Business East Tamaki - Summer 2023 by Business East Tamaki

Summer 2023

Business awards SPONSORED BY

East Auckland Business Awards

Transport: A Travel Plan for East Tāmaki

Sustainability: Unpacking the buzzword

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Contents

Welcome from the Chair

Past Events

Business ET News

Crime Prevention: Police Update

Community: Local Board

East Auckland Business Awards

Advocacy: Fringe Benefit Tax

Business Profile: The Good Vibes Company

Business Profile: AIS Global Group

Employment: Gen Z

Employment: A recruiter with a difference

Transport: A travel plan for East Tāmaki

Sustainability: Unpacking the buzzword

Summer reading picks

Transport and Roading: Eastern Busway Update

Business Awards

Inaugural EAST AUCKLAND

BUSINESS AWARDS 2024 SPONSORED BY

Advocacy: Fringe Benefit Tax

Business Profile: AIS Global Group

Sustainability: Unpacking the buzzword

Transport and Roading: Eastern Busway Update

Thanks to our Sponsors PLATI N U M SP ONSOR

GOLD SPONSOR

SI LV E R SP O N SO R S

Business East Tāmaki

B RO N Z E SP O N SO R S

EAST AUCKLAND

BUSINESS AWARDS 2024 SPONSORED BY

! n e p O s e i r t n E With the election now in the rear-view mirror, what impact do we see this having on industrial property? Markets reward certainty and with a change of government imminent, parties are ready to act with more conviction. We have a number of vendors and purchasers ready to move so expect a busy end to the year. With all that in mind, now is the time to get an obligation-free market appraisal to understand the value of your property. We’re proud to bring you the East Auckland Business Awards 2024. To see the awards categories and enter your business, please visit: awards.businesset.org.nz

Boundary lines are indicative only

East Tamaki 2/23 Springs Road

East Tamaki 2 Reg Savory Place

East Tamaki E/49 Springs Road

$14,000,000

$1,175,000

$2,100,000

FOR SALE

Boundary lines are indicative only

East Tamaki C/11 Blackburn Road

East Tamaki B/166 Harris Road bayleys.co.nz/1904893

bayleys.co.nz/1904886

$3,758,000

Tim Koning

James Hill

Scott Campbell

East Tamaki 107 Harris Road

Tim Bull

Mike Marinkovich

027 286 0011 021 599 529 021 414 107 021 127 1831 021 779 117 tim.koning@bayleys.co.nz james.hill@bayleys.co.nz scott.campbell@bayleys.co.nz tim.bull@bayleys.co.nz mike.marinkovich@bayleys.co.nz

Welcome from the Chair Kia Ora, Nga Mihi Ehoa, Committee Elected Members Brendan Kelly Chairman

Henry Jansen Secretary

Lisa Murphy Treasurer

Nick Biland

To kick off this Summer edition of Business East Tāmaki I’d like to thank all of you who participated in the just-completed AGM. This is a statutory requirement where we vote to approve the last AGM Minutes, the Annual Report and Financial Statements for the past financial year, the 2023-25 Business Plan, this year’s budget and our proposed 2% rate increase for the 2024-25 rates cycle.

Committee Member

Lucy Hall Committee Member

Andrew Turner Committee Member

Alan Lun Committee Member

Tim Bull Committee Member

Cozy Tsui Committee Member

Local Board Representatives Bo Burns Howick

Apulu Reece Autagavaia Otara, Papatoetoe

Business East Tāmaki Team Ruth White General Manager

Shanu Gounder Marketing, Communications and Events Manager

Karen Hadley Operations Manager

Julie Davies

Last year, we made a minor trading loss of $30K, due to decreased revenue from our Business Breakfast events; this deficit has been funded from reserves. The deficit has been the driver for the minor increase in the targeted rate over two years, which recovers less than the CPI inflation rate. We also took the opportunity to recognise the contribution of Nick Steele, outgoing board member and welcome Lucy Hall, GM of Health Improvement Group, who was successfully nominated to join the board.

Business East Tāmaki, in conjunction with Howick Village and our event sponsor Bayleys, has launched the inaugural East Auckland Business Awards and, as we go to print, entries will be closing. We’ll then move to the review and judging process, culminating in our Business Awards Dinner on March 20th 2024. These awards are a great way to acknowledge and recognise our local businesses and leaders who do Business East Tāmaki every day. I would like to thank sponsors, Bayleys and Howick Local board, category sponsors and judges for their support in making these awards happen. After our elections, and while we wait to see the shape of our next Government, the outlook we expect for future business seems at last more positive, and we hope to see improvements in the economic outlook throughout 2024. I hope you enjoy this issue, and that Business East Tāmaki sees the growth that Governmental change will bring.

Our recent Transport Breakfast was a great success, with Auckland Transport’s CEO, Dean Kimpton who talked about his vision for Auckland Transport; there was also a presentation by AT’s TravelWise team, who have been working hard on our recent Transport Survey and Travel Plan. See more about these developments on pages 22 and 23. The Transport Breakfast was also supported by Simeon Brown, National‘s Transport spokesperson and soon-to-be Minister of Transport. The Transport Working Group, comprising of several local businesses, has made huge strides in giving input, developing and moving our agenda of issues forward to AT’s TravelWise team. We encourage all our local businesses to participate and engage with this project, as we soon hope to be notching up some identified quick wins.

Brendan Kelly Chairman, Business East Tāmaki

Administrator

Editor Rachel Sturges rachelsturges@gmail.com

Upcoming events 08 March

International Women’s Day Event, BNZ Partners Centre, Highbrook

13 March

First Aid Level 1 Course, Fisher House

14 March

Meet Your Neighbours, hosted by Armstrong’s Mazda

20 March

East Auckland Business Awards, Pakuranga Rugby Club

Graphic design Chris Phillips | Design Distillery chris@designdistillery.co.nz Advertising enquiries Shanu Gounder p 09 273 6274 e comms@businesset.org.nz PO Box 58260 Botany Auckland 2163

For more information and/or reserve your spot visit our website at businessET.org.nz/whats-on

businessET.org.nz Business East Tāmaki

PAST EVENTS

Transport Breakfast with Dean Kimpton

11 October, Howick Club, sponsored by RSM

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PAST EVENTS

Meet Your Neighbours

Nautech Business Showcase

26 October, The Brook, Highbrook

01 November

Buying or Selling a Business?

Do it with your local specialist

Daren Leng East Tamaki Business Broker

021 0278 6045

darenl@abcbusiness.co.nz ABC BUSINESS SALES LIMITED LIC REA 2008

BUSINESS EAST TĀMAKI NEWS

What the future holds for Business East Tāmaki At our Annual General Meeting in October, Business East Tāmaki presented its Business Plan for the two years between July 1st 2023 and 30th June 2025. The plan is divided into three pillars: Advocacy, Leadership and Member Value. Our objectives and initiatives stem from information gathered in member surveys, as well as our five-year vision and purpose.

