Volume 9 | Issue 3 | July 2024 www.waterfordpress.co.nz Doing it with style Kiwi UFC star Israel Adesanya is behind an eye-catching new townhouse development in Palmerston North. Page 88
2 | Contents 10 | Stepping up Fulton Hogan‘s East Coast crews have played a major role in the region’s recovery following Cyclone Gabrielle. 36| Leading the way Forest Enterprises, one of New Zealand’s most successful forestry investment companies. 98| New home Hamilton based builder Kiwi Designed Homes (KDH) has moved into a new custom-built premise at Northgate Business Park in Horotiu. 36 98 10 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. 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Business South accepts no responsibilty for loss of photos or manuscripts. #businesscentral #yourstory www.waterfordpress.co.nz Energyworks �������������������������������������������������������������������������������03 JGP �����������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������04 Inglewood Timber Processors ��������������������������������������������������06 True Honey ���������������������������������������������������������������������������������08 Fulton Hogan Hawke’s Bay �������������������������������������������������������10 Collier Civil ����������������������������������������������������������������������������������16 Kuru Contracting ������������������������������������������������������������������������17 Hastings District Council �����������������������������������������������������������18 Kapiti Coast District Council �����������������������������������������������������20 Napier City Council ��������������������������������������������������������������������22 Horowhenua District Council ���������������������������������������������������23 Raglan Food Co. �������������������������������������������������������������������������24 Blue Earth Estate ������������������������������������������������������������������������25 Central Kids ��������������������������������������������������������������������������������26 Morden ����������������������������������������������������������������������������������������29 Scafit ��������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������30 Waiopehu College ����������������������������������������������������������������������33 FICA ����������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������34 Forest Enterprises ����������������������������������������������������������������������36 Forest Management NZ ������������������������������������������������������������42 Havendale Logging ��������������������������������������������������������������������46 Illawarra Orchard �����������������������������������������������������������������������47 Kea Fruit LP ���������������������������������������������������������������������������������48 Elite Drainage Wairarapa ����������������������������������������������������������50 Dent Contracting ������������������������������������������������������������������������52 Accurate Construction and Excavation �����������������������������������53 Reset Electrical ���������������������������������������������������������������������������54 Sole Landscapes �������������������������������������������������������������������������55 Diesel Mechanical Repairs ��������������������������������������������������������56 Transport & Diesel Services ������������������������������������������������������57 Eastweld Engineering ����������������������������������������������������������������58 Index Engineering ����������������������������������������������������������������������59 Patton Engineering ��������������������������������������������������������������������60 AD Architecture ��������������������������������������������������������������������������61 Cambie Architectural Design ����������������������������������������������������62 Tess Fenwick Architects ������������������������������������������������������������63 Longview Hawera �����������������������������������������������������������������������64 Domain Holdings �����������������������������������������������������������������������66 Birman �����������������������������������������������������������������������������������������67 Hyde Lane �����������������������������������������������������������������������������������68 Soho Group ��������������������������������������������������������������������������������69 Orkney Group �����������������������������������������������������������������������������70 Diamond Residential �����������������������������������������������������������������71 A1 Homes Hawke’s Bay �������������������������������������������������������������72 G.J. Gardner Homes Whanganui ����������������������������������������������74 David Reid Homes Taupo ���������������������������������������������������������76 Agility Builders ����������������������������������������������������������������������������80 Versatile Homes Wanganui ������������������������������������������������������82 Versatile Homes Manawatu �����������������������������������������������������86 Gemini Pepper Construction ����������������������������������������������������88 WBS - Hyslop Homes �����������������������������������������������������������������90 Kiwispan Hawke’s Bay ���������������������������������������������������������������93 Landmark Homes Taupō ����������������������������������������������������������94 KDH Kiwi Designed Homes �������������������������������������������������������98 Heritage Timbercraft �������������������������������������������������������������� 102 Holmes Construction NZ �������������������������������������������������������� 103 Philp Construction ������������������������������������������������������������������ 104 Shaun Fowlie Builders ������������������������������������������������������������ 105 Friday Homes �������������������������������������������������������������������������� 106 Precision Building & Maintenance ���������������������������������������� 108 Callaghan Construction ���������������������������������������������������������� 110 Elevation Homes ��������������������������������������������������������������������� 110 Elmm Projects ������������������������������������������������������������������������� 112 NZ Proud ���������������������������������������������������������������������������������� 113 Your Solutions ������������������������������������������������������������������������� 114 Specialised Property Solutions ���������������������������������������������� 115 Oxygen Property Management ��������������������������������������������� 116 McDonald Real Estate ������������������������������������������������������������� 118 Manage My Rental ������������������������������������������������������������������ 119 Waitarere Beach Surf Club ����������������������������������������������������� 120 OUR PARTNERS: 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 BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT DIRECTOR Chris Pearce chris.pearce@waterfordpress.co.nz EDITORIAL Editor Nick Gormack nick@waterfordpress.co.nz Sub-editors Paul Mein, Randall Johnston Journalists Alexia Anderson, Bernadette Cooney, Kelly Deeks, Hugh de Lacy, Russell Fredric, Richard Loader, Kim Newth, Sue Russell, Karen Phelps, Rosa Watson, Virginia Wright RESEARCH & MARKETING James Anderson, Sam Dart, Chris Graves, Megan Hawkins, Annie Patrick, Chris Pearce, Danielle Percival, Adam Shirra, Leo Smith, Alasdair Thomson, Jane Watson sales@waterfordpress.co.nz PRODUCTION DEPARTMENT General Manager Luke Lynch luke@waterfordpress.co.nz Graphic Artists Connor Gosnell, Anton Gray, Francesca Hildawa, Sophie McCleary, Liki Udam art@waterfordpress.co.nz CONTENT COORDINATORS Alissa Crosby, Ann-Marie Frentz, Josie Villa OFFICE AND ACCOUNTS Helen Bourne accounts@waterfordpress.co.nz Jill Holland reception@waterfordpress.co.nz Lyn Barlow lyn@waterfordpress.co.nz
| 3 REGIONAL DEVELOPMENT Taranaki: Energyworks T T Hugh de Lacy Energyworks meets industry needs Energyworks has grown with the Taranaki energy industry to become a specialised multi-disciplined engineering business running highvalue project and maintenance services to industrial clients throughout the country. A culture of continuous performance improvement is behind the success of New Plymouth-based Energyworks, which provides fabrication, installation and maintenance services for pressurised industrial processes across the country. With its workforce of 130, its two 1400qm fabrication shops in the Bell Block industrial sub-division, Energyworks touts itself as a one-stop-shop for the procurement, fabrication and industrial coating of pressure piping, vessels and engineered structural steel. The workshop sports a comprehensive range of plant, including rotating gas cutters and band-saws, pipe rotators, boom-mounted flux core arc welding units and no fewer than four five-tonne gantry cranes. The facility also features fume extraction and a 14900barg hydro-testing bay, allowing for the precise handling of large volumes of pipe spooling and structural elements. There’s a separate standalone 600sqm workshop for stainless steel fabrication, as well as 900sqm of office space, a 300m2 consumables and equipment store, a 1360m2 paint-shop with offices and amenities, and an 1100m2 piping and fittings storage area, all sited on an 8000m2 sealed yard. Established in 1973 as Inglewood Engineering, the company was re-branded in the early 2000s and moved up the road to new purpose-built facilities in the Bell Block in 2005. The company has grown with the Taranaki energy industry to become a specialised multi-disciplined engineering business running high-value project and maintenance services to industrial clients throughout the country. It services not only the existing process and energy sectors, but is also leading the way in the adoption of new decarbonising technologies with the likes of hydrogen and bio-gas to help the