Business North April 2023

Volume 22 | Issue 2 | April 2023 www.waterfordpress.co.nz businessnorth Stars of Steel Auckland’s Legacy Steel has picked up a top international award for its fabrication and construction work.  PAGE 40

2 | Contents businessnorth 09| All abuzz Katitkati honey producer Bee NZ is creating plenty of interest in its products. 34 | Battery power WEL Networks is building New Zealand’s first utility scale Battery Energy Storage System. 78| Waiheke winner Envoy Construction has been recognised for its work on a new Waiheke Island restaurant. 34 78 09 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 North 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 North. Where advertisement proofs have been faxed or mailed to the client 48 hours prior to the nominated printing cut off time acquiesce shall be taken as confirmation and acceptance. 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Business North accepts no responsibility for loss of photos or manuscripts. #businessnorth #yourstory www.waterfordpress.co.nz   OUR PARTNERS: Port Tauranga �� 03 HT Systems �� 04 Solomon’s Gold Chocolate �� 05 Tauranga City Council �� 06 Kale Print �� 08 Bee NZ �� 09 Ruakaka Racecourse �� 10 Alexandra Park �� 12 New World Green Bay �� 14 Coromandel Business Park �� 15 Haydn & Rollett �� 16 Waipā District Council �� 18 Rotorcraft �� 25 Robinson Asphalts �� 26 Northland Petfood �� 28 North Port Coolstores �� 29 Te Tai Tokerau Water �� 30 WEL Networks �� 34 Ultimate Broadband �� 37 Aotea Organics �� 38 North Sawn Lumber �� 39 Legacy Steel �� 40 Waipa Civil �� 42 SimplyFire �� 44 Safeguard Self-Storage �� 45 Lawn and Turf Contracting �� 46 Knight & Dickey �� 47 Orion Haulage �� 48 East Coast Heavy Diesel �� 50 Dodson Motorsport �� 51 PFS Engineering �� 52 Morgan Engineering �� 54 Promax Engineered Plastics �� 55 Keppler Hamilton �� 56 CHT Developments �� 58 Saint Properties �� 60 Wharekura Estate �� 64 Oakland Group �� 66 Stroud Homes - Auckland South �� 68 Oceana Homes �� 71 Lewis Build �� 72 Golden Homes - Bay of Plenty �� 74 Envoy Construction �� 78 Coresteel Far North �� 80 David Reid Homes �� 82 Vakalahi Construction �� 83 Riverwood Building �� 84 Arvida Group �� 84 Auckland City Farming �� 89 Ellerslie Sports Club �� 90 The Landing �� 92 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 Ange Davidson, Kelly Deeks, Hugh de Lacy, Russell Fredric, Rachel Graham, Richard Loader, Kim Newth, Sue Russell, Karen Phelps, Virginia Wright RESEARCH & MARKETING James Anderson, Sam Dart, Chris Graves, Megan Hawkins, Colin Morais, 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 OFFICE AND ACCOUNTS Helen Bourne accounts@waterfordpress.co.nz Jill Holland reception@waterfordpress.co.nz Lyn Barlow lyn@waterfordpress.co.nz

| 3 Port Tauranga T T Hugh de Lacy Cruise ships make a welcome return Welcome back: the first ship to return in October 2022 was the Majestic Princess. REGIONAL DEVELOPMENT Proud to support Port of Tauranga, now and in the future TEL 64-9-256 0861 | 07 5749623 www.burnard.co.nz There were few more welcome sights to the businesses and citizens of Tauranga than that of the first giant holiday cruise ships arriving at the Port of Tauranga last October since the suspension of sailings in March 2020 because of the global Covid pandemic. The October-to-April cruise ship season has long been a boon to the City of Tauranga and coastal Bay of Plenty, while making a perfect fit with the Port of Tauranga’s April-to-October kiwifruit export season. Between them, cruise ships and kiwifruit charter vessels usually occupy the Number One Berth, the port’s northern-most, yearround, and the suspension of cruise ship sailings left a hole in the port’s shipping schedule. The 2022-2023 season went a long way to filling that hole with 91 cruise ship visits, slightly down from the scheduled 100 visits because of the North Island’s shocking weather events this year. The first ship to return in October 2022 was the Majestic Princess. The record number of visits for any year was the 116 of 2018-2019, and that might have been matched or beaten by the 20192020 total were it not for the early end to that season in March of that year. “The cruise industry in Tauranga has quickly bounced in the 2022-2023 season, helped by the arrival of the two huge Royal Caribbean sister ships Ovation of the Seas and Quantum of the Seas,” Port of Tauranga communications manager Rochelle Lockley says. These behemoths are 348m long and each carries 4900 tourists and a crew of 1300. “They were the biggest arrivals this season, with others ranging in size down to fewer than 200 passengers. “Altogether they make a huge contribution to tourism, hospitality, transport and retail businesses throughout the Bay of Plenty,” Rochelle says. Port of Tauranga chief executive Leonard Sampson endorses that view, adding that after the long absence nothing was more cheering to the locals than the “spectacular sight” as cruise ships “enter and depart Te Awanui Tauranga Harbour.” The financial cost of the suspension of cruising for two years was felt not just locally, but throughout the country. In the 2019-2020 season the cruise industry injected