Volume 7 | Issue 1 | February 2022 www.waterfordpress.co.nz Powered up Magnificent makeover Medical Mission Wellington start-up FTN Motion is stepping up production of its stylish electric mopeds. The historic Hawke’s Bay Opera House has undergone a major renovation. The new Five Rivers Medical facility in Greytown will make a huge difference to the people of South Wairarapa. T Page 03 T Page 60 T Page 82
2 | Contents 06| Boutique bangers Beard Brothers’ vision is to produce the best handcrafted small goods from pure NZ ingredients. 60| Magnificent makeover The historic Hawke’s Bay Opera House has undergone a major renovation. 82| Medical mission The generosity of a Carterton couple will make a huge difference to the people of South Wairarapa. 60 82 06 These conditions are prescribed for the sake of understanding between the Company and its clients. Advertising is charged for on the basis of space taken up using a standard tabloid page. Actual space may be reduced during the printing process but this will effect all advertisers equally so no credit will be given for any reduction in size due to processing. The Company reserves the right to alter, change or omit entirely any advertisement or article that it considers to be objectionable or which may contravene any law. In the event of a failure on the part of the Company to insert advertising as instructed the Company may publish the advertisement at the first available subsequent reasonable date unless the advertisement features date sensitive material. Every care shall be taken to publish the advertisement in accordance with the advertisers instructions as to page and position but the Company reserves the right for whatever reason to place advertising in a different position and in doing so shall incur no liability whatsoever. Advertisers must advise Business Central immediately of any error or omission in advertisements and shall work constructively to remedy the situation which in the first instance shall be a rerun of the corrected advertisement in the next available issue of Business Central. Where advertisement proofs have been faxed or mailed to the client 48 hours prior to the nominated printing cutoff time acquiesce shall be taken as confirmation and acceptance. Corrections made by telephone shall be accepted but the Company reserves the right to decide whether a further proof should be faxed or mailed to the client. Accounts for advertising are due for payment within seven days of publication of the newspaper. Accounts not paid within this time may incur a penalty of 3% per month until the account is paid. Any debt collection costs incurred by the Company will be added to the account of the debtor. Views and opinions expressed in Business Central are not necessarily those of the editors, Waterford Press Ltd or publisher. Business Central welcomes contributions from freelance writers & journalists. All articles published at editors discretion. Business Central accepts no responsibilty for loss of photos or manuscripts. #businesscentral #yourstory www.waterfordpress.co.nz OUR PARTNERS: FTN Motion .....................................................................03 Beard Brothers...............................................................06 Waikato Milking Systems ..............................................09 Hayes International .......................................................10 InfraCore .........................................................................12 Te Arawa Fisheries .........................................................13 Evolve Construction.......................................................14 Top Gear Rotorua ..........................................................14 RoomMate Cabins Waikato ..........................................16 Beca Waikato ..................................................................17 Lockerbie Estate.............................................................18 Golden Homes Waikato ................................................23 A1 Homes Waikato ........................................................26 Jennian Homes Hamilton..............................................27 Golden Homes Taranaki ...............................................28 Tauhara Geothermal ....................................................30 MB Century.....................................................................33 Powerco ..........................................................................34 Wellington Electricity .....................................................36 ATI Engineering ..............................................................38 AFI Ltd .............................................................................41 Eastbridge .......................................................................42 Excel Taranaki.................................................................44 Tidy Slabs ........................................................................46 BioCycle Hamilton..........................................................48 NZ Windows ....................................................................49 PermaPine ......................................................................50 Stubbs Contractors ........................................................53 Hawke’s Bay Eggs...........................................................54 The Ultimate Egg & Poultry Co .....................................55 Tarata Honey ..................................................................57 Maui Milk.........................................................................58 Hawke’s Bay Opera House............................................60 Foster and Melville.........................................................62 Randall Construction .....................................................63 Quality Builders..............................................................64 Southcoast Construction New Plymouth ....................66 Seaside Homes ...............................................................70 Jennian Homes Hawke’s Bay .......................................71 Landmark Homes Gisborne .........................................72 Landmark Homes Taupo ..............................................73 Elite Build .......................................................................74 Claudatos Construction.................................................76 Able Spaces .....................................................................76 Homestead Construction..............................................78 Nailing It ..........................................................................80 Five Rivers Medical Centre............................................82 Kingswood