A look at the 35th Nelson Pine Industries Chamber of Commerce Business Award winners, p.04
For all enquiries, please contact: Nelson Tasman Chamber of Commerce Nelson Marlborough Institute of Technology 322 Hardy Street, Nelson PO Box 1121, Nelson 7040 03 548 1363 | www.commerce.org.nz
Chamber Board: President: Venus Guy Vice President: Manoli Aerakis Board Members: Peter Pattullo, Sharon McGuire, Lee Wood, Alfredo Puche, Richard Butler, and Danielle Martel. Publication Design: Tizza Design
From the CEO
Last week we held the 35th Annual Nelson Pine Industries Chamber of Commerce Business Awards. As always it was a wonderful night of celebration, networking and fun —all brilliantly hosted by MC Mike McRoberts. As I said at the event, we are a small chamber operating in regional New Zealand, this means that collaboration and partnership is key to our success. The business awards are a classic example and we certainly can’t do any of this alone. From the businesses who entered, to the audience and supporters who come along to cheer them on, to those who went one step further and invested in the event as a sponsor, thank you — we really could not have delivered this without you. Check out the winners in this edition of STRONG.
We all know how important data and insights are for any business or organisation to understand their customers, identify opportunities and react to market conditions, and we are no different. To help us better support you through advocacy and the programmes we deliver, we are once again partnering with the NRDA to run the annual business survey. It is vitally important that we hear from a range of businesses so we can deliver to our members and the wider business community. Here is a link to a short survey, it should take around eight minutes to complete (grab a cuppa!) and we very much appreciate your input. Thank you.
A reminder that our very own Nelson Tasman edition of Monopoly is now available for sale. You can order via our website or buy from Paper Plus in Nelson, Tasman and Motueka, Rabbit Island Coffee in Māpua, the Nelson Provincial Museum shop, Founders Heritage Park, and Pics Peanut Butter World. It is a limited run, so get yours soon to avoid disappointment.
Ali Boswijk CHIEF EXECUTIVE Chamber of Commerce
Operating in regional NZ means that collaboration and partnership is key to our success."
Congratulations TO ALL OF THE AWARD WINNERS
The judges share their feedback on the well-deserving winners of this year's Nelson Pine Industries Chamber of Commerce Business Awards.
Supreme Business Award Winner
Large Business Award Winner
KERNOHAN ENGINEERING
Kernohan Engineering is a powerhouse, blending engineering excellence with cutting-edge science to drive innovation at scale. The judges were particularly impressed by their ability to pivot, adapt, and seize new opportunities in an ever-changing landscape. Their bold approach to R&D, strong culture of collaboration, and commitment to pushing boundaries make Kernohan a standout success story. This is a company that doesn't just embrace the future—they build it.
Start-Up Business Award Winner
GLOBALWORKSHOP
GlobalWorkshop has done what every entrepreneur dreams of—identified a gap in the market, seized the opportunity, and built a globally scalable business in record time. What started as a simple concept has been executed with precision and vision, making waves across industries. In just a short time, Rowan and his team have turned a bold idea into a thriving, international success. The judges were blown away by the speed, impact, and sheer ambition of this venture.
Medium Business Award Winner
MASTER VALET DRYCLEANERS & APPARELMASTER
Master Valet is the gold standard in their field, blending decades of expertise with innovation. The judges were impressed by their ability to evolve, invest, and thrive, even in the face of economic challenges. With an unwavering commitment to excellence, they have made significant investments in their team, technology, and expansion into new business opportunities. By embracing change, taking risks, and pioneering new technologies, this business continues to set the benchmark for success.
Innovative Business Award Winner
SQUAREKICKER
SquareKicker is revolutionising web design, setting a new standard for creativity and accessibility. Their cutting-edge, code-free solution empowers designers worldwide to push the boundaries of Squarespace like never before. By giving users the tools to bring their visions to life with ease, SquareKicker is not just innovating—they’re reshaping the future of web design with a global impact. This is creativity, technology, and vision at its finest.
Young Business Leader Award Winner
ALICE HAZLETT
Alice stood out as a powerhouse of innovation, resilience, and leadership. Her role in the growth of Keetrax is extraordinary, leading her team through transformation and success. Alice has demonstrated the insight, determination, and strategic vision of a leader, making bold decisions that have had a massive impact on the business. The judges were inspired by her ability to execute flawlessly, cementing her reputation as a leader to watch.
Community Impact Joint Award Winner
NELSON BAYS COMMUNITY LAW
For 25 years, Community Law has been a lifeline, providing crucial legal support to the most vulnerable members of our community. Their work has changed lives—helping individuals navigate some of the most challenging moments they will ever face and giving them a second chance at a brighter future. By ensuring that justice is open and accessible to all, they are not just offering legal advice; they are actively shaping a fairer and more equitable society.
