I tried to speak with every
member of NWM about their
individual experience. Those
conversations showed just how
much people missed their work
colleagues, and how important
those work relationships are
to our overall wellbeing and
sense of belonging. In many
ways, it’s like being part of a
family – easy to be complacent
in those relationships, and
occasional misunderstandings,
but when the chips are down,
you know who to turn to. Plus
you miss those people when
they aren’t around!”
The importance of
supporting local businesses
Journies was such a new central
Hamilton gym it hadn’t
even opened before the lockdown.
Co-owner Opal Higgins
says they had to quickly come
up with an online offering.
“Our challenge was figuring
out how to run a gym, without
a gym.”
Finding and using the right
technologies proved a steep
learning curve.
“I grew up with a Commodore
64, and my partner Sam
couldn’t even figure out Bebo
back in the day.
“With the help of our teenagers,
input from our younger,
more tech-savvy coach Monic,
and hours of Youtube videos
and tutorials, we managed to
figure things out.”
The online product helped
relieve the immediate financial
pressure, and their social media
efforts created more awareness
of the gym, which she says
has led to some of their local,
remote clients joining up for
in-gym memberships.
“Being able to open Journies
gym has been huge. We still
have some on-going remote
clients, but are so excited to
finally utilise the facilities we
spent so much time and energy
on pre-lockdown.”
She says they noticed that
during the lockdown people
had more time to focus on their
health and well-being, but now
the balancing act of work and
family is back so the accountability
aspect of their service
remains vital.
We’ve been super
impressed with the
ingenuity of Kiwi
businesses over the
lockdown period
and what other
businesses have done
to adapt.”
She says the online gym
will remain a part of their service,
on its own and in combination
with in-gym sessions.
“We’ve been super
impressed with the ingenuity
of Kiwi businesses over the
lockdown period and what
other businesses have done
to adapt. This experience has
reminded us of the importance
of supporting local businesses
and networking with others
even if they’re in the same
industry. We’ve also learned,
and made use of regional and
government services that support
small businesses, and
encourage companies to check
out what’s available in their
area.”
Continued on page 9
Opal and Sam Higgins

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8 WAIKATO BUSINESS NEWS May/June 2020
CONVERSATIONS WITH
MIKE NEALE OF NAI
HARCOURTS HAMILTON
Commercial Real Estate -
what did we learn from the GFC?
COVID 19 DISCOUNT!
This is different from the Global
Financial Crisis, but there will be
some learnings that we can take
from it. There will be owners of commercial
and industrial property (and
real estate agents) that were not around
during the carnage of the GFC. Many
of the issues relating to the GFC were
structural, we saw Hanover offering 9
percent returns on deposits to investors,
when looking at the true risk it should
probably have been closer to double that.
While today’s economy is stronger and
more robust, many of the impacts and
outcomes will be similar, particularly for
vacant or non-income producing assets.
Mike Neale - Managing Director,
NAI Harcourts Hamilton.
FOR LEASE
Levels 2 & 4, 71 London Street, Hamilton CBD
Looking for Affordable Office ?
A Landlord You can Work With ?
Landlord will consider the following to assist an incoming tenant:
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• Contribution to fit-out
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• Affordable rental rates
(* Conditions apply)
Tenancy offering includes:
• Extensive central city views with excellent natural light
• Machina Cafe downstairs and other quality eateries in close
proximity
• Close walking distance to inner city fitness centres, Hamilton
Transport Centre, retail shopping and Centre Place Mall
• Near neighbours include Fonterra, numerous legal firms, FMG
and other professional service companies
Don’t miss this opportunity - contact us now!
For Lease: By Negotiation
www.naiharcourts.co.nz/HCM24633
Mike Neale M 027 451 5133
mike.neale@naiharcourts.co.nz
Brad Martin M 027 889 3018
brad.martin@naiharcourts.co.nz
naiharcourts.co.nz | P 07 850 5252 | Cnr Victoria & London Sts, Hamilton
Monarch Commercial Limited MREINZ Licensed Agent (REAA 2008)
What did we see in 2007 and
the immediate years beyond?
1. Purchaser numbers declined and
became more risk adverse, seeking
higher returns on their capital for taking
on perceived risk.
2. Finance became more difficult to obtain,
especially for non-income producing
assets such as vacant land or
buildings with issues.
3. Sale and lease backs became more
common, as businesses looked to free
up working capital.
4. Leasing volumes generally held up,
although overall vacancy rates increased
and lease terms were shorter.
5. Sale yields and rental rates came under
pressure, as occupancy levels decreased.
The GFC generally saw a decline in
commercial and industrial property values.
We suspect this will happen again,
over a yet to be determined period of
time, creating a ‘U’ shape – you do not
want to be forced to make selling decisions
at the bottom of the ‘U’.
The one really significant saving
grace is that interest rates are low and
all projections indicate they will likely
remain low for many years to come -
with the added possibility they may yet
go lower. It’s also worth noting the Reserve
Bank, as a result of Covid-19, has
recently announced a Quantitative Easing
programme to assist with providing
liquidity to markets, which in turn will
assist in keeping interest rates at these
very low levels. Quantitative Easing
was used in many economies during the
GFC, but not in New Zealand. This liquidity,
combined with the Government
stimulus being announced and spent, is
projected to help cushion the impacts of
Covid-19 on the economy.
Advice going forward?
Those that were the most successful in
mitigating the impact of the GFC were
those that acted early, before other forces
applied pressure. It’s likely to be the
same now – act early and position yourself
for the recovery and to take advantage
of other opportunities that may present
themselves in due course.
• If you need to downsize (or upsize),
then do so.
• If you need to sell (or are in a position
to buy), then do so.
• If you need to reposition your business,
make those calls.
We continue to maintain that Hamilton
and the Waikato is possibly the best positioned
region in the country to weather
the Covid-19 storm. Factors include:
• Near historic lows in commercial and
industrial vacancy rates.
• Strong construction growth across the
residential, commercial and industrial
markets.
• Migration has been strong due to
improved transport networks, house
affordability and generally being an
easy place to live.
We will recover, and our suspicion is
that we are going to recover sooner than
many pundits are currently predicting.
The sooner staff are back to work, the
better culturally for many businesses and
the better for retailers and hospitality operators
alike. Winter will be tough, but
as we come into October and November,
with daylight saving and the imminent
arrival of Christmas, a greater positivity
will likely return to our lives and
workplaces.
The question to ask ourselves:
What will happen to commercial property
yields (and values) when the economy
begins to recover in the months and
years ahead? With interest and deposit
rates likely to still be at historic lows
(as I write this deposit rates are barely
at 2 percent), those that continue to own
commercial property for the long term
will benefit from attractive returns in relation
to the continued low deposit and
mortgage rates, along with the possibility
of future capital gains.
Trends in the New Zealand Housing Market – House Price Inflation
Source: Reserve Bank of New Zealand
NAI Harcourts Hamilton
Monarch Commercial Ltd MREINZ Licensed
Agent REAA 2008
Cnr Victoria & London Streets, HAMILTON
07 850 5252 | hamilton@naiharcourts.co.nz
www.naiharcourts.co.nz
203662AG

WAIKATO BUSINESS NEWS May/June 2020
9
Road to recovery
Geoff Carr and Pam Ariestia
From page 6
Getting used to the ‘new
normal’
Escapist, in central Hamilton,
turned to an online escape
room offering during level 4
of the Covid-19 lockdown.
“Although they are a big success,
it is not the same as
physical escape rooms. So
business-wise, moving to level
2 means we can start earning
at normal level, not at a massive
loss like in level 4,” says
co-owner Pam Ariestia.
She was pleased that loyal
customers made the effort to
come in and spend money with
them once the lockdown lifted.
“Being able to operate our
physical escape rooms and see
our customers again in person
has been really good. As a business,
our reason for being is to
provide a space where people
can connect, play games and
solve problems together –
seeing that play out in person
again is really cool.”
Ariestia says Escapist is
keeping its online escape
rooms and board game store,
and working towards its own
print and play offering.
Being able to operate
our physical escape
rooms and see our
customers again in
person has been
really good.”
She has a warning and a
plea. “Being able to operate at
Level 2 has been good for business,
but it doesn’t mean that
we are out of the trenches yet.
“We still need support
from the local community and
domestic tourists; if you have
a choice to spend local, please
do so!”
An ‘amazing’ team of staff
and students
Claire Howarth
Hamilton tutoring service
Mindfull Tutoring had to
switch quickly from face to
face learning to online when
the lockdown started.
Owner Claire Howarth says
the uptake was “fantastic” and
they were able to continue to
deliver lessons across all year
levels. “I have come to realise
that this team is not just our
10 amazing teachers, but also
a team of 160 outstanding students
making it work at their
end.”
Post-lockdown, they
decided to remain online for
the rest of term 2 to provide
certainty for students and
their families. However, at
level 2 they can access more
teaching resources and meet
with colleagues and students
where necessary. It also gives
them the chance to prepare
their offices for term 3. “Most
importantly, it has given us
time to set up systems for
cleanliness,” Howarth says.
“Our once-administration lady
will be spending these last few
weeks of term 2 sterilising the
premises to a level that a doctor
would be proud of.”
She says the sudden introduction
of a lot of technology
to staff with varying levels of
experience working in shared
online documents or via video
conferencing was a learning
curve. “As a result of this
potential barrier, we underwent
a period of rapid professional
development,” she says. “Prior
to Covid we only had two
teachers using these platforms,
so this increase in the technological
skill base of our staff
will give us more freedom as
a business. We now have more
flexibility in terms of how we
deliver lessons and the accessibility
of lessons to those in
various locations, or restrictive
circumstances.”
Bring on the Trans-Tasman
bubble
Scott Mehrtens
Hamilton inbound tour operator
Leisure Time Group went
from a busy tourism season
to abruptly having no income
at all when Covid-19 struck.
Managing director Scott Mehrtens
and marketing manager
Vicki Annison say they worked
alongside the industry associations
and bodies to campaign
the Government to ensure
support was offered to tourism
businesses across the sector.
“Unfortunately it seems
that the inbound tour operators
are one of those sectors that the
Minister of Tourism says he is
unable to save. With no clarity
around how long international
borders will remain closed,
and very negative messaging
around this, we have already
started to see cancellations of
tours from our overseas travel
agents that had clients booked
to visit New Zealand next
year.”
They are focusing on what
they can offer to the New Zealand
market, which sees them
working on adding more tours
to their schedule of trips, as
well as adding a new section
to their website offering holiday
packages to independent
travellers.
“We have also been in
touch with a lot of New Zealand
travel agent offices who
are also keen to sell our New
Zealand travel offerings to
their clientele.”
They have re-opened
their Hamilton and Auckland
offices, and have added some
flexibility to their cancellations
policy and new Covid-19
related terms and conditions.
“Our business will look
substantially different for a
long time to come – as long
as the international borders
are closed, and/or quarantine
restrictions are in place, then
no-one will be able to visit
New Zealand for a holiday
or for an international conference/business
event. The
long-term impact of this, to
the whole economy not only
the tourism and events sector,
is enormous. We hope that the
Trans-Tasman travel bubble is
established promptly and efficiently;
this will then enable
us to work with our Australian
agents to facilitate New Zealand
travel for their clients.”
Continued on page 10
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10 WAIKATO BUSINESS NEWS May/June 2020
Road to recovery
From page 9
for some time, they would welcome
a Trans-Tasman travel
bubble with open arms.
“We are really proud of
what our country has achieved
so far with the challenge presented
by this virus. We think
health and happiness is something
which has become more
front-of-mind for people that
perhaps took it for granted
before, so that in itself is certainly
a silver lining.”
‘Challenges brought us
closer together’
they had walked offsite.
“We facilitated test drives
too, but only by stealthily
dropping our demonstrator to
the customer’s home and walking
away. Level 3 meant we
had to become innovative, and
we tried some things which
we’ll take with us into the
future – for example, walking
a customer through a car using
Facetime is something we’ll
continue to offer should people
want a walk through from the
comfort of their sofa.
Joelene Ranby
Something positive to look
forward to
Resolution Retreats’ Joelene
Ranby says the challenge for
the women’s wellness retreat
has been similar that faced by
many businesses in the tourism
and experience space, as they
cancelled fully booked retreats
and closed the retreat for the
lockdown in level 4 and level
3. She says there was initial
reluctance to re-book later in
the year as people were nervous
about the future. “But
thankfully, we now have a light
at the end of the tunnel and
people are starting to re-book
as they now need a retreat
more than ever,” she says.
We are really proud
of what our country
has achieved so far
with the challenge
presented by this
virus”
“I think so many people
set out to achieve great things
in their health and wellness
during the lockdown, to find
it was harder on them than
they expected. We’ve found
that everyone really wants and
needs something positive to
look forward to for their mental
health.”
Ranby says with border
restrictions looking set to last
Richard van den Engel
Ebbett Toyota’s operations
were closed, aside from a
handful of essential services
vehicle repairs, at alert level 4.
CEO Richard van den Engel
says the company’s challenges
were similar to those most
faced over that time: figuring
out how to pay fixed costs
with little to no revenue, communicating
with customers to
explain when they would be
back and what that would look
like, keeping staff engaged
and responding to the fear of
uncertainty, and being aware of
mental health issues associated
with the pandemic.
“What we found, though, is
that those challenges brought
us closer together as a team
and to our customers. They all
brought out a certain resolve,
kindness and willingness to
cooperate. It’s been humbling
to watch the team respond.”
They reopened the doors
under level 3, but service customers
had to drop their car on
the forecourt, leave their key
on the passenger seat and walk
away. Their repairs would be
discussed over the phone once
Moving to level 2
meant we could
welcome customers
back into the
showroom – it felt
like the sun had
come out at the end
of a rainy day!”
“Moving to level 2 meant
we could welcome customers
back into the showroom – it
felt like the sun had come out
at the end of a rainy day!”
He says some of the digital
ways they have worked with
customers will become common
place, including offering
virtual walk-arounds of vehicles,
at-home test drives, and
pick-up/drop off for service
customers.
“Internally we’re also
leveraging digital tools better –
we work across three branches
and typically all meetings have
been face to face, requiring
many people to travel, but
we’ve got really good at using
Microsoft Teams to run virtual
meetings, saving everyone
time.”
Pivoting with the times
Soda Inc collaborated with a
team of other Callaghan Innovation
funded incubators on
Hack the Crisis NZ during
the Covid-19 lockdown. Chief
executive Erin Wansbrough
says there were 887 registrations,
210 idea submissions,
and 55 registered teams, and
they have continued the collaboration
with Creative HQ and
Erin Wansbrough
Ster Innovation to put together
an “after Hack” support programme
starting on June 2 for
the teams who want to keep
their idea moving.
Soda Inc used online community
catch-ups as a new way
of chatting with people about
industry issues relating to how
they are coping with Covid-19.
“Our latest small business
programmes are close to
launch. We pivoted a few times
and ensured our offerings were
going to provide real value to
small businesses. With Covid,
we have also adapted and will
now be offering these online.
This breaks down the barrier
of time restraints, cost of
travel, cost of the programme,
and health and safety requirements.”
The coworking space was
closed under level 3, and now
that it is open again, Soda
has altered its lease terms to
accommodate month by month
leasing.
Wansbrough says the team
always had the option to work
from home, but not all staff
took it up in the past. “Now
everyone is well set up and
looking forward to being able
to combine the office lifestyle
with the working from home
lifestyle more. As a team, we
are confident we can work
from anywhere now.”
Staying positive and
enthusiastic
Matamata-based Tainui Press
managing director Dale Ertel
says the lengthy lockdown
provided time to work on the
business.
Workload is light and
I worry this must
have an effect on
staff morale; I am
staying positive and
enthusiastic, and I’m
very appreciative of
the Government wage
subsidy.”
He says he watched podcasts
and webinars, and took part in
many Zoom meetings covering
a wide range of business topics,
albeit all aimed at surviving
the unique circumstances
of the Covid-19 pandemic.
“The daily 1pm Government
Covid-19 updates were compulsory
viewing.”
Ertel says it was a challenge
to get raw materials delivered
during level 3 and early level
2, and the usual stock delivery
expectation of 24 hours
became anything from three
days to seven days. However,
he says, clients have been
understanding.
“Workload is light and I
worry this must have an effect
on staff morale; I am staying
positive and enthusiastic, and
I’m very appreciative of the
Government wage subsidy.”
Longer-term changes he
sees the company making
include better system and
processes, and more accurate
costing and quoting functions,
along with a greater importance
given to marketing.
“We had a number of staff
meetings during the lockdown
using Zoom video and I have
been overwhelmed by the
support and loyalty shown by
staff during those meetings and
since. There’s a real determination
to not only survive this
epidemic, but grow stronger
from it.”
Working together as a team
Raglan Food Co’s Tesh Randall
saw a loss of sales under
lockdown, but not enough to
qualify for using the wage
subsidy.
That saw her and partner Seb
Walter dip into savings and
pay ‘special leave’ to team
members who had reduced
hours during Level 4 to help
top up their hours.
They restructured the team
into separate crews to minimise
interactions and create
work bubbles, and held all
meetings over Zoom with
no-one working from the
office.
She says there was a challenge
in managing their own
stress and anxiety levels and
working with their other leaders
on setting a positive tone
for the team.
Also challenging was their
new factory build being put on
hold for six weeks. And with
cafes closing, she says they
got stuck with food service
tubs they could no longer sell,
all of which got donated to
charity. However, there were
upsides. “There has been more
closeness than we had before
in many ways, more frequent
Tesh Randall & Seb Walter
catch-ups and communication,”
she says.
Supplying Civil Defence
with yoghurt via a Bidfood
catering contract was one
lockdown highlight.
We also travel around
the region frequently,
but see that some of
this travel could be
reduced, and online
meetings increased.
This would save
travel time, and fuel
costs, and reduce our
footprint.”
Level 2 came as a relief.
“It’s so much nicer, it almost
feels back to normal! It’s nice
greeting people on the streets
of Raglan again, being able to
pop in and out of the office,
and have team meetings in
person. We’re back to doing
team birthday cakes and afterwork
drinks on a Friday.
“Sales have stabilised -
they were really up and down
over Level 4 with people
stockpiling and then avoiding
going out.”
They have decided to
maintain the two-crew model
so that staff don’t overwork.
“We have put a new standard
work week of 30-35 hours in
place for everyone – the maximum
anyone can work now
is 40 hours. Pre-Covid we had
some very busy weeks with
some team members working
50-60 hours - and even though
they enjoyed the higher
income levels, we think it’s
best for everyone’s long-term
wellbeing to limit the amount
of available shifts.
“We’re very grateful to
our team for showing up and
getting the job done over lockdown
even though there was a
lot of uncertainty and worry,
especially in the early stages
when everyone was afraid of
getting sick. We’re also grateful
to all our customers who
purchased yoghurt over lockdown
and kept us in business.”
Continued on page 11

