Waikato Business News August/September 2023

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14 WAIKATO BUSINESS NEWS, AUGUST/SEPTEMBER 2023 The Business of Art EXPLORING THE CREATIVES IN THE BUSINESS OF ART RAW brings art lovers to the artists in weekend long exhibition and studio trail Visitors from all over the Waikato and beyond will be flocking to the annual Raglan Arts Weekend this Labour Weekend. Richard Page What started as a group of artists running a local group exhibition, has since grown to be a major event that not only profiles established and emerging local creatives but also delivers a boost to the local economy. In its 13th year, RAW has been managed by Nicky Brzeska since 2019, and with an extensive background in PR, she has added her flair for running large international campaigns to the mix. Launching a new device for a multinational tech company where the budget is of no consequence is a far cry from running a small-town art event on a tight purse string, but Nicky was up for the challenge. “My brief was to re-energise the arts weekend and to make sure we got more artists on board. The first thing I really wanted to do was to sort out the brand.” Creating a brand that would attract more artists, and art lovers who hopefully become art buyers, Nicky says, was a fundamental place to start for RAW. “If it feels like there's a brand and an identity, then people come to really love and support that. And then it creates an energy that other people want to be a part of.” Like many non-profit events, RAW has traditionally relied on advertising from local businesses and grants from charitable organisations but, Nicky says, an event like RAW that has been running for so long needs to look at how it can stand on its own two feet. “The team have always done phenomenally well getting the grants. But these grants are the same pots of money but with more people applying. And funders are saying they want to be seen to be supporting new initiatives.” So, after a successful rebrand and a 2019 Easter Weekend event, Nicky was looking forward to 2020 and working towards attracting larger sponsorships and establishing solid partnerships. The popular Preview Exhibition has always kicked off RAW three weeks before the event; it provides an opportunity to check out the artists’ work before hitting the art studio trail around Raglan Whāingaroa. But 2020 delivered COVID and the Preview Exhibition managed an opening night before the government announced the cancellation of all indoor gatherings of more than 100 people, and a week later the country was in lockdown. “We postponed it until October and then the new alert level meant we had to push the Preview Exhibition online. Then we were gunning for April, and then had to delay April to October (2021). So, it was three delays,” she says. Nicky was essentially trying to run three events with the April 2020 funding. “We got COVID subsidies but it was difficult and we just had to get very creative with the money we had.” This year Nicky has been able to establish a partnership plan that also had to be delayed due to COVID. Local partnerships with longtime sponsors Tony Sly and art foundation the Chartwell Trust, and new supporters Rangitahi housing development and Bayleys Real Estate Raglan have kicked into action this year. “I looked at how could we make these partnerships all fit together, instead of them just being random sponsors with advertising in a brochure. It's paying attention to how these brands can engage authentically with us.” Nicky Brzeska The partnerships identify with a pillar – grow, connect, inspire, ignite – that represents how they can contribute to the growth of the arts weekend. “Grow is Rangitahi and they are supporting The Hatch, which is our emerging artists exhibition, as well as funding additional admin hours. Bayleys Real Estate is Connect and they’re funding an artists’ bus tour and the opening night cocktail event. The Chartwell Trust is our Inspire partner, which is the next phase for us and it will be about bringing the arts weekend to life. Tony Sly is Ignite and that will be talks, workshops and demonstrations in the future,” she says. The partnerships are vital to the survival of the arts weekend and they significantly reduce the reliance on the ever-decreasing grants. “We’re trying to create a sustainable business model because it is getting tough out there to just keep trying to get grants.” Despite the COVID setback, Nicky is confident in the Raglan Arts Weekend’s ability to grow. They may be at full capacity with their artists but Nicky knows there are still lots of opportunities to pack a punch for the arts. “We have over 60 artists, and over 30 of those are new to RAW. We still have the same number of studios because we have several large group exhibitions, which means people have only one studio location to visit to see a number of artists’ work. But we can't just have an infinite number of artists; If you've got too many artists, there's less visitors per artist.” A life drawing workshop, created and run by RAW artist Dominique Marriott, is a first this year for the arts weekend and, Nicky says, the new partnerships will support more public art activities. “We want people to know as soon as they arrive in town that something special is happening.” The flow on effect is significant, she says, more RAW visitors mean more business for the local cafes and restaurants, accommodation and tourism providers. “It’s just about growing this in a sustainable way, together with the growth of Raglan itself, and not overwhelming the town, which struggles already with issues like parking and space in cafes over busy weekends like this,” Nicky says. “Maybe in time, we might shift RAW to its own dedicated weekend to spread some of the retail opportunities for our local businesses across the year, but it’s too early in the event’s marketing to be able to make that decision now.” The Raglan Arts Weekend is a Creative Raglan event run by the Raglan Community Arts Council. Preview Exhibition at the Raglan Old School Arts Centre Friday 29 Sept to Monday 23 October 2023, open daily, 10am to 2pm RAW Open studios self-guided art trail Saturday 21 October to Monday 23 October, 10am to 5pm Shortydubs Jane Galloway
