Waikato Business News June/July 2023

JUNE/JULY 2023 

VOLUME 31 

ISSUE 6 

READ ONLINE AT 

http://www.wbn.co.nz 

/WaikatoBusinessNews 

The Waikato region’s voice of local business 

JB HI-FI ON THE MOVE 

Close to 15,000 people visited the new JB Hi-Fi store at 

The Base Te Awa during the opening festivities - PAGE 4 

COMMUNITY-LED TOURISM 

The Raglan community takes over the former council-operated 

iSite and puts their unique twist on tourism - PAGE 8 

THE BUSINESS OF ART 

Hamilton jewellery designer Teuila Fatupaito works hard at 

finding the balance between art and business - PAGE 24 

Restore Native 

digs in for the 

environment 

A love for restoring farm land has won Restore Native 

nursery owner Adam Thompson the Kaitiakitanga/ 

Guardianship & Conservation Award at the recent 

Primary Industries New Zealand Awards. 

CONTINUED - PAGE 3 

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WAIKATO BUSINESS NEWS, JUNE/JULY 2023 

“I would have gone through 

torment if I didn’t have a 

place like this to come to.” 

Critical cancer service needs your help 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 

Over the course of a 

lifetime, 1 in 3 Kiwis 

will experience the lifechanging 

reality of a cancer 

diagnosis. For Paeroa local, 

Stephen Phillips, the Cancer 

Society’s Lions Lodge made 

an immeasurable difference 

during his own cancer journey. 

The Lodge, made only 

possible thanks to the generosity 

of the New Zealand public, was 

a free-of-charge ‘home away 

from home’ for Stephen while 

he underwent five weeks of 

treatment at Waikato Hospital. 

Without it, he dreads to think 

of how his situation might have 

played out. 

“I know for a fact I would 

have gone through torment if I 

didn’t have a place like this to 

come to,” says Stephen. “The 

support is brilliant and it made 

life a lot easier.” 

Stephen is just one of the 

many people from across the 

Waikato, Bay of Plenty and 

Gisborne-Tairāwhiti regions 

that use the Lodge. 

In fact, in recent months, 

demand for the Lodge and 

the transport to treatment 

service, has reached record 

numbers. And with those 

record numbers comes a 

desperate call for help. 

“More than ever before 

we’re appealing to the business 

Sharon Robertson, Cancer Society Partnership Manager, is 

appealing to the community for urgent support this Daffodil Day. 

community to get behind us this 

Daffodil Day. Whether that’s 

by participating in our street 

appeal, hosting a counter box, 

branding a product, or holding 

a morning tea – the options 

are endless,” says Partnership 

Manager, Sharon Robertson. 

Daffodil Day, this year 

on Friday 25 August, is New 

Zealand’s largest street 

appeal and is a critical 

fundraiser for the Cancer 

Society’s Lions Lodge. 

Support from generous 

businesses like yours this 

Daffodil Day will ensure 

that Cancer Society services 

like support from nurses, 

transport to treatment and 

accommodation near treatment 

centres remains free for people 

with cancer. 

“You’ve got to give back,” 

says Stephen. “You don’t realise 

until you’ve been in a situation 

like I’m in now what you can 

actually give. I can’t say enough 

about the Cancer Society.” 

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 

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Residential / Commercial / Rural / Property Services

Restore Native digs in 

for the environment 

WAIKATO BUSINESS NEWS, JUNE/JULY 2023 3 

FROM - PAGE 1 

The awards honour the 

teams and individuals whose 

talents and toil help New Zealand’s 

farmers, foresters and 

fishers thrive. 

Passionate about native 

trees and biodiversity, Adam 

began his tree planting journey 

on his Cambridge farm 

in 2018. 

“I've always been really 

passionate about the bush and 

growing things. I just keep 

chipping away at it and learning 

more, and eventually got 

to a place where you turn into 

a business.” 

A full time mortgage broker 

at that time, Adam made the 

shift towards growing trees as 

a full time business in 2020. 

“It was quite funny when 

the COVID stuff happened I 

thought the property market is 

toast. I'm going to get out and 

just go full time in the nursery 

but I couldn't because it was 

so busy.” 

Still a shareholder in My 

Mortgage, Adam continues to 

support the team on a weekly 

basis but supporting farmers to 

plant their land in native trees 

is how most of his time is consumed 

these days. 

The nursery grows more 

than a million native trees to 

plant on farms and he leads by 

example, being well on his way 

to meeting his personal target 

of digging in 250,000 trees on 

his own beef finishing farm. 

“I'm trying to demonstrate 

how we can farm sustainably. 

We're intensifying the 

areas we can drive a tractor 

over and trying to get a good 

return out of that. And where 

we come off those flat areas 

and onto the steep stuff, we're 

retiring it completely back into 

native bush.” 

I love my work 

with the farmers 

and to be 

recognised for 

something like 

that is really, 

really cool. 

In the five years that Adam 

has been on this journey 

production on his farm has 

increased and he has returned 

around 25 percent of the land 

to native bush. 

“We're actually just farming 

better; farming good land and 

our streams are running clear 

rather than full of silt.” 

Selling trees by the thousands, 

Adam clients are 

looking to restore land they are 

retiring, planting out marginal 

land and protecting waterways 

with riparian planting. 

Adam says land restoration 

is something many of the new 

generation of farmers are fully 

committed to achieving. 

“The reality is that ‘the 

exploiting the land to make 

a living view’ is actually 

dying out with the people 

who hold it. My generation 

wouldn't even dream of doing 

those things.” 

And he says, farming for 

the environment rather than 

in competition with it is far 

more enjoyable. 

“It’s also a pride thing. The 

amount of people who call me 

up and say how stoked they are 

to see trees growing that we 

put in a couple of years ago.” 

It might not happen overnight 

but Adam says planting 

trees that are native to the area 

is a recipe for success. 

“We’re blessed in the 

Waikato because native trees 

grow really well. Two, three, 

four or five years after planting 

you can be looking at a 

pretty impressive bit a native 

bush that was once a barren, 

muddy hillside.” 

It’s the busy season for the 

Restore Native team and Adam 

says his usual team of eight 

doubles to meet the demand. 

The team not only grow the 

trees they also offer advice on 

best planting for the site, they 

do the planting and provide 

ongoing support to ensure 

those trees get the best start. 

“We offer a full service 

and it is full accountability; 

if the tree dies, it's my fault. 

But if you follow the recipe for 

this specific place, you can do 

really well.” 

A self-described risk taker, 

Adam says making the move 

away from mortgage broking 

into growing trees was much 

more than venturing into a 

new business to make money. 

“It does need to be financially 

sustainable. But there are 

lots of other things like the sustainability 

of employment of 

our people. The sustainability 

for mental and physical health. 

I'm physically and mentally 

healthier than I ever was and 

my team says the same thing. 

And there’s sustainability in 

terms of the quality time spent 

with my kids. I can take them 

to work, and they can go - oh, 

that's what dad does. I can help 

with the sustainability for our 

community by offering part 

time jobs to the local kids and 

donating plants for schools 

CREAM OF NZ’S PRIMARY 

INDUSTRIES RESEARCHERS 

AND INNOVATORS HONOURED 

Teams and individuals 

were honoured at the 

2023 Primary Industries 

New Zealand Awards with 

65 nominations across nine 

award categories. 

Waikato entrants took 

out four of the coveted trophies, 

including three 

AgResearch personnel. 

The Science & Research 

Award went to the AgResearch 

Endophyte Discovery Team 

for their world-leading development 

and commercialisation 

of strains of ryegrass with 

improved insect protection 

and plant persistence, coupled 

with fewer adverse effects on 

animal health. 

Scientist Dr Louise 

Hennessy (Ngāti Maniapoto) 

claimed the Emerging 

Leader Award for her 

efforts at AgResearch and 

other crown research institutes 

championing support 

for early career researchers 

and a learning approach that 

blends matauranga Māori with 

western science. 

And another AgResearch 

scientist, Dr Dave Leathwick, 

was presented with the Primary 

Industries Champion 

Award. Praised by the awards 

judging panel for his knowledge 

sharing and effective 

communication, Dr Leathwick 

has demonstrated “an 

unwavering commitment to 

the rural sector”, in particular 

championing parasite control 

and anthelmintic drug 

resistance management. 

and community projects. And 

obviously it's sustainable for 

the environment - we're protecting 

water and air.” 

Winning the award was 

the icing on the cake for Adam 

who started a passion project 

that is now bearing fruit 

Dave Leathwick and PaySauce chief 

financial officer Jaime Monaghan 

for sustainability. 

“I was stoked. I was honestly 

super proud. I literally 

took a punt to grow trees without 

any formal training. I love 

my work with the farmers and 

to be recognised for something 

like that is really, really cool.” 

Endophyte team - David Hume, Christine 

Voisey, Linda Johnson and Yashili GM 

people and capability Tina Yakas 

Louise Hennessy and Professor Grant Edwards, 

Lincoln University Vice-Chancellor Lincoln University

4 WAIKATO BUSINESS NEWS, JUNE/JULY 2023 

Crowds queue to experience the 

new JB Hi-Fi store at The Base 

New store reflects 

further growth for 

tech retailer 

Close to 15,000 people 

visited the new JB Hi-Fi 

store at The Base Te 

Awa during the first few days 

of opening festivities. 

JB Hi-Fi New Zealand 

managing director Tim 

Edwards says the store signals 

the companies confidence in 

New Zealand. 

“We've really under 

indexed in terms of the potential 

in New Zealand. I've 

been here for just over a year 

and during this time we've 

been planning and executing, 

and now we're firmly into 

the growth phase, which is 

pretty exciting.” 

Established in Melbourne, 

Australia in 1974, JB Hi-Fi 

now has over 200 stores 

across Australia and New Zealand 

and is the seventh largest 

consumer electronic retailer in 

the world. 

The new Hamilton store, 

a first for JB Hi-Fi in seven 

White Chapel Jak perform for the crowds 

lining up outside the new store 

Tim Edwards Managing Director JB Hi Fi NZ 

years, sees a move away from 

the CBD to take advantage of 

larger premises. 

"We have doubled our staff 

numbers to resource the new 

store, and all existing staff will 

transition seamlessly to the 

new location." he says. 

Tim says the store will still 

embody the brand's unique 

JB Hi-Fi style but with a 

sleeker design to highlight 

the products. 

"From floor layout to staffing 

– we've infused the JB 

Hi-Fi DNA into every aspect 

of the store. We've kept all that 

beautiful handwritten signage, 

posters and artwork that the 

team do, so it's got that beautiful 

DNA. All the new fixtures 

are black and they're quite 

sexy and they allow the product 

to really come out.” 

The store covers 1100m2 

of floor space and is part of 

the retailer's five-year growth 

strategy to open more stores, 

refit the existing network, 

relocate stores to be in more 

convenient locations for customers, 

and launch at least 

two international airport locations, 

starting with Auckland 

and Christchurch airports. 

“Te Awa is the first 

brand-new, new format store 

that we have in New Zealand,” 

Tim says. 

Within the existing network 

of the 14 New Zealand 

stores, Hamilton and Queen 

Street, Auckland were the first 

to relocate. 

“The other 12 have all 

been or are being refurbished. 

We're hoping to go from 14 to 

38 stores over the next three to 

five years,” he says. 

"Our team has been working 

hard behind the scenes, 

and we have big plans for the 

future. If you want to invest 

in, work for, or partner with 

JB Hi-Fi, now's the time. But 

strap in because this is just 

the beginning." 

JB Hi-Fi have also partnered 

with Geeks on Wheels to 

provide continued service 

right into the home. 

“It means you can buy a 

computer or a TV and get it 

installed and set up for you. 

We hadn't had that consistent 

application through our 

business before.” 

Tim says the Australian 

holding company show of 

confidence in New Zealand 

will also extend new exciting 

offers and propositions into 

the mobile phones and subscription 

services areas of 

the business. 

“We're launching some new 

products in the next four to 

six months, which will be not 

just a New Zealand first, but 

probably will be an Australian 

first. We’re taking some of the 

things you consider part of the 

Australian business and modifying 

it and tweaking it a little 

bit to be even better. So that let 

us push the envelope even further 

here in New Zealand.” 

JB Hi-Fi's range of products 

will give shoppers at The 

Base Te Awa more to choose 

from, whether they are looking 

for computers and tablets, 

phones, TVs and audio 

equipment, gaming devices, 

home appliances, music, movies 

or anything else that helps 

them live, learn, work and 

play better. 

"We're retail, with personality. 

Our stores are a fun place 

to be, whether you're on an 

entertainment or technology 

mission, checking out what's 

new, or flicking through the 

vinyl racks." 

The new JB Hi-Fi store 

was launched with live performances 

from crowd favourites 

White Chapel Jak and music 

legend Jon Toogood of Shihad 

fame, plus exclusive deals on 

the official opening night.

Technology leadership guru 

joins Company-X 


Company-X has 

announced Richard 

Rayner has joined the 

software specialist as an associate. 

Hamilton-based Rayner 

has three decades experience 

in the technology sector, with 

collaborations all over the 

world. He is a graduate of the 

Universities of Auckland and 

Waikato, and the Institute of 

Professional Legal Studies. 

He holds degrees in computer 

science and information 

systems, management, business 

administration, and law. 

He has worked as a software 

developer, project manager 

and Chief Information Officer 

(CIO). 

Rayner, who joined Company-X 

in July, said it was a privilege 

to be collaborating with 

Company-X as an associate. 

“I’m looking forward to contributing 

to their good work 

with strategic CIO and executive 

services for their clients and will 

find it useful to have their deep 

software expertise to draw on to 

assist clients with strengthening 

their businesses,” Rayner said. 

“Often in my work there is 

a need to create cutting edge 

software, complex integrations, 

or complete large scale data 

work in order to reach strategic 

goals.” 

Company-X senior consultant 

Ben Judge said he was 

excited about the extra level of 

assurance Company-X clients 

would get with Rayner on the 

team. 

It’s about getting 

everyone on the 

same page, so no 

executive is left 

behind. 

“Richard joining us means 

that we can now comprehensively 

answer the question 

‘how should they’, not just 

‘how could they’,” Judge said. 