country reach its 2050 carbon commitments. Energyworks has also invested strongly in industrial coatings, adding a blast booth built in 2013 complete with blast media recovery and scrubber system. The Pipeline Construction Team undertakes work that includes gas and liquid gathering lines from well-heads to production stations, pipelines for bunker and fuel distribution, specialist river and aerial crossings, and liveline welding and hot tap support for pipeline diversions and maintenance. “We also have trade and project management teams with wide experience of pressure systems up to a Class 2500# rating, and many of our staff spend time seconded to client organisations as maintenance planners,” Energyworks Fabrications Manager Rob Kirkwood says. Energyworks boasts an impressive list of completed projects that include various wellsite construction jobs for Todd Energy and OMV, emergency repairs to the ruptured Ruakaka-Auckland fuel line to Auckland Airport, and the installation of electrolyser, compressor and chiller units for Hiringa Energy’s Waitomo-Te Rapa hydrogen refueling facility. Its work includes the handling, assembly and installation of vendor bulks, in-station vessels and piping for First Renewables at their new bio-gas facility at Reporoa, and the fabrication and installation of seismic strengthening and process piping for MSD Animal Health. The company also carried out the realignment of the Maui pipeline at Pukearuhe, Taranaki, the Ahuroa gas storage expansion project for Flex Gas, and the Pohokura depletion compression project. “In terms of industrial project and maintenance services throughout the country, we’ve got the field covered,” Rob says. Construction in New Zealand has seen huge growth in the past two decades. With the sector relying on alternative means of financing, it’s important to seek guidance from someone who understands these trends and knows where to safely move next. At BDO Taranaki, we’re proud to work alongside Energyworks and support their unique growth story. Get in touch to see how we can help build a strong future for your business. A head for more than the numbers BDO TARANAKI, MORE THAN JUST ACCOUNTANTS. Steve Waite steve.waite@bdo.co.nz Gaylene Findlay gaylene.findlay@bdo.co.nz Dianne Roberts dianne.roberts@bdo.co.nz Erin Gall erin.gall@bdo.co.nz IDEAS | PEOPLE | TRUST FOR MORE: Scan the QR Code for BDO’s latest New Zealand and international construction sector insights.
4 | Taranaki: JGP Ltd T T Virginia Wright Committed to fostering region’s growth The JGP team - committed to fostering growth in Taranaki. REGIONAL DEVELOPMENT Eight years after Jodi Magee and John Glavey established JGP Ltd with just the two of them, their laptops and 35 years of collective experience, they now employ 28 people based at Ngāmotu House in New Plymouth with a satellite office in the Taupo region. The niche they targeted was providing project management and project engineering services directly to their clients. “We knew that what we did we did well, and we wanted to build something that was about improving that service across the Taranaki region. “Our vision and goal was, and still is, to be recognised as being the best in what we provide and to be able to continue to improve that through the learnings that we have from the various jobs and projects that we work on,” says John. JGP have a track-record and list of clients that demonstrates this commitment. Having originally provided services to the traditional oil and gas sector, they now apply their particular brand of expertise to projects across energy and infrastructure including methanol production, power generation, gas transmission, 3 waters, ports, and primary industries. Whatever the specific project, at the core of JGP’s approach is communication. “The key thing is having good communication with all the relevant stakeholders on a project, listening to what the client needs, and outlining that clearly so that everyone who’s involved in it, whether they’re directly working on it or the end-users, gets what they want,” says John. It may sound obvious, but client expectations are fundamental in managing and delivering projects successfully. JGP avoids the conflicts of interest involved in providing engineering and construction by focusing on stakeholder requirements, clear scope and control of quality, schedule, and cost. Managing project risks and their trademark communication underpin this with a skilled and integrated team. Covid, along with some government policy changes, gave JGP the push it needed to go beyond their more traditional clients as they dealt with serious uncertainty about where they might find their next job, let alone a pipeline of projects. Embracing the challenge to look further afield to where else they could apply their talents, they started further developing their infrastructure work and initiated their Asset Management Services. It’s a win-win as they work with owners such as local councils to anticipate regulatory inspections and the need for