Waikato Business News May/June 2023

MAY/JUNE 2023 

VOLUME 31 

ISSUE 5 

READ ONLINE AT 

http://www.wbn.co.nz 

/WaikatoBusinessNews 

The Waikato region’s voice of local business 

FIELDAYS CELEBRATION 

Fieldays celebrated 55 years of highlighting innovation 

in the primary sector - PAGE 10 

THE ART OF POTTERY 

Consistency over time creates pottery success for 

Tony Sly - PAGE 12 

WAIKATO HOTSPOT 

More than 17,000 business travellers visited the Waikato 

at the beginning of the year - PAGE 24 

Women’s 

World Cup 

Football 

fever hits 

Hamilton 

New Zealand is getting ready to 

co-host to the largest women's 

sporting event in the world. 

The FIFA Women’s 

World Cup Australia-New 

Zealand 2023 

will be an historic event on 

multiple levels; a first time 

for the Southern Hemisphere, 

the first to be co-hosted by 

two confederations (Asia 

and Oceania) and the first to 

feature 32 teams. 

And Hamilton will be in on 

the football action, hosting five 

matches at the Waikato Stadium, 

plus the Zambian team 

will make Kirikiriroa its home 

base. 

Responsible for unlocking 

the untapped football potential 

in the Waikato is the H3 team 

led by Rebecca Aston. 

The event has been a long 

time coming with the bidding 

process taking place five years 

ago and Rebecca was part of a 

H3 major events and project manager Rebecca Aston 

An independent 

assessment 

predicted about 

13,000 visitors 

to the city... 

New Zealand team gunning for 

it to be held in Aotearoa. 

“We started trying to bid 

for it on our own and realised 

we couldn't so that's when it 

became a joint effort with Australia. 

And once New Zealand 

won the right to hold it, I then 

bid for Hamilton to be a host 

city.” 

The event promises to 

deliver record-breaking crowds 

and long-term participation 

growth in the sport, as well as 

economic spin-off for the host 

nations. 

“An independent assessment 

predicted about 13,000 

visitors to the city, almost 

72,000 visitor paid nights and 

an $18 million direct visitor 

expenditure. That’s not just the 

city, we made sure it included 

the Waikato region because we 

know many of those visitors 

would be staying in the rest of 

the region,” Rebecca says. 

H3 is responsible for all the 

activities and events taking 

place outside of the stadium. 

“The FIFA fan festival is a 

new concept and it's something 

we're contractually obliged to 

deliver. When Hamilton has a 

major event, we have a stadium 

or a venue contract and then 

we have a host city contract. 

My team looks after the obligations 

of the host city contract.” 

From July 20-23 Hamilton 

will come alive for four days of 

football related fun, starting 

with the opening ceremony and 

continuing with educational 

activities, inspirational speakers, 

live streaming of matches, 

music, dance, culture, food, 

mini futsal court and tonnes of 

fun for the kids - all for free. 

Football Fern Michaela 

CONTINUED - PAGE 3 

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All LINK NZ offices are licensed REAA 2008 

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Start here with a confidential call. 

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WAIKATO BUSINESS NEWS, MAY/JUNE 2023 

2 WAIKATO BUSINESS NEWS, MAY/JUNE 2023 

HELP: Pressure 

on cancer services 

reaches all-time high 

Cancer Society appeals for business support this Daffodil Day 

No one 

should 

face cancer 

alone. 

Get your business 

behind our 

Daffodil Day 

appeal this August. 

To sign up, visit 

daffodilday.org.nz 

PROUDLY SPONSORED BY 

This August, the Cancer 

Society Waikato/Bay of Plenty 

needs the support of Kiwi 

businesses more than ever 

before. 

Numbers at the Cancer 

Society’s Lions Lodge, a 

‘home away from home’ for 

people travelling to Hamilton 

for cancer treatment, have 

reached a record high over the 

past four months while over 

the past year, supportive care 

nurses have made more than 

1,000 home visits to families 

across the Waikato and Bay of 

Plenty. 

“Every day, more and more 

people who are receiving 

cancer treatment walk through 

our doors and every day we 

provide wrap-around support 

to them and their whānau … 

But we can’t continue to do it 

without the generous support 

of our donors” says Sharon 

Robertson, Partnership 

Manager at Cancer Society and 

a cancer survivor herself. 

Over the course of a 

lifetime, 1 in 3 Kiwis will 

experience the life-changing 

reality of a cancer diagnosis. 

Having the support of the 

Cancer Society, in the way 

of experienced nurses and 

accommodation and meals can 

be extremely reassuring. 

“The support we provide 

those navigating cancer is 

truly invaluable. It is our hope 

that we can continue to count 

on the generosity of businesses 

in making this work possible.” 

This Daffodil Day, the 

Cancer Society is making 

a dedicated appeal to local 

businesses to show their 

support. 

One business, Zealong Tea 

Estate, has already answered 

the call by donating a portion 

of sales from two of their teas, 

green tea and chamomile, 

across August as well as 

holding a high tea fundraising 

event. 

“There are lots of options 

to get involved and I’d love to 

have a chat about the ways in 

which we can work together! 

Every little bit counts and 

helps us continue the vital 

work we do in the community.” 

Fundraising from 

Daffodil Day ensures Cancer 

Society services like support 

from nurses, meals and 

accommodation remains free 

for people with cancer. 

To donate, sign up or find 

fundraising ideas, 

visit daffodilday.org.nz/ 

To contact Sharon 

about how your 

business can help, email 

sharonrobertson@ 

cancersociety.org.nz 

At Bayleys, we believe relationships are 

what businesses are built on and how they 

succeed. We understand that to maximise 

the return on your property you need: 

Professional property management 

A business partner that understands 

your views and goals 

Contact the Bayleys Waikato Commercial 

Property Management team today. 

Jan Cooney 

Head Commercial Property Management - 

Waikato, Bay of Plenty and Taranaki 

027 408 9339 

jan.cooney@bayleys.co.nz 

David Cashmore 

Bayleys Commercial Manager - Waikato 

021 943 305 

david.cashmore@bayleys.co.nz 

Gert Maritz 

Senior Facilities Manager - Waikato 

027 230 2514 

gert.maritz@bayleys.co.nz 

Darren Rule 

Senior Facilities Manager - Bay of Plenty & Taranaki 

027 214 1631 

darren.rule@bayleys.co.nz 

SUCCESS REALTY LTD, BAYLEYS, LICENSED UNDER THE REA ACT 2008 

ALTOGETHER BETTER 

Residential / Commercial / Rural / Property Services

Women’s World Cup Football 

fever hits Hamilton 

FROM - PAGE 1 

Foster and FIFA referee Sarah 

Jones will both take to the 

stage to talk about the changing 

dynamics of women in 

sport. 

H3 is also in charge of the 

Trophy Tour, which kicked off 

in Hamilton on June 17 and 

travelled to Cambridge, Tauranga, 

Rotorua and Taupō 

before heading to Dunedin for 

the next leg of the journey. 

The Trophy Tour, dubbed 

‘Going Beyond’, is designed to 

inspire people of all ages, build 

excitement and support ahead 

of the five FIFA Women’s 

World Cup 2023 matches in 

Hamilton Kirikiriroa – which 

start when Zambia take on 

Japan on 22 July. 

“We're the only city in New 

Zealand that's chosen to take 

it outside of our city. We think 

it's really important to get the 

trophy out to our neighbours 

because that's how we're going 

to convince people to come 

to games, as well sharing the 

love,” she says. 

There’s a lot that goes on 

behind the scenes to bring a 

large-scale sporting event to 

life, and Rebecca and the H3 

team work with a number of 

stakeholders to ensure things 

run smoothly, including transporting 

people to and from 

matches around the region 

and closing streets where 

necessary. 

“We have really close stakeholder 

relationships with 

Waikato-Bay of Plenty Football, 

Sport Waikato, Hamilton 

Central Business Association, 

Tourism New Zealand and the 

Hamilton Airport, as we're 

Montana Group announces Amardeep 

Khasariya as new General Manager 

of Montana Food & Events 

Montana Group recently announced the appointment of Amardeep (‘Deep’) 

Khasariya as new General Manager of Montana Food and Events. 

WAIKATO BUSINESS NEWS, MAY/JUNE 2023 3 

Emma Alsemgeest, Claudia McNeil, Rebecca Aston, Harriet Beattie and Lucy Morris 

having quite a few teams flying 

that we removed urinals for 

in and out of the airport more toilets, shower partitions 

on private jets. So that takes and things that are more conducive 

a lot of arrangement as well. 

to a female-friendly 

Basically, we’re working with environment. That's a fantastic 

all the stakeholders needed to physical legacy. We've also got 

pull together the information a few projects in the pipeline 

to make this event a success.” around empowering women 

Hamilton will also benefit and showcasing some local 

from a number of legacy projects 

women in our community.” 

that Rebecca reckons are The 2019 FIFA Women’s 

long overdue. 

World Cup 2019 reached 1.12 

“We were given some funding 

billion viewers across 205 

by government to upgrade countries meaning H3 will be 

a couple of our training sites' responsible for showcasing the 

changing rooms to be more Waikato, not only to the teams, 

gender equal. So, making sure visitors and the international 


media, but also to the rest of 

the world. 

Rebecca says it’s the sort of 

background detail that makes 

a long-lasting impact for the 

region. 

“We work really closely with 

Hamilton Waikato Tourism to 

provide tourism activities for 

the teams and the media.” 

Tickets are now on sale 

for the FIFA Women’s World 

Cup Australia-New Zealand 

and Rebecca says the range of 

prices makes it affordable for 

the whole family. 

“Single ticket sales are really 

super cheap. We’re trying to 

promote that and get people 

purchasing tickets because 

they don't want to miss out. I 

think even if you're not a football 

fan, you're going to want to 

come to a game just to be a part 

of the atmosphere.” 

For more information on 

the events in Hamilton surrounding 

the tournament visit 

hamiltonhostcity.co.nz. 

Tickets for FIFA Women’s 

World Cup 2023 

matches in Hamilton 

Kirikiriroa are on sale now at 

FIFA.com/hamiltontickets 

With over 20 years 

of invaluable 

experience in the 

hospitality sector, Deep’s 

progression signals a new 

chapter for the company, 

which is looking to strengthen 

its market position and 

continue to drive sustainable 

growth within the region. 

With an impressive 

career spanning almost two 

decades, Deep has worked 

with renowned brands 

across various sectors of the 

hospitality industry. 

Beginning his journey at 

Montana in 2012 as a Front 

of House team member, Deep 

has seen Montana grow from 

a small catering company to 

the largest, privately-owned 

caterer in New Zealand. 

“I started my journey 

at Montana 11 years ago 

working at FMG Stadium 

Waikato. It has been a 

great experience working 

at Montana through its 

evolution - I have enjoyed 

Montana Group has been a large 

part of my life, and I’m looking 

forward to working with my team 

and taking the brand to another 

level. I’m a big believer in working 

together and working towards a 

common goal. 

every second of it.” 

In his appointment to 

General Manager, Deep 

will leverage his expertise 

to lead the growing team 

and optimise operational 

efficiency. One of the key 

areas of focus will be to 

enhance the guest experience. 

Recognising the pivotal 

role of client satisfaction, 

he says his aim is to elevate 

service standards, ensuring 

personalised interactions, 

and fostering a culture of 

excellence. 

Following Mark Wylie’s 

recent appointment to 

CEO, and the establishment 

of a Board of Directors 

to be announced, this 

appointment marks another 

exciting step in Montana 

Group’s journey towards 

continued growth and food 

and service excellence. 

Montana Group is a 

specialist food and events 

management business, 

operating several brands in 

the upper North Island with 

a range of food, service, and 

event operations. With 11 

brands and more than 30 

kitchens across two cities, the 

Group is now recognised as 

the largest, privately-owned 

caterer in New Zealand, 

employing close to 1,000 

people across Auckland and 

Waikato. 

Montana Food and Events 

(MFE) - the Group’s premier 

Waikato corporate catering 

brand - is the exclusive and 

preferred catering partner 

at H3 Group venues FMG 

Stadium Waikato and 

Claudelands Events Centre 

and various other venues 

through the region. 

MFE is also a preferred 

supplier at Fieldays 

2023. They’re committed 

to showcasing the best 

ingredients the Waikato 

region has to offer with 

exclusively curated catering 

packages for exhibitors this 

coming June. 

Amardeep Khasariya, General Manager Montana Food & Events 

For enquiries, email info@montanafoodandevents.co.nz or 

visit montanafoodandevents.co.nz for more information. 

Montana Group Head Office 

Gate 6, Claudelands Events Centre, 

Brooklyn Road, Hamilton 3240, New Zealand 

PO Box 546, Waikato Mail Centre, Hamilton 3240


Peacocke 

set to deliver 

millions in 

savings for 

Hamilton 

ratepayers 

Update on Peacocke programme 

funding shines light on bright future 

for Hamilton’s next greenfield 

development area. 

Hamilton City Council’s 

biggest investment 

into a new growth area 

is on track to deliver up to $80 

million in interest savings for 

ratepayers. 

The financial and economic 

benefits had by the city since 

unlocking Peacocke for new 

homes in 2018 is outlined in a 

staff report to the recent Strategic 

Growth and District Plan 

Committee. 

Future development in Peacocke 

is made possible largely 

due to the $290.4 million 

Housing Infrastructure Fund 

package from central government 

to build the three waters 

and transport infrastructure 

required to support a new community. 

The package included 

a $180.4 million 10-year interest 

free loan and $110.1 million 

in Waka Kotahi NZ Transport 

Agency subsidies. 

Committee chair councillor 

Ryan Hamilton says the hightrust 

funding model enabled 

the city to get on with the job 

and is largely on track with 

milestones set out in the agreement 

with government. 

“Receiving upfront investment 

from central government 

was a real game-changer for 

Peacocke and made it possible 

to unlock the area for future 

housing developments in a 

financially sustainable way for 

council, the community and 

ratepayers.” 

Projected savings from the 

interest-free loans could be 

between $70 million up to $80 

million and represent significant 

financial benefit to the city. 

We know the 

market has changed 

recently and it’s a 

tough economic 

environment for 

developers given 

the downturn in the 

housing market 

Other economic benefits 

outlined in the report include 

the creation of local jobs, with 

major project elements completed 

by medium-sized businesses 

both in Hamilton and 

around the country. Infrastructure 

projects for Peacocke 

have boosted economic activity 

to the tune of $242 million 

– that’s equivalent to 20,000 

full-time jobs for the first five 

years of the programme. 

It’s not just how Peacocke 

stacks up financially that makes 

it a game changer for the city, 

it’s also the social, environmental 

and cultural benefits that are 

a core part of the programme,” 

Hamilton says. 

“People and the environment 

have been at the 

heart of planning for the 

new community.” 

Alongside the significant 

infrastructure programme, 

Peacocke is 

council’s biggest neighbourhood 

investment in 

the environment. Work 

has already started to 

deliver new wetlands, 

protect habitats for native 

lizards and bats, restore 

1.5 hectares of the Mangakootututuku 

Gully network 

and extensive planting 

of new trees and plants. 

Working in partnership 

with iwi and hapuu has seen 

the whole city benefit. Cultural 

symbolism and artwork, 

tikanga and tangata whenua 

values and storytelling have 

been incorporated into the 

delivery of infrastructure and 

community projects. 

The report acknowledges 

the programme has not been 

without its challenges. The 

impact of the COVID-19 

pandemic, global economic 

uncertainty and market focus 

on infill development have 

created strong headwinds for 

residential developers. While 

housing delivery is tracking 

slightly slower than expected, 

several major developments 

are consented including a 

1100-home residential development 

and 230-unit retirement 

village. 

“We know the market has 

changed recently and it’s a 

tough economic environment 

for developers given the downturn 

in the housing market and 

the huge cost increases of materials 

and fuel. Some developers 

are being cautious while others 

are pressing ahead as best as 

they can to start developments 

in Peacocke,” Hamilton says. 

“We’ve been ambitious 

when it comes to enabling 

development in Peacocke and 

demonstrated we can deliver a 

complex and large programme 

despite local and global 

challenges.” 

Peacocke is ready for the 

next stage of new homes with 

the updated structure plan in 

place now and key water and 

transport infrastructure on 

track to be completed by the 

end of 2023. 

PEACOCKE - BY THE NUMBERS - SO FAR: 

• 200,000 native plants planted. 

• Up to $80 million in interest savings due to interest-free 

Housing Infrastructure Fund loan. 

• $242 million infrastructure project spending since 2018. 

• Nearly 2000 homes expected in the area by 2028. 

• 400 concrete panels cast from hand-carved moulds 

form the new Waikato River bridge foundations. 

• 16 new neighbourhood parks planned for future stages 

of development. 

• 41% of installed ‘bat boxes’ artificial roosts used by bats. 

• 7 hectare sports park secured for future development. 

Peacocke is being built with 

the support from the Government’s 

Housing Infrastructure 

Fund, made up of a $180.3 

million 10-year interest-free 

loan and $110.1 million of 

Waka Kotahi NZ Transport 

Agency subsidies. 

The Peacocke programme 

will deliver a new bridge, a 

transport network that caters 

for public transport, pedestrians 

and cyclists, parks, and 

strategic water, wastewater 

and stormwater networks. 

Other work includes protecting 

and enhancing the environment, 

including the extensive 

gully system, opening the 

area to the Waikato River, and 

investigating community facilities 

which are also important 

parts of creating a new community 

in Peacocke. 

When completed, Peacocke 

will be home for up to 20,000 

Hamiltonians. 

Ultra Charging 

at Ebbett VW 

With electric vehicles 

becoming more 

popular, the team 

at Ebbett Volkswagen have 

installed fast EV chargers 

on-site at their Te Kowhai East 

Road location. Their ultrafast 

175kw charger delivers 

a whooping 320km range 

in just 30 minutes meaning 

you’ve just got time to pop 

into the dealership and enjoy 

a complimentary coffee before 

your vehicle is topped up and 

ready to go. It’s open 24/7 

to the public and is straightforward 

to use through 

ChargeNet app. 

https://www.welovevw.nz/ 

story/ultra-fast-charging-atebbett-vw 

https://charge.net.nz/

Company-X wins 

ExportNZ Top Tech 

ExportNZ Top Tech 

WAIKATO BUSINESS NEWS, MAY/JUNE 

MAY/JUNE 

2023 

2023 5 

Companies Life changing award 

Companies award programme 

Company-X is acknowledged as one of the humanlike voices, and the Best 

gets Company-X backing 

Innovation 

humanlike Award voices, at the and Hamilton the Best 

Top Company-X Tech Companies is acknowledged of 2022 as by one ExportNZ. of the 

Central Professional Business Service Association Innovation 

first Awards. at the Hamilton 

Top Tech Companies of 2022 by ExportNZ. 

Co-founder Company-X and backed director many growth through good the causes COVID-19 in its CBD decade in business. Co-founders 

Jeremy Hughes was presented 

directors with and the Jeremy award director at growth Hughes Company-X through and the COVID-19 David supplied Hallett ny-X CBD Awards. share their favourites. 

pandemic. 

