10 BAY OF PLENTY BUSINESS NEWS <strong>October</strong>/<strong>November</strong> <strong>2020</strong>
SPECIAL FEATURE – TAURIKO BUSINESS ESTATE <strong>October</strong>/<strong>November</strong> <strong>2020</strong> BAY OF PLENTY BUSINESS NEWS 11 WHY THE TAURIKO TAURANGA BUBBLE WORKS Tauriko has been one <strong>of</strong> the region’s most successful industrial parks and is a core reason for Tauranga’s strong record over recent years in attracting the likes <strong>of</strong> Jenkins Freshpac Systems and Brother Printers NZ to the <strong>Bay</strong>. By DAVID PORTER A key recent example is the decision early this year by Fletcher Building to relocate its state-<strong>of</strong>-theart new Winstone Wallboards plasterboard facility to Tauriko – bringing a $400 million investment boost for the <strong>Bay</strong>. Fletcher Building chief executive Ross Taylor said at the time: “Our current site in Onehunga, Central Auckland is land-locked, which has prevented us from expanding our operations and improving efficiencies by consolidating manufacturing and distribution on the same site.” The new Tauriko site was double the size and would allow for further capacity growth, he said. Nigel Tutt, chief executive <strong>of</strong> Priority One, which worked with the company to help bring it to Tauranga, said Fletchers needed to move the plant from Auckland. And the Tauranga port had a lot to with the decision. “They import a large amount <strong>of</strong> gypsum and Tauriko was the best choice for their logistics set up,” he said. “If you import or export stuff and your main markets are Auckland or the upper North Island, Tauriko works well, especially for any logistics or distribution.” But while Tauriko remains busy, it now needs local infrastructure developments to catch up in order to continue fulfilling its potential, as Bryce Donne, director <strong>of</strong> primary site developer Element IMF explains in the following pages. However, it’s important to note, remarks major Tauriko realtor, Philip Hunt <strong>of</strong> Ray White Commercial, that Tauriko benefits from what he calls the “Tauranga bubble” centred around the Port <strong>of</strong> Tauranga. As a result <strong>of</strong> proximity to the port, importers and exporters <strong>of</strong> all sizes can ensure ready access to material imports and to destinations both nationally and globally, he says. Continuing growth despite Covid-19 Above: Growing fast: Road Safe Traffic Management’s Tauriko team. Left: Road Safe Traffic Management’s Logan Dawson with partner and <strong>of</strong>fice manager Greta Drummond. Photos/Supplied. Perhaps the most interesting aspect <strong>of</strong> Tauriko’s continuing development success during a period when the country is dealing with the ongoing impact <strong>of</strong> Covid-19, is that companies aren’t wanting to end leases because they are having to close down, but because they are growing and optimistic, said Hunt. “These companies that are expanding are in many cases new, with young people running them,” he said. “It’s exciting and encouraging. Logan Dawson started Road Safe Traffic Management in 2016 out <strong>of</strong> a garage and home <strong>of</strong>fice with one vehicle. He now has <strong>of</strong>fices in Whakatane and Rotorua, and around 50 staff, 16 trucks and 16 utes. “We do everything that happens on a road,” said Dawson. The company provides safe compliant spaces for roadworks – anything from tree felling and road resealing, to event parking control. It is sometimes known as the “cone” company. He added that the company sources thousands <strong>of</strong> cones a year, and could lose 20 percent or so a year to wastage. The company started <strong>of</strong>f in Tauriko’s Paerangi Place with around 400 sqm and recently relocated to much larger premises through Ray White in Whakakahe St. “That has given us better <strong>of</strong>fice space and more building yard space,” said Dawson. Continued on page 12