Healthcare ..................................................85 Avonlea Trust..................................................................86 Koru Homes....................................................................88 Christchurch Office 112 Wrights Road, Addington, Christchurch Phone 03-983 5500 PO Box 37 346 www.waterfordpress.co.nz Queenstown Office 70 Glenda Drive, Queenstown 9300 PO Box 2581, Wakatipu MANAGING DIRECTOR James Lynch james@waterfordpress.co.nz EDITORIAL Editor Nick Gormack nick@waterfordpress.co.nz Sub-editors Paul Mein, Randall Johnston Journalists Hugh de Lacy, Kelly Deeks, Russell Fredric, Richard Loader, Kim Newth, Sue Russell, Karen Phelps, Virginia Wright RESEARCH & MARKETING James Anderson, Sam Dart, Megan Hawkins, Allan J Knowles, Chris McPhee, Colin Morais, Annie Patrick, Chris Pearce, Danielle Percival, Adam Shirra, Alasdair Thomson, Jane Watson sales@waterfordpress.co.nz PRODUCTION DEPARTMENT General Manager Luke Lynch luke@waterfordpress.co.nz Graphic Artists Connor Gosnell, Anton Gray, Nick King, Sophie McCleary, Liki Udam art@waterfordpress.co.nz CONTENT COORDINATORS Alissa Crosby, Ann-Marie Frentz OFFICE AND ACCOUNTS Manager Helen Bourne accounts@waterfordpress.co.nz Jill Holland reception@waterfordpress.co.nz
| 3 BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT FTN Motion Powering up with electric mopeds T Virginia Wright FTN Motion is well on the way with its first production run of its stylish electric mopeds. Below, some early concept drawings. If you require tube, pipe bending, or rolling, then come and talk to us, we are prepared to go that extra mile to help provide a solution for you. With applications for a variety of industries, we have mastered the skill of bending square, rectangular, and round tube and pipe. 07 846 0268 or 027 237 2828 6 Peregrine Place, Frankton, Hamilton | www.htb.co.nz Luke Sinclair and Kendall Bristow have been best mates for close to 20 years and they’re still only in their early 30’s. Since they went to the same school in Pukekohe, just south of Auckland, they’ve flatted together, studied engineering together at Waikato University and more recently started what looks like being a highly successful business together. Their first foray into raising capital had a target of $500,000 with a cap of $700,000 which they reached with apparent ease. They’re now well on their way with their first production run of 100 electric mopeds which they expect to get out through the first quarter of 2022. Like all good stories it started several years “We wanted to design something familiar enough that people recognize it as a motorbike, but it’s fresh and new and stands out, so that was the balance we were trying to achieve.” ago when Kendall started looking into converting a petrol moped to electric. It was around the same time as they reached the end of their engineering degrees and they both took time out, 100 days out in fact, to walk the length of New Zealand on the Te Araroa. “I think that was the real catalyst,” says Luke. “You think more clearly when you’re out walking, and it opened the world up to us a bit in terms of wanting to put our engineering skills into something environmental.” They both went into 9 to 5 jobs as engineers to gain some skills then over a couple of weekends did their own moped conversion. “We made this electric moped out of an old BMX frame and glad-wrapped some batteries to it. Got the thing going with a bit of spot welding and straightaway it was just so much fun! “There were a few just starting to emerge around that time but everything looked a bit ugly, or weird – there was a very uncool factor about electrics,” says Luke with a laugh. Luke and Kendall ride motorbikes as well but felt that the electric technology was perfect for low-speed (they go up to 50km’s an hour), short trips around town. They chipped away at the concept with regular meetings and five or six renditions of the design until peer review (via their mates) confirmed that they’d got rid of the ugly factor. “We wanted to design something familiar enough that people recognize it as a motorbike, but it’s fresh and new and stands out, so that was the balance we were trying to achieve, and it seems to have really connected, so far anyway. We’ve got a huge waiting list and it’s still growing.” T to page 4
4 | BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT FTN Motion Electric mopeds on fast track T from page 3 Enjoying the ride: FTN Motion founders Saskia Thornton, Luke Sinclair and Kendall Bristow. Upper Hutt based business Cover Me Ltd. has the motto “The upholstery company that can cover just about anything”, and when you talk to owner Dion Hunter it’s easy to believe that’s true. He’s been working in the upholstery trade o and on since his irst job as a teenager in the Canvas trade where he learnt how to use a sewing machine making things big and small out of canvas. The apprenticeship in motor-trimming that followed introduced him to what has become his favourite part of the business: itting out car interiors, especially hot-rods and classics. Cover Me Ltd. will cover anything that needs it, from a piano stool to a fuel tanker and everything in between, and especially things that are made to order for clients after an individual look or style. “I’ve never said no to a job,” says Dion with a laugh. “It all comes down to the way you look at things. Everything’s pretty much a pattern and then everything’s sewn together.” Unlike most of us Dion can see those patterns even when they don’t exist yet. “If somebody starts talking to me about what they want in their car or their house, or their furniture I can “see” what they want and draw the pattern to make it.” Some clients can visualize while others need sketches and samples. Some people know what they want, others don’t; and Dion’s skill is making sure that his clients get what they want even when they come to him not quite knowing what that is. Whether it’s a French stitch or piping, woven or stretch, tartan or plain, he’ll make a sample putting the various elements together so the client really understands what they’re getting before everything is con irmed. Dion and his four sta take on plenty of commercial and industrial contracts, from car yards to restaurant chains and on the residential front they’ll make a pattern and sew up anything except curtains or clothes. Recently Dion made the cover for a protoype electric motorbike seat for FTN Motion Ltd. having been recommended by another satis ied client. “They came to us with the basic seat and the foam and the look they wanted and I’ve gone o those drawings using brown automotive vinyl with a design on it and a pleated edge and it de initely suits the bike,” says