a whopping $547 million into the country’s economy, with the tourism, transport and retail sectors being the prime beneficiaries. Coastal Bay of Plenty enjoyed the second-highest share of the cruise-ship spend-up, behind Auckland, with the 2018-2019 season contributing $89 million to the local economy. Maximising the value for Tauranga and the region is the close relationship between the Port of Tauranga and the regional promotion organisation Tourism Bay of Plenty. “We partner with Tourism Bay of Plenty in the on-wharf activity that follows the cruise ships’ arrival: they stage formal greetings for some cruises and run a visitor centre on the wharf where they can book local tours,” Rochelle says. For the arrival of the first ship of the season, the Majestic Princess’ 3560 passengers were welcomed by a haka powhiri from Maori group Te Reo Whakakoko o Mauao, an affiliate of Tauranga Moana mana whenua (locals) from the Ngaiterangi, Ngati Ringinui, Ngati Pukenga and other iwi. Tourism Bay of Plenty general manager Oscar Nathan, who is also a New Zealand Cruise Association board member, rates it “a privilege” to host summer cruise ”manuhiri (visitors) and to impress them with the manaakitanga (hospitality) that the region is renowned for.

4 | REGIONAL DEVELOPMENT Buy NZ: HT Systems Hoist system a boost for quality of life The Kera sit2sit hoist machine is the result of decades of research and development by Professor Emeritus Keith Alexander, from the school of engineering at the University of Canterbury. T T Sue Russell Asked what he’s most proud of, about the technologies Christchurch-based HT Systems has created to assist those unable to stand, CEO Richard Shepherd says it’s the fact that they are making a huge difference to the quality of life for their clients. “We’ve created a hoist system that one person can use to enable a person in a wheelchair to transfer to another seat. It’s given our clients more dignity, self-worth and empowerment because they are not having to wait for two people to lift them. “When a person must continually wait, it takes away their dignity. It also means, clients who may have had to go into a rest-home situation, can stay in their own home and be supported by their family.” The revolutionary Kera sit2sit hoist machine is the result of decades of research and development by Professor Emeritus Keith Alexander, from the school of engineering at the University of Canterbury, who also invented the Springfree trampoline. Keith wanted to find a way to assist people immobilised in wheelchairs to more easily, quickly and safely move from one seated position to another. What he created has made the world of difference for both the client and the caregiver, making it easy and quick to relocate in minimal time. Tracking back the history of Kera sit2sit’s development is fascinating. Back in the 1990’s Burwood Hospital came to the engineering faculty concerned at injuries nurses and health-assistants were Tuki +64 3 323 6478 info@tukidesign.co.nz 1 Chinook Place, Hornby, Christchurch tukidesign.nz tukidesign.nz Design that moves with you. Tuki are proud to support HT systems. experiencing when lifting spinal patients. Keith seized this request and treated it as an ‘academic project’ for students in the faculty to engage in. Out of this research over many years a number of concepts were created. Fine-tuning upon fine-tuning took place to ensure the equipment was safe, easy to use, durable. Enabling the technology to come to market was an investor group who put in funding in 2018. Further financial support came from Government Agency, Callaghan Innovation. During the product development phase, Richard says, the emphasis shifted somewhat from the caregiver experience to the client experience, an important balance. Fine-tuning upon fine-tuning took place to ensure the equipment was safe, easy to use, and durable. “We have spent a lot of time in people’s homes and workplaces, collaborating with users and therapists to understand their needs and ensure that we developed the Kera sit2sit to make a real difference in their lives. “Even right down to the casters which make it possible for the client to be moved across carpet in their home. .” “What’s been developed is really unique in the market. The Kera sit2sit can transfer a person with no strength at all, we have even transferred people with no legs, and quadraplegics. Feedback we’ve had from users and health professionals alike has been extremely positive.” Richard and the team at HT Systems, are continually talking to their clients and fielding requests to make their lives better. In answer to these requests, they are now developing equipment to help people stand and devices that can be taken with clients when they go on holiday. And the technology doesn’t end there. HT Systems has also sourced a car transfer system, enabling people to move from wheelchair into the passenger seat of a car. After organically growing Kera sit2sit sales in New Zealand, HT Systems utilised crowdfunding group ‘Pledge Me’ to raise funds for the development of new products and the launch of the Kera sit2sit in Australia in 2022. Richard says this has enabled people directly or indirectly impacted by mobility issues to invest and for a wider audience of people who can see the merit and life-changing potential of HT System’s technologies. “We’ll be going to market again later this year, seeking further funding, to enable us to reach more markets and continue developing these really important aids.” “It’s given our clients more dignity, self-worth and empowerment because they are not having to wait for two people to lift them.“