“Now we are able to provide 

end to end capability, so when 

it comes to delivery, they have 

got that continuity of service 

between the people that have 

set the direction and the people 

that have delivered on the 

vision.” 

Company-X co-founder and 

director David Hallett said clients 

often asked questions 

around overcoming growth 

barriers with technology, the 

risks of investing in technology, 

and the strategic considerations 

of building solutions. 

“That’s where we can now 

bring Richard in,” Hallett said. 

“These are good questions 

best answered by someone like 

Richard. He can collaborate 

with clients work through this 

strategically and methodologically. 

Richard can augment 

their knowledge.” 

“He also plays an advocacy 

and education role with our 

Richard Rayner 

clients to help them understand 

the potential risks and 

benefits of technology and to 

help them understand when 

they should be buying an offthe-shelf 

solution or building a 

bespoke one.” 

Hallett said adding Richard 

to the team would help 

Company-X deliver on its core 

value of helping clients make 

informed choices. 

Reflections on a decade of awards 

Waikato software specialist Company-X has won award after award in 

the last decade. Co-founders and directors David Hallett and Jeremy 

Hughes share what it takes to build an award-winning company. 

Company-X has won nine 

awards since it was founded in 

2012. 

The Waikato software 

specialist’s winning streak 

began in 2017 with a trio of 

awards. 

Company-X received its 

first award in March 2017 

when it won a Roading Asset 

Management Innovation 

Award for what became 

Transport Insights, the world’s 

first national transport quality 

assurance tool. Company-X 

won the Services Exporter of 

the Year category at the Air 

New Zealand Cargo ExportNZ 

Awards in June 2017. In 

October 2017 Company-X 

received the Homegrown 

Innovators Independent 

Software Vendors Award at the 

Reseller News ICT Industry 

Awards. 

Its latest award was 

presented last year by 

ExportNZ as it acknowledged 

Company-X as one of the Top 

Tech Companies of 2022. 

So, what does it take to build 

a company that consistently 

wins export, innovation, and 

service excellence awards? 

“We have great outcomes 

for relevant and interesting 

projects,” said Company-X 

co-founder and director David 

Hallett. 

“A significant part of 

Company-X’s revenue is 

earned through exporting 

expertise to clients overseas, 

building genuinely innovative 

solutions, and thrilling clients 

in the process.” 

Company-X has solved 

problems with innovative 

solutions for multinationals 

such as Cisco Systems Inc, 

in San Jose, California, 

and Delaval, in Stockholm, 

Sweden, as well as the New 

Zealand transport sector. 

“We do cool things that 

make a real difference,” Hallett 

said. 

For example, Company-X 

created Voxcoda, a softwareas-a-service 

(Saas) product, to 

enable users to create artificial 

intelligence generated voices 

Company-X co-founder and director Jeremy Hughes, left, 

receives the Top Tech Companies 2022 award. 

for training video voiceovers. 

Voices sound as human as 

possible with intricate control 

over emphasis, pitch, speed, 

and tone. 

“Voxcoda is saving 

hundreds of thousands of 

dollars.” 

“Company-X has won 

lots of awards because when 

David and I came together to 

form the company we pulled 

together a team of the best 

people we had come across,” 


director Hughes said. 

“We brainstormed who we 

wanted and built an amazing 

team. We were particularly 

focused on finding people who 

were focused on delivering an 

outcome and being able to do 

that well. Our first customers 

were delighted that a tech 

company was able to do that, 

and the judges could see that.” 

Awards Company-X has won by Year 

2017 

• The Roading Asset Management Innovation Award 

at the Road Infrastructure Management Forum for 

the One Network Road Classification Performance 

Measures Reporting Tool, now called Transport 

Insights, built for the New Zealand transport sector. 

• The Services Exporter of the Year category at the Air 

New Zealand Cargo ExportNZ Awards. 

• The Homegrown Innovators Independent Software 

Vendors Award at the Reseller News ICT Industry 

Awards. 

2018 

• The Service Excellence and Global Operator awards at 

the Westpac Waikato Business Awards. 

2019 

• The Independent Software Vendor Award at the 

Reseller News Innovation Awards for a hands-free 

auditing application developed for AsureQuality. 

2020 

• The Independent Software Vendor Award at the 

Reseller News Innovation Awards for Voxcoda, stateof-the-art 

software that turns text into human-like 

audio files at a fraction of the cost of booking a voice 

artist, recording studio and sound engineer. 

2021 

• Best Professional Service Innovation Award in the 

Hamilton Central Business Association Central 

Business District Awards 2021. 

• Company-X software quality assurance tester Jes Elliott 

won the Reseller News Women in ICT (Information and 

Communication Technology) 2021 Rising Star Award. 

2022 

• ExportNZ Top Tech Companies of 2022 award. 

Tania.AI receives help to improve 

financial app from Company-X 

Tania.AI, a financial 

technology company 

that helps individuals 

and businesses manage their 

finances, has received help 

from Company-X to improve 

its mobile and web app. 

Tania.AI was facing a chal- 

lenge with its data import process. 

As the number of users 

grew, so did the volume of data 

that Tania.AI was importing 

nightly from Xero. The triggering 

of manual updates was 

necessary. 

Tania.AI founder Donnameree 

Ryder initially turned 

to an overseas consultant to 

investigate the issue, but they 

were unable to solve the problem. 

Ryder then reached out to 


director David Hallett for 

help. 

Company-X team leader 

and senior developer Michael 

Steenkamp and developer 

Jonathan Ashworth peer 

reviewed Tania.AI’s code base. 

The pair found the issue with 

the code and Steenkamp was 

able to fix it. 

As a result of Company-X’s 

help, Tania.AI was able 

to release version three of its 

mobile and web app for testing 

by audit, tax, and advisory 

services provider KPMG. 

“It was wicked,” said 

Ryder. “I should have just 

called Company-X ages ago. 

They have a team who are 

sharp. 

“Big brother stepped in and 

put in the resource to make it 

happen. The ability for a large 

tech company to step in to 

help a little startup is wicked. 

What I like about having Company-X 

around is the ability to 

be able to call on larger organisation 

that can build to the 

standard that we need to scale 

globally.” 

“As a big brother company, 

Company-X also wants to see 

the little siblings coming up,” 

said Hallett. “Well, there’ll be 

no little siblings coming up 

if we’re unable to share the 

understanding and knowledge. 

So, one must actually 

really do what you say.”


Female 

football stars 

talk gender 

dynamics in 

sport 

In the spirit of ‘Going Beyond’, Hamilton 

Host City held a FIFA Women’s World 

Cup 2023 Trophy Tour event featuring 

a stellar line up at the K’aute Pasifika 

Fale, to empower future generations in 

sport. The well-attended event inspired 

guests to dream big and uplift others. 

Past and present female 

sporting personalities 

on the panel included 

current Football Fern Michaela 

Foster, ex-Football Fern Joy 

Howland and FIFA Referee 

Sarah Jones. MC and Olympian 

Sarah Cowley-Ross led 

the discussion with the panel 

on how far women’s sport has 

come, in the lead-up to the FIFA 

Women’s World Cup 2023. 

The theme of the evening 

was – ‘the changing dynamics 

of gender in sport’ and saw the 

unveiling of the FIFA Women’s 

World Cup Original Trophy, 

which was on its last leg of 

the Waikato and Bay of Plenty 

Trophy Tour. The aim of the 

tour is to inspire young females 

and create excitement ahead of 

the FIFA Women’s World Cup 

2023, which is kicking off in 

Hamilton Kirikiriroa on Saturday, 

July 22. 

The audience comprised of 

many young female footballers 

including local team The 

Wanderers who came to support 

and learn from some footballing 

idols. 

FIFA Women’s World Cup 

2023 COO New Zealand Jane 

Patterson and Cambridge High 

School student and prefect and 

captain of the girl’s football 

team Jess Savage delivered the 

opening address. 

Current Football Fern 

Michaela Foster shared with 

the audience how the road 

to the FIFA Women’s World 

Cup 2023 takes its time with 

the first big opportunity coming 

her way at the age of 24. 

Importantly, she says, everyone 

has a different story and 

different milestones. 

Part of a well-known sporting 

family - her father Ian Foster 

is the All Black’s coach, 

Michaela understands the challenges 

of playing professionally. 

“Football stuck with me 

when I started at the age of 

seven. Our parents always 

encouraged us to create our 

path, and playing football with 

my sister became the highlight 

of my childhood years. I am 

a proud daughter, and he’s a 

proud dad.” 

Michaela was a coach at 

Hamilton Girls’ High School 

when she received a scholarship 

to play professionally. 

She worked at a supermarket 

to pay the bills, but says 

the journey made the success 

more respected. 

“Navigating the sporting 

world after high school is critical 

for young players. It is crucial 

that we have inlets into 

sporting communities along 

with pathways to pursue career 

opportunities for young girls. 

In addition to this, watching 

women in both sports as well 

as leadership roles in the sports 

fraternity will be a boost for 

young girls.” 

FIFA referee Sarah Jones 

highlighted the need to break 

barriers for women to continue 

sports after school, university, 

or even after getting married 

and having children. 

“We need to tell women that 

it is possible to follow your passion 

even with a family and a 

career. If you love doing it, you 

can always go for it,” she says. 

“The fitness levels are higher 

for both players and referees. 

With various learning modules, 

and training sessions before the 

games begin and even during 

the World Cup, the referees are 

also required to exhibit skill and 

aptitude along with fitness. A 

speed test, agility test, strength 

test, core and flexibility training 

and several criteria, it is a mix 

of hard work, learning and continuous 

commitment to one’s 

passion that come into play as 

a referee. But I would not have 

it any other way. It is a commitment 

I have made to my 

passion.” 

Ex-Football Fern Joy Howland, 

who was sporting her 

team jersey from the 1989 

World Cup, reminisced about 

how times have changed and 

the game of football itself has 

changed drastically. 

“It is such a great feeling 

to see more girls and 

all-girls teams when I go to 

my son’s football games on 

Saturday mornings.” 

She also reminisced 

about her days on the New 

Zealand team. 

“It was just a bunch of 

mates playing for the country. 

We never had the structure or 

institutional support that is 

now available. It was all about 

the love for the game. We were 

fundraising on the weekends, 

requesting people to buy our 

tickets, door knocking and trying 

everything we could. It was 

a constant cycle of ‘play, train 

and fundraise’ for us.” 

When asked about how the 

next generation of girls can be 

motivated to take on sports, she 

had a sound piece of advice for 

the players. 

“Talent is great, but often 

not enough. Mentors can have 

immense impact in developing 

the drive and commitment and 

show you how to keep the passion 

high and prepare a plan of 

action for you.” 

She also had a message for 

parents which was received. 

“Focus on presence not 

pressure. Be available, show 

up for games on the side lines 

and support your girls in their 

journey. It would be great to 

see New Zealand go to the next 

level with higher participation 

and more visibility.” 

Hamilton is set to host five 

matches from 22 July 2023. An 

impressive number of 1million 

tickets have been sold so far in 

both the host nations, Australia 

and New Zealand, which shows 

a positive change for women’s 

sports and increased support 

from spectators. 

Girls with Goals 

celebrates 

Waikato waahine 

As the host city for the 

FIFA Women’s World 

Cup 2023, Hamilton 

Kirikiriroa recently launched 

its Girls with Goals campaign 

to showcase the strengths 

and achievements of local 

Waikato waahine. 

The 11 inspirational women 

have been chosen to celebrate 

the community by capturing 

their stories and goals. 

The aim of the campaign 

is to promote gender equality, 

diversity and inclusion with 

the hope of inspiring others to 

create and smash their goals. 

The achievements of these 

women will be shared through 

public displays of empowerment 

with a city-wide dressing 

leading up to the FIFA 

Shelley Blair 

Women’s World Cup 2023. 

The 11 include co-founder 

and director of Talents of the 

Pacific Academy Landy Tyrell 

Nonoa, Special Olympics 

Landy Tyrell Nonoa 

co-founder and head coach 

Shelley Blair and Dame 

Malvina Major Foundation 

Studio Artist with NZ Opera 

for 2021 Katherine Winitana. 

The full line up of Girls with 

Goals can be found at girlswithgoals.co.nz. 

The 11 women 

featured here are only a few 

of many who have positively 

Katherine Winitana 

impacted and inspired 

our community. 

Photo credit: 

Sophie-Miya Smith

First home buyers 

back in the market as 

property trends take 

an upturn 

When the summer sun gets a bit hot, 

we’re eager for the leaves to start 

changing, signalling autumn. When 

winter’s grip brings frost, wind and rain, 

we’re all watching closely for the pink 

buds of spring. 

And in the property 

world, we’re also operating 

in a cycle that 

often takes years to come 

around again. 

I feel as though I’ve come 

of age as a mortgage adviser, 

having seen several turns of 

the clock as property values 

rise and fall. 

There are some changes 

afoot, and looking at property 

metrics over the past 

month or so shows some 

interesting trends. 

First-time home buyers are 

returning to the market in large 

numbers following changes on 

1 June that have made it easier 

to obtain loans with less 

than a 20% deposit, the relaxation 

of CCCFA legislation, 

and properties being offered 

at lower prices. Enquiry is up 

over 50%, and many of these 

buyers are armed with pre-approvals 

and looking to make 

competitive offers. 

We’re also seeing multi-offers 

on properties becoming 

more common again, particularly 

in the bottom to middle 

of the market, where buyers 

aren’t needing to sell a property 

to make their purchase 

work. I myself was blown away 

to receive three offers on a 

property I had listed. Most of 

my first home buyers are now 

finding themselves in competition 

when putting pen 

to paper. 

Another trend is the supply 

of properties starting to 

fall. Very slowly we’re seeing a 

switch from a flood of properties 

on the market as vendors 

make calculated decisions to 

hold off, and more confidence 

starts to creep into the minds 

of investors that political 

change may be afoot. 

Banks are thankfully now 

starting to loosen lending 


BEYOND THE 

BANKS 

BY CLAIRE WILLIAMSON 

Claire Williamson is a mortgage 

advisor for My Mortgage 

criteria by tweaking policies 

in favour of bolstering loan 

volumes. They have welcomed 

the changes put in place by the 

RBNZ in June around LVR 

(Loan to Value) requirements 

for investors and first home 

buyers. I’m predicting these 

will continue to loosen in the 

next few months as banks 

revisit their credit criteria in 

the face of what looks like a 

levelling off of interest rates. 