WAIKATO BUSINESS NEWS May/June 2020
11
Taking heart from the
community response
Volunteering Waikato’s
Heather Moore says during the
first months of Covid-19 they
have seen a significant increase
in the number of people putting
their hands up to volunteer.
“Our website has been very
active, and it has been great to
see many businesses encouraging
their staff to volunteer
while they were not able to
return to work.”
She says the shift to Level 2
saw many of the organisations
they support returning to work,
which also saw an increase in
the number of volunteering
opportunities being listed on
their website.
Heather Moore
Moore says they have realised
that they can be far more
inclusive if they hold a workshop
or network meeting via
Zoom, with many of the organisations
they work with around
the region unable to attend
functions due to distance.
“Our recent online network
meeting was attended by lots
of people who would not normally
attend. Although meeting
in person is important, we
may alternate physical and
online meetings, and training
workshops.
“We also travel around the
region frequently, but see that
some of this travel could be
reduced, and online meetings
increased.
This would save travel
time, and fuel costs, and reduce
our footprint.
“We have been heartened
to see the response of our
communities during this time.
So many people have come
forward to volunteer, to give
their time to help others during
this unprecedented time. We
acknowledge and thank them
all.”
Mobilising a local community
Annah Stretton
Fashion designer Annah Stretton
says with so much of her
company’s daily business coming
from 10 retail sites, they
pivoted to selling face masks
online during the lockdown,
and that allowed them to drive
their internet base.
“In level 3 we were able to
sell our clothes online and we
were well geared up to go with
some of our more casual gear.
However, the AS label has its
heart in events and weddings
so there is still a journey to go
to activate the core business
and sustainability.”
She says successes included
providing a large charity with
6000 fabric masks, along with
helping other charities and
community organisations.
“Success has also been in
mobilising a local community
to work with us to make the
masks, to dust off infrastructure
that we had (destined for
the dump) and use fabric and
trim that we previously had
little use for that had accumulated
over 28 years of our operations.”
She says they have added
four more jobs at the Morrinsville
headquarters and changed
the HQ cafe offering, from
Cafe Frock to Most Wanted
Cheese, which supports work
they do in vulnerable communities
through RAW.
“Being able to support community
has been at the heart of
Stretton work for many years
and we have truly had the
chance to activate and extend
this as well as pivot into other
areas of design.”
They have also looked at
their prices and margins, she
says. “We are aware that many
New Zealanders are experiencing
a real financial struggle
from the Covid fallout and this
uncertainly and difficulty will
continue for many months, if
not years, where discretionary
‘fashion’ spend becomes a last
cab off the rank for many.
Success has also
been in mobilising a
local community to
work with us to make
the masks.”
“However, we also know
that a fabulous new dress does
wonders for morale, and people
are committed to spending
and supporting local brands, so
our focus is to extend the availability
of our collection by
reducing our margins so we all
share in this economic fallout
and eventually drive business
success together.”
‘The massive impact of a
common purpose’
Community and Enterprise
Leadership Foundation
(CELF) chief executive Tania
Witheford says the Covid-19
pandemic response shows the
Tania Witherford
“massive impact” of a common
purpose, and the power
of a collaborative approach
– demonstrated by the way in
which community organisations
mobilised alongside the
business community.
“We all have a front seat to
observe and experience a range
of leadership: what leadership
or what do our leaders need
to do to build back better and
stronger, to lever out of these
challenging times, and propel
us forward?”
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powerful ingredient nature has
to offer as the base of all of our
products - Manuka Honey.
New Zealand’s precious
Manuka Honey is renowned
the world over for its natural
healing properties, which are
four times more powerful than
those of other honeys.
The difference comes from
a natural compound called
Methylglyoxal, also known
as Mel. Richly concentrated
in the nectar of Manuka tree
flowers, Mel is harvested by
the honey bees that produce
Manuka Honey.
These high levels of Mel
imbue Manuka Honey with
antibacterial, antioxidant,
wound-healing, and antiinflammatory
benefits.
Manuka Honey is also
naturally enriched with health
beneficial vitamins, minerals,
enzymes, amino acids, and
phytonutrients.
Our range includes soothing
lotions and balms that are
safe and nourishing for baby’s
skin, gentle cleansing soaps
and body washes to keep little
ones fresh and clean, and
toothpaste specially formulated
for infant mouths. Our
fluoride-free toothpaste for
babies targets only harmful
oral bacteria associated
with plaque formation, gum
inflammation and tooth decay.
Unlike some other toothpastes,
it doesn’t destroy the good oral
bacteria that are necessary for
a healthy mouth.
We look forward to bringing
QueenBee Pure products
to families as we continue our
journey of sharing the most
natural and effective skin care
products New Zealand has to
offer.
204183AA
NOW AVAILABLE
at New World Hillcrest

12 WAIKATO BUSINESS NEWS May/June 2020
Restarting Waikato economy requires
new ways of thinking
As New Zealand re-emerges into a less restricted environment,
businesses are looking at the future with equal measures of
concern and cautious optimism.
By Brad Olsen, Senior
Economist, Infometrics
With an extremely different
landscape for
doing business now
present, there will be a sustained
period of readjustment
as local areas start to make
plans for the future.
Waikato region will not be
immune from the economic
downturn that New Zealand is
experiencing, but it does have
some strong local drivers of
activity that will see the region
hold up better than other parts
of the country.
Strong foundation has kept
local momentum going
The Waikato economy is starting
to move forward again,
albeit with some additional
barriers to navigate. Marketview
data shows that spending
on the Paymark network
had increased back up to 65
percent of normal spending
under Level 3 (up from around
45 percent under Level 4) in
Waikato. This level of spending
will have risen even further
in Level 2.
Many businesses had also
been able to continue operating
during lockdown, with
Infometrics estimates showing
53 percent of Waikato’s workforce
could have been working
at Level 4 (in line with the New
Zealand average). The percentage
of businesses able to work
rose to 76 percent under Level
3 (slightly above the 74 percent
New Zealand average). Waikato’s
strong primary sector
(encompassing both farming
operations and manufacturing
and processing sites) have kept
regional traffic volumes up,
with the health care and social
assistance sector also helping
to provide resilience.
Waikato is one of New
Zealand’s food powerhouses,
alongside Canterbury, with
both regions containing 14
percent each of the country’s
food-related workers.
Recent reports show that 18
of the 23 projects submitted by
Waikato councils have made
it over the first hurdle, which
highlights the strength of the
application that the region put
forward. Regional cooperation
remains a key element
of New Zealand’s recovery,
and the joined-up approach
between territorial authorities
in the Waikato region provides
a cohesive plan and the ability
to bolster the construction sector
even as economic fortunes
change.
Hamilton has also been
named as the headquarters
of the New Zealand Institute
of Skills and Technology
(NZIST), reinforcing Waikato’s
position as an education
provider and adding an additional
anchor into the wider
regional economy.
Together, these trends and
announcements point toward
confidence in the local area,
with this confidence important
to get businesses and households
working again.
No one will escape the
downturn
Although the economy is getting
back into gear, the unmistakeable
fact remains that the
economy is fundamentally
changed. Spending levels
remain below pre-pandemic
times, and the huge hole of
spending due to Levels 4 and
3 are still hurting businesses
today. However, wider than
spending alone, the entire way
of doing business for many has
changed irreversibly. Infometrics
expects almost all sectors
to see a downturn in activity
in some form, with more
than 250,000 jobs potentially
lost over the next year or two
across New Zealand.
Waikato will not escape
this downturn, although some
sectors and areas will feel the
crunch more than others. Tourism
remains in an extremely
difficult position, with the borders
closed, international tourism
halted, and domestic activity
still restrained. Around 26
percent of Waikato’s tourism
spending comes from international
visitors, compared to 41
percent for New Zealand as a
whole. The remaining 74 percent,
from domestic travellers,
will limit the blow felt by local
tourism operators, with domestic
tourism operations already
resuming. But areas like Matamata-Piako,
Waitomo, and
Taupō will likely be harder hit,
as they have higher international
tourism concentrations
and/or a greater local economic
reliance on tourism activity.
Yet at the same time there is
an importance balance needed
between pessimism, optimism,
and realism. No, the economy
is not all doom and gloom –
it will recover. However, we
need to realise that it will not
spring back like nothing’s happened
within a year or two.
A lull in the storm
It’s important for businesses
to be able to split their focus
between both the here-andnow,
and also what the future
brings. At present, much attention
is rightly on the requirements
set out by Level 2, and
then Level 1. These requirements
involve changing business
practices to comply with
social distancing, PPE, and
contact tracing. However,
businesses should also keep
in mind what the future may
hold, with a note of caution
over the amount of spending.
With lower employment, less
hours worked, and pay cuts all
operating, Infometrics expects
both household and business
Brad Olsen
consumption
to be more
restrained.
Some consequences of
the Covid-19 pandemic are
becoming clearer. Although
the primary sector in Waikato
is still holding up well, the
drought is weighing on many
farmers, with higher costs and
lower availability of feed, and
a softer profile for milk and
meat payments due to less
international demand. The
higher-profile closure of some
Bunnings stores in Waikato is
a sign of things to come, with
lower spending and softer economic
conditions set to see
businesses – big and small –
reconsider their workforce.
More than 4,200 Waikato
region workers have lost jobs
since the Level 4 lockdown,
and are now on the Jobseeker
Support benefit, taking total
regional Jobseeker Support
recipients to over 20,100 (6.7
percent of the working age
population) according to the
Ministry of Social Development.
Although Waikato’s initial
pace of Jobseeker Support
growth was below the
national average, recent
growth has since moved
above the national increase.
In other words, Waikato’s job
losses appear to be coming
at a steadier pace, rather
than short and sharp,
reinforcing the view
that there are still
further changes and
job losses for the
region to brace for.
Job losses will continue
to mount, with
additional waves as
the wage subsidy, then
the extension, finish over
the next 3-4 months.
Having a plan, and open
communication, allows for
dynamism
We expect that the economic
downturn we are experiencing
will get worse before it eventually
flattens out and then
begins to slowly get better.
The next few months and
years will be tough, as businesses
assess where the ‘new’
normal level, and type, of
activity settles out.
The next step for Waikato
businesses, if they haven’t
already, is to take stock of
where their business position
is now and set out some
options based on some scenarios.
These options could take
the form of revenue markers,
and if revenue drops below
a certain level (say 20 percent),
the next tier of options
(lower hours, cutting expenses
deeper) coming into play.
Keep talking to others
around you – other business
owners, experts in HR,
accounting, and finance, and
your friends. Hearing what
else is going on is powerful
information from which you
can make decisions about
your business.
Strong local leadership
has already provided a central
focus point for local sellers,
with the Mighty Local online
system able to showcase local
options. A strong local tourism
focus is also underway,
in attempts to attract domestic
travels to come discover
Waikato.
Both of these activities
will support businesses to get
customers spending again. It’s
these sorts of strategies, coupled
with resilient businesses,
that will position Waikato best
to get through this downturn
and power out the other side.
Hill Laboratories starts
Covid-19 testing
Hill Laboratories,
New Zealand's largest
privately owned
analytical testing laboratory,
has partnered with the
Waikato District Health
Board to provide additional
testing capacity in Hamilton
for SARS-CoV-2 (the coronavirus
that causes Covid-
19).
Hill Laboratories is the
only non-DHB facility in
the Waikato providing the
testing service, and one of
only three non-DHB laboratories
across New Zealand
approved to test for Covid-
19.
Hill Laboratories recognised
the importance of
rapid and extensive testing for
the coronavirus early on, so
offered their support.
“Waikato DHB engaged
with us early on during alert
level 4 lockdown, assessed our
capability and laboratory facilities
and decided to partner
with us,” says CEO Jonno Hill.
“The partnership means
that the testing capacity in the
Waikato will be increased considerably.”
Once the decision was
made to partner in April, the
company moved quickly into
implementation mode, working
closely with International
Accreditation New Zealand
(IANZ).
“Our team has put in hard
Jonno Hill
work and long hours to make
sure this service was available
in a record time of 18 working
days,” says Dr Hill.
“The testing will be carried
out in a secure laboratory environment
by a few select personnel,
and will be kept separate
from all the other testing
we conduct for other clients.”