preventative maintenance of things like sewage systems and stormwater drain networks, and so avoid costly surprises. At the same time, they embraced the push from their young team to be involved in more sustainable energy projects. “They want us to be doing things for the betterment of the country and for our kids’ future so we’ve developed opportunities in that space with existing clients and we’re seeking out new clients as well,” says John. Their work with geothermal energy projects in the Taupo region and feasibility studies in the use of hydrogen, biomethane and biogas are good examples of leveraging an existing team’s skills to deliver projects in decarbonisation and renewable energy. They’re a friendly team of professionals from diverse backgrounds and engineering disciplines and their office in New Plymouth’s newly refurbished Ngāmotu House has an open door policy for anyone looking for their brand of specialised local experience. They’re proud to be part of the solution as they continue to look for new ways to apply their experience to help decarbonise the future of energy in New Zealand. 06 758 1223 | www.verbrec.com | Verbrec NZ Ltd: 435 Devon Street East, New Plymouth Consulting Engineers with expertise in: Verbrec are proud to support JGP Ltd Project Delivery • Engineering Design • Mechanical Engineering Chemical and Process Engineering • Instrument, Electrical and Control Engineering Civil and Structural Engineering • Fitness For Service • Asset Performance
Port Taranaki has long prided itself on being a key contributor to the Taranaki economy and community – operating with the wellbeing of the region always front of mind. “We take our important role of helping Taranaki succeed very seriously, and our vision of being ‘The Pride of Taranaki’ is something we work towards and aim to achieve in all aspects of our business,” explains Port Taranaki general manager commercial Ross Dingle. Being agile and adaptable to changes in markets and cargo has been central to the port’s success over decades and, once again, the port is moving with the times and working alongside business and the community to help bring new revenue and employment streams to the region. Cruise tourism and o shore wind production are a particular focus. With the region being ‘o the beaten track’ and largely unexplored, Taranaki is becoming more and more attractive to cruise lines looking for new and exciting tourist destinations. At the same time, o shore wind developers are eager to take advantage of New Zealand’s status as having the fth best wind resource in the world by establishing o shore wind production facilities o the Taranaki and Waikato coasts. Port Taranaki has a key part to play in both these sectors. In 2023, Port Taranaki, alongside a number of key stakeholders, including the regional development agency Te Puna Umanga Venture Taranaki, iwi and hapū, tour operators and the business community, developed the Taranaki Cruise Strategy, with the aim of sustainably growing cruise tourism. “The strategy gives us a clear pathway of where we want to go in the next ve years and a set of initiatives to work on that ensures we’re developing a high-value cruise tourism o ering that’s sustainable, consistent, respects the environment, boosts the economy, adds vibrancy to the community and nurtures cultural enrichment,” Ross says. The strategy includes the target of ’28 for 28’ – having 28 cruise ships visit Taranaki in the year 2028. “It’s ambitious, but we believe our region has plenty to attract international visitors and cruise lines who are looking for a unique and memorable experience.” The strategy’s rst season was a success, with a record seven vessels visiting. “As a port, we’ve been working a long time on developing this part of our business. Alongside Venture Taranaki, we’ve been promoting our region through the New Zealand Cruise Association and at cruise expos. We also have a great planning and marine team who have worked hard to ensure cruise vessels can be accommodated around our day-to-day shipping business. “It’s a real Team Taranaki e ort and we’re proud of what we’ve achieved so far and are excited about the future of cruise tourism in the region.” Wind is beginning to ll the sails of the o shore wind production industry, as Aotearoa New Zealand looks to enable more renewable energy production at scale. Developers are looking to establish o shore wind energy production, with nine proposed projects earmarked for o the Taranaki and Waikato coasts. As New Zealand’s only deep-water commercial port on the west coast, Port Taranaki is a key cog in the wheel of an o shore wind production industry. A study last year found that Port Taranaki will have an essential and strategic role in the development of o shore wind farms – for the marshalling and assembly of wind turbines and structures, as a base for installation during the construction phase, and for supporting associated industry vessels during the ongoing production and servicing phase. There is also the