Dion. FTN Motion clearly agreed and orders are steadily increasing from an initial 10, up to 100 in January and more as the new year progresses. “I’m quite excited,” says Dion,” I’ve made custom seats before and we’re talking about di erent styles and fabrics we can use so we’re o to a good start.” Whether it’s a car a boat or something completely unexpected, Dion says just give him a call or drop by for a chat and he’ll be pleased to get the ball rolling to help you achieve the look you’re after. “I’ve Never Said No To A Job” Automotive Upholstery Furniture Upholstery & Repairs Marine Upholstery & Covers Canvas & PVC Work Specialising in Hotrods & Classic Cars Ph: 04 526 7840 Mob: 0275 436 069 dion@coverme.co.nz www.coverme.co.nz 39A Montgomery Cr, Upper Hutt PROUD TO SUPPORT FTN MOTION LTD Luke’s very clear that this is technically a moped, although it has no pedals, but it’s not to be confused with an e-bike or an e-scooter. It didn’t take its final shape until the first lockdown last year. Having just moved to Wellington Luke and Kendall found themselves locked down for five weeks with neither of them able to work remotely in their new jobs. Having all the components they needed with them, and a garage to work in, they emerged with a working prototype: an electric moped notable for the absence of things as much as for its custom-made stylish simplicity; the absence of noise, maintenance (no oil changes etc), and fumes, as well as the need for a motorcycle license or warrant of fitness to name but a few. A crash course in business through an incubator programme led to their first investors coming on board and an article in Stuff resulted in 70 presales over a single weekend. The electric moped was launched. Luke and Kendall’s team is rounded out by Saskia Thornton who joined them as co-founder last year after being introduced to them by her father Steve Thornton, their first investor. ”He was our first champion, part of Angel HQ, and he gave us a lot of guidance which has been fantastic to be honest,” says Luke. “Saskia’s headed up some incredibly successful start-ups and brands. Myself and Kendall are basically the same person so she really rounds out the team. “She’s great on high-level business strategy and she’s been critical to the traction we’ve achieved.” With a dense population all commuting to work on roads with a 50km speed limit Wellington was the ideal place to launch, but their plans include expanding to other cities in New Zealand, as well as beach towns such as Raglan or Whangamata. Within it, all FTN Motion have a core strategy which defines them. “It’s a direct-to-consumer model where people can come into the store and showroom and choose their different colours then rely on us for good service and follow-up,” says Luke. “We want to build a community, to be where the customer is and have that presence, and then long-term we’ll look to replicate it overseas most likely starting in Europe.” With Saskia currently moving between Amsterdam and New Zealand that could be a good place to begin.
| 5 BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT Tauranga Business Awards: Real Rad Food “I want my customers to not only really enjoy the taste of our food but to eat something that makes them feel just amazing too.” Healthy treats prove a recipe for success T Sue Russell Hannah Mellsop: “I just want the Real Rad Food to inspire people to live their best lives.” Proudly supporting Real Rad Food with sustainable, fit for purpose packaging. For all your packaging requirements please contact Caspak Sustainable on 09 421 9019 or via our website www.caspak.co.nz Receiving the gong for ‘Best Emerging Business’ at the 2021 Tauranga Business Awards was a big surprise for Hannah Mellsop, founder of Real Rad Food. The bubbly and very positive entrepreneur says that, even though the company has been in business now four years, it feels still like it is at is infancy, with big plans ahead. “We have come so far in this time, but have massive plans ahead so to have this recognition is really awesome,” says Hannah. And where has four years of hard work taken her? Beginning to ‘dip her toes’ into supplements and extending the range of protein flavours in 2022. Real Rad Food manufactures a boutique range of plant-based healthy treats, including protein power hormonal support, rad balls and slices, which can be delivered nation-wide. “I want my customers to not only really enjoy the taste of our food but to eat something that makes them feel just amazing too. So from small beginnings guided by big dreams Hannah, who started making healthy treats as a creative outlet, soon found herself needing to think more strategically. She has one co-worker and has successfully outsourced most of the manufacturing. “I understand and value the movement towards real food and conscious consumption. This is what I have grown our brand on and the future is looking really exciting.” Over 150 cafes and grocers throughout New Zealand now stock Real Rad Food products and an online store makes access possible for everyone. “I think especially with all that has been going on these past two years with dealing with COVID, and what it has meant, people are far more conscious of what they are consuming. We’ve certainly seen a growing interest from the retail outlets we supply and our online customers.” Hannah says she’s a big believer in balance, in all aspects of life, and this includes making sure she enjoys her life outside the business. “I just want the Real Rad Food to inspire people to live their best lives.” Pioneering the e-commerce space has allowed Hannah to grow the brand and allowed the company to scale larger, which in turn enabled the range and volume of products to grow. “I guess for me, this business doesn’t feel in any way artificially created, even though there are a lot of strategies involved in its growth.” And so many benefits have flown from being in the competition! Hannah says the chance to ‘deep-dive’ into the business and really see what was going on, was invaluable. “We have massive plans and we will pursue them bit it will require more people and experts we don’t currently have. It is going to be important to find talent to allow the company to evolve in solid ways.” Good customer service is absolutely paramount to Hannah reaching her goals for the business. Asked what advice she would offer others wanting to step out and own their own business and see it flourish, Hannah says philosophically that the journey is never really going to be what was expected. “You have to be really open to opportunities, shifts and changes, that come along and see these as opportunities. “The journey may not be what you expected but the destination is so worth it.”