WEL NETWORKS
WAIKATO BUSINESS NEWS May/June 2020
13
VOTE
WEL Energy Trust Elections
4 th - 26 th June
KATHRYN WILLIAMS
MIKE ROLTON
JULIAN WILLIAMS
DENISE HARDING
Please vote
for all seven
members of
our team
KEVIN ENDRES ERIN ANDERSON SCOTT CRAIG STEPHEN
FUTURE FOCUSED, DELIVERING FOR OUR COMMUNITY.
The core of this team has been part
of the most dynamic period in the
Trust’s history, and now we have
three fresh faces joining us.
Over the last nine years we have:
• Implemented a new investment strategy that has yielded
significantly better returns;
• Replaced the out-dated discount programme with the
region’s lowest price retailer “Our Power”, while reducing
lines prices to the second lowest in the country;
• Removed significant debt risk from the lines business by
supporting the sale of non-core investment;
• Developed the Waikato Wellbeing Project that will be a
shining light post Covid;
Community grants and
affordable energy for all
We will continue to champion and support community
organisations that create positive impact in our region, encourage
community wellbeing, community activities and connectedness.
Over the last three years Trustees have increased community
grants by 30%. This commitment to community support will
continue with the PowerON, For the Community team.
We are advocates for affordable energy
Our mission is to bring down the cost of electricity - our region
is now home to the cheapest power retailer in the country: Our
Power, which already saved an estimated $573,000 in electricity
charges. This equates to an average of $500 per household. We
will continue to champion cheap power for all.
Contact us
“Affordable energy for all” driving down the price
of power. Supporting “Our Power”, our region’s low
price retailer.
We remain committed to forward thinking and
supporting new projects, expanding our ability
to invest in our community.
We will continue to promote energy efficiency
initiatives that help reduce your power bill.
We will keep the WEL networks line company
100% community owned.
Diversified collective skills ensuring stewardship
of over $1 billion value in community assets.
Reduced electricity lines charges have created savings
to the community of $6M in 2018, and $6.5M in 2019.
Continue grants to the community $10.2M in the past
3 years. Supporting wellbeing and delivering true
regional benefits while caring for our most vulnerable.
If you would like to contact any of the PowerON -
For the Community team, we’d love to hear from you:
Mike Rolton (Current Trustee)
mike_rolton@yahoo.com.au
Kathryn Williams (Current Trustee)
kathryn00williams@gmail.com
Craig Stephen (Current Trustee)
craig.stephen@xtra.co.nz
Denise Harding (Current Trustee)
d.tyrerharding@gmail.com
Erin Anderson Scott
erinandersonscott@outlook.com
Julian Williams
julian@te-huia.co.nz
Kevin Endres
kpendres@gmail.com
poweronteam.co.nz
To find out more about WEL Energy Trust, visit: www.welenergytrust.co.nz
Authorised by: K Williams, 13 King St, Frankton, Hamilton 3204

14 WAIKATO BUSINESS NEWS May/June 2020
WEL NETWORKS
Born and raised in Hamilton I left to
go to university and then head off
on my OE. Returning 15 years ago
to start a business and subsequently
raise my family in the region I have
always called home. Raised by community
minded parents, being a valuable member of
my community and giving back is part of
my DNA. I own and publish Nourish
Magazine - now in its 10th year celebrating
the Waikato. While working hard to build a
successful business I founded Waikato Food
Inc, a not for profit that at its core is making
the Waikato a great place to live and work.
Now more than ever local businesses and
community groups have an important part
to play in shaping our community. I believe
my strength lies in my ability to think
outside the box, to work collaboratively and
not to be afraid to speak up.
I would like to see the WEL Energy Trust
move away from just divvying up money
and giving grants each year and instead to
look how we can make a real difference in
the future of the Waikato, where we can
invest and grow assets which will ultimately
see the region thrive. I would have objected
strongly to the sale of Ultra-Fast Fibre had I
been on the board!
With a BA majoring in politics I have a
strong interest in democracy and also feel
that community boards like WEL Energy
Trust need to be representative and that
means not having one group having a
stranglehold on it. I also believe representation
from a broader range of those who
make up our community is important.
I have a strong environmental conscience
and see that building sustainability into
everything we do is key moving forward,
both for the world we live in and leave for
future generations as well as for the
economic opportunity it presents.
204199AA
ROB HAMILL
TO GO IT ALONE
I am a long-standing WEL Energy
Trust trustee seeking another term.
However, this election I am putting
my name forward as an independent
candidate not linked with a team.
This year’s WEL Trust election is set to
be the most intense in years, largely
due to two significant decisions made
by the current trust:
1. The cancellation of the annual
discount;
2. Selling a precious Waikato asset
off-shore.
Regarding the latter, I was the only
trustee against selling Ultra Fast Fibre
(UFF) – the crown jewel in the trust’s
portfolio – to foreign interests.
The fibre business has huge potential
to provide long term return for the
community. And with UFF being sold
offshore the profits will head that way
too and not back to the community.
Where will it end?
The sale of UFF has caused me to
rethink my stance on the discounts
programme and whether it should be
reintroduced, or a version of it.
This is about balance and I wonder if
it is now out of kilter.
I am a husband and father of three
energetic boys, an Olympian and
trans-Atlantic champion rower,
ocean explorer, author, film
producer and event organiser.
I am proud to be a trustee of Perry
Outdoor Education Trust and patron
of Parent to Parent.
I will continue to push for increasing
community grants, decreasing
interest on community loans and will
continue to strongly oppose any selldown
of community-owned assets.
To conclude, my priorities for the
community Trust are:
• Retain assets;
• Consider reinstating the
discount;
• Increase community grants;
• Increase community loans;
• Decrease community loan
interest rates;
• Develop social investments/
Waikato Wellbeing project;
• Energy efficiency
If you have any questions, please feel
free to contact me on email
rob@robhamill.co.nz
204201AA
THE ‘BRING BACK DISCOUNTS’ TEAM
Michael
West
Jan
Johnston
Adrian
Yamunanathan
Matt
Silverton
KIA ORA, I’M
MARY
RINALDI
AND I'M STANDING
FOR THE WEL ENERGY
TRUST BOARD.
The original Power Discount Scheme was, and always
will be, the best way of returning WEL Networks
profits to the wider community.
It identifies households, families, community
organisations and businesses as vital communities in
their own right.
It maximises the amount of funds that are returned to
these communities because discounts are not taxed
and residential customers benefit by having the GST
they paid returned to them.
A grants program funded from other Wel Trust
investments has always complimented the discount
scheme and would be retained, but WEL Networks
surpluses should be returned as discounts.
Those in control of the Wel Energy Trust over the last
decade or so, have allowed the discount scheme to be
diluted and ultimately abandoned.
The Bring Back Discounts team is committed to seeing
the Power Discount Scheme returned, but need your
votes to make it happen.
Only by voting for all 4 members of the Bring Back
Discounts team can this valuable scheme be returned.
Find us on Facebook to learn more
facebook.com/bringbackdiscounts
My main motivation is to make a tangible
difference in the community where I have
chosen to settle and raise a family.
WEL Energy Trust has had a positive
impact in the Waikato for many years and
I see this election as an opportunity to
bring new and diverse perspectives to the
Board.
Through my work as a strategic corporate
planner at GMD Consultants, I’ve had the
opportunity to grasp the wide ranging
challenges facing our region, from
economic and social inequality to
environmental degradation.
One thing WEL is doing to have an even
greater impact in this space is the Waikato
Wellbeing Project. The purpose of this
community-led project is to work towards
an ambitious set of targets specific to the
Waikato that are based on the United
Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals.
The overarching aim of the project is to
achieve a more environmentally
sustainable, prosperous and inclusive
Waikato region by 2030 and this is
something I wholeheartedly support.
I have been heavily involved in arts
organisations for many years, particularly
in theatre and filmmaking. Through this, I
have had a lot of experience in creating
things from the ground up, managing
large and underfunded projects, running a
theatre company for several years, and I
gained governance experience through
being a founding Trustee and Secretary for
the Auckland Shakespeare Trust.
Through post graduate study and my work
I have an excellent understanding of
organisational development and am
passionate about continuous improvement
in business.
I support the community grants scheme
and I stand for sustainability and
innovation to create a better world for our
tamariki.
Vote for me to bring a strategic focus and a
fresh, independent perspective to the WEL
Energy Trust Board.
204211AA

WEL NETWORKS
WAIKATO BUSINESS NEWS May/June 2020
15
Focus on community from
outgoing trust chair
From page 5
Ingle envisages it as a
“sister entity” to Te Waka,
of which the trust is a major
funder.
“Te Waka is moving from
a very traditional economic
development agency structure
into this wellbeing-led decision
making. So I’ve seen in
18 months some really great
strides being taken.”
He says Te Waka has
reviewed projects that were in
the pipeline before Covid-19
using the lens of the wellbeing
project in order to analyse
benefits, “not just for dollars,
but how is this giving people
jobs, how is this helping to
take people out of poverty,
how is it putting food on the
table?”.
“I think there’s some really
tough times ahead and I think
that we’ve got to avoid rushing
in using old thinking in our
decision making. That’s not
about unnecessarily delaying,
it really is about being open
to being challenged around
the genuine community benefits
that flow from investing
activities.”
On a similar theme, Ingle
describes getting community
foundation Momentum
Waikato up and running as
one of his main achievements
during his time on the trust. In
2012, he quit his job as general
manager of a commercial
Waikato University arm U
Leisure and spent six months
unpaid doing the groundwork
for Momentum.
“That was getting around
various players in the community
to ensure that the entity
was structured correctly, that
there was a need, that the
trust - with company support
because it required a dividend
from the company - would be
willing to fund in the way that
I saw as a sustainable longterm
one.”
The purpose was to
have a community leadership
organisation that could
bring a business lens to
leveraging money.
WEL approved a $10
million long-term loan into
Momentum, which was the
new organisation’s only
startup funding. It is targeted
to build a fund, from community
investment, of $300 million
over 30 years, and has so
far had the high-profile success
of the Waikato Regional
Theatre, which is close to
construction.
Why is Ingle stepping
down now?
“Each election that’s come
up, I’ve had a specific purpose
Hello,
I would appreciate just 1 of your votes.
I am the Principal of Puketaha school with
a masters in Educational Leadership from
the University of Waikato.
The last few months has rocked our
equilibrium and as a result we have a
unique opportunity to ensure that the Wel
Energy Trust really delivers on the needs
and aspirations of our community. It
requires both a strategic approach and
strong moral compass to achieve positive,
tangible outcomes for our customers and
region. I bring experience, Independence
and can collaborate with anyone to drive
such results in a fair and equitable manner.
that I wanted to achieve with
my association with the trust.
And leading into this election,
I was actually feeling that a
number of things were falling
into place. I have no interest
in being a seat warmer.
“And so I needed to
believe that there were things
that I would really be adding
value, but I feel today that
we’ve done a really good job,
particularly this last term, to
shore up the trust and Wel
Networks.
“And a lot of that’s to do
with the fibre business sale.”
Not that he will have time
to rest. He will be putting
his focus into a remarkably
diverse range of businesses he
has shareholdings in, including
a barbershop chain and
air quality sensor technology
business among others.
He has also been on the
Pinnacle Midlands Health
Network for a number of
years and is moving onto its
commercialisation arm.
“I’ve always had a really
short attention span,” he says.
“So I quite like the variety.”
Before then, his last trust
meeting is at the end of June
just before the election.
“I’ve got mixed emotions,
really. If the election produces
the right answer I’ll be really
happy.”
Born, raised and educated in Hamilton,
this place is home to my family, which
includes my wife and two boys (11 and 9).
The many families I interact with daily
provide me inspiration and energy to join
a board that will be driven to support the
Waikato Region's prosperity.
Currently we are at risk of continuing along
the same ‘group think’ approach towards
how the Wel Energy Trust supports and
generates change for the greater good of
the Waikato. This creates a risk of status
quo thinking in a time where reimagining
is needed. I will bring the energy,
independent thinking and drive that
ensures agenda’s are put aside,
community focus is put at the forefront of
our decision making matrix and outcomes
are achieved.
Through my role as a school Principal and
the networks I have, I will bring a real
‘grassroots’ viewpoint to the trust. I know
how important it is to achieve tangible
outcomes. Each day I hear from parents,
community members and colleagues,
around the challenges they face in trying
to provide opportunities for children and
Please Vote
Geoff Booth
For Wel Energy Trust
wider community organisations. My aim is
to ensure that these critical community
organisations have a clear pathway and
understanding with how to access the
funding available. I am not about ‘hand
out’s’ but rather fostering access to
opportunity.
Please share my facebook page and
support me to do better.
It is our community and your Trust!
https://www.facebook.com/Geoff-Boothfor-Wel-Energy-Trust-100947384968684
Thank you.
204214AA
ALAN CHEW
EDGAR WILSON
FOR DISCOUNTS, GRANTS AND INNOVATION
204217AB
www.POWERWEL-Being.co.nz
alan@houston.co.nz
Alan: (027) 578-3860
wilson.er85@gmail.com
Edgar: (027) 222-2461

