Waikato Business News May/June 2021

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28 WAIKATO BUSINESS NEWS May/June 2021 CONFERENCE AND EVENTS Claudelands 10-year re-opening anniversary Hamilton’s showpiece event venue is turning 10. Claudelands marks a decade of diversity in June, having hosted international sports teams, some of the music industry’s biggest names, as well as community events, corporate functions and trade shows. Sean Murray, Executive Director of H3 – the division of Hamilton City Council responsible for management of Claudelands – says the venue and the staff who manage the venue have built on the rich history of the site, welcoming close to 2.5 million attendees through the door for more than 2800 events over those 10 years. “We’re really proud of what we’ve delivered at Claudelands – from Bob Dylan and Ricky Martin to international netball and the Great New Zealand Beer Festival – so I can confidently say there really has been something for everyone. “And I think our community would agree.” Mr Murray says the wider impact Claudelands has on the city is significant: “The events we host are huge boosts for the local economy, with guests staying in nearby accommodation, dining out in local eateries and spending in shops. That makes a big difference to the city and regional economy, keeping people in jobs and contributing to The extensive transformation of Claudelands has given Hamilton a diverse hub for events. It has evolved the Hamilton events scene by providing a space with endless opportunity and versatility for event organisers and promoters. making Hamilton a interesting and lively city its residents are proud of.” The success of Claudelands – and the commitment and expertise of the H3 team – have earned the venue several industry accolades including the Event Venues Association Supreme Venue of the Year and Large Venue of the Year in 2014, and Large Venue of the Year for 2019. It’s also claimed a New Zealand Institute of Architects Award for the colour palette – a key feature of Claudelands striking exterior appearance. Previously the city’s harness racing venue, with an adjacent basic hangar-like building and stables, Claudelands has been hosting events since the late 1800s. The transformation of Claudelands into the modern multi-purpose events space – comprising an arena, conference and meeting rooms and exhibition halls – began in 2007 and took four years to compete. It was formally reopened in June 2011 by then-Mayor Julie Hardaker and hosted a public open day for the community to explore the new facility and its features – with an estimated 12,000 people attending for a sneak preview. An essential element to the achievements and uniqueness of Claudelands is the people – past and present – who have contributed to the shaping and development of Claudelands Events Centre. “The H3 team has always strived to make Claudelands more than just a venue,” Mr Murray says. “We’ve always put a huge amount of effort into being accommodating, committed and affable to clients and guests - and leaving a lasting impression. The fact we’re seeing a lot of returning business and familiar faces in the crowd shows us we’re doing that. “The extensive transformation of Claudelands has given Hamilton a diverse hub for events. It has evolved the Hamilton events scene by providing a space with endless opportunity and versatility for event organisers and promoters,” Mr Murray says. Throughout the month of June, you can hear more about the achievements, milestones and enter in 10-year anniversary giveaways through the Claudelands Facebook and Instagram pages. Home to Hamilton’s premier events venues Contact us for all of your event needs w / h3group.co.nz
WAIKATO BUSINESS NEWS May/June 2021 29 Sleepyhead construction planned for 2023 Craig Turner Construction is planned to start on the Sleepyhead Estate factory in Ohinewai in early 2023, with occupation mid-2024. The application to rezone 178 hectares of rural land owned by The Comfort Group at Ohinewai was approved in May by a Hearing Panel appointed by the Waikato District Council. The Comfort Group is Australasia’s largest bedding and foam manufacturer, and includes the Sleepyhead, SleepMaker and Dunlop Foams brands. The Sleepyhead Estate is a master-planned development at Ohinewai which comprises a $1.2 billion, 178-hectare manufacturing hub and residential community that would create up to 2,600 jobs in the area and provide up to 1100 new homes, over the next 10 years. The Comfort Group, which has manufacturing facilities at Avondale and Otahuhu, will consolidate and expand its operations at the new Ohinewai site, which is adjacent to both SH1 and the North Island Main Trunk Railway. The company will also develop a residential community as part of the development to provide housing for the company’s staff, their families, and other residents. There will be more residential land than is needed to cater for Sleepyhead’s needs. Comfort Group director Craig Turner said the rezoning decision was a major milestone. “We want to create a legacy that will continue to add long term value not only to The Comfort Group but to the part of Waikato District, including Huntly, that we have chosen to make the new corporate home for The Comfort Group after nine decades in Auckland.” The construction timeline is dependent on earthworks and the compaction of the ground. Waikato Regional Council is considering whether to appeal the rezoning decision, and has We want to create a legacy that will continue to add long term value not only to The Comfort Group but to the part of Waikato District, including Huntly, that we have chosen to make the new corporate home for The Comfort Group after nine decades in Auckland. until July 12 to appeal the whole decision or part