6 | BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT NZ Food Awards: Beard Brothers T to page 8 Boutique producer keeping it real T Karen Phelps Beard Brothers Pork and Watercress sausages took out the Artisan category in the NZ Food Awards for 2021. Custom, quality packaging has become an essential part of marketing and protecting your brand & product. Visy and Charta are proud to support Beard Brothers, so congratulations on your success from making home kill meat products to delivering top quality artisan meat across New Zealand. ATI ENGINEERING LTD Proud to be associated with Beard Brothers When owner of Beard Brothers, Rob Beard, got bored during the recent Covid-19 lockdown he started ringing around supermarkets in the South Island to see if they were interested in stocking his unique hand crafted small goods. Every single one said yes leading to a major expansion for the Hastings company, which previously had its products stocked in the North Island. Owned by Rob and wife Lara, Beard Brothers is named after the couple’s three sons who have a hunger for the great outdoors and appetites for great food. A major driver for the couple was that they wanted their kids to have a good understanding of where the food on their table came from. Their vision is to produce the best handcrafted small goods from pure New Zealand ingredients. Using heritage recipes and traditional methods their range of sausages, patties and saveloys is made the old fashioned way. “All meat is sourced from a trusted network of suppliers committed to sourcing from sustainable Kiwi farmers. It’s grass fed, free farmed and it tastes great,” says Rob. “The sausage casings we use are natural and that makes a big difference. Better texture, better flavour and to put it simply, sausages that taste like they did when you were a kid,” says Rob.
| 7 Rob Beard: “All meat is sourced from a trusted network of suppliers committed to sourcing from sustainable Kiwi farmers.” BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT NZ Food Awards: Beard Brothers MULTIVAC packaging machines have been used successfully worldwide for decades. They are groundbreaking in machine technology, consumption of resources, process reliability, efficiency, flexibility, reproducibility, and ease of operation. Their unique machine range offers the most cost-effective solution for every requirement. Small scale butchers to industrial producers. Multivac New Zealand 0800 696 858 | info@multivac.co.nz | multivac.co.nz Sausage and meat products, baked goods, dough, pastry, dairy products, fish, convenience, fillings, delicatessen, pet food...realise both new and innovative product ideas and product classics with Handtmann technology. Multivac has the equipment and packaging solutions to grow with your business. MULTIVAC is passionately committed to creating value-added packaging and innovative process solutions and is proud to be a key business partner for customers such as Beard Brothers. “We pride ourselves on setting the industry standard in technology, e iciency and reliability in the engineering of our complete product portfolio,” says MULTIVAC NZ business development manager Trevor Pye. MULTIVAC is a supplier of integrated solutions for the whole of the packaging and processing sector. It o ers an extensive range of packaging, handling, and labelling solutions, as well as equipment upstream and downstream of the packaging process. Concepts for producing sustainable packaging solutions are at the forefront of MULTIVAC’s message, says Trevor. “For many years we have been dealing with the question as to how our packaging machines can contribute to better use of resources and reduced consumption of packaging materials. We have succeeded in this by adopting appropriate machine concepts and by using alternative materials, which can be run on standard machines. Product protection and shelf life is key, we need to concern ourselves with how food loss and wastage can be prevented throughout all process stages.” As a leading supplier in the market, he says that MULTIVAC feels obliged to improve the image of packaging through innovative and targeted approaches, as well as pursuing new paths for the bene it of consumers and the environment. “When it comes to this very important topic, we don't just think in terms of machines, packs and materials; we think holistically. The whole development of MULTIVAC has been characterised by an awareness of its responsibilities and the sparing use of resources.” MULTIVAC helps customers of all sizes from start-ups to large corporations. It is proud of the important part its solutions play in the growth and evolution of New Zealand businesses such as Beard Brothers, which has seen MULTIVAC provide market-leading solutions across its production including Handtmann vacuum illing and MULTIVAC packaging equipment. “We work alongside our customers, assisting them with their changing needs in terms of packaging design, performance and resource e iciency as their business develops. From a butcher with humble beginnings in Hawke’s Bay, Beard Brothers has a progressive and innovative approach works that matches ours and we are very proud to be part of their team, supporting their goals for growth and sustainability now and into the future.” Packaging and Processing Solutions for a Sustainable World
8 | BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT NZ Food Awards: Beard Brothers A winning combination T from page 6 Innovation is at the heart of the company and can be seen across the Beard Brothers’ range. Brebner Print are proud to provide quality print and packaging services to Beard Brothers a family-owned business with a big vision. www.brebnerprint.co.nz Proud to be associated with Beard Brothers Starfoods are proud to support the Beard Brothers for all their wholesale food needs. 32 Dunlop Road, Napier | 06 843 5115 | www.starfoods.co.nz GT Greens is a premier producer and supplier of fresh hydroponic table greens. Our mission is to deliver a reliable supply quality fresh hydroponic produce 365 days of the year with zero harm to people or the environment. www.gtgreens.co.nz | samuel@gtgreens.co.nz | Twyford, Hastings Fancy lettuce & Cos lettuce | Watercress | Mesculun | Flat Leaf Parsley & Coriander | Courgettes enjoy fresh all year round Keeping it real and natural is a major focus. That means pure ingredients, no added MSG and definitely no over-processed or filler meats. The seasonings used are top quality and used sparingly so the natural flavour of the meat shines through. Innovation is at the heart of the company and can be seen across the range. For example the Beard Brothers ‘island inspired’ Pork and Palusami Sausage is a combination of the company’s popular Pork Sausage and authentic Palusami - a combination of taro leaves, onion, spices, spinach and coconut - sourced directly from Samoa. After one month on sale it was 9% of Bear Brothers’ total sausage market and continues to grow. “We had to find a way to blend in the palusami so had to design a set of paddles for our sausage filler to ensure that the palusami is evenly distributed through the sausages,” explains Rob. “We worked closely with the local Pacifica church on this sausage and the crew were our chief taste testers.” Other innovative products Rob believes are a world-first on supermarket shelves are Pork and Puha and Pork and Watercress which took out the Artisan category in the NZ Food Awards for 2021. Sustainability is another significant focus and Rob says Beard Brothers is constantly looking at ways to reduce any impact on the environment. Beard Brothers uses 100% recyclable trays from Germany and product sleeves are printed on environmentally responsible paperboard, produced using ECF pulp ISO14001. Rob says Beard Brothers is “really big” on social wellbeing. Every week staff tray pack any small sausages and these go to The Acorn Project, a volunteer organisation that helps families with kids between 5-20 living with cancer. Along with this it supports local junior sports teams and schools, Lifeline and sends one pellet of sausages (about 300kg) a month to the Wellington City Mission. Rob says the company will continue to do what it does best - innovate and come up with amazing ground breaking new products.