The big news of the last 

month is the likelihood of the 

RBNZ placing the official cash 

rate on hold this week (12 July 

2023), which they signalled 

strongly in May. This has 

built confidence in the minds 

of borrowers who were hearing 

numbers of nine per cent 

thrown around and wondering 

how they’d service their 

mortgages. That risk has now 

largely abated, and we’re hearing 

stories of battening down 

the hatches as strong employment 

conditions continue to 

keep people in jobs. 

And while I like to be the 

ray of sunshine on an otherwise 

bleak week of rain and 

cold, these small glimmers of 

hope still carry challenges for 

the buyer, particularly if they 

are investors looking to leverage 

equity, or first home buyers 

on entry-level incomes. 

Interest rates are still fairly 

high compared to several 

years ago, and it’s important 

to consider your budget when 

looking to buy, especially 

when business confidence is 

lower, and many are looking 

to drive efficiencies by reviewing 

human resources and 

input costs. 

But if you’re in a position 

to purchase your first home, 

second home or forever home, 

or even add to a property portfolio, 

the conditions may be 

just perfect. 

Get your umbrella out, 

dance in the puddles and look 

out on the horizon. It’s faint, 

but you might catch a glimpse 

of spring, ready to put forward 

new life and start the cycle 

once again. 

CONVERSATIONS WITH MIKE NEALE OF 

NAI HARCOURTS HAMILTON 

Mike Neale, Managing Director, NAI Harcourts Hamilton 

Importance Levels 

– Understanding 

the Criteria for 

Buildings IL1 to IL5 

This is a question that comes up periodically, 

but randomly I received 

three calls last week around this 

topic. For those seeking strong seismic 

resilience in Hamilton for buildings IL3 

and above, it’s a pretty thin wedge when 

seeking premises options that require 

superior NBS standards. 

Ensuring the safety and resilience of 

buildings is a top priority for authorities, 

especially in the wake of natural disasters 

and changing climatic conditions. The 

seismic performance of buildings is critical 

to safeguarding lives and preserving infrastructure 

during earthquakes. To achieve 

this, New Zealand has a stringent classification 

system for buildings based on their 

Importance Level (IL1 to IL5) and corresponding 

building regulations and criteria. 

Let’s delve into the criteria and regulations 

governing these importance levels. 

Importance Level (IL1 to IL5) 

Classification: 

Importance Levels (IL) are assigned to 

buildings based on their significance concerning 

safety and functionality during 

earthquakes. They are determined by considering 

the building’s function, occupancy, 

and consequences of failure during 

a seismic event. The IL classification 

ranges from IL1 (lowest importance) to IL5 

(highest importance). The criteria for each 

level are as follows: 

• IL1: Buildings with a low level of importance, 

such as agricultural structures 

and minor utility buildings. Failure of 

IL1 buildings during an earthquake is 

less likely to result in significant consequences. 

Examples include ancillary 

buildings not for human habitation and 

minor storage facilities. 

• IL2: Buildings with moderate importance, 

including most residential and 

commercial structures. The failure of 

IL2 buildings may cause some damage 

but is not expected to result in major 

life-threatening situations. The vast 

majority of commercial and office buildings 

in Hamilton fall into this category. 

• IL3: Buildings with high importance, 

like hospitals, emergency facilities, and 

key infrastructure. The failure of IL3 

buildings could have significant consequences 

for public safety and critical 

services. Examples include buildings 

where more than 300 people congregate 

in one area / primary schools, secondary 

schools, or daycare facilities with a 

capacity greater than 250 / buildings 

with tertiary education and a capacity 

greater than 500 / buildings generating 

power, water treatment and other public 

facilities not included in IL 4 

• IL4: Buildings of essential importance, 

including lifeline infrastructure like 

emergency response centres and power 

stations. The failure of IL4 buildings 

could lead to severe societal impacts 

and disruption. Examples include hospitals 

/ fire, rescue and police stations 

/ aviation control towers / buildings 

intended to contribute to emergency 

preparedness and used for communication 

in an emergency. 

• IL5: Buildings with critical importance, 

such as emergency response headquarters 

and essential national infrastructure. 

The failure of IL5 buildings would 

have catastrophic consequences for 

society. This includes major dams and 

extremely hazardous facilities. 

Building Regulations and Criteria: 

New Zealand has robust building codes and 

regulations in place to ensure that structures 

are designed and constructed to withstand 

seismic forces. These regulations are 

outlined in the New Zealand Building Code. 

The building regulations for IL1 to IL5 

buildings include: 

i Seismic Design: Buildings in high and 

critical importance categories (IL3 to 

IL5) must comply with stricter seismic 

design requirements. Engineers 

use sophisticated techniques and calculations 

to ensure these buildings 

can withstand the forces generated by 

earthquakes. 

ii Material Standards: The New Zealand 

Building Code sets out specific standards 

for construction materials. For 

buildings in higher importance levels, 

stricter material requirements are 

imposed to enhance resilience. 

iii Building Envelope: IL1 and IL2 buildings 

may focus more on functionality 

and aesthetics, while IL3 to IL5 structures 

prioritize maintaining the building 

envelope even during a seismic 

event. 

iv Redundancy and Resilience: Buildings 

with higher importance levels must 

demonstrate greater redundancy and 

resilience to withstand earthquake-induced 

stresses. 

v Foundation Requirements: The foundation 

design for IL3 to IL5 buildings is 

more stringent, considering factors like 

soil conditions, liquefaction potential, 

and ground motion amplification. 

vi Regular Inspections: High and critical 

importance buildings may require 

more frequent inspections and monitoring 

to ensure ongoing structural 

integrity. 

vii Building Consent Process: Local 

authorities evaluate building consent 

applications based on the IL classification, 

ensuring compliance with the 

appropriate regulations. 

The classification of buildings into Importance 

Levels (IL1 to IL5) in New Zealand 

is crucial for managing seismic risk and 

promoting public safety. There are building 

regulations which ensure that higher 

importance structures are designed and 

constructed to withstand seismic forces. 

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


Community leads 

tourism direction 

for Raglan 

Known as the jewel in the crown of 

Waikato District Council tourism, Raglan 

is a mecca for local and international 

visitors seeking a west coast holiday. 

A 

town driven by local 

initiatives, the Raglan 

community took over 

the council operated iSite and 

have given it their own unique 

twist. 

Renamed Raglan iHub 

Information Centre, its genesis 

dates back to June 2020 when 

council officially closed the 

iSite. 

Determined to continue 

providing authentic visitor 

information and experiences, 

a group of community 

representatives launched 

the Whaaingaroa-Raglan 

Destination Management 

Organisation (WRDMO). 

Leading the charge, Raglan’s 

district councillor Lisa Thomson 

and long-time tourist operator 

Charlie Young, although 

disappointed at council’s decision, 

saw it as an opportunity 

for a community-led information 

centre. 

“We were bright-eyed and 

bushy-tailed, and really saw this 

as a fantastic opportunity for us 

to look at what we could create 

with the destination management 

organisation,” Lisa says. 

This meant lobbying the 

district council for the chance 

to take over the council-owned 

building that housed the 

iSite, and is also the site of the 

Raglan Muesum. 

“We were successful in 

brokering that relationship 

with council, and council staff 

give us their time and support 

in terms of community-led 

development. Council has also 

given us the space at a peppercorn 

rent. And, on top of that, 

there’s support with the likes of 

electricity and building maintenance,” 

she says. 

Run by a dedicated team 

of volunteers, with a part-time 

manager the only paid staff 

member. 

Like many 

New Zealand 

destination spots, 

Raglan benefitted 

from the local 

visitor market 

during Covid and 

that’s something 

the pair are keen 

to capture. 

“We love our volunteers they 

are bloody phenomenal and 

they're fantastic ambassadors 

for Raglan They're the reason 

why we've kept our doors open,’ 

Lisa says. 

The pair say the volunteers 

each add a different 

flavour to the visitor experience 

with their particular 

local knowledge. 

Not just left to their own 

devices though, the volunteers 

are provided with 

opportunities to experience 

the tourism activities on offer 

and workshops to upskill their 

local knowledge. 

“I always say to people 

their own stories are great too. 

But if we give them that continuous 

support and backfill, 

it will give them the confidence 

to be engaged for a long 

period of time as volunteers,” 

Charlie says. 

The iHub has been set up 

to be more than just an information 

centre, without council 

funding to be fully operational 

the dollars need to be 

found somewhere. 

Showcasing local is an 

important part of what the 

WRDMO is trying to achieve 

at the iHub and a shop stocked 

with local artisans’ and creatives’ 

products provides a 

small revenue stream, with 

plans to expand afoot. 

“It is the perfect place for 

people to come and trial products 

they normally aren’t yet 

producing at scale or have the 

courage to approach a store to 

sell their product. And that's the 

beginning of that resiliency and 

economic development that is 

important to local communities,” 

Charlie says. 

Supporting a flourishing 

community is one of the fundamental 

goals of the WRDMO. 

With climate change and 

global events like the Covid 

pandemic impacting the future 

of tourism in Aotearoa, Charlie 

and Lisa say thriving local 

communities will be able to ride 

those waves and have better 

outcomes. 

“We have to look at a different 

model of what those visitor 

experiences look like. Because 

in five years, it will look different 

and it will look very different 

in 10 years. We have to 

co-design that as a community, 

Charlie Young and Lisa Thomson 

Lisa says. 

“Every single business in 

this community is fully connected, 

either first degree, 

second degree or the third 

degree. If you looked at the 

dollar flow around the community 

- if you're a plumber 

you're still getting dollars generated 

from somebody who's 

made money from tourism,” 

Charlie says. 

Like many New Zealand 

destination spots, Raglan benefitted 

from the local visitor 

market during Covid and that’s 

something the pair are keen 

to capture. 

“Our strength is the people 

coming out from Hamilton, 

from Auckland, from Cambridge 

and further. And COVID 

showed that, even with the borders 

closed, we still did pretty 

good. That's our real true market. 

And if it's good for them, 

it's good for the community, 

and it's going to be good for an 

international visitor as well,” 

Charlie says.

Get connected to Electric 

Vehicles – the smart way. 

ews 

If you’re out and about on any 

New Zealand road these days, and 

you’ll likely see Electric Vehicles 

(EVs). They’re becoming quite 

commonplace on our roads, 

and there’s a good chance that 

we may have helped a few of 

those get up and running! 

That’s because as the world shifts to using 

more sustainable energy sources, we’re 

using our energy experience and practical 

insights to help businesses make the move 

to EVs – for good. Using our experience 

and smart infrastructure ideas, we help put 

businesses on the road to sustainability 

faster, smarter and at just the right price. 

Because of this We.EV has seized the 

opportunity to lead the way in supporting 

businesses to transition their fleets to EVs 

by investigating, designing, installing and 

provide an end-to-end solution to meet the 

customers’ needs to minimise costs now 

and into the future. Community owned, 

our vision is simple; to help businesses 

shape a better, more renewable future 

We guide and support businesses who 

want to make the shift to EVs with specific 

plans and infrastructure that’s flexible, costeffective, 

and can expand as your EV fleet 

does. From accurate advice to on-the-ground 

planning, every customer we work with has 

unique needs and goals. So whether your 

fleet of EVs is large or small, or you’re even 

just at the early stages of thinking about 

it – it pays to talk to the local experts first. 

How to get started on 

your EV transformation 

So, you can make the change once, and 

do it properly, there are a number of things 

you’ll need to look at, says Craig Marshall, 

Head of We.EV. He explains it should start 

with good advice before you start laying 

cables. “There are a lot of people out there 

who are keen to help with suggestions 

and hardware. But it all starts with solid 

advice that simply comes from handson 

experience. We’ve been working with 

energy for decades. And we’ve seen cases 

where clients were told to invest hundreds 

of thousands of dollars, when in fact they 

needed nothing of the sort for their usage.” 

So, if you’re ready to make the smarter 

EV infrastructure choice and you’re ready 

to take your sustainability goals up a 

gear – get in touch with the EV experts. 

0800 800 935 | we-ev.co.nz 

Driving 

brighter 

business 

futures. 

From advice and planning 

to design and build, We.EV 

helps businesses become 

future-ready with their 

Electric Vehicle charging 

infrastructure. So whether 

your fleet of EVs is large or 

small, or you’re even just 

thinking about it – it pays to 

talk to the local experts first. 

we-ev.co.nz

New and improved 

Whaaingaroa Wharf 

officially opened 

Improvements at the Whaaingaroa wharf, including a newly 

constructed pontoon, kayak ramp and eastern walkway, 

were officially opened recently in a dawn ceremony led by 

kaumaatua Atutahi Riki of Ngaati Maahanga and Tainui. 

Waikato District Council’s 

general manager 

of service delivery 

Megan May says the ceremony 

is a celebration of the collaborative 

effort it’s taken to get the 

new additions over the line. 

“The ceremony marks the 

completion of the third of four 

projects to transform the wharf 

and wider harbour in Whaaingaroa," 

she says. 

“It is great to see the hard 

mahi pay off, and be another 

step closer to the completion 

of all four of these 

transformational projects.” 

The projects are funded 

Kānoa Regional Economic 

Development and Investment 

Unit, and are developed in 

partnership with the Raglan 

Community Board and Iwi 

partners, including Ngaati 

Maahanga and Ngāti Hourua, 

Tainui o Tainui, Ngaati 

Tahinga and Ngāti Tamainupō. 

“These improvements 

were also made possible by 

the overwhelming support we 

received when we spoke to the 

wider community last year. 

We know the community have 

been keeping a close eye on our 

progress, and we’re so pleased 

to hand it over to them,” May 

says. 

Raglan Community Board 

chair Dennis Amoore says the 

new additions set a promising 

standard for the upcoming 

western improvements. 

“This is a great start in providing 

more room and more 

access for people to connect 

with the sea. The upcoming 

work on the western side of the 

wharf with its tidal stairs and 

seating will take that next step 

in transforming the area into a 

hub for the community.” 

Central city embracing new wave of office development 

Hamilton's central city 

is thriving, with a 

35% rise in commercial 

development during the 

past 12 months. Currently 

there is 40,994m2 of commercial 

development happening 

across the central city, up from 

30,272m2 only 12 months ago. 