possibility for excess generation to be used to produce other energy products, which could be shipped through Port Taranaki. Recently, Port Taranaki was among a group of co-funders to support an extensive o shore wind study – the National O shore Wind Energy Industry Impacts Study – published by PwC. The study, which was released at the O shore Renewable Energy Forum in Taranaki, revealed that o shore wind will play a critical role in helping Aotearoa reach its net-zero goals, while contributing $50 billion to GDP and creating 10,000 new jobs. “The study nds that economic activity and employment will be generated around the port, providing a timely boost for our region as traditional energy production slows,” says Port Taranaki chief executive Simon Craddock. “For this to occur, upgrades to port infrastructure are necessary, and the timing of upgrades is critical to ensure o shore wind farm construction is not delayed. Developers are targeting projects to be delivered in the early 2030s, and as major port infrastructure projects take, on average, 10 years to plan, consent and construct, we’re on that critical path now to provide the necessary port infrastructure. “Beyond o shore wind support, port upgrades will also have the potential to unlock broader industrial development, attract new investors and business and export opportunities, and support future decommissioning of oil and gas elds.” Cruise, offshore wind highlight port’s ability to adapt NEW ZEALAND’S PREMIER ENERGY PORT • Decades of skills, knowledge and experience supporting the o shore energy sector. • Embracing the future and working with renewable energy developers to bring o shore wind production to New Zealand. Ross Dingle, General Manager Commercial Phone: 027 310 5112 | Email: rdingle@porttaranaki.co.nz
6 | Taranaki: Inglewood Timber Processors REGIONAL DEVELOPMENT T T Hugh de Lacy Family firmweathering the storms Inglewood Timber is a family company founded by Mark’s Jackson’s uncle, Trevor Jackson, 25 years ago, and later taken over by Trevor’s brothers Kelvin and Brian Jackson. It’s survived fire, flood, pandemic and the economic crisis over the last five years, and now Chinese competition is battering Inglewood Timber Processors, but part-owner Mark Jackson reckons the company will somehow pull through. “If we can get through all that then we must be due for some good luck somewhere down the track, but we’re just hanging on in the meantime,” Mark says. “I don’t know if we’ll survive, with the Chinese taking our timber and feeding it back to us, but we won’t be shutting up shop yet.” Inglewood Timber Processors buys in rough-sawn dry 200mm by 40mm timber boards, and processes them into scaffolding planks and animal bedding for the New Zealand market, and solid-core doors for Australia. Both the domestic and export markets for its products are under price assault by Chinese processors who are taking New Zealand logs and selling them back into the Australasian market in direct competition with Inglewood Timber and other local processors. Which, on top of everything else the company’s been through, should have been the death-knell for Inglewood Timber, but it continues to hang in there. Just before Christmas 2019, the company’s 750sqm factory was nearly completely destroyed in a fire caused by an electrical fault, and it took 11 fire crews from around Taranaki to bring it under control. Up in flames went much of Inglewood Timber’s machinery, requiring two replacement planers, two planer-sanders and a band-saw to be sourced from Taiwan. A total of $2 million in damage was done to the factory which was left as a burned and blackened eyesore, with the remains of the roof flopping down over it. Fifty-six days of frantic work saw the factory up and running again, only to have to shut down two weeks later because of the Covid pandemic. Since it was supplying a vital livestock need in the form of wooden shavings for animal bedding, the Ministry of Primary Industries (MPI) allowed the plant to re-open a week before other industries’ lock-downs ended. Then last year the Hawke’s Bay floods saw the big Pan Pac forestry mill in Napier, which supplied the timber, swamped under two metres of water, and Inglewood Timber scrambling for new supplies from that company’s Gisborne, Putaruru and Dannevirke mills, all at a time when the Australian door-core market was painfully flat. “Overnight we had to restructure the company, and while the Australian market has recovered a bit over the last six months, it’s still heavy going,” Mark says. Inglewood Timber is a family company founded by Mark’s uncle, Trevor Jackson, 25 years ago, and later taken over by Trevor’s brothers Kelvin and Brian Jackson. Your Business, Your Industry, Your News. Volume 6 | Issue 2 | April 2021 www.waterfordpress.co.nz ‘Excellence in Energy’ Taranaki’s Todd Energy will have a key role to play as New Zealand moves toward a low emissions economy. Page 8 Waikato farmers Dean & Ang Finnerty have expanded their dairy cow operation