16 WAIKATO BUSINESS NEWS May/June 2020
Keep manufacturing in mind,
engineers tell Government
Waikato Engineering Careers Association has spoken to dozens
of engineers since lockdown with most reporting a “hump” of
catch-up work for customers, and many predicting a “big ravine”
looming from July.
Most small and medium
engineering businesses
spoken to say
they are working to prepare
for an uncertain future but are
reluctant to predict job losses.
Several larger, Waikato-based
global manufacturers servicing
fast-moving consumer goods
say they are busier than ever
meeting essential demand but
are cautious in planning for the
future.
Waikato Engineering
Careers Association manager
Mary Jensen is calling on the
Mary Jensen
Government to keep the sector
front of mind when planning
for economic recovery, particularly
as it contributes about 12
percent ($23 billion) of New
Zealand’s total GDP.
“We need to understand
that the primary sector is reliant
on our manufacturing and
engineering sectors to make its
huge contribution to our economy.
It is extremely important
these sectors are well supported
so they can continue
to bring in the overseas dollar
and enable New Zealand’s economic
recovery,” Jensen said.
Keith Fraser
Waikato Engineering
Careers Association chair
Keith Fraser, New Zealand
GM- HR for Pact Group, said
tax relief and a clear direction
from Government is needed to
help manufacturers and engineers
plan for the medium and
long term.
“There’s definitely uncertainty
about the medium term
and at this point it is hard to
predict what our industry is
going to look like long term.
We’ve initially seen higher
than normal demand in some
of our sectors because of the
impact of panic buying at the
supermarket, but we know
challenging times are coming.
We don’t know how this will
look or how long it will last.”
A Covid-impacted global
supply chain has some potential
positive implications for
local manufacturers, he said.
“It’s a good time for the
Government to be encouraging
New Zealanders to buy local,
with the impacted supply chain
levelling the playing field
somewhat. Our biggest competitors
are thousands of kilometres
away, so we can supply
quality, locally-made goods in
a timely manner.”
Stainless Design chief executive
Peter Pooran is reluctant
to crystal ball gaze about the
sector’s future, but says orders
are likely to slow dramatically
cross-sector after an initial
Covid catch-up.
The Hamilton-based stainless-steel
fabricator Stainless
employs 120 people and services
the dairy, food, automotive,
packaging, and horticultural
industries.
“It is difficult to predict
because we won’t know our
true position for a couple of
months. We’re seeing a big
hump of work now, but we
know a big trough is coming.
We do need to be financially
responsible in terms of cost
saving.”
Pooran is calling on the
Government to incentivise
the primary sector to keep the
economy moving. “If they
incentivise dairy companies
and farmers to continue to
invest, that will have a positive
knock-on effect.”
He also advocates a shift by
Government to write-off large
asset investments instantly,
similar to changes in Australia.
Under instant asset writeoff,
Australian businesses can
immediately write off the cost
of each asset that costs less than
$150,000 (up from $30,000),
claiming a tax deduction in the
year the asset is first used or
installed.
“This would be a good way
to keep customers ordering
which would trickle down the
whole manufacturing supply
chain.”
Hamilton-based smaller
engineering business owner
Trisha King, of Mainline,
employs 19 staff and is confident
her business will survive
Covid.
“We will never get back
the five weeks we lost during
lockdown, but I am hopeful
there will be a steady supply
of tank orders coming through,
and that construction work will
pick up,” King said.
Welcome to
Waikato
Te Waka welcomes the New Zealand Institute of Skills and Technology to their new home in Hamilton, Waikato.
There are a number of key factors that make Hamilton and the Waikato a great choice, with inclusivity and connection
at the forefront. Home to a strong network of education providers and inspired business leaders, the region entices a hub
of diverse learners and innovative thinkers. Driven by collaboration, passion and a shared vision amongst many people
and organisations, the region will contribute to the ongoing success and development of the decisions being made.
On behalf of Te Waka, Hamilton City Council, Waikato-Tainui, Waikato Chamber of Commerce and the business
community, haere mai, we can’t wait to show you around.
To find out more contact us at enquiry@tewaka.nz
07 857 0538 | tewaka.nz

FOCUS ON
Real Estate
WBN.CO.NZ • MAY/JUNE 2020
Confidence grows in Hamilton real estate market
Despite a dramatic drop in real estate
activity over the lockdown period, the
Hamilton property market has picked up
right where it left off, according to Lodge
Real Estate Managing Director Jeremy
O’Rourke.
“As we emerged from the nationwide
lockdown, enquiries and website traffic
immediately started to increase, and it’s
been building each day since we resumed
business.
“Open home visitor numbers this past
weekend were back at pre-Covid-19 levels,
with lots of potential buyers looking
through properties.”
Before the lockdown, Lodge had already
implemented precautions around its open
homes, putting up additional signage,
recording attendee details and advising
vendors to sanitise and help reduce surface
touching by opening things for buyers to
view. These precautions continue.
Many of Lodge Real Estate’s listed
properties have received multiple offers,
with interest from buyers fresh to the
market post-lockdown.
“We’re also fielding quite a lot of
enquiries out of Auckland, so it’s not just
Hamiltonians looking to buy and sell at the
moment,” says O’Rourke.
“Since lockdown ended, the city has
also seen some record-breaking sales
in the millions, which demonstrates the
confidence buyers and sellers have in the
Hamilton property market.”
O’Rourke believes that with large
developments like the inland port still on
track, and Hamilton winning the bid for
the NZ Institute of Skills and Technology
(NZIST) headquarters, people are
recognising the value the Waikato has to
offer.
He says other factors affecting the Hamilton
property market include the removal of the
Loan-to-Value Ratio restrictions, and record
low interest rates being offered by banks.
“Removing these barriers is encouraging
more first home buyers into the market and
putting property ownership within reach for
many.”
Lodge Real Estate is holding its first
auctions this week. O’Rourke says while
they may be a little subdued, there has
been good interest in properties going
under the hammer.
“While these are the first auctions since
lockdown, Covid-19 cases remain low so
our salespeople are feeling increasingly
comfortable about recommending
auctions to their vendors.”
Lockdown also slowed the rental market,
with properties unable to be let and
tenants unable to move out. Since business
re-opened, the Lodge City Rentals team has
been inundated with enquiries.
“We’re also seeing investors re-entering
the market, looking at purchasing newer
properties that don’t require upgrades to
meet rental regulations.
“These investors are looking to capitalise on
the law of demand and supply, which will
put pressure on rents to rise.”
Lodge’s Managing Director Jeremy O’Rourke
Seeing home
in a new light?
LODGE.CO.NZ

2 WAIKATO BUSINESS NEWS - FOCUS ON REAL ESTATE May/June 2020
25 ward street
Hamilton
CBD Retail
and Office
Space for
Lease
High profile CBD character
building on corner site
opposite central mall
Ground floor Retail:
58m2 ($20k rent) pa + opex
+ 80m2 ($44k rent) pa + opex
+ 100m2 ($50k rent) pa + opex
1st floor Office:
68m2 ($12k rent) pa + opex
+ 110m2 ($24k rent) pa + opex
Ring your local agent or
owner on 0274742326
There’s no
place like
home.
2020 has changed the
way we see our homes.
If you’ve realised you
need a little more
room to move,
we’re here to help.
LODGE.CO.NZ

WAIKATO BUSINESS NEWS - FOCUS ON REAL ESTATE May/June 2020
3
List now with
confidence
All of our marketing methods are attracting increased buyers.
There’s only one winner, your property. List now.
Ray White Hamilton
91 Victoria Street
Hamilton 3204
07 839 7060
rwhamilton.co.nz
hamiltoncity.nz@raywhite.com
Ray White Hamilton
Online Realty Ltd Licensed (REAA 2008)

22 Naylor Street
Hamilton
0800 225 999
LINKBUSINESS.CO.NZ
Your Waikato Business Sales Specialists: Reuben Haddon-Silby, Alanah Eagle, Rick Johnson, Andrew Whyte, Therese Bailey, Atul Gupta
Don’t compete
for a new job.
Work Life Balance $450,000
Hamilton
· Currently run under management
· Simple, fun & unique business model
· Gross prot is brilliant, 33% return on
investment.
· Perfect central location
linkbusiness.co.nz/WK00082
Alanah Eagle 021 606 345
alanah.eagle@linkbusiness.co.nz
Largest Building Wash Company $109,000
Cambridge
· Successful franchise in wider Cambridge area
· House, commercial, roof, concrete, rural
cleaning
· Mix of regular clients & one off cleans
· Raft of good equipment and systems,
· Stronge growth story and more to come
Retail Flooring Group $550,000
Waikato
· Monthly revenue averages $260,000 incl gst
· High-end showroom with quality product lines
· Outstanding systems and support
· Growing revenues and growth opportunities
· Price plus stock
linkbusiness.co.nz/WK00076
Therese Bailey 021 707 641
therese.bailey@linkbusiness.co.nz
Timber Recycling Company $299,999
Taupo
· Long history in supplying DIY & trade clients
· Increasing demand especially for ooring and
cladding mouldings
· Mostly tangible asset sale included stock,
machinery, truck and decks
· Good earnings to a working ower
Buying an income is genius. We
buy cars, and toys and houses,
but we rarely ever consider
investing in ourselves and our
mental and physical freedom.
Be Your Own Boss Make $$ $445,000
Waikato
· “Paint-by-numbers” simplicity
· Low over heads and fantastic systems
· Over $200K cash surplus to 2 working owners
· Orders busier than ever since opening in level 3
· Bring your sales, marketing, management or
customer service skills
linkbusiness.co.nz/WK00090
Alanah Eagle 021 606 345
alanah.eagle@linkbusiness.co.nz
linkbusiness.co.nz/WK00085
Reuben Haddon-Silby 021 133 0624
reuben.haddonsilby@linkbusiness.co.nz
Portable Cabins $3,500,000
Waikato
· Marketing/sales/operational skills?
· Well-established & highly protable
· Knowledgeable staff
· Vendor will provide a solid transition
linkbusiness.co.nz/WK00026
Rick Johnson 021 991 485
rick.johnson@linkbusiness.co.nz
Delicious Deli $80,000
Cambridge
· Offshoot of the Putaruru Over the Moon Dairy
operation
· Award winning cheeses & great range of
delicacies
· Opportunity to develop an online presence
· A solid, strong start for a new buyer
linkbusiness.co.nz/WK00086
Reuben Haddon-Silby 021 133 0624
reuben.haddonsilby@linkbusiness.co.nz
linkbusiness.co.nz/WK00064
Andrew Whyte 022 097 0065
andrew.whyte@linkbusiness.co.nz
General Store & Cafe $175,000
Waitomo
· Lovely refurbished country store and café.
· Well established and perfectly located
· Asking price includes of stock and assets
· Relocate away from the hassle of city life?
linkbusiness.co.nz/WK00088
Alanah Eagle 021 606 345
alanah.eagle@linkbusiness.co.nz
Multi-Income Business $1,650,000
Waikato
· Top performer in its eld
· Retted to the highest standard
· Accommodation, bar & eatery
· Includes managers quarters
· Consistently returns over $300K annually to a
working owner
linkbusiness.co.nz/BPW00692
Therese Bailey 021 707 641
therese.bailey@linkbusiness.co.nz
All LINK NZ ofces are licensed REAA08
Waikato Job Seekers Consider ‘Buying a Job’
According to the experts at LINK Business,
there are many reasons why the current
climate is the perfect time to buy a business.
With redundancies on the rise throughout
New Zealand, owning a business offers income
security. With very few middle management
and corporate rolls on the market,
buying a business can mean a secure future.
According to the team at LINK Business,
the Covid-19 experience presents us with
an opportunity to take control of our
earning capacity and unleash our potential.
“You can choose to take this big change that
life has handed you and make a decision to
take back control of your life and determine
your income level.”
Work flexibility is yet another reward of
business ownership, according to the team
at LINK. Working in the business as its
leader and critical employee presents you
with the freedom to make choices about
virtually everything, including how much
you work. Leverage your potential, innovate
and expand the business if that’s what
you desire. The direction you head is up to
you! Rick Johnson, LINK Waikato Director,
believes that “for those with an entrepreneurial
bent, the total freedom of business
ownership is appealing.”
As a veteran of the 2008 Global Financial
Crisis, and the difficult two years that
followed, Aaron Toresen, LINK CEO is
aware that we are facing some very uncertain
times. Conservative estimates predict
13% unemployment (over 500,000 Kiwis),
yet this is still higher than almost any living
New Zealander has experienced. He believes
that achieving financial security is
paramount, and business ownership, the
ideal platform.
The Lockdown experience allowed many
of us to tune out to the background noise,
take stock and reassess. For many, the list of
‘what’s important’ received a real overhaul.
We placed our goals and ambitions under
the microscope, recalibrated and found
pleasure in all the ‘little’ things—a gift to
humanity among the chaos and resulting
economic frailty.
So, it seems fitting that perhaps the essential
message of LINK’s Buy a Job campaign is
that life is too short to be living someone
else’s dream. This post-Covid garden is
yours to sow; now is the time to ignite your
passion, and reap the rewards that await!
As part of the Buy a Job campaign, LINK
are running Seminars online on ‘How to
buy a business’. These very practical seminars
educate first time business buyers
offering everything you need to know, and
what pitfalls to avoid when buying a business.
Learn all you need to know about buying
a job at www.go.linkbusiness.co.nz/buyajob