FIRST PILLAR

SECOND PILLAR

THIRD PILLAR

Advocacy

Leadership

Member Value

Shared objectives - work in partnership with central and local government by lobbying on issues chosen by the business community. Includes working with Local Boards on shared objectives: •

Improved public transport.

•

Reducing waste to landfill.

•

Crime prevention initiatives.

•

Advocating for crucial infrastructure upgrades and improvement in freight and commuter connectivity.

Infrastructure and Transport - a continued focus on infrastructure and influencing transport decisions, enabling our businesses to operate more efficiently.

Social equity and diversity - engage our Māori, Pasifika and ethnic communities by creating opportunities in East Tāmaki businesses.

Youth - connect our local youth and work-ready students with East Tāmaki employers.

Representing the interests of our business community in the Eastern Busway Project and Airport to Botany Transit Project. Continuing our work with the Sustainable Transport Project. 3.

Environment and biodiversity - in partnership with our Local Boards, prioritising green spaces and healthy waterways, including working with local businesses and environmental organisations on new biodiversity initiatives.

Sustainability - promote sustainability and lead positive change within the business community. Actioning the agreed 2024 deliverables as part of the Sustainable Transport Project. (See our article on pages 22 and 23 to read more about this initiative) Collaboration - develop relationships and establish collaborative agendas with key influential stakeholders; developing a leadership voice on issues important to our business community. - in partnership with Howick Village Business Association and Howick Local Board, promote our businesses and celebrate their successes through the successful delivery of an East Auckland Business Awards event to be held in March 2024. (Read more about this on pages 12 - 15)

Employment Hub - work with local education providers and agencies to better connect employment seekers to job opportunities in the area in order to address the skills shortage.

Inform and Educate - offer a broad range of learning opportunities through our event and education programmes and publications.

Grow Business East Tamaki's profile

Business Resilience - work with our partners to establish the tools and resources required to embrace disruption, adapt, transform and future proof our businesses. - support a safe, secure and resilient business area.

Member Engagement - provide the platforms for the local business community to connect and share knowledge. - support Business Growth and Opportunity and look to see improvements in the Net Promoter Score Survey (NPS).

Wellbeing - promote and enable business change through wellbeing initiatives.

Through the delivery of these three key strategic goals, our purpose is to extend the potential of East Tāmaki businesses, property owners and their people through knowledge, collaboration and engagement.

Business East Tāmaki

BUSINESS EAST TĀMAKI NEWS

Business East Tāmaki Executive Committee update At October’s AGM we farewelled and thanked long-standing committee member, Nick Steele, and we welcomed new member, Lucy Hall, into the role. Nick, who has served on the committee for the last five years, is the Managing Director of East Tāmaki-based Boyd Workspaces, which design, source and supply innovative workspace products. On farewelling Nick, Committee Chair, Brendan Kelly, described him as astute, considered, moderating, fair, supportive and challenging. “Nick has been the man to reality check, be the devil’s advocate and counter-balance the ‘team mood.’ He is moving on to create more time for other charity work and we wish him every success and thank him for his contribution.” In-coming Committee Member, Lucy Hall, is the General Manager of Health Improvement Group, the owner operator of Highbrook Medical GP Group. Formerly a practising physiotherapist, Lucy has been in the role since 2019, after over 20 years of management

roles for Counties Manukau District Health Board (as it was known then). In addition to healthcare roles, Lucy and her husband have been SME business owners in the Alfriston area for over 10 years. She says they know the opportunities and the challenges of being a small business owner as well as the importance of “supporting local.” “With my health background, I believe I can add value to the committee by bringing my experience and connections from regional and national health networks in building an increasing awareness of, and tangible actions towards, enabling the East Tāmaki business community to thrive with a strong and resilient workforce. “It will be an amazing opportunity to work with the Business East Tāmaki committee and give back to the business community that has been influential in supporting a new business owner to establish a footprint and grow.” New committee member, Lucy Hall.

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CRIME PREVENTION

Update from Inspector Rakana Cook Area Prevention Manager for Counties Manukau East

Police gear up for summer Police are gearing up for the summer ahead, with more people travelling around the country and out and about enjoying themselves. They’ll be patrolling roads, beaches and public spaces to prevent crime and keep people safe. “Enjoy yourself. Everyone’s been through a lot over the last year or so – Covid, the floods, a terrible summer – but still be mindful of keeping yourselves and your properties safe.” Raks Cook

“The main message to everybody is: Enjoy yourselves but be safe.” Operation Beaches to continue this summer Operation Beaches has been an on-going initiative at Maraetai, Beachlands and along the Pohutukawa Coast, resulting in a reduction of crimes on these beaches. It mainly involves delivering educational messages about the alcohol ban, parking, freedom camping and noise. Set up as a partnership between Auckland Council, which works with local Police on combined checkpoints, it also includes other agencies such as Crimewatch Patrols, Auckland Transport and the Ministry of Fisheries.

Christmas, New Year, Holidays and Alcohol We all want to celebrate at Christmas and New Year, as well as socialise and relax during the summer months but remember, one of the biggest contributors to public disorder events and accidents on our roads is alcohol. Over the summer months people are getting out and about and drinking more. The main message is to enjoy but don’t overindulge - Keep Yourself Safe! •

Don’t drink and drive

•

Get a taxi or Uber driver

•

Have a sober driver

Crime prevention over summer If you’re going away over Christmas/New Year/Summer Holidays and want to prevent burglaries at your property, follow these tips: •

Ask your family or a trusted neighbour to keep an eye on your house generally, and collect post.

•

It’s obvious, but make sure everything is locked up – check every door and window.

•

Close curtains so people can’t see in.

This initiative will continue for the coming summer in 2023/24.

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Business East Tāmaki

The public are the eyes and ears of the community: Call 105 to log a report, so Police can build up a picture of crime patterns to investigate and make arrests. Call 111 if there’s an immediate danger to property or people. Call Crime Stoppers 0888 555 111 if you wish to remain anonymous. Ensure your CCTV cameras are working and placed in optimal positions

Travel over the holiday period Be patient, take your time, don’t put yourselves at risk. return home safely.

Illegal street activity – prevention is proactively strategic Illegal Street racing and dirt bike activity continue in the Business East Tāmaki precinct and there is a dedicated Police prevention team dealing with these issues. Intelligence is being used to identify trends and patterns of behaviour and tactically deploy resources to areas as events occur. Results are being achieved and people being held to account. Although Police are unable to completely wipe out this behaviour, through intelligence and information received, they are able to deal with it more proactively. “We still need members of our community to call 111 if they observe illegal street racing or dangerous riding in their area” says Raks.