into a successful goat milking enterprise as well PAGE 10 Turning challenge into opportunity AUTUMN 2022 www.waterfordpress.co.nz Volume 6 | Issue 3 | July 2021 www.waterfordpress.co.nz Making waves Back on track New Zealand hydrofoil maker Armstrong is generating interest around the world with its high performance products. Work on the ambitious NZCIS facility in Upper Hutt is progressing well after Covid disruptions. PAGE 70 PAGE 10 Healthy delivery A new elective surgery facility in Hastings will provide a big boost to the region’s operating capacity. PAGE 52 Volume 6 | Issue 5 | December 2021 www.waterfordpress.co.nz Cheers Boys! YoungWellington irm3Māori Boys is creating a buzz with it’s ground-breakingWai Manuka natural beverage. PAGE 45 Passion and pride New Plymouth’s Energyworks has forged a strong reputation in 50 years of business. PAGE 64 Seaview upgrade CentrePort’s SeaviewWharf facility is set for a major upgrade to bring it up to international standards. PAGE 14 businesscentral Each edition priority delivered to your door. i i i i li . www.waterfordpress.co.nz/subscriptions . . . 03 983 5525 Stay informed; we work with business owners and decision-makers across all economic sectors, pro iling their success. i ; i i i i - ll i , ili i . DURRANT & SCHIMANSKI LTD SCAFFOLD & RIGGING SERVICES Proudly Supporting Inglewood Timber Processors Inglewood 4330 021 024 95569 durrant-schimanski@outlook.com Kiwi Lumber supplies an extensive range of structural, outdoor and appearance grade products to building merchants across New Zealand Telephone 0800 222 610 sales@kiwilumber.co.nz www.kiwilumber.com Kiwi Lumber is proud to be a supplier and supporter of Inglewood Timber Processors and their endeavours
| 7 Taranaki: Inglewood Timber Processors REGIONAL DEVELOPMENT Inglewood Timber Processors buys in rough-sawn dry 200mm by 40mm timber boards, and processes them into scaffolding planks and animal bedding for the New Zealand market, and solid-core doors for Australia. Today Mark and Brian own the company along with Mark’s wife Michelle, and it employs 10 staff, down from the 24 at its peak 14 years ago. The wood shavings are a by-product of the planning of the timber, and are distributed throughout Taranaki and further afield for the in-door bedding of poultry, dairy cows and race-horses. The scaffolding planks are distributed New Zealand-wide while the timber for the Australian solid-core doors is processed through a finger-jointer and a door-press, and then planed and sanded. “Twelve months ago the Aussie market for solid-core doors was as dead as a door-nail, but it’s coming back slowly now,” Mark says. The company freights its products throughout the country and is regularly audited by Asure Quality, MPI, Scion and the international verifier Bureau Veritas. “The setbacks we’ve had to put up with over the past few years have made us resilient, and we intend to survive if at all possible,” Mark says. With 55 years’ experience as a general freight carrier, your goods are in our good hands. We specialise in cartage of produce, agriculture, timber, lime, stock food, & bagged fertiliser; servicing the North Island Daily. BIG ENOUGH TO COMPETE, SMALL ENOUGH TO CARE PROUDLY SUPPORTING INGLEWOOD TIMBER Fintax Chartered Accountants Limited Contact us today (06) 756 8189 fintaxltd@xtra.co.nz P.O Box 7, Inglewood 4347 28 Brown St, Inglewood Taranaki For all your Accounting and Management Advisory needs and Taxation Services
8 | Taranaki: True Honey REGIONAL DEVELOPMENT T T Kim Newth High grade honey hits the sweet spot The True Honey Co. Rare Harvest 2050 MGO mānuka honey, released last year as a limited edition and priced at $2500 a jar, ranks as the most potent mānuka honey ever made. When Jim McMillan founded The True Honey Co. in 2014, his goal was to build a premium New Zealand mānuka honey brand based on authenticity, trust and transparency. Today, the company’s high-grade honey is hitting the sweet spot with consumers all over the world. The True Honey Co. Rare Harvest 2050 MGO mānuka honey, released last year as a limited edition and priced at $2500 a jar, ranks as the most potent mānuka honey ever made. MGO stands for methylglyoxal, an organic compound responsible for mānuka honey’s special antibacterial properties. The higher the MGO, the more powerful the mānuka benefits. The True Honey Co. Rare Harvest mānuka honey is around 20 times more potent than that typically sold in supermarkets. “This is the third time in a row now that we have managed to exceed the highest grade, independently verified and tested mānuka honey ever made. The first time we did that was a few years ago with a batch of 1700 MGO mānuka honey. Then we exceeded that with 1900 MGO honey, which was jointly launched with Harrods in London; they purchased the entire inventory. “Sixty per cent of our Rare Harvest 2050 MGO stock was pre-sold ahead of the launch. This batch of products was also sold to highend luxury department stores, as well as high net worth private individuals, primarily in the Middle East region. Some also went to Germany and China.” As Jim observes, it took a 10-year effort and focus on the finer points of honey production - along with the right convergence of time, place, climate and environment - to reach the 2050 MGO rating. There’s no guarantee that honey of this potency will be produced again – “but we continue to strive to exceed our past record.” Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries in the Middle East are currently the company’s largest export market. The next key market in sight is China, where Jim says there is already good knowledge about natural health and awareness of mānuka honey’s benefits. The company has recently launched a flagship store on China’s biggest e-commerce platform Tmall. “We chose Tmall as we primarily want to be able to sell direct to consumers and build our knowledge and understanding around their requirements.” South of Dannevirke, it’s a hive of activity. This is where The True Honey Co.’s factory is established for honey processing, extraction and storage. “As a business owner, I’m very proud of the fact that we have generated employment opportunities within rural New Zealand.” “As a business owner, I’m very proud of the fact that we have generated employment opportunities within rural New Zealand. At peak, we have up to 50 casual staff working at that facility. A lot of the casual staff are mums or younger people looking for a new employment opportunity. It has been great to do that for the community.” Jim’s fascination for mānuka honey goes back to 2011. His work in the helicopter sector at that time often took him to remote back country areas, where he discovered some large pristine stands of mānuka. “That’s really what seeded the idea to start my own business.” Back in the early stages of developing The True Honey Co. brand, Jim worked closely with Professor Peter Molan, the scientist who discovered the unique properties of mānuka honey. Through this, Jim learned that only mānuka honey of 300 MGO and above would deliver consistent health benefits. “That’s why only 300 MGO and above qualifies for our range. We specialise in the production of high to ultra-grade honey and that’s the focus for our whole team. One of the biggest rewards for us is all the feedback we have received from honey lovers over the years around the health and wellbeing benefits of consuming our honey.” Consultation with prospective landowners led to the development of a transparent system enabling real time data to be shared with them on honey production activities. Consumer feedback from around the world has guided key decisions on the brand, including use of glass jars and sustainable materials in packaging. The team is currently working on several exciting new health and wellbeing products containing mānuka honey for release later this year. Looking for a truly sweet, world-class printer?
Healthy & sweet with G&S Foods Picturesque Canvastown in Marlborough began as a gold rush settlement in the 1860s, but it’s a di erent kind of gold being worked there today in an innovative factory that’s adding value to premiumNew Zealand honey. Home to G&S Foods, the risk management certi ied (RMP) plant is a thriving honey and fruit drying enterprise, producing soothingly sweet honey and fruit lozenges, honey powder, honey crystals and co-dried fruit powders. G&S Foods was founded in 2010 by brothers Neil and Gordon Boyd, whose vision was to preserve honey’s inherent goodness through a patented drying process. “We are honey drying specialists,” explains Sharleen McIsaac, sales and marketing director for G&S Foods. “Everything we make is of exceptional quality, with all the honey powders, crystals and lozenges retaining their essential goodness and o ering a delicious alternative sweetener.” For those wanting to elevate their brand with natural sweetness, G&S Foods is the ideal choice. Their honey powders are used to enhance all sorts of products from Vitamin C tablets and milk powder to hamburgers, breakfast cereals and energy bars. Their granular honey crystal product adds delectable crunch, texture and taste to products like chocolate. G&S Foods specialise in contract manufacturing honey and fruit lozenges, which are packed into foil trays and individual foil pillow packs for esteemed private brand customers in New Zealand and beyond. Many di erent lavours are available and customers are also free to request unique custom options. In this space, G&S Foods works alongside some of New Zealand’s leading honey producers, such as mānuka honey luminary The True Honey Co. “We have been dealing with The True Honey Co. since 2020 and have been contracted to manufacture value added honey lozenges using honey supplied by them. This has involved detailed new product development with their professional team, with rewarding results as their markets have grown.” G&S Foods employs a small team of 10, who mostly live in Canvastown and the Wakamarina Valley. With a strong production and work history, the