Central Members Business of the Association Compa- 

Co-founder and 

the 50th anniversary team won Women in 

celebration 

of sented ExportNZ with the at award Zealong at enabled Company-X clients teams supplied to demic ny-X team and the won Microsoft the Women Most in 

pre- 

software pandemic. and hardware that ICT Members Awards during of the the Compa- 

pan- 

Tea the 

A 

50th Estate, life-changing 

anniversary Hamilton, celebration 

by of programme 

ExportNZ director at designed Zealong of remote enabled demic, teaching assistance clients three teams to lessons team to Skills demic talented Challenge. and women,” the Microsoft Nikora Most said. “It’s wonderful to see both 

on June work software tive before 

from and the 

home 

COVID-19 hardware and provide 

pan- 

that Valued ICT ing alongside Awards Professional during some extremely the Global pan- 

Mary said. 

9, 

advocacy Tea Estate, to Catherine attract Hamilton, Beard secondary 

June and members work for two from Year or home clients 10 classes and still provide in with the Valued “I’m “So, one honoured Professional my goals Company-X for Global this students CONGRATULATIONS: and teachers Company-X sharing 

‘light bulb moments’ when 

co-founder and director Jeremy Hughes, 

Employers 9, school by ExportNZ pupils and into Manufacturers director careers of in field. remote her colleague assistance Karen to Moore. team was Skills engagement recognised Challenge. would with be this to award share 

Association advocacy science, Catherine technology, board Beard member engineering, 

Birch. and Manufacturers 

and members It followed During or the years clients pandemic working still in Company-X 

field. 

the of and that “I’m perspective feel honoured extremely with Company-X 

left, 

students proud,” they CONGRATULATIONS: 

receives the ExportNZ 

discover a new way Company-X 

Top Tech 

about co-founder 

Companies 

and 

of 

director 

2022 certificate. 

Jeremy Hughes, 

Colin Employers 

and mathematics the software won a specialist Reseller working 

with Hamilton Award pandemic 

News Hughes was 

as a 

recognised 

vision said. of 

with 

what 

this 

they 

award 

can what left, receives they are the learning ExportNZ or Top Tech Companies of 2022 certificate. 

Association 

(STEM) Company-X board 

is again was member 

backed nominated 

Colin Birch. 

by Innovation During the 

Boys’ for Company-X 

High Voxcoda, 

and 

become.” “For feel me extremely it’s confirmation proud,” been teaching doing.” applies outside of the added: “Our team has successfully 

A Hamilton navigated Girls’ the High headwinds School student growth. washes It’s wonderful her hands to in a be 

winning awards and achieving 

software by New specialist Zealand Company-X. 

Trade School a won 

pupils software a Reseller 

through as a the service News 

initiative. 

of Hughes 

Smart our said. amazing Waikato Chief team Executive 

fantastic me it’s 

and classroom. Company-X It’s a powerful co-founder and 

and Company-X Enterprise because was nominated 

by New Zealand Trade coda, a software as a service of our amazing team and Company-X co-founder fully navigated the headwinds growth. It’s wonderful to be 

of its solution Innovation that Award turns for text Vox- 

into the “For 

Mary Jensen work confirmation 

said they’ve SSEP 

and been doing.” 

transformative.” 

director David Hallett of added: virtual the “Our reality COVID-19 team dairy has shed. pandemic, success- 

recognised winning awards for this.” and achieving 

and Hamilton Enterprise because Girls’ of High its solution “We’re that excited turns to text continue into the transforms fantastic the work way students they’ve and Company-X director David co-founder Hallett of the COVID-19 pandemic, recognised for this.” 

School is welcoming the Company-X 

team back into the Waikato and the SSEP pro- 

their subjects apply in a work- 

described the initiative as a they were training.” 

Cultivate Trust is a col- 

our partnership with Smart learn by showing them how and director Jeremy Hughes 

women doing these things as workers. 

classroom through Smart gramme this year,” said Moore. place setting. 

personal favourite as it shifted Fellow Company-X lective of private businesses, 

Multi-award-winning 

Waikato’s award-winning Secondary 

School Employer Part- 

world’ Multi-award-winning 

SSEP provides a “real “Thousands of students perception from geeky to creativity, 

inventiveness, software 

co-founder and director David education providers, and 

software 

application of the curriculum 

and exposes stu- 

having business people in their problem- solving. 

their teacher they were interpany-X, 

who are enthusias- 

involved in SSEP have told us 

specialist 

and Hallett said more girls had specialist 

told public entities, including Comnership. 

Company-X aims to 

inspire Girls’ High pupils to dents shares to a wide range of career school and visiting workplaces The team recalls excited ested in STEM careers after tic about growing the Waikato 

smash stereotypes and consider 

careers in the male domiside 

opportunities inside and out- 

has impacted their engagement, 

achievement 

feedback from a previous session. 

“That was so cool,” one “We reached them at the “Our goal is to relocate 500 

hearing from Company-X. technology ecosystem. 

shares 

tips 

of the classroom. SSEP is a 

tips 

and 

and 

tricks 

and future 

tricks 

in 

in 

new 

new 

book 

book 

Company-X 

nated STEM subjects. 

framework adapted 

senior 

to fit each 

software 

Kaupapa, curricu- 

Microsoft, Azure Architec- 

2015, based on his impact to stack to learn how to develop as in-depth on the fundamen- 

knowledge 

aspirations. 

in 

More 

this area.” 

than 80 percent 

of 2909 surveyed say it Primrose and Moore. 

certainly got them thinking companies in the Waikato,” 

been 

of the 

awarded 

Girls’ High 

every 

pupils 

year since 

told 

work 

right stage 

and Microsoft 

at the right 

developer 

time and skilled 

Unity-specific 

workers 

books, 

to technology 

few go 

Women only make up 20 school’s Company-X Chen has senior written software 

guide to creating Manager Microsoft, of Architectural Azure Architec- 

Pubmunity.) 

2015, based As on you his can impact imag- 

to and stack how to learn to take how your to games develop to how as in-depth to integrate on the with fundamen- 

Azure 

the ture knowledge Center in Senior this area.” Program the been Microsoft awarded every developer year com- 

since with work the and Unity Microsoft game developer engine tals Unity-specific of game development books, few and go 

percent of the workforce in lum and local industries. Companies 

Chen work with has Unity across written 3D, a whole 2D, the lishing ture why they Center Ed are Price studying Senior is raving Program the about subine, 

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soft- 

with their next the desire level!” Unity to their game teacher engine Soda cloud tals of services,” Chief game development Executive Horner said. Erin and 

has helped them understand “It completely revised my about it. And a cohort voiced said Cultivate Trust Chair and 

ultimate 

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according to Auckland University 

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augmented ultimate cohort of students guide and virtual to at creating second- 

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Tech. 

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gold,” said and familiarise I was give happy them software with a high-level that. develop- 

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percent is I’m Chen Developer going also to do.” won Technologies,” Microsoft’s ers Chen “That with the was wrote Unity a cool the game outcome. book engine to ent Unity, “It covers necessary there's so to much probably support that some- 

roles even 

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pupils will also spend time in Unity Game Stack. 

students for to .NET immerse Developers themselves 

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Hughes. Cloud also won Skills Microsoft’s Challenge understanding with the Unity 

wanted to do something of the game Microsoft engine 

about relations, knowledge. Unity, there's I and can probably easily marketing, recommenthing 

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some- 

the Company-X office, meet was Game 

into a by STEM Packt in related May. with and they could Unity as a Field 

achieve.” gaming Engineer. stack He’s for in Most 2021 Valuable 

“We changed with a prototype Professional 

the life of app at Azure and give 

women Cloud. them a high-level 

being underrepresented 

Reviewer of 

wherever the jobs are.” 

Unity 

more team members and get pathway “I was for 

especially approached .NET Developers 

within by Packt the over been 

SSEP 9 working years. also He’s in this 

has a member .NET 

positive using Global 

least one artificial Cloud Skills 

girl. intelligence Challenge 

We supported to understanding 

in the technology Justin the Microsoft Horner knowledge. 

workforce.” 

Game Hallett Development I can easily recommend 

it.” 

described the buzz with 

via was published 

first-hand experience with tech sector,” 

LinkedIn,” by Packt 

Moore 

Chen in May. 

said. 

said. of and 

impact 

the Unity .NET gaming 

on teaching 

Foundation, stack 

staff, with 

and for diagnose in 2021 with 

the initiative 

pneumonia. a prototype app 

to attract more 

said Azure The Cloud. Ultimate Guide was 

that 

Unity 

Tech 

for 

In 

.NET 

The 

Developers 

Tron had created 

as exciting. 

is 

AUTHOR: Company-X “I decided “I was approached I would write by Packt the he’s over been 9 years. a Microsoft He’s a member MVP using “In artificial other words, intelligence Jiadong to is the Reviewer perfect description Justin Horner of the available Game from Development Amazon.com with 

senior mixed reality software technologies. Moore is joined in the initiative 

this year by Company-X dents saying the real-life con- 

careers. Women in tech talk 

Cultivate Trust’s Tech in “We’re seeing results, 

96 percent of teacher respon- 

women into technology related The programme aligns with 

book via LinkedIn,” because it felt Chen like a good said. (Most of the Valuable .NET Foundation, Professional) and the diagnose perfect pneumonia. person to teach you book. said The Ultimate Guide was priced Unity for $32.39 .NET in Kindle Developers edition is 

AUTHOR: Reseller Company-X News Women in 

developer Jiadong Chen. opportunity “I decided I to would express write my the for he’s 6 been years. a (That Microsoft means MVP he’s how “In to other use the words, .NET Jiadong Frame- 

is the “While perfect I've description read quite of a few the and available $44.99 from in paperback Amazon.com 

senior Information software and Communications 

Technology Jiadong Chen. finalist opportunity Wintec lecturer to Mark express Nikora. my for the subject 6 years. area (That supports means their he’s how gle it to was. use How the .NET they Frame- 

had to last “While year to I've grow read the quite Waika- 

a few also and $44.99 attracting paperback people into the 

book software because developer it felt and like former a good (Most text offered Valuable by employers Professional) in the about perfect what person an immense to teach strug- 

you book. the Tron initiative launched attracting priced $32.39 skilled in Kindle workers, edition but 

developer 

Rachel Primrose led the initia- 

“I am fortunate to be work- professional development, deal with pre-built perceptions to’s tech sector by 500 skilled sector.” 

“The foundation has been set a 

Company-X and the Road Efficiency Group long time ago, and it's great to 

see “The the foundation rewards has being been reaped, set a 

Company-X and the Road Efficiency Group the long recognition time ago, given.” and it's great to 

finalist in coveted innovation Tech talent 

“When we work with Company-X 

there's always fresh lade the recognition for Company-X's given.” unique 

see "This the rewards is just another being reaped, acco- 

awards 

thoughts “When coming we work into with the Company-X 

there's Lange always said. “The fresh Manager lade for Company-X's Andrew McKillop. unique 

conversations,” 

work", "This said is just REG another Programme acco- 

finalist in coveted innovation 

The 

Company-X is always CV 

awards 

in hand from the University 

of Waikato 

region’s burgeoning technology 

sector. 

Hallett said Company-X’s 

team who built the vation Award for the REG The latest award recognises chair Jim Harland said the 

world’s first national Insights portal in May. partners looking delivering for exceptional customer placement in the 

and 

awards 

Wintec 

was 

for 

a sector thoughts is really coming appreciative into the conversations,” 

They information learned Lange that how they're said. Com- 

“The get- 

depth Manager cement of the Andrew asset region’s management reputation McKillop. 

of "Their work", experience 

skills, said at REG coupled 

the event Programme with 

helped 

the 

The roading team who performance built the vation REG Award Insights for gives the Waka REG innovation The talent, latest headquartered award and the recognises software outside 

partners specialist of the delivering found two most-populated 

it customer the Tech of placement with a the decade’s region’s in the work awards top providing technolo- 

was a ting sector pany-X out is of only really it.” hires appreciative the bright- 

of knowledge "Their for producing skills, within coupled top technology the with REG the 

tremendous chair a chance Jim to Harland share acknowledgement 

their said stories the the 

reporting and data quality Kotahi Insights NZ portal Transport in May. Agency, 

assurance roading tool is performance celebrating city, REG and Insights district councils gives Waka the metropolitan innovation Student Speed headquartered areas Networking the countryside 

event REG of at the Insights Waikato two most-populated was Innovation one of transport of a Company-X decade’s sector. work hosted providing more ager ting ware out developers and of it.” Sector to sit Excellence software mative knowledge “It was partnership heartening within the creating to REG meet 

out- 

better tremendous gists. information acknowledgement across the the est Waka information and the Kotahi best, that System asking they're Man- 

soft- 

get- 

team, depth talent. leads of asset to a truly management transfor- 

being reporting named and a finalist data in quality New ability Kotahi to NZ interrogate Transport data Agency, qual- 

Zealand’s assurance most tool is coveted celebrating inno- 

city, and and measure district councils performance the a metropolitan 

Park. handful of areas projects in the that country. 

REG Company-X Insights was 

also better 

than Waka a 

information 

score of Kotahi students 

across Senior during 

the Workgroup development 

Waka Kotahi chair tests 

System Roger before Brady Manager 

being valuable team, 

so many 

leads tools students 

to for a truly the with transport transformative 

partnership creating 

real 

vation being named awards. a finalist in New trends ability on to a interrogate national framework. data quality 

and project measure took performance the entire ton a handful 

won was the one Hamil- 

one of 

of 14 Investment transport sector. 

the event. Auditor and REG said interviewed he and was Sector 

for “really a position. stoked Excellence and sector." potential in the sector,” Hallett 

REG tools 

Zealand’s Hamilton most software coveted specialisvation 

Company-X awards. and its client roading trends on sector a national a journey framework. and tion won 

inno- 

The technology Central of 

businesses Business projects that Associa- 

also 

invited Insights Waka 

They Product Kotahi 

chatted with Owner Senior 

Company-X 

co-founder 

Tony excited” Workgroup 

“I was about chair 

very the Roger 

impressed recognition Brady valuable 

with said. Insights for the was transport also a 

by 

Best Company-X 

Waikato 

Professional the 

regional 

Services Hamilton 

Central Award Business February. Associa- 

be Insights acknowledged Product Owner for what Tony the excited” “It's a about small the recognition recognition of Govtech REG Insights Award at was the also 2021 a 

economic 

development agency Te David Hallett, professional ser- 

their enthusiasm for the work,” tivate Trust’s Tech In The Tron 

Lange Investment said Auditor was 

and 

fantastic and REG 

director 

to REG said he 

the quality Insights was “really 

of had the received. stoked and 

students and finalist sector." 

“Company-X 

in the Excellence 

is backing Cul- 

in 

the Hamilton Road Efficiency software specialist 

Company-X was a finalist and its in client the 

roading the area sector of on evidence-based 

a journey and tion Waimakariri Best Professional District Services Coun- 

partnership Lange said between it was fantastic REG and to the REG great Insights work had that received. REG has New finalist Zealand in the Excellence Excellence in IT in 

Group significantly The project moved took the it forward entire Innovation 

(REG) 

Waka to meet with pre- and vices manager Michael Hamid Hamid said. 

campaign to attract 500 more 

Reseller the Road News Efficiency NZ-Wide Group Inno- 

decision significantly making. moved it forward cil Innovation chief executive Award in February. and REG Company-X be acknowledged had produced. for what the done “It's over a small the years,” recognition he said. of Awards. Govtech Award the 2021 

(REG) Company-X was professional a finalist in services the in manager the area Michael of evidence-based 

Hamid, post-graduate Waimakariri technology District Councidents 

stu- 

partnership and communications between REG manager 

and the “There great work is definitely that REG a lot has of New skilled Zealand workers Excellence into the region’s in IT 

Reseller left, and News co-founder NZ-Wide and Inno- 

director decision David Hallett, making. meet tech 

students Kushal Patel and Cody Pamment, right. 

chief on May executive 18. and REG 

More than 70 students came 

Chris Gardner had produced. about their 

Company-X 

aspirations to help grow the 

done potential over in the Waikato years,” tech he graduates.” 

said. Awards. tech sector, and this initiative 

will help us achieve that goal.” 

Navigate the 

Navigate the 

digital landscape 

digital landscape 

with us 

with us

1. 

2. 3. 

4. 

Out & 

AB 

UT 

5. 

Waikato Business 

Awards Launch Event 

The Waikato Chamber of Commerce recently hosted the 

launch event for the 2023 Waikato Business Awards at 

the Te Rapa premises of 2022 Supreme Award winners 

Profile Group Ltd (PPL). Sponsors and advocates of the awards 

as well as prospective entrants attended the event. 

The evening included speeches from head judge from 

The University of Waikato, Heather Connolly, Craig Vincent 

from Profile Group Ltd, Jo Franzen from Aware Group, 2022 

Emerging Leader Winner and Claire van der most, HMS Trust, 

2022 For Purpose Winner. 

Entries to the Business Awards are open until 30 June 

at www.waikatochamber.co.nz/business-awards-2023 

7. 8. 

1. Jenny MacGregor, Heather Connolly, Claire van der Most 

2. Trish Stockman, Collette Fergus | 3. Penni Schaare, Penny 

Covic | 4. Fraser Paine, Anna Mulligan, Megan Matthews 

5. Karina Missen, Pat Mellsop, Carly Jackson | 6. Mark 

Geenty, Jo Goodwin, Sam Cammock, Devesh Singh | 7. Vicky 

McLennan, John Wilkinson, Claire van der Most | 8. Neave 

O'Toole, Amy Andrews, Reuben Kovaleski, Kara Seddon 

6. 

1. 

Ten Years at Company-X 

Company-X had a blast celebrating its 10th anniversary 

with clients, suppliers, partners, and friends at 

Gothenburg Restaurant on June 1. 

Photo credit Stephen Barker. 

2. 

1. Hamilton City Council's Susan Souren, Ekoyou's Mike 

Overwater and Company-X's Jeremy Hughes | 2. Company-X 

co-founders Jeremy Hughes and David Hallett with some of the 

team | 3. Company-X co-founders David Hallett and Jeremy 

Hughes | 4. MBIE's Manujon Pemerika, Zealong's Sen Kong, 

Healthlink's Clifford Wilson, Te Awa Lakes' Lale and Marina 

Ieremia and Company-X's David Hallett | 5. Company-X's Chris 

Gardner and Hamilton City Council's Mike Bennett 

6. Company-X co-founders Jeremy Hughes and David Hallett 

with guests | 7. Margaret Devlin, Cancer Society's Sharon 

Robertson and Fieldays' Peter Nation 

4. 

3. 

5. 6. 7.


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and approvals. © Te Wānanga o Aotearoa. May 2023


Riding the wave: Keeping your 

cool as mortgage rates rise 

About ten years ago, I decided I’d like to 

be a half-decent surfer. So like all aspiring, 

fresh-faced wave riders, I bought a board 

and headed out to Raglan to get my fix 

and learn my new sport. 

But watching surf 

competitions and being 

out there in the waves 

is quite a different thing - and 

quite frankly, I wasn’t very 

good. 

A little like when purchasing 

your first home and you’re 

learning about the market, 

deposits and interest rates, I 

started to understand wave 

patterns, learned to pick the 

right ones for my skill level, 

and built strength in my arms 

for paddling. 

There’s nothing quite like 

picking up a pearler of a wave. 