WAIKATO BUSINESS NEWS May/June 2020
17
Opportunities are strong and real
And it couldn’t have
come at a better time.
The win reinforces
the benefits our region has to
offer when it comes to attracting
new business, investment
and talent - even when the
chips are down.
Despite tough times, our
NZIST success gives me confidence
that the Waikato is wellplaced
to ride out the economic
recession. Our region has solid
foundations that run deep and
DRIVING DEVELOPMENT
> BY MICHAEL BASSETT-FOSS
Chief executive, Te Waka: Waikato’s economic development agency
The news that Hamilton will become the
headquarters for the NZ Institute of Skills
and Technology (NZIST) is a huge boost for
our city and the Waikato region.
we know how to rally together
when it counts.
The fact that more than 40
business and community leaders
lent significant support to
the NZIST bid process is testament
to our region’s commitment
to working together to get
the job done.
Everyone involved wholeheartedly
believed in the final
vision – better training to help
get our people back to work.
This vision united Waikato’s
industry leaders, iwi, our education
sector, local government
and business agencies.
As a team, we convinced the
Government that Hamilton was
the best location for the NZIST
headquarters. And our efforts
paid off.
It is this strong collaborative
spirit that will help our region
recover from the economic
downturn and help our communities
thrive again.
Waikato has a great heart
and we can be proud of our
many successes. We have
robust sectors in agriculture,
technology, and manufacturing,
coupled with strong leadership
and the motivation to work
together to achieve great things.
Covid-19 will make that
happen even faster. Now, more
than ever, it is time for united
leadership if we are to capitalise
on the number of opportunities
in the pipeline. The wheels are
already in motion.
Te Waka has teamed up with
Hamilton Waikato Tourism to
help organisations and community
groups around the region
align their own programmes
with the Mighty Local campaign.
Waikato has a great
heart and we can be
proud of our many
successes
Leads from businesses
interested in relocating to the
Waikato are starting to pick
up again, which is particularly
good news for those looking for
employment opportunities.
Tourism operators and agencies
are working hard to develop
domestic tourism schedules and
marketing programmes to get
the sector back on track.
As SMEs started coming
out of level 4 hibernation, Te
Waka’s front-line business
advisory team has seen them
reaching out for support to go
digital as they adapt to the new
business world.
With crisis comes change.
Innovation, leadership and partnerships
are needed to create a
new future for the Waikato. Our
opportunities are strong and
they are real.
Why Company-X has always believed
in working from home
Working from home
has become the new
normal for many
people during the Covid-19
pandemic, but Company-X has
offered its team the flexibility
of working remotely since the
company was founded in 2012.
Giving the Company-X
team their own laptops and the
blessing to work from home, or
wherever else they would like
to work from, attracts the best
and brightest software specialists
from around the world.
While the majority of the
Company-X team are based in
Hamilton, the greater Waikato
and New Zealand, the company
also has team members
who work from Australia, Asia,
Canada, the United Kingdom
and the United States.
Company-X’s recruitment
strategy is to hire new team
members recommended by
existing team members as
much as possible so that new
recruits come with built-in
trust.
Company-X looks for certain
attributes in its team.
“They should be self-directed,”
said professional services
manager Michael Hamid.
“They should also be able
to organise and manage their
workload and be OK in their
own company.”
This policy means Company-X
appeals to prospective
team members who might
already have family commitments
and no plans to move
from wherever they are in the
world.
“I would not have applied
to work with a company that
would require me to physically
move to New Zealand, or
anywhere else,” said a Company-X
team member based in
Canada.
“I was searching for a job
that allowed for flexibility in
travel and being on the move.
I also wanted to work for a recognisable
firm with an international
footprint.”
Flexibility around where
he could work meant he could
easily attend conferences
around North America.
“Because I can work from
anywhere in the world, I don’t
have to spend massive rent
dollars on living in places with
sky-high prices like San Francisco,
New York, DC, Hong
Kong, or Singapore,” he said.
“Over the past five years,
I’ve moved four times and
lived in three different cities
spanning two countries, but at
the same time, I find myself
wanting to plant some roots.”
His experience is not
unusual.
“I wouldn’t have accepted
a position at Company-X if
it had been an office-based
position,” said a Company-X
senior developer.
“I have family across three
continents, and the ability to
work from home, wherever I
am in the world, is essential to
me. An office-based job is not
even an option given my situation.”
When self-motivated
people get to choose
where and when
they work, without
any unplanned
interruptions they
tend to be more
productive.
Another member of the
Company-X team said he
appreciated the flexibility
offered by the company. It
meant that the team could pick
up their children from school,
attend sports days and other
significant milestones in their
children’s lives.
“I want to thank you guys
for allowing so many of us to
be involved with our kids,” he
told the co-founders and directors.
“Without flexibility we
would not get the chance to
spend time with them.”
Company-X trusts its team
members to deliver on their
promises to customers.
Having an unrestricted hiring
pool not limited by geography
means the possibilities are
endless.
When self-motivated people
get to choose where and
when they work, without any
unplanned interruptions they
tend to be more productive.
Comfort, as well as efficiency,
is paramount in the
Company-X working environment,
which means Company-X
invests as much in
TECH TALK
> BY DAVID HALLETT
David Hallett is a director of Hamilton software specialist Company-X.
equipment and workstation
assessments for remote staff as
it does in those working from
the office.
Collaboration is enabled in
the Company-X team by tools
like Cisco Webex and Google
Hangouts video-conferencing
technology, Google Docs
and Microsoft 365 office productivity
suites and the Slack
instant messaging platform.
Slack divides every project
Company-X is working on into
its own channel to encourage
communication and collaboration
between team members.
Company-X even has a
channel where team members
are encouraged to socialise
from wherever they are based
around the world. This helps
team members build relationships
with one another outside
of work projects.
While Company-X provides
essential support to a
range of essential services the
Covid-19 lockdown still saw
the Hamilton office close, and
the co-founders and directors
called on the team to work
from home. This meant some
of the team who preferred to
work in the office set up at
home but nothing else has
changed for the company.
Work continues on a variety of
ongoing projects.
Software deployment
through cloud infrastructure
means the Company-X team
can easily maintain the technology
from remote locations,
as well as continuing to
develop innovative new software
for clients in New Zealand
and around the world.

18 WAIKATO BUSINESS NEWS May/June 2020
Positioning Excellence
Looking to hire? Locally owned and operated,
Asset Recruitment has been established for more
than 30 years. We’re specialists in temporary,
permanent, executive and industrial recruitment.
If you’re looking to hire or would like to discuss your current
staffing structure, do get in touch with our team. As we navigate
these uneasy times, we’re focused on providing support and guidance
to help you find the best solution for you and your business.
Recruit with Excellence. Recruit with Asset.
Temporary | Permanent | Executive | Industrial
07 839 3685 | www.assetrec.co.nz
Hiring in the
current market
There is no guidebook for what just
happened. The past few weeks have
affected different businesses in
different ways.
bility. If you were looking
One thing all business
owners have in common
is that they’ve
had to quickly adapt company
operations and demonstrate
agility in these challenging
times to adjust to the way they
now carry out business. And
for some, certain operational
elements may never go back to
the way they were.
For recruitment, it would
be naive to say that it is carrying
on as business-as-usual
and the employment market
will continue to fluctuate for
some time. In the short-term
many businesses may focus on
keeping existing employees in
employment rather than looking
for new.
Think longer-term.
As a business owner, it is an
opportunity to ask yourself
some challenging questions that
will help you future-proof your
business. Use it to think beyond
the relatively short-term operational
needs, and consider how
the world might change, and
how your organisation will need
to respond.
This should include a review of
your staffing structure and capa-
HR MANAGEMENT & RECRUITMENT
to hire pre Covid-19, but
you’re now limited with
finances, are there any
roles that can be merged?
Are there areas that you
can multi/cross/upskill your
employees to assist with future
operational changes? Investing
in your people at this time
will be motivating for them
and could see you come out the
other end of this ‘temporary’
crisis in a better position than
you entered.
An optimum time to hire.
If you are looking to hire new
staff, over the next six months or
more could be an optimum time
to proceed with your search.
Pre Covid-19 the demand for
talent outstripped supply, and
unemployment in Hamilton and
Waikato was one of the lowest
in New Zealand. In a matter of
weeks, we’ve gone from a tight
employment market, to one
with more talent. For employers
looking to secure business-critical
talent right now, this is an
obvious advantage.
Explore your hiring options.
There is of course still a lot of
uncertainty in the employment
Carmel Strange
market. If you are not in a position
to take on a full-time permanent
employee at this time,
then there are other options to
consider.
Temporary employment, fixedterm
employment, and contractors
are all options that could
be explored as a solution to suit
your more immediate operational
needs
If you’re looking to hire or
would like to discuss your current
staffing structure, do get
in touch with our team. As we
navigate these uneasy times,
we’re focused on providing
support and guidance to help
you find the best solution for
you and your business.
Carmel Strange is Asset
Recruitment’s Manager and
Temporary Recruitment Specialist.
Asset Recruitment is
Waikato’s leading recruitment
company for temporary, permanent,
executive and industrial
recruitment.
Here at NEXTMOVE Recruitment
we live and breathe recruitment – it’s
what we love and why we work so
hard to achieve the very best results.
We are specialists in Administration, Office Support and Information Technology
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We work around your needs not ours, offering full end-to-end recruitment or a
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Temporary staff service
Temporary staff are a fantastic way to cover both expected and
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Permanent staff service
We will work alongside you, meeting your recruitment requirements
offering our full recruitment service or a more individualised
recruitment service.
For more information contact us today! 07 9811384 | info@nextmoverecruitment.co.nz | www.nextmoverecruitment.co.nz

CONFERENCE & EVENTS
WAIKATO BUSINESS NEWS May/June 2020
19
MIGHTY WELCOME BACK
“The Mighty Waikato is ready and already welcoming business
events clients back to the region”, says Business Events Manager
with Hamilton & Waikato Tourism, Amanda Graham.
“Our business events
family have been busy
acquainting ourselves
with the guidelines and protocols,
and making sure that
people can meet safely, when
they are ready to start meeting
again,” says Graham. Whether
it’s a small 12 person meeting
next month or a conference in
2021 we encourage organisers
to support local and meet in the
Waikato. Business events contribute
significantly to our local
economy and create indirect
disbursement and impact positively
on the social, cultural
and environmental aspects of
the region.
H3 Business Development
Manager Melissa Williams
acknowledges that a lot has
changed for the industry and
she is proud of the way the
Claudelands team has adapted
how they think and operate.
“It is a whole new world for
everyone, but it has been great
to see our team tackle this with
an open mind and positive attitude,”
says Williams.
In preparation for a return
to business, the Claudelands
team has rigorously tested the
delegate experience and has
come up with easy, cost-effec-
tive, out-of-the-box options for
clients to meet again safely,
and with confidence.
This includes a selection
of room configurations that
ensure the required spacing
between attendees and unobstructed
flow-through and
between spaces, a new menu
range designed by catering
partner Montana Food and
Events, and audio-visual packages
developed alongside AV
specialists Vidcom to provide
clients with online video-conferencing
capabilities.
Claudelands is also putting
in place tools for easy and
robust contact tracing for all
people on site.
“We know event organisers
will be feeling extra pressure
to ensure they’ve covered all
bases when it comes to health
and safety requirements at
their events, so these packages
and options are designed to
take some of that stress away,”
says Williams.
“The scale of Claudelands
allows us to confidently host
multiple events on site at once
without any crossover in key
areas like carparks, entrances
and bathrooms, while surrounding
greenspace means we
have the luxury of wide, open
spaces and seamless flow from
meeting spaces through to outdoor
areas which is so valuable
at a time like this.”
In response to COVID-19
Claudelands has also increased
the frequency and intensity of
venue and equipment cleaning,
has added extra hand sanitiser
and tissue stations throughout
the venue and is displaying
Ministry of Health and
venue-specific messaging to
Melissa Williams
remind everyone who comes
on site of the importance of
personal health and hygiene.
Ammie Hardie, Sales and Marketing
Manager for Novotel
and Ibis Tainui in Hamilton,
is excited to announce that
“40 new executive rooms at
the Novotel Tainui Hamilton
will be blessed by Tainui on
Friday 29 May, and will be
open for business the following
week”, says Hardie. The
addition of the new executive
rooms, which are inspired by
the Waikato River, takes the
Novotel’s number of rooms up
to 217.
Following the move to
Level 2, Hardie says that the
Novotel has already experienced
a steady increase in
business levels, and says she
is welcoming some small business
meetings back in their
conference rooms next week.
“We have revamped our
conference offering and room
capacity numbers to accommodate
the Government and
Accor guidelines”.
The restaurant on Alma has
reopened and has experienced
good bookings from in house
guests and walk in diners. Our
sister Hotel Ibis Tainui is also
open for business and welcoming
guests.
The talented gardening, landscaping
and maintenance
teams have been hard at work
to ensure the Movie Set is just
as stunning and picturesque as
ever and have been working
on additional measures to keep
staff and visitors safe during
their adventure.
Shayne Forrest, General
Manager Sales and Marketing
says Hobbiton’s reopening is
looking encouraging, “over
the past 2 weeks we have seen
a steady increase of bookings
from kiwis. There has never
been an opportunity like this
before for New Zealanders to
have the world-class attractions
in their backyard all to
themselves, it’s really heartening
so see kiwis getting out
there and making the most
of it.”
Tours will be running daily
from 30 May with reduced
departure times and group
sizes. Forward bookings for
meetings, conferences and
events are welcome.
For the first time in its history,
Fieldays will be delivered as
an online event in 2020. Following
the Covid-19 crisis and
event restrictions, the New
Zealand National Fieldays
Society made the decision
to reimagine the traditional
aspects of the physical event
digitally.
The virtual experience promises
to offer an entirely new
spin on the event whilst retaining
all its treasured parts.
The Society has partnered
with Trade Me to power online
sales and help with marketing
and Satellite Media to deliver
the online event experience.
“We understand the economic
ramifications would
be extensive if Fieldays was
cancelled entirely hence why
we’ve decided it’s a chance to
be innovative in this time of
global uncertainty.
We’ll still be delivering
a world class event on the
world stage – albeit a digital
version,” Society CEO Peter
Nation says. “We know the
physical event and all it entails
is incomparable for both visitors
and exhibitors. Despite
the restrictions, the Society
recognises more than ever the
importance of providing an
alternative for the annual pilgrimage
that is Fieldays, until
the return to Mystery Creek.”
Fieldays is attended by
approximately 130,000 people
every year. The Southern
Hemisphere’s largest agrievent
generates approximately
$180M for the local economy,
while on a national level it provides
over $500M.
It’s not the end of the
tangible event by a
long shot. For now,
we’re determined to
see the situation as
an opportunity to do
good business and
inject some muchneeded
cash into the
economy
“It’s not the end of the tangible
event by a long shot. For
now, we’re determined to see
the situation as an opportunity
to do good business and inject
some much-needed cash into
the economy, especially within
the recovery phase of the
Covid-19 response. This is our
way of seeing New Zealand
through.”
To find out more about
hosting a Mighty Meeting
in Hamilton & the Waikato
region, contact Business
Events Waikato.
The team are the local
meeting experts and can help
you make the right connections.
Business Events Waikato
offers a free service to discuss
options to suit your event,
check availability, and obtain
quotes.
Business Events Waikato,
Hamilton & Waikato Tourism
W. meetwaikato.com
E: businessevents@waikatonz.
com
P: 07 843 0056
The team at Business Events
Waikato is here to help
If you are thinking about organising your next
meeting or conference, meet in the Mighty
Waikato. Business Events Waikato offers free
advice to assist with planning and making the right
connections. The team is here to help you meet
safely, we know the guidelines and protocols. Our
people and venues are ready to welcome you.
Contact us for free expert advice.
P: 07 843 0056 E: businessevents@waikatonz.com
www.meetwaikato.com