of the decision. Grants help boost economy Waikato Regional Council has approved its first grants from the regional development fund, with a combined total of $2.575 million going to two different projects. Hamilton-Waikato Tourism on behalf of the Waikato Screens project will get $575,000 over a three year period, and Ariki Tahi/Sugarloaf Wharf Ltd (ATSWL) will receive $2 million. Council Chair Russ Rimmington said the projects promised to deliver significant economic benefits to the region, including employment opportunities. An agreement will be signed with Hamilton-Waikato Tourism on behalf of Waikato Screens following decisions to award the grant in a public-excluded meeting at the end of April. The one-off grant of $575,000 will be distributed over three years to build capability as the Waikato’s regional film office. The goal is for the Waikato Screens project to actively promote the region as a place to film, as well as to work with the film industry scouting shoot locations. Councillors felt the benefits of the investment would be shared right across the Waikato. Hamilton constituency councillor Angela Strange acknowledged the work Waikato Screens had done already to attract three films to the region over the past eight months. “Imagine what more they could do with our support. I’m really excited by this proposal and can see that it will bring millions of dollars into the region, create jobs for locals as extras, and inspire young people,” she said. Taupō Rotorua constituency councillor Kathy White was pleased it would benefit a number of industries across the whole region. “Hospitality in particular has been hit hard by Covid-19 and this would be a real boost in that area,” she said. As with the Ariki Tahi Sugarloaf Wharf grant, there will be conditions prior to funding being released that Waikato Screens will need to meet, and further conditions following years one and two. The grant for the Waikato Screens project is a capability grant, so the additional monitoring and partnership approach over three years offers all parties assurance that the project will be supported as it progresses. Councillors heard that growth of the marine farming sector in the Coromandel Peninsula is contingent on appropriate wharf infrastructure to bring product ashore. The funding agreement to be signed with ATSWL will include a number of conditions, including a requirement that all consents are first approved before the grant is paid, as well as the setting of performance expectations. The expansion of Te Ariki Tahi/Sugarloaf Wharf will ensure the movement and processing of product through Thames-Coromandel and other districts. The activity is likely to grow ancillary service industries that are not in existence now or are currently at a very small scale, and often seasonal. “Our council’s funding will contribute to marine farmers having more confidence to invest in growing their on-water operations, rather than on the expansion of the wharf,” Rimmington said. “The potential to change lives, to boost the local and regional economy through this work, is the reason why this council has committed funds to it.” Central government threw their support behind the project last year with nearly $20 million from the Provincial Growth Fund. The project to upgrade the wharf at Te Kouma will unlock approximately $822 million of economic benefit over 35 years and is projected to support 880 jobs. Imagine what more they could do with our support. I’m really excited by this proposal and can see that it will bring millions of dollars into the region, create jobs for locals as extras, and inspire young people. Purpose PR the focus of awardwinning agency Hamilton-based public relations agency HMC was named the winner of the BusinessDesk PR Consultancy of the Year in the small-to-medium category at the Public Relations Institute of New Zealand (PRINZ) annual industry awards. The agency won the same award in 2018. HMC provides strategic communications and digital marketing services to companies in a wide range of industries from agriculture, dairy genetics, real estate, medical cannabis, skincare and more. Director Heather Claycomb says, “I’m so proud of our team. We are small but mighty and enjoy the privilege of working with some amazing clients across the Waikato and New Zealand. We are in our 17th year and continue to grow from strength to strength.” The 2020/21 financial year was the first full year the public relations agency operated as a social enterprise. “Two years ago I decided that 100 percent of profits from my business would be donated to my family charity, All Good Ventures. What this means is that HMC clients not only receive excellent PR services, they also get to partner with us to ‘do good’ in the world. Around the office we’ve coined the term for what we’re doing as ‘Purpose PR.’” Claycomb’s family charity, All Good Ventures, is a registered New Zealand The HMC team, from left, Heather Claycomb (director), Rosie Miller, Kate Robinson and Antoinette Brandt (absent is Hariet Waffenschmidt). charity that provides money, mentorship and ‘muscle’ to support budding social entrepreneurs to start up businesses for good. New Zealand organisations supported by the charity over the past two years include Morningside Urban Market Garden by Grow Space, Whistlebox, The Good Karma Company, The Good Fale, Whistlebox and One- Day Health in Uganda. The PRINZ awards are designed to recognise outstanding public relations work and highlight the importance of good communications across every aspect of society. The PRINZ Awards gala dinner was held at the end of May at The Aotea Centre in Auckland.
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Waikato Business News May/June 2021

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