Community Impact Joint Award Winner
WHENUA ITI OUTDOORS
Whenua Iti Outdoors transforms lives by reimagining education and personal growth. Their innovative programs provide at-risk youth with experiences that build confidence, resilience, and belonging. Where traditional education models don’t always work for every child, they offer an alternative that nurtures potential and lasting change. By empowering young people through adventure, mentorship, and personal challenge, they ensure that no child is left behind.
TO THE AWARD SPONSORS
TO THE EVENT SPONSORS
Thank you!
Oh, what a night!
A great evening was had by all. Three cheers for everyone!
We're proud to facilitate regional prosperity and support our region's exporters through the Port Nelson Export Hub.
Business banking
As it should be
NBS is the trusted banking services provider to hundreds of local businesses in our region. We offer everything you need to run a business from straightforward bank accounts, flexible loan and finance options as well as term investments. But what sets us apart is our focus on building strong, long-term relationships with our clients and our ability to make timely decisions based on local knowledge.
For Chenae Owens of Buxton Advisory and Accounting, it’s the personal approach at NBS that she finds so refreshing.
“As an accounting firm dealing with several small to medium-sized local businesses, I found that many of our clients are with NBS and their preference is to do things locally, face-to-face. NBS facilitates this way of working perfectly.”
Owners of the Wholemeal Café in Tākaka, father and daughter Wayne and Aydee Green, say it’s the local decision making that has allowed their business to flourish. When a large bank turned them down for a loan to buy the café building,
Wayne popped across the road to see Dean, the local NBS branch manager.
“It was just a wonderful thing. He was really helpful. It was a no brainer to transfer everything over to NBS as we so desperately needed a local offering with someone we could trust.”
And for local entrepreneur Darren Friend of NZ Packaging, it’s NBS’ genuine approach to client relationships that matters most to him and his business.
“It’s the team's blend of approachability and professionalism that creates an environment where every interaction is easy and personal. It's this personalised touch that resonates with local businesses, fostering a sense of community and collaboration that you just don’t feel from the big banks.”
Not an NBS client yet? We can help with that. Find out more about banking with NBS online or by calling 0800 101 700. NBS is not a registered bank.
| Chenae Owens with NBS’ Peter Havill
| Darren Friend with NBS’ Brent Williams
INTRODUCING
At Go Accounting, we're excited to share our bold new brand with you — a reflection of our commitment to helping businesses across Nelson Tasman, and beyond, thrive.
"Every element of our brand was carefully chosen to highlight what matters most: moving forward, staying agile, and embracing innovation.
Evolving from Malloch McClean, we remain the same dedicated team you trust, with a fresh identity that truly embodies our purpose: Go Further, Go Faster, Go Smarter.
When we set out to redefine our look, we drew inspiration from the vibrant spirit of our region. Our new colours connect with the lush landscapes around us, while our flowing logo symbolises momentum and progressqualities essential for business success. From the green accents echoing our natural environment to clean, modern typography that reflects transparency, every element of our brand was carefully chosen to highlight what matters most: moving forward, staying agile, and embracing innovation.
We know our region’s businesses are as diverse and dynamic as the communities they serve. That’s why we’ve shaped our services to fit the evolving needs of entrepreneurs—whether you’re launching a new venture or expanding an
established enterprise.
By embracing the latest technology and providing proactive, expert guidance, we’re here to help make your journey smoother, your strategies sharper, and your growth more sustainable.
Though our name has changed, our values are unwavering. We’re still the same friendly, knowledgeable people, ready to roll up our sleeves and support you every step of the way. We hope this new brand - powered by our passion for collaboration and progress -resonates with you and reminds you of all the possibilities that lie ahead.
Let’s seize the opportunity to grow together, forge stronger connections, and celebrate the future of business in our remarkable region.
With Go Accounting by your side, you can confidently go further, go faster, and go smarter - every single day.”
Michael Parker Director Go Accounting
Practical uses of AI in business
You'd have to have been living under a rock to have not heard of AI, but practically, what can we do with it?
Artificial intelligence is pretty much all we are talking about at the moment — it's the focus of almost every conversation. Over the last two years since ChatGPT was released (feels like two centuries!), there have been some major milestones reached in AI progression.
We thought we’d run through a few examples of work we’ve done with our customers recently.
It’s worth covering off the tools that we prefer at BlueBerry/CommArc and why. There are a myriad of options when it comes to AI tools, but our first choice is Microsoft Copilot. There are a couple of reasons for this.