WAIKATO BUSINESS NEWS, AUGUST/SEPTEMBER 2023 15 An open letter to the new government It seems all anyone can talk about at the moment is the upcoming, hotlycontested, general election, with political parties making promises they’re backing themselves to keep, and the country thinking about which leaders will help with the current challenges we’re facing. I’m diverting slightly today from the usual format of my columns so bear with me! As a mortgage adviser speaking with clients daily about the ups and downs of property, lending and personal finance, I thought writing a letter to our new leaders could offer valuable perspective on the changes that are needed in this space. First home buyers are traditionally the segment of property purchasers the government wants to support. I’d like to see the income cap criteria for the first home loan vary a little like the first home grant caps do, by region. You’re likely to need to earn more in Auckland or Wellington to purchase a similar type of home to other regions. Starting with some positivity, the first home loan is working really well. Since the changes made to first home loans in 2022, the increase in first home buyers being able to use the first home grant has been huge. Pre-approval is possible, it helps the process go smoothly, and we have plenty of options in terms of lender, rates and structure. It’s a big tick from me on this front! However, there are some challenges too. For first home buyers, one of the biggest ones is having existing personal debt. Banks are always tougher on approving loans for new borrowers when they have consumer debt in place, for example car loans, credit cards, Afterpay or personal loans. I’d love to see the government reward first home buyers who actively save, spend their money wisely and have no existing debt. A simple credit check included in the application to Kainga Ora would verify this. It would be great to see these first home buyers provided with additional first home grant funds, similar to those building a new home, as it incentivises would-be borrowers to reduce their debt and become more attractive to a lender. For most middle-income households, their single biggest cost is childcare for their under-5s, and it worries me that it’s more expensive for working parents to return to work than it is to stay home - dependent on their income. It’s a big cost, with some families spending up to $20,000 per year on childcare and they’re barely making ends meet. Supporting these families would go a long way to getting parents back to work - if they choose to, of course - which in turn supports businesses. Property investors have been somewhat of a scapegoat for the current government as interest deductibility was removed, the bright line test switched back to ten years and rent freezes have been talked about. I think this approach is all wrong - the investor-tenant relationship is symbiotic and it should be treated as such. Each needs to support the other and policy-makers would do well to consider more carefully the impact of these rushed pieces of legislation. From my perspective, supporting the reversal of these policies is a win for tenants, who are currently paying higher rents and have less surety because some investors are being forced to sell property to pay tax on income they’ve actually already spent - on paying the bank. More still are selling existing properties in favour of new builds, which is more disruptive for tenants. It’s no secret that CCCFA has been the most challenging piece of legislation to hit the financial services industry in years, and unfortunately, I haven’t seen any big changes to the problem it was trying to solve - protecting vulnerable borrowers. To actually achieve that outcome would mean administrating more compliance across smaller lenders and that takes more resources and a united industry. What it has done is frustrated advisers and bank staff, and add to an already high BEYOND THE BANKS BY CLAIRE WILLIAMSON Claire Williamson is a mortgage advisor for My Mortgage workload for little to no gain for borrowers. Although I gripe about it from time to time, believe it or not, banks actually have really good mechanisms in place for picking up vulnerable borrowers, and I think the Responsible Lending Code does a great job of that already. We don’t need another set of rules! I would also be happy to see LVRs for investors reduced to 50% for existing properties and a further increase in RBNZ limits for low LVR lending. Put simply, let’s allocate more funding for lower deposits - it’s tough for first home buyers who are outside eligibility for the first home loan, so this would allow more of them to get into their own homes. I accept that not everyone wants to own a house - this is something a lot of people assume is the case and a lot of young people are transient. They don’t want to put down roots; they want to live with their mates and spend their money on smashed avocado, and that’s ok! (and if you’d like to do both, check out my book Smashed Avo to Smashed Goals!) Property and lending is a tough gig, and I’m sure no government will get it 100% right. But from someone out there in the trenches talking to those doing it tough to fulfill their goal of home ownership, I hope this advice is useful for our incoming leaders and can set in motion positive changes to future lending for Kiwis. Dear Prime Minister Hipkins… and cost on all New Zealand Migrant exploitation - a blight New Zealand has historically had a reputation as being relatively Congratulations free of corruption, on your promotion, but this reputation and for this is at timely serious risk opportunity with the current to contribute high incidence our 30+ years of migrant of experience exploitation in now New rife Zealand in the immigration country. work to help inform your thinking about your approach to the immigration portfolio. Reports of substandard properties crowded with migrant workers with Historically no food are likely the immigration just the tip of portfolio It is quite was seen probable as somewhat that there of are a the iceberg. several poisoned thousand chalice, workers and in these it was same not situations until the throughout first John New Key Zealand. government Most of in these 2008 workers that this have approach been duped changed, by a range and of immigration scams involving began unscrupulous to be viewed tricksters, more as money an economic lenders, tool rather various than intermediaries, just a means migration to protect New agents Zealand and New jobs. Zealand The immigration portfolio based employers. Many has have since paid developed large amounts into one of of money, significant sometimes strategic as importance much as $50,000, which to influences obtain their many job aspects and their of work New visa, Zealand and have society, sold workforce everything and to the realise economy. their dream Immigration of a better is now future a key for Government their family portfolio. in New Zealand. Looking A dream at the big many picture. will never realise. These New Zealand scams are should all premised not rest on on an its offer laurels of and employment expect that from it continues a New to Zealand be one employer of the most who desired has been migrant accredited destinations, by Immigration as it is not, New and Zealand we are trending (INZ), and backwards. this is where In the fact, problem we will begins. be doing The well employer just to accreditation hold onto the new regime migrants was introduced that we do in initially July last attract year with to this the country. objective to ensure only suitably credentialed We are employers an aging could population employ and, migrant by workers. 