COMMUNITY

Howick Local Board - community at the heart of our work Last time we wrote about the difficulties Howick Local Board was facing in terms of budget cuts around Auckland Council’s Annual Budget. There is an inevitable temptation to play the ‘poor us’ card, but at the end of the day no-one is exempt from financial reality, and we have just got on with our work. That has seen us recently adopt the Howick Local Board Plan 2023. It’s an incredibly important part of what we do because the plan – which is required by law - sets out our goals for our area. This plan has a strong focus on transport connectivity, climate action and an improved environment, but also on investment to secure business opportunities. Like any elected body should, we listened to what residents, and what we call stakeholders – such as the business community, told us should be priorities. For the remainder of our term those priorities are Māori outcomes, climate action and our people, environment, community, places and economy.

Our chair, Damian Light, says the community remains at the heart of the Board’s work. “That work includes aiming for better transport facilities and backing our town and business centres. “A strong business community underpins what we do, so our economy needs to flourish to support jobs and serve the community. “We’ll promote local businesses, Business Improvement Districts (BIDs), facilitate local youth employment and look for tourism opportunities. “We believe our plan sends a strong signal that we take our decision-making seriously, with aspirational and practical goals that will continue to challenge us to work innovatively and do more with less.” We must look ahead, and to that end members recently visited Watercare’s Redoubt Road construction site. With the city expecting another million inhabitants within three decades, we can’t take things like providing water lightly.

The new reservoir is going to hold 45 million litres of water and is one of a suite of major infrastructure projects the Council is working on. Few of us ever get the chance to get up close to a project like this and experience it taking shape. “We’ve seen massive growth in our area, especially in Flat Bush and Ormiston, and we know there’s more to come,” Light says. All that remains now, is to wish everyone the best for the festive season. We look forward to working alongside the business community in 2024 to make our area even more successful than it already is.

BUSINESS AWARDS

l a r u g u Ina

EAST AUCKLAND

BUSINESS AWARDS 2024 SPONSORED BY

The inaugural East Auckland Business Awards recognise, highlight and showcase the best of our vibrant and diverse business community. At the heart of our awards programme lies a commitment to showcasing the accomplishments that define East Auckland’s dynamic business community. We understand that every business is unique, facing its own set of challenges and opportunities. The East Auckland Business Awards honour your hard work, dedication and the innovative spirit that sets you apart from the rest. With Bayleys as the overall sponsor, the awards are separately sponsored by a different business, each a stand-out in its own industry.

Our award judges are:

These awards are a chance for businesses to:

Excellence in Community Impact Ranjna Patel - ONZN, QSM

•

Celebrate success – a chance to shine: Whether it’s a start-up making waves or an established enterprise with a storied history, we believe their accomplishments deserve recognition.

Excellence in Professional Services Sharn Rayner – Two Tides Consulting

•

Gain valuable exposure and recognition: Not only locally, but throughout the entire business community.

Excellence in Innovation Catherine Lye - CEO, Advanced Manufacturing Aotearoa

•

Showcase innovation: In the spotlight for pushing the boundaries and reshaping industries.

Excellence in Healthcare Dr Will Reedy – Health Lead and Leadership Accenture Aotearoa and Global Health Accenture

•

Elevate a brand: An enduring mark of excellence that can help a business to attract new customers, investors and partners.

Best New Business Anna Stove – Chair and Independent Director

•

Promote and attract the best and brightest talent: A business can position itself as a leading workplace, with a call to join the ranks of those who care to dream and deliver.

•

Network and connect: A unique opportunity for businesses to network and connect with other entrepreneurs, industry leaders and like-minded professionals.

Excellence in Sustainability Alec Tang – Partner at KPMG

Excellence in Industry and Manufacturing Jim Doyle – Director, Consultant, Mentor Excellence in Hospitality Steve Armitage (Ngāpuhi) – Managing Director, Daylight Consulting Company Excellence in Retail Nikki Langford - Marketing Manager for Botany Town Centre and Manukau Supa Centa

The Awards Ceremony will take place on Wednesday March 20th 2024, and are a collaboration between the Business East Tāmaki and Howick Village Associations, sponsored by Bayleys and supported by the Howick Local Board. To find out more, go to awards.businesset.org.nz. See pages 13-15 to read more about the award categories and their sponsors.

Business East Tāmaki

BUSINESS AWARDS

SUPR E M E AWA R D FO R

Best Business For overall impact, innovation and excellence.

sponsored by RSM As a team of accounting and taxation specialists, we value delivering innovative solutions, lasting value and confidence. We believe that people, clients, tech and solutions are at the core of outstanding business and we want to represent that with our support for this award. We love our ecosystem and have great pride in the East Auckland community, especially in Highbrook, where our peers range from multinationals to SMEs - they all do amazing work. We really value our relationships so appreciate the chance to showcase their work too!

E XCELLE N C E IN

Innovation Celebrating and honouring businesses that have demonstrated exceptional creativity, ingenuity, and forward-thinking in their pursuit of innovation.

sponsored by Nautech Electronics Nautech Electronics believes that innovation is the key to progress and prosperity. It’s the driving force behind advances in technology and science, reshaping industries and improving our quality of life; it’s the engine for economic growth. It empowers businesses and adapts to changing markets, creating new opportunities and jobs. It fosters efficiency, helping organisations to reduce costs and waste, while improving product quality and customer satisfaction. We’re proud to sponsor this award because we understand the vital role innovation plays in our industry and indeed in every industry. It has been the cornerstone of our success at Nautech. By supporting this award, we are playing a small part in fostering a culture of creativity and continuous improvement in East Tāmaki and beyond. We hope that celebrating achievements in innovation will inspire others to push the boundaries of what is thought possible and produce products and services that benefit society as a whole.

E XCELLE N C E IN

HOSPITALITY A chance to stand out in a competitive industry, inspire excellence and be celebrated for dedication to creating an exceptional guest or customer experience.

sponsored by Quest Highbrook Quest Highbrook participates in the hospitality sector as East Tāmaki’s largest accommodation provider with 121 rooms. However, hotels and accommodation are a small subset of the hospitality arena, where they depend for their very existence on other hospitality providers. These include restaurants, cafes and bars, conferencing, events, tourism and tour operators, laundries and other catering suppliers. This year with the cost of living squeeze, it has been very hard for restaurant, café and bar operators to survive, let alone thrive. We are proud to sponsor the category recognising excellence across the board in hospitality; searching for those businesses that stand out in a competitive industry, inspiring excellence and celebrating them for their dedication to creating exceptional guest or customer experiences.