20 WAIKATO BUSINESS NEWS May/June 2020
A playbook for perfecting podcasting
In the PR world, we’re always looking at
new channels to reach a client’s target
audience in a way that isn’t invasive,
cuts through the noise, has impact and
builds fans.
A
great channel that can
do all this and more
for many organisations
is podcasting. HMC believes
in the power of podcasting so
much we recently bought a
mobile podcasting studio and
launched our first client podcast
two months ago.
In June 2019, a survey by
Radio New Zealand found
one in three (31 percent) New
Zealanders consumed podcast
content at least once a week.
They found from July 2018-
June 2019, there was a staggering
107 percent increase in
podcast listeners. We can only
assume listenership has continued
its meteoric rise over the
past year, which would mirror
international trends.
Odds are, if you were curious
about podcasts but hadn’t
taken the plunge before lockdown,
the Covid pandemic
may have given you the extra
time you needed to start a new
listening habit. If this is the
case, you aren’t alone.
Acast, one of the world’s
largest podcast hosting and
analytics companies, reported
in April that more people were
turning to podcasts during
the pandemic with listeners
increasing 7 percent globally.
And the trends across the
ditch may foreshadow what’s
headed our way: an excerpt
from a Yahoo Finance story on
25 May 2020 cited the Edison
Research’s 2020 Infinite Dial
report showing 37 percent of
the US population now listens
to a podcast at least once
a month. And the average
weekly listener in the US listens
to six podcasts per week.
So, what are all these listeners
listening to? A whole raft
of podcasts on any topic you
can dream up. Many individuals
and companies are developing
their own podcasts due to
the channel’s ability to engage.
Now, while “everyone
is doing it”, everyone is not
doing it well. Podcasting can
be an effective tool for growing
your customer base, positioning
yourself as a leader in
your field, and leveraging the
influence of credible guests but
it’s not as simple as recording
yourself talking and uploading
the file.
So, if you are considering
dipping your toe into the podcasting
pool, here are five tips
to help you do it well:
1. Don’t scrimp on quality
To deliver a professional
podcast you need to invest
in quality recording equipment.
No matter who your
guests are or how good
your content is, you will
fail to engage your listeners
if the sound quality is poor.
Using the services of a professional
audio engineer
to edit your raw audio is
also crucial to ensure you
get a polished episode.
2. Use influential guests
Inviting notable guests
to join your podcast will
give it credibility and
engage more listeners.
You can also leverage their
influence by asking them
to promote the podcast
through their own channels,
including social media.
3. Choose a host with the most
Your podcast host is
the glue that holds
everything together.
They must have the credibility,
voice and personality
to engage your audience.
Making your guests feel at
ease and creating an authentic
conversational tone
without needing a formal
script is also a prerequisite.
It’s also important that
your host is familiar with
the subject matter so they
can drive the conversation
and adapt questions
on the fly with finesse.
4. Content is king
Your podcast theme and
episode topics must be
compelling, giving listeners
a reason to tune in.
Ensure you have a content
plan. Think about what
messages you want your
listeners to take away and
have a clear call to action.
Create a series of questions
for each episode for your
host to guide the discussion
and gain guest interaction.
Also consider delivering
even more value to your
listeners by creating a content
hub on your website
where they can go for more
information on the topic.
Be clever with your key
words to maximise Search
PR AND COMMUNICATIONS
> BY HEATHER CLAYCOMB
Heather Claycomb is director of HMC Communications, a
Hamilton-based, award-winning public relations agencys.
Engine Optimisation (SEO)
so your podcast – and your
company – can be found.
5. Get the word out
Just because you upload
your podcast, doesn’t mean
listeners will find you. You
need to create a PR and
promotional plan to drive
awareness and engagement.
Think about your overall
communication objectives
and how you will measure
the success of your
podcast. What strategy
will you use to target different
audiences? How
can your stakeholders and
staff help spread the word?
And, finally, a digital marketing
strategy is crucial
to help you ‘catch’ people
who are searching or
browsing your podcast
topic online.
Local and domestic market key
to tourism survival
From the first day at Alert Level Two, domestic travel restrictions
were lifted across the country and an Air New Zealand flight
returned to Hamilton Airport.
This marked the restart
of Waikato’s visitor
economy which had
been decimated since international
borders were closed and
domestic travel was restricted.
It was a positive step forward
for all those involved in our
visitor economy, including
tourism attractions, tour operators,
transport providers,
accommodation, retail, hospitality,
conventions and busi-
ness events, major events and
venues, and all our suppliers.
Prior to the shift in levels,
our Restart Plan focused on
the weeks during lockdown,
targeting our hyper-local market
(Waikato residents) with
the Mighty Local campaign.
We have been running local
campaigns for many years previously
called “Explore Your
Own Backyard”. COVID-19
had pushed us to super-charge
this annual campaign and
accelerate it given the current
situation.
Moving to Alert Level
2 kick-started our wider
domestic marketing activity
across the region and into our
domestic ‘drive markets’ of
Auckland, Bay of Plenty and
Taranaki, as well as our ‘fly
markets’ of Wellington and
Christchurch.
A graphic overview and
timeline are provided below:
TELLING WAIKATO’S STORY
> BY JASON DAWSON
Chief Executive,
Hamilton & Waikato Tourism
We are predicting a reopening
of the Trans-Tasman market
within the next six months
and at least 12 months to see
full international flight connectivity
into our long-haul markets
to resume.
This may happen sooner
based on how well the rest
of the world manages and/or
eliminates COVID-19 within
their borders.
We are working with Tourism
New Zealand on a new
national domestic marketing
campaign and the first ‘teaser’
video was released recently
with the catch-cry “do something
new, New Zealand?”.
This campaign will evolve
over the coming weeks and we
will be promoting our regional
proposition.
It’s been great to see so
many Waikato residents starting
to plan and book their
domestic holidays around
New Zealand. However, just
remember to plan some ‘bucket-list’
activities and adventures
within our own region
as well.
Many of our tourism
operators and accommodation
providers have reopened
their doors and rolled out the
welcome mat across our entire
region.
Our popular destinations
like Raglan, Matamata,
Waitomo, Cambridge and
Hamilton are seeing visitors
return which is great.
However, don’t forget other
awesome spots around our
region such as Kawhia, Mokau,
Te Kuiti, Te Aroha, Tuakau,
Port Waikato, Putaruru and
Pirongia.
Waikato residents make up
nearly 30% of our customers
across the visitor economy,
so my challenge to you is to
become a “Mighty Local”
and make sure you explore,
visit, meet, eat, shop and event
locally. We need your support.
To find out more about what
has reopened in our region,
check out www.mightylocal.
co.nz.
Hamilton & Waikato Tourism
is the regional tourism organisation
charged with increasing
international and domestic
leisure and business travellers,
expenditure and stay.
The organisation is funded
through a public/private partnership
and covers the heartland
Waikato areas of Hamilton
City, Matamata-Piako,
Otorohanga, South Waikato,
Waikato, Waipa and Waitomo
Districts.
Find out more:
www.waikatonz.com

Photo of the upgraded First House and the Wendell B Mendenhall Building (heritage buildings) with the new Tuhikaramea Road wall in the foreground
Birds eye view of Legacy Park showing pedestrian connections, the Koromatua Stream, and planting
ARCHITECTURE AWARD
WAIKATO BUSINESS NEWS May/June 2020
21
BBO wins award for Temple View project
An eight-year involvement in the Temple
View renewal project has seen Waikato
firm Bloxam, Burnett & Olliver (BBO) win a
prestigious national award.
The Hamilton-based
multi-disciplinary company
of consulting engineers,
planners and surveyors
has been working on the Temple
View project since 2012.
The development, which
earned BBO the New Zealand
Planning Institute (NZPI)
2020 Integrated Planning and
Investigations Award in April,
together with project partners
Mansergh Graham Landscape
Architects and Construkt
Architects, is a brownfields
urban renewal project.
It was started by the Church
of Jesus Christ of Latter Day
Saints following the closure of
Church College in 2009.
The college was part of the
heart of the Temple View community
so the church had to
reimagine the whole community
and its function and sustainability
without the college.
“It has been a privilege to
work alongside the church and
the myriad of development
partners and stakeholders to
now see the new vision for the
community come to life,” says
BBO director John Olliver.
The most significant building
in Temple View is the Category
A Hamilton New Zealand
Temple.
Located immediately south
of the project site, the temple
lends its name to the village,
is a focus for the community
and a reference point for the
project.
The vision of the project
is to regenerate Temple View
while retaining the special
character of the village. Elements
include:
• Shaping a connected, legible
and pedestrian friendly
street network.
• Increasing the residential
population of Temple View
to stimulate future economic
development.
• Creating attractive and
inviting open space areas.
• Developing built form and
infrastructure that is sensitive
to the natural constraints
of the land and the
heritage values of the existing
buildings.
• Displaying cultural heritage
by ensuring a large proportion
of the development
has access and views to the
Temple and other culturally
significant buildings.
• Designing residential unit
types to promote social
interaction.
The masterplan sets out a
new street network incorporating
three new roundabouts
on Tuhikaramea Road, weaving
the new development into
the existing fabric of Temple
View. The plan also links the
heritage-ranked Kai Hall, GRB
Building, First House and
Mendenhall Building with a
series of well-designed urban
spaces, walkways, native
plantings and lakes.
The brownfield site presented
geotechnical and infrastructure
challenges. The eastern
portion of the site is on
peat-land, the site was contaminated,
and infrastructure was
substandard.
The collaborative approach
enabled the team to come up
with design solutions that satisfied
engineering and environmental
requirements while
enabling good design outcomes.
It has been a
privilege to work
alongside the church
and the myriad of
development partners
and stakeholders
to now see the
new vision for the
community come to
life.”
Extensive use of preloading
has ensured that the land
is available for residential use
and all contamination has been
removed.
The project is being realised
in stages. The completed
works, including the combination
of the rebuilt Tuhikaramea
Road, refreshed heritage buildings,
and a new sensitively
designed Legacy Park, has
helped revitalise Temple View.
This gives it a solid basis
for the next phase which will
involve the development of
about 300 residential houses, a
small commercial area and the
development of the adjacent
public open space with further
landscape planting and walkways.
The latest recognition for
BBO follows earlier accolades
for its work on the
Huntly section of the Waikato
Expressway.
It picked up NZPI planning
awards and a Resource
Management Law Association
award for the consenting and
engagement process, plus an
ACENZ award of merit.
Olliver says the Huntly section
has been a key high-profile
project for the company.
“Since we were awarded
the project by NZTA in 2010
we have seen it through
design, resource consenting,
alterations to the designation
for the road, extensive engagement
with tangata whenua, tendering
and finally supervision
of construction through to its
opening in March this year.”
BBO is currently working
on a wide range of projects
including the Waikato River
Bridge and associated roading
to open up the Peacocke
Growth Cell for Hamilton City
Council, work on the Ruakura
Inland Port for Tainui Group
Holdings, and planning work
for the Sleepyhead development
at Ohinewai.
Photo of Legacy Park, showing a pedestrian shelter near the heritage listed GRB building.
THE TEMPLE VIEW PROJECT
PHOTO COLLECTION
Temple View Project
“The outlook for BBO is
very positive, despite the gen-
Delivering high quality land • Land development and subdivision
Birds eye view of Tuhikaramea Road showing the First NZPI House, Best landscaped Practice roundabouts,
• Resource Category the
consents
Stake Centre,
and
and
plan
the
changes
Hamilton New Zealan
development, infrastructure
Integrated Planning and • Civil Investigations
and structural engineering
• Transport engineering
• Water resource engineering
eral uncertainty resulting from
the pandemic,” Olliver says.
“We have a wide mix of
infrastructure, land development,
housing, commercial
and industrial projects on our
books meaning the forward
workload is healthy.”
and building projects across
the Waikato for 27 years.
Contact Steve Bigwood 027 459 5606 | www.bbo.co.nz
204142AA
Mansergh Graham are
proud to be involved with
the Temple View Project
www.mgla.co.nz

22 WAIKATO BUSINESS NEWS May/June 2020
SD EUROPEAN - NEW SERVICE CENTRE
SD European opens new
state-of-the-art centre
European car parts and repair specialists SD European has come
a long way since its humble beginnings in an old farm shed in
Horotiu.
The company has a new
700sqm state-of-the-art
European Service Centre
in Norris Ave, Te Rapa,
opened in mid-March after two
months of refurbishment.
The addition of a second
premises in the city is a show
of confidence by the Hamilton
company that has traded successfully
out of its Horotiu site
for three decades.
With flags flying, and
freshly decked out in SD European’s
black and yellow livery,
the new premises just off Mahana
Road and the Bryant Road
traffic roundabout is clearly
open for business.
Customers stepping into the
service centre can expect to be
greeted by newly appointed
and vastly experienced service
advisor Shayne Williams and
receptionist Brooke Cullinane.
The new service centre is
equipped with eight service
bays, the latest diagnostic
equipment, a new 6.3-tonne
hoist, a state-of-the-art $45,000
Hunter Elite wheel alignment
system, a computerised spare
parts mezzanine store, and
parking space for 50 vehicles.
Since we’ve been
based in Horotiu for
the last 30 years, the
addition of a new site
is a huge deal for us,
being able to offer
more services and
professionalism.”
SD’s new 6 tonne hoist and Hunter Elite wheel alignment machine.
All this means there isn’t
much in the way of automotive
servicing that SD European’s
team of highly skilled technicians
cannot tackle, and their
services range from a straightforward
WOF or tyre change
all the way through to complicated
computer diagnostics,
re-programming and engine
rebuilds.
Seated in the customer service
lounge next to his other
new acquisition, an impressive
coffee machine, Steve Daly is
quietly confident SD European
is on track for growth.
“Since we’ve been based in
Horotiu for the last 30 years,
the addition of a new site is a
huge deal for us, being able to
offer more services and professionalism,”
Steve said.
Specialising in the European
marques, SD European
has a solid reputation among
BMW, Audi, VW, and Skoda
drivers and lately added VW
commercials vehicles and
Mercedes to the list they are
equipped to handle.
Steve says the new hoist,
plus the fact the Norris Ave
Continued on page 24
“PUT YOUR TRUST IN THE EXPERTS”
SPECIALISTS IN BMW | AUDI | MINI | VW | SKODA | MERCEDES
SERVICING, REPAIRS & PARTS
The friendly people at SD European are
knowledgeable experts, equipped with a
huge parts supply and the most up to date
tools to service or repair your European
vehicle while keeping the costs down.
SERVICE CENTRE
23 Norris Ave, Te Rapa 3200,
Hamilton, Waikato
New Zealand
PARTS
6243 Great South Road
Horotiu, Waikato
New Zealand
PHONE
Freephone 0800 269 772
Phone +64 7 829 9649
Fax 64 7 829 9649
BOOK ONLINE www.sdeuropean.co.nz
204146AA