| 5 REGIONAL DEVELOPMENT Buy NZ: Solomon’s Gold Chocolate T T Sue Russell Social aspect underpins vegan chocolate venture Glenn Yeatman at the Tauranga chocolate factory: “It’s not just a commodity it’s a passion for people and their future.” “We describe our chocolate as healthy because our cacao beans contain seven time more antioxidants than spinach....” How Glenn Yeatman came to get involved in manufacturing vegan chocolate in New Zealand is an intriguing mix of chance and opportunity. Glenn was a fourth-generation coffee farmer in Zimbabwe and, like many farmers at that time, escaped the brutal regime of Robert Mugabe, with his young family and very little else. Then in 2011, he answered a job advertisement for a Field Manager in the Solomon Islands for C-Corp, founded by Clive Carroll. Clive had been in The Solomon Islands for many years, developing relationships with cocoa bean growers and their families. “I went to the Solomons and within six weeks was promoted to General Manager. While walking through the plantations one day I was amazed by the beautiful growing conditions so I took some of the dried bean home and made the first bar of Solomon’s Gold chocolate,” sasy Glenn. “Some time later I put a proposal to Clive that I would build him a chocolate factory as long as it was in Tauranga, and he agreed.” The common-held view that chocolate is a sweet treat, to be eaten sparingly is also being turned on its head, as Glenn explains. “Our mission is to see our chocolate viewed as a healthy product. Each of our bars contain a minimum of ingredients – premium cacao, coconut sap sugar and a drop of natural oil to add flavour such as peppermint, orange, and raspberry. We describe our chocolate as healthy because our cacao beans contain seven time more antioxidants than spinach – tested at Massey University in 2014”. VEGAN ORGANIC GLUTEN-FREE 100% LOCAL & N.Z MADE CHOCOLATE AND CACAO PRODUCTS Contact Glenn to nd out how Solomons can add to your story gyeatman@c-corpnz.co.nz | 027 857 5101 The company that specialises in all things packaging. In business and operating in a region near you for the last 70 years Proud supporters and suppliers to Solomons Gold Chocolate EC Attwood Ltd 5/130 Newton Street Mount Maunganui Phone 07 572 0290 salesmt@attwoods.co.nz www.attwoods.co.nz Glenn believes that chocolate should be eaten for the cacao, not for the sugar – it’s that simple. “The Solomon’s Gold classic range chocolate bars are free from cane sugar, dairy, nuts and soy – all our chocolate is vegan certified, organic and kosher certified. “Also by producing chocolate pieces and cacao nibs we try to cater for all businesses. If there’s a special request we will custom make your chocolate”, says Glenn. Solomon’s Gold collaborates with local businesses such as Real Rad Food, Little Island Creamery and Forty Thieves nut butters. Glenn designed most of the factory equipment himself and is really vested in the value of what the business is doing – creating artisan healthy chocolate for customers to enjoy and supporting the quality of life back in the Solomons for the cacao growers. Through the chocolate bars and cacao products created at the Mt Maunganui factory, over 60 growers and their families in the Solomon Islands are supported. For Glenn, this social enterprise aspect to the business is very important. “We’ve been in the Solomon’s since 2006 and that connection with the people is what makes it special. “It’s not just a commodity it’s a passion for people and their future.” Solomon’s Gold Chocolates pays growers a premium for their cacao and in a true ‘bean to bar’ business model, the quality is preserved throughout from plantation, picking, transporting, manufacturing, and marketing. “The fact our chocolate is single origin means we can trace our cacao right back to our growers – that’s important because as a manufacturer you really should know the origin of your products.” Customers in New Zealand can go on-line through the website and order chocolate bars, chocolate pieces and cacao nibs. Solomon’s Gold chocolate is also exported to the United Kingdom, Australia, and the United States. Word is getting out about the health benefits of eating vegan chocolate. The business featured not so long ago on 7 Sharp. At the factory is a team of five, with a further three based in Australia. “We are highly mechanised, roasting 240kg of beans each day. “I think our biggest challenge is to get the message through to CEO’s of food producing businesses about the benefits using our chocolate will provide. “These days increasingly, customers want to know where food products are sourced, and the story attached to them – we would love to share this story with you.”