| 9 BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT China Business Awards: Waikato Milking Systems Recognition for China team’s efforts T T Richard Loader Waikato Milking Systems recently launched of its small ruminants (goat) rotary milking platform into China. Te Awamutu Phone: 07 871 6781 Putaruru Phone: 07 883 3423 Otorohanga Phone: 07 873 8500 PROUD TO BE ASSOCIATED WITH Waikato Milking Systems At Stainless Design, we’re proud to be associated with Waikato Milking Systems and to offer them a wide variety of state-of-the-art processes. Waikato Milking Systems’ selection as a finalist in the HSBC NZCTA (New Zealand China Trade Association) China Business Awards was well earned recognition for its hard working team based in China. “We have a small tight knit team operating in China and they work extremely hard and very long hours for the company,” says Grant Wisnewski, GM Sales and Operations for the Asia Pacific Region. “It’s been hard over the last couple of years that we haven’t been able to get our international staff to New Zealand so that they actually feel part of the team, which we would normally do. So being selected as a finalist is recognition of the work they have all put in.” Waikato Milking Systems entered the prestigious award at the invitation of NZTE (New Zealand Trade and Enterprise). The awards target businesses and individuals that export to China, import from China, or are involved in services and/or investment between New Zealand and China. The iconic Hamilton based manufacturer of rotary and herringbone milking systems elected to enter the Yili Group Award for Innovation in Business to celebrate the launch of its small ruminants (goat) rotary milking platform into China. “We’ve been operating in China for twelve years now, selling traditional dairy milking systems, and this was a new product that we released into China about two years ago. The major thing with this product is that there’s some quite cool innovation and automation, eliminating some labour units.” While there are examples of Waikato Milking Systems’ small ruminant rotary platform operating in New Zealand and Canada, China is currently the biggest market with thirteen platforms in operation. Each platform costs around half a million dollars. “Goat milking is extremely new in China. The companies that we’re dealing with are large corporates. They really wanted to deal with international brands and we’re renowned around the world for building high quality and reliable equipment. We have a network of local dealers all around the world who are involved in the installation of the platforms along with our local teams. We have five dealers China has been identified as one of the company’s key growth markets and is currently opening a WFOE (Wholly Foreign Owned Entity). Registered in China it will be known as Waikato Milking Systems China. “In 2020 about 60% of our turnover came from the international markets but this year New Zealand has been very buoyant and that’s partly driven by the strong dairy payout. A lot of Kiwi dairy farmers are upgrading their existing machines. With New Zealand’s borders shut and farmers unable to leverage labour from overseas workers they’re looking at equipment that will reduce labour inputs. That’s a massive driver.” The company manufactures a range of herringbone and rotary platforms for cow, sheep and goat at its Hamilton plant and exports to over forty countries. Fifty two years young, Waikato Milking Systems started off making components for milking machines — mainly a milk metres — then added more components and started pulling systems together. For the last 27 years the company has been recognised as a serious player in the rotary market. “As a company we’ve made it our mission to be the number one supplier of rotary systems globally and that’s where our R&D is going. In New Zealand there’s a sway to the rotary market and that’s purely because of milking larger herd numbers and you can do it with less people. But we also supply a huge number of herringbones around the world.”
