Summer trade in Raglan takes a hit when the main road to Hamilton slumps and holidaymakers are reluctant to drive the windy detour road. Page 4.
The Waikato region’s voice of local business
THE BUSINESS OF ART
Ceramic artist Sarah Bing reckons being an artist is something you do for love rather than financial gain and she’s not about to starve to pursue the works she loves. Page 24.
CO-WORKING SPACES IN DEMAND
Not that long ago working from home was the new normal. Fast overtaking the work-from-home trend, The Crate is experiencing an increase in demand for co-working. Page 32.
Waikato poised to be the tech region of the future
The Tron might be a tongue in cheek nickname for Hamilton but The Cultivate Trust really do believe Hamilton is the city of the future.
A don’t miss dining experience
It’s back! This flagship event always sells out, so don’t miss out on the hottest ticket in town.
Like no other dinner, the CBD Progressive Dinner takes you on a journey to some of the best eateries in Hamilton town.
Led by former Victoria St Bistro manager and foodie
Julia Clark, experience six central city hospitality venues for an unforgettable dining experience in the heart of the CBD.
Previously an annual event, this year the dinner has changed to twice yearly due to its success.
Hamilton City Business Association general
Created to
Each dinner is different so diners do not find out where they are going until they arrive at each venue.
Our team
DESIGNER
Warren Gilbertson studio@dpmedia.co.nz
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Deidre Morris
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Ellie Neben ellie@dpmedia.co.nz
EDITORIAL
Janine Jackson editor@dpmedia.co.nz
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Waikato poised to be the tech region of the future
The
Tron might be a tongue in cheek nickname for Hamilton but
The Cultivate Trust really do believe Hamilton is the city of the future.
Of course, that includes the Waikato, as the group aims to capitalise on the burgeoning technology industry in the region through their campaign ‘Tech in the Tron’, which aims to attract 500 skilled tech workers and their families to the Waikato.
Trust chair and Hamilton-based Soda Inc’s chief executive Erin Wansbrough believes not many people outside of the region know about the tech groundswell that is happening in the Waikato and the trust wants to change that.
at the forefront of navigating this global environment.
in the central city, guests are delighted with a food offering and a matched drink at each place with entertainment along the way.
“It has been a hugely successful way to showcase our eateries and an opportunity to meet new people and enjoy a dining experience,” she says. Previous years have included a dance battle at Victoria on the River and entertainment by the Wai Toko drummers down a laneway.
you are going to get prior to going adds to the experience,” Vanessa says.
ADVERTISING MANAGER
Joanne Poole
Ph: (07) 838 1333
“The not knowing what
The first CBD Progressive Dinner for 2023 will be taking place from 5.45pm on Thursday 23 March. To book visit events.humanitix. com/cbd-progressive-dinner-march-2023
Mob: (021) 507 991 joanne@dpmedia.co.nz
2/1 Riro Street, Hamilton Ph: (07) 838 1333 www.wbn.co.nz
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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 ManagementWaikato, Bay of Plenty and Taranaki 027 408 9339 jan.cooney@bayleys.co.nz
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“Our core drive is to find a way in which we can showcase the exceptional businesses that are here. Like many New Zealand regions, we tend to be humble in nature and hide our light under a bushel.”
Behind the initiative is a collective of private businesses, education providers and public entities interested in growing the Waikato technology ecosystem. They all share the same woes when it comes to growing their business capabilities and that is attracting talent.
“There is one large pain point common to all in this industry, and that is the challenge to get enough quality talent to fuel their business growth. There is a hunger for a wide range of skill sets, and in particularly there are two main choke points in the talent funnel. One is the volume of people starting out in their career …and secondly the technically skilled workers. Many businesses, but particularly tech businesses in New Zealand, would tell you a similar story.”
Kickstarted last year, the Cultivate Trust and the subsequent Tech in the Tron initiative isn’t taking lightly the current global economic downturn. Erin says, now more than ever, Kiwi high growth technology businesses will be
“Their performance and growth is directly connected to the performance and health of larger economic regions. They also have an insatiable need for talent to fuel growth, however the current supply is falling well short of demand. The need for talent is broad, from graduates through to experienced and highly skilled people. It is acutely felt across the New Zealand technology industry and it is not going away. It must be solved if this export economic growth is to be realised.”
The Waikato region continues to be the most diverse and strongest economic region in New Zealand, she says, and it is also one of the fastest growing technology regions in the country and as such the need to address the access to talent is of upmost priority.
“The Cultivate Trust was formed with a focus on addressing the supply of strong talent into the Waikato region to fuel our technology businesses. In doing so it will not only result in strengthening this local economic growth, but due to the significant size of this region, it will strengthen the resilience of New Zealand’s economy,” Erin says.
Showcasing the Waikato, making solid business connections, and attracting and growing talent is what underpins the trust and the campaign.
Between July and December 2022 Tech in the Tron campaign had over 1 million engagements and created 2.5 million impressions across various social media channels.
Scrolling through the Tech in the Tron Facebook page you get insights into the lives of people working in the industry, great tech projects, the latest research and development programmes, invites to
/
networking opportunities and, of course, a snapshot of the variety of things on offer and available to do in the region.
Radio DJs, television hosts, comedians, you name it, they are sure to have a Hamilton one-liner in their repertoire, Tech in the Tron aims to alter those perceptions.
“It used to be a place that people would bypass, it would rarely be a destination of choice, let alone considered as a growing city with strong career options. We were very aware that many external to the region still hold this outof-date perception and we have to change that if we are to ever make significant inroads to the talent supply challenge,” Erin says.
“We also knew in order to achieve a significant paradigm shift it would require a visual and engaging marketing campaign if it was to have impact. Hence #techinthetron was brought to life to ‘show and not tell’ reality of what is on offer within the Waikato. To make visible and lift the curtain on the vibrant and diverse culture, the variety and number of globally focussed tech businesses, and the career opportunities that exist.”
Originally from Auckland, Erin knows the cost that comes with big city living and having moved to Hamilton four years ago, she has found a new lease of life living in the Tron.
“The realities of living and working in a large congested city can feel like a mug’s game at times, with the cost falling well short of the benefits. When we decided to make a change and began to assess alternatives, the Waikato region quickly stood out as the destination of choice. It was not just the career prospects on offer, or the more favourable property market, proximity to quality schools, flowing traffic
or significant increase in time available that were appealing.
What set Hamilton apart from other choices was its scale and the variety of strong growth businesses, particularly tech businesses. It was clear Hamilton was poised to be the city to watch in regard to its economic growth, prosperity and employment opportunities.
Add to this its convenient geographic position; operating as an inland port, and the close proximity to Auckland enables one to easy connect and do business in Auckland, without the personal cost that comes with large city living. It had so many boxes ticked.”
Alongside the usual social media suspects like Facebook, TikTok and Instagram, the trust runs the Tech in the Tron website, as an easy and welcoming entry point for people who reach out wanting to learn more. The trust ensures that every contact is quickly and warmly followed up, by either a direct contact with a campaign ambassador or trust supporter.
“The ambassadors have been such a point of difference. It’s that Kiwi hospitality which is authentic and I think it is making us stand out as it is rare to find deep business network so easily accessible,” she says.
“Most of the inquiry we have received has been from business people asking about what businesses are here, what jobs are available and how they might become introduced into this network. The interest is most often driven by either an individual looking to further something from a business development perspective or it is from a person looking to explore career opportunities… and the response has been strong.”
The initial formation of the Cultivate Trust was driven by
a segment of business leaders in Hamilton’s tech industry with the group being quickly underpinned by Hamilton City Council, the University of Waikato and Te Waka. The businesses that lead the way in supporting the establishment of the trust and bringing the campaign to life were Gallagher Group, IT Partners, Aware Group, Company-X, Enlighten Designs, Lightwire, LIC, Tuatahi First Fibre, Soda Inc, Shift72, Tompkins Wake, Deloitte and The Instillery. Whilst it might seem counter intuitive that businesses would collaborate rather than compete for such scarce talent, Erin says, the number of businesses involved continues to grow strongly. It is recognised what works for one will work for all, and
universities across New Zealand have continued to compete on the global stage for student enrolments and have suffered a significant hit to their international student numbers in recent years. We need to support efforts to grow student numbers if we are to continue to address future talent needs. We believe as an industry if we become more visible and accessible to all tertiary students we will see more flow through into jobs,” she says.
These business people easily and frequently network one on one, and preferably in person. This approach has resulted in a tightly woven and highly connected business network, underpinned by a depth of trust and reciprocity.
that collaboration will add power to the project.
Subsequently the trust remains resolute in its focus to solve the pain point that is common to all, and will continue to do all it can to grow the volume and quality of talent required to fuel the tech community.
Whilst looking to attract talent from around Aotearoa and the world, Cultivate doesn’t want to forget about grassroots and Erin has her eye on how to support graduates into careers in the Waikato, and to attract them and keep them in the region as they begin their careers.
“It is known that
“Our research has shown that international students have a preference to study and work in cities with fewer of the pain points that come with the hustle, bustle, congestion and cost of living in a large metropolis. As a region we’re already placed on the front foot to attract these students and subsequently employ and retain these graduates. We have also learned that it is not that students don’t want to work as an intern or start their career here in the Waikato, they just don’t know where the businesses are or the opportunities that exist, and they wouldn’t have a clue whose door to knock on,” she says.
Creating authentic, fun and welcoming networking events is one way that Tech in the Tron can breach the divide.
“It actually comes down to laying the foundations and doing the basics consistently well to support and enable those early in their career to become connected. To understand the landscape, the businesses and opportunities available to them in the Waikato, and to also create engaging ways to easily connect with and be warmly introduced to potential employers. The trust has a number of such activities planned for the coming year that will make it easier for this talent to connect and get a foot in the door.”
Building upon the strong, positive response to initiatives implemented in 2022, Erin says the trust have some bold plans underway this year.
“We know to fix the size of ‘talent funnel’ and ensure it is always flowing we must lean into efforts of improving diversity and removing barrier to entry. This will enable us to increase the size and volume of our talent funnel as it will enable us to reach an untapped and deep source of talent.”
Associate Minister for Revenue Dr Deborah Russell and Company-X co-founder/director Jeremy Hughes.
Ingrid Leary tries a VR simulation
Economic Development, Science, and Innovation Select Committee chair Jamie Strange and Company-X mixed realities specialist Lance Bauerfeind.
Raglan businesses weathers cyclones and road closure
Summer started with a hiss and a roar in the Waikato over the Christmas and New Year’s period lulling us into a false sense of security.
Afew short days after celebrating the onset of 2023, Cyclone Hale dumped significant amounts of rain on the Coromandel, sending holidaymakers back to the safety of their homes.
The first cracks appeared in the Kopu-Hikuai Highway (State Highway 25A) – a main route for travellers heading for the eastern side of the Coromandel Peninsula.
Anniversary Weekend
didn’t fare any better, the deluge of rain that causing flooding in Auckland also impacted the Waikato with SH23 between Raglan and Hamilton closed, among others.
Cyclone Gabrielle wasn’t far behind wrecking destruction across the North Island, hitting the Hawkes Bay with devastating effect.
As well as the tragic loss of lives, the toll of Gabrielle is still only coming to light, with damages estimated to be at least $13 billion NZD.
Whilst in comparison the Waikato got off lightly but there have been areas affected by these weather events.
The Waikato District Council has had a team of five
inspectors on the road network identifying and recording damage to roads, and a couple of crews out clearing trees by the sides of roads.
There are many rural roads in the district down to one land due to slip clearing or washout but the main ones include SH23/Raglan-Hamilton and the Port Waikato-Waikaretu Rd.
Both suffered major slumps and are vital roads linking the communities to their main cities and supply networks.
A temporary fix by Waka Kotahi on the Raglan road to create a detour above the slip on private land was opened at the beginning of March. This will give Waka Kotahi time to asses the slip and plan for long-term resilience of the route Raglan Business Chamber chair Lisa James Pemberton says the business community feel enormously lucky compared to people in worsthit regions.
But it is impacting us.”
Pemberton has been touching base with Raglan small business owners and most are doing well. Many have told Pemberton that the local support is seeing them through, especially when the town was cut off after Cyclone Gabrielle made the Waingaro detour road impassable for eight-hours.
“Our locals have actually been keeping us going. We were only cut off from the world for eight hours, so we were hardly blocked off from the world at all. But that day, we got so many customers, we were so busy. Everybody came down to support us because they had some free time,” she says.
The co-owner of Raglan restaurant Orca Eatery & Bar, Pemberton has experienced courier companies and food suppliers going above and beyond the call of duty.
“They are still committed to giving us food every day or every day that we are
“If you’d spoken to me before the Hawke’s Bay fallout, we (the business community) would have been up in arms, and we would have been jumping up and down and moaning. But I see that in context and when you look at what’s happening down there (Hawke’s Bay), we’ve got nothing to complain about.
Timeline
Monday 30 January:
SH23 closed to one lane due to cracking.
Tuesday 31 January: Crack became 300mm drop.
Wednesday 1 February:
Drop became slump. Geotechnical assessments underway.
Road closed overnight and detour route established.
Thursday 2 February:
Road closed to all traffic, while engineers continued to investigate severity of the situation and ongoing risk.
Friday 3 February:
Plan actioned to construct a temporary diversion road.
Saturday 4 February: Tree felling began.
Sunday 5 February through to Saturday 11
February:
Felling completed and earthworks begin.
Sunday 12 February:
Work halted due to a fatal incident on a nearby site, and the impending Cyclone Gabrielle.
Tuesday 14 February:
Site re-inspected by geotechnical experts, slump has deepened to 2.5m and is now around 30m long.
Wednesday 15 February: Earthworks and road construction resumes.
scheduled for delivery, and making sure that they turn up on time. The drivers are leaving work extra early to get out to Raglan,” she says.
Anniversary Weekend, normally a big earner for Raglan businesses, took a big downturn due to Aucklanders being unable to travel after the floods.
I always say as soon as Auckland can’t come, the tap basically turns off for us.
With the main road closed, Pemberton says, many visitors are reluctant to take the detour to Raglan.
“You just don’t get the day trippers that are going, ‘look it’s sunny, let’s just shoot out to Raglan for the day and get a bite to eat or rent a kayak or go on the Wahine Moe’. They’re just not coming out. It’s too
hard. The road is too scary. No one really knows where to go.”
Added to this was the high levels of E.coli in the harbour and beaches making it the “perfect storm”, she says. Waitangi Weekend didn’t fare any better in the seaside town reliant on making the big bucks in summer to see them through the colder months.
“Those two big weekends for us in Raglan are the cream on top of the summer. They’re your last big push to really get good money out of the summer.”
Worst affected, Pemberton says, are the tourist operators providing activities that rely on good weather.
“I know of three operators that are based on the water or during activities out in the region, and the weather has actually stopped them. One guy said to me it’s the worst summer he’s had in the whole
history of his business.”
But it hasn’t all been doom and gloom, Pemberton says, Raglan accommodation cancellations are being filled by holidaymakers who have had to change their plans.
“People with Airbnb accommodation that I’ve spoken to have actually ended up with a win. They may have got a cancellation but those cancellations were filled up really quickly because no one can go anywhere else.”
Angela Williams, spokesperson at Raglan iHub, says town has seen steady visitor numbers with many having changed their original travel plans.
“In many cases the visitors were planning to be in Northland or on the East Coast. Circumstances had forced them to reschedule and head west,” she says.
Big tech company celebrates decade partnership with Company-X
A US multinational digital communications technology giant is celebrating a decade long partnership with New Zealand software specialist Company-X.
Cisco Systems Inc, in San Jose, California, became a client of Company-X, in 2013 shortly after the software specialist was founded by Jeremy Hughes and David Hallett in Hamilton, Waikato.
Cisco asked Company-X for help and expertise with several international projects and the relationship continues today.
This makes Cisco one of Company-X’s first and oldest clients.
“We’ve been working with Company-X for several years now and they are a top-notch development and technology partner,” said iTalent Digital Cisco Account Manager Maritza Quintanilla.
“Their team has amazing talent, a great mix of innovative and creative developers, project managers, business analyst and quality assurance team members who strive to deliver results and value.