RECENT AI MILESTONES
2022-3023: QUESTION/ANSWER STYLE AI
Early versions of Copilot and ChatGPT
Late 2024: TRIGGER/ACTION STYLE AI
When this happens, do that
Mid 2025: AGENTIC AI
Acting autonomously on your behalf & in your style
Copilot integrates heavily into the other Microsoft products which most of our customers use: Teams, Outlook, Word, SharePoint etc. That integration makes creating automations across your data a breeze.
You can also properly secure the data that you integrate with AI within your Microsoft environment.
Remember, if you’re feeding company information into a free AI product, that information is being used to train the models. Once it’s in there, you can never remove it!
Example 1: Helping juniors
We trained up a custom GPT (think ChatBot) using the industry standard documentation and the business’s internal training documents. Junior team members can talk to the GPT in Microsoft Teams and be guided by the AI through scenarios knowing that the only information the AI will use is absolutely correct and controlled.
Benefit: huge time savings for senior staff, allowing them to focus on high value tasks.
Remember: if you're feeding company information into a free AI, once it's in there, you can never remove it!
Example 2: Automating
month end processes Month end invoicing can be painful for most people but trying to summarise matter notes for a law firm can be hugely timeconsuming.
We’re building an AI that can look at the customer’s time recording database, review all the job notes for that month and then summarise them into plain English.
Benefit: saving hundreds of hours of work.
Example 3: Quizzes
Creating quizzes, marking them, and reporting on student progress all based on a study guide.
Benefit: Streamlined assessment process and reduced administrative workload.
Example 4: Document Review
Comparing large documents
for discrepancies and similarities to allow speedy review and improve accuracy.
Benefit: Faster processing, improved accuracy, and reduced manual effort.
The opportunities are endless! What could your business benefit from today?
If you want to know more about how you could apply AI in your business, contact us at BlueBerry/ CommArc and we can guide you through the process of securing your data and then leveraging it to help you gain efficiencies or advantage within your business.
Richard Butler Director BlueBerryIT
| CommArc
Nelson Airport's new Chief Executive Brendan Cook settles into the top spot, with big plans for the gateway to our region.
It’s my great pleasure to have joined the Nelson Airport team in late October, having moved to Whakatū Nelson from Townsville, Australia, with my wife and two boys.
It’s been a busy introduction to the airport and the region, with recommendations and decisions on our Project 2-Zero planning application being made, a major apron reconstruction project underway, and resource consent granted for a bridge and new carpark across Jenkins Creek alongside associated development approvals for our Southern Development Precinct.
It didn’t take long to realise that the stunning airport terminal is a fitting gateway to this beautiful region, and the family and I have been making the most of the many activities and attractions that locals are justifiably proud of – particularly the world-class mountain biking facilities and beaches.
I’ve been involved in senior leadership in the aviation industry for a decade, and am passionate about the
contribution a successful aviation sector and airport makes for regional communities. You have a fantastic asset in your airport, facilitating the movement of c.900,000 people to and from the region each year. Nelson Airport is the fourth busiest airport in the country for flight movements, and the fifth busiest for passenger numbers.
I’m looking forward to building on the airport’s success to ensure it continues to be a key enabler for the prosperity and sustainability of the Nelson-Tasman region. My priorities include high-quality stakeholder engagement and customer experience, along with driving growth and development.
I’m looking forward to meeting and working with the wider business community throughout 2025 and, if you see me around, please do stop me and say hi — I’d love to connect.
Brendan Cook Chief Executive Nelson Airport
Making waves in climate adaptation through collaboration
We often talk about the importance of working together — particularly at a regional level — to advance innovative science solutions.
In a fin-tastic collaboration, Cawthron and Plant & Food researchers are diving into the science of thermotolerance in finfish as part of the Climate Adapted Finfish research programme. Led by Cawthron, our goal is to help the snapper (and other species) thrive in both cooler and warmer waters.
Recently the Plant & Food team oversaw the careful delivery of more than a thousand juvenile snapper to Cawthron’s Aquaculture
swimmers are about to embark on an important mission— being monitored at different temperatures to see how they perform. Think of it as fish boot camp, but instead of pushups, it’s all about resilience.
Programme leader and Cawthron senior aquaculture scientist, Dr Jane Symonds says these trials will help shape future breeding programmes.
“We’ve been running these kinds of studies with salmon for quite some time and
thermotolerance is a heritable trait in King salmon—which is great news for futureproofing the species. But we haven’t yet done this work for other high-interest species like snapper,” Symonds explains.
“This programme will give us a much clearer picture of how these fish will respond to climate change.”