10 | BUSINESS Rotorua Business Awards: Hayes International Orders from overseas skyrocket T T Hugh de Lacy “Hayes has invested heavily in modern CNC equipment, such as lathes and mills, and we manufacture as much as possible in-house.” Whether you are upgrading or maintaining your machinery or equipment Rotorua Electroplaters can ensure that all your Hard Chroming needs will be met e ectively to minimize your downtime. Our services & specialties include: Huge demand from its overseas markets for rollforming machinery has Rotorua company Hayes International’s manufacturing capacity fully committed for 2022, and new orders being placed for 2023. Rollforming is a continuous metal-forming process using special machinery to convert flat sheets, usually of coated steel, into products such as roofing, cladding and structural components. Aluminium and stainless steel, usually supplied like the steel in coils, are other metals commonly rollformed. It’s an important industry within the New Zealand and overseas building materials markets because rollformed components form a significant part of roofing and cladding specifications. Over the past 60 years Hayes International has grown to an annual turnover of $20 million, with 98% of its output exported to no fewer than 87 countries world-wide. Working from a 5000sqm site in Riri Street, Rotorua, Hayes employs 85 local staff, plus another five in Canada and the United States, its main markets. The key to the company’s success as a manufacturer in a competitive overseas market has been its “global reach through our group network and agencies, and our group-wide technical resources and experience covering all facets of the rollforming industry,” company director Wayne Kennedy says. “We’ve also built considerable international brand recognition and industry knowledge through 60 years of experience in innovation and in-house design. “A sound world-wide market base, with much of our business coming from existing customers, is augmented by the international representation we’ve developed through our group entities or agents on most continents.” One of Hayes International’s biggest markets is the United States where the company leverages on its Kansas-based owners through a team of US sales and service technicians. Rollforming is a moderate-sized industry in New Zealand with many small and medium-sized businesses operating in the larger cities. “Hayes has invested heavily in modern CNC equipment, such as lathes and mills, and we manufacture as much as possible in-house, outsourcing additional capacity, such as steel hardness treatments, as necessary.” “Market demand is running unbelievably high, given the turbulent times of Covid and supply-chain issues, even as the escalation of shipping and raw material costs drives up prices,” says Wayne. “We exceeded our budget expectations for 2021, order intake has been at an all-time high, and we are now fully backlogged through 2022.” The main Covid-driven problem Hayes International faces is getting supplies of materials, but the pandemic has also created employment difficulties. “With unemployment at a record low and immigration halted by Covid and government policy, staffing is a very large problem, to the degree that retention has now become as important as recruitment,” says Nick Looijen, Hayes’ General Manager. And Hayes International doesn’t have the global market to itself: there are a couple of New Zealand firms offering competition in Australia, along with two in the United States and another in Australia. “There is a plethora of cheap and cheerful Asian manufacturers, mostly in China, which only bother us when competing in developing markets with their low-cost and often poor-quality equipment.”
| 11 BUSINESS Rotorua Business Awards: Hayes International The Hayes facility in Rotorua. Rollforming is a continuous metal-forming process using special machinery to convert flat sheets, usually of coated steel, into products such as roofing, cladding and structural components. MONDAY - FRIDAY 8am to 5pm | | www.theboltholder.co.nz (07) 881 9180 The Boltholder is proud to support Hayes International NZ DISTRIBUTOR • TECHNICAL CUTTING TOOLS DISTRIBUTOR • SPECIALISTS IN DORMER PRAMET, SANDVIK COROMANT, SPEED TIGER • EXTENSIVE NZ STOCK-HOLDING • AVAILABLE NZ WIDE DIRECT & THROUGH LEADING DISTRIBUTORS 9/18 Taurus Place, Bromley, Chch | 03 338 4169 | admin@southerncut.co.nz Hayes has invested heavily in modern CNC equipment.
12 | Rotorua Business Awards: InfraCore Taking care of Rotorua’s unique landscapes When Covid struck, InfraCore jumped in and employed 25 new people. BUSINESS R O T O R U A SALES • SERVICE REPAIRS on all makes and models Opposite Pak’n Save Cnr Amohau & Hinemaru Street PHONE: 07 348 6614 rotorua@stihlshop.co.nz hobec.co.nz Helping to build a thriving community We areproud toprovide legal services to InfraCore andwe congratulate themon their success. 07 348 7632 8 McCloskey Road, Mangakakahi, Rotorua admin@ICelectrical.co.nz • Industrial Electrical • Telemetery • PLC • Industrial Repair & Service “InfraCore has shifted in the past six years from being a Council Works Department to a stand-alone commercial operation.” Having the opportunity to speak with Emma Murray and Shelley Woisin, from Rotorua-based InfraCore provided insight into the passion and commitment the company has in its role taking care of Rotorua’s unique landscape. The company has several important roles; taking care of the city’s parks and public recreation spaces and multitude gardens, maintaining the city’s two waters, drinking and stormwater, and providing a resource of plants and greenery at its nursery for companies and individuals to access. Emma is InfraCore’s Chief Financial Officer and joined the organisation because she wanted to work for the community, while Shelley, General Manager of People, Capability and Safety, who has been with the company two years, saw it as a way of being involved in an organisation that has such a big presence and impact in the town. “InfraCore has shifted in the past six years from being a Council Works Department to a stand-alone commercial operation but throughout this journey it has retained a strong focus on enhancing the quality of this wonderful environment, we’re all proud to live and work in. “We have been on a journey ensuring that the business is ready to operate in an ever-changing environment. We are technology focused, and agile for all works that come our way” says Emma. Shelley describes the culture at InfraCore as second-to-none. And a significant aspect of the business she understands well and acknowledges as its core strength is its people. When Covid struck, bringing unexpected loss of employment for locals, Shelley says InfraCore proactively jumped in and employed 25 new people, who had not had any former experience. Covid also brought a lot of people ‘home’, who had worked and lived elsewhere for some time. “I’m very proud of that decision to offer redeployment to those who no longer had jobs. Those people have become integral to our company and very much a