“They’ve helped our fortune 50 client company execute a cutting-edge platform, leading
Company-X manages to find resources that keep updated, continuously bringing new technology and development insights to our organisation.
the efforts from concept to execution and they are a genuine pleasure to work with . . flexible, engaged and responsive.”
Quintanilla’s comments echo those of Cisco project manager Ashela Webb.
“They handle themselves professionally internally with peers and leaders. Every resource provided to us, from
program management to development, has the ability to think on his or her feet and get the job done.”
Hamilton City Council was Company-X’s first client by a few months.
The council involved Company-X co-founder and director David Hallett in the architecture of its eServices Portal. The job required integration with existing regulatory information systems and various payment gateways.
The council was one of the first local government services to use the RealMe identity verification service.
The New Zealand Police National Road Policing Centre Calibrations Services in Wellington was also an early client.
Police Calibration Services asked Company-X to build a system to record and audit speed testing devices and calibration results as well as assess legal tolerances across a range of devices.
Due to the nature of law enforcement, all equipment used to assess legal tolerances in New Zealand must be regularly calibrated for accuracy, while ensuring every individual device is always accounted for. The devices are complex in number, type, and technology, and include laser guns, radar, speed cameras and static speed test sites, passive and evidential breathalysers, and weighing scales.
It was also critical to ensure an ISO 17025 quality process was followed, recorded and auditable.
“New Zealand Police Calibration Services were extremely happy with our iterative rapid prototyping approach and the speed with which we delivered the final application,” said Company-X co-founder and director Jeremy Hughes. “Without heavyweight analysis and program specification, we were able to deliver speed to market along with significant cost savings.”
Calibrations Services Manager Senior Sergeant David Martin said police had enjoyed a long-term relationship with Company-X.
PARTNERSHIP: iTalent Digital Cisco Account Manager Maritza Quintanilla, left, with Company-X co-founder and director Jeremy Hughes during a recent meeting in San Jose.
Business News designer back on the job after Cyclone Gabrielle
Nearly every Kiwi will
TAble
“I was just about
the final files off to the printer.
But I found a few errors and I didn’t really want to send it to the printers that night without anybody checking it. I redid the files and left them on the server up in Hamilton. I thought if the power does go, I’ll be stuffed,” he says.
His foresight meant the WBN team could do the final checks and send the files to the printers the next day. Warren is the first to admit he got off lightly, having to evacuate with his partner and two children to safety on the Tuesday afternoon.
“Everyone in our neighbourhood was watching to see how high the creek at the end of our street got. Then were told to evacuate and went to a friend’s place. Then the cops came knocking on the door there and told us to evacuate out of there as well. By then we were told it was safe to return to our house, so our friends came with us and had to stay for four days as their area was flooded.
“We had a similar downpour a while ago and I had a stream of water running through my office which is in the shed. I had a feeling that will happen again so I dug a trench underneath the house.”
It proved to be a prescient decision as the trench directed water away from his office.
“There was basically a small stream running under the house. If I hadn’t dug the trench my office would have been flooded.”
The same can’t be said for others in his community. Just 8-km away in Swamp Road, a friend’s house was two-metres under water at the peak of the flooding and like thousands of others in his position he’s been left with a tonne of silt to clear.
“Luckily, he got out and went straight up the hill. He was sitting on top of the hill watching it.”
And as bad as it got for Warren, his friends and neighbours, it was neighbouring community Eskdale that felt the full force of the floods.
To get to Taupo from Napier you have to go through the Esk Valley which usually takes just under two hours, now this is a nearly seven-hour drive via Palmerston North.
Stories of people fighting to escape the flood waters are many, Warren says.
We.EV offers Electric Vehicle infrastructure analysis
At the time of writing a total of 11 people have died due to the cyclone. Eight people in Hawke’s Bay, one in Gisborne and two volunteer firefighters in Auckland.
But, like the Christchurch earthquakes and disasters before, rising from the tragedy are the numerous stories of bravery and resilience.
Stories of people hiring private helicopters to drop supplies into cut-off communities, neighbours getting stuck in with shovels to help clear silt, food drives,
“A close relative that lives in Whirinaki (on the coast) had to cut a hole through his roof with a meat cleaver as the rapidly rising flood waters gave him no option but to seek safety on top of his roof while his neighbours had to do the same and wait it out until help arrived.”
fundraisers, the list goes on. There are also the stories of people who themselves have been impacted by the cyclone trying to help people worse off.
Warren was meant to help at a working bee to clear silt at his mate’s property on Swamp Rd but that was put on hold due to more heavy rain warnings for the Hawke’s Bay. And he worries about how long vulnerable communities will be able to keep up their spirits.
‘The community support has been incredible and it’s going to be a long journey for everyone affected to get back on their feet, to rebuild their lives. It’s also taken a huge emotional toll on many.”
We.EV has seized the opportunity to lead the way in supporting businesses to transition their fleets to EVs by investigating, designing, installing and providing an end-to-end solution to meet the customers’ needs and to minimize capital costs. Community owned, our vision is simple; to help businesses shape a better, more renewable future.
We.EV has completed various projects throughout the Waikato for education providers, councils, large and small commercial enterprises.
”When considering EV charging solutions, it’s important to understand your existing electrical infrastructure, ensure systems are not overloaded but still maximise the use of existing assets. Our team can provide you with the expert analysis and design required before commencing charger procurement and installation,” says Head of We.EV Craig Marshall.
There can be considerable costs involved with the installation of charging equipment. These can include upgrades to existing switchboards and cables onsite, the main electrical supply or disruptive works involving civil (trenching), ducts, pits and charging equipment foundations.
Understanding
and maximise charging
Awatota Gold course - Photography by Corena
Eskdale - Photography by Corena
Local business wins national awards
Toyota New Zealand held their Dealership Excellence Awards in Auckland in February with Hamilton-based Ebbett Toyota having a hat-trick of successes taking out three of the 12 categories.
Ebbett Toyota collected the Parts and Accessories Excellence Award for the second consecutive year, which acknowledges Ebbett Toyota’s outstanding systems and infrastructure.
Parts and accessories manager Duncan Fraser leads this outstanding team and attributes this award to the dedication and commitment of his hard-working team and the teams at their branches.
The accolades didn’t end there, as Lexus of Hamilton (led by Lennon Singh) and Lexus of Tauranga (led by Mike Ranstead) were nominated for the Lexus Supreme Award and chief executive officer
Tony Coutinho also accepted the Excellence in Leadership Award again for the second consecutive year.
“This award is not won by one single person, as great leadership is the responsibility of the entire team, so I accept this award for all of our Leaders at Ebbett Toyota,” Coutinho says. This year saw a new award being added to the night – the Citizenship Award.
The Citizenship Award focuses on the Toyota Dealerships that support their local communities and who make
positive social, environmental and cultural impacts.
Ebbett Toyota was recognised for no less than 10 initiatives aligned with the Toyota vision of mobility for all and was complimented on the deep and lasting partnerships gained in the community.
An initiative specifically mentioned was the ‘Community MOOver’, a community van available to not-for-profit groups, schools, local sports teams, or other organisations to use free of charge as transport for events.
“We are really honoured to win this award, as we know how much of a difference the Community MOOver makes to so many people,” Coutinho says.
“The Community MOOver was never intended to be something that would win any awards, we simply saw a need in our local community and did something about it, for no other reason than it being the right thing to do.”
Toyota New Zealand’s chief executive officer Neeraj Lala explains the awards celebrate the annual achievements of its network and their contribution to keeping Toyota as the leading mobility brand in New Zealand.
Our stores are an integral part of this vision, as they deliver it to their customers and local communities they support.
“In 2022, we not only held onto our number-one slot against some tough competition and regulatory challenges, but we also successfully launched ‘Let’s Go Places’, a new company vision focused on sustainability, mobility and community,” Lala says. Lala goes on to say “Despite the ongoing supply chain impacts in 2022, it was a great year for our stores and the Toyota and Lexus brands, with customer excellence and community at the heart of what they do every day.”
For more information about Ebbett Toyota’s Community MOOver visit www.communitymoover.co.nz
Advice to my daughter
Technology is a great enabler, but we must not let it do all the thinking for us.
We rely on calculators or spreadsheets to do our maths, but we need to be schooled in mathematics to understand the output.
We run spelling and grammar checks in word processors to correct our English, but we need to understand the rules of writing to both send and receive communications clearly and succinctly. We must learn to handwrite before we learn to touch type and use dictation services. These skills are foundational building blocks for our lives.
We use search engines to find answers to questions we forgot, but only a good grounding in critical thinking will help us to understand the answers and critique them.
We can ask artificial intelligence tools like ChatGPT to write essays for us, but we still need to know the subject to fact check the response.
I am a father of two schoolaged children.
Everything has changed since I was at school. I was lucky to have one computing device in a classroom. Now every child goes to school with a computer under their arm. Nothing has changed since I was at school and, at the same
time, everything has changed.
The next generation still needs to learn the classic subjects English language, mathematics, and science.
They need to understand how things work and become creative.
The more vocabulary you have in the arts and sciences, the more interesting thoughts you will have, the more relationships you will build, the more emotions you will feel.
We are called to be creators, not just consumers. For that reason, learning the fundamental subjects and everything else that I learned at school is still super important.
TECH TALK BY BEN JUDGE
We need English, maths, and science, even though we are not going to have to apply them in the way that we did previously because the machines will step up. But we need those things so that we can participate in and grow from a creative process, to make sure we are not simply consumers of something else’s creative process.
Supporting Career Pathways
The Ebbett Volkswagen team are huge supporters of the community, and we want to continue to inspire and promote the trades.
The team were honoured to host a group of students from several high schools and their career advisors as part of the Automotive ‘Bus Tour 2022’ which was organised by MITO. This was a great opportunity for the Ebbett Volkswagen team to talk about the changes in the industry and what this
means for future automotive technicians, as well as the skills needed for the future. With PHEV (Plug in hybrid) and HEV (Hybrid Vehicle) models being readily available, automotive technicians are using actual hard tools less and more computer diagnostic tools to fix vehicles. Choosing an automotive
career is becoming more technical, and the Ebbett Volkswagen team offered an insight into the industry to help the students of tomorrow make informed decisions that will be best for them.
Retail churn activity, or the changeover from one retail business to another, accelerated during the second half of 2022, impacting over 3,000sqm of retail space in the CBD. Services and Food retailing were the two most active sectors, with Bars & Pubs also experiencing reasonable activity. Tenant sentiment appears to revolve around the current erratic trading patterns and the uncertain economic environment we have in front of us. Both locally and nationally, existing retailers are seeking greater consistency in trading, before committing to long term leases and tenancy re-fits, which are capital hungry projects.
“As of December 2022, Prime retail space accounts for 38% or 30,500 sqm of the total CBD retail stock. Secondary stock is 24,800 sqm (31%), similar to Tertiary at 24,600 sqm (31%)”
increased modestly in the past six months. Redevelopments were completed at 65 Bryce Street for Up in Smoke, as well as at 161 Victoria Street, where a 384sqm refurbished unit was available for lease during our year-end survey. There are several redevelopments currently underway in the Hamilton CBD with implications for the retail sector, one of the most significant remaining, the new Waikato Regional Theatre at the south end of Victoria Street, which upon completion in 2024, is expected to provide new hospitality offerings that can activate the surrounding streets and area. Vacancy Over the six months, vacant space increased by 579sqm. Prime vacancy includes 290 and 291 Barton Street (previously occupied by The Bedroom Store and Caroline Eve respectively).
Conclusions and outlook
Overall, the Hamilton CBD retail market maintains its healthy fundamentals with low vacancy (the current 6.1% overall vacancy rate is well below the 6.9% annual average in the past five years); reasonable refurbishment/redevelopment activity (with some truly transformational projects in the pipeline); and strong tenant demand especially by Services, Bars & Pubs and Personal retailing businesses. Quarterly (seasonally adjusted) retail sales values released by Statistics NZ for the Waikato
Secondary grade vacancy experienced a more material increase over the last six months, moving from 2.1% to 4.7%, with four recently vacated units including 127 Alexandra Street (previously NUA), 16 Hood Street (previously Kung Fu Pot) and 228 Victoria Street (previously Shan Yuan) in addition to 10 Garden Place vacated by bakery business Volare. In Tertiary grade, vacancy decreased somewhat, moving from 7.6% in June 2022 to 6.8% at the end of the year, essentially representing the uptake of one previously vacant retail unit on the corner of Victoria and Liverpool Streets by Little Split P, the second-hand kid’s stuff retailer.
Toyota NZ CEO Neeraj Lala, Ebbett Toyota’s CEO Tony Coutinho and Steve Prangnel
Ben is a senior consultant at Waikato software specialist Company-X.
Short-term sacrifice for long-term benefit
There has been much discussion and analysis in recent weeks as to where the blame should lie in the wake of Cyclone Gabrielle.
Politicians arguing over whose government is responsible for the obvious infrastructure deficit.
Articles written about the forestry industry’s role in worsening the impact of the storm.
Likewise calls have been made to find ways of recovering the cost of climate change impacts from those companies who have profited from the extraction and use of fossil fuels.
Reflecting on this I can’t help but consider that the problems we’re currently facing are at least in part due to our collective reluctance to listen to experts, especially when their advice requires short-term sacrifice for long-term benefit.
Politicians, at times, forget that their role is governance, and can’t help but meddle or pursue pet projects, feeling that their ‘common sense’ holds greater value than expert advice.
And as voters we don’t help, aspiring to the social services and infrastructure of wealthy European economies but at the tax levels of the U.S., we leave politicians with an impossible dilemma, encouraging short-termism in the interest of appearing to deliver something.
The obvious example at the moment is our transport infrastructure. The Key government, unhappy that existing priorities didn’t align with their ideology, created the Roads of National Significance. Labour, in turn, finding this a poor ideological fit, dropped several large roading projects – at the expense of continuity and a predictable pipeline - in favour of funding public transport projects. And so it goes on.
Instead, would it not make sense to give Waka Kotahi (NZTA) a mandate to deliver a world class transport system that moves people and freight as efficiently as possible, whether that be by private or public means, by road, rail, sea, or air? Leave the transport planning to the experts, and
politicians can focus on asking the hard questions to ensure appropriate plans and targets are in place, and argue over funding levels and where the money should come from.
Likewise, had we listened to the experts on climate change, we would undoubtedly have taken considerably more action, considerably earlier than we have. While our international reputation and leadership are more powerful than the direct impact of our emissions, one can only conjecture whether taking an expert-led, best practice approach would have resulted in more action on the global scale.
However, leading the way would have provided opportunities to develop technologies and processes that we could in turn have marketed to the rest of the world, boosting our economy, and helping to fund the cost of adaption and mitigation necessary to live with climate change. Unfortunately those opportunities have largely passed us by, and we have now only the costs of inaction.
To bring my point back to the architecture and construction industry, the absence of experts can be felt in many of the issues facing the sector today.
At the industry level, there is no one responsible for considering the big picture, how our systems of building actually function. So despite new materials and more stringent standards, we put a house together more or less than same way that we did 60 years ago. Meanwhile, architects, engineers and other consultants work only on a project basis, focused on the commission immediately in front of them.
At the development or subdivision level, design experts are often involved too late, thus roads are laid out and land carved into individual titles before anyone is engaged to consider how dwellings might be arranged and other
BY PHIL MACKAY
Phil
MacKay
is
Business Development Manager at Hamilton-based PAUA, Procuta Associates Urban + Architecture
amenities provided – in short, how people will live in and use the space.
Good development master planning, with appropriate experts involved, would provide opportunities to create well connected, resilient communities, with ample housing and recreation space, but also to consider from the outset how best to manage stormwater and minimise impacts of extreme weather.
Finally, at the scale of individual houses, only a very small percentage are now designed by architects, with most being built by group housing companies. Affordability is the biggest challenge in building individual houses, however in the interest of minimising costs and size often liveability is the trade-off. Architects have the knowledge, training, and skillsets to find creative solutions to exactly this sort of problem, but rarely work with housing companies in NZ. Perhaps more collaboration between these two groups is necessary to address the challenges in providing affordable, comfortable homes for our populace.
We live in the age of social media, where everyone is an armchair ‘expert’. Add to that the kiwi DIY mentality and it’s easy to see why we dismiss too readily the real experts. However, there is urgency to address the challenges we face, and the payoff in benefits to our society is worth it. We have many very clever specialists in our country – it’s time to listen to what they have to say.