E XCELLE N C E IN

Industry and Manufacturing Celebrating and honouring businesses that have demonstrated outstanding achievements, innovation, and leadership within the field of industry and manufacturing.

sponsored by The Rotary Club of Howick

Howick Rotary has been serving the community for 63 years, and over that period of time has initiated a huge variety of projects that help families in need, improve the environment, support heritage and develop young people; it also runs and assists in local events. The club has constantly punched above its weight by helping to make the local community a great place to work and live. A recent example of this was our annual Bookarama fundraising event. The Howick Fun Walk & Run, and Blankets 4 Kids 4 Winter projects are set for the first half of 2024. It is with this background and history of making a difference that the club is sponsoring the Excellence in Community Impact Award, to encourage companies, charities and other local entities to contribute to the overall wellbeing of the community. Through initiating a new Rotary Corporate Membership category, we also want to widen the network of organisations that can work with us, strengthening our ability to provide long-term benefits for the community.

E XCE LLE N C E IN

RETAIL Celebrating and honouring businesses for their outstanding achievements and innovations in the retail sector.

sponsored by Spark Retail Hub Auckland South

As the proud owner of Spark Business Auckland South, we're excited to be a sponsor for these awards. Our customers include not-for-profits and SMEs, many of whom have retail locations. Local ownership and operation, along with a dedicated local team providing face-to-face service, highlights the strong community connection that Spark Business Auckland South has. This community focus has greatly contributed to the success of our business, and our ability to understand and cater to the unique needs of our customers in the East & South Auckland region. Even though we’re not part of Spark Retail, we recognise the tireless work that goes into the retail sector in NZ and how crucial it is to our economy. Retail and B2B are similar in that we're all servicing customers to provide them with relevant products and services, all with a smile on our faces! Our support as a sponsor can hopefully help further promote and celebrate the efforts of the retail industry within the East Tamaki and Howick Business communities.

Business East Tāmaki

Helping build sustainable business, and sustained success. Business East Tāmaki is here to make it easier to do business; working alongside business leaders and property owners in the region on security, advocacy, development and growth.

businessET.org.nz

ADVOCACY

On your bike! In most urban areas of Auckland, like East Tāmaki, it is likely that the public transport fringe benefits exemption will be widely available in practical terms, with sufficient public transport being an option for employees commuting to and from work.

Public transport and bikes now exempt from fringe benefits tax Public transport, bikes and scooters, as well as micro-mobility share services (such as bikes and scooters), used mainly for commuting to and from work, have been made exempt from fringe benefit tax (FBT). These FBT exemptions will give employers more options when they are considering sustainable and climate-friendly efforts in their workplaces. The legislation making these changes took effect on 1 April 2023. Many employers already subsidise the commuting costs of their staff, for instance when commuting to work by car and providing employees with car parks. With this change, it could be time for you to reconsider employee vehicle and travel options. However, there are a few things to look at. •

•

Employer-provided bicycles, electric bicycles, scooters, electric scooters and other low-powered vehicles. This exemption also applies if the employer helps pay for certain vehicle share services for any of these modes of transport. When looking at the bike exemption, there could be options for employers to purchase the bike and immediately transfer ownership to an employee, or loan the bike to the employees rather than immediately transferring ownership, or to have the cost repaid over time by the employee.

Overall, the benefit to employees must not be cash. It must be in-kind.

By Dr Grant Hewison

Public transport fares - the new FBT exemption covers a fare for buses, trains and ferries for employees commuting to and from work. This can be in the form of a voucher or a loaded electronic ticketing card paid for by an employer. The exemption does not, however, cover transport options such as airfares, taxis and shuttles. For the FBT exemption to apply, if one of the above public transport options is used by an employee, the employer must purchase the card directly from the transport provider (such as Auckland Transport), and then give the card to the employee. This should give the employer a tax deduction, with no FBT or PAYE payable.

About the author: Dr Grant Hewison is the director of Grant Hewison and Associates Ltd, a firm specialising in local government and environmental, legal and consultancy services. Note that the above is not accounting advice, so please refer to your accountant for advice on your company’s own tax situation.

Business East Tāmaki

BUSINESS PROFILE

The Good Vibes Company

- Good Food, Great Vibes! We all know that good vibes are contagious, and if the positive energy and upbeat atmosphere of this business is anything to go by you’ll definitely be infected! The Good Vibes Company lives up to its name. Focused on healthy food and drink options for school children, the feel-good operation seeks to enhance well-being, give back to communities, build trust-based relationships and establish great partnerships. All of that - and a positive work culture for its staff too. The business was founded by owner Stefan Crooks, and is managed day-to-day by General Manager, Cameron Webb. Stefan says he took over the “struggling” business in 2019, which has gone from a “run-of-the-mill” school tuck shop supplier to one of the largest suppliers to school canteens; since they took it on, growth has quadrupled. Today, they’re the preferred supplier to over 200 Auckland and Hamilton Schools and a major food supplier to the Ka ora Ka ako Healthy School Lunches programme. “When we bought the business, we had a view to creating healthier tuck shops. We saw the way this system was failing the health of our kids and we were determined to re-educate young Kiwis around the way they eat,” says Stefan. Focusing on healthy food and drink is a no brainer for the self-described “force of nature”. Stefan had a Type-2 Diabetes scare a few years ago and resolved – and succeeded - to lose weight, eat healthily and improve his mental well-being. “What I didn’t know then is what I’m now teaching the next generation,” he says. The company's own brand of sugar-free sodas is also on the menu. Aptly called Vibe, the fledgling drinks venture has entered an exciting new partnership with Diabetes NZ, and its now available at schools and kura across New Zealand. Like many businesses, Stefan and Cam say staffing is their biggest challenge; the attraction and retention of staff is hard. “Across the board, it’s been about how they can get to work, the stress of it,” says Cam. While they grapple with staffing issues on a daily basis, another issue is the bureaucratic red tape which Stefan says “strangles the ability of businesses to operate”. Rising costs are also a headache, partly because of New Zealand’s geographic distance from the rest of the world. “Sometimes because of that you have to pay extra for what you need,” he says.. Stefan's energetic and inclusive leadership style is definitely appreciated by Cam, who used to work for one of the larger food retailers. He says he loves managing the business. “I’m allowed to make decisions without being shot down,” he says. For him, it’s important to “embed” himself in the business. “Do every job, so you understand all the roles. It’s not just telling people what to do, it’s understanding what they do,” he says. “It’s about making connections. It’s a business built and based on connections.”