6 | Tauranga City Council: Marine Parade Coastal Path T T Karen Phelps Coastal path a boon for recreation Marine Parade Coastal Path blessing for the commencement of construction. REGIONAL DEVELOPMENT Construction has begun on Tauranga City Council’s Marine Parade Coastal Path project after the successful delivery in December of a children’s play area. The three-kilometre path along coastal reserve between Hopukiore (Mount Drury Reserve) and Oceanbeach Road is expected to be completed late this year. The project aims to enhance access to the beach while also protecting the adjoining sand dunes and natural vegetation, says team leader of design for Tauranga City Council, Guy Protheroe, who has been the project manager on the design of the coastal path. The project is a continuation of the existing Main Beach boardwalk, which was constructed in 1999 and community consultation has · Footpaths · Drives · Floors · Kerbing 0274 836 480 gascott@xtra.co.nz PO Box 2219, Tauranga taken place over 20 years including for neighbouring projects such as Innovating Streets. “We’ve had very strong public support, endorsed through a series of public engagement exercises. The public wanted improved access all the way along the beach and to provide a pathway for a range of users to safely experience: pedestrians, cyclists, users of wheelchairs and mobility devices, skaters and scooter riders. “The Marine Coastal Path will enormously increase the recreational possibilities across this stretch of the coast,” he says. Made from a mix of concrete and timber surfaces, the path will curve along the grass berm. In some locations it will climb up onto the higher dunes to provide resting spots and views over the moana (ocean) and nearby motu (islands). Designed by Boffa Miskell, with GHD providing engineering advice, the main path will be made up of a mixture of timber and concrete, and will be a minimum of 3.5m wide with seating and look out areas with information display boards. Fulton Hogan is the lead contractor, engaged in an Early Contractor Involvement process after the project was tendered back in mid 2022. “It’s been a fruitful engagement process and has proved worthwhile in terms of preparing and refining the proposals,” explains Guy. “It has given clarity in terms of buildability and costing.” The project will also include installing additional amenities at key locations along the new path, including new barbeques and upgraded picnicking and seating areas. A new playground near Te Ngaio Reserve, complementing the Te Ngaio Reserve playground on the other side of Marine Parade, will offer play equipment designed for younger children under 10 years old. Guy says the playground will sit within the existing grassed area, and will be low in height so it blends in with the dunes. Next to the playground Tauranga City Council will be installing a new electric barbeque, a picnic table and seating. Guy says the support from local hapū and project partners Ngāi Tūkairangi and Ngāti Kuku, has been important. “The whenua and moana surrounding the area contain a long and rich history for local hapū which must be respected and considered. “Right from day one we’ve had a partnership arrangement with these two hapu that represent the area. “They’ve been involved in design and engagement and their input will continue with the intention of recognition of the cultural significance of this area by way of art and longer term installation of information about the relationship that mana whenua has with the local area moana and motu. The path alignment and its construction will also respect the natural environment and cultural values of this significant place.” Guy says that the new path is part of the first stage of enhancement for the reserve, integrating adjoining streets and improving general amenity along Marine Parade. The speed of vehicles travelling along the road will be reduced to enhance the attractiveness of the whole road along with improving crossing points for pedestrians. The first aspect of this will be occurring concurrently with the Marine Coastal Path project at the Tay Street intersection where a number of options will be looked at to improve the safety of this intersection. Guy says additional facilities along the Marine Coastal Path will be added as funding becomes available and demand requires and may include enhanced protection of the dunes, additional play facilities, additional showers and toilets, BBQ facilities and food trucks. The long-term vision is to connect the Marine Coastal Path with the wider cycling network of trails and facilities. “The whenua and moana surrounding the area contain a long and rich history for local hapū which must be respected and considered. Right from day one we’ve had a partnership arrangement with these two hapu that represent the area.”