The Recovery Visa - and how immigration can help with the recovery
Our hearts go out to the people, businesses and communities who have been devastated by the recent floods and Cyclone Gabrielle. We all know it will take much longer than everyone hopes to fully recover from what has happened but, perhaps, immigration settings can play a role in speeding up this process.
Firstly, the Government has announced the launch of the Recovery Visa. This visa falls under the Specific Purpose Work Visa Category and will enable visas to be issued for up to 6 months for workers to work for a New Zealand employer in roles associated with - providing emergency response, immediate clean-up work, assessing risk or loss, infrastructure, building and housing stabilisation and/or repairs and work that directly supports the recovery (e.g. producing relevant material for road rebuild, transport drivers etc).
The Government has committed to such visa applications being approved within 7 days and to refunding the $700 fee for successful applications. While the SPWV cannot be extended at the end of the 6 months, most workers who have proved their worth, and who have supportive employers, should have little trouble transitioning to the longer-term Accredited Employer Work Visa.
The intention and quick action of the Government in introducing the Recovery Visa is to be commended as is the apparent minimization of the normal visa “paperwork”. However, many people will simply use this as an opportunistic opening to enter the country with the intention to stay, and the Government will need to ensure any such workers actually do complete the work they came to do before considering any future visa extensions.
The need for urgent manpower to help with the recovery may also encourage the Government to consider the option to “regularise” the status of the estimated 10,000 to 14,000 people who are currently unlawful in
This could be achieved through the
and would provide these people the
to regain their lawful status, and to restart their lives in New Zealand in a constructive and meaningful manner. It is acknowledged that providing such an “amnesty” to people who have flouted the law is not something that should be considered lightly. However, given the country’s current needs this would seem to present a one-off, justifiable, and immediate opportunity to utilize this significant potential labour pool who, in turn, should (hopefully) repay the country by being highly motivated and appreciative of such a life-changing opportunity being afforded to them. This opportunity could be offered in a more controlled manner to those people who have immediate family who are New Zealand citizens or residents, and who are willing to provide accommodation and/ or some form of sponsorship or guarantee that their family member will not, again, become unlawful.
The need for New Zealand to plan for significant infrastructure investment is welldocumented and is now at the top of the political agenda. Until last July the previous Migrant Investor policies had been very successful in attracting billions of dollars of investment to New Zealand. While the new Active Investor Policy, which began in September, is still in its early days this policy is not currently conducive to any form of infrastructure investment. The opportunity for the Government to tap into migrant investors to help fund the countries’ future infrastructure needs is apparent – it is just a matter of if, how and when the Government may wish to avail itself of this significant opportunity. While some people may see this as “selling New Zealand residence” this has to be balanced with the needs and priorities of the country.
Recent events have shown that New Zealand has to “up-its-game” and make some bold, and forward-thinking, decisions about what is needed, and then get on with it.
A pragmatic, big picture, approach to these challenges will only confirm the key role and contribution that immigration settings can play towards delivering these outcomes.
Neighbourhood set up to deal with climate challenges
A brand-new neighbourhood in Hamilton’s south-west, a decade in the making, is a model for city planning, cuttingedge urban design and environmental resilience.
The hearings panel released their decision recently on the structure plan for the 740-hectare Peacocke neighbourhood which will eventually be home for up to 20,000 people.
The plan sets out how the Peacocke area will be developed; guiding housing style and density, transport connections and community spaces, as well as determining how the area’s cultural heritage and natural environment will be protected.
Hamilton City Council’s City planning manager Dr Mark Davey says this is the gold standard for how to plan new neighbourhoods in the country.
Davey says the need for environmentally resilient and ‘spongey’ urban development is getting a lot of airtime right now.
“It’s important that we can respond to the changing climate and more intense rainfall events. Part of our plans is making sure we’re managing our stormwater right through
This will be a New Zealandleading exemplar of a well-planned, resilient community that enhances the natural environment and provides for higher density housing near the central city. Peacocke represents best practice in urban design and ecological outcomes.
wetlands and enough green spaces to provide drainage. Peacocke will be set up from the beginning to deal with some of the climate challenges the country is facing.”
Some of the requirements of building houses in the area include 50m buffer zones along the Waikato River, major gullies and known bat roost sites. It also identifies areas where bats might fly from one habitat to another, for protection from light and other impacts of housing. These areas will be restored through hundreds of hectares of native plantings, weed control and pest and predator control.
Davey says the purpose of these planning provisions was to enable high-quality urban development which at the same time restores and enhances the natural environment.
“This plan has always been about striking the right balance between providing more housing and protecting those parts that make our city special – like the gully network and our native bats. Living
in Peacocke alongside and nearby these huge ecological corridors will be a very special experience for future residents.
It’ll be like living in an urban forest”
Much of this work was already under way as part of construction of the Southern Links transport network.
“Council had a head start and is already delivering
“This is already council’s biggest ever investment in the environment, when you add work that private developers will do as part of their subdivisions – the benefit for our native bats, trees, birdlife and river will be incredible.”
many of the enabling pieces of infrastructure in this plan through the construction of a new river bridge and arterial roads that run through Peacocke. These will be reaching completion late 2023, in time for housing development to get under way.”
World-first passive solar home with 3D printed concrete walls open to public
The first solar passive house in the world featuring 3D printed concrete walls is opened its metaphorical doors to the public for the first time.
The Huia house, built by Craft Homes and designed by architect Duncan Firth invited architects, builders and the wider public to visit
their first ‘mid-build open home’ in Auckland to see the mastery behind the impressive structure recently.
The north-facing 3D printed concrete walls, built by Hamilton-based company QOROX are key to the environmentally passive solar design, with the cement substrate locally sourced
in New Zealand’s North Island. Built to withstand a range of environmental factors, the walls exceed seismic standards, are fire and waterproof and transmit heat incredibly well due to its strong structure and textured finish.
Concrete walls are completely waterproof so if a flood event occurs, like those that devastated parts of Auckland and the East Coast recently, the walls wouldn’t need to be torn down and replaced like their timber counterparts.
QOROX director Wafaey Swelim says the Huia would be able to reap the benefits of 3D printed concrete in all seasons for the entirety of its lifetime.
“Concrete walls are excellent at maintaining a consistent temperature to keep a heat warm or cool as the weather changes so are perfect for a solar-heated home,” Swelim says. The Huia concrete walls feature curves, ridges and textures, expertly printed and custom-designed to the customer’s unique tastes.
“The walls were printed in only 20 hours of printing using two staff and installed on-site over three trips - an impressively short timeframe when compared to traditional building methods.
“It truly is construction for the future,” Swelim says. 3D printed concrete by QOROX is BRANZ appraised as a replacement for masonry walls or concrete walls and was tested and designed over a two-year period to meet all New Zealand conditions. The walls also achieve the required acoustic performance for multi storey buildings and townhouses, making for a comfortable living environment. The passive solar home is built to capture maximum sunlight, warmth and airflow throughout the day, without interrupting its impressive view. Learn more about QOROX’s 3D printed concrete applications in commercial, civil, residential and landscape construction, visit www.qorox.co.nz.
LANDMARKS
Deductibility of selfemployed expenses
Recently, the IRD has released guidance on the tax treatment of expenses incurred by self-employed contractors.
For the self-employed, it’s a pertinent reminder of the distinction between deductible and non-deductible.
In July 2021, the IRD released an interpretation statement IS 21/06, outlining the income tax and GST treatment of meal expenses incurred by self-employed persons. This has since been reaffirmed with the recent release of technical decision summary (TDS) TDS 22/18, which delves into the implications of meal, travel and accommodation cost deductibility.
The case discusses a taxpayer who operated a farm while also doing contract work in another city. As there was a requirement for the worker to be on site for the job in another city, costs were incurred for travel back and forth between the farm and the city and for rental accommodation in the city. The IRD examined whether deductions should be allowed for the cost of the trips between the city and the farm, the cost of meals in the city, and accommodation expenses in the city. With regards to meal expenses, a company would ordinarily be able to deduct these, subject to the entertainment rules. However, when it comes to self-employed contractors, the risk that the meals constitute a significant private element increases. IS 21/06 made it clear that, in general, self-employed individuals cannot deduct meal expenses. The IRD takes the view that anything a member of society pays for during the course of normal life is
inherently private and therefore no deduction can be taken. For example, where a contractor pays for meals and coffee while working in a different city, this is deemed to be private and non-deductible. An exception exists where expenditure on food is “extra”. This can occur where the nature of the work restricts to the point that spending over and above what is standard is needed. Simply working out of town isn’t enough for this distinction, but it may be allowed if the location is remote, or the hours are unusual. As for the taxpayer, in this case their meal expenditure was deemed non-deductible given that no extra cost could be proved, and all meal expenses were part of ordinary consumption.
A similar conclusion was reached concerning travel and accommodation expenses.
Section DE 2 of the Income Tax Act 2008 allows a deduction for the business use of a motor vehicle. However, it is well established that travel from work to home is generally considered private use, provided the work is not required to be performed partly at home. In this case, the taxpayer was travelling from one workplace to another. Because they were travelling between two unrelated places of work, the cost of travel could not be said to be incurred while deriving income from either workplace. Had the taxpayer been required to travel from one location to another as part of their work duties for one specific job, these costs would have been deductible. The taxpayer was also denied a
BUSINESS IN THE WAIKATO
BY TRACEY CLARKE
Tracey Clark, Director, Advisory, PwC
deduction for their accommodation. As with meal expenses, accommodation is seen as a necessary expense to live in society and, as such, private in nature. Although the work required the taxpayer to be in a location away from home, it did not have a sufficient connection to the income producing activity, as the accommodation costs were a result of the taxpayer’s personal preference to work in that city.
So what does this mean?
In general, the distinction between deductible and non-deductible is largely determined by the connection to the individual’s income earning activity. In order to be deductible, the expense must arise specifically as a result of the work performed, as opposed to being incidental to the income earning activity.
Taxpayers should ensure they have adequate documentation to support their deductibility claims, and note that the GST treatment of these expenses usually follows the income tax treatment.
Tax laws are complex and constantly changing. We love working with our clients to solve a wide range of tax issues.
Lord of the Bins. One ring to avoid it all.
“Lord
of the Bins. One ring to remove it all.”
Quite a clever name and slogan for a waste removal business, you might think. That’s obviously what Nick Lockwood and Dan Walker, the operators of the business in Hove, England, thought when they chose the name and phrase.
Alas, Middle-Earth Enterprises, LLC, who owns the rights in “Lord of the Rings” and “One ring to rule them all” in the UK, do not share their thinking. As recently reported and discussed,1 Middle-Earth Enterprises has demanded Messrs Lockwood and Walker change their business’s name and slogan on the grounds they infringe Middle-Earth Enterprises’ trade mark rights. Add to that the use of an almost identical font for “Lord of the Bins” to the “Lord of the Rings” font by Messrs
kingdom away from a quest to save the world from consummate evil – but it is present nonetheless as many a trade mark lawyer will tell you, particularly given the use of “One ring to remove it all” and the use of an almost identical font for “Lord of the Bins”.
It’s possible Messrs Lockwood and Walker might not have attracted Middle-Earth Enterprises’ wrath if they had used “Lord of the Bins” in a different font and not used the “One ring…” slogan.3 A more cautious approach however would have been not to use the name at all (as, interestingly, Hutt City Council (NZ) chose not to do in 2021 for one of its electric recycling trucks4). The unfortunate reality though is that Messrs Lockwood and Walker ‘chose…poorly’ (to quote the Grail Knight from
INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY ISSUES
BY BEN CAIN
Ben Cain is a Senior Associate at James & Wells and a Resolution Institute-accredited mediator. He can be contacted at 07 957 5660 (Hamilton), 07 928 4470 (Tauranga) and benc@jaws.co.nz.
Lockwood and Walker and you can certainly see where Middle-Earth Enterprises is coming from.
Mr Lockwood described Middle-Earth Enterprises’ letter as “bully-boy tactics”,2 while Mr Walker claimed, “We’re just trying to make people smile and make a living”. While the latter may be so, on reviewing the facts I would have to dispute Mr Lockwood’s assertion. Middle-Earth Enterprises is the owner of very valuable trade mark rights, and as the owner of those rights it will – like many other businesses –enforce those rights if it perceives they are under threat. In this case, the threat to Middle-Earth Enterprises’ rights might not be obvious –collecting waste is, after all, a
Women with a mission
With the world celebrating International Women’s Day in March it was an opportune moment for Waikato Business News to approach a group of women in Waikato who play key roles in business and learning.
While there are many more, who we have introduced to you over the years, we know you will enjoy reading these brief profiles and discovering more about what has encouraged this group to head their fields.
Braun Bond & Lomas is proud to have recently recruited several remarkable women to join their already strong team.
The new additions bring a variety of experience.
Sophie Newman joined the firm in December from another Hamilton firm and Jessica Perry recently moved north from Wellington, to join the team.
contributes to the wellbeing and positive culture at BBL.
“Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade”).
As I wrote in an article for this publication in 2019,5 when it comes to choosing a name for your business, product or service, it makes sense to choose wisely. That means conducting a trade mark search before you settle on a name and calling a specialist trade mark attorney for advice. Thus it is that one ring to a trade mark attorney by Messrs Lockwood and Walker could have avoided it all.
2. https://www.thesun.co.uk/ news/21258015/lord-of-thebins-change-name3. As the makers of a children’s game called “Lord of the Bins” have done: https://lumaworld.in/ products/lord-of-the-bins-astrategy-card-game-to-learnwaste-management
Connecting Talented People With Great Kiwi Companies
rigitta Warren Founded RecruitNet With A Simple Vision – To Connect Talented People With Great Kiwi Companies.
Brigitta stumbled into recruitment as a 20-something after a stint as a Scientist. She quickly realised she’d found her groove. Fuelled by her love of people and her unwavering ability to get stuff done, she permanently packed away her lab coat as her reputation as a first-class Recruiter flourished.
Hard-working, well-connected, tenacious, and energetic; when it comes to executive and leadership appointments Brigitta is now the right-hand woman for many leading companies across New Zealand. As a qualified career coach, Brigitta offers career transition and outplacement services to clients, as well as transformational coaching for job seekers.
RecruitNet helps awesome companies hire talented people who stick around to drive business performance. They want to know what gets each candidate out of bed in the morning. What drives them to succeed?
What environment will they thrive in? Most importantly, does this all match with who the employer is and what they offer their people?
Anybody can pick up a resume and tick off experience for a role. But for Brigitta and the RecruitNet team, the process is much deeper. It’s about asking the right questions and listening to uncover the pot of gold.
Brigitta is proud of her dedicated team, with extensive networks and a passion for making people’s lives better. She looks forward to helping great kiwi companies continue to prosper and grow. If your business requires HR and/or Recruitment support, give Brigitta at RecruitNet a call today. brigitta@recruitnet.co.nz +64 21 466 732 www.recruitnet.co.nz
A senior solicitor, Sophie does a range of civil and employment work and Jessica’s background in construction has already proved valuable and she is enjoying working with the directors on a variety of files.
The newest team member is Helen Bond who brings a strong civil focus to the team. Operating in an open plan environment, Braun Bond & Lomas is committed to offering flexible working with a strong focus on health and wellness.
Senior Associate Erin Anderson says the unique working environment
“I have plenty of flexibility and enjoy the variety of work that I get to do. Mentoring new staff is a key aspect of my role and one I find particularly rewarding. We have a great team environment, and the new people always seem to merge seamlessly. I think the culture here contributes to people’s ability to be themselves and find a good work/life balance. I know that career progression and job satisfaction is important to the management team and that means we are always given opportunities to take on new responsibilities.”
Erin Anderson knows full well the importance of providing flexibility for lawyers juggling career and family. An experienced litigator with a
Traditionally, law was a male dominated profession, and the tables have quite radically turned, which is fantastic. At BBL we understand the importance of creating a far better environment for women to be in.
broad practice in civil litigation and employment law, Erin has been practicing law for over 10 years, alongside raising her children.
She’s the first one to admit that being a mother of three and working fulltime in law can be all consuming. It can be demanding, exhausting and incredibly rewarding (being a mother and a lawyer).