2028, 1 in However, every 5 people the accreditation will be 65+ application years. Our birth process rate of was 1.6 undertaken children is as well a below “high trust” the replacement model with employers rate of 2.1. simply Our having rural to townships declare that are they losing met infrastructure financial, employment and services, and and compliance while our thresholds schools need with more very little, teachers if any, now, substantiating in a few years’ evidence, time school or checks rolls will undertaken. be declining It is and now these apparent teachers that INZ will need employer to find accreditation other jobs or status go overseas. has provided Family “Government and lifestyle credibility” have always to a number been of the “unscrupulous” main reasons employers migrants who choose have used New this Zealand. standing However, for their these own alone financial may gain not be – something sufficient to that attract could and have retain been avoided, the people or at and least skills minimised, our country if the needs accreditation to maintain process our living had been standards, more robust. let alone to grow. We need The younger second people stage of who the can work contribute visa process, more, the and Job for Check, longer, normally to New Zealand. requires the role New to be Zealand advertised must attract and evidence the migrants there are it wants, no New and Zealanders needs, available in an increasingly and qualified competitive to work in and the role. dynamic The fact international that a Job Check market, can and be approved one where for people a role for can which now no work-from-home work experience anywhere or qualifications in the world. We are no longer enjoy the competitive advantages Level 2 586 Victoria Street Hamilton 3204 Level 2 586 Victoria Street Hamilton 3204 required speaks (again) to the very low level of scrutiny applied to this process. Then, after we once arriving had, in but New one Zealand, thing the within migrant our worker control finds is to make there the was immigration no actual job, process or the employer easier and no longer quicker, has and any work world-leading, available, or and they to begin promote working “the only visa to process” find their as role one terminated reason to within choose the New 90 day Zealand. trial period. Online visa The applications, cost to New and Zealand the move of this to immigration more automated fraud assessment is significant. processes, The Government will help now but there has to is allocate a very long resources way to to go. address the humanitarian One area which needs of would these help workers, is for and the to seek Government out and bring to engage to account in the more employers robust and and agents well-planned who are policy parties settings, to these and scams to – pressure-test something much such easier settings said before than done! these More are implemented. significant is the It is reputational acknowledged damage that New policies Zealand have has been suffered necessarily with the “reactive” integrity over of the our past immigration 3 years but system there have being been so easily too many compromised. instances of It back-tracking is little wonder of that newly the Government introduced policies has now when ordered better an urgent, planning but belated, and consultation review into would the accredited “get-it-right-firsttime”. employer work visa The regime new - Active after denying Investor there Policy was any should problem be first just on a the few chopping days beforehand! block! Immigration We also need New forward Zealand looking has responded policies as which it always are fit-for-purpose does – and turned in today’s the screws world. completely Policies which around! focus It on is enabling now vetting the every most application desirable migrants to the “nth” the degree opportunity and has also to announced experience New that 90 Zealand day trial and, periods if they choose are no longer to stay, allowed then great. in migrant We should worker not employment demand that these agreements. people It commit will not indefinitely now be such to a stay. simple or straightforward process to end any The such Productivity employment Commission relationship and report the time into to immigration process all applications recommended will materially a Government increase. Policy Statement to set a clear strategic Whether direction these for changes immigration achieve policy. the desired This would objective be a of good reducing start and the provide current high some level overriding of migrant guidance exploitation (ideology!) we will to just inform have policy to wait settings and see. with We a focus suspect on those what perpetrators immigration who can deliver have scant for the respect good for of the New rules Zealand will in continue the longer to term. flout them, and law-abiding What about employers a work-from-homein-NZ will continue to pay a higher visa? price People to do business. could It live would in New have been Zealand so much and better work to anywhere have taken in a little the more world, time now and effort that to would get the really process put and desired New Zealand outcomes on right the map! in the Yes first - place Prime – now Minister! all New Zealand has to pay the cost. Level 3 50 Manners Street Wellington 6011 07 834 9222 enquiries@pathwaysnz.com pathwaysnz.com Level 3 50 Manners Street Wellington 6011
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Waikato Business News August/September 2023

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