An economic engine room 

Hamilton’s central city supports 

21,400 jobs, has 2650 

businesses and generates 

$3.2 billion of the city’s GDP 

(about 25%). The central city 

saw growth across all three of 

these areas in 2022, with jobs 

increasing 3%, the number of 

businesses up 4% and GDP 

rising 7%. 

It is also home to 76% of 

the city’s financial and insurance 

service jobs, 52% of information 

media and telecommunications 

jobs, and 54% 

of public administration and 

safety jobs. 

The second half of 2022 

saw a strong increase in foot 

traffic in the central city, a 

measure that is indicative of 

commercial activity. Commercial 

development includes 

office space, retail stores, 

restaurants, business services 

and accommodation. 

Building excitement 

Tainui Group Holdings 

recently completed Amohia 

Ake, the new regional offices 

for ACC located on the corner 

of Collingwood and Tristram 

streets. The three-pavilion, 

8500m2 project is designed 

for 800 staff and includes 82 

bike parks, end-of-trip facilities 

and 12 charging stations 

for electric vehicles. 

Construction of the 

23,000m2 Union Square 

mixed-use development is 

currently focused on a second 

office building with about 

5000m2 of office space. It is 

90% preleased and set to open 

in late 2023. 

Completed buildings at 

Union Square include a garage 

for tenants with 327 carparks, 

end-of-trip facilities, and 

e-bike storage. A four-storey 

office building opened in 2021 

and is home to Rabobank, 

Craigs Investment Partners, 

and AA Insurance. 

Full speed ahead for 

infrastructure 

In November 2022, the Government 

confirmed $150.6 

million of Infrastructure 

Acceleration Fund (IAF) support 

for the central city. This 

funding will support the 

delivery of a new water reservoir 

and pump station, a 

new pedestrian and cycling 

bridge across the Waikato 

River, as well as investigations 

into other strategic water and 

transport infrastructure to service 

the central city. 

Over the next 10 years, 

council predicts about 4000 

new homes and more than 

300,000m2 of additional 

commercial development 

in the central city. 

Getting down to business 

Council’s meetings with 

employers to discuss key 

enablers for their growth 

has repeatedly highlighted a 

strong desire for additional 

business hotel options. Council’s 

Economic Development 

Committee has targeted the 

end of 2023 for confirming 

development plans to bring 

a new 4+ star hotel to the 

central city.


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Tech Talk: 

Regulating AI 

ChatGPT has taken the world by storm. 

It’s exciting to see this next 

generation technology 

being used to make life 

easier through very humanlike 

interaction between man 

and machine. 

You can ask it any question 

and receive an answer 

that sounds like one given by a 

real person. 

And like humans, 

ChatGPT’s answers are limited 

to the data AI has learned 

from, and its answers get better 

and better as its data grows. 

Recently there has been 

much talk about the dangers of 

AI technology and the potential 

of a regulatory response 

to address this. Most notably 

in the USA, there was a congressional 

hearing with Sam 

Altman (OpenAI) and several 

other people from organisations 

in the AI space. 

Here’s the focal points of what 

Altman said regarding regulation 

of this technology: 

First, it is vital that AI companies–especially 

those working 

on the most powerful models–adhere 

to an appropriate 

set of safety requirements, 

including internal and external 

testing prior to release 

and publication of evaluation 

TECH TALK 

BY LUKE MCGREGOR 

Luke McGregor is a software 

architect at Waikato software 

specialist Company-X. 

results. To ensure this, the 

US government should consider 

a combination of licensing 

or registration requirements 

for development and 

release of AI models above 

a crucial threshold of capabilities, 

alongside incentives 

for full compliance with 

these requirements. 

Second, AI is a complex and 

rapidly evolving field. It 

is essential that the safety 

requirements that AI companies 

must meet have a 

governance regime flexible 

enough to adapt to new technical 

developments. The US 

government should consider 

facilitating multi-stakeholder 

processes, incorporating 

input from a broad range of 

experts and organisations, 

which can develop and regularly 

update the appropriate 

safety standards, evaluation 

requirements, disclosure 

practices, and external validation 

mechanisms for AI 

systems subject to license 

or registration. 

Third, we are not alone in 

developing this technology. 

It will be important for policymakers 

to consider how 

to implement licensing regulations 

on a global scale and 

ensure international cooperation 

on AI safety, including 

examining potential intergovernmental 

oversight mechanisms 

and standard setting. 

While from the outside 

asking for complex licensing, 

constantly changing goalposts 

and expensive testing 

procedures might seem 

unlikely from the CEO of an 

AI company, it’s important to 

understand how these regulatory 

changes would benefit 

OpenAI, and conversely hurt 

other businesses. 

OpenAI is a large player in 

the AI space, made even larger 

by their recent acquisition by 

Microsoft. This gives them the 

size to weather the prohibitive 

cost of regulatory compliance. 

Regulation will create barriers 

to entry for new competitors 

and consolidate more of the 

AI problem space into exceptionally 

large companies. This 

would be extremely profitable 

for the players that have 

already established themselves 

in the space, such as OpenAI, 

Google and Microsoft. 

Regulation is unlikely to 

move at the pace of technical 

development in the AI space 

and if it did, it would be almost 

impossible to keep up with 

those changing regulations. 

The technology behind 

OpenAI is mostly not defensible 

IP, other companies 

with enough money to train 

a model could compete with 

OpenAI's product. There are 

currently a wide variety of 

open-source models that differ 

from ChatGPT mostly in 

the quantity of training rather 

than the sophistication of the 

model itself. It's likely that 

regulation could cull off many 

emerging competitors to OpenAI, 

giving OpenAI some 

breathing space to consolidate 

their position. 

A more altruistic regulatory 

suggestion came from Christina 

Montgomery of IBM, 

which was transparency on 

when AI is in use: 

Be Transparent, Don’t 

Hide Your AI – Americans 

deserve to know when they 

are interacting with an AI 

system, so Congress should 

formalise disclosure requirements 

for certain uses of 

AI. Consumers should know 

when they are interacting 

with an AI system and 

whether they have recourse 

to engage with a real person, 

should they so desire. No 

person, anywhere, should be 

tricked into interacting with 

an AI system. AI developers 

should also be required to 

disclose technical information 

about the development 

and performance of an AI 

model, as well as the data 

used to train it, to give society 

better visibility into how 

these models operate. At IBM, 

we have adopted the use of AI 

Factsheets – think of them as 

similar to AI nutrition information 

labels – to help clients 

and partners better understand 

the operation and performance 

of the AI models 

we create. 

This seems like a far more 

useful regulation, not only 

would it be inexpensive to 

implement and wouldn't lock 

out inexperienced players, but 

it would also provide users 

with informed choice. 

The regulation of AI technology 

will focus control into 

exceptionally large companies 

that can stifle innovation. 

AI is heavily based on 

data, and the total capabilities 

of any system are limited 

by the quantity and quality 

of training data. One of the 

fundamental ways of protecting 

people from the negative 

impacts of AI is to control 

the data that users give to 

such systems. 

As with many technologies, 

there are implications of sharing 

data. A better understanding 

about the personal costs of 

sharing data with AI will help 

us all make more informed 

decisions about who we share 

data with and what we let them 

do with it. 

Consumers should be looking 

for products that provide 

us strong guarantees of privacy 

and data security. Realistically 

we need to understand that this 

comes with an increased direct 

financial cost in exchange for 

our long-term digital security. 

Procuta Associates 

Urban + Architecture 

MANU KOROKII FOR SANCTUARY MOUNTAIN MAUNGATAUTARI 

Contact us 07 839 6521 

www.pauaarchitects.co.nz


Land purchase paves 

way for Ngāruawāhia 

hub plans 

Revitalising the town centre of 

Ngāruawāhia and the development of 

a community hub are the main reasons 

behind Waikato District Council’s 

purchase of the old Waipā Tavern site. 

Waipā Tavern burnt 

down last year 

and following its 

demolition the former owner 

decided to sell the site on the 

corner of Jesmond Street and 

Great South Road. 

The former owner was 

pleased to be able to sell to 

council to enable the site to 

be redeveloped to support the 

rejuvenation of this area and 

looks forward to seeing the site 

become something the town 

can be very proud of. 

The acquisition means 

council has a block of 5225 

sqm incorporating two 

Council-owned properties, 

being the old tavern site and 

the existing Ngāruawāhia 

Library site. 

The library is housed 

in a small, ageing building 

and before now there 

was not room for expansion 

or redevelopment. 

With a project to deliver 

a new library, or community 

hub, provided for in council’s 

Long-Term Plan, the purchase 

of the site was a strategic 

opportunity too good to turn 

down. 

Public engagement for the 

Ngāruawāhia Structure Plan 

process also confirmed that 

the community consensus is 

to keep the library along Jesmond 

Street. 

Libraries are moving from 

being stand-alone buildings to 

being the anchor for community 

hubs. 

A parcel of land such as the 

old Waipā Tavern site provides 

an opportunity to provide 

welcoming spaces for learning, 

creativity, engagement 

and connection. 

Council also has a role 

in facilitating growth and 

development for the social 

and economic wellbeing of 

its communities. 

The purchase of this key 

site in Ngāruawāhia is anticipated 

to help create business 

confidence and enhance a 

prominent corner of the CBD. 

As well as being used for 

a new library and community 

hub, there is an opportunity to 

develop the balance of the site, 

enabling rejuvenation of the 

main street for the benefit of 

the Ngāruawāhia community. 

Further work will need to 

be done to clarify appropriate 

positioning of the library and 

community hub along with 

preferred land uses for the balance 

of the site. 

Waikato District Mayor 

Jacqui Church says this is an 

exciting piece of news for the 

people of Ngāruawāhia and 

the future of the town centre. 

“With considered site planning, 

this purchase presents a 

real opportunity for council to 

be a conduit to the revitalisation 

of the Ngāruawāhia Town 

Centre, while also delivering 

on Long Term Plan commitments 

to provide the community 

with a new library and 

community hub,” Church says. 

“It totally ties in with our 

vision of liveable, thriving, 

connected communities.” 

A project team will now be 

established to progress concept 

planning for the site, to be 

delivered as part of the Long- 

Term Plan. 

Council staff will also 

engage with mana whenua and 

the wider community as part 

of the development of a strategy 

for the site going forward. 

Dear Skilled Prime Migrant Minister Category 

Hipkins… 

residence changes… 

Obtaining Congratulations residence on your is the promotion, main motivating and for factor this for timely 

migrants opportunity to relocate to contribute from around our 30+ the years world of to experience New Zealand in 

and New the Zealand SMC has immigration historically work been to the help main inform pathway your for thinking 

migrants about your to approach obtain New to Zealand the immigration residence. portfolio. 

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Historically 

to score a total 

the 

of 

immigration 

180 points under 

portfolio 

range was of criteria seen as based somewhat on their of job, 

a welders, 

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we once 

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metal fabricators, 

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a 

control is 

retail 

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and 

the 

hospitality 

immigration 

workers 

process 

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work experience, 

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qualifications, 

chalice, and 

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etc - but 

not 

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easier 

only 

and 

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quicker, 

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world-leading, 

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change! 

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work experience 

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automated assessment 

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processes, 

wage threshold 

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to protect 

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recognised 

Zealand 

qualifications 

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rate 

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importance 

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residence. 

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skilled 

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aspects 

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of New Zealand 

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society, 

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economy. 

skilled employment 

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pressure-test 

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settings 

the final Expression 

before these 

of 

with 

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a 

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key Government 

NZ accredited 

portfolio. 

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are implemented. 

selection draw 

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on 16 August, 

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and 

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be 

at 

aged 

the 

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picture. 

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policies have 

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assess 

“reactive” 

their eligibility 

the 

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Zealand 

English 

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not rest 

and 

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health 

and expect 

and character. 

that it continues 

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to be one many 

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new 

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to this 

qualified 

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examples 

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population 

how a person 

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achieve 

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for 

years. 

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which 

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currently 

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will 

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residence: 

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extended 

desirable 

to 

migrants 

5 years from 

the 

November. 

opportunity 

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to 

• 

the 

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replacement 

– vocational 

rate of 

registration 

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= 6 will 

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be welcome 

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rolls 

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residence 

The Productivity 

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points) 

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into 

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recommended 

1 year before being 

a 

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year of 

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NZ work 

lifestyle 

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(1 point) 

been 

= 6 eligible 

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to apply 

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for another 

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AEWV. 

to set 

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a clear 

the 

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AEWV 

strategic 

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direction 

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for 

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immigration 

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policy. 

their 

• 

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salary 

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work 

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a total 

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provide 

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($88.98ph 

to attract 

= 3 x median 

and retain 

wage) 

the 

= 6 

people 

points 

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The 

overriding 

SMC changes 

guidance 

will 

(ideology!) 

achieve their 

to 

• 

and 

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skills 

operator 

our country 

– salary 

needs 

2 x median 

to maintain 

wage objective 

inform policy 

of simplifying 

settings with 

this 

a 

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focus on 

pathway. 

what 

our 

($59.32ph) 

living standards, 

(4 points) 

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+ 2 years 

to grow. 

of 

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NZ 

immigration 

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can 

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reality is 

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the 

for 

good 

many 

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need 

work 

younger 

experience 

people 

(2 points) 

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= 6 

contribute 

points migrant 

New Zealand 

workers, 

in the 

and 

longer 

many 

term. 

in skill shortage 

• 

more, 

HR 

and 

coordinator 

for longer, 

– 

to 

salary 

New Zealand. 