company pays the living wage and above and provides specialist training in-house. From their factory in tranquil Canvastown, G&S Foods is equipped to produce, pack and deliver to world markets. The company is export registered and FDA approved and can source all New Zealand honey varietals for drying, as well as assist with export logistics. Last year, G&S Foods took part in the China International Import Expo (CIIE), exhibiting under the umbrella of the New Zealand Chamber of Commerce and the China Chamber of Commerce in New Zealand. Held at the Shanghai National Exhibition and Convention Centre in November 2023, it featured exhibitions from multiple countries and businesses as well as the Hongqiao International Economic and Trade Forum. “This premier event o ered a remarkable platform for us to showcase our products and services to a vast audience of potential buyers and partners across China and the world.” It has paved the way to a busy year for G&S Foods, as it ills new orders from China while continuing to provide exceptional quality to many longstanding, loyal customers. g&s foods Experience the exceptional flavour of G&S Foods bulk honey powder and crystals, dried and crafted exclusively from 100% New Zealand honey. Let us bring your brand to life with our exceptional contract manufacturing capabilities! g&s foods: leading experts in NZ honey drying 03 574 2500 sales@gsfoods.nz www.gsfoods.co.nz 15 Greig Lane, Canvastown, 7178
10 | Fulton Hogan - East Coast-Hawke’s Bay T T Richard Loader Hi-vis heroes lead cyclone response Fulton Hogan staff have worked tirelessly since Cyclone Gabrielle repairing washed out bridges and roads. T T to page 12 REGIONAL DEVELOPMENT With its Head Office in Napier and branches in Gisborne, Wairoa, Whakatu (Hastings) and Waipukurau, Fulton Hogan’s East Coast region undertakes infrastructure projects from Dannevirke in Central Hawke’s Bay through to East Cape, with ~370 employees spread across the region. Projects range from state highway (NZTA Waka Kotahi) and local authority roading construction and maintenance works, commercial and residential development infrastructure, and quarrying, with a very strong 3-waters construction capability. The company also has a transport fleet and a considerable temporary traffic management team. With fourteen years’ experience with Fulton Hogan, Courtney Pratt moved to the Bay in December last year to take on the East Coast’s senior role of Regional Manager, a position she previously held in Taranaki. Passionate about the industry, Courtney says Fulton’s Hogan’s success is always about the people. “What I see is that we really value every single person here. I don’t care what role you play, you’re as valuable as any other. If you’re on the front line and managing traffic control, and you’re the first person a member of the public sees you’re as important as any of our senior leaders – probably more important. “My job only exists because there are a whole lot of people out there doing good work in the community. As senior leaders and senior managers our job is to support delivery. “We are a delivery organisation, and we never forget that. We are here to do good work – creating, connecting and caring for communities where we can.” That sentiment was never truer than the wake of Cyclone Gabrielle, when the whole Fulton Hogan team responded swiftly to clear damage, unblock roads, build bridges and support the local communities — often by just showing a friendly and caring face. Courtney refers to the team as ‘hi-vis super heroes’, working extremely hard and long hours, during crises such as a Cyclone Gabrielle. But she says that is also the most satisfying part of what they all do as a delivery business, doing good. “Infrastructure can sometimes get a bad rap, but those types of situations really demonstrate what we can do when the opportunity or crisis is there. “ Our team came to work to serve the community when they may not have been certain their own families and homes were safe, and like many of the region’s workforces, many of our team were cut off from their own families during those initial stages. “One of our team might well be the first face representing the emergency response that someone saw after being trapped at the end of a road for a number of weeks. “Throughout the main crisis period they didn’t let themselves get fatigued, because they knew they had a job to do. “That can be quite emotional and taxing for our people, but they do a great job and they genuinely care.” Courtney says that when she arrived in Hawke’s Bay late last year the team was extremely tired, having worked up to seven days a week for the past eight months. 027 423 5793 or 021 023 54378 office@backyarddiggers.co.nz www.backyarddiggers.co.nz Proud local contractors across residential, farming & civil domains Bulk Deliveries | Gravel | Top Soil Proud to be associated with Fulton Hogan Phone Brian Tong: 021 038 30 73 Email: tenessee@icloud.com
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