The sun is shining, your paddling 

game is strong, and 

you’re making subtle turns 

in all the right places. I think 

we’ve enjoyed conditions like 

these in the housing market 

over the past few years. Interest 

rates are low, the market is 

strong, optimism is high, and 

things seem to come together 

seamlessly. 

But what happens when 

these things change? 

Interest rates have now 

been on the rise for over a 

year, and they’ve increased 

the fastest they ever have. So 

it stands to reason that after 

the most recent rise, people 

are feeling a little like they’re 

on a wave about to dump them 

on the ocean floor. 

But, it’s not all doom 

and gloom - we’ve been here 

before, several times - and 

now is a perfect opportunity 

for homeowners to relook at 

their financial situation. 

With rising home loan 

rates, reviewing your budget, 

assessing your income and 

expenses, and re-evaluating 

your long-term financial goals 

are essential. This helps identify 

the right financing options 

that suit your needs and 

circumstances. 

It's also important to seek 

guidance from experts in 

the field. Collaborating with 

mortgage advisers, financial 

BEYOND THE 

BANKS 

BY CLAIRE WILLIAMSON 

Claire Williamson is a mortgage 

advisor for My Mortgage 

Company-X user 

experience lead a 

finalist in the Te Hapori 

Matihiko Awards 

forward with your goals. 

There are also other levers 

to pull in this space such as 

interest only, or loan term 

extension which can help 

reduce the burden of higher 

rates and free up more money 

each week to meet the slightly 

higher costs of living. 

Prioritising debt reduction 

is another critical aspect 

of successful home ownership. 

By paying off high-interest 

debt such as personal 

loans or credit cards, you can 

free up more funds for your 

home loan repayments and 

ultimately reduce your overall 

debt burden. 

Maintaining an emergency 

fund and setting a budget 

to manage your money so 

there are no surprises, is also 

a really good idea. A savings 

buffer can help you weather 

any unexpected financial 

challenges, such as job loss 

or medical expenses. Budgeting 

can reduce stress of the 

unknown and helps you put 

your best foot forward with 

confidence. 

So while the seas might be 

a bit stormy right now, there 

is sunshine on the horizon. 

We’re expecting interest rates 

advisors, accountants, or real 

estate agents can offer valuable 

perspectives on the market 

and help you determine 

the best course of action. 

Exploring different refinancing 

options can also be a 

powerful way to secure a lower 

interest rate, reduce your 

monthly repayments, and ultimately 

save you money over 

the long term, and we’re working 

with a lot of our clients 

considering these options. 

However, it's important to 

weigh the costs and benefits of 

refinancing before making any 

decisions, and your adviser 

will help ensure you’re moving to start levelling off towards 


the end of 2023, and from 

there, we should see some 

decreases in early 2024. 

In the meantime, staying 

calm, controlling what’s 

within your sphere and 

leaning on experts around you 

will help you get through the 

bumpier times. 

And I’ll keep working on 

my surfing technique, ready 

for the next perfect wave. 

Company-X user experience 

(UX) lead Hohepa 

(Cory) McKenzie has 

been named a finalist in the Te 

Hapori Matihiko Awards. 

McKenzie is a finalist in the 

Whiua ki te Ao (Take it to the 

World) category for contribution 

to global projects in digital 

and tech. 

McKenzie has been leading 

UX design for US multinational 

Cisco Systems Inc’s 

Mergers and Acquisitions Hub 

since 2021. The hub manages 

Cisco’s acquisitions and its 

integration process. 

Company-X Software Engineer 

Mark Nikora, who works 

alongside McKenzie on the 

project, nominated him for the 

award. 

Nikora said he was “over 

the moon” that McKenzie was 

a finalist. 

“When you look at the 

‘before UX design’ and then 

the ‘after UX design’ versions 

of things you can see the footprint 

of someone who has a 

deep drive for making a product 

a success,” Nikora said. 

“Meticulous. Understanding. 

Passionate. It is a pleasure 

to see Cory’s work.” 

Company-X project technical 

lead Jake Wilkinson said: 

“Over the past two years, Cory 

has played a pivotal role in revolutionising 

the project’s digital 

and tech landscape. What 

began as a consulting position 

for a brief period of three 

months quickly transformed 

into a full-time commitment, 

as it became evident that 

Cory’s remarkable skills were 

indispensable for the project’s 

success. 

“Beyond his remarkable 

technical contributions, Cory 

has also revolutionised the 

stakeholder engagement processes. 

Through his ingenious 

strategies, he has facilitated 

simultaneous cross-continental 

focus groups with various 

levels of user groups. This 

approach has not only streamlined 

stakeholder feedback 

but has also facilitated more 

effective decision-making and 

alignment across global teams. 

“Cory’s exceptional contributions 

to global projects in 

the digital and tech domain 

make him an outstanding candidate 

for this award. His ability 

to blend technical expertise, 

innovative thinking, and 

leadership skills has had a profound 

impact on Cisco’s project 

and the wider industry.” 

Cisco group product manager 

Chris DeMaio said: “I’ve 

been working with Cory at 

Cisco for roughly the past two 

years. He’s got a great eye 

for design and really understands 

how to create component-based 

interfaces that are 

easy to use and offer value to 

the enterprise. Cory’s ability 

to deal with complex business 

workflows, serving a wide 

range of stakeholders, is amazing 

to say the least.” 

Company-X user interface 

(UI) and UX consultant 

Briana Christey said: “Cory 

Company-X senior user experience lead Cory McKenzie, left, with software architect 

Luke McGregor 

has established a presence for 

UX Waikato on LinkedIn and 

co-organises regular group 

meetups to connect, inspire 

and support UX/UI designers 

in the Waikato region, both 

those who are well-established 

in their careers, and those who 

are just starting out. 

“In the group, Cory is a 

thought leader on industry 

trends, design best practices 

and resources. His wealth of 

experience as a designer, coupled 

with his real passion for 

UX/UI, make him a valuable 

contributor and mentor for 

other designers in our region. 

He regularly shares resources 

such as design podcasts, articles, 

and emerging tools and 

technologies, and facilitates 

conversations that enable 

other designers to level up 

their craft.” 

McKenzie heard he was 

shortlisted on Tuesday night. 

Asked how he felt on Wednesday 

morning he said: “Amazing. 

Humbled. Still in shock. 

I never thought I would be a 

finalist for an award like this. 

It just goes to show with the 

right focus and attitude doors 

open for you where you least 

expect it.” 

Matihiko Award winners 

will be announced at a celebration 

of Māori contribution to 

digital and tech on July 7 at Te 

Rauparaha Arena in Porirua. 

There are 11 categories with 

a Totara (leader) and a Tipu 

(emergent leader) due to be 

announced.

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10 

Fieldays Innovation 

winners driving growth 

and sustainability 

In addition to commemorating its 55th anniversary, Fieldays 

is also proudly celebrating 55 years of highlighting and 

supporting innovation in the primary sector. 

The Fieldays Innovation 

Award winners, exemplify 

the full innovation 

lifecycle, encompassing three 

award categories: Prototype, 

Early-Stage, and Growth & 

Scale. 

The judging process 

involved the expertise of 

numerous judges, who lent 

their insight and knowledge to 

identify the most remarkable 

innovations. The awards also 

paid tribute to the younger generation 

of innovators, culminating 

in the presentation of 

the prestigious Fieldays Young 

Innovator of the Year Award. 

Peter Nation CEO of New 

Zealand National Fieldays Society, 

once again acknowledged 

the standard of entrants and 

their willingness to give it a go. 

“Fieldays is the home of innovation 

and it started here in 1968 

with Shoof owner Geoff Laurent 

taking money tagged by wife 

Bev for a family couch purchase 

and entered the awards instead. 

Highlighting the Kiwi number 8 

wire mentality of having a crack 

and backing yourself. That 

braveness and can-do attitude 

is again evident in this year’s 

entrants,” said Nation. 

This year’s keynote speaker 

at the Awards gala knows 

exactly what it's like to be part 

of the Fieldays Innovation journey 

and award process with 

their company launching their 

prototype bike in 2016 and winning 

the International Innovation 

Award in 2018. 

Former Board Chair and 

CEO of UBCO Bikes Katherine 

Sandford spoke about the 

UBCO concept and the journey 

the team are on. The transitions 

made in the past 10 years have 

been significant and swift and 

not without challenges. Sandford 

encouraged the audience 

to “Stick with it. It takes time, 

it takes investment, and it takes 

a lot of patience. For those out 

there just beginning their journey 

where you get to in the end 

is pretty special.” 

The 2023 Young Innovator 

of the Year Award winner 

was St Paul’s Collegiate 

School with their Capra Skin 

Goats Milk lip balm. The student 

group who placed in the 

top three of the school’s version 

of the Shark Tank, the St Paul’s 

2023 Crocodile Pit. Where students 

are put to the test to create 

a new agri-business product 

and service and learn the process 

of pitching innovation and 

business strategy. 

The judges commented how 

the group had identified a need, 

formulating steps and iteration 

to come up with a final product 

to make a real difference to its 

target market of youth combining 

primary products and the 

benefits that come with these. 

The 2023 Prototype 

Award winner was local 

dairy pioneers Waikato Milking 

Systems for their ErgoPOD. 

Aimed at both the local and 

international market, the Ergo- 

POD provides a step change in 

milking and revolutionises the 

way cups are presented and 

managed in the milking shed. 

It exemplifies what can be 

achieved when solid design is 

combined with innovative idea 

generation, deliberate simplification 

and effective root cause 

analysis. With just the right 

amount of automation, the 

ErgoPOD reduces injury risks, 

halves the time to apply milking 

cups, removes multiple hazards 

for a cow entering and leaving 

the milking platform, creates 

opportunities for precise measurement 

and control of milk 

quality, and even speeds up the 

process of cows exiting a rotary 

milking platform. 

Early-Stage Award winner 

for 2023 was won by 

eClean Envirotech. Exhibiting 

within the new Fieldays Sustainability 

Hub this year, this 

team has blended strong contemporary 

science and Mātauranga 

Māori in an authentic 

way. With kawa and tikanga of 

traditional Māori science. 

Their application of scientific 

theory with a practical 

application impressed the 

judges. They have partnered 

well with an engineering firm 

and have the ability to manufacture 

from the beginning 

and have already achieved 

early commercial success. The 

IP strategy and go to market is 

clearly articulated for NZ and 

export. 

The final award of the evening, 

the 2023 Growth & 

Scale Award went to first time 

entrants Wilderlab. 

Again, exhibiting in the Sustainability 

Hub showcasing the 

collaboration and innovation 

around sustainability practises 

and principles is a key driver in 

the primary industries. 

Wilderlab embody a unique 

New Zealand approach to 

protecting and mapping our 

environment through their 

environmental DNA monitoring 

solution. The judges were 

impressed with the novel technology, 

multiple avenues for 

growth and strong commitment 

to values that epitomise 

the best of New Zealand. Make 

us proud! whose hardware 

and software solutions work 

together with the end goal of 

creating swimmable oceans, 

rivers and streams by providing 

a network of real-time water 

quality information. 

Steve Chappell, Fieldays 

programme manager, says 

that the calibre of this year’s 

entrants was incredibly high 

and even more outstanding 

considering despite the quick 

turnaround. 

“This demonstrates how the 

innovation eco-system is thriving, 

it’s fantastic. The judges 

had a difficult time selecting the 

winners and we echo their sentiment 

and wish the entrants 

luck for the future”. 

Honourable mentions by 

the judges were given to St. 

Paul’s Collegiates Post Wizard 

team – an effective solution to 

a back-breaking problem, SPS 

Automation for the impressive 

way that they are implementing 

AI tools to enable massive 

improvements in the control 

of invasive plant species in 

Aotearoa and Levno for their 

Levno for Milk innovation. The 

judges said their clarity of purpose 

and progress in international 

markets deserved a special 

mention. 

The Fieldays Innovation 

Awards provide a global platform 

for the finalists offering 

the opportunity for diplomats, 

ministers, chief executives and 

industry leaders along with 

potential investors visiting 

their sites across the four days 

of Fieldays. The future looks 

bright for the primary industry 

innovators and inventors alike, 

set to build on the strong history 

of the awards and making 

their mark internationally. 

Fieldays Innovation Awards 

are supported by sponsors, 

One NZ, Ministry of Primary 

Industries Amazon Web Services, 

Gait International, King 

St. Advertising, NZME, Sprout 

Agritech, Blender Design, and 

Soda Inc., who all contribute to 

a prize package valued at over 

$60,000. Full details of the 

prizes for each category can be 

viewed on the Fieldays website. 

Fieldays is proud to be the 

home of innovation and appreciates 

the time and effort put 

into the innovations presented 

to judges for the Fieldays Innovation 

Awards. The calibre of 

entrants was exceptionally high 

this year and Fieldays acknowledges 

the hard work of both the 

judges and the participants in 

this year’s competitions. 

Fieldays Innovation 

Awards entries for 2024 are 

open at www.fieldays.co.nz/ 

attend-fieldays/explore/ 

innovation-awards. 

Procuta Associates 

Urban + Architecture 

Contact us 07 839 6521 

www.pauaarchitects.co.nz


Fundraising and 

awareness raising 

go hand in hand 

2023 seems to be the year that many 

organisations are raising funds. 

Many not-for-profits 

are doing it tough 

and now trying to 

make up for lower donations 

during the Covid period. Some 

businesses have experienced a 

few tough years and are ready 

to get back to international 

markets yet require a capital 

injection to achieve their goals. 

No matter what the situation, 

many of you out there are 

looking to external sources for 

funding. And that might mean 

you’re kicking off a donor 

development programme or 

putting together your information 

memorandum (IM) to 

pitch to investors. 

As you start your fundraising 

journey, don’t forget the 

power of executing a communications 

strategy alongside 

your fundraising or capital 

raising campaign. 

There are several reasons 

why it’s important to get your 

communications right during 

this important moment in your 

business cycle: 

Credibility 

No matter if you are a consumer 

looking to donate to 

a charity or a savvy investor 

looking for your next big deal, 

what is one of the sources 

you’ll consult before you 

depart with your money? Google, 

of course. 

So, it’s important that your 

organisation have some positive, 

impactful news stories 

and content online that donors 

or investors can find. 

Think about what good 

news stories you can pitch to 

media who have authoritative 

websites where your story will 

live. Develop a range of your 

own stories for your website 

and promote these through all 

your online channels. 

And remember, one story 

is not enough. Credibility is 

established when you have 

depth of content online that 

boosts your reputation. 

Excitement 

Your communications strategy 

should also be looking at ways 

you can generate excitement 

about your organisation, your 

brand or your products. It’s 

not enough to have credibility 

these days, you also want to 

create a bit of buzz that takes 

your audience from trusting 

you to loving you! 

Think about it – there 

are a lot of charities people 

can donate to that will invest 

those dollars wisely. There are 

numerous good investments 

that will give you a good return 

on your funds. But what stands 

out are organisations who are 

doing unique things, things 

that generate a hubbub around 

their brand or their products. 

So, think about ways you 

can generate a bit of fizz. Can 

you create an event that gains 

attention? Is it through generating 

really interesting videos 

or imagery shared online? Can 

you get some influencers creating 

and sharing content about 

your organisation? 

‘Buzz’ rarely happens by 

chance, so be innovative and 

purposeful. 

Word of Mouth 

At the end of the day, many 

of us donate to a charity that 

either we know personally, or 

our friends have told us about. 

PR AND 

COMMUNICATIONS 

BY HEATHER CLAYCOMB 

Heather Claycomb is director 

of HMC, a Hamilton-based, 

award-winning public 

relations agency. 

And the investor community 

also often relies on conversations 

about the current business 

opportunities in the market 

and who is investing in 

what. 

So, your organisation or 

business must look at ways 

that you can generate positive 

word of mouth. How are you 

getting in front of people who 

matter – people who can be 

great ambassadors for you and 

who will share your positive 

stories? 

It’s important to think 

about your core target audience 

and then think of ways to 

reach them in a more personal 

way. Network at the right 

events, speak at conferences 

your audience attends, create 

good content and use the 

power of social media advertising 

to deliver your messages 

into your audiences’ news 

feeds. 

Strategise ways you can 

generate that ‘water cooler 

conversation’ in a powerful 

way. 

To all of you out there looking 

for funds, good luck. And 

remember to add a communications 

component to your 

next campaign. 

CONVERSATIONS WITH MIKE NEALE OF 

NAI HARCOURTS HAMILTON 

Mike Neale, Managing Director, NAI Harcourts Hamilton 

Has The Bell Tolled ? – 

Then Its Time to Start Your 

Due Diligence 

With the Reserve Bank 

suggesting OCR rises might 

be at an end, it’s now time to 

consider getting back into the market. 

Investing in commercial and industrial 

property can be a lucrative opportunity, 

but it requires careful consideration 

and thorough due diligence. Due diligence 

is the process of conducting a comprehensive 

investigation to evaluate the 

financial, legal, and physical aspects of a 

property before making a purchase decision. 

Purchasing commercial and industrial 

property is a significant investment, 

whether you’re an experienced investor or 

a first-time buyer, so conducting proper 

research and analysis is essential to mitigate 

risks and ensure a successful transaction. 

It’s never been more important to 

explore the key areas to focus on during 

due diligence, enabling potential buyers 

to mitigate risks and maximize the value 

of their future investments. 

• Financial Analysis: Performing a 

comprehensive financial analysis is 

paramount when evaluating commercial 

and industrial properties. Consider 

the property’s current and potential 

income streams, including lease agreements, 

current/future rental rates, 

and tenant profiles. If the property 

has existing tenants, review their lease 

agreements, rental history, and financial 

stability. Evaluate the lease terms, 

including lease expiration dates, rent 

review provisions, and any outstanding 

tenant improvement obligations. 

Assess the tenant mix and their creditworthiness, 

as understanding the 

quality of tenants and lease agreements 

is vital for assessing income stability 

and potential vacancies. Are the 

property’s operating expenses, such 

as maintenance, utilities, rates, insurance, 

and management fees, in line 

with industry standards. Verify any 

outstanding debts, what is registered 

on the Record of Title, or possible zoning 

or legal issues that could affect 

your investment in the future. 

By scrutinizing the rent roll, Opex 

budget, and historic occupancy rates, 

you are essentially assessing the property’s 

financial health. 

• Legal Considerations: Thoroughly 

examining the legal aspects of a property 

is vital to avoid potential liabilities. 

Engage legal professionals experienced 

in commercial real estate 

to review property leases, Record of 

Title, zoning restrictions, and Resource 

Consents. Look for any easements, 

encroachments, or environmental concerns 

that might hinder development 

plans or create future legal disputes. 

Ensure compliance with local Body 

Building Codes and Regulations, as violations 

could lead to substantial fines or 

even demolition orders. 

• Physical Inspection: Conducting 

a detailed physical inspection is crucial 

to assess the property’s condition 

and estimate potential maintenance 

or renovation costs. Engage a professional 

inspector to thoroughly examine 

the building’s structure, electrical 

systems, plumbing, HVAC, and overall 

safety compliance. Consider the property’s 

accessibility, parking facilities, 

and suitability for the intended purpose. 

Review any existing warranties, 

maintenance contracts, or past repair 

records to gauge the property’s maintenance 

history and identify any latent 

issues. Its important to assess a property’s 

future lease-ability. 