| 7 Tauranga City Council: Marine Parade Coastal Path The 3km path along coastal reserve between Hopukiore (Mount Drury Reserve) and Oceanbeach Road is expected to be completed late 2023. REGIONAL DEVELOPMENT The head of NZ Structures says the high-pro ile job of working on the upgrade of the Marine Parade Coastal Path in Tauranga is a project he has long wanted to be part of, for a number of reasons. The Marine Parade Coastal Pathway, Huanui a Marine Parade, will be a three-kilometre path along coastal reserve between Hopukiore (Mount Drury Reserve) and Oceanbeach Road. The track will take you to within a short walk to the base of Mount Maunganui. Paul Baker, the director of NZ Structures, says as soon as he heard about the project he wanted them to be involved. The pathway will be made from a mix of concrete and timber surfaces and will curve along the grass berm. In some spots it will climb up onto the higher dunes to provide resting spots and views over the ocean and nearby islands. Building boardwalks has become one of the specialities of civil contractors NZ Structures. On this job they have been taken on as a subcontractor by the main contractor Fulton Hogan to construct all the timber boardwalk work including balustrades, above ground and in-ground work. Great to be involved Paul says getting to work in such a spectacular spot will be great for the team, but so will getting to work on such an important project for their community. “We’re based at Mount Maunganui and a lot of our employees are in around there. It’s a project where they'll get the bene its of taking the families down there in the future. It's nice to build something that people will get to see in use. “We build a lot of retaining walls and things on the side of motorways that you don't see. You drive through there with your family and point them out, and nobody can really see the work you’ve done. But with this one everyone will use it and get the bene it from it.” Paul says the popularity of the location will add some complications to the work, but the team have plans in place to ensure a smooth process while people continue to enjoy the nearby recreational areas, and to ensure any disturbance to the precious lora and fauna is kept to a minimum. Paul Baker says they are looking forward to working with Fulton Hogan again on this project, and looking forward to making use of the inished product with the friends and family for years to come. NZ STRUCTURES NZ Structures is a business built on integrity and quality. We have just the team for your next project. RETAININGWALLS • BOARDWALKS • FENCING • MSEWALLS www.nzstructures.co.nz paul@nzstructures.co.nz 021 322 337

8 | Tauranga Business Awards: Kale Print ‘People-first’ approach makes the difference Kale Print won three major prizes at the Tauranga Business Awards in the categories for People and Culture, Customer Experience and Service Excellence. Kale Print general manager, Peter Lloyd, and marketing manager, Tessa Rowe, at the awards ceremony. T T Karen Phelps REGIONAL DEVELOPMENT Kale Print’s success over the years has centred on not being afraid to take a hard look at the business and to constantly improve and evolve, says company general manager Peter Lloyd. “We’re always looking to better ourselves and have a firm focus on family values and putting people – staff and customers – first,” he says. This has recently seen Kale Print win three major prizes at the Tauranga Business Awards in the categories for People and Culture, Customer Experience and Service Excellence. The company was also a finalist in the Continuous Improvement category and in the overall Tauranga Business of the Year Award. “The awards gave us an opportunity to benchmark ourselves against the best in the industry and to seek opportunities for growth and development,” explains Peter. Stephen and Jill Kale founded the company in 1985 and it is still family owned and operated. Stephen and Jill still actively work in the business along with sons Gavin and Brent (production manager) and numerous family members. Peter says family values are the cornerstone of the successful business. “Kale Print is very much a place where people can come and feel looked after and cared for. Family and community values are strong here,” he says. Kale Print employs 40 staff across three manufacturing sites in Tauranga, Rotorua and Whitianga and has been on an active growth phase, recently acquiring Endeavour Print in Whitianga to extend its customer base in the Bay of Plenty. Before that it acquired Rotorua-based Advocate Print. Peter says the moves have been about future proofing the business so it can ensure it remains true to its core focus – taking care of its team and customers. It’s a strategy that has helped the company to deliver the highest levels of service and print quality and Kale Print is regularly recognised in the annual Pride in Print Awards. This is also the result of investing in the latest technology, its people and processes to increase quality and efficiencies across the business. It’s seen other printing companies also utilise the services of Kale Print on certain jobs. “From administration to delivery we have really talented people at every touch point. This is essential to manufacture such a variety of products in quick time frames for our clients. “Our staff retention rate is exceptional – we don’t often see people leave. We see our people as our greatest asset and there is a lot of experience across all aspects of the business. “We make sure Kale Print is a fun place to work and like to support the wider community whenever we can. “This sees the team donating blood regularly and Kale Print supporting many community groups throughout the region.” The good vibe spreads to customers and a recent survey of the entire database achieved a Net Promoter score of 91, which Peter says is “off the charts”, when the company completes some 1500-2000 jobs a month, and a great achievement for the Kale Print team. The sheer volume of work necessitates great systems so that’s been a real focus for Kale Print, he says. A good example is that the company produces some 25,000 quotes a year so a computer system has been developed to make this easier. “So rather than one full time estimator also up to ten staff can generate a quote really quickly for customers. We also have staff working on training tools for new recruits coming into the business so our customers always have a great experience. “These are just a couple of examples that show we love what we do. It’s a fast paced industry that is constantly changing but we want Kale Print to be very much a place where people can come and feel looked after and cared for.” “Our staff retention rate is exceptional – we don’t often see people leave. We see our people as our greatest asset and there is a lot of experience across all aspects of the business.”