And while there might not be a written guide for creating work/life balance, Erin is keen to pass on her knowledge as a lawyer and as a working mother.
“Nobody can tell you how to juggle a job like this and I’m sure there’s other professions that are equally demanding. There is no manual for how to balance your career and have a successful marriage, family life and get to school sports and dance recitals or whatever your commitments might be.”
“You are lucky if you find a career you enjoy and a great place to work. I am lucky. I enjoy my work and this is a great place to develop junior lawyers and watch them flourish.”
She believes that BBL, as a firm of dedicated litigators, has created a model in which the collective team has a depth of knowledge, experience, expertise and resources.
Brigitta Warren, Founder and Consulting Director
CA ANZ welcomes new appointment to board
Chartered Accountants Australia and New Zealand (CA ANZ) has welcomed Traci Houpapa to its board of directors.
On the board at Chiefs Rugby, Traci is an awardwinning company director, a recognised industry leader and a trusted advisor to Māori and government in strategic and economic development.
“Traci brings a wealth of experience in governance and leadership for private and public sector entities. She will add strong holistic perspective to our board table, to help us deliver on our strategic vision of delivering a world class member experience.” CA ANZ Chair John Palermo says.
Traci has been awarded the Massey University Distinguished Alumni Service Award for services to New Zealand agribusiness and Māori, and named amongst the BBC’s 100 Most Influential Women in the World.
Traci is a Chartered Fellow of the New Zealand Institute of Directors, the highest level of the IODs Chartered categories, making her a nationally recognised role model for other directors and business leaders. She has been named as one of the top ten most influential women in NZ agribusiness and the Listener’s top ten influencers in NZ. She won the Westpac Fairfax Media Women of Influence Board and Management Award and has been named on Westpac’s NZ Women Powerbrokers list.
Traci is also a Distinguished Alumni of the Institute of Strategic Leadership (Australasia), has an MBA (Massey University) and is a Member of the New Zealand Order of Merit.
Administrative Excellence
When the manager can’t do the job without you, you’re doing something right!
At Asset Recruitment, Aysha Townsend is the team’s right-hand woman… and their left hand for that matter. As Administration & Recruitment Coordinator, she’s the voice on the end of the phone, the first face clients and candidates see as they walk through the door, and the person responsible for ensuring the business runs smoothly.
“I don’t think I could do my job without her,” says Carmel Strange, Asset Recruitment Manager. “Our success is down to having Aysha at the helm. She knows our business well, is an exceptional judge of character, works extremely hard, and is very loyal.”
Aysha Townsend
Administration & Recruitment Coordinator
Our business is to position excellence across Waikato and we began by hiring Aysha. She is remarkable.
Up at the crack of dawn
Aysha’s day starts before many of us are out of bed with an ascent of the 1349 Hakarimata Stairs. Once she’s swapped running shoes for high heels, the mum of two is responsible for Asset Recruitment’s busy reception desk, profiling candidates, sourcing references, and liaising with clients.
“I walked into Asset Recruitment 13 years ago looking for a temp job and Carmel employed me on reception instead,” recalls Aysha. “I came from the media industry so the role was very different but I’ve been here ever since. Our team hasn’t changed all that much so I’ve been able to work with the same women for much of that time. That in itself is pretty remarkable.”
Positioning excellence
Aysha’s administrative role is deceptively diverse. With multiple touchpoints across the business, both internally and externally, it’s an integral position within the organisation – as it is for so many Waikato companies.
“Our clients often tell us they want an Aysha in their business,” says Carmel. “Our response is, if we have one on our database we’ll give it to them. Aysha has the characteristics and skills of an exceptional frontline administrator. She’s calm under pressure, measured in her approach, and very efficient no matter the task at hand.”
“Our business is to position excellence across Waikato and we began by hiring Aysha. She is remarkable.”
For more than 30 years, we’ve been aligning great candidates with great opportunities, and ‘positioning excellence’ throughout Waikato.
For more than 30 years, we’ve been aligning great candidates with great opportunities, and ‘positioning excellence’ throughout Waikato.
We strive for excellence and quality in all we do. As part of our commitment to excellence, we’re focussed on finding the right fit for both job-seeker and employer.
We strive for excellence and quality in all we do. As part of our commitment to excellence, we’re focussed on finding the right fit for both job-seeker and employer.
So, if you’re currently looking to hire or would like to discuss your career opportunities, get in touch with our team.
So, if you’re currently looking to hire or would like to discuss your career opportunities, get in touch with our team.
Motherhood brings new demands as well as promotion for hardworking lawyers
The remarkable women at iCLAW are working together to help other remarkable women find their feet.
LWhyte and Simmi Singh of iCLAW Hamilton organised a clothing drive with local women in the Waikato business community ahead of hosting the inaugural “SupportHER sale” a Dress for Success event intended to raise funds and celebrate International Women’s Day.
All the proceeds raised from the sale of preloved designer clothing at the SupportHER sale are used to support Dress for Success Hamilton, a notfor-profit organisation that exists to help Waikato women to thrive in life and work through a free employment dressing and development programme.
While successful in their own careers, they all know how difficult it can be for women trying to get back on the employment ladder, for whatever reason.
As working mums, they all went through the challenge of coming back to work after maternity leave and know how hard the juggling act can be.
Having children is an experience that differs for everyone. This was quite keenly felt when they all fell pregnant at around the same time.
The initial shock of realising four integral members of the team would be out of action was quickly subdued by
their efforts to come up with solutions that suited iCLAW and their individual careers.
“We spent a great deal of time talking with one another about what support in returning to work would look like, and what structure and support we would need to develop as a both a team and as a business for that,” Aasha says.
The systems and support that enabled flexibility at iCLAW proved to be crucial for these women, for very different reasons.
Being the now mother of two boys meant managing partner Aasha had valuable insight into what returning to work might look like for the other three.
We are fortunate to have and be able to offer a considerably flexible working environment for our team, and not just for the parents; we grew iCLAW with the intention, and systems in place, to be able to work from anywhere, anytime well before COVID-19 hit our shores.
“Having previously experienced maternity leave in 2019, returning to work in 2020 we learnt as a firm, some valuable lessons about our operational structure including the strengths of women when working in a supportive environment. It was important to us that we were able to emulate that support for our staff; I personally strive to show our team that we can lead the way in having both a rewarding career and a family,” Aasha says.
“65% of our firm are women, and so one thing we discuss often is the ‘mental load’ and fatigue that we seem to all juggle daily in both our personal and working lives. That support network exists because of the culture we have as a firm. It’s critical to hear feedback from one another, particularly that we all battle that internal monologue.”
For Olivia managing the return to work meant taking the full year of maternity leave off to learn how to manage her daughter’s medical needs.
“My daughter has severe allergies so she’s still not in daycare. I’m very fortunate with the flexible working arrangements I have with iCLAW that allow me to work from home two days a week along with the great support I have at home. It is a privilege to be surrounded by people who understand the challenges of motherhood and the back to work juggle like these women do.” Olivia says.
For Simmi balancing career and family meant returning to work sooner to put time into the work that she loves.
“I returned to work after only six months of maternity leave, which was important as it allowed me to get part of my identity back and do something for me. Being a lawyer is a big part of who I am. My child and our family are always a top priority, however what I quickly learnt was that it is also okay to do something for yourself (thanks to my incredibly supportive family). I really enjoy the flexibility around my role as well. Legal advice can be produced from anywhere at any time, you just need a good team,” Simmi says.
Shannon returned to work when her daughter Mila was six months old, but it wasn’t smooth sailing.
“Settling into my return to work took some time. Our
daughter has severe eczema which presented itself at around five months old and has been troublesome to manage. Returning to work meant I was able to get something back for myself – I’m passionate about working with people, and of course the muchneeded adult interaction,” Shannon says.
“I’ve been fortunate to have a team of ladies around me experiencing motherhood together - that support has been invaluable.”
Taking maternity leave wasn’t a time for them to fall off their career path, in fact, their contributions and value to the firm was recognised during their maternity leave when Aasha announced to Olivia, Shannon and Simmi their promotion to Associates of the firm.
“The promotion reassured us of our roles in the firm, we were being recognised as the upcoming leaders,” Simmi says.
“It was a confidence boost, one that can be much needed after maternity leave.” Shannon says. This promotion has meant taking on the responsibility of mentoring other young lawyers, armed with valuable insight from both their experience at work and as parents to young children.
Managing partner Aasha Foley is a specialised strategic commercial lawyer, specialising in structuring, property, finance, and employment advice. Aasha’s diverse expertise includes managing complex mixed-use developments, governance, mergers and acquisitions and intellectual property.
Olivia Day specialises in employment law and both employers and employees on a diverse range of matters. Olivia also has diverse experience in all areas of property and commercial law her expertise includes structuring and shareholders agreements. Shannon Whyte specialises as a commercial lawyer with expertise in property, finance, and relationship property. Shannon’s general practice experience extends across all areas of commercial law including structuring advice utilising Trusts and Partnerships.
Simmi Singh comes from a dispute resolution background. She now predominately works in iCLAW’s corporate commercial team specialising in intellectual property rights.
“With everyone now back on board, we are proud to have a built a team of mentors that can provide their support, with the added value of experience, to our next generation,” Aasha says.
awyers Aasha Foley, Olivia Day, Shannon
Aasha Foley, Olivia Day, Simmi Singh and Shannon Whyte
Every decision Waikato-based law firm McCaw Lewis makes is driven by three core values: Manaakitanga, Kotahitanga and Whāia te iti Kahurangi.
Iis through this lens that the firm has fostered a talented, passionate and driven group of female leaders.
McCaw Lewis’ whānaufirst approach has enabled all staff to seek and establish a healthy balance between mahi and family. This has been especially important for Amanda Hockley and Laura Monahan, both of whom have young tamariki.
Being able to put family first has not put the stoppers on a career they both love; in late 2020 the pair of hardworking lawyers stepped up into directorship.
Founded in 1919, McCaw Lewis has grown to become one of Waikato’s leading law firms, with a team of about 40 staff specialising in commercial, Te Tiriti o Waitangi, property, dispute resolution, asset planning, environmental/ natural resources, workplace law and Māori land.
Amanda Hockley
As a parent of two young sons, and leader of the firm’s asset planning practise, Amanda Hockley says the flexible working arrangements at McCaw Lewis provide the best possible work/life harmony for her.
“At McCaw Lewis we changed our terminology on this concept a bit,” she says.
“We realised that a lot of us were striving for a work/ life balance however we were rarely able to get that balance perfect. Sometimes the pendulum swings towards whānau more and others work requires a bit more attention.
The term ‘harmony’ is used in recognition of the swinging pendulum.
“I feel so lucky to have flexibility - just yesterday morning I was at my sons’ school triathlon and didn’t get into the office until the afternoon. Nobody blinks an eyelid about that – even clients are supportive.”
While COVID has changed the course of how many people work, Amanda says the high trust model has always been part of the McCaw Lewis culture.
“We operate in a really high trust environment. We’re dealing with people’s money, their families and matters that require absolute confidence.”
This model of trust flows into Amanda’s practice; dealing with the intricacies of asset ownership structures and helping grieving families work through the estate administration process for their loved ones.
“It’s also the kind of work that is well suited to females,” she says.
“As women we often have a strong empathetic side which is so important with this work type. We deal with family dynamics as well as the black letter of the law. It requires good judgement, an ability to think laterally and a strong understanding of relationships.”
A legal career wasn’t necessarily on the cards for Amanda. Overseas travel beckoned when she left high school but her father took her along to a University of Waikato open day, she spoke to the law department, liked what she saw and heard, and the rest is history.
She managed an overseas stint during her time at law school going on a university exchange to Copenhagen, Denmark for six-months.
“I guess I was able to have it all in that instance,” she laughs.
Starting out with McCaw Lewis when she graduated, Amanda was with the firm for around two and a half years before overseas travel beckoned once more. This time to Perth, where she worked for a national firm working in banking and finance.
the time it was a no-brainer for Amanda to return to a firm she knew was providing a work culture conducive to family life.
It’s something the firm takes very seriously when they are recruiting new staff as well.
At McCaw Lewis we are hiring for the person and making sure their values align with us. We can teach them whatever the job is after that. It has really worked well - we’ve got such a great culture here and I genuinely love coming to work.
“I was attracted back to McCaw Lewis when I came back from Perth, because that whānau first culture was so strong and I knew that it would be a great place to work having two young sons.”
“The deals and the dollars were big so it was exciting work, but it was very transactional and missing that client intimate approach that McCaw Lewis holds so dear.”
After five and a half years in Perth, the birth of Amanda’s second son prompted a return to home soils and back to the McCaw Lewis fold in 2017. At
Amanda is a trustee of ConneXu, a significant charitable trust established to provide disability support services; Angel Casts, a registered charity supporting parents, family and whānau through the loss of a child; and Age Concern Waikato, an organisation dedicated to enhancing the quality of life for older people. She is also a member of the Auckland District Law Society trust law committee.
Laura Monahan
The leader of McCaw Lewis’ commercial practise, Laura Monahan takes great pride in building relationships and getting to know the businesses she represents.
While Laura has an established career in general corporate and commercial matters including advising on corporate structures (with a special interest in limited partnerships), drafting commercial contracts, and advising on sales and purchases of shares and business assets, she has been working in recent years to develop a specialist knowledge in Māori commercial matters.
Working in this realm has helped Laura gain a greater appreciation and respect for clients who may operate differently than other corporate clients.
“My background is general corporate/commercial work.
Māori commercial at its core is the same work but with exciting personalities and additional considerations.
You’re not just dealing with a General Counsel or a CEO; you are potentially dealing with trustees who have to wear multiple hats, and they’ve got a thousand other things to do during their day.”
some relatively unfamiliar concepts – one of our key values is manaakitanga and that really rings true for me.”
This year all of the firm’s the directors, including Laura and Amanda, have signed up for a year-long Te Wānanga o Aotearoa course called He Papa Tikanga to learn about traditions, concepts, values and protocols and how some of these concepts can be applied at McCaw Lewis.
“It’s been just a really exciting opportunity for me, not one I think I would have got in many other firms. So that’s something that I think just really makes us stand apart,” she says.
The importance of building relationships and walking alongside her clients is not something new to Laura; an inhouse legal role at a healthcare company raising finance and building luxury hospitals around the United Kingdom helped shape the lawyer she is today.
liked words and I liked writing and languages. And to be perfectly honest, I kind of fell a little bit into law because of that, and – luckily - quite enjoyed it.”
Being academic is one thing but, Laura says, a good work ethic will take you even further.
“My parents owned a local panel beating business (Rod Wood Collision Repair Centre) and my sisters and I grew up with the mentality that things wouldn’t be handed to you - you had to go out there and make things happen for yourself, like they did when starting their business. They also instilled in me a real passion and respect for entrepreneurism.”
Laura spent four years working for a large corporate firm in Auckland when she graduated and it made her realise that having work/life harmony is an important part of being good at your job.
Cathy O’Shea - Property Brokers
Cathy O’Shea is as Irish as they come and it’s something that has given her the edge in the real estate business.
The Property Brokers’ manager at the recently opened Raglan office, Cathy brings with her that genuine Irish hospitality, the gift of the gab and a fierce belief in connecting with people, and building professional and personal relationships.
While in her heart of hearts she might be Irish, and a Gaeilge speaker as well, the close to 40 years Cathy has been in New Zealand gives her excellent Kiwi credentials.
“I consider myself Kiwi now and I even kind of forget that I have an Irish accent. Sometimes other people point it out to me,” she laughs.
That ‘Kiwiness’ came to the forefront at the office opening with Cathy playing the guitar and singing ‘Tūtira Mai Ngā Iwi’ with local kaumātua Sean Ellison.
Cathy has strong real estate credentials as well, having been in the business for over 20 years.
She took her first steps into real estate with Lodge in Hamilton and only just left to join Property Brokers in 2021.
She liked the family-focused feel of Property Brokers and relished making the move to Raglan with husband Chas
Farrant, also a Property Brokers’ agent and keen surfer.
“Property Brokers are very focused on the regions and they do a huge amount in the community and a huge amount of sponsorships,” she says.
Identifying the needs in the Raglan community is one of Cathy’s responsibilities and it’s one she takes seriously.
In a former life she was a social worker and she taught Irish history at Waikato University.
