34 | International awards for chocolate producer JNP Aviation general Manager. Verghese George: “Our people, our values and our commitment to Māori and Pasifika communities drive everything we do.” REGIONAL DEVELOPMENT C-Corp NZ - Solomons Gold T T Russell Fredric JNP Aviation Acknowledgement for role in regional aviation T T Karen Phelps Multiple international awards have confirmed Tauranga chocolate business Solomons Gold as one of the best chocolate makers in the world. Crafting a range of artisanal chocolate, Solomons Gold bean-to-bar philosophy is based on cacao beans grown organically in the Solomon Islands in one of the purest ecosystems on earth. The company’s vegan and kosher certified, naturally organic products are produced in its allergen-free Mt Maunganui factory and exported to Australia, Singapore, and the United Kingdom along with being available in New Zealand through selected North Island supermarkets, retail outlets, and its online shop. Solomons Gold is co-owned by general manager Glenn Yeatman and Clive Carroll who, together, are also directors of C-Corp N.Z. Clive supplies the raw cacao bean that are used in the manufacturing process in Tauranga from the Solomon Islands. Glenn has a poignant back story; he was a fourth-generation coffee farmer in Zimbabwe who, with his wife Angie and their two girls, fled Zimbabwe during the brutal regime of Robert Mugabe, leaving everything behind and arriving in New Zealand in 2002 with only a suitcase in hand. Glenn’s coffee growing background ultimately led him to becoming a business partner with Clive who founded C-Corp, a cacao buying, processing and export business with a social enterprise focus in the Solomon Islands’ capital, Honiara. In 2011 Glenn and his family moved to Honiara Solomon Islands to work for Clive. Glenn worked closely with many cocoa growers and plantations before returning to New Zealand in 2013 to build Solomons Gold’s chocolate factory. “The best quality beans are sent to our vegan-certified chocolate factory in Mount Maunganui, where we make our award-winning chocolate from bean-to-bar,” Glenn says. Notably, Solomons Gold Chocolate is set apart by its purity, he says. JNP Aviation is proud to have been named a finalist in the Tauranga Business Chamber Business Awards 2026 in the category of Excellence in Māori and Pasifika Business. For a company that began in 2006 with a single contract at Whakatāne Airport, the nomination marks a significant milestone in its two decades of steady growth, cultural leadership and industry innovation. “Being recognised in this way reflects the heart of who we are,” explains Verghese George, General Manager. “Our people, our values and our commitment to Māori and Pasifika communities drive everything we do.” Verghese says the nomination honours the teams working across the motu, often in challenging regional environments, “putting in mahi every day to keep New Zealand moving”. Founded by Joshua Payne, JNP Aviation began with a small team focused on teamwork, safety and reliability, principles that have remained central to its operations. What started with one contract for Eagle Airways has grown into a national aviation services provider managing 35,000 flights annually, supporting over one million passengers and operating or supporting 16 regional airports. Verghese says much of the company’s early success came from a willingness to invest in capability and compliance. It achieved UNICOM certification in 2013, strengthened its Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) frameworks and steadily expanded its footprint across the Bay of Plenty and the central North Island. The company’s long-term partnership with Air New Zealand, now spanning two decades, was another pivotal step in establishing its position in regional aviation. Other partnerships include Origin Air, Air Chathams, Timaru DC, GoFuel, Whakatāne District Council and Global Security. But it is the company’s cultural leadership and community impact that underpin its award nomination. Almost 40 per cent of its 140-plus staff identify as Māori or Pasifika and it has built deep partnerships with marae, mana whenua, community organisations and government agencies. “Te Tiriti and kaupapa Māori principles are woven through recruitment, governance, and training,” says Verghese. “We’re not just operating airports. We’re creating pathways for our people and uplifting our regions.” A major part of this work is delivered through JNP Aviation Training (JNPAT), the company’s NZQA Category One private training establishment. Since 2019, the training arm has grown rapidly, supporting over 300 learners and launching new qualifications including micro-credentials in ground handling, leadership, assessing, and, recently, the NZQA-approved Certificate in Aeronautical Engineering (Level 3). JNPAT also acquired a decommissioned ATR72-500 aircraft to give learners practical training opportunities that Verghese says are rarely available in regional New Zealand. The company’s impact is particularly strong among Māori and Pasifika learners. “Our 94 per cent retention rate speaks to a system intentionally designed to support cultural belonging. The Ākonga Support & Cultural Navigator, a dedicated role within the organisation, walks alongside every learner, ensuring pastoral care, connection, and confidence,” he says. “JNP also co-hosts major industry events, such as the Māori & Pacific Aviation Career Expo, which attracted 178 students from 16 schools in its most recent event.” Verghese says innovation has been another hallmark of the company’s growth. It now operates cargo services moving more than 400 tonnes annually, provides integrated aviation security at three airports, and delivers refuelling operations through GoFuel. It also serves as Airport Authority for the Whakatāne District Council, overseeing all aerodrome operations. Verghese says the company’s success comes down to a belief that regional aviation plays a vital role in Aotearoa’s future. “Our regions deserve excellence,” he says. “They deserve high-quality training, strong operational capability and opportunities for local people to step into aviation careers. Everything we do links back to that kaupapa.” He says JNP Aviation is presently focused on expanding leadership pathways for Māori, Pasifika and women, with a 2030 vision aiming for these groups to make up 50 per cent of leadership roles across its aviation and training operations. The company also plans to integrate new technologies such as virtual reality simulation into its training programmes, deepen partnerships with marae across new regions, and explore sustainable aviation practices. Despite its scale and national reach, JNP Aviation continues to emphasise its origins. “We started as a small regional operator,” says Verghese. “We’ve never lost sight of the importance of community, whanaungatanga and being there for our people. This nomination is a recognition of that legacy and the future we’re building.” “It’s what we don’t put in that makes it special; using only organic ingredients, and being naturally free from dairy, gluten, nuts, and soy. Our main drive is to make a chocolate that heroes the cacao and not the sugar.” For those who prefer a milky chocolate, Solomon Gold has its “Dark Mylk” range which is made using coconut milk powder. “Embracing our own traditional roasting and artisan techniques, all of our chocolates are handcrafted in-house in New Zealand. Our mission is to preserve the unique taste profile, whose origin belongs to one place and its people — the Solomon Islands.” “We’re unique in the chocolate world because we work with and purchase directly from our growers, which means more profit goes to them. Traditional chocolate models have countless middlemen that take profit away from the farmer. “We’re proud to be one of the few chocolate companies in the world to manage the entire supply chain, from the cacao tree to the finished chocolate product.” Glenn highlights increasing scientific knowledge of the health benefits of cacao as a superfood. “We are also discovering more about our particular cacao which has a high polyphenol percentage. Polyphenols have potentially high antioxidant properties. We’ve had it tested, our antioxidant is between seven and eight times more than spinach.” In addition to supplying to the domestic retail market, Solomon Gold produces an extensive range for the wholesale and food service industries. MEET SOLOMONS GOLD SWIRLS THE ULTIMATE 3-IN-1 CHOCOLATE. BAKE IT. DRINK IT. SNACK IT. Pure Chocolate Vegan & Allergen-Friendly Single Origin Cacao Made in New Zealand Elevate your pantry today. www.solomonsgold.co.nz The company that specialises in all things Packaging. In business and operating in a region near you for the last 72 years. Proud supporters and suppliers to C-Corp NZ EC Attwood Ltd 5/130 Newton Street Mount Maunganui Phone 07 572 0290 salesmt@attwoods.co.nz www.attwoods.co.nz 126.5 mm m $645.00
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