| 9 REGIONAL DEVELOPMENT Bee NZ “It’s good to be spread across the two islands so there will always be something coming out of New Zealand. This year the wet weather in the North Island has meant a poor honey harvest but the South Island has had a great summer.” T T Ange Davidson Katikati firm buzzing with success The Bee NZ team - fully involved in the New Zealand honey industry. The cost of hiring beehives for pollinating their Katikati based kiwifruit orchard prompted Julie and David Hayes to purchase their own hives during the 1990s. It was a game changing moment and now this enterprising couple have turned their love of bees into three significant bee-related operations. “We were very naive and we soon found out that there is more to keeping bees than putting a few hives out in the paddock,” laughs Julie. “David had to quickly learn about bee keeping and he fell in love with it.“ The Hayes started Buzz Apiary and in 2008 they built an extraction facility for their hives and for other beekeepers in the area as beekeeping was gaining popularity. The next step was to take charge of the processing and distribution of the honey, and in 2015, they removed a block of kiwifruit to build a factory on the land and Bee NZ Ltd was launched. The company developed a Trademark and brand, researched overseas markets and a year later they exported their first shipment of honey under the Bee NZ brand. Buzz Apiary supplies honey to BeeNZ from 1200 hives around Katikati which are looked after by four beekeepers. Completing the circle, they also rent out hives for pollinating avocado and kiwifruit orchards. To spread the supply risk, Julie and David became 50% shareholders in a bulk honey trading and distribution company based in Timaru. Grade One Honey Ltd maintain strong relationships with beekeepers from all around the country and supply BeeNZ and other New Zealand brands with honey. “It’s good to be spread across the two islands so there will always be something coming out of New Zealand. This year the wet weather in the North Island has meant a poor honey harvest but the South Island has had a great summer,” says Julie. The company that specialises in all things packaging. In business and operating in a region near you for the last 70 years Proud supporters and suppliers to Bee NZ EC Attwood Ltd 5/130 Newton Street Mount Maunganui Phone 07 572 0290 salesmt@attwoods.co.nz www.attwoods.co.nz Create the labels you want, with no compromise! 0800 425-223 | info@label.co.nz www.label.co.nz PROUD TO SUPPORT BEE NZ Food and Beverage labels Beer labels Wine labels Pharmaceutical labels Beauty Product labels Industrial labelling; or any other kind of labelling you might need Bees didn’t stop producing honey during Covid and the team worked throughout the pandemic. This made them realise the importance of a great workplace culture and inspired them to work towards an international B-Corp certification which assesses your organisation’s governance, culture, diversity and values and environmental impact. The certification process took 14 months and Julie is proud of their achievement. “It was a really rewarding journey to go on as having a great company and knowing that you’re doing your best for each other is what counts,” says Julie. The honey industry has taken a hit over the past few years as honey prices dropped due to a worldwide slowdown in demand due to over-supply, the effects of apiary diseases and the increased costs of labour and transportation. The unprotected provenance around the word Manuka is also proving a problem as Australia is also marketing a Manuka honey. “It’s been a tough few years for beekeepers with a lot of people jumping into the industry several years ago due to the hype around Manuka’s high prices and overseas demand. “There’s only so much food for bees to eat, and while the supply may stay the same, the competition for that food has increased. Unfortunately there can be four beekeepers in a 5km radius which makes it harder to maintain a healthy hive. I’m predicting that over the next five to 10 years, the number of hives will decrease by about 10,000 which will bring us back to a sustainable level,” says Julie. “Despite its ups and downs, I’m optimistic about the NZ honey industry if all involved can work collaboratively , ethically and sustainably,” she says.