“I have a passion for history, but also the living history and the living culture, and the responsibility that we all have no matter what business we’re in to actually be part of the community.”
Of course, real estate is what lights her fires now and she bring a wealth of knowledge to the Raglan office.
Working on large-scale subdivisions meant Cathy gained a substantial backgound in the workings of the RMA and helped landowners with creating over 450 titles in Northeast Hamilton over 10 years.
When it comes to largescale projects patience is a virtue.
Along with seeing things through no matter how long
I have patience in bucket loads. One deal for a large piece of land took three years to negotiate but it all came together in the end.
they might take, Cathy says even the residential sales can require a mindful and patient approach as she helps people navigate selling a home, and on most occasions a home that has been a part of the family for many years.
“When people buy and sell it’s right up there with death of a spouse or a partner in terms of stress. You’re invited on board during a period that’s very traumatic for some people. You get involved very intimately with their lives. And if you have any empathyif you’re not a cyborg - you get very involved with them, you are happy for them, you’re sad for them. So it’s a rare
privilege to be with people at that moment in their lives,” she says.
When Property Brokers took over from LJ Hooker in Raglan, Cathy says, they had to fill the huge jandals of much-loved agent Kyle Leuthart who had passed away suddenly several months prior.
“We are very proud to continue the incredible legacy of LJ Hookers in Raglan. Kyle was the number one agent in Raglan and we see it as a real honour to carry that on.”
Just like Kyle was a massive figure in the Raglan community, it’s important to Cathy and Property Brokers that their agents embrace Raglan and the culture of small-town life.
“All our staff and agents live in Raglan. That’s a criteria for joining. We can’t take somebody who doesn’t live here, because they just won’t get it.” And Raglan is the top of the list for people wanting to escape city living, Cathy says.
“There’s a current trend of people in their 50s wanting to just stop and sell up the big house with all the empty rooms and go to the beach. So Raglan is right up there with Waihi and Whangamata.
“We are also launching an exciting new product of Holiday Home Management for those wanting to invest in Raglan and block out holidays for themselves. We then take care of the shortterm management for them, which gives them a return that helps pay the mortgage AND they get to enjoy the beach.”
And those values are something the McCaw Lewis whānau don’t take lightly.
“We’ve really worked hard to embed our values. They are all important but manaakitanga has been so integral in particular in the last couple of years because it has been so difficult for people mentally,” she says.
Laura says McCaw Lewis take their obligations in working with iwi clients seriously, providing te reo and tikanga support. And whilst it’s challenging doing the juggle –being a mum, working fulltime and acquiring knowledge of te ao Māori - it’s something she truly enjoys and appreciates.
“As a Pākehā woman starting to walk in te ao Māori, it’s meant a bit of upskilling on my part. I took te reo Māori at school and really enjoyed it but I didn’t feel 100% supported in it. McCaw Lewis and the team have just been so good about their support in terms of helping me get to grips with
“It was interesting working inhouse, being behind the business rather than kind of slightly separate from it. And it’s something I’ve tried to carry through - I’m part of a team rather than someone simply instructing clients as their lawyer, sitting in another building and not really knowing much about the business. It’s something I try to bring to my practice now. There’s that feeling of really being in the business with them.”
Like many young people trying to figure out what they will do with their lives, Laura didn’t necessarily know that law was going to be her thing.
“I’d always done academically well at school; I
“While it was a wonderful experience, given the hours of work involved to ‘get ahead’ I could never marry up the idea of how I would have a family and spend time with them while still having a fulfilling career.”
Like Amanda, Laura values the flexibility working at McCaw Lewis affords her as a working mum to two young daughters.
“It is wonderful to work in a place that is fully supportive of having a life, whether it’s family or anything outside of work.”
Laura is a trustee on the Waikato Family Centre Trust, a trustee on the Angel Casts Charitable Trust and she is on the Waikato Diocesan Old Girls Association committee.
Laura Monahan
Amanda Hockley
Wood Automotive thrives with South Waikato support
Ten months ago Bevan Wood bought Wood Automotive from his Aunty Kathy and Uncle Barry Wood who had owned and operated the small automotive service and repair business for 30 years.
oday, with support from Government-funded Regional Business Partner (RBP) Network, RBP manager Soda, South Waikato Investment Fund Trust (SWIFT), and the South Waikato District Council’s WORKit MTFJ initiative that places young people in jobs or training, the business is on the verge of becoming one of the biggest automotive repair shops in South Waikato.
“We have four people on the tools – me, senior mechanic Mike and apprentice Clarice (aged 21) who worked for my Aunt and Uncle plus new apprentice Moses (aged 24) who came on board in July 2022 and two in the office – my Mum Kylie, who does the accounts, and our new receptionist Amy. If we take on one more person, I might be the biggest automotive shop in the district.”
Bevan says the success and growth he is now experiencing was by no means guaranteed when he took over the business.
“When I started on my own, I was struggling to keep up with the workload and was juggling family life with my partner Hayley and our two young kids Brady who is five and Lincoln who is three. I needed help with what to do around staff – what were good ideas, and what were bad ideas – and getting my name out there.”
Through another new business owner, Bevan heard about the Government-funded Regional Business Partner Network that connects business owners with advice, people, and resources to help them work through their challenges and grow their businesses. Bevan contacted the Waikato regional growth agency that helps businesses apply for RBP business capability support. RBP funds around 50% of the support up to $5,000 and usually the business pays the rest – but to make the RBP network more accessible for businesses in South Waikato, SWIFT
I was originally going to buy another automotive business, but my uncle said, ‘Why don’t you take over the family business?’ It seemed like a good idea, so I came to work for him four years ago and started picking everything up.
contributes the lion’s share of the business’s contribution, up to $4,500.
SWIFT chief executive Amanda Hema says SWIFT’s co-funding helps to build the capability of South Waikato entrepreneurs and small business owners through which they gain the confidence to grow. “This results in long term community benefits as the businesses we empower provide jobs and training for local people as well as increasing economic activity in the district,” she says.
Bevan was introduced to Phil Wicks from BSP Advisors who has worked with many small to medium sized businesses.
“He’s given advice on heaps of things, and it has all helped. I am an auto electrician and mechanic –that’s what I do best – but I was getting bogged down trying to deal with customers and do paperwork.”
Phil said, ‘Get a receptionist. It will
make you more productive in the business.’ So I got a new receptionist and it was the best thing I ever did.
“Phil comes every second or third week when I have time to see him.
He sets goals for me to achieve in terms of changing the way we operate. For example, the techs were not writing down all the parts they use. Now every repairs order comes past me so I can check them.
“Phil also connected us with a great website designer who has just done a website for us that really jumps out at you. It’s just gone live and it’s awesome.
“I wouldn’t be where I am now without RBP, SWIFT, Soda and BSP.
When you are a business rookie like I am one of the best things to do is get a business advisor to help you out. I’m glad I did. I’ve recommended to other businesses that they should connect with SWIFT to see how they can get business support to help their growth.”
The other agency that has been invaluable in helping Bevan to grow his business is WORKit MTFJ which has helped to fund wages and tools for one of his apprentices.
“I’m always up for training and apprenticeships. I like teaching and we need more young people coming through. There are only a couple of young guys in Tokoroa that own workshops. My apprentices are great. Clarice is just coming up two years in her apprenticeship. She’s just a knowledge absorber. The other apprentice Moses has just completed a four-day course in three days.”
About the Regional Business Partner (RBP) Network, SWIFT and WORKit MTFJ
The RBP Network is a gateway that connects small-to-medium business owners to advice, people and resources to work through challenges and/or grow. Funded by
the New Zealand Government, the RBP Network consists of 14 regional growth agencies throughout the country that assist businesses to apply for the support they need and access funding support from RBP. RBP fund about 50% of the business capability up to $5000 and the business pays the rest. To make the RBP network more accessible for businesses in South Waikato, SWIFT contributes the lion’s share of the business’ contribution (up to $4500). In 2022 SWIFT supported 12 local businesses through the RBP Network, with fantastic feedback and many continuing the services of their mentors afterwards.
WORKit MTFJ is a joint initiative between the South Waikato District Council and Mayors Taskforce for Jobs (MTFJ) and is funded by the Ministry of Social Development (MSD). WORKit MTFJ is part of a number of nationwide Community Recovery Programme projects working towards one vision: to have all young people under 25 being in appropriate education, training, work or other positive activities in their community.
Soda, has a long history of supporting entrepreneurs to accelerate their growth and became the manager of the Regional Business Partner Programme in July 2022. With their experienced business growth advisors, the Soda team undertakes an initial consultation with businesses to tailor the best solutions to help them grow.
SWIFT Chief Executive Amanda Hema says SWIFT’s co-funding helps to build the capability of South Waikato entrepreneurs and small business owners through which they gain the con dence to grow.
From left: Moses, Bevan, Mike, Kylie and Clarice
Wood Automotive apprentice Clarice
Once the water recedes
Seeing the pictures of the devastation to Hawke’s Bay, it is easy to forget the cyclones also hit Northland, Auckland, Coromandel, Gisborne, Port Waikato, Matamata-Piako, Waitomo, Waihi Beach and many other parts of New Zealand.
One of the first responses of many of our members was “How can we help?” those affected by the cyclones. In short, the first responders do a magnificent job, and letting them get on with what they are trained and resourced to do is sensible.
This Government has been good at crisis management, and they will put more dollars and other resource into those areas that are affected by the storms to get them through the initial shock of the devastation.
The opportunity for a real contribution by our members and other businesspeople to these communities comes in the long months after the initial heroes have done their job.
It is commerce that these communities need. It is trade that will fill their tills, pay the bills and help restore their well-being.
Paying customers who make the effort to buy goods and services from businesses that have been hit by nature will be a godsend. It might be a bottle or two of Hawkes Bay red from Esk Valley, or making a salad with a lettuce from Gisborne, or a couple of coffees
and a pie from one of the cafes in any of the towns that have been blitzed.
Your custom, your cash, buying their goods will be one of the most revitalising responses you can contribute to getting hard hit communities back on their feet.
As an example, many Waikato people holiday in the Coromandel. It is a pain with State Highway 25A out of action but an extra 30-minute travel through Waihi to the eastern side of the peninsula or a trip up the western side to Coromandel township, even if it is for a weekend, will help put cash into their tills and allow them to re-stand their businesses up. Some of you will be fixing your baches from the destruction of the winds and rain. That dollar spend will flow through the small communities and lift their spirits and their businesses.
We know economic conditions are tough at present, but your targeted purchasing will be an investment in returning their community to prosperity.
It is not the hero stuff of a TV interview or a newspaper article, but the effect of your
By
buying decisions and cold hard cash will have a huge effect on the speed of their recovery. There but for the grace of nature goes the rest of the Waikato.
Whatever your point of view on climate change, the intensity and damage from weather events forces us to understand, adapt and overcome the future effects of these Black Swan events. Our political masters need to act quickly to restore an acceptable standard of living to those affected and simultaneously plan and implement activities to ensure they do not occur again as a bare minimum. Actions that anticipate future weather induced events such as flooding, drought or pandemic need to be anticipated and substantial measures put in place to lessen the impacts. We need to note the infrastructure that has survived the recent events and extend and improve them.
Regional and Local Councils along with Transpower and the mobile phone network companies will be looking at the resilience of their assets and seeing gaps that they must rectify fast.
Waikato property prices go up down south
Lore tells us that a property’s value doubles every 10 years, but whether this is true depends on where you live.
New data from realestate.co.nz shows that more than half of New Zealand’s 76 districts saw annual average asking prices more than double in the 10 years between 2013 and 2022. For those districts where annual average asking prices did not double, most saw an increase of around 50% or higher.
Sarah Wood, CEO of realestate.co.nz, says the data shows that property values increase long-term:
“Peaks and troughs are normal. But this data tells us that we are unlikely to see average asking prices trend downwards in the long run, so those who are seeing a dip in their area shouldn’t lose hope,” she adds.
Waikato: prices go up down south With an increase of 157.0%,
annual average asking prices in South Waikato grew more than any other district in the Waikato region compared to 2013. This was followed by the Hauraki district, which experienced 142.9% growth in its annual average asking price in 2022 compared to 2013.
“Growth has been steady in most districts throughout the Waikato in the last decade. Seeing this growth to annual average asking prices outside the main centre of Hamilton reflects the labour market in the region, dominated by industries like manufacturing and agriculture.”
“It is quite different to the Auckland region where we see the highest annual average asking prices in Auckland City because that is where most people live and work,” says Wood.
Compared to 2013, annual average asking prices increased
Across the board, annual average asking prices have increased in all parts of New Zealand in the last decade, which I think is important to remember amid the fall we have seen to prices over the last 12 months.
by 138.3% in Otorohanga, 133.6% in Waipa, 132.6% in Waikato, 125.8% in MatamataPiako, 120.4% in Hamilton City, and 84.6% in Waitomo.
More than meets the eye with Discover Waitomo
Waikato Chamber of Commerce Business Awards, supported by Foster Construction Group, insight with Community Contribution - Commercial Award winner Discover Waitomo.
You’d be hard pressed to find a Waikato person who hadn’t visited the stunning glow worm caves at Waitomo, perhaps as a school kid or as a parent who’s taken their family there.
But what most people don’t realise is that Discover Waitomo – the company that operates the cave tours and black water rafting – is much more than just a tour operator. They also operate local events such as the Waitomo Trail Run.
Commercial manager Christine Mans says it’s a major event that supports the community.
“We had 2200 entries and we’ve also run the event in the middle of a pandemic… We’d just come out of the first lockdown and our little village of about 100 people went from having almost nobody here to being packed and humming for the weekend.”
Discover Waitomo don’t put on events like the trail run for the money. Instead, it’s because it helps build awareness of the region itself and
for the other operators nearby such as cafes, restaurants and accommodation providers.
“It’s the right thing to do as a cultural and community business. And as a publicly listed company, we have strong mandates around FutureFit, which is all about reducing our carbon footprint and sustainability, and around looking after people,” Christine says.
And that was recognised by the award judges who said, “The passion for their people was evident with talking to Discover Waitomo and was refreshing to see. Profitability went negative [during Covid], but a long-term view of what business may look like on the other side of Covid and the desire to keep their community together saw them invest time and effort into their people, plus considerable working capital to produce a greater good for the wider community.”
Environmental manager Shannon Corkill says Discover Waitomo’s values were longheld and were leant on heavily during the pandemic.
“Those core values are
whanaungatanga, kaitiakitanga, and manaakitanga.
Whanaungatanga means family in Māori which, for us, means providing jobs for local people, local hapū, helping out with donations, support in-kind and other specialist services to local community groups, providing pathways for rangatahi by taking part in initiatives that establish employment and skills development for local youth.
“The kaitiakitanga aspect means we take really seriously our guardianship of the precious taonga that we operate out of.
“Cave ecosystem health is linked to catchment and stream ecosystem health so it makes sense that we also work to improve the catchment ecosystem. We help with fencing to exclude stock from waterways and plant the riparian margins of streams and wetlands.”
Discover Waitomo also maintains hundreds of pest traps and bait stations in the area.
“And manaakitanga is all
about us being the best hosts we can be for our visitors. So, we’re big on health and safety initiatives, we embrace our Māori culture and we help raise everyone’s knowledge of te reo, incorporating that in our tours, correspondence and signage. And we’re always looking at new training and development initiatives and progression opportunities to increase staff engagement.”
In the midst of the pandemic in 2021, former Hamilton Waikato Tourism chief executive Jason Dawson saw what Discover Waitomo had done to take care of its people during a tumultuous time. They’d kept staff on, moving some into ‘Jobs for Nature’ roles. Jason encouraged Discover Waitomo to enter the Business Awards.
Last year they were finalists in the sustainability category. This year, they took out the Community Contribution – Commercial Award. They were also finalists in the recent Tourism NZ awards in the conservation category.
“Both times it was really interesting to go through process and have judges here to help us reflect on what we have achieved in what has been a very challenging
“It’s good to meet businesspeople who are also doing great work and not from a tourism perspective. They’re from a range of industries so getting advice and reflections from different background is always very useful.”
But it’s not just the business being judged that benefits. Christine says it works both ways.
and ideas. Judges have had
‘aha!’ moments just like we have.”