SD EUROPEAN - NEW SERVICE CENTRE
WAIKATO BUSINESS NEWS May/June 2020
23
The friendly team who will greet you in the reception:
Left to right: Garett Daly, Brooke Cullinane, Shayne Williams
The SD European team at their new service centre. Left to right:
Adam Pegler, Louis, Brits, Tyler Fox, Nico Tome, Brook Daly, Justin Daly,
Steve Daly, Garett Daly, Brooke Cullinane, Shayne Williams, Brett Rhind
PROUDLY WORKING WITH SD EUROPEAN
The Service Centre is now equipped with 7 hoists to get through the work load
HAMILTON WINDSCREENS
712 Te Rapa Road, Hamilton
info@hamiltonwindscreen.co.nz
• emergency services
• insurance claims
• windscreens
• heavy equipment specialists
• mobile service
• stone chip repairs
07 849 2818
Enjoy the new customer lounge equipped with
TV and Coffee machine while you wait.
204205AA
www.hamiltonwindscreen.co.nz
WILLIAMS
SALVAGE
LIMITED
TRANSPORTING • SALVAGE • TOWING • STORAGE
Phone: 0800 847 6190
Fax: 07 847 6816
Email: william.salvage@xtra.co.nz
121 Colombo Street, PO Box 5011, Hamilton

24 WAIKATO BUSINESS NEWS May/June 2020
SD EUROPEAN - NEW SERVICE CENTRE
The team at DP
Media would like
to congratulate
SD European for
a great milestone
of 30 years in
business and we
wish them well
with their new
venture.
info@dpmedia.co.nz | 07 838 1333
Publishers of Waikato Business News,
Waikato AgriBusiness News and
Showcase Magazine
SD European opens
new state-of-the-art
centre
From page 22
workshop has a higher ceiling,
were the critical factors that
allowed SD European to move
into servicing VW Transporter,
Crafter, Amarok, and Caddy
and Mercedes Sprinter models.
In addition, besides its
growing service business, the
company can boast one of
the country’s largest new and
second-hand European spare
parts stores, from their Horotiu
premises.
“It is our point of difference
to other workshops,”
Steve explains. “One of the
bonuses we can offer customers
who bring their vehicles to
us for service or repair is great
value because we also have
the used car dismantling business
10-minutes up the road
in Horotiu. If we need a part,
new or second-hand, chances
are we’ll have it in stock, can
access it more quickly, and can
test it before fitting when possible.”
Steve and two of his sons,
Justin and Garett, both of
whom are shareholders in SD
European, have had a lifetime
of European vehicle experience,
starting with Steve’s
first BMW in 1984, and Justin
and Garett have owned and
repaired many European cars
over the years.
The spares arm of SD European,
housed on kilometres of
shelving in large, repurposed
farm buildings at Horotiu, currently
accounts for the lion’s
share of his business.
That’s not surprising – SD
European is known throughout
New Zealand thanks to a
far-reaching marketing strategy
that in the past utilised
every regional and town Yellow
Pages book Steve could
find.
The addition of a
second premises in
the city is a show of
confidence by the
Hamilton company
that has traded
successfully out of its
Horotiu site for three
decades.”
Nowadays the family-run
company relies on an up-todate
website with active Instagram
and Facebook social
media accounts to reach customers.
The decision to move the
servicing arm into the city
made a lot of business sense,
Steve says.
It bought the premises
closer to customers while SD
European’s fleet of 11 courtesy
cars meant folk could easily
access other amenities while
waiting to have their vehicle
returned to them.
“Being specialists, with
specialist technicians, we
understand European vehicles
and their fault characteristics.
This, along with the latest
diagnostic technology we
have available, enables our
technicians to fault find and
repair in a minimal amount
of time, which saves you
expense.”
Passionate about his business,
Steve is quietly proud of
another of his success stories,
his three sons.
Operations manager Justin,
service manager Garett,
who are both shareholders,
and marketing manager Brook
are all deeply involved in SD
European.
“They have all been
involved since they could
walk. They have all pulled
cars apart, they all know the
business from the bottom up,”
Steve says.
And that depth of experience
extends to his team of
five franchise-trained automotive
technicians, all of whom
have in-depth experience servicing
European cars.
European & Prestige Vehicle Repair
Specialise in Collision Repair & Paint
Preferred Insurance Repairer | Loan Cars
Vehicle Recovery | Quality Workmanship Guaranteed
P: 07 847 8399 M: 027 245 5839
E: workshop@mcrc.co.nz
1-3 Waterloo St, Frankton
Hamilton 3204
www.millscollisionrepaircentre.co.nz
“Our Aim is Total Customer Satisfaction”
204221AA

WAIKATO BUSINESS NEWS May/June 2020
25
Family-like culture the backbone of
Tompkins Wake’s Covid-19 response
The day New Zealand went into lockdown was the day junior
solicitor Josh Nyika had been scheduled to spend working at
home. It was to have been his ‘test day’ to ensure his technology
worked at home should the Tompkins Wake team be sent into
lockdown. Instead he spent the day setting up his desktop on his
kitchen table.
The challenges that
brought mirror those
experienced by people
around New Zealand, who
found themselves creating
makeshift home offices as
Kiwis were forced into isolation
to combat Covid-19.
Josh and his wife isolated
with their one-year-old son.
“We’ve got a two-bedroom
house… there wasn’t any separation
and my son kept jumping
on my lap trying to watch
videos online. My boss might
not be too impressed with the
search history…. Hickory
Dickory Dock, Twinkle Twinkle
Little Star!” he laughs.
For several weeks it
became our new normal – juggling
work commitments in
our bubbles, with family, kids
and pets.
While Josh and his colleagues
got to grips with
working from home, there
was one consideration they
didn’t have to worry about:
their jobs.
“Management made everyone
feel supported and able
to focus on work rather than
worrying about their jobs or
the firm,” said professional
support advisor Catherine
Bryant. That sentiment was
echoed by her colleagues.
“I’m so proud of the way
this has all been handled and
the confidence the firm had in
us to get through this,” solicitor
Kirsty Dibley said.
“I felt reassured the firm
was coping well and a lot of
that came from [Chief Executive]
Jon Calder addressing
everyone every Friday over
MS Teams. He was really
transparent in terms of how
we were doing. He told us ‘If
you’re quiet with work don’t
worry about that’.”
The firm was resolute that
it wouldn’t take the wage subsidy.
“I’m incredibly proud of
the fact that [our management
and governance team] backed
themselves not to need the
wage subsidy,” Josh said.
Instead, partners chose to
reduce drawings and absorb
the impact preserving the team
and preparing the firm for
recovery. There have been no
redundancies, no wage cuts.
Staff were given an Easter
bonus and an internet allowance.
Measures were put in
place to maintain the strong,
collegial culture the firm has
worked hard to build. There
was daily communication
between teams, virtual morning
teas, and CEO updates
each week.
The unwavering support
was symptomatic of the firm’s
commitment to its culture.
Something the firm’s partners
have always valued above
all else and that Calder has
championed since he took up
his post as chief executive in
2016.
Management made
everyone feel
supported and able to
focus on work rather
than worrying about
their jobs or the firm.”
“Our structure with our
partnership board and our
senior leadership team comprising
managers and partners,
has proven highly effective
in managing the challenge
of Covid-19,” Calder said.
“But underpinning that has
been our culture which puts
our people front and centre.
Alongside other values, we’re
incredibly focused on providing
our people with a great
working environment and the
support they need to succeed
not only in their roles, but to
thrive professionally and personally.”
- Supplied copy
Contemporary NZ art works for hire
in workplaces & private homes.
FrEE consultation & installation
Consultancy services available.
Josh Nyika
Portfolio Art Hire
Janet Knighton
P 021 059 0028 E art.hire@xtra.co.nz

SH3
26 WAIKATO BUSINESS NEWS May/June 2020
Think outside the box – can your business
adapt in a fast changing world?
Following the impact of Covid-19, Kiwi businesses are adapting
and diversifying to navigate their way through the crisis and help
kickstart the economy.
Covid-19 has undoubtedly
had a significant
effect on the current
economic climate, with many
businesses having to make
tough calls to reduce working
hours, implement redundancies,
introduce pay cuts or shut
down altogether. Despite this,
the “can do” Kiwi attitude can
be found in a number of local
businesses who are developing
innovative new products and
services and finding a way to
move forward.
Adapting business models
Many businesses have demonstrated
their readiness to pivot
and adapt in the current climate,
while also contributing
to the fight against Covid-19.
Examples include:
• When the demand for rental
cars began to decline, rental
car business Snap Rentals
launched a service allowing
their staff to perform
personal grocery shopping
for customers – improving
accessibility to essential
items for those that may
have struggled otherwise.
• More than 70 businesses
registered with Manufac-
turingNZ for businesses
reconfiguring their operations
in order to produce
face masks and other protective
gear.
• Sheet-metal manufacturing
business Metalform,
has transformed its factory
to produce more than
7000 plastic protective face
shields a day.
• After struggling to source
hand sanitiser for their own
staff, local brewery Good
George produced 1000
litres of hand sanitiser from
a distillery that was previously
used to make spirits,
in a bid to make hand sanitiser
more accessible.
• Fonterra also increased its
weekly production of ethanol
from 85,000 litres to
250,000 litres to help with
the increase in demand for
sanitiser.
The ability of a business to
ensure their staff remain productive
has a positive flow-on
effect for the economy and
the community. The cash flow
generated allows businesses
to continue operating until
they can return to their previous
operating rhythm. Being
agile, resilient and adaptable is
important to surviving the post
Covid-19 economy.
While some businesses may
not be able to pivot and face
the difficult decision to close
down rather suffer increasing
debts, the companies listed
above illustrate that by being
adaptable businesses can be
resilient in these times.
Embracing technology
The Covid-19 pandemic has
also reinforced the importance
of technology in the workplace.
Accountants, gym instructors,
teachers, politicians and lawyers,
to name a few, have all
been meeting workplace commitments
from home. This
would not have been possible
without adequately investing
in technology infrastructure to
ensure they were able to operate
remotely. There were a
number of businesses not able
to immediately switch, as they
didn’t have this infrastructure
in place, and were left scrambling
in the days before Level
4 trying to implement appropriate
responses. Working
remotely will likely become
the norm to some extent for all
businesses. Being adaptable
is key to a successful flexible
working environment.
The online marketplace has
been growing in recent years,
as it’s been a way to reduce
operating overheads without
the need for a ‘storefront’ to
sell products or services. With
the impact of Covid-19, we
have even seen the likes of
farmers’ markets move online
in a bid to connect the farmer
to the consumer when their
platform to sell had been isolated.
It has been encouraging to
see the number of businesses
TAXATION AND THE LAW
> BY ELSA WRATHALL
Elsa Wrathall is a PwC senior manager based in the Waikato office.
Email: elsa.n.wrathall@pwc.com
and individuals finding ways
to pivot and adjust to the new
normal, and to help each other.
This includes social media
influencers plugging small
businesses to their followers in
a bid to provide exposure for
some of the great products and
services Kiwi businesses have
to offer. The more we can support
local, the faster we can all
get back on our feet.
While the last couple of
months have been challenging,
it has also been an opportunity
for businesses to learn
and adapt. It is unclear what
our “new normal” will be once
Covid-19 passes. However, it
is clear that we need to evaluate
our readiness and agility in
order to utilise the assets and
skills we have available to us to
respond to whatever the future
holds. Covid-19 has taught us
some important lessons.
The comments in this article
of a general nature and should
not be relied on for specific
cases. Taxpayers should seek
specific advice.
Joint bid sees NZ Institute of Skills and Technology
choose Hamilton
Hamilton, Auckland, and Bay
Hamilton City Council
and Waikato regional
stakeholders are celebrating
the announcement that
Hamilton will be the headquarters
of the New Zealand Institute
of Skills & Technology
(NZIST).
The NZIST is merging
the country’s 16 institutes of
technology and polytechnics
along with all industry training
organisations into one national
organisation.
Hamilton Mayor Paula
Southgate says the announcement
was hugely welcome and
that Hamilton had put in an
“absolutely compelling” bid.
“The decision makes very
good sense in so many ways.
Hamilton and the Waikato
region is already home to a
network of very strong education
providers, we are ideally
located in terms of New
Zealand’s population and
local industry swung in very
strongly to support the city’s
efforts to bring it here,” she
says.
“There are still details to be
worked through of course. We
understand NZIST will want
a central city location and of
course that’s what Council
wants as well.”
Hamilton City Council,
Waikato-Tainui, Te Waka
and Waikato Chamber of
Commerce led an extensive,
competitive bid to convince
NZIST to choose Hamilton as
its new headquarters location.
One of the strongest arguments
for locating the NZIST
headquarters in Hamilton is
that operating from the city
will facilitate the institute’s
goal of holding inclusivity as
a core principle.
Fifty percent of New Zealand’s
Māori population and
72 percent of its Pacific population
are concentrated within
the tri-region area between
of Plenty.
Waikato-Tainui CEO
Donna Flavell says, “We
are excited for the opportunities
that this will provide
to our people and the wider
community.”
More than 40 business and
community leaders lent significant
support to the bid process.
Te Waka CEO Michael
Bassett-Foss says the news is a
huge boost for the city and the
region at just the right time.
“Winning this competitive
bid for NZIST headquarters is
a testament to how the Mighty
Waikato rallies together when
it counts, and we want to thank
everyone who helped make it
happen, especially our industry
leaders who supported the
bid.
“This is another big win
that proves our city and region
offers significant benefits that
continue to attract new business,
investment and talent
even during the current economic
climate,” says Bassett-Foss.
Waikato Chamber of Commerce
executive director Don
Good says he is proud of the
cohesive way that the bid was
put together.
“It was refreshing and
inspiring to see so many key
organisations and talented
individuals come together
to secure Hamilton as the
NZIST headquarters. Working
together on projects such as
this demonstrates our collective
strength.”
Software and virtual reality
specialist Company-X supported
the city’s bid and welcomed
news of its success.
“Company-X supported the
joint registration of interest
because it made sense,” said
co-founder and director David
Hallett.
“We have always seen the
Waikato, with Hamilton at its
heart, as the Silicon Valley
of New Zealand, resplendent
with a diverse array of growing
businesses in the technology
sector.”
to HAMILTON
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poached, fried or scrambled on ciabatta
Eggs Bene
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to TAMAHERE
poached eggs on ciabatta with crispy
bacon, buttered spinach and hollandaise
OR exchange ciabatta for Hamilton housemade rosti
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Creamy Mushrooms
everyones favourite
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Control
Blueberry Pancakes
Tower
with lemon curd, cream & maple syrup
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PROFESSIONAL SERVICES
Hand-crafting unique
jewellery
Goldsmiths Gallery Jewellers specialise
in exquisite jewellery made by expert
craftsmen.
Anthony Licht is the
owner and a manufacturing
jeweller who
qualified in South Africa. His
wife, Michelle, works in the
front shop helping customers.
For the past 20 years, Goldsmiths
Gallery Jewellers have
hand-crafted unique pieces
designed to the customer’s
specifications and budget.
Unlike retail jewellery
stores, at Goldsmiths Gallery
Jewellers you actually get to
chat to the jeweller who is
making your jewellery. There
are a further four jewellers who
work in the stores, all of whom
have a wealth of knowledge
and expertise.
Something that Goldsmiths
Gallery Jewellers take great
pride in is “recycling” old
pieces of jewellery, gold and
gemstones and making them
into pieces that people love
forever. They can either handmake
the item, using your gold
and gems, or it can be designed
Something that
Goldsmiths Gallery
Jewellers take
great pride in is
“recycling” old pieces
of jewellery, gold
and gemstones and
making them into
pieces that people
love forever.”
using CAD, in which case you
get to see the image on the
computer prior to the manufacturing.
Social distancing bears. Above: Michelle Licht
Another specialty is manufacturing
engagement rings to
order. If you want unique, classical,
trendy, different, they
are the jewellers you can trust
with your designs. Matching
wedding bands made to fit an
existing engagement ring is a
huge part of the business.
They also do repairs onsite,
and can restring pearl and bead
jewellery.
If you prefer to buy an
item off the shelf, they
have you covered
too. Pendants,
rings, bracelets,
bangles, chains:
they have an
extensive front
store with all the
eye candy in the
way of jewellery
you could ever wish
for. They even have a
range of jewellery specific to
the sport of rowing.
During lockdown Michelle
and Anthony designed a feelgood
pendant to celebrate
the country’s commitment to
overcoming Covid-19 in the
form of a bear wearing a mask.
Behind the mask the bear is
smiling, which you can see
on the reverse of the pendant,
WAIKATO BUSINESS NEWS May/June 2020
which is representative of the
good times ahead of all of us.
So pop into either of their
two stores at 427 Victoria
street, Hamilton or ground
floor Chartwell Shopping
27
Centre. Visit their website
www.goldsmithsgallery.co.nz
or check them out via Instagram
or Facebook.
- Supplied copy
Anthony Licht
“We Do It All Instore - Retail, Repairs,
Remodelling, CAD & Hand-made
Jewellery Manufacturing”
Come and see us at our new premises at
427 Victoria Street, Just 2 doors
down from our previous Victoria Street
store! We now have a bigger brighter,
more inviting store for a better
viewing experience! With the same
great service, friendly advice, high
quality jewellery, repairs and
manufacturing instore, as always.
Visit us in our two locations:
427 Victoria Street, Hamilton | 07 838 3418
Chartwell Shopping Centre | 07 852 5341
www.goldsmithsgallery.co.nz