10 | T T to page 12 T T Hugh de Lacy Ruakaka a winter magnet for trainers The sand-based soil profile at Ruakaka offers an ideal surface for winter racing and is the venue for ITM/GIB Northern Winter Championships REGIONAL DEVELOPMENT Ruakaka Racecourse The pinnacle of the northern region ITM/ GIB Winter racing championships arrives at the Whangarei Racing Club on Saturday, July 15 this year. The club’s seaside location at Ruakaka Beach gives the racecourse not only a picturesque view but more importantly offers a strategic advantage to winter thoroughbred racing trainers. That’s because of the sand-based soil profile which makes it the fastest-draining track in New Zealand, with a unique and ideal surface compared to the heavy loam soils of other regions. It’s this winter racing surface that has the ITM/GIB Northern Winter Championships attract the leading stables from the Waikato north to compete in the five $60,000 finals. The championships draw in horses across the age range, with specific finals for two- and three-year-olds, as well as races for older sprinters and stayers. The Whangarei Racing Club holds ten meetings a year at its Ruakaka course, the best winter track in the country, attracting top horses especially to its six Saturday winter race meetings. Last year Sharp’n’Smart and Lickety Split won races at Ruakaka before heading to Australia to win in the best company at Sydney and Melbourne. As the only active racing club north of Auckland Harbour, the Whangarei club celebrates its regional role by running special cups named for Northland locations, such as the Northpine Waipu Cup, Harcourts Tai Tokerau Cup, Alibaba’s Flying Carpets Kerikeri Cup, and the Dargaville Racing Club’s Northland Cup. The 50ha racecourse site is zoned as the Ruakaka Equine Environment, and it holds great potential for development within parameters that ensure ongoing racing and training activity. “In time the club’s unique sea views and beachside location will attract a joint venture partner to establish a function centre that includes accommodation for the rapidly expanding Marsden Point developments,” club officer Bill Colgan says. “The club is highly appreciative of the protection the Ruakaka Equine Environment gives to ensure horse activity is possible on land that would otherwise be snapped up by commercial interests for intensive high-quality housing development or retirement villages, given its potential as the best seaside location in the region.” Insurance Brokers specialising in Commercial Insurance. Proudly supporting the Whangarei Racing Club. Matt Mathias: 021 786 233 | Sam Currie: 027 581 7581 contact@mcinsurance.co.nz | www.mcinsurance.co.nz

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12 | T T Richard Loader Track repairs get thumbs up from horsemen Ruakaka a training Mecca REGIONAL DEVELOPMENT Ruakaka Racecourse Alexandra Park With a proud history that spans 133 years, Auckland Trotting Club’s Alexandra Park is one of only two premier trotting clubs in New Zealand. Located in the heart of Epsom, Alexandra Park hosts 32 night-trotting events under lights annually and plays an important role within the community, with track and hospitality facilities being used on a daily basis, by a diverse range of community groups. On the afternoon of Friday the 27th of January this year, Auckland received forty percent of its annual rainfall, followed by a second bout from Cyclone Gabrielle. With flood waters at biblical levels, the Park’s soak holes and storm water drains had no chance of coping and water flowed through the clubrooms at ground level and onto the all-weather track in torrents, significantly damaging the racing surface and subbase. Club President Jamie MacKinnon says it was impossible to race on the track without major repairs. “Before we could renew the racing top surface, we had to repair the subbase. A lot of the top surface was washed onto the infield. The top surface had been contaminated and it had to be graded off, loaded onto trucks and disposed of. The subbase was repaired with gravel dust with layers of granulated limestone on top. That sets like concrete and on top of that goes the racing surface.” The racing surface is a mix of sand, and crushed oyster and scallop shells dredged from the East Coast. “The track is also cambered to help the horses scoot around the bend. Over the decades some of the camber had been lost, so the floods provided an opportunity to re-camber the track, with the help of surveyors. We had our first race meeting last week on the third of March. The horsemen, trainers and drivers gave it a big thumbs up. It needs a bit more consolidation because it is only new, but they are very happy with it.” Complementing Alexandra Park’s all-weather track are two grandstands and a number of function rooms. At ground level is The Alex Bar and Eatery which is open to members and the public alike seven days a week and offers a variety of spaces including a courtyard, lounge areas, TAB, gaming room and a private function space. “A number of community groups use the facilities at the Park on a regular basis including the Auckland Rugby League Referees who meet here and then enjoy some hospitality here. The Auckland Chess Club is another one. We also have Kids Carts, which is a bit like a pony club but with miniature horses and sulkies. The kids learn to drive the horses, care for them, and