Waitomo District Mayor John Robertson says he was thrilled to see Discover Waitomo recognised at the business awards.
“The business is a huge contributor to both the Waitomo and Otorohanga districts from an economic, social and cultural perspective. Their resilience through the pandemic is incredible and I congratulate them on this win wholeheartedly.”
Not surprisingly, the Discover Waitomo team won’t be resting on their laurels with this win under their belts. They’re looking to the future – always with its community and cultural focus – but with a regenerative lens too.
“We’ve always been on that sustainability path but Covid has enabled us to stop and think about what future will look like.”
Whatever the future looks like for Discover Waitomo, you can bet the small immediate community will benefit.
“As we talked about FutureFit this round, one judge said he Googled ‘Future Fit’ and said he was keen to apply that to his business. With another judge we had a good korero about how he could break through barriers to introducing te reo into his business because for us te reo is business as usual. So actually, it’s joint sharing of information
“For us it’s about supporting each other, taking care of the community and our people. That’s our philosophy as a business and that’s supported by Tourism Holdings Limited, it’s supported by the Ruapuha Uekaha Hapū Trust, it’s supported by the Department of Conservation. It’s very much a team effort, and this award is recognition for all.” environment,” Christine says.
Another International Women’s Day, Another Day With Less Pay
Another International Women’s Day is about to be celebrated but New Zealand women are not celebrating the lack of movement in pay gaps.
MindTheGap
campaigners say the pay gap has not moved from over nine percent on average with some sectors facing a much larger gap, and co-founders Dellwyn Stuart and Dr Jo Cribb say they want
the Government to move fast to implement mandatory reporting of pay gaps.
Change is in the air...
There are times when business owners and leaders must make tough calls.
N“Since our campaign was launched in October 2021, women, Māori, Pasifika and ethnic minorities have been
The co-founders welcomed the Government move to refer the issue of pay gap transparency to an advisory group last year but Stuart says there is mounting pressure on women and ethnic communities who are facing even greater hardships.
We know mandatory reporting works – we’ve seen its success in the public sector. We look forward to the outcome of the advisory group to be expedited quickly.
impacted disproportionately by new issues such as the cost-of-living crisis and the impacts of flooding in the northern and eastern parts of the country,” Stuart says.
“We know from overseas experience that requiring businesses to measure and report their pay gaps is an important first step towards establishing a mandatory pay
transparency system that will make a real difference to the lives of New Zealand women and our ethnic communities.
But it is important that the work is completed quickly so we can get on with making the many more changes New Zealand needs.”
But while the New Zealand Government is talking about addressing pay gaps, Cribb says we have fallen behind internationally with Australian Prime Minister Albanese last month introducing a bill into the Australian Parliament that will require all employers with over 100 staff to report their gender pay gap by 2024.
“While our government has talked about it, the Australians are acting. How long will the wait be until a New Zealand Prime Minister makes the same statement in our House,” Cribb says.
“We have prided ourselves across this side of the ditch on our human rights record how serious we take equity and how fair we are. We often
Great Expectations:
what to expect when applying for a job
Had a job interview but no call back? Submitted your CV but haven’t had an email? Judith Bright, Asset Recruitment’s Permanent Recruitment Specialist looks at how best to manage expectations when applying for a job.
Waikato’s recruitment market has started strong in 2023, providing job seekers with permanent and temporary employment opportunities. A revival of tourism activities, ongoing need for healthcare workers, a surge in administrative requirements, and increasing demand for industrial products and supplies have seen Waikato employers continue to advertise for a variety of roles.
Job seeker numbers also tend to increase in the first quarter of the year, with the prospect of a new job or challenge appealing to many. But applying for a new job takes time, energy, and commitment.
There’s the preparation of your CV, the writing of your cover letter, and the submission before the job listing closes!
While your effort won’t be immediately rewarded, understanding the recruitment process your potential employer undertakes to select a new staff member, can help to man-
age your expectations of the job-seeking experience.
The recruitment process Judith Bright, Asset Recruitment’s Permanent Recruitment Specialist says companies actively recruiting for new team members will go through a carefully prepared process. “They’ll start by identifying the need for additional resource and then market the role. This is followed by the review of CVs, short-listing of candidates, and interviews, before an offer is made. It’s a process that can take a week or two and, in the case of executive positions, this can extend to several weeks or even months,” she says.
Waikato, and indeed much of New Zealand’s, employment market and the tight supply of quality candidates means employers are fast-tracking recruitment processes, offering positions to ensure job seekers are presented with an offer in an increasingly competitive market.
So, for candidates who have put the time, energy, and effort into applying for a new role, what can they expect in return?
“Organisations are well aware of the competitive recruitment landscape so good employers will have streamlined their recruitment processes to ensure they don’t miss out on quality candidates. That means a quick turnaround time between each stage of the recruitment process and regular communication along the way,” explains Judith.
We are seeing a number of organisations recruit faster than ever before because they know if they don’t act quickly and provide job seekers with an indication of their interest, candidates will go elsewhere.”
Top tips to understand the recruitment process
Confirm interview expectations.
Upon confirmation of an interview, ask whether the company has any particular interview approach they follow or questions/tasks they would like you to prepare for. Preparation is key when it comes to successful job interviews.
Ask for a clear timeline of the process. At the end of your interview, ask when you can expect to hear from the company on their decision. If they’re inter-
looked over the Tasman with a sense of smugness at how advanced we were. But in terms of pay transparency and addressing pay gaps, the Aussies have thrashed us.”
Cribb says MindTheGap has proven that a large part of New Zealand wants Government and businesses to address pay gaps.
“We have numerous businesses who have led the way by registering their pay gap reporting. Almost 9000 people signed a petition urging action on pay gaps, we have a poll that shows 75% of kiwis want mandatory reporting and charities and unions have told us how urgent this is.”
‘We know mandatory reporting works – we’ve seen its success in the public sector. We look forward to the outcome of the advisory group to be expedited quickly.”
Currently for every dollar a Pākehā male earns, a Pākehā woman is being paid 89 cents, a Māori man 86 cents and a Pasifika woman 75 cents.
Your recruitment asset in Waikato.
o one enjoys making decisions that could impact on individual team members, but when you have responsibility for deciding whether a business can keep trading or must downsize there is a lot to navigate. Employers have a legal obligation to consult staff before they make hard calls. Many clients ask us why they have to consult when the writing is on the wall – “I need to make some changes so I may as well just get on with it”. However, experience has shown us that there is often more than one way to eat an elephant. Whilst you might think it’s fait accompli, other people in your business might come up with a brilliant idea or alternative that could significantly change your thinking or the outcome. To really consult with an open mind, you need to have just that – be open to all sorts of different thinking and concepts. Many employers start consultation with a decision in mind which could be limiting their ability to consider alternatives.
The next question clients ask us is “so how long do I need to consult for”. There is no prescribed duration of consultation, but a good employer will generally take 1-2 weeks to consult properly, and in some cases longer – and by consultation, I mean actively engaging your employees in discussions, providing them with all the information necessary to help them understand why change may be required, giving them an opportunity to come up with ideas and alternatives, making sure the employer truly considers those ideas with an open mind, and potentially re-engaging in ongoing conversations to finetune ideas and options. Only when that period of twoway dialogue has occurred, should an employer make and confirm a decision. Employers are entitled to make change in their business, but they cannot unilaterally make those changes without consulting with people who may be affected by that change.
If you are thinking of making change in your
PEOPLE AND CULTURE
BY SENGA ALLEN
Human Resource Specialist and Managing Director, Everest People. Waikato people and culture specialists. www. everestpeople.co.nz
business in 2023 firstly get some expert advice before acting. The days of inviting someone into your office and telling them they no longer have a job because times are tough – are over. Every single person deserves to be treated with respect and dignity when terms of employment could be affected. My rule of thumb when navigating change is to ask myself ‘if this was my son or daughter facing a possible redundancy, how would they like to be treated”. With the right advice, support and process to follow,
employers can make changes without crushing people or forking out large sums of money if they haven’t acted in good faith. Change is difficult and being a leader of change is no easy task. The best results in change, come from diverse perspective and genuine dialogue.
For more than 30 years, we’ve been aligning great candidates with great opportunities, and ‘positioning excellence’ throughout Waikato.
ng you a safe and happy Christmas and a prosperous New Year
great candidates with great opportunities, and ‘positioning excellence’ throughout Waikato.
We strive for excellence and quality in all we do. As part of our commitment to excellence, we’re focussed on finding the right fit for both job-seeker and employer.
We strive for excellence and quality in all we do. As part of our commitment to excellence, we’re focussed on finding the right fit for both job-seeker and employer.
So, if you’re currently looking to hire or would like to discuss your career opportunities, get in touch with our team.
Founded in 2006, our team of specialists have decades of shared expertise with national and international reach and experience.
So, if you’re currently looking to hire or would like to discuss your career opportunities, get in touch with our team.
839 3685 | www.assetrec.co.nz
07 839 3685 | www.assetrec.co.nz
viewing other candidates they’ll have time set aside for those as well as a deadline to select their preferred person. This will ensure you know whether to expect a response in a few days or a week.
Be upfront about remuneration expectations. Some job advertisements provide an indication of the offered salary; others keep it
vague. Have the confidence to ask about remuneration and state your expectations. For the majority of positions, there is always room for negotiation, but both parties need to having a starting point! Looking for a new role in 2023? Get in touch with the Asset Recruitment team. They have been positioning excellence across Waikato for more than 30 years.
We are your trusted people partners with a practical and relationship-focused approach.
Everest People are ready to work with your team; to build capability and culture, provide practical human resource solutions and workplace advice, recruitment, training and coaching.
Partnering with Everest was a great decision for our business, the standard of care and level of expertise is first class.
- Richard & Sophie Knauf, Directors, Zempire Camping Equipment People & Culture Recruitment | Training & Coaching
WAIKATO BUSINESS NEWS
Supporters of the Waikato Breast Cancer Research Trust
Supporters of the Waikato Breast Cancer Research Trust
Wish
The Business of Art
Exploring the creatives in The Business of Art.
It’s not hard to miss the bright yellow brick house on Upper Wainui Road in Raglan,
The colour on the outside is a hint to what’s on the inside of ceramic artist
Sarah Bing’s home and workshop gallery.
Known for her large and small quirky sculptures, keep-cups, candles and other homeware, Sarah’s work pops with colour.
Bing Ceramics is an arty business Sarah has been organically shaping for several years and it is her only paid job, after having given up work as a creative director for an Auckland property developer.
The likes of Seth Rogan, Serena Williams, Brad Pitt and Johnny Vegas are throwing a pot or two and waxing lyrical about the meditative benefits of ceramics.
It might be a dirty business but clay has been enjoying a surge in popularity as an artistic medium in the past few years, and Bing Ceramics is riding the pottery wave.
It seems even the Hollywood A-listers are getting in on the act, building their own pottery studios in their mega-mansions and hitting the potters’ wheel.
Sarah is definitely benefiting from the renewed interest in this age-old art form.
While it took a few years to wean herself off the certainty that her Auckland income provided, she hasn’t looked back.
“I was doing three days’ work, two days’ pottery, then two days’ work, three days’ pottery.”
A six-month family trip to India saw Sarah quit her Auckland job with the intention of getting stuck into the ceramics business when she returned.
That was three years ago and she’s happy to say it only took a year of potting fulltime before she was out of the red.
“I remember when, halfway through a Raglan Arts Weekend a couple of years ago I totted up the day’s sales and it meant my spreadsheet had broken even and I had finally paid for everything. I was so, so excited! We had a massive celebration and cracked open a bottle of champagne,” she laughs.
Despite the success, Sarah admits that being an artist is something you do for love rather than financial gain
“It’s definitely a passion thing. Some artists are getting amazing money for their work but it still doesn’t work out that great, when you consider how much effort, time and love you have to put into something.”
And she knows she’s in a privileged position with husband Dave Duffin working fulltime as a videographer at the University of Waikato but the ceramics pays its way.
“The way I work it is if
Caption
there’s enough money in the Bing Ceramics account, then I’ll pay myself 600 bucks a week. And if there’s not, I won’t. But like the last four or five months, I’ve paid myself every week.”
Sarah reckons her ceramic sales are a really good indicator of how the economy is doing.
“The Raglan Arts Weekend is my biggest weekend of sales. In previous years I’ve sold bigger pieces but not as many. But this year, people were obviously feeling the pinch. I still sold the same amount, but it was all smaller pieces. I think it shows that people still really want to support even if they
don’t feel loaded.”
When it comes to her homeware range, Sarah can’t compete with the cups and plates at stores like K-Mart and The Warehouse, but she believes people are more discerning when it comes to where and how their purchases are made.
“I definitely think we’re much more aware of where things come from and the impact that choosing to buy from corporate has on the world and the environment and society. There’s definitely a growing class of educated consumers who want to buy things that have integrity, and
are prepared to pay a little bit more for that. They value the handmade story.”
Starting out without much of a business plan, Sarah knew she had found the thing that lit her creative fire, and she was determined to make a living making ceramics.
It was only recently that she took part in a Creative Waikato course for artists called Elevate.
The free online programme is designed to help creatives unlock the skills to build a sustainable career in the arts.
“I used to feel very conflicted about the role of money and making art. Like, if
you make money off your work, you’re a sellout. Obviously, I want this to be a sustainable income, I still pay the same bills as everybody else, so I do need to make money. And I’m super passionate about the process of making, so I need to be able to pay for my materials and other costs. The Elevate course removed a lot of that conflict and made me just pull my head out of my artistic arse,” she laughs.
The myth of the starving artist who only makes it big when they’re dead isn’t appealing to Sarah and as well as selling her own, she does clay workshops and commissions –it means she can play with clay and make some money at the same time.
“I would say about a third of my earning comes from workshops, a third from sales and a third from commissions.”
Recent commissions include tiles for an Art Deco hotel in Melbourne and tile edging for a skate bowl in Tauranga.
“A Melbourne construction company got in contact with me and they needed to replace the heritage tiles like for like, in order to get heritage approval. He said I was the only person in all of Australasia and he could find who would do custom tiles, which I don’t think is right, but maybe I’ve just got the best SEO,” she laughs.
Sarah’s own home is decorated with Bing handmade ceramics and tiles. She is her own guinea pig when it comes to trialing new products.
“We’ve been renovating our house for a long time and I have very expensive taste in tiles. I was killing myself over these beautiful tiles that I really wanted to use in the bathroom. And I thought I have clay and a kiln. Why don’t I make them myself and then I can have exactly what I want,” she says.
Through Instagram she was able to gain customers who liked what they saw and commissioned Bing bespoke tiles for their own homes.
A keen DIYer, Sarah also did the tiling herself having first practiced and perfected her tiling skills in her own home. She credits her grandad for her can-do attitude; wherever the creative urge took young Sarah, her grandad was there to help her gain the skills to do it herself.
“The Spice Girls were super popular when I was a kid and I really wanted platform shoes. I came from a pretty poor family and we didn’t have the money for a $100 pair of Pulps. So grandad helped me make me this pair of platform shoes with wood from the firewood pile, and we drew around my foot and cut out the platform soles. Then we nailed leather on and I hobbled around the house for ages on these 15cm tall blocks of wood,” she laughs.
Combining her creative flair with the practical skills she learnt from her grandad is something that Sarah is able to add to her business acumen.
As an artist she’s not afraid to do the less glamorous work like banging out 50 keepcups on the wheel in a day or slogging away in someone’s bathroom installing Bing tiles because in the end she knows it pays off.
“Making the production work I know people will buy definitely supports my sculptural work for now, and that’s a balance I’ve learned to be ok with.”
And whilst it might sometimes seem like production line work, every piece Sarah creates is uniquely Bing, awash with colour and joy, and handmade with love.
Photography by Dave Duffin
WELCOME BACK to Balloons over Waikato
Tuesday 14th – Saturday 18th March
2023
Aevening you can either head to the Base in Te Rapa to enjoy the hot & fiery Base Basket Burn or follow the balloons to Mighty River Domain, Lake Karapiro, when the Balloons visit Waipa from 5pm – 8pm.
The Special Shaped Hot Air Balloons are always the stars of the show, and Event Manager
Michele Connell, is thrilled with the 2 Special Shapes who will fly at the festival after a 2-year absence.