1.5x median 

What 

roles, the 

about 

fact that 

a 

they 

work-from-homein-NZ 

no longer have a 

wage 

New Zealand 

($44.49ph) 

must 

(3 

attract 

points) 

the 

+ 3 

migrants 

years of viable path 

visa? 

to residence 

People could 

must influence 

live in New 

their 

it wants, 

NZ work 

and 

experience 

needs, 

(3 

in 

points) 

an increasingly 

= 6 points initial 

Zealand 

decision 

and 

to 

work 

come to 

anywhere 

NZ, and also 

in 

what 

the 

It 

competitive 

is envisaged 

and 

the majority 

dynamic 

of applicants 

international 

will job 

world, 

roles they 

now 

focus 

that 

on. 

would 

As always 

really 

with immigration 

put 

need 

market, 

at least 

and 

some 

one where 

NZ work 

people 

experience 

can now 

to 

New Zealand 

changes 

on 

there 

the 

will 

map! 

always 

Yes 

be 

- 

winners 

Prime 

achieve 

work-from-home 

the 6 point 

anywhere 

threshold. 

in the world. We 

& 

Minister! 

losers (ask any Minister of Immigration!) 

no longer enjoy the competitive advantages 

Level 2 

586 Victoria Street 

Hamilton 3204 

Level 3 

50 Manners Street 

Wellington 6011 

07 834 9222 

enquiries@pathwaysnz.com 

Level 2 

586 Victoria Street 

Hamilton 3204 

pathwaysnz.com 

Level 3 

50 Manners Street 

Wellington 6011


Just how much of the construction process 

can be (more) automated? 

There’s a clever advertisement that has seen a lot of 

coverage in various media recently, which first amused, 

then intrigued me. The headline is “Hey Chat GPT, finish 

this building...” It’s an ad for Belgian job agency, Impact, 

and features a multistorey building, wrapped in scaffold and 

plastic, with the tagline “your skills are irreplaceable”. But 

are they really? 

LANDMARKS 

Given how expensive 

and (relatively) inefficient 

our construction 

process is here in NZ, 

at the very least there are 

significant productivity gains 

to be made from the use of 

more automation and offsite 

manufacturing. 

Self-driving vehicles are 

still some way from mainstream, 

but it’s hardly a stretch 

to imagine that we could in the 

future have self-driving trucks 

to transport materials to construction 

sites. And as mechanisation 

and robotics improve, 

no doubt fewer actual humans 

will be required to operate factories 

or control the loading of 

those self-driving trucks. 

Likewise, we already have 

robot vacuum and window 

cleaners, so why not robot 

plasterers and painters in 

the near future? And as offsite 

manufacturing develops 

and modular components get 

more complex, the amount of 

plumbing and electrical work 

required on site might also be 

reduced. 

Avoiding further conjecture 

though, there are a number 

of technologies and initiatives 

already underway to lift 

productivity in construction. 

MBIE has recently launched 

BuiltReady, a streamlined 

consenting pathway for standardised 

modular components. 

As architects and 

builders get more familiar 

with this there will be substantial 

efficiencies to be gained. 

There are a number of NZ 

companies producing innovative 

timber products for use 

in construction. Cross Laminated 

Timber, or CLT, is a 

form of mass timber panel 

that can be cut to order in 

factory, meaning that walls, 

floors and components like 

staircases are delivered to site 

ready for install. 

Likewise Structurally Insulated 

Panels, or SIPs, are panels 

that can be used in place 

of traditional timber framing 

in walls and roofs. They 

can be assembled as individual 

panels on site or pre-assembled 

into larger sections 

in the factory and pre-cut to 

shape, including openings 

like windows. 

Local companies Qorox 

and Iconic Construction have 

BY PHIL MACKAY 

Phil Mackay is Business 

Devolpment Manger at 

Hamilton-based PAUA, 

Procuta Associates Urban + 

Architecture 

partnered to pioneer 3D concrete 

printing in New Zealand 

and have recently completed 

the first 3D printed commercial 

building in the southern 

hemisphere, a childcare centre 

right here in Hamilton. 

These are just a few examples, 

and most are currently 

being used individually, but 

as architects and building 

companies develop ways of 

combining technologies into 

comprehensive systems, the 

efficiencies will compound. 

This is not something to be 

afraid of. While automation 

and technology may replace 

some jobs, others will be created. 

We’ve had a chronic 

shortage of staff in many 

industries the past few years, 

so an increase in productivity 

is necessary simply to keep up 

with demand and the reality of 

an aging population. 

Getting to know the 2023 Fieldays 

Innovation Awards masterminds 

Invention reigned supreme 

at the 2023 Fieldays Innovation 

Awards with two 

Waikato entrants taking top 

honours 

Based in Horotiu, Waikato 

Milking Systems were the winners 

of the Prototype Award for 

ErgoPOD - a product hoping 

to revolutionise efficiency and 

safety in the milking shed. 

Project specialist at Waikato 

Milking Systems Tom Morris 

and his team worked on 

research and development for 

four years to advance this project 

through to the prototype 

stage, and plan to complete 

the final stages of development 

over the next 18 months to get it 

market-ready. 

Waikato Milking Systems 

executive chairman Jamie Mikkelson 

says the ErgoPOD journey 

began with a crazy idea 

to become the most admired 

company globally for milking 

efficiency. “If a single operator 

could milk a thousand cows 

in an hour, it would be a game 

changer, and we believe we are 

on our way to achieve that with 

this machine.” 

The team decided to enter 

the Fieldays Innovation Awards 

because they saw it as an opportunity 

to introduce their innovative 

product to the dairy market 

as upcoming, which it has now 

successfully achieved. 

“Winning this award has 

St Paul’s students Mackenzie Lenton and Lucy O'Meeghan 

been a massive pat on the back 

for the team, who deserve the 

accolade after having worked 

hard over the past few years to 

deliver a fresh take on a milking 

system that tackles the current 

limitations of traditional and 

robotic ones,” Jamie says. 

“We plan to return to the 

2024 Fieldays Innovation 

Awards in the Early-Stage 

category with a further 

developed product.” 

Staff on-farm where the 

ErgoPOD is being trialled provided 

feedback that cupping 

has become a much easier task 

once they were used to using the 

new technology. They have also 

noticed that the milk out across 

all four quarters has become 

more consistent - which may 

be down to the cup weight and 

freedom that each 1/4 has with 

no claw bowl. 

Jamie says Riley, a milker 

on the trial farm, has been challenging 

himself to see how fast 

and accurately he can handle 

the system and has been achieving 

3 1/2 seconds or less for cupping 

all four quarters. 

St Paul’s Collegiate School 

students won Young Innovator 

of the Year Award for their 

Capra Skin Goats Milk lip balm. 

The Year 13 group - Lucy O’Meeghan, 

Emma Lobb, Mackenzie 

Lenton and Lochie Mouat - take 

Agribusiness as a subject. 

They identified a need and 

formulated steps and iterations 

to develop a final product that 

could make a real difference to 

its target market. Their brand 

name Capra Skin draws inspiration 

from the Latin word for 

goat. "We want our customers 

to feel exceptional when 

using our product. We envision 

our product's story expanding 

beyond just lip balm and 

encompassing other skincare 

items in the future." 

St. Paul's Collegiate Agribusiness 

teacher Chris Foot 

couldn't be happier with the 

performance of the three 

groups of students who pitched 

their ideas at the Fieldays 

Innovation Hub. 

“They did well and put up 

convincing arguments under 

very difficult and nerve-wracking 

conditions. Their ideas 

were innovative, original, and 

clever; we are extremely proud 

of them.” 

The judges were equally 

impressed, praising the exceptional 

quality of the presentations 

and highlighting the professionalism 

demonstrated by 

the young participants. 

Innovation has always been 

at the forefront of Fieldays, 

since its onset in 1968, with 

Waikato Milking Systems team Tom Morris, 

Grant Wisnewski and Dave Cassells 

the New Zealand National Fieldays 

Society’s ongoing ambition 

being to advance agriculture in 

New Zealand by supporting and 

facilitating leadership in technology, 

innovation, education, 

and globalisation. 

The Fieldays Innovation 

Awards, starting that same 

year, was the first competition 

of its kind in NZ, and is now 

well-known as the platform for 

turning ideas of all shapes and 

sizes into marketable products 

to benefit the primary industry. 

The awards offer three distinct 

categories: Prototype, Early-Stage, 

and Growth & Scale, 

encompassing the entire innovation 

lifecycle. This opens the 

possibility of inventors entering 

different categories each year 

to showcase any recent progress 

or advancements made in 

the project. Despite the 2022 

awards being held just six 

months ago, entrants were keen 

to showcase their progress and 

fresh thinking. 

The Fieldays Innovation 

Awards is supported by Fieldays 

Partners; One NZ and the 

Ministry for Primary Industries, 

and Sponsors; Amazon 

Web Services, Sprout Agritech, 

and NZME, and Advocates; 

Gait International, King St. 

Advertising, Blender Design, 

and Soda Inc., who all contribute 

to a prize package valued 

at over $60,000 worth of cash, 

support and promotion - from 

expert advice, product design 

and development, and marketing 

and media support, all 

designed to help the winners 

grow and develop their product 

at an accelerated pace. 

Fieldays Innovation Awards 

entries for 2024 will open after 

a short period of review, and 

expressions of interest can 

already be made online at www. 

fieldays.co.nz/innovation

Union Square 

gains recognition 

with Commercial 

Architecture Award 

Rabobank Tower, the first building to be completed in 

Foster’s Union Square CBD development in Hamilton, was 

awarded a commercial architecture award by the New 

Zealand Institute of Architects earlier this month. 

Rhys Harvey, director of 

Fosters’ develop team, 

said the award endorses 

the construction company’s 

decision to design and build 

an architecturally stimulating 

commercial building. And 

their choice of Chow:Hill as 

the architects. 

“Honouring our commitment 

to ‘support local’, we purposefully 

chose Chow:Hill as 

the architects on this project. 

As Hamiltonians, we felt they 

would easily identify with what 

we wanted to accomplish. 

“When we started, we didn’t 

have a specific design in mind – 

we simply knew that the philosophy 

behind the precinct was 

for Hamilton business people 

to be able to ‘experience better’. 

“To attract quality brands, 

we wanted to create a highly 

efficient building with flexible 

floor plates, premium office 

spaces and easy access to amenities 

for the tenants. 

“We also knew that we 

wanted to stay away from the 

typical ‘glass box’ commercial 

building and to be able 

to differentiate the buildings, 

both within Union Square and 

within Hamilton’s CBD. The 

outcome was to be something 

we could be proud of for the 

next 50+ years. 

“In essence, the design had 

to be aspirational.” 

Chow:Hill took all this on 

board. The design for the Union 

Square precinct shows individual 

buildings with unique material 

palettes. Although common 

threads (like sustainability and 

efficiency) run through the 

buildings, the architecture of 

each one is different. Once 

complete, Union Square will 

feel like it’s part of the city but 

also have a community feel. 

With Rabobank Tower 

being the first completed building, 

it was important to Fosters 

that it had a sense of entry – 

that people would experience a 

relaxed, open and welcoming c 

orporate environment. 

The result, according to the 

NZIA judges is “a five-storey 

office building that boasts a 

construction-efficient and seismic 

steel frame, a prefabricated 

curtain wall façade and fluted 

concave precast concreate 

WAIKATO BUSINESS NEWS, JUNE/JULY 2023 WAIKATO BUSINESS 15 NEW 

panels that provide construction 

speed and durability. 

“The building’s lobby serves 

as an important pedestrian link 

to the future precinct and has a 

café and quality seating areas… 

Rabobank Tower is an example 

of a collaborative process and a 

precursor to the reset of Hamilton’s 

CBD.” 

With an award for commercial 

architecture and the building 

occupied by three significant 

brands – Rabobank, AA 

Insurance and Craigs Investment 

Partners – Fosters vision 

for Union Square (and its role 

in resetting the south-end 

of the CBD) is moving in the 

right direction. 

“This award celebrates a fitting 

partnership between Fosters 

and Chow:Hill in delivering 

an aspirational design and an 

important commercial centre 

for Hamilton’s CBD” said Rhys. 

“The future of this precinct is 

exciting, and we can’t wait to 

deliver more.” 

Building E, ‘The Business 

Centre’ of the Union Square 

precinct, is on track for completion 

later this year. 

In Memory of 

Mavora Hamilton 

Mavora passed away 

on June 17, and the 

Chamber owes her 

a debt of gratitude for the 

groundbreaking work she 

led as Chief Executive after 

taking over from May Woodcock 

in 1993. Her appointment 

alongside the election of Gail 

Jones as first woman President 

of the Waikato Chamber 

of Commerce in 1992, and the 

earlier election of Margaret 

Evans who reigned as Mayor 

from 1989 to 1998, heralded 

the arrival of women as business 

leaders in the Waikato. 

They certainly shook up the 

place with initiatives that have 

stood the test of time. With 

ex-President Don Lindale they 

created the Waikato Business 

Awards. Not daunted by a 

Gail Jones & Mavora Hamilton 

lack of funds, Mavora and Gail 

approached the bank for a 

sponsorship of the then huge 

amount of $20,000, and got 

it. Mavora led the creation 

of the first Waikato Business 

Awards which were held in the 

Hamilton Operatic Theatre, 

and it is still a spectacular 

event today. 

Balloons over Waikato 

was another of those that she 

championed and saw it grow 

to become the iconic event we 

currently enjoy. 

One of her passions was 

the promotion of closer ties 

between the University, the 

Polytechnic and the Waikato 

business community. Working 

with then Dean of the Waikato 

Management School Professor 

Pratt, Mavora sought to 

By Don Good, CEO of Waikato 

Chamber of Commerce. 

match graduates with jobs in 

the region. Many of today’s 

business leaders had their first 

real jobs as a consequence of 

the programmes she organised. 

Working alongside Mayor 

Margaret Evans, Mavora 

promoted the Waikato and 

Hamilton vociferously. From 

Sister Cities initiatives for 

Hamilton to chairing the 

early forms of Economic 

Development Agencies for 

the city, you usually found 

Mavora’s energy and direction 

behind attracting business and 

prosperity to the Waikato. 

Innovative, energetic 

and very persuasive, Mavora 

Hamilton left an indelible mark 

on the city and her region. 

The Waikato Chamber 

owes a debt to her and her 

unique foresight to create 

events and entities that not 

only stand the test of time but 

have contributed greatly to the 

prosperity of our region. 

RIP. 

WHAT’S 

ON 

AT THE CHAMBER 

LUNCH & LEARN: Health and 

Safety Obligations 

Thurs 20 July, 12:30 – 1:30pm. 

Events Room 2, Wintec. 

WESTPAC SMARTS: Retail 

Crime Focus Wed 26 July, 6:30 – 

8:00pm. Long Room, Wintec CBD. 

GROW WAIKATO: Building and Construction 

Mon 31 July, 5:00 – 6:00pm. The Atrium, Wintec CBD. 