learn good habits with animals. They get to race every night at Alexandra Park, so it prepares them if they want to participate in our industry as a career either as drivers, trainers, stables hands or some other part of the business.” In addition to providing its facilities free to community groups, Alexandra Park also leases rooms on a permanent basis to organisations like Sport Auckland and the Auckland Blues. “Auckland Rugby also lease facilities inside the grandstand. So we have quite a collection of sporting groups around us. We neighbour the Auckland Show Grounds and the Auckland Trotting Club has provided parking for the many events at the showgrounds including the Easter Show, Boat Show, and Home Show, which provides the Park with additional income.” T T from page 10 Training activity at the Ruakaka course has varied over the years, and the Covid restrictions greatly reduced the number of horses in training because there were no local meetings either there or in Auckland. “The venue is slowly building back towards a hundred horses in work, and the option of exercising along Ruakaka Beach is a valuable attraction to trainers and of great benefit to the horses,” Bill says. “There’s been training activity on the course since it was started in 1976, and it’s produced a number of top-quality horses, trainers and riders.” The region’s highest-profile trainer is Donna Logan, now based in Singapore as one of the leading trainers there. While based at Ruakaka, Donna won the Caulfield Cup with Rising Romance and her training partner of many years, Chris Gibbs. Two local trainers, Michelle Bradley and Anthony Burton continue to train at Ruakaka, having learnt their trade under Donna’s tutelage. New Zealand’s current top apprentice, Kelsey Hannan, is from Whangarei and she had her early riding skills developed with the Ruakaka team at Rae Racing Stables, headed by Kenny Rae and Krystal Williams. The Whangarei Racing Club was established in 1902 at that city’s Kensington Park but was moved in 1976 to its current location at the southern end of Peter Snell Road, Ruakaka, adjacent to Bream Bay. The club facilities are small and intimate with a provincial atmosphere, with west-facing elevated and covered seating that gives excellent views of the 1850m track. The racing surface is of kikuyu turf with ryegrass undersown in the winter. lionred.co.nz Proudly Supporting Ruakaka Racecourse Supplying quality coffee beans & equipment to cafes, restaurants, hotels, offices and homes for over half a century. +64 9 573 5446 | coffex.co.nz | newzealand@coffex.com.au

| 13 Complementing Alexandra Park’s all-weather track are two grandstands and a number of function rooms. REGIONAL DEVELOPMENT Alexandra Park When it comes to delivering the goods, Gilmours is the ‘go to’ Foodservice partner, o ering a one stop shop with cash ‘n carry and the convenience of service delivery options. “When you think Foodservice and trust, we want you to think Gilmours,” says Sales Manager Ben Svensen. “We have a commitment to helping kiwi Foodservice providers get more out of life every day, by being their partner, and that means being the business that helps support the growth of their business. Delivering the goods is also about delivering our word and being that trusted Foodservice partner, and that’s really critical to our success. What underpins that is the promises we make around making it easy for our customers having the right product solutions, and providing real value every day.” Gilmours is 100% New Zealand owned and operated, with seven cash ‘n carry stores and ten distribution points for service delivery, strategically located throughout the North Island. “The split is seventy percent service delivery and thirty percent cash ‘n carry. Cash ‘n carry is similar to a supermarket where Foodservice customers walk the aisles, select the products, and pay at the check-out. They are ideal for small-medium enterprises that want to come in and see the products before purchasing, versus the more time poor restaurants and cafes that just want to Gilmours‒a one stop shop place an order once a day and have it delivered the following day.” Gilmours’ customers include cafés, restaurants, bars, fast food outlets, bakeries, caterers, schools, event providers and accommodation facilities, as well as the local o ice with a sta room/kitchen that provides tea, co ee and milo. “Gilmours is the only true one stop shop in the Foodservice market,” says Ben. “Our competitive advantage is that along with o ering the full extent of food items including frozen, chilled, dry goods and butchery goods we also distribute liquor. So, clients can get a full basket, including beer, wines, spirits and liqueurs.” Gilmour’s Mt Roskill site includes both a cash ‘n carry store and service delivery distribution point, and services the central Auckland region, along with a further distribution point out of Whangarei servicing our Northland customers. “In our Auckland region, we deliver Monday to Saturday and if the order comes in by 10.00pm the customer receives next day delivery. We provide a 24-hour operation, with a team picking up late orders, and night loaders illing the trucks ready for delivery throughout Auckland from 6.30am. There’s also the option for customers to call in on a Sunday to a cash ’n carry if they need to do a top up.”

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