Business East Tāmaki

Stefan Crooks is a self-described "force of nature'

VIBE is available in schools and in New World, Pak’nSave and Four Square stores. It’s also online at vibedrinks.co.nz Limiting sugar intake is pivotal to improving health outcomes in our community, reducing the risk of obesity, type 2 diabetes, and ultimately the long-term complications that can develop later in life. “VIBE was created to provide a great-tasting alternative to sugary drinks – one that allows kids to enjoy a carbonated drink full of New Zealand-made natural flavours, but with zero sugar,” says Stefan Crooks. Consumers want companies that adhere to a sustainable ethos. That’s why there’s no plastic used on VIBE products. The clear can design and branding highlights the aluminium-can packaging and encourages recycling.

BUSINESS PROFILE

AIS Global Group – enhancing your potential L-R John Perrott and Mike Milligan of AIS Global Group

For a business that started in 2017 with just three people sitting around a dining room table, the growth of AIS Global Group has been remarkable and far-reaching. The contracting and consulting business is now spread across four countries with over 300 full-time staff.

Lastly, AIS Recruitment & Migration Services, is an in-house recruitment team split between the AIS New Zealand and AIS Philippines offices. It provides bespoke end-to-end international recruitment, immigration, and migration solutions, with around 500 placements annually.

When you meet AIS Global Group’s owners and directors, Mike Milligan and John Perrott, you can see why the business is so successful. Not only commercially driven to make the business succeed and expand, they’re equally passionate about the strong family culture and community values within the business.

In 2024, they are looking to expand further. AIS China will operate in the Manufacturing and Import/Export areas, and in New Zealand they’re expanding into property development.

Mike says that the success of the business is closely bound to family values and the local community. From day one, they’ve contributed to local charities, and the AIS Compassion Movement (AIS’ own charity) supports many vulnerable tamariki throughout South Auckland, where Mike grew up. He says it’s important for him to give back. “We share our success with the community, so the better we do, the more we can volunteer and contribute financially.” There’s four named businesses in the AIS Global Group, operating throughout New Zealand, the Philippines, United Kingdom and Australia.

Mike and John met when they both worked for the same Auckland business over a decade ago. John then relocated back to the UK and Mike went to work in the Middle East; working there made him realise what worked well and how he would do things differently in his own business. When both he and John returned to New Zealand, they joined forces; with his background in human resources and recruitment and John’s background in the high voltage electrical industry, it just made sense. “We talked about our synergies in regards to our skills, and that’s what started the journey,” he says. Despite many setbacks, including Covid, Mike says that one of the reasons for the company’s success has been to just get on with it. “We’ve had a lot of spilt milk but we never cried over it. You just say, okay well, we’ve learnt from that, and we’re now better for it.

AIS Energy, which has 70 staff, is a high voltage electrical contractor which designs, builds and maintains electrical infrastructure. AIS Trades, with 200 staff, is a labour-only contractor specialising in commercial and residential construction and infrastructure. Their labour contractors, many from overseas, work on many complex projects, including some of New Zealand’s largest infrastructure initiatives.

“When we started our business journey, we had no idea we would be the size that we are now, or believe the size we could potentially be in the next 24 months - our businesses in the UK and Australia could be unrecognisable by then. “We appreciate that we’re still learning every day and don’t take any of our successes for granted. We wouldn’t be where we are today without our people.”

AIS Offshore Outsourcing employs 50 technical staff who are remotely contracted from the Manila offices to clients in New Zealand, Australia and the United Kingdom. They provide technical off-shore support including IT Network Engineers, CAD Designers, Quantity Surveyors, Marketing and even Data Entry operators. Business East Tāmaki

EMPLOYMENT

Developing Soft Skills in Gen Z: A Vital Investment for the Future As Generation Z enters the job market, it is becoming increasingly apparent that they are often lacking in ‘soft skills’. Skills that are not only crucial in the workplace but also fundamental in building healthy relationships, both personally and professionally. Generation Z (or ‘Gen Z’ as they’re colloquially known), born between the mid-1990s and early 2010s, has grown up in a world vastly different from previous generations. They are digital natives; immersed in technology from a young age. While they generally excel at texting and social media interactions, face-toface communication and effective written communication are skills that often need development. As they enter the workforce, they are often unaware of basic business nuances and professional etiquette required for effective communication, collaboration, and adaptability. These ‘soft skills’ encompass a broad range of personal attributes and interpersonal capabilities, including communication, teamwork, problem-solving, adaptability, creativity and emotional intelligence. A common theme emerging is that they are hesitant to pick up the phone or go and chat to someone in the office versus sending a Slack or an email. However, many employers report that the average Gen Z employee is eager to leave their home desk behind and come into the office. This provides a great opportunity for them to learn from others and maximise training opportunities. Kerryn Strong, Co-Founder of Freerange Works, says that she is seeing an upward trend in employers responding to this next generation of graduates coming through by making proactive changes to their onboarding and induction programmes. “Businesses are incorporating more in-person sessions to their onboarding processes, emphasising buddy and mentor programmes, and introducing soft skills training workshops to address business fundamentals, including how to write professional emails, learning when to use emails versus instant messaging, and understanding the appropriate use of mobile phones during meetings.”

Sarah Brooke (left) and Kylee Dale of Freerange Works

Soft Skills Training is a simple, proactive fix that will help your younger staff members learn the basics of office etiquette. Such a programme can be tailor-made to fit the needs of your specific work environment, with office culture taken into account as well as the demographic of your clients. Most Gen Z’ers are fast learners, so a short series of training sessions should be all that is needed to help these workers flourish. Investing in the development of these skills is an investment in the future success and well-being of Gen Z and society as a whole. Effective training encourages them to think analytically, make informed decisions, and approach problems with a growth mindset. Workshops can also include sessions to help Gen Z develop emotional intelligence, enabling them to navigate workplace dynamics, handle stress, and build strong relationships with colleagues and clients. Whilst some employers could find it tempting to forego this generation altogether for more experienced hires, it should be said that without Gen Z, our current workforce is likely to age out over the next 20-30 years. Gen Z also has a lot to offer, with their unique perspective and fresh ideas, they have the potential to drive innovation. With a little help, this generation can become a huge asset to your business. To find out more about Freerange Works’ Onboarding or Induction programmes, and Soft Skills Training, contact Sarah Brooke on 021 432 448.