NEW MEMBER EVENING: sponsored by Johnston Associates 

Chartered Accountants 

Thurs 10 Aug, 5:30 – 7:00pm. Good George Dining Hall. 

LUNCH & LEARN: Property Tax Traps 

Thurs 24 Aug, 12:30 – 1:30pm. Events Room 2, Wintec. 

TO REGISTER: www.waikatochamber.co.nz/events 

FOR MORE INFO: 07 839 5895 or info@waikatochamber.co.nz 

Connect - Grow - Inspire - Represent

Great lives start 

at Southwell 

A World-Class education in the Heart of the Waikato, Hamilton City, 

inspiring and nurturing Year 1 to Year 8 boys and girls. Growing great 

people since 1911. 

That’s the aim of Southwell School, a day and boarding school nestled in 32 

acres of parklike grounds just 1.5km from the city centre. Southwell has a unique 

village feel with its magnificent 1920’s architecture emphasised throughout its 

campus. 

With 112 years of tradition to build on, the school puts the focus firmly on 

personalising its students’ learning, building relationships and developing 

character. 

“Southwell prides itself in offering an educational experience designed to 

inspire individual achievement, strong personal values and confidence in life”, 

Headmaster Jason Speedy says, Southwell is committed to small class sizes 

and continued enhancement of its programme and facilities. 

The campus is world class, including a recently opened modern Junior School 

featuring exceptional classroom spaces, with breakaway and multi-purpose 

areas and a purpose built Alumni Sports Pavilion where we can come together 

through sport. Currently under construction are a new purpose built Boarding 

House and a 25m Swimming Pool. 

Southwell Boarders are able to make the most of the magnificent campus and 

are drawn from the Waikato and beyond. “We have a group of around 40-50 

boarders from Year 5 to 8”, Jason says. The routines, structure and care aim to 

provide a home-like atmosphere where each student’s academic, social, physical 

and emotional wellbeing occur seamlessly, and their life skills are developed like 

no other environment. 

Whether it is in performing arts, sports or academic achievement, an extensive 

range of specialist teaching is offered. Specialist classes are taught by qualified, 

specialist teachers in well-resourced facilities. 

All learning is underpinned by the Southwell values: 

Integrity, Respect, Caring, Resilience, Creativity and Excellence. 

Be the Best You Can Be

WAIKATO BUSINESS NEWS, JUNE/JULY 2023 SOUTHWELL 17 

Southwell’s New Junior 

School and Library Extension 

The Southwell community welcomed 

the addition of a new junior school 

and library extension at a recent 

opening ceremony. 

Over 20 years in the 

making, the project has 

been much-discussed 

throughout this time. 

While the former junior 

school and library were great 

people spaces, the two new 

spaces are world class spaces 

CONTINUED - PAGE 18

18 SOUTHWELL 

WAIKATO BUSINESS NEWS, JUNE/JULY 2023 

Southwell’s New Junior 

School and Library Extension 

FROM - PAGE 17 

created for students to thrive in 

for many years to come. 

Opened by old boy Glenn 

Holmes, who attended Southwell 

from 1964 to 1967. Holmes 

was head boy in his final year 

and has served Southwell as a 

trust board member, foundation 

chair, is an Associate of 

Honour and is the current Warden 

of the Fellows, and a proud 

former parent and now grandfather 

of a Year 3 student. 

Southwell couldn’t have 

achieved these stunning new 

spaces without the help and 

generosity of the many supporters 

of the school. 

The trust board provided 

unwavering leadership and 

much-needed foresight. Matt 

Stark and the team from Stark 

Property, whose expertise, 

guidance and generous giving 

nature proved invaluable. 

Edwards White Architects’ 

design expertise provided the 

vision behind these spaces. 

Steve Ross, SJR Builders and 

his team of builders and contractors 

delivered outstanding 

work and relationships on a 

daily basis. The Year 1 teaching 

team’s specific student and 

staffing input helped create the 

internal and external features. 

David Wharton from Active 

Vision, whose generosity and 

tech excellence was vital to the 

project. 

Playground Solutions’ 

Maree Clark was the visionary 

who oversaw the moving, 

development and creation of 

the playground and turf space. 

The Southwell workshop team, 

whose work ethic, collaboration 

with tradies and for getting 

stuff done, enabled the 

project’s smooth-running from 

the start to finish. Haydn Stoevelaar’s 

expertise in IT, enabled 

the development of high-tech 

systems both below ground 

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Southwell’s 

New Alumni 

Sports Pavilion 

In June, the ribbon was cut to mark 

the opening of Southwell’s new Alumni 

Sports Pavilion. 

Opened by Geoff and 

Linda Maber, together 

with Brett and Jo 

Maber and family, the pavilion 

will be a great place to gather 

people, build relationships 

and will be used for many 

occasions - from athletics day 

and sporting fixtures to team 

The Southwell 

community thanks 

everyone involved in 

creating a building 

that will be well-used 

and much-loved for 

years to come. 

building moments. 

The genesis of the building 

began a couple of years ago, 

when Old Boy and current 

parent/president of Southwell 

Alumni Group Brett 

Maber initiated a conversation 

about creating a new sports 

pavilion. From that conversation 

and with the support 

of the trust board 

and the generous act 

of philanthropy from 

the Maber family, the 

Southwell community 

have a stunning new 

pavilion. Designed in 

classic Southwell architectural 

style, the pavilion 

looks out onto the 

main fields with the 

400-year-old kahikatea 

bush as its backdrop. 

The expansive decking, 

much like the former sports 

shed, will be a great gathering 

space to instruct physical education 

classes and sport teams. 

This world class space was 

created with the support and 

guidance of fellow, old boy 

and past parent Mark De Lisle 

and his team from Peddlethorpe 

Architects, who created 

the vision with their design 

work. Bringing the building 

to reality was Steve Ross from 

SJR Builders and his team of 

builders. Old boy, past parent 

Grant Clegg and the team from 

Colourform Joinery, with input 

from Jo Maber, designed a 

state-of-the-art kitchen space. 

John Heathcote, another old 

boy and past parent, generously 

donated the appliances. 

There are many more hands 

and minds involved in creating 

this exceptional pavilion. The 

Southwell community thanks 

everyone involved in creating 

a building that will be wellused 

and much-loved for years 

to come. 

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Waikato jumps ahead in global rankings, 

claiming research top spot in New Zealand 

UNIVERSITY RANKINGS University of Waikato Vice-Chancellor, Professor Neil Quigley 

The University of Waikato is ranked in 

the top 250 universities in the world 

in the latest 2024 QS World University 

Rankings, the largest increase of any 

university in New Zealand. 

The rankings, released 

recently, also place the 

university at number one 

in New Zealand for research, the 

second year in a row the university 

has achieved this placing. 

University of Waikato 

Vice-Chancellor Professor Neil 

Quigley says the significant 

increase of 81 places in the 

world rankings, and the number 

one place for research impact in 

New Zealand, reflects the intensity, 

impact, and influence of 

the university’s academic staff. 

The strong return of 

international students 

post-pandemic places 

us in a good position 

for success against the 

relevant indicator in 

the future 

“These are impressive 

results for one of New Zealand’s 

youngest and smallest 

universities. Our research is 

making a difference globally, 

and to have this recognised 

on the world’s stage is a 

significant achievement.” 

For the first time, sustainability 

and employment outcomes 

were measured in the 

2024 rankings. Out of 1,503 

institutions globally, the University 

of Waikato ranked 152 

for sustainability and 162 for 

employment outcomes. 

The sustainability result 

builds on the university’s 

top 100 global placing 

in the Times Higher 

Education Impact 

Rankings earlier this 

month. The rankings 

measure participating 

institutions globally and 

their commitment to 

driving and delivering 

lasting change across 

the United Nations’ 

17 Sustainable Development 

Goals (SDGs). 

“We have brought a strong 

focus to both these areas as a 

university over the past two 

years, including the launch of 

our Sustainability Plan 2022- 

26. These results reflect our 

hard work towards delivering 

on the United Nations 17 Sustainable 

Development Goals,” 

Professor Quigley says. 

The university’s international 

metrics were also strong, 

reflecting the global diversity 

of the university’s staff, 

student body. 

“The strong return of international 

students post-pandemic 

places us in a good position 

for success against the 

relevant indicator in the future,” 

Professor Quigley says. 

Professor Quigley adds, the 

new results are not only good 

news for the university’s staff 

and students but for the growing 

Waikato and Bay of Plenty 

regions too. 

“This recognition shows prospective 

students from here and 

overseas that when they study 

and undertake research at the 

University of Waikato, they 

are supported by some of the 

most respected academics in 

the world.” 

Motorsport duo takes 

the wheel of iconic rally 

driving business 

Rally Drive NZ, the iconic driving school 

and rally experience, has new owners. 

Rallying enthusiasts 

Sam and Emma Miller 

recently took the wheel 

of the 23-year-old business 

based in Maramarua Forest. 

Founded in 2000 by Hamilton 

businesspeople Dale and 

Maureen Perry, Rally Drive 

NZ provides the opportunity 

for people to experience the 

thrills of rallying in a hands-on 

and safe environment. It 

also offers Tuition and Rally 

Car Leasing. 

THE PURCHASE OF RALLY 

DRIVE NZ, INCLUDES: 

The Rally School, which 

includes driver training, 

private training, hot seat 

thrill rides, corporate 

functions, rally experience 

course and rally schooling. 

“Both of our fathers, Noel 

Miller and Ray Wilson, have 

been rallying since the mid- 

70s, and so Emma and I grew 

up around the sport. We have 

always wanted to do something 

like this – something that puts 

our history and experiences 

into practice,” Sam says, 

“Since it began, Rally Drive 

NZ has provided amazing 

experiences for people from 

all walks of life. Everyone that 

partakes in the experience 

always leaves 

with massive 

grins on their 

faces, and that 

is so awesome 

to be a part of. 

We’re excited to 

build on Dale and 

Maureen’s legacy 

and bring the 

thrill of rallying 

to new audiences. 

We’re looking 

forward to doing 

this together.” 

A Motorsport NZ A-Class 

scrutineer, driving instructor 

and an engineer, Sam 

has been racing since he was 

12-years old, with numerous 

class wins in hill climbs and 

rally sprints to his name, Sam 

has been actively involved in 

Rally Drive NZ as a tutor and 

is a member of the Pukekohe 

Car Club. Sam comes from a 

rallying family who’re all still 

involved in the sport today. 

His dad Noel also works as a 

tutor at Rally Drive NZ. 

Emma, a nutritionist 

and photographer, has been 

involved in motorsport since 

she was born. First as a supporter 

of Ray Wilson, former 

FIA “A” seeded driver. She’s 

dabbled in motorcarna club 

events and hill climbs over 

the years, and today, captures 

the thrill and action of 

motorsport on film – a passion 

that led to a degree in 

media arts. 

Dale Perry says he’s proud 

to hand the keys over to the 

pair. 

“A the old saying goes, ‘right 

Sam and Emma Miller 

time, right place, right people’. 

After 23 years of running Rally 

Drive NZ, it’s the right time for 

us to hand over the business. 

Sam and Emma already know 

Image - Geoff Ridder 

it well, and share our passion, 

so they are the right people. 

Maureen and I wish them all 

the best, and I know it will give 

them enormous satisfaction 

and reward, as it has for us.” 

www.rallydrivenz.co.nz 

hello.rallydrivenz@gmail.com 

Phone 021 116 8860


Celebrate your business success at the 

Hamilton CBD Awards 

The annual Hamilton CBD Awards recognises and celebrates 

the fabulous businesses based in Hamilton’s central city. 

Entries opened this 

month and the awards 

will continue using 

the Love the Centre branding 

offering both a public nomination 

and business nomination 

to enter. 

The successful inner-city 

campaign Love the Centre 

encourages the public to reconnect 

with the city centre and 

to show the business community 

some love using the tagline 

‘There is always something 

to do, see, eat, drink and love 

when you visit Hamilton’s 

city centre.’ 

Hamilton Central Business 

Association general manager 

Vanessa Williams says a successful 

city centre relies on 

having a space that is fit for 

purpose and can accommodate 

what people want to use it for – 

whether that’s business, shopping 

or events, and that should 

be celebrated. 

“We have been holding 

these awards since 2010 and 

we are committed to recognising 

the amazing positive 

impact CBD businesses have 

on making the central city a 

vibrant destination.” 

The process of entering 

an award, irrespective of the 

outcome, can provide a range 

of benefits to the entrant, 

Vanessa says. 

“It offers an opportunity to 

look over your achievements, 

compare them against your 

competitors and see what you 

are doing better than everyone 

else, or if you are not, to 

see what you could be doing to 

improve your business.” 

Vanessa says the awards 

also provides an opportunity 

for free marketing and an 

additional level of credibility 

for your business achieving 

an award. 

“If you place or win an 

award, you have just been 

gifted a great new aspect of 

your business to promote. It is a 

time to celebrate your business, 

your employees, your customers 

and yourself. Promote your 

achievements, proudly display 

2022 Shopping category winners Sweet Pea Parties 

your awards and remember to 

tell everyone.” 

Last year, Sweet Pea Parties 

topped the shopping category. 

A first-time entrant, Kirsty and 

Chris Parker’s business grew 

from an at-home business over 

10 years ago to the largest party 

supply store in New Zealand. 

The popular Boon Hamilton 

Street Art group won the 2022 

activity based category for their 

delightful festival that brightens 

up the CBD with spectacular 

murals created by emerging 

and established artists. 

Dining out winners last year 

were Riverbank Lane Vietnamese 

restaurant Bahn Mi Caphe 

and Cream Eatery for daytime 

eating and drinking. 

In September the awards 

will be judged via three avenues; 

a judging panel for the 

written submission, a mystery 

shopper for close customer 

contact businesses 

and an in-person interview 

with businesses unable to be 

mystery shopped. 

Categories include marketing 

and promotion, innovation, 

established business, new business, 

public good, eat and drink 

daytime, eat and drink bars/ 

restaurants, shopping, activity, 

health & beauty, customer service 

and professional services. 

The winners will be 

announced at an extravaganza 

style awards evening held on 

1 November. 

TO ENTER, VISIT: 

LOVETHECENTRE.CO.NZ 

Fostering a sustainable tourism workforce 

The boom in post-Covid 

travel shows people’s 

love of exploring new 

places, dinners out, attending 

events and enjoying tourism 

experiences is as strong as ever. 