“We have 2 gorgeous Special Shapes coming from the USA, Tico the Sloth and Tiger. Special Shapes are truly unique and with none residing in NZ, they are simply stunning to see both on the ground and in the air, and we are so excited to have them back with us again”. Both Special Shape balloons are from upstate New York in USA, owned by twin brothers Scott and Todd Monahan. Tiger stands 22 metres tall, and was born/built in Brazil in 2020. He will be flown at the festival by Australian Pilot Craig Farrell. Tico the Sloth is quite a bit taller, standing
33.5 metres tall, and he enjoys floating through the air, rather than hanging from Trees. He was born/built also in Brazil in 2019 and will be flown by Pilot and owner Todd Monahan.
The ZURU Nightglow this year has moved to a more central location, in the venue where it all began …. The Claudelands Oval. 4 hours of live entertainment will run on the main stage, with carnival rides and games, food trucks and the glorious orchestrated hot air balloon glow culminating in the SkyCity Hamilton Fireworks Extravaganza.
Michele Connell remembers, “ In the 1990s the very first Nightglow was held at Claudelands with 10 balloons
and a crowd of around 4000. Fast forward 23 years later, and the event has grown into a crowd of over 85,000 wanting to attend. Our community is a very different place in 2023 and to ensure, we continue to provide a family friendly, fun, and safe environment for everyone, we felt the move back to where it all began at Claudelands was a good one.”
Recognising the different needs of the ZURU Nightglow fans is very important to the Balloons over Waikato team, and they understand large crowds are not for everyone. So, plans are coming together for the ZURU Nightglow to be live streamed as well. Watch the social media channels and website for more details.
Balloons over Waikato visits Waipā
Balloons Visits Waipā returns to Mighty River Domain at Lake Karāpiro this month, six years after its first visit in 2018.
However you connect with Balloons over Waikato, whether it be coming to Innes Common, heading to the ZURU Nightglow, dancing at the Base Basket Burn, watching the Live Stream or just standing on your front lawn in your pyjamas waving to the balloons as they float by each morning … this event is for you and we are so delighted to Welcome Back our community, our international balloons and the event we all love later this month. Visit www.balloonsoverwaikato.co.nz for all the information you need, or like us on Facebook for the most up to date daily flying information.
Feature
It’s an exciting free event to enjoy.
Saturday 18th March, 7am onwards
Spend your Saturday morning amazed at the skills of the pilots as they attempt to win $1000 cash from the top of a pole. Visit the Radius Care tent for a free brekkie and blood pressure test.
We value events and the vibrancy they bring to our city and the visitors they attract. They create a sense of pride for Hamiltonians and bring an economic boost to our great river city.
We have been part of Balloons over Waikato since its first ascension in 2000. We’re proud to once again be a strategic partner and to sponsor the Hamilton City Council Opening Fiesta.
This year we celebrate…
Being home to New Zealand’s premier hot air balloon festival The return of international balloons, special shapes and the public after a two year absence.
Thousands of spectators over five days of events
Six times voted Best Waikato Event by Hamiltonians A special event theme of welcome back
Use of Council owned sites
Innes Common, Hamilton Lake, Claudelands Oval and Garden Place
JetPark staycation
Editor Janine Jackson has a staycation in Hamilton and experiences the hospitality, warmth and comfort of JetPark Hotel.
It’s easy to see why JetPark Hotel Hamilton Airport won the people’s choice award at the Waikato Chamber of Commerce Business Awards last year. And while that seems like a long time ago, the genuine warmth that radiates from the staff still rings true today.
I’m not much of a jetsetter, but there’s a few things that tick the boxes for me when it comes to accommodation –and that’s a great shower and crisp sheets on a comfortable bed, and JetPark certainly delivered. And whilst not top of my list, the friendly staff add another level of comfort to the stay. The rooms are spacious and being that they were freshly decorated last year, it feels like a newly built hotel. There’s the usual tea and coffee making facilities - yay for Dilmah English Breakfast – television with more channels that I can ever get at home, ironing board and iron and plenty of room to hang your clothes. Sometimes it’s the
What hit the sweet spot though was the two-person size spa bath in the gorgeously tiled bathroom.
Add some of the sublimelyscented Koura Kawakawa & Kowhai Body Wash and you’ve got yourself a slice of luxury.
If you’ve got the time and the inclination, there’s a 1.5-metre-deep pool, located near the gym and it’s perfect
for a refreshing dip after a workout or to an enjoyable soak on a balmy Hamilton day. A staycation doesn’t necessarily give you enough time to think about exercise, but a perfectly formed gym has all the equipment needed to get your heart rate up and if you don’t fancy plunging into the pool there’s a sauna to relax in afterwards. Tennis anyone? Well, yes, that’s on the cards as well at JetPark and remember that pool well what could be better than a sweaty game of tennis and diving into the swimming pool to cool off.
The hotel, like all hospitality businesses, has had its fair share of ups and downs; when the business changed hands in 2019, the facility underwent a $3m renovation. After a grand opening in December things were looking peachy for JetPark Hamilton.
We all know the story from here on – COVID, lockdowns… A three-month close-down period to replace all the beds
and furnishings, the hotel welcomed its first guests back in August 2022. Completely refreshed from top to bottom, the hotel was deep-cleaned, refurnished and refurbished. The $4 million make-over included contactless check in via a smartphone app, upgraded conference facilities and a resurfaced tennis court.
Looking to dine in during your JetPark stay, The Propeller Restaurant and Bar offers a selection of dishes made from local produce, homemade desserts with local brewery Good George on tap and a wine list that meets every need for all occasions. I’m not usually one for chicken burgers, my experiences in the past have been dried up chicken breast but it was the kimchi that seduced me. I reckon kimchi, Korean fermented cabbage, is perfect for adding zing to a dish (kimchi/cheese toasties are divine). But kimchi can
only take a dish so far, the chef cooked the chicken breast to perfection, it was succulent and was nicely chargrilled, which added to the overall flavour. My dinner guest had the lamb shank, which he says was melt in the mouth and tasty. We both can’t go past tiramisu for dessert and, while it wasn’t a traditional tiramisu - the savoiardi biscuit replaced with a soft chocolate sponge - it had all the flavours of the much-loved Italian trifle. A buffet breakfast rounded off an enjoyable dining experience at The Propeller the next morning.
I took a fancy to the automatic pancake machine – shooting out two tasty little pancakes at the press of a button. Topped off with banana, bacon and maple syrup from the buffet – what’s not to like. With something for everyone, including the kids, Cocoa Pops need I say more, there was the usual selection of scrambled eggs, beans, toast, cereals, fruit, Danish pastries and more. I’m a bit of a coffee snob and I can say with conviction the Americano was perfect – achieved by the perfect combination of a welltrained barista and awesome beans.
The Propeller Restaurant and Bar
Better together
OFFICE / DESK / MEETING / EVENT SPACE
Co-working spaces overtaking work-from-home and traditional offices
The Crate Flexible Office Space – a coworking facility on Auckland’s North Shore – is experiencing an overwhelming number of inquiries weekly compared to any other time since it was founded 10 years ago - demand is booming in the new reset.
Afew months ago, working from home was the new normal, and few held out hope of a complete return to the office.
While that trend seems to be holding steady, it isn’t the whole story. From The Crate’s current experience, co-working is fast overtaking the workfrom-home trend.
CEO and founder of The Crate facilities in Auckland and Hamilton, Dean Payn, says the question of whether working from home would win or a triumphant return to the office was in order, the answer has landed somewhere in the middle.
“Many workers acquired quite a taste for working from home, while others longed for the office. This has led to many businesses adopting a hybrid working model, with some workers working from home and others in the office or a rotating shift of onsite and offsite workers.
“While this can be done with traditional offices, it could be more financially feasible, leading to some necessary downscaling to a better setup,” Payn says.
The Crate points out that businesses quickly realised that co-working spaces were the answer to how to adapt to a post-COVID world. Co-working spaces mean companies can pay for one desk or many and get all the amenities of a working office - no arduous leases either.
“This has cut costs dramatically. Not only do businesses not have to worry about leases, but they also don’t have to worry about overhead, amenities, and maintenance costs.
“Moreover, this setup is more flexible. Everyone is keenly aware of the possibility of further disruption--the recent floods and Cyclone Gabrielle being a case in point–-so co-working spaces mean that entire businesses can instantly switch between onsite and home. “
Payn says The Great Resignation, the big Quit or Great Reshuffle, is another factor in play.
It’s a current trend in which employees voluntarily resign from their jobs because the Covid Pandemic reset how people think about work and its place in their lives.
“People want more balance, to be able to set their own timetable and take more time for family and themselves; they
want an end to rush hour and the hustle and bustle of the corporate office,” Payn says.
Established businesses aren’t the only ones driving demand for co-working spaces. These spaces allow freelancers and small startups to work in offices without the prohibitive costs usually associated.
More Kiwis than ever before are looking to freelance, start their own business, or join the gig economy. Co-working spaces like The Crate offer facilities that fit the bill--low cost, amenities provided and no burdensome leases.
Moreover, co-working spaces provide excellent networking opportunities.
“Small businesses and independents can brainstorm, collaborate, and make contacts, all from within their office. This saves the time and effort generally associated with networking and makes it more direct and personable,” Payn says.
The Crate provided some tips on what to look for in a co-working space:
1. Location
Consider the location of the co-working space. It should be easily accessible and close to public transportation options.
It should also be in a safe and secure area, with nearby amenities such as restaurants, cafes, and shops.
2. Amenities
Make sure the co-working space you choose has the
necessary amenities to support your work. This may include fast and reliable internet, private meeting rooms, printing and scanning facilities, a kitchen with refreshments, and comfortable seating areas.
3. Community
“A co-working space should foster a sense of community and provide opportunities for networking and collaboration,” Payn says.
Look for spaces that regularly host events and activities, such as workshops and social events, to help you connect with others in your field and expand your professional network.
Additionally, consider the size of the community and the mix of industries and professions represented, as this can play a role in the opportunities for collaboration and networking.
For more information visit: https://thecrate.co.nz/
H3 showcases what their charming event space can offer your next function and business event
Positioned among willow
TFarming
Laboratories
BCD
Sales Conference, and this month the Foodstuffs Expo 2023.” Melissa says the lush surrounding outdoor space is most attractive as it allows for events to take place both inside and outside. “We encourage event organisers to utilise the significant indoor and outdoor flow The Barn has to offer. This space also provides a perfect opportunity to showcase large machinery, industrial equipment and vehicles, all while remaining on-site and working within the parameters of different event budgets.”
Not only is The Barn an ideal space for your next business event or team building day, it is perfectly suited to private functions such as celebrations and weddings as well. With the ability to host up to 440 banquet style or 650 cocktail style, the options are endless. H3 is home to Hamilton’s
premier event venues – FMG Stadium Waikato, Seddon Park and Claudelands, which includes GLOBOX Arena, Claudelands Conference & Exhibition Centre, The Grandstand and The Barn.
Discover The Barn at H3group.co.nz and contact the team today.
Mighty local know-how – and a little magic
Experts, mighty locals and good listeners. That’s the winning combo Business Events Waikato delivers to any organisation, large or small, interested in staging an event in the Waikato region.
Business Events Waikato is an arm of Hamilton & Waikato Tourism (HWT).
Aimee Tyson, who heads up the unit has extensive experience in tourism,
sponsorships and events. She and her colleague Shellie Moses offer event planners advice that is free, but invaluable and impartial, for any conference, meeting, team incentive or event in the Waikato region.
The assistance they provide is based on their on-the-ground knowledge and includes providing recommendations for venues, accommodation, pre and post
experiences, organising site visits and sourcing quotes –and sometimes some magic too.
Both are passionate about the world-class facilities and experiences on offer here, and as well as promoting the Waikato to business planners outside the region, they encourage local organisations to stage their events locally.
“We always like to say that there’s a bit of magic here in the Waikato too,” says Aimee.
Importantly, she and Shellie know how to listen to what a client wants – and then
“People can hold a function underground in caves (Waitomo), enjoy New Zealand’s only working tea plantation (Zealong) or experience an event on a movie set (Hobbiton).”
ensure that precise needs and expectations are not just met but also exceeded.
“Asking pertinent questions and listening carefully to the answers is crucial to really understanding what event planners are looking for,” says Aimee.
“We believe listening creates a feeling of respect, connection and goodwill – and what better way is there to start and continue the professional relationships we want to have with people keen to hold their business events in the Waikato.”
Meet in the Waikato
Be a Mighty Local - we’re here to help with your next business event businessevents@waikatonz.com www.meetwaikato.com We’re here to help
New Zealand’s biggest mountain bike stage race is coming to Tokoroa
For
T“It’s been exciting working alongside the South Waikato District Council and helping bring people to the region, working hand in hand with them.
“Harnessing the power of mountain biking is a great way to bring outsiders into the South Waikato in a sustainable way through incredible trails.”
This race sees both solo competitors and those in pairs, riding new courses every day,
with each track offering a new challenge and terrain for riders to experience.
The race starts in Rotorua, before heading to Taupō, then Tokoroa and then finishing back in Rotorua.
“The South Waikato offered unique trails, but we also loved the idea of showcasing what Tokoroa has to offer,” Mike says.
“The South Waikato District Council has been really encouraging and we want to help them celebrate their region and bring people here.
“We want to create ways for the Tokoroa community to get involved, it’s our first event and it’s a sell-out and we want to make it an annual event for years to come.
“We’re hoping the event can help lower barriers for locals who are keen to get into mountain biking, it’s a platform to
Regenerative Tourism key to future tourism industry
‘Sustainability’ is a buzzword that is now mainstream. It has been talked about for the past 20 years or more, especially in corporate New Zealand.
Transparent bottomline reporting and initiatives such as carbon zero, energy efficiency, water conservation and recycling, are familiar tactics to the sustainability journey. However, we are now moving one step further in to regenerative tourism which includes those environmentally friendly aspects as well as elements such living wage, host communities, well-being and a social licence to operate.
In the New Zealand context, sustainability is ‘kaitiakitanga’ - guardianship of our land, water, air, people, culture and communities for future generations. Regenerative tourism is focused on the prosperity of people and place, and aims to enrich a community by actively contributing value
across the four well-beings - social, cultural, economic and environmental. It takes the concept of sustainability and builds on it - elevating it from aiming to sustain the environment and mitigate any negative impacts, to tourism positively contributing to a destination.
As such, a place-based approach is central to the regenerative tourism philosophy. By understanding all the elements of a destination’s eco-system we can determine how to create mutually beneficial relationships for all involved and ensure tourism regenerates the community and environment it is a part of. Regenerative tourism is a key foundation of Waikato’s Destination Management Plan. Our
approach to regenerative tourism is two-fold – the first being to enable our visitor economy businesses to understand and embrace regenerative tourism; and the second being to educate our manuhiri (visitors) about how to care for our region and positively contribute to our communities during their time with us. While tourism success has been measured in economic terms to date, we are moving into a new era of thinking - how to create value more broadly for the benefit of our people, our place, and collective prosperity.
To support tourism operators across the Waikato to further embrace the concept of regenerative tourism, Hamilton & Waikato Tourism have developed the Mighty Waikato Sustainability Programme.
To participate in the programme, operators are asked to sign up by donating $50 towards Waikato RiverCare, who are committed to cleaning up Waikato’s waterways. Participating operators will then have a one-on-one sustainability coaching session with InStep resulting in a two-page report to explain where they are doing well and identify opportunities for action to continue their sustainability journey.
Many of our tourism operators are early adopters of this ethos and have been undertaking some amazing regenerative tourism mahi (work) for many years, and it is about enabling them to share these fantastic stories about how they are caring for their people, place and community with their manuhiri.
We realise that the topic of sustainability and regenerative tourism is a large and varied one and it can sometimes be daunting in terms of where to start or how operators can easily and costeffectively integrate measures into their business.
Our Mighty Waikato Sustainability Programme takes the view that an accumulation of small commitments from locals and visitors alike can create massive results.
We are keen to bring others with us across the mighty Waikato, so feel free to find out more about the programme plus helpful resources and tools here: waikatonz.com/ industry/regenerative-andsustainable-tourism
TELLING WAIKATO’S STORY
BY
EAS builds culture of care
Waikato Chamber of Commerce Business Awards, supported by Foster Construction Group, insight with People and Culture winner EAS.