Outsourced HR services to meet your business needs Let us take care of the people, so you can focus on what you do best – growing your business! Contact us now for a free consultation: sarah@freerangeworks.co.nz | freerangeworks.co.nz

EMPLOYMENT

A recruiter

with a difference

Lisa Anderson had no idea that her name had been put forward for an award until she got a call telling her she was nominated, and then a finalist, in the SEEK Awards 2023 (SARA) for Recruitment Consultant of the Year 2023. When you meet her you find out why - she’s a recruiter with a difference. Lisa, who grew up in South Auckland, is the Branch Manager for Action Personnel in East Tāmaki and although she’s been in the recruitment industry for less than two years, she’s already made a significant difference to people’s lives. While 60% of her placements are straightforward ‘mainstream’ candidates, her passion is to advocate on behalf of, and work alongside, a team of work brokers helping candidates, who for various reasons are marginalised from the mainstream. This includes Māori and Pasifika, people who have had, or are living with, mental health issues, those who are neuro-diverse, disabled or even rehabilitating Corrections candidates. “There’s a candidate shortage and many employers have exhausted all possibilities,” she says. “They need to try something new and think outside the square. There’s plenty of able and willing applicants out there, be open and give them a chance. “By ignoring certain cultures, or people with mental or physical disabilities, you’re shutting out a huge part of the workforce that you could employ.” In her experience, many of the people she sees are desperate to work, and would be great employees, but they don’t get a look-in if they’re not considered mainstream candidates. She urges employers to have more of an open mind and talk to the candidate first; with just a few adjustments, the employer can put systems in place for that person and gain a loyal and appreciative team member. Working alongside many agencies, Lisa has built a base of contacts just like her, who go the extra mile for both the clients and the candidate to ensure they are a good fit. She says it does take time for some employers to realise that engaging a recruitment consultant makes sense. “Employers need good staff quickly, but they can only spend 10% of their time looking for someone. They put an advert on Seek or TradeMe, and hope for the best, and meanwhile they’re losing productivity and money. I spend 100% of my time on recruitment, I find suitable candidates quickly, pre-interview, drug test, police check and reference check them, so once I put them in front of employers they are ready to hit the ground running.” Lisa is very much a people person with a strong social conscience and she’s grateful she can do the rewarding job she does, meeting and matching whilst providing a wrap-around service.

New Zealand-owned and operated Action Personnel has been in the recruitment industry for 35 years and has teams throughout New Zealand. They have won several awards and also been finalists for the SARA Seek Awards in 2021, 2022 and now this year, with not only Lisa’s nomination, but Action Personnel General Manager, Erin Woods, a finalist in the Recruitment Leader of the Year category. Action Personnel can supply permanent, contract or temporary staffing solutions across blue and white collar industries in the private sector and, as a certified government Talent Acquisition Service (TAS), for government departments. To find out more, go to actionpersonnel. co.nz, or to call Lisa Anderson directly 09-320-4689.

“Action Personnel have given me the opportunity to do the work I want to do. Putting good people into good jobs. It gives me joy.”

Business East Tāmaki

TRANSPORT

First steps - a travel plan for Highbrook “East Tāmaki, New Zealand’s industrial and manufacturing power house, has earned a dubious distinction. It’s a place where the working day is inextricably tied to the car – given the limitations of current alternative transport options. So as a major employment hub, if the status quo continues, we have a real problem. It's limiting for employers to attract staff and it's limiting for employees if they don't have access to a car, or can't afford to put gas in the tank. And that's without even talking about the environment.” Ruth White – General Manager, Business East Tāmaki

Setting the scene – how have we got here?

First step - a Travel Working Group

Earlier this year, in an assessment of car-dependent commuter destinations, East Tāmaki came out top of 12 main urban centres throughout New Zealand – that’s to say, 94% of people who work in East Tāmaki travel by private vehicle everyday to and from work. The research measuring accessibility and how easy it is to get to work, was carried out by Waka Kotahi NZ Transport Agency.

Over the past few months, Business East Tāmaki and several local businesses have been working behind the scenes to advocate for better short and longer term transport solutions for our business community.

"I have the AT app. There are more days of notification of public transport issues than not. With work and home commitments I cannot afford to be stranded."

The East Tāmaki Sustainable Transport Forum includes local business members, such as Goodman Property, Fisher and Paykel Healthcare, NZ Post, Steel & Tube, OfficeMax, Howick Local Board, Ōtara-Papatoetoe Local Board and the Eastern Busway Alliance. One of the first steps has been to partner with the Travelwise team at Auckland Transport to develop and run a hybrid travel survey to get a handle on how and why people are travelling and where they're travelling from.

25,000 +

3rd

1st

East Tāmaki Employess

Largest employment area for Auckland

For proportion of car trips to a major employment area

Business East Tāmaki

TRANSPORT

Main points - survey results •

There were over 1,000 responses by employees from 100 businesses. A good response for a survey of this type.

•

89% of people travelled alone by private car, 7% carpooled and 4% used public transport.

•

What would encourage you to use public transport? Top answers were consistently reliability and high frequency.

•

Convenience, flexibility and weather were also a factor in the choice of using a private vehicle.

•

Survey responders were supportive of initiatives like carpooling and a privately funded shuttle in Highbrook.

A workable plan - focusing on the next two years

“A good Travel Plan is developed collaboratively. This is not just AT’s Travel Plan for Highbrook. This is Highbrook businesses’ Travel Plan and we’re just one of many stakeholders who will be involved in realising it.” Travelwise team – Auckland Transport

Vision 2024-2026: A Roadmap to Success Focus areas

Initiatives for 2024

1. Reduce amount of people driving to work by themselves

• • •

Investigate shuttle service from public transport hub(s) Approach funding sources for improvements like safe cycling routes Series of carpool matching events & investigate an app

2. Increase amount of people using East Tamaki bus services

• • •

A series of ‘new to public transport’ info sessions Introduction to transport information pack & incentives Regular public transport updates e.g., Rail rebuild

3. Create a vibrant place to work

• • •

Inter-business challenges such as Aotearoa bike challenge Schedule of networking events, including lunch time bike & scooter rides Newsletter spotlight of a business or employee

“The Travel Plan is not just going to be a document that sits on a shelf. We want it to be a live document. We want to have ongoing engagement with the businesses and employees in Highbrook.”

Some good news already for transport initiatives: •

Eastern Busway from Botany to Panmure, connecting with rail services, due for completion in 2027.

•

New frequent bus route in 2025 that will connect Puhinui, Manurewa, Highbrook and tie in with Eastern Busway at Burswood.

•

Howick Local Board Greenways Plan – implementing walking and cycling routes and connections in the Howick Village area.

Travelwise team – Auckland Transport

We welcome your support As a business precinct, our strength is through working as a collective and we would welcome your support, either from wanting regular updates to interest in joining our forum. You can get all project updates via our website businesset.org.nz, or if you would like to hear more about the forum, you can contact Ruth at gm@businessET.org.nz

Business East Tāmaki

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Goodman team contacts: Robyn Barfoot Portfolio Manager 021 428 446 Robyn.Barfoot@goodman.com Thomas Papesch Senior Property Manager 021 033 4267 Thomas.Papesch@goodman.com

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SUSTAINABILITY

Unpacking the sustainability buzzword Civil Contractors' NZ Technical Manager, Michelle Farrell, takes a deep dive into what ‘sustainability’ means, why it matters and what it might mean for the civil construction industry in New Zealand.