28 WAIKATO BUSINESS NEWS May/June 2020
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PROFESSIONAL SERVICES
WAIKATO BUSINESS NEWS May/June 2020
29
Healthy food - nothing to be afraid of
There’s a bit of a healthy food boom going
on at the moment, but for Matt Gatchell
eating healthy, eating ‘clean’, is nothing
new. He grew up with food allergies and
to stay well he’s always had to be careful
about what he eats.
It was Matt’s own experience
that attracted him to a
career as a chef and to his
starting up Café Inc in Rototuna.
Then he opened Fill a
Bowl in Te Rapa and now a
new Fill a Bowl has opened in
Ward Street Hamilton’s CBD.
“At the café we focused on
serving good, healthy food,
gluten free, raw and vegan
offerings. We didn’t want any
one with allergies or special
food needs to feel alienated
when they came to us.”
And it was at the café that
Matt had his lightbulb moment,
the idea for Fill a Bowl. “People
would come into Café Inc
and ask for one of our salads
without, say, onions, which
couldn’t be done because the
dishes were all pre-made. And
I thought, what if we could let
people make their own?”
Matt says as he planned
Fill a Bowl, it was actually the
sauces he created first. “People
like their sauces and dressings,
barbecue or fruity for example,
but they don’t want them to
overpower their meal, so I first
worked on getting those sauces
right. To me, a good dish is all
about balance, there’s no single
dominant flavour.”
While Fill a Bowl custom-
ers can choose what they want
in their gourmet bowls, they
are given guidance from a
menu that offers a good variety
of tastes and flavours. Maybe
a breakfast bowl, a fragrant
Thai bowl, or a nutritionist-approved
Bento beef bowl. Yes,
there is meat available alongside
the vegetarian and vegan
options.
At the café we
focused on serving
good, healthy food,
gluten free, raw and
vegan offerings. We
didn’t want any one
with allergies or
special food needs to
feel alienated when
they came to us.”
All savoury bowls start
with a mixed-lettuce base,
then freshly chopped vegetables
are added along with one
of eight in-house made dressings.
On top of that goes some
brown rice and protein of your
choice, sauce, and a topping
such as guacamole or crunchy
chickpeas to finish. The food is
prepped fresh each day in the
large purpose-built kitchen in
Te Rapa.
“We’re getting good feedback
from customers and
we’ve started to get our regulars,”
Matt says. “We’ve now
got customers who come in
four or five days a week for
lunch. And some people will
take bowls home for their
evening meals too.” All servings,
dine-in our take-out, are
served in compostable bowls
with wooden cutlery. The only
difference being that the takeaways
have lids.
Matt is keen to extend the
out-catering side of the business.
“We offer this service
in two ways. A client can
either contact us and order a
mix of ingredients for people
to make their own bowls, or
they can choose a selection of
bowls from our menu. Just tell
us what you want and we’ll
deliver,” he says.
And you can now download
the Fillabowl App.
Matt Gatchell
Back fixing
smiles
Simple & beautiful
eCommerce websites
Get your shop ONLINE in as quick as
one week.
Visit www.thegoodpa.co.nz
or call 07 870 1669 to see if
we can help you.
Mark Ewing, Catherine Carleton & Andrew Quick
07 839 5870 / 17 Pembroke St / hamiltonorthodontics.co.nz

30 WAIKATO BUSINESS NEWS May/June 2020
PROFESSIONAL SERVICES
Cambridge orthodontic practice makes
most of technology
The changing face of technology has turbo-charged Cambridge
practice True Alignment Orthodontics.
Owner Vernon Kruger
likens the advances,
including 3D printing
and computer modelling, to
changing from horse and cart
to EV motor cars.
It gives him the capacity
to further develop his threedecade-plus
long approach
to orthodontics that sees him
growing jaws rather than just
straightening teeth.
It has also seen the practice,
formerly Growth Orthodontics,
renamed as True Alignment
Orthodontics.
Vernon with Xray machine
The advances have been
made on several fronts, from
the materials available for
teeth alignment to 3D scanning
and computer modelling.
“We now take 3D scans of
people’s mouths. That 3D scan
is converted into a 3D model
on the computer, and all the
orthodontic treatment that we
as orthodontists see in our
head and what we would like
to achieve, we can do on the
computer,” Kruger says.
“We then can make aligners
that wrap around the teeth and
move the teeth in a very programmed
manner to where we
eventually want them to be.”
Kruger uses US company
Invisalign’s products, but hastens
to say he is growing jaws,
not providing Invisalign therapy.
He says Invisalign’s
3D-printed material is elasticised
and multi-layered. “I
looked at this product and realised
we could use it to grow
jaws.”
Kruger’s philosophy of
treatment has been developed
since he was a dentist in the
1980s in a small town in South
Africa, when he helped with
children’s orthodontic needs,
so they didn’t have to travel
150km to the nearest specialist.
“When I started doing
orthodontics, I didn’t want to
take any teeth out. As a dentist,
I didn’t want to take teeth
out. And we were shown how
around the world, especially
Europe and in some parts of
America, they were growing
jaws to make all the teeth fit.”
He says the benefits are
multiple. As he describes it,
growing jaws means teeth can
align naturally and also creates
more space for the tongue.
Without that space, he says, the
tongue tends to sit further back
and down in the mouth. “The
problem then is one’s airways
get restricted. The body’s first
reaction to an airway restriction
is to push the head forward.”
Bad posture can follow, he
says, along with health issues.
Not only that, night time problems
can occur. “At night,
when you’re sleeping, should
your head fall back and is not
forward, as it is during the day,
your airways could become
obstructed.” That in turn can
lead to light sleeping, intermittent
snoring or even sleep
apnoea, he says.
“Using this philosophy
of care we’re not just going
to straighten the teeth, we’re
going to analyse the shape,
the size and the position of the
jaws, and try and correct that.
“It’s automatic that the
teeth will be nice and straight
afterwards.”
Patients range in age from
seven to 65, and the aligners
can be easily removed to eat
and clean. “And then you just
pop them back in again and off
you go,” he says. “They’re virtually
invisible.”
The new aligners, as
opposed to older-style plates
or braces, allows them to do
far more, with more efficiency,
control and reliability, he says.
A patient will be given multiple
aligners, in some cases up
to 100, fitting them in sequence
as the teeth and jaw are slowly
re-aligned.
“The skill required is knowing
what needs to be done and
what can be done when you
design your treatment at the
beginning, and then monitoring
what’s going on.
Technology allows a further
advantage - patients can
use a device to take their own
images of their mouth, using
their cellphone and an app, and
then share that image with the
practitioner, who can advise
Vernon Kruger using the 3D scanner
whether it’s time to move onto
the next aligner. That also
allows the practitioner to keep
an eye on general dental health
from a distance, and reduces
the number of visits a patient
needs to make to the practice.
“The beauty is anybody
anywhere in the world can get
a scan of their mouth done.”
That sees the practice with
patients in the South Island and
Australia, and even one who
has moved to France.
“I’m one who loves
change,” Kruger says. “I love
looking at new ways, new
techniques, trying different
things and looking at better
ways of doing it.
“My vision for the future
is that we’ll have many dentists
able to help many more
patients. I see it as a model
for the future of orthodontics,
much as we’re seeing the electric
vehicle being the future of
cars.”

PROFESSIONAL SERVICES
WAIKATO BUSINESS NEWS May/June 2020
31
How unique is your USP?
Natural reactions to pandemic-enforced change mean there are
common themes in marketing messages, so making our unique
selling proposition stand out is a challenge.
Businesses have to focus
on clarity of information
or customer
behaviours, or are forced to
prioritise price promotions to
boost sales.
Is this the time to concentrate
on accentuating your USP
or adapt to the times? Well,
that really depends on your
USP, how genuinely unique it
is and how much it can reflect
the inevitable changes your
customers are facing.
As a simple definition, your
USP is the aspect of your brand
that differentiates it from others.
It’s the reason your customers
pick you.
However, more realistically,
it’s a combination of reasons
that tip the balance when
potential customers are weighing
up options.
The marketing text books
of ye olde times talked about
the four Ps of the marketing
mix: product, price, place and
promotion. Is your product
different to others in the marketplace?
Do your customers
pick it because of cost? How
easy it for customers to access
your product or service? How
do you tell them about it?
Our goal as marketers is to
accentuate uniqueness in one
or all of those aspects to create
point of difference. But it’s a
busy, busy old world out there,
with many undifferentiated
businesses and with customers
facing an ever-growing barrage
of “pick me, pick me”. Given
that constant noise, the pressure
to find something unique
to your brand is immense, but
perhaps uniqueness shouldn’t
necessarily be our priority.
I’ve been in many workshops
helping companies
define their brand where we’ve
struggled to agree that one single
thing we’d want customers
to say about it, or where the
list of five words to describe
the brand can’t be whittled
below nine.
Authenticity to your
brand and relevance
to your audience
are your strongest
tools, irrespective of
uniqueness.”
Yes, brand owners should
be able to hone this down to a
clear and succinct focus. But
if your business is diverse in
its offer or there are numerous
factors that genuinely influence
customers’ decisions, perhaps
the emphasis should be
as much on authenticity as it is
singularity.
The old four Ps in marketing
theory have now been
overtaken by extra Ps and a
few other initials for good luck
which, to me, goes to prove
that a broader, more flexible
approach is often more realistic.
For example, ExampleCo
is a (fictional!) construction
business who builds beautiful,
high-spec homes. They
have existing plans or use your
architect, and work within an
hour of the city. They are flexible
around budget ranges but
aim for quality finishes. They
pride themselves on great service,
craftsmanship, clear communication
and always having
a smile.
Sounds pretty familiar,
doesn’t it. There are many
businesses who simply do
what they do well, just like
others around them.
ExampleCo may find a particular
USP for when they’re
talking to the real high-end
market, such as expertise with
a special material, but that’s
irrelevant to customers on
modest budgets, so there’s no
point focusing only on that.
They consciously hire people
who get on well with customers,
but others say that too.
If it’s genuinely true that the
experience is a great one, that
should be part of their storytelling,
but ExampleCo can’t
claim to be the only good team
to work with.
They like to try new things
and are capable enough to be
daring. ExampleCo could be
classed as disrupters, but that
word doesn’t sit well with
them. They feel their typical
customers find comfort in
familiarity and that they can
talk about new ideas and push
boundaries once they’ve established
a rapport, not as a key
marketing message, so they’ll
keep that for case studies. A
cautious approach, but it’s
where they’re comfortable. It’s
TELLING YOUR STORY
> BY VICKI JONES
Vicki Jones is director of Dugmore Jones, Hamilton-based brand
management consultancy. Email vicki@dugmorejones.co.nz
authentic.
If we were talking in terms
of the old Ps, ExampleCo
can exhibit some uniqueness
through their approach to
promotion. For them, doing
something different in their
marketing through a new look
or language could help them.
Perhaps they go for humour
(appropriate to their conservative
audience) or a creative
design approach to visually
stand out, like a unique colour
for vehicles and hardhats or
something eye-catching on the
building sites’ signage.
Your USP doesn’t, in my
view, have to be a single aspect
of your brand that is groundbreakingly
individual, and neither
does it have to be a grand
gesture or a big idea. It’s fantastic
if it can, absolutely. But
it’s the little things that count,
they say, and a well-considered
combination can make a big
difference, especially in rapidly
changing and challenging
times.
Authenticity to your brand
and relevance to your audience
are your strongest tools, irrespective
of uniqueness.
Let ’s stick together!
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