• Environmental Assessment: Environmental 

factors can significantly 

impact the value and future viability 

of a property, including their seismic / 

earthquake and asbestos status. Conduct 

an environmental assessment to 

identify potential hazards or contamination 

issues. Assess the property’s 

proximity to environmentally sensitive 

areas, water sources, and potential hazardous 

materials, underground storage 

tanks, or historical site usage. 

• Market Research and Location 

Analysis: Thorough market research 

and location analysis are crucial to 

understanding the property’s competitive 

position and growth potential. Analyse 

current local market trends, future 

supply and demand dynamics, and 

comparable property sales and rental 

rates. Consider the area’s economic 

stability, infrastructure development, 

and accessibility to transportation networks. 

Evaluate the demographics, target 

market, and competition to determine 

the property’s marketability and 

long-term viability. 

“Things may come to those 

that wait, but only the things 

left by those that hustle” 

- Abraham Lincoln 

In conclusion, conducting due diligence 

before purchasing commercial and industrial 

property is vital to mitigating risks 

and making informed investment decisions 

for both the short and long term. 

By thoroughly examining the financial, 

legal, physical, environmental, and market 

aspects of a property, potential buyers can 

safeguard their interests and maximize the 

value of their investment, paving the way 

for a successful and profitable venture. 

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


The Business of Art 

Consistency over time creates pottery success 

The brand name Tony Sly is 

synonymous with bespoke hand 

thrown domestic pottery that is the 

envy of any dinner party host. 

And there’s something to 

be said for a business 

that has survived 40 

years in the fickle craft trade. 

But Tony’s rustic small 

batch productions have stood 

the test of time where other potters 

have fallen by the wayside. 

And while the age-old craft 

may have fallen in and out of 

favour over the years, Tony 

says, a recent revival for handcrafted 

ceramics has been good 

for business. 

“Now the time is finally right 

because pottery is having a real 

renaissance and I’m established, 

so lucky me.” 

With an eye for stylish 

décor, Tony understood that 

what he liked translated well 

in a business sense with people 

coming back to add to their 

growing Tony Sly collections. 

“I'm not making something 

to just sell, I’m making something 

that I like myself and 

would use in my own home. 

So, it’s a genuine place to start 

and it has always been my 

touchstone.” 

From the humble beginnings 

of selling pots to friends 

and doing the market rounds 

to producing wholesale ranges 

for stockists and finally opening 

his first shop in Hamilton 

around 30 years ago, Tony says 

his journey is a similar story for 

many craft ventures. 

“I think a lot of small businesses 

in New Zealand start by 

people wanting something that 

they can't buy, so they make it 

and their friends liked it, then 

they might sell it at a market. 

And that's what I did.” 

Using his name as the brand 

for his business came about by 

what Tony says is a complete 

lack of imagination on his part 

and it worked; 40 years on and 

the name Tony Sly continues 

to be associated with artisanal 

homeware. 

“Good business is really just 

consistency over time. You chip 

away long enough and put your 

work out there, and do things 

properly and before you know 

it, you’ve got a brand and I 

think that's what I do best.” 

The River Road shop in 

Hamilton where he started is 

no longer; a seachange brought 

him to Raglan about 20 years 

ago and he set up his shop and 

studio at the Raglan Wharf. 

In 2017 he stopped selling 

wholesale to other stores and 

opened another store in Newmarket 

and there is the all-important 

online store. 

“We had such an established 

client base all around the 

country when we were selling 

to other shops. Now that’s no 

longer available we find people 

from Christchurch, Invercargill, 

or wherever might come to 

Auckland twice a year for shopping 

and visit the Newmarket 

store.” 

And, Tony says, the Newmarket 

store does a really good 

job of promoting Raglan with 

many Aucklanders visit the 

Raglan store. 

The Covid restrictions didn’t 

dampen Tony Sly sales in fact 

the Raglan store was pumping. 

“People were traveling 

within New Zealand and we 

had so many first-time visitors 

to Raglan and online. Around 

the world local economies actually 

thrived. We make and sell 

for the local market – we’re not 

really for the tourist market.” 

Keeping it local and looking 

for opportunities to expand, 

Tony also creates pieces for the 

corporate market and restaurants 

that incorporate business 

logos into the design. 

This ability to expand the 

business is made possible by 

a well-oiled team of seven, 

which include a manager who 

takes care of all the admin and 

production assistants working 

behind the scenes.. 

Each piece may only take a 

minute or so to create on the 

wheel, but then there are 24 

steps over 3-4 weeks before it’s 

finished and ready to be sold. 

And every piece has been 

touched by Tony; he is still 

throwing on the wheel and 

his aesthetic imbues every 

collection. 

“It’s like being the head 

chef in a busy restaurant. I’m 

the first step in a long chain. I 

hand-throw each piece on the 

wheel before passing it on to the 

team for finishing, bisque firing, 

glazing, and then firing again. It 

means we can do volume but 

still keep it authentically me. I 

don't know anywhere else that 

does that,” he says. 

Growing up in Mangaweka 

and Te Kuiti, Tony’s creativity 

was formed in his grandfather’s 

shed. 

Looking back, he realises he 

was destined to be a production 

potter; the cooper bowls he 

beat out of his plumber grandfather’s 

cast-offs were always 

made in multiples. 

“All through my childhood, 

I was always busy making stuff 

with my hands. I've always 

made rows of things not just 

one. It’s probably why my personality 

is focussed more on 

being a production potter than 

a one-of-a-kind potter.” 

Tony trained to be a teacher 

when he left school but realised 

very early on that he wasn’t 

suited to a career in education. 

“I was a very shy, introvert 

and terrified in the classroom. 

But when I look back now, I 

was probably channelled (into 

teaching) academically through 

school.” 

At 20-years-old he enrolled 

in a pottery night class and 

found his passion. 

There weren’t many pottery 

career opportunities on offer 

at that time, so Tony cobbled 

together an apprenticeship of 

sorts by offering his labours for 

free to local potters and the rest 

as is history. 

His love of pottery has 

always been inspired by his love 

of cooking; his pots, platters 

and plates are frames to complement 

the beautiful food his 

customers are creating in their 

kitchens. 

Tony knows part of his success 

comes down to creating 

dinnerware that is stylish, simple 

and functional. 

They are not just sitting 

unused in the backs of cupboards; 

a Tony Sly platter is the 

centrepiece of a dining room 

table. 

“People often tell me what 

they use particular pots for, 

and I love hearing those stories. 

So, I leave space for people to 

be inspired by the pots and for 

their own creativity.” 

Taking inspiration from his 

environment, Tony is lucky 

enough to have the sea at this 

studio doorstep. 

“We want to retain a sense 

of cohesion within the range 

and the colours are inspired by 

the environment here in Raglan; 

earthy tones, watery blues 

and greens, misty whites.” 

Working in an expansive 

boat builder’s shed on Raglan 

Wharf, Tony says, is a dream. 

As well as being light and 

airy, which is perfect for drying 

pottery, the studio has an amazing 

view across the harbour. 

The Raglan store/studio is 

filled with Tony Sly pottery, and 

a selection of furniture, accessories, 

and homewares Tony buys 

in to complement his range. 

“It’s all a little bit unexpected 

on the end of the wharf. 

When people come in the door 

there’s good music playing, and 

it feels relaxed and homely, and 

our team are lovely and they 

really look after our customers.”

Are you hiding 

behind technology? 

In today’s era of electronic 

communication many of us are using 

emails, texts and all other forms of 

communication apps in business as a 

substitute for face to face contact. 

Working from home 

has also added 

another layer of 

complexity into communication. 

Flurries of emails are 

shot out when there should be 

a face to face conversation, or 

at the very least picking up the 

phone. 

We often hear from employees 

that they never see their 

manager, even though they sit 

in the office next to them, and 

that instructions and feedback, 

both good and bad, are communicated 

via email. To support 

these views we have seen 

an example of someone getting 

fired by email and another 

example where an employee 

found out their role had been 

changed substantially! 

Employees also tell us that 

‘electronic’ communications, 

particularly when bad news is 

being delivered, make them 

angry and frustrated and that 

has a profound impact on 

morale and productivity. Conversely 

managers tell us that 

they are too busy to meet with 

people individually and that 

it is easier just to ‘flick off an 

email’, without considering 

how their employees feel about 

that. However it is generally 

acknowledged that electronic 

types of interaction shouldn’t 

take the place of getting out 

behind your desk and having 

face to face interactions with 

employees. 

So is hiding behind technology 

something that you are 

guilty of? And if so what can 

you do about it? 

There are a number of simple 

changes you can make 

that will reduce the reliance 

on technology and enhance 

personal communication, as 

follows: 

• Talk to your team and find 

out what type of communication 

they want. For day 

to day information sharing 

an email may be acceptable, 

however if you are planning 

on making changes to a system 

or a process a meeting 

may be the preferred 

method of delivery. 

• Determine how individuals 

would like to receive communications. 

Some team 

members may be happy 

with Teams messages as a 

form of information sharing, 

others may prefer face 

to face. 

• If you have employees 

working from home consider 

having “anchor” 

days where all team members 

are required to be in 

the office to help improve 

communication. 

• Make a point of getting 

out from behind your desk 

a couple of times a day to 

walk around and chat with 

the team. The added benefit 

of this is that your team 

may be more willing to 

discuss any issues or problems 

they are having at 

that moment, which could 

enhance productivity. 


PEOPLE AND 

CULTURE 

BY SENGA ALLEN 

Managing Director, 

Everest – All about people tm 

www.everestpeople.co.nz 

• Stand by the water cooler! 

While you wouldn’t communicate 

bad news in this 

type of situation, it does 

provide you the opportunity 

to give praise for good work. 

• Initiate informal interactions 

by arranging regular 

catch ups or taking individuals 

out for coffee. 

• Think about the message 

you want to deliver and 

consider the most appropriate 

way of delivering 

that message. Sometimes 

a quick text may suffice. 

Other times you may 

need to have a one on one 

conversation. 

• Ensure that team meetings 

take place and that important 

issues are discussed in 

that forum. Encourage team 

members to voice opinions 

and provide feedback on 

ideas that you present. 

It is critical to remember 

that to bring out the best in 

the people you work with you 

need to have dedicated time 

together to have free and open 

discussions. 

Council agrees on land 

sale to fast track housing 

Dear Immigration Prime statistics Minister – 

Hipkins… 

what are they telling us? 

Over recent months there has been much hype over the 

resurgence 

Congratulations 

in immigration, 

on your promotion, 

with a net annual 

and for 

migration 

this timely 

gain 

opportunity 

of 100,000 

to contribute 

people being 

our 

widely 

30+ years 

predicted. 

of experience 

Such a 

in 

number New Zealand would immigration likely be helpful work to to combat help inform New Zealand’s your thinking skill 

shortages, about your but approach it would to also the contribute immigration to increased portfolio. demand 

and, potentially, inflation. 

Historically the immigration portfolio 

Of course, 

was 

it 

seen 

is only 

as somewhat 

a “resurgence” 

of a 

due 

poisoned 

to the 

chalice, 

fact our 

and 

borders 

it was 

have 

not 

until the 

been 

first 

closed 

John 

for 

Key 

most 

government 

of the past 

in 

3 

2008 

years 

that 

and 

this 

what 

approach 

we have been 

changed, 

seeing 

and 

is 

a 

immigration 

consequence 

began 

of this 

to be 

pent-up 

viewed 

demand, 

more as 

coupled 

an economic 

with 

tool 

the 

rather 

recent 

than 

introduction 

just a means 

of 

more 

to protect 

“facilitative” 

New Zealand 

visa policies. 

jobs. The immigration 

So 

portfolio 

what can 

has 

we 

since 

deduce 

developed 

from the 

into 

immigration 

one 

of significant 

statistics 

strategic 

for 2023 

importance 

to date? 

which 

influences 

New Zealand 

many aspects 

migration 

of New 

statistics 

Zealand 

are 

taken 

society, 

from 

workforce 

the information 

and the economy. 

recorded 

Immigration 

on 

the migrant 

is now 

arrival 

a key Government 

and departure 

portfolio. 

cards 

and, 

Looking 

specifically, 

at the big 

whether 

picture. 

a person is 

intending 

New Zealand 

to stay, 

should 

or leave, 

not 

New 

rest 

Zealand 

on its 

for 

laurels 

12 months 

and expect 

or 

that 

more. 

it continues 

These people 

to be one 

are 

deemed 

of the most 

to be 

desired 

long-term 

migrant 

arrivals 

destinations, 

or leavers, 

as 

and 

it is not, 

are 

and 

not 

we 

to be 

are 

confused 

trending backwards. 

with tourists, 

In 

who 

fact, 

stay 

we will 

for 

be 

shorter 

doing 

periods 

well just 

and 

to 

who 

hold 

make 

onto 

up 

the 

the 

new 

greatest 

migrants 

number 

that we 

of 

do 

arrivals. 

initially attract 

to this 

In January 

country. 

2023 there were 16,000 

migrant 

We are 

arrivals, 

an aging 

and 

population 

10,800 departures 

and, by 

for 

2028, 

a monthly 

1 in every 

net 

5 people 

gain of 

will 

5,200 

be 65+ 

people. 

years. 

In 

Our 

February 

birth rate 

there 

of 1.6 

were 

children 

21,400 

is well 

arrivals, 

below 

and 

the replacement 

9,700 departures 

rate 

for 

of 2.1. 

a net 

Our 

monthly 

rural 

gain 

townships 

of 11,700 

are losing 

people. 

infrastructure 

In March there 

and 

were 

services, 

(coincidentally) 

and while our 

also 

schools 

21,400 

need 

arrivals, 

more 

and 

teachers 

9,300 

now, 

departures 

in a few 

for 

years’ 

a monthly 

time school 

gain 

of 

rolls 

12,100 

will be 

people, 

declining 

and in 

and 

April 

these 

there 

teachers 

were 

16,500 

will need 

arrivals, 

to find 

and 

other 

10,700 

jobs or 

departures 

go overseas. 

for 

a 

Family 

monthly 

and 

gain 

lifestyle 

of 5,800 

have 

people. 

always been 

the 

In 

main 

the year 

reasons 

to April 

migrants 

2023 there 

choose 

were 

New 

a 

total 

Zealand. 

of 171,800 

However, 

arrivals, 

these 

and 

alone 

departures 

may not be 

of 

99,500 

sufficient 

for 

to 

an 

attract 

annual 

and 

gain 

retain 

of 72,300 

the people 

people 

and 

(NB: 

skills 

in 

our 

the 

country 

2 years prior 

needs 

to 

to 

April 

maintain 

2022 

there 

our living 

was a 

standards, 

net loss of 

let 

32,000 

alone 

non 

to grow. 

NZ citizens). 

We 

need younger 

The main 

people 

source 

who 

countries 

can contribute 

continue 

to 

more, 

be India 

and for 

and 

longer, 

China, 

to 

followed 

New Zealand. 

by the Philippines, 

New Zealand 

UK, Fiji 

must 

and South 

attract 

Africa. 

the migrants 

There 

were 

it wants, 

220,000 

and 

tourists 

needs, 

who 

in an 

also 

increasingly 

arrived in 

the 

competitive 

month of April, 

and 

down 

dynamic 

from 

international 

the 260,000 

tourists 

market, 

who 

and 

arrived 

one where 

in March. 

people can now 

work-from-home 

So while the February 

anywhere 

and 

in the 

March 

world. 

net 

We 

no longer enjoy the competitive advantages 

we once had, but one thing within our 

migration 

control is to 

gains 

make 

may 

the 

have 

immigration 

“excited” 

process 

many, 

it 

easier 

is possible 

and quicker, 

the significant 

and world-leading, 

fall-back in 

April 

and to 

may 

promote 

signal 

“the 

the 

visa 

beginning 

process” 

of 

as one 

the 

end 

reason 

of our 

to choose 

migration 

New 

“resurgence”. 

Zealand. Online 

This 

would 

visa applications, 

not be a surprise 

and the 

due 

move 

to the 

to 

increasingly 

more 

automated 

competitive 

assessment 

international 

processes, 

market 

will help 

for 

migrants, 

but there is 

the 

a very 

local 

long 

economic 

way to go. 

uncertainty, 

and 

One 

New 

area 

Zealand’s 

which 

general 

would 

fall 

help 

from 

is for 

favour 

the 

across 

Government 

a range 

to 

of 

engage 

international 

in more 

measures 

robust 

(wages, 

and well-planned 

education, 

policy 

crime, 

settings, 

interest 

and 

rates 

to 

etc). 

pressure-test such settings before these 

are 

Some 

implemented. 

26,000 

It 

New 

is acknowledged 

Zealand citizens 

that 

were 

policies 

included 

have been 

in the 

necessarily 

departure 

“reactive” 

statistic 

over 

in 

the 

the 

past 

year 

3 years 

to April 

but there 

– and 

have 

this 

been 

figure 

too 

has 

many 

increased 

instances 

every 

of back-tracking 

month this year 

of newly 

from 

16,400 

introduced 

in the 

policies 

year 

when 

to January. 

better 

This 

planning 

figure 

and 

will 

consultation 

continue 

would 

to increase 

“get-it-right-firsttime”. 

with growing 

numbers 

The new 

of New 

Active 

Zealand 

Investor 

citizens 

Policy 

now 

relocating 

should be first 

to Australia 

on the chopping 

following 

block! 

that Government’s 

We also 

recent 

need forward 

policy change 

looking 

to 

policies 

fasttrack 

which 

New 

are fit-for-purpose 

Zealand citizens 

in today’s 

to Australian 

world. 

citizenship. 

Policies which 

Historically 

focus on enabling 

there has 

the 

been 

most 

a 

net 

desirable 

migration 

migrants 

loss from 

the 

New 

opportunity 

Zealand to 

to 

Australia 

experience 

which 

New Zealand 

averaged 

and, 

30,000 

if they choose 

a year 

from 

to stay, 

2004 

then 

to 

great. 

2013, 

We 

and 

should 

which 

not 

reduced 

demand 

to 

around 

that these 

3,000 

people 

a year 

commit 

from 2014 

indefinitely 

to 2019. 

to 

Our 

stay. 

prediction is that the previous average 

The 

high 

Productivity 

of 30,000 a year 

Commission 

will be exceeded 

report 

within 

into 

the 

immigration 

next few months 

recommended 

and will continue 

a 

Government 

to grow 

Policy 

momentum 

Statement 

into 

to 

the 

set 

foreseeable 

a clear 

strategic 

future. 

direction 

It is not 

for 

beyond 

immigration 

the realms 

policy. 

of 

possibilities 

This would 

that 

be a 

100,000 

good start 

people 

and 

will 

provide 

relocate 

some 

from 

overriding 

New Zealand 

guidance 

to Australia 

(ideology!) 

in the 

to 

next 

inform 

2 years. 

policy settings with a focus on what 

immigration 

It is a dangerous 

can deliver 

game 

for 

to 

the 

just 

good 

rely 

of 

on 

New 

raw 

Zealand 

statistics. 

in the 

The 

longer 

numbers 

term. 

v quality 

What 

debate is 

about 

the real 

a 

battleground, 

work-from-homein-NZ 

and is 

where New 

visa? 

Zealand 

People 

is 

could 

facing 

live 

a growing 

in New 

conundrum. 