In 2014, Carey Penn was working as an electrician at Fonterra.
He was working long hours, not conducive to a work-life balance. So, he made the decision to go out on his own with a view to working less and spending more time with his family.
When Carey started EAS (Electrical and Automation Solutions), one of his ‘whys’ was about spending your time doing what brings you joy.
finishing at 4.30pm, heading home for dinner with his family before working on quotes and invoicing from 7-11pm.
goal; it was down to having more time in my life and helping people.”
vision is ingrained in everything we do.”
and now it’s my time to give my people the support and motivation to do better and be better.”
While their goal was to reach the finals, Carey hadn’t banked on having to deliver a speech if they won.
For me, it’s not just a money thing. I’m not motivated by gross profit or sales goals. What brings me real joy is helping other people.
Fast forward a few years and little did Carey know that the business’ organic growth would mean that he’d end up starting his day at 7am,
Overwhelmed by his workload and the transition from technician to business owner and manager, Carey took a call one day from business mentor Tony Fraser-Jones.
“I remember saying to him, I don’t have time for a business mentor with everything I’ve got on my plate. But then I thought about it again and figured, what harm can it do?”
It was a smart decision that led Carey to slowly making a mindset shift about how he wanted to run his business, putting in place strong support networks and devouring lots of books about business management and leadership.
Along the way, Carey has also taken time to crystalise his ‘why’.
“I started bringing people on board and we kept growing. There came a point when I need to get back to my ‘why’.
I was parked out at Manu Bay thinking about that and it was there I realised I just love helping people and I knew I needed to use that ‘why’ to drive the business.
“I wasn’t aiming for a certain business size or financial
And it’s that foundation of helping people that Carey has indeed built his business on. EAS marketing manager Sarah Johnston recognised the work the company had done to develop and build a culture of care and support for the team and thought the new Waikato Chamber of Commerce Business Awards category – People and Culture – would be a good one to enter.
It turns out she was right. This was the first year EAS had entered the awards. And while they were blown away to first of all make the finals, they were even more blown-away to win the People and Culture category.
Sarah says as EAS has grown, they decided to bring in consultant Laurent Sylvestre to help formalise the company’s values.
“Everyone got together for a day to work out what we all believed our values, what we all agreed on and what it meant. And those were ‘grow together, people matter’, which fundamentally embodies who Carey is… that it’s all about other people and trying to do our best by them. That shared
The People and Culture category judges say that one of things that stood out during their visit was the care, the desire to help, and provide support for the EAS team both professionally and personally. Another was that the consistency in communication (planned and ad hoc) and team interaction was a key success factor for the business.
That’s evident in the ‘life catch ups’ that Carey has implemented.
“Carey realised he wasn’t catching up the team as much as he used to, so now he has ‘life catch ups’ with everyone.”
Yesterday he took one of his apprentices out for a beer and the pair got talking about how the apprentice was keen to buy his first house.
“So we talked about what steps he’d need to take to do that. I asked him what are the things you can influence to get to your goal faster and he came up with scenarios for that. I love helping people think outside the box and challenging them. I’m always pushing the boat out about how I can do better and help people better.
I’ve spent so much time with my mentors who’ve helped me
It’s fair to say Carey didn’t have those sorts of interactions or support when he was an apprentice learning his trade. Notwithstanding that Sharesies didn’t exist when Carey was an apprentice, it would be a stretch to imagine an employer in the 1990s setting up a staff shares savings scheme. But that’s exactly what’s happened at EAS. A Sharesies savings scheme is linked to how the company is doing. Stocks are discussed with the team and they diversify the stocks to spread the risk. Wins and losses are part of the learning and teaching process.
Judges said EAS works offsite across many locations but through a company-wide commitment to wellbeing, camaraderie and support it is a deserving winner of the People and Culture Award Staff numbers now sit at around 16 with the company advertising for another four staff.
“The business grew 28 per cent last year and we’re tracking at around 40 per cent this year,” Sarah said.
“We might still be relatively small, but I think what we do is really special. A lot of us work here because of the culture.” Winning the People and Culture Award was affirmation the company is on the right track.
“Two of my worst fears is getting eaten by sharks and public speaking… But anyway, I went out and bought my first ever suit to wear to the gala dinner. Normally you’ll find me in jeans and Doc Martens! So, we’re there – a bunch of tradies, drinking champagne. And then we saw the videos of who we were up against and we were like ‘holy s**t, we won’t win this. But when they announced EAS was the winner, we were just star struck. I was pretty emotional…. I was choking up the whole way.
“When you get an award –among some really amazing other businesses as finalist – that recognises why you do what you do, that’s just incredible. You look back at the journey and how far you’ve come and it’s pretty raw emotional stuff.”
Carey says he was chuffed that Hauraki Mayor Toby Adams – who also owns an electrical company – came up to congratulate the EAS team on the night.
“He told me it was so good to see a trades company up there on stage. So hopefully other tradies look at the awards and back themselves to enter next year. Really, we’re used to just getting on with fixing stuff, we’re not great at celebrating success. Hopefully our win sets the foundation for other tradies to jump in there.”
Don’t stop believin’! 8 in 10 Kiwis have had business ideas but held back by budget and self-belief
New Zealanders are known for their ingenuity and now new survey findings confirm that while the majority of us have had an idea for a business, only half follow it through to fruition.
The 2023 MYOB Belief Barometer provides a snapshot of the current state of the entrepreneurial spirit and self-belief amongst potential and existing business owners, and comes as MYOB draws focus to its strategic and technological transformation to a business management platform.
The survey of 1,000 adults (18 yrs+) from across New Zealand found potential business opportunities are seemingly endless, with more than 8-in-10 (85%) New Zealanders saying they’ve had an idea for a business, and more than three quarters (77%) of those surveyed saying they believed they are capable of starting a business. However, only half (50%) of those who have had an idea for a business, have taken action to start it.
So, what’s holding potential entrepreneurs back from bringing their ideas to life? Not having the financial backing or support to pursue the idea was
the number one reason (55%), followed by time commitments (47%) and a fear of failure (42%).
Similarly, greater financial security (67%) and the confidence to back themselves (47%) were the top two choices when respondents were asked what would have made the most difference to them actually pursuing their idea to start a business.
MYOB spokesperson Jo Tozer says while it’s no surprise that finances were the biggest hurdle, acting on the strength of their belief in their idea to explore avenues that could help them overcome these barriers could unleash the opportunities people are hoping for.
“Innovation is part of our DNA in New Zealand, and we see this every day in the range of SMEs that provide the backbone to our economy - but it’s brilliant to see that more widely, such a significant proportion of New Zealanders
have considered starting a business. What’s key is having that confidence to back themselves. When armed with self-belief and the right tools
holding back some potential entrepreneurs, more than a third (37%) of business founders who took the plunge to start a business said they were
and support, we could easily see more of these ideas make it past a chat around the BBQ.”
Moving past the start line
Despite confidence levels
extremely or very confident that their first business would succeed, followed by 40% who were moderately confident.
Asked who they would
credit with being their biggest believers (supporters) when they started their first business, most Kiwi entrepreneurs said their partner (39%) while just slightly less (36%) said they were their own biggest supporter, and 31% said they had a supportive friend.
Further highlighting the importance and value of mindset and self-confidence, self-belief was also ranked consistently by those respondents who have started a business, as one of the top three factors influencing how well their first business did. Also credited as being influential to their business success were loyal customers, and their work ethic/ commitment.
I’ve got no doubt that there are some absolute game-changing ideas out there and it would be a shame for these start-up dreams to be left unrealised because of any self-doubt in this area. This is precisely why MYOB has evolved into a platform that
streamlines key business workflows - bringing everything together in one place where business owners can manage their entire business. We want to empower business owners to feel confident in their decisions and focus on unlocking their potential, so we’ve done the legwork for them.
“Starting a business is not only a big commitment but a very brave one – particularly in a time packed with economic challenges and uncertainty,”
Tozer says.
“We know that what can often start out as a passion project or developing something unique to help others can very quickly evolve into much more, and with that growth comes even more responsibility – like getting finances and reporting sorted for tax time, or managing inventory and sales. The thought of this can be incredibly daunting and it’s important to recognise that business management doesn’t come naturally for everyone.
Kihikihi site eyed for housing, skatepark
More housing – and a potential new site for a skatepark – are on the cards for Kihikihi.
Council’s Finance and Corporate Committee recently approved the first step in developing the four hectare Stockade Reserve in the centre of town.
The reserve bordered by Whitmore, Hall, Grey and Rolleston Streets has been identified as a potential site for new housing. Consideration will also be given to building a brand new skatepark on the site. Other potential sites for a skatepark, already investigated in Kihikihi, have so far proven unsuitable.
Council’s deputy chief executive Ken Morris says Stockade Reserve has historically been used by Riding for the Disabled. But a recently purchased council-owned property in Kihikihi’s Herbert St would be made available for riding, freeing
Stockade Reserve up for much needed housing and the promised skatepark.
“It’s early days so there’s a lot of work to do yet. But the decision to fund a masterplan for the site means we can now take the first step to see what can be achieved.”
Morris confirmed there were no plans for high-density housing on the site which also accommodates existing council water infrastructure. He says it was too early to say how many houses, and of what type, might be built. That would emerge when a masterplan from Waipā-based architects was complete. Community consultation would be a critical part of drafting a masterplan.
A masterplan was unlikely to be available before August this year.
Council’s vision is for pleasant, medium density housing that would be designed alongside the community.
We don’t want is something plonked in the middle of town that’s not supported.
Boon Street brightens up Dinsdale
The
TThinking about starting a business ‘for good?’
Here are five essentials to get right.
Bill Gates was once a guest on David Letterman’s Netflix show, My Next Guest. One of the dialogues from that episode stuck with me. Letterman was trying to impress Bill Gates with his clever thoughts about what sort of businesses Bill should invest in. Needless to say, they were awful – albeit funny - ideas. After a few wild suggestions, Bill politely nods and says: “Having the idea is the easy part.”
Why did that stick with me?
Probably because it’s so true. Over the years, I’ve often come up with interesting ideas. It’s usually met with an eye-roll from my wife and All Good Ventures co-founder, Heather Claycomb.
But to my credit, some of my ideas have actually been good. In the mid-90s, after being frustrated with my car windscreen always being dusty, I thought that a readyto-use window-cleaner wipe would be a good idea. Cue the eyeroll from Heather. Five years or so later, windscreen ready-to-use cleaning wipes hit the scene. Ten years ago, I commented that an automated
writing software should be something Heather’s communications business should develop to streamline their team’s writing process. Cue her eyeroll. Of course, AI tools like Chat GPT are now revolutionising the way people search and write.
My point? The idea is the easy part. It takes a lot of time, effort, money and perseverance to deal with all of the setbacks that come along with actually creating a profitable, sustainable business out of a great idea.
Our family charity, All Good Ventures is about to launch its fifth round of funding and support for social entrepreneurs. Every year, we have no shortage of good ideas. And many good ideas that, if successfully implemented, would benefit many deprived people in New Zealand around the world. The challenge for us, as an enabling organisation, is becoming clearer every year: How do we choose the entrepreneurs who will turn their idea into reality?
From our experience supporting 14 social entrepreneurs, across seven countries to start new businesses for
good, we’ve seen first-hand five critical attitudes and principles founders must adopt to be successful.
• The idea’s the easy part –Yes, I’m going to bang on about that one first. Why? Because it is most important that you realise this upfront. The hard part is yet to begin. And it will get boring, and it will get tedious. And, as your lofty and gallant vision of using your idea to help people in need turns into a strategy and a five-year plan, you will eventually need to decide what you’re going to do for the next 12 weeks. And the next 12 weeks. And the next. And so on. Take a reality check right up front and decide, “Can I actually take my vision for social good and focus myself on execution?” If you burn out easily after ‘the easy part,’ this attitude is a red flag.
• Your expectations for progress will always exceed reality – Kevin Costner had a great line in an old movie, Field of Dreams. “If I build it, they will come.” This translates into, “Just build the business or product and people will buy it.” My experience with business start-ups
is that this rarely happens. For most of us, and especially those of you who haven’t built an enterprise before, there will be numerous unforeseen steps. There will be competition. You will need long-term sustainable profit to give you the flexibility to achieve your expectations. The process will be slower and more expensive than you ever thought. Are you ready for the challenge?
• Social entrepreneurship cannot be a ‘side hustle’
– This is related to my first two points. I will put it more bluntly. Can you work at least 30 hours a week in the business for two years without remuneration? Are you able to do this amongst all of the other obligations in your life? Can you focus your efforts firstly on getting to a stage where your business idea can actually pay you what you need? And can your business idea support you at the same time as it is supporting those ‘in need’ either through working in your business or being part of your supply chain?
• Profit cannot be sacrificed – Since our inception, All Good Ventures has existed to support seed funding for social entrepreneurs just starting out. What we’ve seen over the first four years is that the profits in a social enterprise typically need to be higher than normal businesses. One-for-one models, giveaways, and catering to vulnerable communities all require higher margins to achieve your ‘higher’ goals. And don’t be fooled into selling your social goal as a competitive advantage – that benefit only goes so far. I’m going to be a bit controversial here, but a prevailing attitude we are seeing in the social enterprise sector is that the sole business focus should be on: ‘people not profit’ or ‘planet not profit.’ Alternatively, All Good Ventures preaches: ‘people by profit’ and ‘planet by profit.’ Are you prepared to embrace profitability and strive like mad to achieve it? Because if you’re not, you’re basically setting yourself up for short stint in business, with the loser being the people you set out to help in the first place.
• Grants are not part of the sustainable strategy –There is so much grant money sloshing around these days in the social enterprise space that it’s easy to get lulled into striving for the big checks to flood in. It is a trap. As soon as the grant money lands, the focus often shifts to the grant money running out! This in turn takes your focus and time away from building the business. Don’t get me wrong - grants can be a crucial part of building the foundation. But there are some caveats that we’ve seen derail entrepreneurs’ focus. Is a part of your idea driven by how much grant money or funding you can get for your idea? If so, I would suggest imagining a space where there is no grant money and asking if your idea can succeed without it. If you’ve started 2023 with a great idea for a social enterprise, I urge you to think carefully about these five points. If you think you can conquer each, then give it a go!
All Good Ventures is a registered NZ charity founded in 2018. It supports social entrepreneurs to start businesses for good with money (grants), mentorship, and muscle (in-kind support): www.allgood.ventures. It has supported 14 enterprises in seven countries and on 1 March its 2023 support and grant round opens to new applications.
Art by Zarna Torpey
Art by Leilani Shaw
Art by Tony Diaz
Art by Te Marunui Hotene
Brya Rose Pounamu Wharekawa
Rod Claycomb, founder of All Good Ventures
“Fosters are a reputable company. They do what they say they will, give good advice and when they need expertise, they’re not afraid to go out and get it.”
Impressed with Foster Group’s seamless execution of their earlier warehouse extension project in Te Rapa, Merv and Lorraine Owsley knew who to call after scoping a new investment property near Hamilton airport.
“Fosters was one of three building companies to tender for our Te Rapa project and their presentation was second to none,” Merv said.
“We were impressed from the word go; they were an exceptional company to work with. So when we decided to build a new warehouse at Rukuhia, we didn’t even go out to tender. We started with an empty site, gave Fosters our ideas and engaged them to do a total design and build, with our input.”
Merv and Lorraine are delighted with their new development at 32 Ingram Rd, Rukuhia, which features nearly 3000m² of warehouse space, a large canopy area and a high-spec office building. Concreting around the entire 7500m² site provides easy vehicle access.
The couple particularly appreciated Fosters’
collaborative approach and extensive network of industry contacts, engaged to ensure the project’s design was examined from every angle.
“At times there would have been up to 10 people providing input in the meeting room, all giving their expertise and advice,” Merv said.
“You’ve got to go to the right people to get the right information, and Fosters did that very, very well.”
The warehouse, finished in November 2022, was completed on budget and ahead of time, allowing the couple’s first tenant to move in a month earlier than planned.
Merv believes honesty is one of the Foster Group’s key strengths.
“Fosters are a reputable company. They do what they say they will, give good advice and when they need expertise, they’re not afraid to go out and get it,” he said.