•

Michelle Farrell is the NZ Technical Manager for Civil Contractors NZ

• It seems that the more the word ‘sustainability’ is used, the less it means. Are we talking about the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, reducing carbon emissions or sustaining cashflow on balance sheets?

How can we unpack the buzzword? First, we need to understand that sustainability is not just about reducing effects on the environment; sustainability can refer to anything - a business, a lifestyle block, a bank account, a country or an industry. In other words, sustainability can have environmental, economic, social, human and cultural implications. We’re talking about a system, or in this case, a sustainable system.

What’s a sustainable system? •

Think of a bank account. Provided the money going into an account is the same as, or more than, the money going out of the account, the balance will either stay the same, or increase – this is a sustainable bank account.

Or, think of human resources in a business – if the number of new employees is less than the number resigning (and the work required remains the same), the business may become unsustainable over time i.e. the business cannot sustain itself in terms of the human resource, unless the amount of work decreases. Another example is a widget-making business which uses 100 units of resource to produce 100 units of widgets. If the number of resource units increase to 120, while still only producing 100 widgets, then the business may be losing too much money, people or other resources. It’s unsustainable and could eventually go bust.

“That’s why the sustainability concept can get confusing. We have what appears to be a sustainable business, but if we expand our thinking to include the energy resource, it can become an unsustainable system.” How to deal with the input and output of resources

Going further - renewable and non-renewable resources

If we assume that the input of resources is finite (fixed), we need to find ways to reduce the amount of resources we use:

We’ve looked at the basics of a sustainable system, but if we expand our thinking to include the energy resource, it can become an unsustainable system.

•

Efficiency – a more efficient process uses less resources.

•

Reduce, reuse, recycle – using less non-renewable resources or more renewable resources.

•

Resilience – if a hazard occurs wiping out a whole lot of resources, extra resources are needed just to repair the system, rather than for production.

•

Diversity – making sure all our eggs aren’t in one basket, so we have options if one resource becomes depleted or unavailable.

So, if a machine uses 100 units of energy to produce 100 units of product, this may initially seem like a sustainable system. But if coal is used to produce the energy, because we are removing coal from the earth, the coal’s system is a non-renewable resource, and the machine’s operation is unsustainable. On the other hand, if the wind or sun is being used to produce the energy, because the earth won’t run out of wind or sun, it’s therefore a renewable resource.

Business East Tāmaki

SUSTAINABILITY

This abridged article originally appeared in Civil Contractors New Zealand’s Civil Talk e-newsletter in July 2023. To read the full article, go to the news section at civilcontractors.co.nz.

retirement, physical and mental illness, is unsustainable. We need to make sure enough people are being trained up and the work they’re doing is interesting and safe enough to keep them in the industry, in order to sustain that industry.

The ultimate system Our ultimate system is the earth, including its atmosphere. Draw the boundary around earth’s atmosphere, and that’s where the system ends. As long as we’re not using more resources than the earth produces, then we are living sustainably.

Spoiler alert – we’re definitely not living sustainably! The carbon cycle

"Net zero emissions - when we’re depositing 100 units of carbon into the atmosphere, but we’re also planting enough trees to absorb 100 units of carbon over the same period."

•

Ensure the quality of what we’re building is good enough so it doesn’t need replacing too soon or is destroyed by a natural hazard.

•

Make sure we’re not producing excess waste that ends up in landfill, which is an unsustainable practice, because eventually we run out of space.

Sustainability and the environment

•

Innovate processes that don’t use as much finite resources.

Sustainability gets complicated when we’re talking about environmental effects. That’s because we’re referring to an eco-system, or a system that needs to be able to sustain itself without negatively impacting the environment around it.

Buzzword unpacked?

•

So why is the term sustainability used mostly in reference to carbon emissions? •

Carbon emissions are particularly important for the earth’s ecosystem, because if we’re depositing more carbon into the atmosphere (e.g. by using cars) than we’re removing (e.g. planting trees which store carbon), then the earth will cope by adjusting the climate to deal with the higher levels of carbon in the atmosphere – this is climate change.

•

A system producing toxic waste is not sustainable, because it’s releasing toxins into an adjacent eco-system which may be depleting that system’s resources. When we dig up a riverbank and sediment erodes into a stream, the sediment clogs up the stream, killing plants which are both eaten and which produce oxygen, therefore killing fish.

Hopefully, you now have a better understanding of why sustainability is such an important word; how systems work, what makes a resource finite, why efficiency, diversity and resilience are important, how adverse environmental effects can impact systems, how systems can adjust themselves to create a balance. And crucially, how systems are interrelated, and impacts to one system affect the balance of other systems. The earth is the ultimate system and will adjust accordingly to ensure its survival – with or without us. That’s why sustainability matters.

Sustainability and industry •

An industry that loses more workers than it gains, due to emigration,

Business East Tāmaki

SUSTAINABILITY

Keeping our waterways clean

We all work close to the Tāmaki Estuary and some of us also live and play on the estuary. But do we know what is actually going into the water? What are the risks of business pollution, and once we find these risks, what can businesses do to prevent accidental pollution? Since 2014, the East Tāmaki Pollution Prevention Programme has been educating local businesses and giving free advice about how to prevent stormwater pollution on their sites. Funded by Howick Local Board, the programme is run by Wilkinson Environmental Ltd which has recently been visiting local businesses in the area. East Tāmaki businesses handling oils, chemicals or in fact any material that can spill, are faced with the risk that these substances could accidentally enter our local waterways. Businesses are provided with information on how their site connects to the Tāmaki Estuary, and about common pollution risks. A site assessment is conducted for each business, with the focus on education, not enforcement, and encouraging businesses to manage their risks around water pollution.

•

Leaking rubbish bins - liquids should never be disposed of in outside skip bins, as these often have drain holes in the base and liquids will leak out and enter stormwater drains.

•

Plastic raw material and litter – stormwater drains in industrial areas can be a major source of marine litter.

In September this year, Phase 3 of the programme was rolled out, and the Wilkinson team have been visiting sites around East Tāmaki, including Allens Road and Springs Road.

Issues passed on to the Auckland Council Compliance team for further action include: •

An ongoing issue with pollution into the stream that runs by Greenmount Drive, with foam/bubbles noted recently.

•

A few issues with granite cutting companies (usually for kitchen benches) not properly containing the wastewater from cutting granite.