Zealand and 

It wants 

work 

quality 

anywhere 

migrants, 

in the 

but 

quality 

world, 

migrants, 

now that 

and 

would 

many of 

really 

its own 

put 

citizens, 

New Zealand 

may no longer 

on the 

want 

map! 

New 

Yes 

Zealand. 

- Prime 

Where 

Minister! 

will the line be drawn? 

Waipā District Council’s 

proposal to sell 

a piece of land in 

Te Awamutu to Kāinga Ora has 

been given the green light and 

the housing could be ready as 

early as next year. 

The decision to sell a portion 

of land at 1262 Cambridge 

Road follows community consultation 

that took place over 

the past month. 

As a result of the consultation, 

69 per cent supported or 

partially supported the sale and 

31 per cent were against. 

Council purchased the 

3.7-hectare piece of land in Te 

Awamutu in 2017 for $690,000, 

tagging it for affordable housing, 

including for older people. 

Kāinga Ora, the crown 

agency that provides housing 

for those in need, will be purchasing 

1.4 hectares of the land 

at the market value rate of 

$2,682,500. 

The land will be used to 

develop approximately 30 single-storey, 

one or two-bedroom 

homes for those 55 years and 

over. 

Mayor Susan O’Regan says 

the decision makes complete 

sense as the development will 

provide much-needed affordable 

housing options for the 

district. 

“There is a dire shortage of 

affordable housing in the Waipā 

district and the sale is a step in 

the right direction to help with 

this,” O’Regan says. 

“The development will have 

clear criteria for tenants to 

be over 55 years and Kāinga 

Ora will be able to develop the 

houses much faster than council 

could - meaning housing will 

be available sooner for those 

who need it the most.” 

Proceeds from the sale 

will go towards repaying the 

remaining council debt on the 

original purchase as well as 

investment in community projects. 

Council will also determine 

the highest and best purpose for 

the remaining 2.3 hectares of 

the land. 

Council will now work with 

Kāinga Ora to finalise the sale 

and Kāinga Ora will start making 

tracks to get construction 

underway as soon as possible. 

Kāinga Ora will continue to 

keep neighbouring residents 

involved as design and construction 

progresses. 

Level 2 

586 Victoria Street 

Hamilton 3204 

Level 2 

586 Victoria Street 

Hamilton 3204 

Level 3 

50 Manners Street 

Wellington 6011 

07 834 9222 

enquiries@pathwaysnz.com 

pathwaysnz.com 

Level 3 

50 Manners Street 

Wellington 6011

Tokoroa’s new Intermodal 

Business Park creates 

opportunities for savvy 

industry 

The new Maraetai Road Intermodal Business Park in 

Tokoroa creates 13 lots of development-ready 

industrial-zoned land with direct access to a rail siding, 

providing an opportunity for owner-occupiers and 

developers to leverage locational and operational 

efficiencies. 

T 

he strategically-located land 

just off State Highway 1 will 

open up industrial capability on 

the southern edge of the 

country’s golden triangle economic 

zone in an identified growth cell. 

Bayleys Tauranga real estate agents 

Ryan Bradley and Brendon Bradley 

have been appointed to market and sell 

the lots that range from 1,696sqm to 

around two hectares, and are priced in 

the $200-$250 plus GST per square 

metre range. 

excellent roading access to State 

Highways 1 and 32 at the southern end 

of Tokoroa, are for sale by negotiation 

through Bayleys Tauranga. 

Benefitting from location, a skilled 

industrial workforce and streamlined 

transport logistics, Tokoroa is 

emerging as a viable and cost-effective 

option in the industrial market, 

according to Ryan Bradley. 

Paul Bowden, Head of Economic 

Development at South Waikato District 

Council (SWDC) says the new business 

park will have intermodal capability 

with direct rail freight access to the 

Ports of Tauranga and Ports of 

Auckland, which he predicts will 

attract processing and manufacturing 

businesses to the region. 

Eyes are now turning 

to the South Waikato as 

the industrial land 

market elsewhere in 

the country is 

completely squeezed. 

“Aside from the value these industrial 

lots present when compared with other 

facilities in the North Island, our 

central location between Taupo and 

Hamilton on State Highway 1 makes 

the movement of goods throughout the 

North Island quick and efficient,” said 

Bowden. 

“Increasing numbers of international 

and New Zealand companies are 

looking at Tokoroa to establish new 

operations or to expand existing 

operations, especially those in the 

business of exporting finished goods. 

“SWDC, alongside the South Waikato 

Investment Fund Trust (SWIFT), 

works with investors wishing to 

establish or relocate an enterprise to 

the district, aiming to optimise the 

consenting experience and with zoning 

and a district plan that is business 

friendly.” 

Lots 1-13 within the Maraetai Road 

Intermodal Business Park, which in 

addition to rail connection have 

“There has been no new supply of land 

with scale for sale in Tokoroa in the 

last 15 years which amplifies the 

appeal of the land in Maraetai Road. 

“In other key centres within the golden 

triangle, industrial land prices have 

skyrocketed with land in Hamilton 

fetching double the per square metre 

rate of the Tokoroa land, and in 

Tauranga’s Tauriko precinct, around 

three times the per square metre value 

of the Tokoroa lots. 

“Future availability of land sites with 

scale at other points of the golden 

triangle are realistically several years 

away so proactive occupiers and 

developers are urged to move quickly 

to get the ball rolling in Tokoroa.” 

The 13 flat lots will have all usual 

services provided to the boundary, 

have been specifically designed with a 

range of sizes to suit small to medium 

and large-scale industry requirements, 

and title is expected in Q4 2024. 

Bradley said SWDC is a collaborative, 

pro-business council and there will be 

benefits to buyers in purchasing from a 

one-stop shop vendor. 

“SWDC recognises the economic and 

community benefits that unlocking 

these industrial land lots will bring to 

Tokoroa in terms of employment and 

population growth, so we’d expect 

consenting and other development 

requirements to be handled 

efficiently.” 

Bowden said the South Waikato 

district is increasingly being seen as an 

attractive option for those seeking to 

escape the cost of living and busy-ness 

of larger urban centres.

“Realising the dream of owning a home is achievable 

here, as is a more balanced lifestyle.” 

The Maraetai Road Intermodal Business Park is 

situated next to the Kinleith branch rail line, and the 

sites benefit from a direct road into the recently 

developed Tokoroa road/rail terminal that includes 

a rail siding hard stand, local road connection, bulk 

storage area and a container loading/unloading 

facility. 

Evidence of growth and innovation in the district is 

demonstrated by the new $14m South Waikato 

Trades Training Centre in Tokoroa, and 

development of a new state-of-the-art dairy 

processing plant by global food business Olam Food 

Ingredients (OFI) on an 11.8ha site near to the 

Maraetai Road Intermodal Business Park. 

With superfast broadband 

and a significant number of 

new housing developments 

happening, a move to 

Tokoroa can benefit a 

company’s workforce and 

business bottom line. 

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY 

KEY HIGHLIGHTS 

01 

02 

03 

04 

05 

13 industrial sites 

Ranging from 1,696sqm to 2 hectares (more or less) 

Direct access to rail 

Siding with connection to Port of Tauranga 

Competitively priced 

Between $200 and $250 per square metre plus GST 

Flat sites 

With all services to boundaries provided 

Strategic central North Island location 

Approximate distances: 85km to Tauranga, 90km to Hamilton, 

187km to Manukau 

Property address 

Lots 1-13, Maraetai Road, Tokoroa 

Developer 

South Waikato District Council 

Land area 

Various: 1,696sqm to 2ha (more or less) 

Zoning 

Industrial 

Title Due 

Quarter 4 – 2024 

Method of Sale 

Price by Negotiation 

Ryan Bradley 

P 027 472 2865 

ryan.bradley@bayleys.co.nz 

SUCCESS REALTY LTD, BAYLEYS, LICENSED UNDER THE REA ACT 2008 

Brendon Bradley 

P 021 816 600 

brendon.bradley@bayleys.co.nz 

SUCCESS REALTY LTD, BAYLEYS, LICENSED UNDER THE REA ACT 2008

16 WAIKATO BUSINESS NEWS, MAY/JUNE 

MAY/JUNE 



Prudent Financial 

Management 

We have to do it as households, so we 

should expect our Local and Central 

Government leaders to do the same. 

It is our money they invest 

on our behalf for the 

benefit of our community 

as a whole, so we should insist 

on prudent and accountable 

investment; not willy-nilly 

spending. 

Balancing the books and 

living within your means 

will be the focus we put on 

our elected and bureaucratic 

officials over the next three 

years. 

Ratepayers and taxpayers 

will have less discretionary 

income as businesses cope 

with economic headwinds, 

made up of interest rate rises, 

wage and salary increases, 

supply chain issues which 

have resulted in holding 

higher inventory levels and 

thus stretching working 

capital, along with a myriad 

of other cost pressures. 

Businesses will be right 

sizing their companies this 

year and next, in order to 

meet the changes in demand 

required by the Reserve Bank 

and increased government 

regulations. Failure to do 

so will lead to substantial 

decline in profitability and 

the ever possible insolvency. 

That helps no-one, least of all 

your staff, your creditors and 

your family. 

In an environment 

like this our elected and 

bureaucratic officials need 

to ensure they control their 

operating expenses. Gone 

are the days of nice-to-have 

projects and out of control 

operating losses. Leaders 

need to drive their entities to 

at least break even or deliver 

a small operating surplus in 

these difficult times. 

Gaily running an operating 

loss shows contempt for 

rate and taxpayers who 

are battling to ensure their 

businesses, and indeed 

their households, do not fall 

into borrowing to fund an 

operating loss. 

Capital expenditure, in 

complete contrast, needs 

to continue apace. Capex 

provides cash to roll through 

both a local and the national 

economy. Providing jobs, 

creating and maintaining 

great infrastructure that 

all can benefit from. As a 

country we have a substantial 

infrastructure deficit as funds 

have been re-prioritised to 

other parts of the economy. 

Potholes anyone? 

Projects with a 

productivity payoff that 

benefit current and future 

generations must continue, 

but with a strong financial 

management hand on the 

purse strings. 

The folly of buying cheap 

By Don Good, CEO of Waikato 

Chamber of Commerce. 

infrastructure and later 

paying an exorbitant price 

for repairs and maintenance 

is well-known. That section 

of the Waikato Expressway 

around Lake Rd has the 

hallmarks of such a poor 

investment. It has been under 

repair for years. Our leaders 

and bureaucrats need to be 

held to account when they 

propose to do a cheap project. 

All it does is stuff us up now 

and then shift and magnify 

the charges onto future 

generations. 

It is a balancing act, but 

one business people have long 

dealt with. Do our elected and 

bureaucratic leaders have the 

business smarts to choose 

wisely and practise prudent 

financial management? 

Too often it feels as though 

they are dealing with play 

money and that nice-to-have 

projects come before boring 

underground pipes, roads 

and balancing the books on 

an operating basis. 

Households, and thus 

voters, will reward smart 

investment, but not vanity 

projects nor imprudent 

operational expenditure. 

BUSINESS 

AWARDS 

Connect - Grow - Inspire - Represent 


WAIKATO CHAMBER 

OF COMMERCE 

HMC secures third win 

for PR Consultancy of 

the Year 2023 

Hamilton-based public relations agency 

HMC was named the winner of the PR 

Consultancy of the Year in the small-tomedium 

category at the recent Public 

Relations Institute of New Zealand 

(PRINZ) annual industry awards. 

The agency won the same 

award in 2018 and 

2021. 

HMC provides strategic 

communications and digital 

public relations services to 

companies in a wide range of 

industries including agriculture, 

dairying, real estate, education 

and more. 

Director Heather Claycomb 

says she is incredibly proud of 

her team, some of whom were 

also a part of HMC when they 

won the award in 2018 and 

2021. 

“Despite our small size, we 

work with global and national 

leaders in their sectors. We 

are thankful to our many clients 

for supporting us and giving 

us challenging, meaningful 

work which is behind this 

award win.” 

Claycomb says the 2022/23 

financial year was the third 

full year the public relations 

agency has operated as a social 

enterprise. 

“Four years ago I decided 

that 100% 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. 

“Our 2023-24 budget for 

Jamie Batters, Heather Claycomb, 

Kate Webber, and Rosie Miller 

the agency is well on track. 

That means that by the end 

of the current financial year, 

HMC should achieve the milestone 

of well over $500,000 

in total, cumulative dollars 

donated to charity.” 

Claycomb’s family charity, 

All Good Ventures, is a registered 

New Zealand charity that 

provides money, mentorship 

and ‘muscle’ to support budding 

social entrepreneurs to 

start up businesses for good. 

It has supported entrepreneurs 

in New Zealand, Australia, 

Africa, Canada and the UK. 

The PRINZ awards are 

designed to recognise outstanding 

public relations work 

and highlight the importance 

of good communications 

across every aspect of society. 

Council scoops up trans- 

Tasman geospatial award 

Waipā District Council 

has scooped up 

yet another major 

award for its first spatial plan 

- this time against competitors 

from across the ditch. 

Ahu Ake – Waipā Community 

Spatial Plan has won the 

Community Impact category 

at the 2022 Asia Pacific Spatial 

Excellence Awards held 

recently in Australia. 

Council won the same award 

when they were up against New 

Zealand competitors in November 

last year and for Waipā District 

Council strategy group 

manager Kirsty Downey, this 

award ‘really takes the cake’. 

“This is an incredible 

achievement, not only have we 

won on the New Zealand stage 

but now we have won against 

our Australian competitors 

which shows we are truly leading 

the way and planning in the 

best way we can for the future of 

our district.” 

The Community Impact 

award recognises unique contributions 

the geospatial industry 

has had on people and 

communities. 

Council was up against five 

other finalists in this category 

with projects including the 

development of a climate risk 

webmap, 3D coastline monitoring 

and ensuring the quality of 

Melbourne’s drinking water. 

The award follows the roll 

out of council’s biggest community 

engagement roadshow 

which saw council staff and 

elected members visiting 11 

towns and villages to talk about 

what’s important to the community 

for the future of their 

district. 

“This award shows that we 

continue to be on the right track 

with our planning approach. 

The real success of this plan 

though will come down to the 

community input we receive. 

“We’ve committed heavily 

to making sure the community 

is involved because it’s critical 

our planning is underpinned by 

real community insights. We’ve 

been blown away by the feedback 

we’ve received so far and 

look forward to talking with 

the community further through 

formal consultation so we can 

finalise the plan.” 

More information about the 

project can be found at www. 

ahuakewaipa.nz.

Hamilton Eye Clinic 

is Waikato’s largest 

ophthalmology 

practice. 

WAIKATO 

WAIKATO 

BUSINESS 

BUSINESS 

NEWS, 

NEWS, 

JUNE/JULY 

MAY/JUNE 2023 RETIREMENT 


17 

Our mission is to provide an Ophthalmic service of 

excellence to the greater Waikato and Central North 

Island community. 

We strive to create an 

environment where 

you are greatly 

cared for and will be given the 

best eye-care service available. 

Our practice is 

comprised of twelve highly 

qualified and experienced 

Ophthalmologists. We cover 

all aspects of medical and 

surgical eye care, including 

cataract surgery and medical 

laser treatment. Your 

wellbeing is our priority, our 

highly trained team are here 

to ensure you get the best 

outcome possible. 

Our most recent additions 

to the team are Dr Verona 

Botha and Dr Thiyaga 

Krishnan. 

Dr Botha is a comprehensive 

ophthalmologist specializing 

in cataract, oculoplastic, 

lacrimal and orbital surgery. 

Dr Botha is passionate about 

delivering exceptional patient 

care and is actively involved in 

oculoplastic research. 

Dr Krishnan specialises in 

retinal and macular disorders, 

such as retinal detachments, 

epiretinal membranes and 

macular holes. Dr Krishan 

also has experience in complex 

cataract surgeries. He has 

a holistic patient centered 

approach to providing 

ophthalmic care. 

Adjoining Hamilton Eye 

Clinic is Bridgewater Day 

Surgery, a specialist day 

surgery facility with two fully 

equipped theatres utilised by 

the surgeons of Hamilton Eye 

Clinic. 

Dr Thiyaga Krishnan 

Dr Verona Botha 

Cataract 

Surgery 

A CATARACT IS A GRADUAL CLOUDING 

OF THE LENS INSIDE THE EYE. HAVING A 

CATARACT CAN BE LIKE LOOKING THROUGH 

A CLOUDY WINDOW AND MAY TAKE YOU 

AWAY FROM DOING YOUR USUAL DAY-TO- 

DAY ACTIVITIES. 

Hamilton Eye Clinic have a 

team of highly qualified and 

experienced Ophthalmologists, 

with fellowship training in 

various subspecialities, 

providing an Ophthalmic 

service of excellence. 

We offer a comprehensive 

range of diagnostic and 

treatment services, including 

surgery in our adjoining 

purpose-build facility 

Bridgewater Day Surgery. 

Cataract development is a normal process 

of aging. Cataracts can also be present at 

birth, develop from injuries, certain diseases, 

medications or long-term exposure to 

sunlight. 

As scary as cataracts might sound, modern 

cataract surgery can usually restore vision 

lost to cataracts — and can often reduce your 

dependence on glasses as well. 

To book an appointment email: 

appointments@hamiltoneyeclinic.co.nz 

or phone us directly. 

130 Grantham Street, Hamilton 

www.hamiltoneyeclinic.co.nz 

When you are no longer able to see well enough to do the things you like to do, 

cataract surgery should be considered. Thankfully cataract surgery is one of the safest 

cataract and replacing it with an artificial lens. The procedure typically is performed on 

an outpatient basis and does not require an overnight stay care facility. Recovery time is

S NEWS, MAY/JUNE 2023 

18 RETIREMENT 


, 

r 

e 

n 

g 

- 

i- 

- 

I 

e 

s 

t 

- 

’s 

- 

f 

l- 

e 

t 

r 

, 

t 

- 

a 

a 

- 

d 

o 

u 

y 

r 

- 

d 

- 

e 

The Recipe to 

Healthy Ageing 

Healthy ageing is defined 

as “an ability to lead a 

healthy, socially inclusive 

lifestyle relatively free from 

illness or disability”, and it will 

come as no surprise that this is 

more likely for those actively 

engaged in activities that 

improve their health and wellbeing. 

A review into ageing a few 

years back concluded the three 

main factors contributing to 

healthy ageing were: physical 

exercise, social engagement, 

and diet. It would also seem 

they are as equally important as 

each other when it comes to living 

a healthy, happy life in your 

later years. 

Unfortunately there is no 

getting around the fact that the 

motor neuron and muscle fibre 

losses that occur during ageing 

can never be replaced, but the 

structure and function of cardiorespiratory, 

metabolic and 

musculoskeletal systems are 

most certainly up for improvement 

through exercise training, 

and apparently it’s never too 

late to start. 

A UK study in 2020 showed 

that lifelong sedentary individuals 

who take up exercise later 

in life may in fact achieve the 

greatest health benefits. 

Moreover, recent reviews 

have highlighted the role of 

pleasure and fun in physical 

activity, arguing that “physical 

activity can help in regaining 

feelings of purpose, of 

being needed in collective 

group activity, and by creating 

habitual routine and structure 

to the day” (Morgan et al., 

2019) and that, ultimately, the 

“functional and psychosocial 

benefits [of exercise] seem to 

outweigh long-term health benefits 

for older adults in terms 

of the value of physical activity” 

(Devereux-Fitzgerald et al., 

2016). 