part of our team of 130.” In her role as CFO Emma leads the Finance and Support Centre functions, reporting decisions around tendering projects, reviewing prices and enabling all arms of the organisation to function well. “Our service centre operates from our central depot in Vaughan Road, however we have multiple satellite locations throughout the city, so it’s a very dynamic and engaging position to be in, and really worthwhile.” The company is led by CEO Matt Scott, who said the success of InfraCore and all it is achieving for Rotorua comes simply down to its people. T Sue Russell “Both Emma and Shelley are part of the Executive Leadership Team, and very much across the history of the company, the current direction, and the future strategy of InfraCore. Shelley drafted the submission for the Workplace Safety award and is also accountable for our HR award nomination at this year’s Rotorua Business Chamber Business awards,” Matt says. An example of Shelley’s contribution has been in the creation of the ‘Why Don’t We Just’ programme, which actively encourages employees to pitch their thoughts in about improvements and ways to add value to the company and to the experiences of employees. “All ideas come to the Leadership Team. An example is the idea to move toward disposable rubbish bags and enhancing plant and equipment to improve employee performance, health and safety,” Shelley says. “Giving our people increased opportunity to engage has improved health and safety reporting, leading to a reduction in workplace injuries and an improvement in the overall wellbeing of our team”. A really wonderful project currently being undertaken with other contractors in the district is the development of the lake water-front. “One of the things that is so satisfying about working for InfraCore is that we see our contribution to this community and to the quality of life for those living here. That is such a great thing to be a part of. Our work on maintaining the highest quality drinking water is something we’re very proud of,” says Emma. There’s also a strong focus on upskilling and professional development within InfraCore. When Business Central spoke with Shelley and Emma 20 employees were engaged in tertiary training with apprenticeships or other professional development, “our people are our biggest asset, so ensuring they have not just the right skills for the job, but ensuring they can continue to grow and develop both professionally and personally is critical to InfraCore’s ongoing people strategy. “We are a people business, is how we look at ourselves first and foremost.” And for proof of that statement there’s the number of comments the team receives on Facebook about the impact InfraCore’s work is having around the town and district. Shelley sums it up: “We are both just so happy to be a part of an organisation doing so much good.”
| 13 Rotorua Business Awards: Te Arawa Fisheries On the fast track to sustainable growth T Kim Newth Te Arawa Fisheries is on the fast track to growth. BUSINESS Proudly supporting Te Arawa Fisheries A transformational business strategy has put Te Arawa Fisheries on the fast track to growth over the past 18 months, with active steps being taken to put the business in a strong market position. Te Arawa Fisheries has been selected as an excellence finalist in Innovation and Technology at the 2021 Tompkins Wake Rotorua Business Awards with winners to be announced at a gala awards evening on 13 November. However, as CEO Chris Karamea Insley explains, the possibility of picking up a business award has not been the driver for change. With significant challenges facing fisheries worldwide from a global pandemic to climate change, he says maintaining a ‘business as usual’ approach was no longer a viable choice for the company, which is pledged to managing fisheries assets responsibly and returning benefits to Te Arawa iwi and whānau. “What we have done in the past is not going to sustain us into the future. Given the tough world we’re in, you’ve got to innovate or die. For us, that has meant moving from passively holding fishing quota into active business development in the high value-add space. Over the past year and a half we’ve gone from absolutely no innovation to today, having innovation in everything we do.” Te Arawa Fisheries’ 2020 revenue of $4.5m was up more than 20% on 2019. Their refreshed business strategy rests on four key pillars or pou, encompassing people, environment, culture and value, all of which are being honoured. Through their Trust (Te Kotahitanga o te Arawa), Te Arawa Fisheries delivers benefits to Te Arawa descendants through programmes such as Te Arawa 500 Scholarships, Iwi Partnerships and provision of kaimoana to tangihanga. The thriving Te Arawa Mahi team is also creating jobs for Te Arawa people. As Chris observes, they have 50,000+ shareholders who demand more than economic returns. If that was all they had to do, it would be easy, he says. “No, our people demand a social dividend – to grow our people - and that we operate in a totally sustainable manner looking after the environment, the moana, our lands. And, they expect us to foster, promote and grow our culture.” Achieving these multiple bottom-lines is far more complex and challenging than a conventional business model, he says. Innovation is certainly playing a pivotal role in that complex strategy. This year Te Arawa Fisheries has launched a new brand called ‘He’ for its new premium range of seafood products, released into the domestic market in October. A launch into Australia is planned over the next few months, followed by the US and Canada. “We’re also doing a $200 million capital raise right now for five new large scale regional aquaculture [mussel farm] developments. All the modelling work and studies we’ve done show that we can bring products to market from these developments over the next two to five years and release $1.5b in new GDP economic growth and 2000 new jobs. “As well, we have large scale open ocean king fish farming and land based kind fish farming as an option, and we have a variety of seaweed suitable for aquaculture development and large scale scallop farming. In fact, we’re talking directly to Sealord’s partner, Japan-based Nissui, about a scallop farming option that they’re hugely interested in.” Linking into Te Arawa Fisheries aspirational strategy, Ngā Iwi i Te Rohe o Te Waiariki (Bay of Plenty iwi) has recently formed a science and technology-backed consortium with two universities (Waikato and Otago), Plant & Food Research, Cawthron Institute and the National Institute of Water and Atmospheric Research (NIWA). All have signed a memorandum of understanding to facilitate collaboration, data sharing and funding to investigate potential marine, science and technology business opportunities. Currently being explored as part of the ongoing innovation drive is a European Union $160b research fund that has recently opened up to applications from around the world. Chris says it has multi-million dollar potential for iwi aquaculture project development.