If you would like to find out more about the programme, or need advice, please contact Cushla Barfoot on 022 657 2132 or cushla@wenz.co.nz

The main on-going issues to date have been: •

•

No spill plan - many businesses have no spill equipment (such as a spill kit) and staff had not been trained to deal with spills. Risky storage - one of the biggest risks is the incorrect storage of bulk liquids. If you have drums or Intermediate Bulk Containers (IBCs) or any containers of liquids, they must be stored within secondary containment. This applies to almost all bulk liquids, including vegetable oils, biodegradable products, beverages, food ingredients and even milk products. Washing equipment or vehicles - some companies have been washing dirty equipment or vehicles outside with detergents, and wash water was flowing into stormwater drains. Even biodegradable or green carwash/ detergent should not enter these drains

What’s the difference between stormwater and wastewater? Sewage, or wastewater, from our homes and businesses, including from sinks, flows through the sewer to Watercare’s wastewater treatment plant in Māngere, where it’s safely treated and released back into the sea. Whereas rain that falls onto roofs, roads and yards enters stormwater drains and flows directly to the local waterway and the sea, without going through any treatment. Spills into this stormwater system can rapidly have a hugely negative impact on our local waterways and the sea.

Business East Tāmaki

TAKE A MINUTE

Knowing What We Know Studded with strange and fascinating details, Knowing What We Know is a deep dive into learning and the human mind. From the creation of the first encyclopaedia to Wikipedia, from ancient museums to modern kindergarten classes, this book is a brilliant and all-encompassing look at how humans acquire, retain, and pass on information and data, and how technology continues to change our lives and our minds. by Simon Winchester

Summer reading beckons As the warm days of summer arrive, we’re all looking forward to our well-earned holidays where the world seems to slow down and we have time for doing the things we love. The summer months beckon us to trade our everyday routines, whether that’s out on the water, lying on the beach, or tramping in the bush. There’s no better time to have that great book tucked away for a bit of escapism, so dive into the selection of the good books on offer from Poppies Howick. It’s a great place for gifts too – so start making that list!

5 Ingredients Mediterranean 5 Ingredients Mediterranean is a real celebration of hero Mediterranean flavours and ingredients; everything people loved about the first book but with the added va-va-voom of basing it on Jamie's lifelong travels around the Med. With over 125 utterly delicious, easy-to-follow recipes including salads, soups, sandwiches, pasta, veg, seafood, fish, meat and sweet things, you'll find something for every day of the week and every occasion. by Jamie Oliver

Rambling Man In Rambling Man, Billy takes us with him on his incredible journeys criss-crossing the world. But this is no conventional travel memoir. From Ireland to India, Australia to the Arctic, we join the Big Yin on an international voyage full of detours, digressions and the most eccentric of characters - all underscored by the chosen soundtrack of the ultimate ramblin' man himself. by Billy Connolly

Good Sports Be inspired by this collection of true stories about 50 remarkable Kiwi sports heroes - people who have set goals, aimed high and achieved their dreams. A real mixture of well-known and lesser-known stories, Good Sports is a powerful illustrated storybook celebrating Aotearoa's sporting heroes (and one horse!) that have achieved against expectations and the odds, and paved the way for others to succeed too. by Stuart Lipshaw

The Exchange It is now fifteen years after The Firm, and Mitch and Abby are living in Manhattan where Mitch is a partner at the largest law firm in the world. When a mentor in Rome asks him for a favour that will take him far from home, Mitch finds himself at the centre of a sinister plot that has worldwide implications - and once again endangers his colleagues, friends and family. by John Grisham

Poppies Howick 83 Picton St, Howick 2014 www.poppiesbooks.co.nz howick@poppiesbooks.co.nz 09 5329642

EXCITING CHRISTMAS EVENTS!

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Business East Tāmaki

EASTERN BUSWAY PROGRESS

The Eastern Busway

The Eastern Busway from Pakūranga to Botany is being built and is a significant project for East Auckland. When the busway is completed, it’ll make local trips easier and more efficient by providing better connections and sustainable travel options for walkers, cyclists, motorists, bus and train customers. The busway will create reliable transport services between Botany and Waitematā Station (Britomart) and will be an important part of the region’s rapid transport network. Pakūranga’s new connection A new road bridge (flyover) will be built above Reeves Road and across Tī Rākau Drive as part of the Eastern Busway project. It’ll provide a direct connection between Pakūranga Road and the South Eastern Highway to help ease congestion in east Auckland. We plan to start construction in early 2024 and it’ll take about two years to finish. Access will remain available to the Pakūranga town centre, neighbouring businesses and homes while the flyover is built. There’ll be some changes to the layout of local roads that will be advertised, including a new link from William Roberts Road to Tī Rākau Drive.

The future road bridge (flyover) above Reeves Road

Business East Tāmaki

EASTERN BUSWAY PROGRESS

Mana whenua partners and Eastern Busway Alliance members crossing Reeves Road, Pakūranga

Improving local sports facilities The Eastern Busway team is working with Fencibles United and Auckland Council to improve the sports field in Riverhills Park. Some of the open space will be used to build a new Gossamer Station for the busway and in return, the project is enhancing the park for the local community. The sports field will be modified, with a pitch being rotated and upgraded to include artificial turf and lights for training at night. A new path will wrap around the park giving the community a safe and pleasant walking route. The changes will ensure Fencibles United games can continue for years to come and the training capacity will increase from 10 to 40 hours a week.

Keep an eye on the Eastern Busway’s website easternbusway.nz/construction to make sure you’re aware of the road layout changes.

Other projects delivering urban regeneration alongside the Eastern Busway Eke Panuku is the council-controlled organisation that delivers urban regeneration in Tāmaki Makaurau. It’s looking at ways to create high-quality sustainable residential and commercial development in areas neighbouring the Eastern Busway. The work is at an early stage and starts with investigating opportunities at Pakūranga. More information on Eke Panuku’s plans can be found on their website at www.ekepanuku.co.nz/projects/eastern-busway

The work is due to be completed in time for the start of the football season in February 2024.

Improvements around Pakūranga Plaza Now more than ever it's important that projects are built in a way that reduces the risk of future flooding. The Eastern Busway is improving the stormwater network around Pakūranga Plaza and appreciates the patience of the local community with the temporary changes to the car park.

Thank you for your patience while the Eastern Busway is built. The project team appreciates your understanding as well as your interest in the work that’s in progress. We wish you all the best for the festive season and in 2024.

The team is also working during the night on Tī Rakāu Drive to install underground signal cables for traffic lights at Palm Avenue.

Business East Tāmaki

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Mo’cookies for the team

These cookies are made by Olea Café at Highbrook. So you can bet they will be fresh! • Choose your delivery/pickup date (allow at least 3 days from date of order) • Get a free coffee per pack of 5 Mo’cookies ordered! • Free delivery is available within 2 km of Olea Café (8 Business Parade North, Highbrook Crossing).

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