That’s positive for our economy, 

communities and businesses 

in our region, but it also 

poses a challenge for a tourism 

workforce that’s already under 

significant pressure. 

We regularly hear from 

Waikato tourism and hospitality 

businesses that are grappling 

with staffing shortages 

and finding it difficult to recruit 

and retain staff. Low unemployment 

and wage competition 

from other sectors mean 

tourism and hospitality can no 

longer rely solely on their reputation 

of being ‘fun’ industries 

to work in to attract staff. 

There are a number 

of high-profile initiatives 

underway nationally to help 

resolve tourism industry challenges, 

including the Government 

led Tourism Industry 

Transformation Plan. 

The first phase of that plan 

aims to create the foundations 

for a future-proofed workforce, 

and the Ministry of Business, 

Innovation & Employment has 

released a Better Work Action 

Plan to outline a way forward 

for the industry. 

The plan identifies four 

systemic challenges: ‘demand 

fluctuations’, ‘pay and conditions’, 

‘firm maturity and 

scale’, and ‘the current and 

future skills gap’. It champions 

the need for a new approach 

and identifies six Tirohanga 

Hou – new ways of viewing 

or thinking. 

These Tirohanga Hou 

include recognising quality 

employers and improving 

employment standards and 

practices, as well as efforts to 

create fit-for-purpose education 

and training. They also 

include a push for the industry 

to embrace and cater for 

seasonality, implement initiatives 

to improve cultural competency 

and ensure authentic 

storytelling, and lift technology 

uptake and innovation. Lastly, 

and importantly, the plan 

advocates for efforts to showcase 

the great pathways and 

people in tourism. 

Having a national action 

plan is helpful and Hamilton 

& Waikato Tourism is actively 

supporting it in our region. 

We know tourism is exciting 

and will always attract 

those who love people, but 

showcasing opportunities for 

career progression will be 

critical to keep people working 

in tourism for the long 

haul. Over and above guiding 

and front of house positions, 

there’s immense scope to move 

into roles such as accountants, 

drivers, marketers, chefs, HR 

managers, event organisers 

and data analysts, to name 

a few. 

In recent months we’ve 

stepped up our work with 

education providers to provide 

presentations for students 

studying tourism-related 

courses. We’re also supporting 

students with work experience 

placements with tourism operators 

around our region, as well 

as in the Hamilton & Waikato 

Tourism office working alongside 

our team. 

Just recently we supported 

the national Go With Tourism 

by joining members of their 

team at the Waikato Careers 

Expo to educate teachers, 

parents and students about 

tourism as a career pathway. 

The key message here was 

that tourism offers a fulfilling 

life-long career, with a clear 

pathway to progression. And 

yes, it’s still a fun industry to 

work in. 

When it comes to 

employment standards and 

practises, advocacy is important. 

We have been seeking out 

and showcasing stories of operators 

who are exceptional in 

this area, and whose pay rates 

are more than competitive with 

those found in other industries. 

We’ve also got an active 

Ambassadorship programme 

in Waikato providing workshops 

for people who engage 

with international and domestic 

manuhiri to our region. This 

programme provides knowledge 

about local stories of 

TELLING 

WAIKATO’S STORY 

BY NICOLA GREENWELL 

Chief executive, Hamilton & 

Waikato Tourism 

people and place and assists 

with cultural competency and 

authentic storytelling. It also 

shares customer service tips 

and advice. 

These initiatives are critically 

important for the future of 

our industry, but they are just 

a start. We’re conscious there’s 

a need for support attracting 

people to the industry now, in 

the lead-up to the busy summer 

months, so we need immediate 

results as well as long 

term thinking. 

We look forward to engaging 

with industry, iwi and 

government to explore more 

opportunities to put the Better 

Work Action Plan into practise 

and to showcase why tourism 

continues to be one of the 

most vibrant, exciting and fulfilling 

career choices anyone 

can make.

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The Business of Art 

Jewellery 

designer 

balances 

art and 

business 

Like most artists in business, 

multi-disciplinary artist Teuila 

Fatupaito works hard at finding 

the balance between the creative 

process and doing the business 

side of things. 

First and foremost, 

she sees herself as a 

maker of things and 

her eponymous online jewellery 

business is a product 

of her dabbling in different 

artistic endeavours. 

“I like exploring different 

techniques and skill sets. I 

like to figure out how to make 

something and then I will do 

lots of research and tutuing in 

my studio,” she says. 

A night time class at Fraser 

High in jewellery making 

helped with the basics, You- 

Tube provides a never-ending 

source of tutorials and an initial 

financial outlay for some 

fundamental tools set Teuila 

on a career path of bespoke 

jewellery design. 

“I started putting my stuff 

online and people were interested 

in it, and I ended up 

buying a new tool each time I 

made some money.” 

Set up in a studio in her 

home, Teuila designs and 

makes jewellery that she 

describes as ‘a showpiece, 

an expression, an attitude, 

an extension of one's personality, 

as well as a unique 

talking point’. 

Teuila makes all her rings, 

bracelets and earrings by hand 

but her range of sunglasses 

and chains are made off shore 

to her designs. 

It was very 

hard going 

into business. I 

always call it a 

hustle because 

you're always on 

the grind 

Having a ready-made 

range of accessories like the 

sunglasses and chains has 

freed up Teuila to focus her 

energies on the items she 

makes herself. 

As well as a providing a 

source of easy revenue, it is 

also a learning opportunity 

about outsourcing a design 

and working with a manufacturer 

to produce something 

she is proud to put her 

branding on. 

“It was a really good way 

to support the business with 

things that I don't have to 

make myself.” 

Like many creatives running 

a business doesn’t come 

easy for Teuila but she knows 

it’s a necessary evil. 

“I'm always trying to make 

things and when I'm in my 

creative flow, I'm good. And 

then I have to think about 

how to get my ideas out there 

and sell it, and this takes time 

away from the making. I even 

struggle with doing the social 

media part of business. I hate 

it. But you have to promote it 

and be consistent about it,” 

she says. 

Determined to make a 

serious go of her jewellery 

business, Teuila enrolled 

in Manaaki’s Vaka Pasifika 

Accelerator online business 

course along with 50 other 

small Pasifika start-ups across 

New Zealand. 

Every participant received 

$1000 towards business


EXPLORING THE CREATIVES 

IN THE BUSINESS OF ART 

setup costs and Teuila was the 

winner of a $5000 prize for 

top student. 

“It was a programme about 

all aspects of running a small 

business, from how to use 

social media, to using technology 

to progress business and 

all the way through to looking 

at finances and taxes, things 

that I don't enjoy,” she laughs. 

“Now I’m trying to learn 

a little bit more about how 

to grow and how to use the 

business suites of Facebook 

and Instagram. Looking at 

the data and who's looking at 

your work and how to target 

an audience. It’s really not my 

thing, I just want to create but 

I know I have to be open to all 

these other possibilities too.” 

When she first set out on 

her jewellery making journey, 

Teuila was selling her pieces 

on her social media platforms 

and by word of mouth. 

Her online shop teuilafatupaito.co.nz, 

which she 

opened in2021, was made possible 

by the support of family 

and friends who pitched in to 

model the products, a close 

friend helped with the photography 

and another graphic 

designer friend helped with 

the branding, logo design and 

website setup. 

“I'm not big time so I didn't 

do anything flash. I just asked 

my friends and family and 

asked locally for help, and I 

was really happy with how 

things turned out.” 

The business has grown 

organically and at a pace that 

Teuila can manage as the 

sole ‘maker’. 

“It was very hard going into 

business. I always call it a hustle 

because you're always on 

the grind. I haven't been able 

to afford to pay myself yet fully 

but every cent gets invested 

back into buying tools and 

materials so I can continue to 

grow the business.” 

Starting the business 

meant giving up the certainty 

of paid work. 

“I knew I wouldn't be making 

money to start with and 

we're always encouraged to 

chase our dreams and do the 

things you love but how will 

we do it if we don't have the 

income supporting us? So, it 

was such a hard decision to 

make. But I came to a space 

where I thought maybe I'll 

succeed at it but if I don't do it, 

I’ll never know.” 

Growing up in Kirikiriroa 

Hamilton to Samoan parents, 

Teuila’s passion for the creative 

arts was hugely influenced by 

her mother and father. 

“My mother was always 

doing ceramics, flower 

arranging and decorating 

cakes, and my dad was always 

making things too. I didn’t 

really appreciate what they 

were doing at the time but it 

was just always around me.” 

She studied media arts at 

Wintec majoring in photography 

but painting, sculpture 

and installation were her 

great passions. 

“I’m still working in sculpture 

just on a smaller scale.” 

Learning about the business 

as she goes along, the 

largely self-taught jeweller 

knows there is a lot to learn. 

“I'm teaching myself how 

to do things and eventually I 

might look at going to jewellery 

school but for now this is 

working for me.”

Raukawa blesses 

South Waikato Trades 

Training Centre 

Raukawa kaumātua blessed the soonto-be 

opened $14 million South Waikato 

Trades Training Centre in Tokoroa in a 

dawn ceremony recently and gave the 

building a new name Pūkenga Rau. 

Pūkenga derives from 

personal skill and ability 

development while Rau 

is a reference to the many 

people of South Waikato as 

well as rarau, the acquiring of 

Charlie Tepana (Raukawa Charitable Trust) 

left and Jarred Boon (TupuOra) co-ordinated 

the Pūkenga Rau blessing ceremony 

knowledge, and Raukawa, the 

people of the rohe. 

Speaking at the blessing, 

South Waikato Investment 

Fund Trust (SWIFT) chief 

executive Amanda Hema, who 

has overseen the development 

of the project, says the centre 

showcased the South Waikato 

community’s dedication to education 

and training. 

Hema says the genesis of the 

centre was in 2007 when local 

engineers gathered to consider 

a collective response to staff 

shortages. The Waiariki Institute 

of Technology (today part 

of Toi Ohomai Te Pukenga) 

tailored a qualification and 

programme with equipment 

donated by businesses and 

the South Waikato District 

Council and local high schools 

providing students. 

Construction, carpentry 

and automotive industries followed 

suit, establishing pretrade 

courses as local qualifications 

in 2008. Impressed by 

these initiatives, the Ministry 

of Youth Development gave 

South Waikato District Council 

a national award for commitment 

to youth training and 

education in 2008. 

“Clearly those industry leaders 

recognised the power of 

collaboration and the potential 

of our local rangatahi and the 

pitch for government investment 

for the building began 

in 2018 when the Southern 

Waikato Economic Action Plan 

was developed. 

“Moving to today, the large 

workshops in the new centre 

reflect those sectors that partnered 

so early on with trade 

At Pūkenga Rau from left: Amanda Hema (SWIFT), Tuahu Watene(Ringa Hora), Manujon 

Pemerika (MBIE), Mayor Gary Petley and Paniora Daniels (SWDC) 

training in our district, but this 

wonderful facility will also cater 

beyond the trades. SWIFT is 

delighted that under the watch 

of Toi Ohomai Te Pukenga, 

opportunities for more training 

and broader educational offerings 

will be made available to 

our community.” 

Hema says Raukawa Charitable 

Trust and the South 

Waikato District Council had 

been powerful advocates for the 

facility and the Ministry of Business 

Innovation and Employment’s 

Regional Economic 

Development and Investment 

Unit – Kanoa invested about 

$11 million in the development. 

Trust Waikato also partnered to 

fund the centre. 

Hema says SWIFT chair 

Stephen Veitch had, for the last 

two years, overseen much of 

the development, ensuring the 

building would meet community 

expectations, and she also 

acknowledged project managers 

Veros, builders Marra and 

designers DCA Architects. 

While Toi Ohomai Te 

Pukenga is the major tenant, 

Hema says SWIFT will also be 

housed in the new building and 

was calling for expressions of 

interest from other businesses. 

“We need to explore if there 

are organisations that want to 

base a team at Pukenga Rau 

or whether others are looking 

at a co-working model. The 

space has been designed so 

one tenant can have a separate 

90sqm area for a team of 10-12 

with shared facilities such as 

meetings rooms and a hospitality 

area. The rest will depend on 

who is interested. “ 

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Council renews award-winning 

transport contract 

An award-winning partnership 

agreement between Hamilton City 

Council and Downer NZ Ltd, established 

a decade ago, has been renewed for up 

to 10 more years. 

The joint venture agreement 

was among the 

first of its kind for local 

authorities in New Zealand in 

2013 and has since provided 

a model for other councils 

around the country. Two years 

after inception, the project 

claimed the national title for 

excellence in the maintenance 

and management of assets 

at the Civil Contractors New 

Zealand (CCNZ) awards. 

While the previous working 

name with Downer was 

‘Infrastructure Alliance’, they 

have begun to transition to 

new name ‘Connect Hamilton’ 

to better represent the overall 

goal of the partnership. 

The partnership forms a 

joint team which is headed by 

a governance group with three 

executives from Downer and 

three senior council staff. 

The collaborative environment 

is designed to deliver 

savings for both parties, better 

co-ordination of works across 

the city and has resulted in 

significant cost savings in the 

maintenance and renewal of 

the city’s roading assets. 

Eeva-Liisa Wright, council’s 

executive director, infrastructure 

operations, says the 

renewed contract will have an 

initial value of around $200 

million over the first five years. 

“Each time this contract 

is up for renewal, our 

council carefully considers 

all options,” Wright says. 

“Downer has been an excellent 

partner alongside council, 

helping us ensure our 

city’s transport infrastructure 

is maintained and updated 

to meet and anticipate 

Hamiltonian’s needs.” 

Downer’s New Zealand 

country lead Craig West says 

Downer are proud to be continuing 

the long-standing 

relationship with the Hamilton 

City Council and the 

community through this new 

collaborative contract. 

“We’re committed to delivering 

a safe, reliable and sustainable 

roading network, 

and we’re excited about working 

with council to reach 

our shared carbon reduction 

targets while making 

this city greener and easy to 

get around.” 

Wright says ensuring 

Hamilton’s transport, parking 

and roading assets, operations 

and infrastructure are fit for 

purpose and future-focused 

is an integral part of delivering 

council’s transport strategy: 

Access Hamilton - Ara 

Kootuitui Kirikiriroa. 