The results will have broad implications, not just for commercial fisheries and aquaculture but also for the conservation and management of wild stocks.
“We already know that climate change is heating up our oceans, and this has real consequences for marine life,” says Symonds.
“By getting ahead of the curve, we can gain the knowledge needed to breed for climate resilience—helping to protect both industry and biodiversity.”
“We’re incredibly fortunate to be working with the Nelson-based Plant & Food team, led by Dr. Maren Wellenreuther, as well as our partners at NZ King Salmon,” says Symonds.
“And it doesn’t stop there—we’re also collaborating with AgResearch, GNS Science, Te Arawa Fisheries, the universities of Auckland and Otago, Taiuru & Associates, and AbacusBio.
It’s a true team effort, and together, we’re making waves in climate adaptation research.”
So, while these juvenile snapper are busy adjusting to their new temperature-controlled digs, our incredible local researchers behind the scenes are working hard to ensure that future generations of fish—and the industries and ecosystems that depend on them—can adjust to climate change.
If you’d like to find out more about this research programme, or any of Cawthron’s work, please visit our website www.cawthron.org.nz or give us a call.
"By getting ahead of the curve, we can breed for climate resilience — helping protect both industry and biodiversity.
DR JANE SYMONDS
Taking care of business for
120 years
NMIT has a proud history of listening to the needs of the people and businesses of Te Tauihu, fostering success in industries of regional and national importance.
Through a diverse and ever-evolving array of programmes across industries such as trades, technology, health, wine-making and the arts, NMIT caters to both domestic and international learners. Supporting regional growth, NMIT prides itself on its strong reputation as New Zealand’s leading tertiary provider in aquaculture and marine conservation, adventure tourism, and aviation engineering.
Increased domestic and international enrolments, and growth in key disciplines, signal that NMIT’s strategy is working. NMIT recently announced exciting developments in aviation engineering, horticulture and te reo Māori. Its aviation programme has expanded to include delivery in Nelson, to complement the popular Woodbourne programme. The L3 NZ Certificate in
Aquaculture tutor Shenae Wales connects with other industry experts at the Aquaculture NZ conference.
Aeronautical Engineering has been adapted in response to industry feedback and will have three Nelson-based intakes in 2025.
To cater for learners who prefer to study in the smaller centres, NMIT’s Level 2 Sustainable Hort programme and L1, L2 and L3 Certificate in te reo Māori will all be offered in Motueka, as an alternative to existing courses at other campuses.
Do you run a business? Are you looking for workready graduates to bring energy and expertise to your team? The team at NMIT want to talk to you about the types of programmes and graduates you’re looking for and partnership opportunities like internships and scholarships. Exciting opportunities are available to offer internships for international learners, who can bring diversity and global perspectives to your workplace. It's a win-win situation for you and for NMIT learners.
NMIT offers hands-on learning, expert tutors, and flexible study options designed to support learners at every stage of their journey. Gaining practical skills, building industry connections, and studying in a supportive environment help NMIT learners to reach their full potential.
Honey, who gets the
HOUSE?
Love and property don’t always mix — especially when relationships change or loved ones pass away. Getting legal advice early can save you or your family from costly, drawn-out disputes over who gets what.
Getting a lawyer involved in your relationship property affairs can save you or your estate a significant amount of money.
With people living longer and having successive relationships and blended families, we are seeing an increasing amount of relationship property disputes.
Those disputes – about who should retain what property and why – may be between separating partners or between the surviving spouse and the children of the deceased.
As real estate is now worth appreciably more than it used to, and with many of the younger generation not being able to afford their first home, the factors are weighted in favour of disputing rather than not.
More is now at stake.
The law in this area is complex but
fundamentally premised on the principle that if you are in a relationship and you do not provide fairly for your partner, the law will step in to ensure that you do.
We are commonly dealing with not just the Property (Relationships) Act 1976, but also the Family Protection Act 1955 and the Law Reform (Testamentary Promises) Act 1949.
In addition, if there are concerns about a will, it may be challenged.
These disputes often bring out the worst in people. Whether relevant or not, it is common for old grievances to be aired or driving the position. When these disputes involve a deceased estate, the legal timeframes are such that at the very time one is grieving the loss of their loved one, they are having to deal with the aftermath of an estate left untidy, with often multiple people trying to decide how
best to respond to the will or claim.
Disputes can cost hundreds and thousands of dollars and take years to resolve. The court system is overworked and despite best attempts, remains slow and expensive. Private mediation is also expensive and of course never guaranteed to resolve the dispute.
You can certainly reduce the risk of getting involved in a relationship property dispute by having your property affairs checked out with a lawyer who deals with relationship property.