14 | Rotorua Business Awards: Evolve Construction BUSINESS Forging a great history Evolve Construction has been nominated in the Manufacturing, Primary and Building at this year’s Rotorua Business Awards. Project for son opens doors T T Sue Russell T T Sue Russell Top Gear Rotorua ALL DOMESTIC & COMMERCIAL WORK Ph. 07 347 0541 Mob. 027 475 1296 www.adplumbing.co.nz ROTORUA AND SURROUNDS Plumbing • Solar • Gas • Maintenance • Renovations General Engineering • Stainless Steel & Alloy Fabrication/Repair • Alloy Boat Fabrication & Repair • CNC Machining VMC • CNC Plasma Cutting • Guillotine & Press Work • Custom Car Fabrication 07 350 1306 | 51 Pururu St, Mangakakahi, Rotorua | ken@saslimited.co.nz Decorative & Functional Panels Made Affordable & Easy P: 0800 7599 663 E: sales@plywoodcity.co.nz W: www.pyramidpanels.co.nz AliPanel Wet Wall Linings RockPanel Decorative ply wall linings Truck Deck By For most of the 34 years he has been a builder, Brent Austin has been self-employed. In fact it wasn’t until recently that the Rotorua based builder was still on his own, however, as fate would have it, a project manager, who had worked with Brent in a previous company, presented as a business partner and, at the start of 2020, Brent and Justin Henderson created Evolve Construction. “We had worked together 2008 – 2010 and had a great history, so when the opportunity presented I thought this just made sense because Justin is an excellent carpenter & has very good project management skills,” Brent explains. With two on board, the company functions very efficiently, with both builders pricing their own jobs and working jointly or individually on projects as required. Brent spends quite a lot of time in the office using AutoCAD to produce working drawings so some of their projects. Justin is also learning to do this. We did have an apprentice throughout 2020, through until mid 2021. When Business Central spoke with Brent Evolve Construction had two major projects on the go, one about $100,000 and the other $550,000. While concentrating on these projects, Brent and Justin fit in smaller jobs. Scott Hewson began his engineering career offering mobile services to the forestry sector back in 2005. Demand grew and soon he took on a couple of staff and a workshop and gathered necessary equipment and tools. “That’s when we started doing more manufacturing, rather than just repair work and from there the company just grew.” His first foray into manufacturing trailers came about when he designed and built a closed-in trailer for his son who was into gocarts at the time. For the past decade, when word got out about the quality of the trailers he built, demand increased, to the point where, today, 95% of the work is in trailer construction. For the past four years Top Gear Rotorua Ltd - located in Tallyho Street, Mangakakahi - has manufactured 50 enclosed trailers each year. “With Covid we were worried about the leisure market we serviced; however, experience has proven our concerns unfounded as we just got busier and busier.” Top Gear will build 100 trailers by the end of the year and has 40 to 50 forward orders. Scott doesn’t want this number to increase and says already, it is feeling quite stretched. A standard 2.4m x 1.5m trailer takes 30 hours to build but orders can go up to 7.5m with massive fitouts. “Some have 240V solar systems, kitchen and bathrooms, so these bespoke orders take considerably longer to make.” “That works well, because sometimes we are waiting for materials, so we move over to a smaller job and in that way we are not having any down-time.” Asked how the Covid experience has been, Brent says the first lockdown wasn’t too much of a problem; just some weeks not working before resuming under restrictions. However, the second dose of Covid brought more challenges. “When Auckland really ground to a halt in terms of supply that’s when we started to feel the pinch. “Now if you want weather-board, if you want Gib Board, it’s March at the earliest, but we have been pretty fortunate so far.” Evolve Construction has been nominated in the Manufacturing, Primary and Building at this year’s Rotorua Business Awards. The category has three finalists and Brent says it’s a real thrill to have been accepted as a finalist. The challenges that come with taking on renovations is something Brent and Justin both enjoy. “We find that when we do renovations and the owners have been in the home a long time, there’s a real emotional connection, that you don’t experience with new builds so much. “We know how important a home is to these people who have chosen to stay and make improvements to it, so it is work we really enjoy.” The 900m2 workshop has all the equipment to manufacture from bare steel. “We try to do as much in-house as possible so we do our own 2D and 3D drafting and drawing to give customers a real sense of what the space will be like when completed.” Top Gear has its own CNC cutting machine and almost all the fabrication is completed at the workshop. “We use Perry’s Metal Protection in Tauranga and Powdercoating NZ for the paint-work. They are based in Cambridge.” Given growing demand Scott says he intends to take on a couple more engineers, but at this time, finding the right staff, is not easy. He says its best to get a person with the right attitude and train them up, rather than look for someone with a vast amount of engineering shopwork experience. “That way, I can ensure they learn what is essential to do well and they’re not bringing in any bad habits from other jobs.” Scott says while the trailer frame is of a fairly standard nature, it’s the fit out and finishings that require a more specialised skill set. He acknowledges there isn’t really a “We try to do as much inhouse as possible so we do our own 2D and 3D drafting and drawing to give customers a real sense of what the space will be like when completed.”
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