“Being able to get around 

Hamilton easily using our 

transport network contributes 

to shaping a city that’s easy to 

live in, one where our people 

thrive and where they love to 

be,” Wright says. 

Wright adds the agreement 

between council and Downer 

aims to achieve ‘best value for 

money’, innovation and ‘best 

practice’ asset management 

for the city’s ratepayers. 

“This type of arrangement 

helps create greater efficiencies 

across the transportation 

WE ARE THE BEST 

Council’s chief executive Lance Vervoort, Downer New Zealand country lead Craig 

West and Council’s executive director infrastructure operations Eeva-Liisa Wright 

network, has shared goals and 

objectives between council 

and Downer, and better cost 

transparency. It also enables 

us to respond more flexibly to 

what’s needed and when. 

“We have a thriving city 

and we need to ensure our 

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core infrastructure and provision 

Hamilton City Council and 

of services will meet Downer is approved for five 

the current and future years initially, with the option 

needs of our city, while for two further extensions 

enhancing the wellbeing of of three years and then two 

our communities.” 

years respectively, to a maximum 

The Collaborative Corridor 

of 10 years, based 

Agreement (CCA) between on performance. 

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Market gardener winning from the ground up 

For Waikato organic farmer Brittany 

Stembridge, the key to producing 

the best tasting vegetables with low 

environmental impact is all in the soil. 

Recently winning the 

Organic NZ Emerging 

Leader of the Year 

award at the Organic NZ 

Awards is validation for the 

hard work she has put into 

making her business Tomtit 

Farm a success. 

“The award recognises 

somebody working in an 

inspiring leadership role in the 

New Zealand organics/kai atua 

sector with under five years’ 

experience, and this year there 

was a particular emphasis on 

environmental protection and 

leading the way to mitigate climate 

change, and build a just 

society in harmony with nature 

and the planet. So that’s what 

we took away this year, which 

is really cool.” 

Being certified organic 

Brit says is all in the health 

of the soil and coming from a 

background of nutrition, she 

likes to think of the soil like a 

human stomach. 

“Our number one goal is to 

have really healthy living soil. 

For example, when a person 

has a diverse variety of foods 

in their diet with lots of different 

colours and different vegetables 

they build and fuel a 

healthy gut microbiome, and 

this results in a healthy person. 

It’s the same with the soil – if 

you have lots of different plants 

growing on the top of the soil, 

you’re going to build more 

life and diversity underneath 

the soil. So essentially we are 

building a living ecosystem in 

the soil, which builds healthy 

plants above the soil.” she says. 

Located in Matangi, just 

ten minutes out of Kirikiriroa, 

Hamilton, Tomtit Farm is the 

veggie patch Brit and her husband 

James created in 2019. 

Having worked in nutrition 

for many years, Brit was 

keen to use her knowledge in 

a way that would have more 

influence on people’s health 

and wellbeing. 

“I had been working in 

health research, and I wanted 

to make an impact at that grassroots 

level with my nutrition.” 

The opportunity to utilise a 

hectare of land on Brit’s parents’ 

lifestyle block was the 

kickstart to their market gardening 

enterprise. 

“We thought – why don’t 

we have a go at growing good 

quality sustainable food. If 

we can get a few people to eat 

some local, healthy food that’s 

probably more than I can ever 

achieve in my whole life by just 

telling people,” she laughs. 

With the good life beckoning, 

the couple upped 

sticks from Auckland, found 

work in Hamilton and 

began gardening. 

For Brit this meant a part 

time job at Waikato University 

so she could put time into 

developing the garden, while 

James found full time work 

in Agri-banking utilising his 

financial skills in the business. 

I found it really 

hard to focus on 

my other job as 

well when all I 

wanted to do was 

be outside on the 

garden 

“It was quite full on, trying 

to do a job and run a farm at the 

same time. We had to be quite 

smart about the way we set the 

business model up.” 

The farm offers harvest 

boxes of seasonal vegetables. 

Customers can choose to order 

weekly, fortnightly or for the 

season with a seasonal community 

supported agriculture 

(CSA) subscription. 

“We’ve always run it as a 

subscription base/veggie harvest 

of the week model because 

when we first started it was just 

me and I was still working part 

time. I didn’t have time to go to 

markets on the weekend.” 

Little did they know 

that the Covid pandemic 

was just around the corner 

when they first started and 

what this would mean for 

online businesses. 

“When Covid hit, it was kind 

of good timing because everybody 

slowed down. We were 

already set up online. It was 

good and bad because we were 

so small and new to growing, 

and we had so much attention 

and not enough food to feed all 

of the families who wanted to 

support us. Not that it’s a bad 

thing. We got our name out 

there and just did our best at 

the time.” 

At the end of 2020, Brit 

gave up her job at the university 

and went full time in 

the garden. 

“I found it really hard to 

focus on my other job when all I 

wanted to do was be outside in 

the garden. And it’s been really 

awesome working full time in 

the garden every day. I feel very 

lucky to have that opportunity. 

Don’t get me wrong when 

it’s raining and freezing cold, 

I am so envious of everybody 

inside,” she laughs. 

Sticking with the CSA 

model, Tomtit Farms has 

organically grown since Covid 

put some wind in their sails. 

The model is an important 

part of the young farmer’s 

ethos; it’s a way for Brit and 

James to build meaningful 

relationships with their customers 

that go beyond a basic 

sales’ transaction. 

Tomtit Farm customers 

commit to purchasing a season’s 

subscription; where they 

are investing in the farm for 

the upcoming season, and in 

return they receive a share of 

the harvest each week. 

“This is a way the community 

can get behind and support 

their local farmer and local 

food system. Throughout the 

ups and downs of the season 

without any price fluctuations. 

Ensuring the farmer gets a fair 

price for the food they grow and 

allowing the farmer to focus on 

growing good quality food for 

families in their community.” 

Building those relationships 

with customers includes more 

than just selling them vegetables, 

Brit also has set up a Facebook 

community page to sell 

seedlings, share gardening tips 

and recipe ideas. 

“We’re trying to build that 

real community around food. 

Building confidence in cooking 

with seasonal vegetables, and 

just thinking outside the box 

and having fun when it comes 

to food.” 

As well as selling organic 

vegetables, herbs, salad greens 

and micro-greens, they also 

sell flowers and hold Pick Your 

Own Flowers’ days which usually 

run from December – May. 

“On our PYO flowers days, 

all you can hear is laughter, 

people enjoy being amongst 

nature. The rows of flowers are 

nestled amongst the vegetables 

to show how everything is 

grown and providing an opportunity 

for people to think about 

where their food comes from.” 

Produce is also available 

at their farm fridge at 165c 

Matangi Road at the Front Paddock 

Cafe. 

They also deliver locally to 

Hamilton, Matangi, Tamahere, 

Cambridge and Te Awamutu 

on Tuesdays. 

Check out what the 

farm has to offer at 

www.tomtitfarm.com.


No matter the property 

We’ve got you covered. 

Hamilton’s No.1 Real Estate Team 

LODGE.CO.NZ

Event promotes 

Hi-Vis to girls 

Sophie Hulme, Jaide Snapes and Bianca 

Stomp, Hamilton Girls High being fitted 

with a line mechanic harness. 

Hundreds of female secondary school 

students from throughout the country 

have just had a taste of a career in 

infrastructure – and they’ve loved it. 

The month-long series 

of Girls with Hi-Vis 

(GWHV) events is held 

annually and Connexus - Te 

Pūkenga executive director 

Kaarin Gaukrodger says the 

infrastructure industry keeps 

New Zealand moving - roads 

need replacing, water pipes 

and systems upgrading, power 

lines maintained and faster 

broadband technology needs 

installing – and the skills 

required to deliver the future 

face of infrastructure continues 

to grow. 

“These skillsets are in high 

demand, particularly with the 

current challenges to help get 

the country back on track after 

the recent storms and flooding 

that has hit nationwide.” 

GWHV showcased the 

day-to-day roles of those 

tradespeople keeping our 

communities connected and 

provides an understanding of 

the career opportunities within 

their local community within 

Jaide Snapes, Hamilton Girls 

High being shown how to add 

insulation onto a cable. 

infrastructure’s civil, energy, 

telecommunications and 

water industries. 

Kaarin says GWHV is a 

key driver to attracting more 

young women to what is a male 

dominated industry. 

“If we are to effectively 

address critical skills shortages 

within infrastructure 

industries, and meet the future 

needs of our communities, it 

is clear we must be more visible 

precisely where and when 

young people are making crucial 

career decisions. And 

that’s where Girls with Hi-Vis 

comes in.” 

Throughout the month of 

June worksites around the 

country become a learning 

ground to encourage more 

young women to begin a career 

in infrastructure. 

The students have donned 

hi-vis vests and done it all from 

driving diggers and trucks, 

to climbing power poles and 

checking out some of New 

Zealand’s largest energy generating 

assets. 

A group of Hamilton Girls’ 

High School students had a 

taste of what a day on the job 

is all about at WEL Networks. 

Hamilton Girls’ students 

Jaide Snapes, Keilani Hadfield 

and Sophie Hulme all took part 

in the experience and loved the 

idea of a career that takes them 

out of the office. 

“It (a career in infrastructure) 

didn’t interest me before 

but coming here has given me 

more of a visual idea of what 

it’s about. It was really practical 

and hands on,” Jaide says. 

“I really like seeing all the 

different things you can do 

and the things you learn from 

the job - and that you can earn 

while you learn. Today has 

been very eventful and really 

interesting to see all the activities 

that make up the trade,” 

Keilani says. 

“I don’t want to sit behind 

a desk all day. I’d get really 

bored. I have family members 

who work in this industry so 

it seems like a really good idea 

to me. 

“I think GWHV helped 

me realise this is something I 

really want to do. It does really 

Jaide Snapes and Sophie Hulme, Hamilton Girls High being shown 

how to work together to connect electrical wire at the top of a pole. 

interest me,” Sophie says. 

WEL Networks organisational 

development/HR advisor 

Kayleen von Keisenberg 

says supporting initiatives 

like GWHV is a great way 

of encouraging females into 

the industry. 

“We’ve had some great wins 

and we are taking big steps, 

working towards achieving our 

Gender Tick.” 

The Hamilton event was 

attended by the Hon Nanaia 

Mahuta who says the chance to 

learn about career opportunities 

in traditionally male dominated 

industries is a chance to 

break down barriers and show 

other young women who are 

successful in the energy sector. 

“I’m delighted that more 

effort is going into promote 

trades training it’s certainly a 

valid pathway supported by 

the government.” 

For the first time this year 

some of the GWHV events 

incorporated the construction 

industry with BCITO - Te 

Pūkenga, the construction 

training provider and Earn- 

Learn - Te Pūkenga who cover 

specialist trades such as scaffolding, 

plumbing, gasfitting 

and drainlaying, and electrical. 

The employers within these 

industries are also looking to 

attract more trainees and see 

the GWHV events as a great 

opportunity to do this. 

The infrastructure industry 

is leading the way when it 

comes to employing women 

in what has traditionally been 

a male-dominated sector, last 

Our team 

DESIGNER 

Kelly Gillespie 

kelly@dpmedia.co.nz 

DESIGNER 

Warren Gilberston 

design@dpmedia.co.nz 

EDITORIAL 

Janine Jackson 

editor@dpmedia.co.nz 

ADVERTISING 

MANAGER 

Joanne Poole 

Ph: (07) 838 1333 

Mob: (021) 507 991 

joanne@dpmedia.co.nz 

year proudly reaching a target 

figure of 10% of women 

trainees in the industry. This 

has been a steady build on 11 

years ago when 3% of trainees 

were women. 

PUBLISHER 

Deidre Morris 

Ph: (07) 838 1333 

Mob: 027 228 8442 

deidre@dpmedia.co.nz 

••• 

STUDIO 

Copy/Proofs: 

studio@dpmedia.co.nz 

SUBSCRIPTIONS 

accounts@dpmedia.co.nz 

131 Victoria Street, Hamilton 

Ph: (07) 838 1333 

www.wbn.co.nz 

- 

www.dpmedia.co.nz


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“Fosters have good people 

at all levels, from the 

person who coordinates 

the design documentation, 

through to the in-house 

project manager and the 

foreman. We all share 

similar values – building 

a good project and 

executing it well.” 

David Chafer, Chalmers Properrties 

David Chafer sums up his company’s ongoing relationship 

with Fosters in one sentence: “We’ve got a good thing 

going.” 

David is the general manager of property investment and 

development company Chalmers Properties, which owns 

$600 million worth of property around Aotearoa. 

Based on the success of a past collaboration, the 

company engaged Fosters again to execute the design 

and build of a new 2700m² warehouse project at 

Hamilton’s Te Rapa Gateway. 

The warehouse was purpose built for IAG, which owns 

multiple New Zealand insurance brands, to contain a 

high-tech in-house motor vehicle repair facility. It was 

completed in 2022. 

“Fosters are really good to help at the front end of a 

possible project with cost estimations and input and then 

through the next phases of the project – documentation, 

tendering and the build,” David said. 

“They have good people at all levels, from the person 

who coordinates the design documentation, through to 

the in-house project manager and the foreman. We 

all share similar values – building a good project and 

executing it well.” 

With its innovative design, sleek office spaces and high 

quality finish, the new Repairhub impressed not only 

David and his company, but the judges at the 2022 

Property Council New Zealand Rider Levett Bucknall 

Property Industry Awards. 

The project was awarded merit in the Industrial Property 

Award category, following an assessment of its design, 

construction and sustainability features, how it tracked 

against financial estimates, and owner and user 

satisfaction. 

Property Council chief executive Leonie Freeman said the 

awards showcased what could happen “when you marry 

courageous vision with the can-do attitude of passionate 

people”. 

Following that success, Chalmers Properties had no 

hesitation in signing Fosters again. 

“The execution’s just easy from a client’s perspective,” 

David said. “That’s why we’ve played forward with 

them; they’re just completing two far larger projects with 

construction value of $19 million and they recently started 

another two warehouses for us. 

“That’s confirmation we find them great to work with.” 

FOSTERS.CO.NZ 07 849 3849

Waikato Business News June/July 2023

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