Sounds fantastic doesn’t it? 

Furthermore, In a Coaching 

for Healthy Ageing (CHAnGE) 

trial in 2020, a coaches’ expert 

guidance was found to be a valued 

part of the program. Participants 

talked about being given 

beneficial exercises and lifestyle 

resources, and feeling supported 

through the regularity of 

contact, availability of coaches 

and the routine of exercise. 

And wait for it… The physical 

activity-related social connectivity 

and sense of community 

created by the group 

sessions was the most motivating 

thing of all. 

If you’re looking for a no-lycra, 

welcoming environment 

supported by a qualified fitness 

trainer, so you can enjoy 

the sociable, fun bits of physical 

activity, the UniRec LifeFit 

program is a great place to start 

enjoying the benefits of healthy 

ageing. 

WAIKATO BUSINESS NEW 

No doubt you have heard the term ‘healthy ageing’ being 

bandied about a lot these days, but what does it really mean, 

and what’s the secret formula to ageing well? 

Billie, a LifeFit member 

who’s been with UniRec since 

the mid 80’s finds the program 

offers her much more than 

just physical benefits. ‘Coming 

here has done absolute wonders 

for me mentally, physically 

and socially’. 

‘It’s got great instructors, 

it’s fantastic for rehab. I 

just wish more people my age 

would give this a go.’ 

Bill (pictured right) has 

been a LifeFit since it first 

started. He says it’s the discipline 

and fellowship that’s 

kept him coming back. He particularly 

enjoys the variety of 

the programming and the feeling 

of ‘keeping what you’ve 

got’. 

LifeFit is a program 

designed for those who want 

to be active and improve their 

physical strength, flexibility, 

coordination and balance. It 

offers enjoyable and achievable 

exercise sessions with a 

strong social aspect, with a 

focus on resistance and cardiovascular 

training at a light and 

manageable pace. 

There’s plenty of variety to 

choose from too, whether you 

prefer working out individually 

or in a group exercise class, or 

want to ditch the weights altogether 

and play sport. 

Tick off the physical and 

social aspects of healthy ageing 

and come see what all the 

LifeFit fuss is about!

Choosing the ideal 

retirement village 

for your needs 

Whether you're planning to retire in 

comfort or if you’re searching for a 

suitable retirement village for a loved 

one - picking the right facility can make 

all the difference to your peace of mind. 

WAIKATO BUSINESS NEWS, MAY/JUNE 2023 RETIREMENT 19 

- BY HUGH GRANT 

Useful Facilities 

From maintained bathrooms, 

right through to clean and tidy 

walkways; facilities in a retirement 

village should be a top 

priority. Additional services 

can include things like on-site 

medical centres - and these 

can be hugely reassuring if 

something unavoidable should 

happen. 

Access to Amenities 

Many people overlook the 

potential of amenities within 

a retirement home or village, 

but the truth is that life doesn’t 

stop once you’ve retired. In 

fact, for many, this is their 

chance to truly enjoy their free 

time and financial peace of 

mind. Amenities can include 

things like recreation rooms, 

shops and stores, activity centres, 

tennis courts, golf clubs 

and more - and a good retirement 

village will likely have 

some, if not all of these available 

to those that reside there. 

The more amenities, the 

better, even if you don’t plan 

on using them, as knowing 

that they are there can be beneficial 

should you ever find 

yourself in need of them. 

Safety and Security 

Another important trait that a 

good retirement centre should 

have is proper security. From 

gated communities to protect 

the vulnerable, right through 

to security systems, on-duty 

guards, and other features; 

knowing that the people within 

the community are being 

looked after and kept safe at 

all times can have a significant 

impact on your decision. 

Live life in peace 

These important features 

aren’t just a hope, they should 

be a requirement to ensure 

that you or the person you are 

selecting a home for is going 

to be able to live their life in 

ultimate security and comfort 

with all of their needs properly 

met. 

Ana-Maria Richardson is 

dedicated to assisting families 

in their time of need with 

sincere, compassionate, 

personal care. 

Email: ana@ana-maria.nz 

Mobile: 021 881 229 Ph: 07 211 4654 

Address: 82 Grey Street, Hamilton East, NZ 

www.ana-maria.nz 

The thought of moving house overwhelming? 

Move Managers takes the stress out of moving house, clearing and preparing deceased estates for sale, 

or just decluttering. We’ll take care of moving quotes, packing, unpacking, downsizing, pre-sale 

maintenance. It’s easy to get started. Call us today for a complimentary consultation. 

www.facebook.com 

phone 0800 389 957 

mobile 027 668 3633 

email info@movemanagers.co.nz 

website www.movemanagers.co.nz 

Serving the Waikato since 2011 

Police checked, insured, references. Efficient and cost effective.

20 RETIREMENT 

Government 

tackles elder abuse 

Eleven projects are being funded as part 

of the Government’s efforts to prevent 

elder abuse, Minister for Seniors Dr 

Ayesha Verrall announced as part of 

World Elder Abuse Awareness Day. 

“Sadly one in 10 older 

people experience elder 

abuse in New Zealand, 

that is simply unacceptable,” 

Ayesha Verrall said. 

“Our Elder Abuse Prevention 

Fund supports programmes 

to tackle and prevent 

elder abuse across 

diverse groups in the older 

population. 

“Successful projects 

include a University of Otago 

study that aims to improve 

detection of abuse in older 

people and a national survey 

by Hohou Te Rongo Kahukura 

Outing Violence which will 

aim to find out more about 

the elder abuse experienced 

by Takatāpui and Rainbow 

Elders. 

It is in addition to the $6.3 

million for new prevention 

initiatives for older people 

announced in Budget 2022.” 

“We need to find different 

ways to prevent abuse, this 

extra funding allows us to trial 

innovative approaches to prevent 

elder abuse. These initiatives 

will contribute to delivering 

Te Aorerekura – the 

National Strategy to Eliminate 

Elder abuse is often hidden. Abusers 

are often someone the older person 

depends on for support or care. 

They often live with the person or are 

someone close to them, whānau, a 

friend, or neighbour. 

Family Violence and Sexual 

Violence, which acknowledges 

the higher rates of violence 

experienced by older people. 

“The Government is firmly 

committed to promoting a 

society where older people are 

highly valued and recognised 

as an integral part of families 

and communities. 

“Elder abuse is often hidden. 

Abusers are often someone 

the older person depends 

on for support or care. They 

often live with the person 

or are someone close to 

them, whānau, a friend, or 

neighbour. 

$250,000 is being allocated 

to eleven projects from 

the Elder Abuse Prevention 

Fund. It is in addition to the 

$6.3 million for new prevention 

initiatives for older 

people announced in Budget 

2022. 

If you are concerned about 

elder abuse call the free helpline 

0800 EA NOT OK (0800 

32 668 65), text 5032 or email 

support@elderabuse.nz 

To find out more about 

elder abuse or to see the full 

list of successful Elder Abuse 

Prevention Fund projects go to 

the Office for Seniors website 

www.officeforseniors.govt.nz 

Caci Clinic 

partners with 

Skin Cancer 

College fight 

skin cancer 

on front line 

• Melanoma is the third 

most common cancer 

in men and women in 

New Zealand 

• 6,000 melanomas 

are diagnosed in New 

Zealand every year 

• Over 300 Kiwis die of 

melanoma every year 

When a member of 

Caci Clinic’s own 

head office team 

had a cancerous melanoma 

removed, it prompted the 

company to look at its role in 

helping the fight against skin 

cancer. 

This Skin Cancer Awareness 

Month, a new partnership 

between Caci Clinic 

and the Skin Cancer College 

of Australasia (SCCA) will 

upskill more than 700 therapists 

and registered nurses at 

its 80 clinics nationwide to 

better recognise suspicious 

legions and make potentially 

lifesaving referrals to recognised 

GPs. 

The course has been developed 

by skin cancer doctors 

after realising many patients 

are presenting to skin cancer 

GPs after an irregular mark 

on their skin was noticed by 

non-medical professionals. 

Skin Cancer College 

Australasia CEO Lynette 

Hunt says the important role 

that professionals that are 

regularly in close contact with 

skin play is consistent and 

significant. 

“We often hear stories from 

our member doctors of people 

turning up to their skin cancer 

GP after their beauty therapist, 

hairdresser, massage 

therapist or physiotherapist 

noticed something different 

about their skin,’’ Hunt says. 

“We developed this course 

to encourage people who see a 

lot of skin in their daily work 

to speak up and start a conversation 

with their clients about 

their skin health. We are not 

trying to teach non-medical 

people to diagnose skin cancer 

– that is a doctor’s role. Our 

aim is to make it OK to speak 

up about skin.” 

Caci Clinic’s strategy and 

customer lead Emily Stevenson 

has spearheaded the 

partnership. 

“My own personal journey 

with skin cancer has been a 

driver, but we’re also consistently 

hearing from our clinics 

that they’re already making 

referrals when they spot 

something that looks a little 

‘off’. We’re delighted to partner 

with the leading peak 

body representing primary 

care skin cancer practitioners 

to upskill our staff and play 

our part on the front line,” she 

says. 

“The online course via 

SCCA takes our team through 

five easy modules introducing 

what skin cancer is, skin 

cancer risks and prevention, 

recognising suspicious 

lesions, and how they can 

help.” 

Hamilton Skin Cancer 

Centre’s Dr Bert Rauber 

whose clinic has three fulltime 

ex-GPs and a number 

of nurses working full time 

on identifying and removing 

skin cancers says the initiative 

makes absolute sense. 

“The Caci team and others 

in similar industries with a lot 

of skin contact are in a prime 

position to identify potential 

skin lesions. Just getting people 

to take the next step and 

visit their skilled medical professional 

for a full body skin 

check can make a huge difference,’’ 

Dr Bert says. “Early 

detection of skin cancer is so 

important, and a skilled doctor 

perform a thorough skin 

check is quick, painless and 

potentially life-saving.”


No matter the property 

We’ve got you covered. 

Hamilton’s No.1 Real Estate Team 

LODGE.CO.NZ


My Mortgage director launches the ultimate guide 

for first-home buyers to achieve their dreams 

If you’ve been wanting to buy your 

first home but are feeling pushed out 

by inflation, economic pressures and 

changes in New Zealand’s real estate 

market, don't give up your smashed 

avocado just yet. 

My Mortgage director 

and mortgage adviser, 

Claire Williamson, 

has written the ultimate guide 

for first-home buyers, 'Smashed 

Avo to Smashed Goals’, which 

provides expert advice to 

educate and empower firsthome 

buyers to confidently 

navigate the home-buying 

process and achieve the dream 

of home ownership. 

As a mortgage adviser, 

homeowner, investor, and 

home lending expert, Williamson 

has drawn on her experience, 

knowledge, and passion 

to create this comprehensive, 

yet fun and easily digestible 

book. 

She says that despite their 

best efforts, many would-be 

first-home buyers are finding 

it difficult to get a foot on the 

property ladder, and the experience 

is often horrible, stressful 

and difficult. 

“Many would-be first home 

buyers have trimmed their 

expenses, consistently save, 

and adjusted their expectations 

about the home they’ll buy, but 

it still feels like a lost cause. 

They’re often in the dark about 

the process and don’t know 

about the levers they can pull 

in their favour to achieve their 

homeownership goals,” she 

explains. 

With 'Smashed Avo to 

Smashed Goals,' Williamson 

hopes to create a sense of hope 

and inspire readers to take 

action - now. 

“I wrote this book because 

I deeply care about my generation 

tasting the pride, excitement, 

and freedom of home 

ownership. I want more Kiwis 

to feel the thrill and sense of 

achievement that comes from 

walking through your own front 

door for the first time,” Williamson 

says. 

‘Smashed Avo to Smashed 

Goals’ is a comprehensive, 

My Mortgage Claire 

Williamson (front right) 

at the launch of her book 

yet accessible, resource that's 

free of jargon and complicated 

industry-speak, so everyday 

New Zealanders can feel more 

confident about the process. 

It covers every step of the 

buying process, from planning 

and preparation to purchasing 

your first home, and includes 

post-purchase tips on how to 

stay on top of a home loan and 

make it work long-term. 

“If I could give one piece of 

advice to anyone thinking about 

their first home, it would be 

this – get a clear understanding 

of the position you’re in now, 

and don’t make assumptions. 

That means taking a good look 

at your income, expenses, and 

deposit. You don’t need to do 

that alone - talk with a mortgage 

adviser.” 


Goals’ is not just for firsthome 

buyers, but also for anyone 

in an industry associated 

with home buying, such as real 

estate agents, accountants, lawyers, 

and parents of first-home 

buyers. 


Goals’ is Williamson’s first book 

and will be officially launched in 

March at Cambridge Raceway. 

Williamson has almost a 

decade of experience in the 

mortgage industry and has 

helped hundreds of people 

achieve their home ownership 

and property investment goals. 

She grew up on a farm in the 

Waikato and attended Sacred 

Heart Girls College in Hamilton. 

She purchased her first 

home in 2014 in Hamilton and 

has since owned two investment 

properties, a lifestyle 

home and is working on several 

property developments. 

Claire joined My Mortgage 

in 2015 and is now a director, 

shareholder and mortgage 

adviser of the business. She is 

also the founder and creative 

director of Velma & Beverley 

which designs and makes luxury 

New Zealand woollen coats, 

and is a national board member 

of Rural Women New Zealand, 

supporting regional women to 

become empowered members 

of their communities. 

In her work as a mortgage 

adviser, Claire has seen firsthome 

ownership go from a distant 

dream to a dream come 

true, many times over. She 

believes, that with the right 

knowledge, you can become 

a well-positioned first-home 

buyer and turn wishful thinking 

into reality, and hence 

wrote her first book, ‘Smashed 

Avo to Smashed Goals - the 

fun and easy way to buy your 

first home’. 

To purchase a copy of 

'Smashed Avo to Smashed 

Goals – the fun and easy way to 

buy your first home,' go to www. 

mymortgage.co.nz/shop/. 

Calder & Lawson 

announce new 

general manager 

As Waikato and Bay of 

Plenty based travel 

experts Calder & 

Lawson continue to experience 

unparalleled growth post the 

pandemic, Managing director 

Paul Forward is pleased to 

announce Kate Rawnsley as 

the new general manager of 

the three brands under the 

Calder & Lawson umbrella 

- Calder & Lawson House of 

Travel, Orbit World Travel 

Hamilton and Tauranga, and 

Marathon Tours. 

Sport and travel 

are both fast paced 

environments - and 

that’s where I thrive. 

Paul Forward has had a 

key focus on rebuilding the 

team and managing the strong 

growth after a turbulent couple 

of years. 

“Our company’s success 

has always been centered on 

our amazing people, and we 

have worked hard to ensure 

we could maintain experienced 

staff throughout the 

last few years. With this core 

team in place, we have spent 

the past 12 months recruiting 

new staff, and now have 

a team of 52 passionate travel 

professionals, across both 

our Tauranga and Hamilton 

offices. With the huge increase 

in travel over the past 16 

months, and the rapid expansion 

of our team, bringing on 

a General Manager to lead 

the day-to-day 

operations is a 

great step in our 

future plans.” 

Kate Rawnsley 

joins the 

team mid-July 

after 14 years in 

commercial roles 

within professional 

rugby and over 12 

years with the Chiefs Rugby, 

where she was the General 

Manager commercial. 

“Sport and travel are both 

fast paced environments - and 

that’s where I thrive. I am 

passionate about the Waikato 

and Bay of Plenty region, 

and working with an innovative 

local company who cares 

about the community was 

important to me” says Kate. 

With travel continuing to 

Kate Rawnsley 

and Paul Forward 

heat up, and more 

airlines coming back 

in to the market, the 

appointment of Kate as 

General Manager is an exciting 

new step, allowing Calder 

& Lawson to do what they do 

best - helping their clients 

travel around New Zealand 

and the world. 

07 856 9009 | Level 2, Deloitte House, 

24 ANZAC Parade, Hamilton East, New Zealand 

calderandlawson@hot.co.nz


One way to create fresh and unique SEO 

content (without ChatGPT) 

ChatGPT is incredible at answering 

questions and writing content. It’s so fast 

and effortless and seems like a brilliant 

way to rapidly produce regular content 

for your blog or webpage. Right? 

Well, maybe. But 

generally, if a 

dozen electricians 

in Hamilton (or their SEO 

team) ask ChatGPT to write an 

article on how to save money 

on electricity, all 12 articles will 

be unbelievably similar. So, 

Google gets bored as it has seen 

it all before. And none of those 

businesses will benefit from the 

article. 

What Google Wants from 

Your Content 

Google wants to provide searchers 

with the most relevant, 

expert, authoritative, and trustworthy 

information. So when 

Google reads your blogs, they 

must be highly relevant, fresh, 

and unique – your articles 

need to set your business apart 

as being more helpful, more 

authoritative, and more trustworthy 

than your competitors. 

How do you do that when 

every business in your sector 

is writing articles about similar 

things? How do you make Google 

want to show people your 

website? 

Part of the answer is, to be 

better and more relevant than 

your competitors. One way to 

do this is to use case studies to 

tell a story. 

Your business has many 

very happy customers (hopefully!) 

So why not tell their 

story in an appropriate way? No 

other company has this story 

because it belongs to you and 

your customer. 

Everyone loves a story, so 

give them a story that is relevant 

to them and relatable. This 

way you get to position your 

business as helpful and expert 

solution providers. 

Here are some tips to 

make it awesome: 

Use a Clear Headline 

Like a newspaper headline, it 

should give the most important 

THE DIGITAL 

WORLD 

BY JOSH MOORE 

Josh Moore is the head 

marketing fanatic at Duoplus, 

a Hamilton-based digital 

marketing agency that 

helps clients get more leads 

and sales through online 

marketing. www.duoplus.nz 

information. A subtitle with 

supporting details, or a customer 

quote is optional. 

Snapshot 

Provide a TL;DR (too long 

didn’t read) section prominently 

at the top, including 

the client’s name/industry, 

the product/service used, and 

quick result stats. 

Client Introduction 

Start with one or two sentences 

describing the customer and 

a highlight about them. Pick 

something that either sounds 

impressive or relatable. Picking 

something impressive (e.g. 

they’re the biggest XYZ company 

in the region) helps builds 

your credibility because they 

picked you as their supplier. 

Or picking something relatable 

can help other potential clients 

think, “They’re just like me. 

Maybe I should use this company 

too.” 

Problem 

State the problem or goal, the 

consequences if they couldn’t 

solve the problem, and any 

hesitations the customer had. 

It’s great if you can include a 

quote from your client about 

the problem or their motivation 

for the work. 

Include Original Images 

Google prefers unique photos 

instead of stock photos. Bonus 

points if you can include a 

photo of your client enjoying 

the product or services, and 

smiling from ear to ear. Double 

bonus if you get to include 

a member of your team in the 

photo. 

Solution 

Share how they found you, why 

they chose you, what solution 

you recommended, and how it 

was implemented. Add another 

quote from the customer about 

why they chose you. 

Results 

Describe the results and the 

benefits, as well as any bonus 

benefits that came of it. The 

more specific you can be with 

the results and benefits, the 

better. 

Conclusion 

Share additional praise from 

the customer and any words of 

advice they have for other people/businesses 

like them. 