A good lawyer will gather the relevant facts,
There is no doubt that there are many people who regret not getting their relationship property affairs tidied when they had the opportunity to do so. "
identify the issues, and provide a practical solution to mitigate the risk of any dispute in the event of your separation or death. That can include a contracting out agreement, a will, or some fundamental restructuring of how your assets are owned.
Of course, the alternative is to not get into any relationship at all. For most though, the benefits of a shared life outweigh that option. But there is no doubt that there are many people who regret not getting their relationship property affairs tidied when they had the opportunity to do so.
Disclaimer: The information contained in this publication is of a general nature and is not intended as legal advice. It is important that you seek legal advice that is specific to your circumstances.
Andrea Halloran Partner Pitt & Moore
Why choose you?
Tony Downing of Downing Creative Marketing reveals the one question they ask clients that give their marketing the most oomph, and how it's worked for a local favourite.
In all the brand strategy work we do for our clients, we ask one question that has the most impact and provides the best insights for brand positioning and creative communication.
It’s a carefully crafted question that encourages business owners and brand managers to shift from a company-centric mindset to a customer-centric one.
The question asks you to view things from the customer's perspective. This often proves more challenging than expected because, in the day-to-day running of the business, it’s easy to lose sight of what truly matters to your customers.
The question we ask is: "If I am your ideal customer, why should I choose your business over your competitors?"
Here’s how it breaks down:
• “If I am” is where you shift from your world to your customer’s reality.
• “Ideal customer” prompts you to define your target audience. Not everyone is your ideal customer.
• “Why would I choose you” is an excellent springboard for identifying why your offering is superior.
• Understanding your competitive alternatives is crucial because it provides context to your reasons and helps you focus on your strengths.
The real challenge is answering the question in a way that resonates with your ideal customers.
One thing we often see when clients develop new products or services is focusing on the features of what they are selling, e.g. ingredients. This makes sense because these are the details they focus on during product development.
However, what customers care about is the solution the product provides.
Take Poppi Soda, for instance. It’s a US-based brand that became the number one soda sold on Amazon within just four years.
One of their key strategies was rebranding from "Mother’s Prebiotic Soda," which emphasised unique ingredients, to simply "Poppi Soda," focusing on flavour and the taste experience. Their tagline, “It’s time to fall in love with soda again,” resonated with customers, and the results were impressive.
We recently did something similar with the iconic Nelson ice cream brand, Appleby Farms.
BEFORE AFTER
"What customers care about is the solution the product provides.
Historically, the focus was on the ingredients and the origin story. New positioning shifted the focus to the taste and emotional experience.
This translated to a new pack design featuring a swirl pattern and strong flavour cues that combined to imply nostalgia and highlight its incredible taste, ultimately what customers care about the most.
If you are looking for a lift in sales and more effective marketing, it could be time to start asking different questions, like that one.
Tony Downing Owner Downing
HOW TO SEE YOUR IDEAL CUSTOMER POV:
• SHIFT from your world to your customer's reality.
• DEFINE your target audience. Not everyone is your ideal customer.
• IDENTIFY why your offering is superior.
• UNDERSTAND your competitive alternatives.
• FOCUS on your strengths.
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Chamber members snapped out and about at our latest Findex Business After 5 events.
We officially launched our Nelson Tasman edition with a special visit and stroll around the board with Mr Monopoly. Buy your limited edition copy of the game today!
Members
I am a specialist immigration lawyer based in Nelson. I help with visas/residence, appeals, and expert affidavits for court matters. I take on illegal clients to regularise their immigration status, and assist with employer accreditation.
I also work on an honorarium basis as an adviser on legal matters for Altogether Autism New Zealand.
We specialise in the design, manufacture and installation of residential and commercial joinery and cabinetry. Everything we produce is made to measure not forced to fit, and manufactured in our Nelson workshop. Our award-winning team combine the latest techniques, technology, equipment and materials to design and produce entirely bespoke, long-lasting products to the highest quality standards.
Kia ora! We are a community organisation passionate about revitalising te reo Māori through immersion learning. Our workplace programme is practical and engaging, designed for anyone looking to bring te reo Māori into their mahi or daily life. Popular with government agencies, businesses, and community groups, our courses get you comfortable pronouncing and speaking in an encouraging environment.
We are a welcoming clinic in central Nelson providing skin cancer diagnosis and treatment services. Dr Katie Maver and Dr Arwen Mohr offer spot checks, full skin examinations, mole mapping, and treatment of skin cancer including surgery and nonsurgical treatment options. From the peace of mind of having a spot checked, to a headto-toe examination with clinical imaging using the latest technology, we have all the bases covered.