Make it all about the client… 

you and your business are the 

“wise guide” who helped them 

succeed. The aim is for it to 

feel a little subtle rather than 

bragging. 

By following these tips, you 

will be able to create unique 

content while being seen as the 

experts and building trust with 

potential customers. 

Precision component production 

ignited with 3D Tube Laser Cutter 

Industrial Tube Manufacturing, 

located in the 

Waikato, has established 

itself as a key player in the 

domestic market of carbon and 

stainless steel tube. Their dedication 

to constantly improving 

and expanding has enabled 

them to attain remarkable 

success in the industry. 

Bolstering its national reputation 

as a reliable supplier of 

high-quality steel tube, Industrial 

Tube commissioned its 

game-changing 3D Tube Laser 

Cutter last year – a one-of-akind 

in New Zealand that has 

sparked a surge in demand for 

its services and solidified the 

company’s position as a leader 

in the industry. 

Industrial Tube general 

manager Ian Foster says the 

Our product is precision 

engineered, and if the 

components are even a 

tenth of a millimetre out, 

the final product may not 

fit together. 

company is proud to have been 

a cornerstone of the Waikato 

manufacturing community 

for almost four decades now, 

catering to a wide range of 

industries with its broad product 

offering and excellent 

service. 

“With the market 

demanding efficiency, 

versatility 

and extreme 

attention to detail, 

investment in 

automation and 

innovation has 

been a key focus 

for our business,” 

says Foster. 

Known as ‘Pro- 

Tube services’, 

Industrial Tube 

offers 3D laser 

cutting, CNC Drilling, deburring, 

tapering, swaging and telescoping 

of tube, including carbon 

steel, pre galvanised steel 

and stainless steel, in addition 

to its extensive milled tube 

offering. 

“Pro-Tube raises the bar 

in terms of what’s possible in 

tube processing and manufacturing. 

New technology like the 

3D Tube Laser Cutter, coupled 

with the experience and knowledge 

of our engineers, means 

we can deliver more options 

and alternatives to New Zealand 

businesses that are seeking 

high-quality, customised 

components,” he says. 

Since its integration into 

Industrial Tube's manufacturing 

processes, the 3D Tube 

Laser Cutter has unleashed a 

wave of opportunities for local 

manufacturers. The precision, 

speed, and versatility offered 

by this cutting-edge machinery 

have elevated the capabilities 

of businesses, enabling them 

to create intricate components 

with precision and accuracy. 

One client is Tony Parton, 

director of Smokai Limited 

who says the 3D Tube Laser 

cutter helped his product 

development process. 

“Our product is precision 

engineered, and if the components 

are even a tenth 

of a millimetre out, the 

final product may 

not fit together. 

Industrial Tube’s 

3D Laser Tube 

Cutting provides 

us with the precision 

components 

we need,” says 

Parton. 

“One aspect we 

like about Industrial 

Tube’s laser cutter is the 

machine’s internal catcher, 

which means that the commonly 

used anti-splatter spray 

is not needed, and this results 

in a cleaner end product, 

important in our overall product 

presentation.” 

“In all honesty, tube cutting 

is pretty consistent across the 

market, it’s the people and 

the care they take in the process 

that helps our product 

development.” 

“It is obvious when you see 

the quality and care of their 

work that they really do take 

ownership of the part they each 

play in the production process. 

This seems to be reflected in 

the long-service nature of the 

team. The staff at Industrial 

Tube are not just ‘doing a job’, 

they care about their output. 

We really appreciate that as a 

client. That’s the stuff money 

can’t buy,” says Parton.

24 CONFERENCE & EVENTS 


More business travellers coming to Waikato 

More than 17,000 business travellers 

came to Waikato for conferences, 

trade shows and other business 

events in the first quarter of this year. 

That’s according to the 

latest data from New 

Zealand’s Business 

Events Data Programme – a 

nationwide research initiative 

co-funded by Business Events 

Industry Aotearoa, regional 

tourism organisations and 

Tourism New Zealand. 

The first-quarter figures 

show Hamilton and Waikato 

hosted the third highest 

number of business events of 

any region in New Zealand 

during the first quarter of 

this year, with organisers 

running 139 single and multiday 

events at venues across 

the region. This compared 

to just 36 reported business 

events during the same 

quarter last year, when Covid- 

19 uncertainty caused many 

events to be postponed or 

cancelled. 

The data shows that 

the number of events run 

in Hamilton and Waikato 

during Q1 was higher than 

Christchurch (96 events) 

and Queenstown (70 events) 

and behind only Auckland 

(367 events) and Wellington 

(373 events). Hamilton and 

Waikato attracted 14 per cent 

more delegates on average 

than those in Wellington, and 

around the same number as 

events in Queenstown. 

Hamilton & Waikato 

Tourism Business Events 

Manager Aimee Tyson says 

Waikato’s accessibility, worldclass 

conferencing facilities, 

and point of difference as a 

unique regional destination 

have helped growth during a 

quarter that is traditionally 

quieter when it comes to 

business events. 

“We’re also home to some 

outstanding experts, including 

nationally and internationally 

renowned researchers from 

University of Waikato, with 

expertise in everything from 

earth sciences and indigenous 

culture to agriculture, 

engineering and artificial 

intelligence,” Tyson says. 

“The fact we typically get 

strong attendance at Waikato 

events gives organisers 

confidence and there’s plenty 

for delegates to do before 

or after events, whether 

its exploring local eateries, 

boutiques and riverside cycle 

trails or venturing to big-name 

attractions like Hobbiton and 

Waitomo Caves.” 

In June Hamilton & 

Waikato Tourism will 

lead a local delegation to 

the national MEETINGS 

conference and trade show in 

Wellington, helping to ensure 

Waikato is front and centre 

for the hundreds of conference 

organisers and industry 

players in attendance. 

The regional tourism 

organisation also undertakes 

media and advertising activity 

and provides conference bid 

support to organisations 

wanting to bring conferences 

to the region. 

Business events 

are an important 

contributor to 

our region and 

we’re doing what 

we can to ensure 

businesses and 

people in our 

region aren’t 

missing out. 

Tyson says as well as 

bringing economic benefit to 

the region, business events 

also contribute to other 

social outcomes including 

knowledge transfer, creating 

vibrancy of place, employment 

opportunities, and a growing 

feeling of pride in our region 

among Waikato businesses 

and residents. 

Accommodation providers, 

caterers, event planners, 

restaurants and tourism 

operators can all contribute 

and benefit from the growth 

in business event numbers 

by working with their local 

business associations and 

chambers of commerce. 

Those offering business 

event services should also 

get in touch with Hamilton & 

Waikato Tourism to ensure 

they are aware of what they 

offer, sign up to the mailing 

list for regular updates, and 

find out about upcoming 

networking events and 

capability building workshops 

and webinars, Tyson says. 

We’re 

here to 

help 

Meet in the 

Waikato 

Be a Mighty Local 

- we’re here to help 

with your next 

business event 

businessevents@waikatonz.com 

www.meetwaikato.com

Tea for Harmony 

– International Tea 

Day in New Zealand 

WAIKATO BUSINESS NEWS, MAY/JUNE 2023 CONFERENCE & EVENTS 25 

Zealong Tea Estate celebrated 

International Tea Day with a 

multicultural gala dinner hosted by the 

NZ Embassy of the People’s Republic of 

China Ambassador Wang Xiaolong. 

Dr. Wang Xiaolong 

International Tea Day 

promotes harmony, 

sustainability and common 

prosperity across the world. 

The day is recognised by the 

United Nations as a way to 

raise awareness of the long 

history and the deep cultural 

and economic significance of 

tea around the world. 

The evening was an opportunity 

for local government 

leaders, community leaders 

and Waikato business people to 

come together with the Ambassador, 

and appreciate and recognise 

the importance tea has 

had and continues to make on 

our global society. 

Ambassador Wang spoke 

of China's long history with 

tea and how it is intrinsically 

wrapped in their culture and 

way of life. 

He says Zealong Tea 

Estate’s harmonious relationship 

with the environment produces 

the very best cup of tea. 

“Having absorbed the cream 

of heaven and earth, tea can 

only grow in a clean and green 

environment, where there is 

harmony between heaven and 

humanity.” 

Zealong team - Nicole Wang, 

Sen Kong, Gigi Crawford and 

Amy Reason 

The evening was a celebration 

of tea, food and harmony. 

The menu was specially 

designed by Zealong’s Executive 

chef Jean-Baptiste Pilou, 

matched with a selection of 

Zealong teas and tea-based 

cocktails crafted by Zealong’s 

tea sommelier. 

Guest speaker Hamilton 

Mayor Paula Southgate says 

Zealong is an excellent example 

of the global importance of sustainable 

food production and 

supporting local. 

“While tea drinking is 

something very personal and 

private, making a toast of tea 

can also be an important way to 

pay tribute and show respect." 

Catering for all occasions 

Weddings, wedding platters, 

birthdays, corporates plus many more. 

We bring the restaurant to you! 

Professional buffet catering 

for 60-5000 guests. 

www.southernspitroast.co.nz 

E: graham@ssbbq.co.nz | 0800 2 SPITROAST

26 CONFERENCE & EVENTS 


H3 celebrates their 10th year hosting the 

Hospice Waikato Bucket List Banquet 

The H3 team are delighted to celebrate their 10th Hospice Waikato 

Bucket List Banquet held at GLOBOX Arena, Claudelands last month. 

Their proud sponsorship 

began in 2013 and 

since then the H3 team 

have gone above and beyond 

delivering an exceptional 

event each year. The Hospice 

Waikato Bucket List Banquet is 

a very special, prestigious, and 

unique charitable opportunity 

held annually for businesses 

to support Hospice Waikato. 

The event hosts more than 

1,000 guests inside GLOBOX 

Arena, Claudelands - aimed 

at celebrating the incredible 

work that Hospice Waikato 

does within our community, 

with guests enthusiastically 

participating in live and 

silent auctions to raise valuable 

funds for the charity. The 

funds raised from the banquet 

enable Hospice Waikato to 

continue delivering specialist 

community palliative care and 

a variety of support services to 

those most in need. The extent 

of H3’s sponsorship is impressively 

vast, and planning for 

an event of this scale begins 

months prior – during this 10 

year period H3 and Hospice 

Waikato’s relationship has 

flourished, and their successful 

10th Hospice Waikato Bucket List Banquet held at GLOBOX 

Arena, Claudelands 

collaboration has led to great 

success year after year. Melissa 

Williams, H3 Business Development 

and Sales Manager - 

Business Events, says Hospice 

Waikato Bucket List Banquet 

is certainly a flagship event, 

and an annual highlight for our 

H3 team. Each year we work 

closely with Hospice Waikato, 

to bring this wonderful event 

to life. 

“As we reflect on past years 

it’s incredible to see the significant 

growth of this event. When 

Hospice Waikato Bucket List 

Banquet began in 2013, it was 

originally held in the Heaphy 

Rooms at Claudelands Events 

Centre. As interest and support 

grew amongst the business 

community and across 

the region, each year, our team 

was motivated and empowered 

to push the boundaries, strive 

for improvement, and unleash 

their creative potential.” 

“Our contribution to this 

event includes many components 

such as, an experienced 

operations team, dedicated 

event and client experience 

coordinators, usage of equip- 

ment and many different 

spaces across Claudelands 

for multiple days, and most 

importantly the full support 

and expertise of our H3 Technical 

Services Team.” 

Since the beginning, 

Melissa says, “H3’s experienced 

and passionate Technical 

Services Team have been 

a fundamental part of what 

makes Hospice Bucket List 

Banquet incredibly magical 

each year”. 

Led by Sven Ladewig, H3 

Technical Services Manager 

– Sven and his team consistently 

exceed expectations. 

Their unwavering attention to 

detail and expertise in lighting, 

sound, and production 

features are instrumental in 

ensuring that H3 continues to 

deliver events of the highest 

caliber. 

Every banquet is infused 

with a distinctive theme, ranging 

from the Mad Hatter’s Tea 

Party, Enchanted Earth, and 

most recently, the masquerade-themed 

Flutter & Feast. 

Regardless of the theme, the 

H3 Technical Services Team 

Melissa Williams, H3 Business Development and Sales 

Manager - Business Events 

consistently delivers extraordinary 

results. Whether it entails 

hanging 151 lights, suspending 

45 mirror balls, setting up 

237 meters of truss, or dedicating 

580 hours to assembling 

this awe-inspiring spectacle, 

they consistently exceed 

expectations with enthusiasm 

and skill. 

Melissa reflects, “Ten years 

ago, no one could have predicted 

the remarkable success 

that the Hospice Bucket List 

Banquet would achieve, nor 

could we have imagined the 

incredible outpouring of kindness 

and generosity from the 

attendees. However, year after 

year, we have had the privilege 

of witnessing and contributing 

to the growth of this event 

and discovering its significant 

impact on people’s lives. For 

our team, this event holds a 

special place in our hearts. We 

understand the immense pressure 

and hard work required to 

ensure its flawless execution, 

but it is all worth it for such a 

meaningful cause. Thanks to 

the kindness of all those who 

donated, Hospice Waikato 

raised an astounding $505,000 

this year. We eagerly look forward 

to starting the planning 

process for the 2024 Hospice 

Waikato Bucket List Banquet, 

our team are excited to continue 

making a difference. 

LIGHTING UP 

MEANINGFUL 

EVENTS 

Thanks to the expertise of our 

Technical Services team. 

Proud supporters of 

The Hospice Waikato 

Bucket List Banquet 

h3group.co.nz 

h3-group-nz

Waikato locals 

positive about 

tourism’s impact 

TELLING 

WAIKATO’S STORY 

BY NICOLA GREENWELL 

Chief executive, Hamilton & 

Waikato Tourism 

Going on holiday and exploring new 

places takes us out of our daily routine, 

creates lasting memories, and allows 

us to meet new friends and experience 

new cultures. 

It can also positively impact 

the people and communities 

being visited, especially 

if it’s done sustainably and with 

consideration in equal measure 

by visitors, the businesses 

hosting them, and the many 

parties responsible for creating 

the infrastructure that supports 

their stay. 

In early May we received 

the results of the latest Views 

on Tourism: Hamilton & 

Waikato survey. This annual 

study measures Waikato residents’ 

opinions about tourism 

and its impacts, helping us to 

determine our sector’s ‘social 

licence’ to operate, taking stock 

of just how sustainable and beneficial 

tourism is in our region. 

The most recent survey ran 

between December 2022 and 

March 2023 and it shows positive 

results, including the finding 

that 85 per cent of Waikato 

residents believe they have personally 

benefitted from tourism 

activity in our region. 

While some residents 

reported a few negative impacts 

in their local area, such as 

trouble finding a car park, litter 

or traffic congestion, it was 

heartening to see that 76 per 

cent of respondents felt positive 

action was being taken to 

address these issues. 

The results also suggested 

a growing pride in our region, 

with a larger proportion of residents 

in this year’s survey saying 

they think people from outside 

the region think it is a good 

place to visit. Many residents 

believe visitors to Waikato see it 

as a beautiful clean, green destination, 

with Waitomo Caves, 

Hobbiton Movie Set and Hamilton 

Gardens identified as being 

among the key visitor attractions, 

along with natural assets 

such as the Waikato River, 

walking and cycling trails and 

the region’s beaches. 

One of the unique aspects of 

this Views on Tourism research 

is its calculation of a Tourism 

Approval Rating score based on 

residents’ responses to key survey 

questions. 

On this measure, Waikato 

residents gave domestic tourism 

a higher approval rating 

than international tourism (51 

for international versus 67 for 

domestic). Approval ratings 

for domestic and international 

tourism were higher this year 

than in last year’s survey and 

both were regarded more positively 

by Waikato residents than 

by their counterparts in the rest 

of New Zealand. 

While the drivers of these 

rising approval ratings will 

be many, the recovery from 

Covid is likely to be a factor. 

Travel restrictions and the 

impact of diminished visitor 

numbers throughout the pandemic 

caused businesses to 

close and this in turn enabled 

greater awareness of tourism’s 

contribution to employment 

and the vibrancy of communities, 

including their local hospitality 

scenes. 

In recent months I have spoken 

a lot about the national shift 

towards ‘regenerative tourism’ 

and the focus on creating a sector 

that actively contributes to 

the communities and the environment 

in which we operate. 

More than just dollars and 

cents, our regional destination 

management plan is about creating 

vibrancy of place, employment 

and education opportunities, 

preserving and celebrating 

our cultural heritage, encouraging 

social interactions between 

locals and visitors, developing a 

sense of regional pride and protecting 

the environment. 

As we continue to evolve in 

this space, there is the opportunity 

for improvement. With 

visitor numbers continuing to 

rebound, many respondents 

commented on the need for 

improved community infrastructure 

to make sure spikes 

in visitor numbers don’t negatively 

impact locals. Other top 

priorities residents identified 

included making sure tourism 

creates local employment 

opportunities, continued efforts 

to attract domestic visitors, and 

work to encourage visitors to 

travel outside of peak season 

and more widely across our 

region. 

Addressing these priorities 

is part of our Destination 

Management Plan and we will 

continue to work closely with 

councils, iwi, tourism operators 

and our many communities 

to explore new ways to ensure 

tourism remains a positive 

force for Waikato. 

Is it a good time to build? 

If you’ve been thinking of 

building a new house the 

past two years may have 

been a worrying time. High 

demand, staffing limitations 

and supply chain challenges 

have conspired to produce 

rapidly escalating prices. 

Those economic conditions in 

the NZ building industry postcovid 

have meant that builders 

have been at first reluctant, and 

in many cases simply unable, 

to provide fixed price building 

contracts – in turn making 

bank financing difficult to 

secure. 

However, there are some 

promising signs that 

conditions are changing: 

Drop in demand. 

Firstly the level of demand has 

dropped quite substantially, 

with building consent statistics 

recently showing clear reductions. 

March was the fifth consecutive 

month showing a drop 

LANDMARKS 

BY PHIL MACKAY 

Phil Mackay is Business 

Devolpment Manger at 

Hamilton-based PAUA, 

Procuta Associates Urban + 

Architecture 

in consents for new dwellings 

nationally. According to Statistics 

NZ, in the 12 months to 

March this year, 46,924 new 

dwellings were consented, 

down 7.9% compared to the 

previous 12 months. 

Supply chain. 

While some challenges certainly 

still exist with the building 

materials supply chain, generally 

speaking it seems we’re 

past the worst. There are still 

some materials increasing in 

price, however in the past few 

months we’ve had some initial 

indications of price reductions. 

It’s still a mixed bag, but there 

are signs that on average, pricing 

is stabilising. 

Builders looking for work. 

What has become very clear 

in talking to builders that we 

work with, is that builders and 

tradespeople are hungry for 

more work. While most still 

have plenty of work for the 

remainder of 2023, they are 

actively looking for projects to 

quote for with a view to locking 

in some jobs for 2024. 

Finance. 

Given that material prices are 

largely stabilising and builders 

are actively looking for work, 

it makes sense that, anecdotally 

at least, most builders are 

now willing to provide fixed 

price quotes again. While 

interest rates are still high and 

likely to remain that way for 

some time, some of the other 

rules around bank financing 

are being relaxed somewhat by 

the reserve bank and government. 

At a recent Cambridge 

Business Chamber event, mortgage 

brokers and other experts 

expressed optimism that access 

to bank financing is still very 

much achievable and, importantly, 

improving. 

So should you build now? 

Well that obviously depends 

on your situation, and you 

should definitely talk to your 

accountant, mortgage broker, 

and architect first. According 

to REINZ average house prices 

are down 17.5% nationally from 

their peak, so if you’re weighing 

up whether to build new or 

buy existing, it’s likely that the 

numbers for building new don’t 

yet stack up. 

However if you’re looking to 

build new and it’s just a question 

of timing, there’s a good 

chance that now is in fact a 

great time. By the time you’ve 

worked with an architect to 

design your house there ought 

to be more free capacity in the 

industry and plenty of builders 

eager to provide competitive 

pricing for you.


9 in 10 

workplace 

decision 

makers read 

print media 

Book your spot in 

our next publication 

info@dpmedia.co.nz 

*Source: Neilsen Australia Consumer and Media View. 

Survey 3 2016 National 12 month. Print readers have read any magazine in the past 

month OR any newspaper in the past 7 days OR any catalogue in the past 7 days 

Publishers of Waikato Business News, 

Waikato AgriBusiness News and Showcase Magazine

The top 5 reasons 

employees are 

quitting in 2023 

According to people2people 

Recruitment’s 2023 Annual Salary 

and Employment Report, when 

asked why employees recently quit 

or are considering quitting, 46% 

indicated it was due to a lack of career 

opportunities, up a staggering 29% 

from 2022. This was followed by low 

pay (35%), management (28%), nonsupportive 

culture (27%), and stressful 

working conditions (26%). 

WAIKATO BUSINESS NEWS, MAY/JUNE 2023 HR, MANAGEMENT & RECRUITMENT 29 

people2people Recruitment’s 

group managing 

director Mark Smith 

says 2022 wasn’t without its 

roadblocks. 

”Given the uncertain business 

landscape in 2023, an 

unyielding focus on talent 

attraction and retention will 

be essential to ensure organisations 

continue to perform in 

the current market and remain 

in a strong position to navigate 

high market volatility.” 

Based on people2people’s 

report and Microsoft 

Work Trend research ‘Hybrid 

Work is just work’, key findings 

employers need to take 

into consideration this year 

include: 

• Diversity, Equity and Inclusion, 

as well as mental 

health, have increased in 

importance by 30% in the 

last three years. 

• Employees would be seven 

times less likely to look for 

a new job if there is clarity 

on their work priorities. 

• 66% would stay longer if it 

was easier to change jobs 

Reaching back to 

reach forward 

Asset Recruitment’s new scholarship aims to support 

excellence where it’s needed most. 

internally. This rises to 77% have significantly changed 

for decision-makers. over the past 12 months and 

• 76% of Gen Z and Millennials 

are still evolving due to the 

aspire to pursue side ever-changing market condi- 

hustles in the future. tions,” Mark says. 

“Providing the flexibility 

for employees to pursue their Top five areas where 

side projects is a positive way employers can improve 

to increase work satisfaction, their retention strategies 

engagement and increase include: 

talent retention in 2023 for 

the younger demographic. 1. Offering flexible work 

Employees’ needs and wants arrangements (71% - top 


factor in the last two years) 

2. Increased base pay (59% - 

up 31% in 2022) 

3. Increased variable pay 

(56% - up 39% in 2022) 

4. Additional training and 

development (42% - up 10% 

in 2022) 

“Interestingly, review of 

employer value proposition 

decreased significantly, while 

the desire for regular wellbeing 

employee surveys and 

increased annual leave was on 

par,” Mark says. 

people2people Recruitment’s 

annual salary and 

employment report has been 

built on the insights of over 

1,050 employers over the past 

four years. These employers, 

from a wide range of industries, 

represent more than 

1,000,000 employees across 

Australia, New Zealand and 

the United Kingdom. 

Raised in a home filled 

with mental disorders 

and family violence, 

where finances were scarce 

and homelessness was a 

reality, meant tertiary education 

was never a future Elisha 

considered pursuing. 

The Fairfield College student 

of Māori (Maniapoto) 

and Pasifika (Samoan) descent 

experienced years of neglect 

behind closed doors, where he 

was privy to bouts of depression 

and social anxiety. In 

2019, Elisha lived with the fear 

of homeless after an eviction 

notice was taped to the front 

door of the rental property he 

lived in with his mother due to 

unpaid rent. 

Turning his life around 

Placed in the guardianship 

of his older sister proved to 

be a turning point for Elisha, 

not just mentally but educationally. 

From failing all subjects 

at school, where he had 

a 15% attendance record to 

receiving merits and excellences 

in NCEA and an attendance 

record of above 90%, 

Elisha went on to receive academic 

honours endorsed with 

merit for NCEA Level 1, 2 and 

3. In 2022 during his final year 

at Fairfield College, Elisha 

received the Award for “Top 

Year 13 Māori Student”. 

Today, Elisha can be found 

in the corridors of the University 

of Waikato’s engineering 

department where he’s 

studying towards a Bachelor 

of Engineering with Honours 

in Mechatronics. And Asset 

Recruitment feels privileged to 

be supporting him on his journey. 

Industry initiative 

Elisha is the inaugural 

recipient of the Tae 

Whakamura – Reach Forward 

Scholarship, an initiative 

established by Asset Recruitment 

in collaboration with 

some of the recruitment company’s 

key clients to enable 

students of Māori and Pasifika 

descent to aspire and partake 

in tertiary education. 

Pearl Parsons, Asset 

Recruitment’s Industrial 

Recruitment Consultant, says 

the organisation identified the 

under-representation of Māori 

and Pasifika students in tertiary 

education and saw an 

opportunity to provide mentoring 

and financial support 

by way of a scholarship and 

internships. 

“The Tae Whakamura 

Scholarship gives students, 

like Elisha, financial support 

to study at either Waikato 

University or Wintec – Te 

Pukenga, as well as work experience 

in their field of study. 

This combination of financial 

support and real-world learning 

will enable students to 

develop the skills, tools, and 

resources to succeed in their 

future professional careers.” 

Supporting excellence 

For Elisha, the Scholarship 

has enabled him to stay 

at the Halls of Residence on 

the university campus, lessening 

the financial burden on 

his family and providing him 

with an opportunity to establish 

a career in automation and 

robotics, a facet of engineering 

he has a real passion for. 

Says Pearl: “This annual 

scholarship of up to $10,000 

is a commitment by the team 

here at Asset Recruitment, and 

our industry partners, to continue 

to position and foster 

excellence in Waikato. Elisha 

is an example of how excellence 

can succeed.” 

For more than 30 years, we’ve been aligning 

great For more candidates than 30 with years, great we’ve opportunities, been aligningand 

‘positioning great candidates excellence’ with great throughout opportunities, Waikato. and 

‘positioning excellence’ throughout Waikato. 

We strive for excellence and quality in all we do. As part of 

our We commitment strive for excellence to excellence, and quality we’re in focussed all we do. on As part finding of 

the 

our 

right 

commitment 

fit for both 

to 

job-seeker 

excellence, 

and 

we’re 

employer. 

focussed on finding 

the right fit for both job-seeker and employer. 

So, if you’re currently looking to hire or would like to 

So, if you’re currently looking to hire or would like to 

discuss your career opportunities, get in touch with our 

discuss your career opportunities, get in touch with our 

team. team. 

Temporary| Permanent|Executive|Industrial 

07 07 839 839 3685 | | www.assetrec.co.nz 

Supporters Supporters of of the the Waikato Breast Cancer Research Trust Trust



Ebbett Škoda Hamilton winner of 

prestigious awards 

The team at Ebbett Škoda Hamilton attended the annual Škoda Dealer of the Year Awards on 19th May 

at Wild & Co in Auckland where they were entertained by Jono and Ben and were able to enjoy the 

night with their wider Škoda family. 

At the annual Škoda 

Dealer of the Year 

Awards, Ebbett Škoda 

Hamilton picked up four 

awards on the evening. 

Marketing team of the year 

Winner – Ebbett Škoda 

Hamilton 

Finalists – Gazley Škoda & 

Farmer Škoda 

Sales team of the year 


Hamilton 

Finalists – W.R. Phillips 

Škoda & Robertson Prestige 

Škoda 

Customer excellence award 


Hamilton 

Finalists – Farmer Škoda & 

W.R. Phillips Škoda 

Dealer of the year 


Hamilton 

Finalists – Robertson 

Prestige Škoda & Farmer 

Skoda 

The event celebrates 

the year’s achievements 

across the New Zealand 

Škoda dealer network with 

awards that focus on all the 

key aspects of a dealership. 

These included parts, service, 

customer excellence, sales 

and marketing. 

Andrew Unternährer, 

Ebbett Skoda Hamilton Dealer 

Principal, says “Thanks to our 

team for all your individual 

contributions. The Customer 

Satisfaction and Dealer 

of the Year awards don’t 

happen without everyone’s 

considerable efforts. You all 

have my sincere thanks for 

the consideration and skill 

with which you all interact 

with our customers”. 

It is always great to be able 

to celebrate the success of 

those within our dealership 

and the Škoda brand as 

a whole. Here at Ebbett 

Škoda Hamilton we were 

honoured to be the winners 

of a number of awards on the 

night including the overall 

Dealer of the Year, Customer 

Satisfaction Dealer of the 

Year, Sales Team of the Year, 

and the Marketing Award. 

We would like to thank our 

customers for their continued 

support and the entire team 

at Ebbett Škoda for their 

outstanding contributions. 

We pride ourselves on being 

able to provide the best 

service and experience to 

each and every one of our 

customers. 

Don’t compromise ever, 

Re-Charge Life with the Enyaq. 

Owning a new electric car doesn’t mean you should compromise. 

With 150kW Power and 310nM 

Torque and a 77 kWh Battery 

Capacity which gives you a range 

from 532km* there is every reason to 

try the new Skoda Enyaq today. 

Come and take a test drive 

Striking Stylish 

Spacious 

Latest Technology 

City traffic or long trips 

Fully electric 

Sales Hours: 

Mon-Fri: 8:00am – 5:30pm 

Sat: 9:00am – 4:00pm 

Service & Parts Hours: 

Mon-Fri: 7:30am – 5:30pm 

Sat: 8:00am – 12:00pm 

490 Grey Street 

Hamilton, 3216 

Sales & Service: 07 837 3737 

ebbettskoda.nz


New Zealand Commercial Project 

Awards Waikato winners 

Owned by the Registered Master 

Builders Association, the New Zealand 

Commercial Project Awards is the only 

competition in New Zealand to showcase 

the contribution and innovation of the 

whole project team, the people, rather 

than just the building itself. 

The size of the project is 

not what is important - 

the team collaboration 

and innovation, and what the 

team achieves together, are 

what these awards are all about. 

The awards are open to all 

New Zealand-based commercial 

construction project partners 

– you do not need to be 

a Registered Master Builders 

member to enter. 

All entrants nationwide are 

in to win for Gold, Silver and 

Bronze awards in their category, 

the National Category 

win, the Special Awards, the 

Value Awards, and the Supreme 

Award. 

Sustainability Award 

National Category Winner 

This award is based on the 

environmental features of the 

design and will only be awarded 

if deserved. It recognises the 

relationship our man-made 

buildings have with the environment 

and responsibility we 

have as an industry. 

Project: APL 

Entrant: Foster Group 

Project Partners: BCD 

Group Ltd (Engineer), Foster 

Construction (Construction 

Company), Jasmax (Architect/ 

Designer) 

Owned by Profile Group Ltd 

This industrial plant 

includes a 50,000sqm stateof-the-art 

glass factory, other 

manufacturing facilities, offices, 

and a two-story commercial 

kitchen. Measuring 437m long, 

the facility was the largest construction 

project undertaken in 

New Zealand between 2019 and 

2021. Due to the sheer scale of 

the project, site manoeuvrability 

and management was challenging 

and needed careful 

management. Over 2,000 individuals 

worked on the project, 

with up to 400 people on-site 

at a time. The COVID lockdowns 

and accompanying supply 

chain disruption affected 

the build’s cost structure and 

timeline, but all trades collaborated 

to ensure the project was 

delivered on time and in-budget. 

Gaining 5-star Green Star 

certification, this project was 

designed and built to meet strict 

criteria. Standout sustainability 

aspects include 90% of construction 

waste being diverted 

from landfill, onsite ponds collecting 

water from the roof to be 

re-used, skylights reducing the 

need for artificial lighting, and 

timber being used to replace 

concrete where possible. 

Judges’ comments 

Sustainability was a major focus 

throughout this build, gaining 

a 5-star Green Star certification. 

Standout sustainability 

aspects included 90% of construction 

waste being diverted 

from landfill, collection and 

re-use of roof water, skylights 

reducing the need for artificial 

lighting, and timber replacing 

concrete where possible. With 

20% of the site dedicated to 

wetland and riparian planting, 

enhanced ecology and water 

sensitive design principles were 

used to replicate natural water 

systems and recharge the wetlands 

basin. Collecting three 

million litres of water run-off 

annually, provides water for 

fire-fighting storage, toilets, 

and irrigation. To maximise 

natural light throughout the 

offices and a factory floor the 

size of six rugby fields – the 

building features 5,400 square 

metres of skylights, used to 

reduce the energy consumption 

from artificial lighting. Staged 

construction allowed the factory 

the luxury to “glaze itself”. 

With over 1500 insulated glass 

units that’s a significant reduction 

in carbon associated with 

transportation. The longest 

journey from raw glass to finished 

and installed unit was 

900m, with the shortest distance 

being 90m. 

Industrial Project Awards’ 

National Category Winner 

Project: APL 

Entrant: Foster Group 

Project Partners: BCD 

Group Ltd (Engineer), Foster 

Construction (Construction 

Company), Jasmax (Architect/ 

Designer) 

Owned by Profile Group Ltd 

Judges’ comments 

This industrial plant was the 

largest construction project 

undertaken in New Zealand 

between 2019 and 2021. The 

50,000 square metre state-ofthe-art 

factory features manufacturing 

facilities, offices, 

and a two-storey commercial 

kitchen. The complete development 

equates to the size of 

the Central North Island township 

of Ohura. The sheer scale 

of the build saw over 2,000 

individuals work on the project 

with around 400 people on-site 

each day. This required a huge 

amount of organisation and 

collaboration from all involved. 

Civic Project Silver and 

special award 

Project: Cambridge Police 

Hub 

Entrant: Alaska Construction 

Interiors 

Project Partners: Alaska 

Construction Interiors 

(Construction Company), 

Paua Architects (Architect/ 

Designer), Tainui Group Holdings 

(Developer) 

The Cambridge Police Hub, 

which has just opened, is unlike 

any other in New Zealand. It 

has been designed to meet 

the requirements of the police 

force, while also being open and 

inviting to the local community 

and reflecting the cultural 

identity of the local iwi. The 

station's unique blend of materials 

includes brick, stone, aluminium, 

and Corten steel. The 

project faced significant challenges, 

as it needed to be completed 

before the lease on the 

current station expired. Despite 

disruptions to the supply chain, 

lockdowns, and complicated 

building work, the team successfully 

completed the project 

within the tight time frame. The 

team emphasised sourcing local 

materials wherever possible, to 

support the local economy and 

prioritise sustainability. The 

project was centred around the 

community, aiming to foster a 

sense of community ownership 

and pride. 

Resene Commercial Fit 

Out Project Silver award 

Project: Ōtorohanga District 

Council 

Entrant: Unispace 

Project Partners: Unispace 

(Architect/Designer/Construction 

Company/Project 

Manager) 

Owned by Ōtorohanga District 

Council 

This project saw the renovation 

of the Otorohanga District 

Council building, which hadn’t 

seen any investment for over 30 

years. Key activities consisted of 

base upgrades to future-proof 

the building, reconfiguring the 

interior to accommodate for 

long-term growth and fixing 

multiple ‘patchwork’ modifications. 

Challenges included 

a modest budget, fast work 

programme, hidden ceilings 

and concrete walls and supply 

chain disruption. Despite 

these challenges, the project 

team delivered the build with 

zero variations to the design. 

Sustainability was an important 

consideration, with the 

council electing to refurbish the 

existing building, rather than 

demolish and rebuild, diverting 

significant waste from landfill. 

All of the existing electrical and 

HVAC were over 35 years old 

so replacing these has reduced 

emissions and given the building 

another 50 years of life. 

Retail Project Silver Award 

Project: Cambridge Retail 

- Swayne Rd 

Entrant: RM Designs 

Project Partners: Iline Construction 

(Construction Company), 

RM Designs (Architect/ 

Designer) 

This commercial building 

is the centre of a new residential 

community in Cambridge. 

It contains a supermarket, 

apartments, and a range of 

community amenities. The 

form is sympathetic to a local 

church, with a contemporary 

take on traditional materials, 

and textures and fittings have 

a hand-finished feel. While 

the budget and timeline were 

a challenge, this was not detrimental 

to the performance 

or aesthetics of the building. 

The three apartments included 

in the build were completed 

to a very high standard, particularly 

the fit-out which is 

a standout feature. Navigating 

COVID lockdowns proved 

to be the biggest challenge. 

Trades and staff were coming 

from areas outside of Cambridge, 

some of those areas, 

such as Hamilton and Auckland 

were in lockdown while 

Cambridge was not. Work on 

site continued and alternative 

temporary solutions with staff 

were sorted, while other trades 

that were on site, diversified 

and learnt new trades.

“It means a lot to 

our entire team to be 

recognised for excellence 

— because it takes a team 

to deliver on a project of 

this scale... the awards 

recognise collaboration 

and teamwork in 

delivering excellence.” 

Nigel Sun, Fosters CEO 

Fosters were both proud and humbled to receive the 

National Category Winner, Gold and the Sustainability 

Award at the prestigious New Zealand Commercial 

Project Awards last month. The awards, recognising 

excellence, outstanding workmanship, and innovation, 

were given for Profile Group’s APL headquarters at 

Hautapu. 

Fosters CEO Nigel Sun said that the team knew, 

from the very start, that this was going to be a great 

project. “Having worked alongside the Profile Group for 

many years, we know them to be outstanding clients 

who set excellent standards. We recognised that the 

APL Hautapu project would enable us to be part of 

something special, and it was”. 

“It means a lot to our entire team to be recognised 

for excellence – because it takes a team to deliver 

on a project of this scale” Nigel continues. “From the 

architects to our subcontractors, carpenters to roofers 

and the support team behind them all, the awards 

recognise collaboration and teamwork in delivering 

excellence.” 

The Sustainability Award was especially meaningful; 

Fosters have worked hard to lead the industry in 

sustainable practise. APL Hautapu, a 5-star Green Star 

build, is an outstanding example of what can be done. 

Fosters Sustainability Adviser on the APL project, Jael 

Clausen, says that the Sustainability Award is another 

example of collaborative effort. 

“A Green Star build takes a real commitment to thinking 

outside of the square. Without the buy-in of everyone 

on this project – subcontractors, suppliers, APL, and our 

own team – we couldn’t have done it.” 

Up to 2,000 individuals worked on this project. 

Delivering excellence, outstanding workmanship, and 

innovation – making it a success - takes a great team. 

FOSTERS.CO.NZ 07 849 3849

Waikato Business News May/June 2023

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