Business North November 2026

Volume 25 | Issue 7 | November 2026 www.waterfordpress.co.nz On the wing The Wingspan National Bird of Prey Centre in Ngongotahā is developing new visitor business offerings alongside its ongoing conservation work and care for injured birds.... T T Page 04 businessnorth h

2 | Contents businessnorth 08| Upward curve Tourism leader Skyline Rotorua is investing in a more sustainable future. 45| Main street players Ōtorohanga’s Haddad Menswear has long been a fixture of the town’s retail landscape. 81 | Enduring design Bossley Architects’ ‘Island Complex’ has proved that architecture can become more valuable with age. 45 81 08 #businessnorth #yourstory www.waterfordpress.co.nz   Waipu Caves Farm Park �� 03 Secret Spot �� 04 Wingspan �� 04 Barrowman Goodman Vets �� 06 DMI Electrical Engineering �� 07 Skyline Rotorua �� 08 Avondale Library - Te Hono �� 10 Stronghold Group �� 13 Kalmar Construction �� 14 Auckland Council �� 15 Powerco �� 16 Waiheke Wine Tours �� 18 Cahill Accounting �� 19 Red Stag �� 20 Sequal �� 22 Business Events Industry Aotearoa �� 23 Tirohanga Fruit Co �� 24 One Mahurangi �� 25 CLL Solutions �� 26 Auckland Co-operative Taxi Society �� 28 Mahoe Construction �� 30 AHS Group �� 32 Krukziener Properties �� 34 Port Nikau �� 36 Naylor Love �� 37 Resource Planning Inc �� 38 Sentinel Planning �� 39 Auto Super Shoppes Morrinsville �� 40 Ōtorohanga Kiwi House �� 40 Bay of Islands Holiday Park �� 41 Carve Meat Co �� 42 Magill’s Butchery �� 43 Mitre 10 MEGA Pukekohe �� 44 New World Ōpōtiki �� 44 Haddad Menswear ��45 Stackcell Structures ��46 Aberdeen Construction Management ��48 Hanham & Philp Contractors ��49 Nutritech International ��50 Nutrizone ��51 Conveyor Industries ��52 SCG Print ��53 Active VMA ��54 Haus Engineering Consultancy ��55 Impact Engineering ��56 All Marine Whangarei ��57 HEB Construction Auckland ��58 Almond Contractors ��60 CB Civil ��61 Fulton Hogan Auckland ��62 Lite Civil ��63 Airzone ��64 Rouse Contracting ��65 Northland Plumbing Plus ��66 Peter Owen Plumbing ��68 All Truck Repairs ��69 Crispy Painting ��70 Barton Painting ��71 Grass Cutting Services ��72 Second Nature ��72 Prescott Flooring ��73 Watts and Hughes Construction - ��74 Marc Vale Architecture: Wallace Builders �75 Function + Form ��76 Russell Moselen Architectural Design ��78 Marc Vale Architecture: Build Fix ��79 Ian Thorn Architect ��80 Bossley Architects ��81 OUR PARTNERS: T&C’s: These conditions are prescribed for the sake of understanding between the Waterford Press Ltd and its clients. 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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 MANAGING DIRECTORS James Lynch james@waterfordpress.co.nz Chris Pearce chris.pearce@waterfordpress.co.nz EDITORIAL Editor Nick Gormack nick@waterfordpress.co.nz Sub-editors Christine Defelice, Margaret Landauer WRITERS Anne Boswell, Kim Bowden, Kelly Deeks, Russell Fredric, Kim Newth, Sue Russell, Karen Phelps, Rosa Watson, Aimee Wilson, 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 Anton Gray, Francesca Hildawa, Jamie Thomson, Liki Udam art@waterfordpress.co.nz CONTENT COORDINATORS Alissa Crosby, Ann-Marie Frentz, Michelle Phelan OFFICE AND ACCOUNTS Lyn Barlow lyn@waterfordpress.co.nz Wendy McLarin wendy@waterfordpress.co.nz Print ISSN: 2537-9968 Online ISSN: 2537-9976 Jon McAlpine Architecture ��82 Renee Woods Architect ��84 Respond Architects ��86 Studio 37 ��87 Latitude Homes Taupō and Rotorua ��88 Source Group ��89 Edinbridge Resources ��90 White Wood Homes ��92 J Living ��94 Urban Homes NZ ��95 G.J. Gardner Homes Manukau ��98 Landmark Homes Eastern BOP ��99 Versatile Homes Pukekohe ��100 Ohlson & Whitelaw ��100 NZ Builders ��102 VDP Construction ��103 Moore Quality Building ��104 JRB Construction ��106 Oceanside Builds ��107 Pinnacle Builds & Renovations ��108 RGP Builders ��109 Smith & Sons South Waikato ��110 Board and Batten Design Studio ��110 Eurocraft Construction ��111 Barfoot & Thompson ��112 Ray White Hamilton ��114 Qestral Corporation ��116 Winton Group ��118 CMP Construction NZ ��120 Collingwood Funeral Home ��121 Te Kura O Waikare ��122 Te Uho o te Nikau Primary School ��123 Front page photo: Clint Trahan Photography.

| 3 REGIONAL DEVELOPMENT Waipu Caves Farm Park T TKelly Deeks Creating a destination at Waipu Caves The limestone glowworm cave is the cornerstone of the operation, which also offers bush walking, hut building, an obstacle course, bouldering and rock climbing. “We’ve got a lot of different activities here, giving people plenty of things to do, and this creates a destination rather than a stopover.” As a growing visitor destination, Waipu Caves Farm Park is bringing international tourists, domestic travellers, school groups, and event-goers into the Northland region, while creating new reasons for visitors to stay longer. Owner, Ian Fox, says the 130ha, privately owned conservation and recreation park has been deliberately developed as a destination, with camping for motor homes and tents and a wide range of outdoor activities complementing its major attraction, the Milky Way Glowworm Cave. The property was purchased in 2018, with the cave, which had been kept secret for more than 100 years, being one of the main reasons Ian and his family wanted the site. It took five years of development before the park opened to visitors in 2023, including installing a large off-grid power system, fencing to protect the 200 acres of bush and streams, drinking and wastewater treatment systems, roads, camping infrastructure, and facilities capable of handling larger visitor numbers. “We’ve got a lot of different activities here, giving people plenty of things to do, and this creates a destination rather than a stopover,” Ian says. “We don’t want people to just come and stay at our campground, arriving late and leaving early on their way to ‘somewhere else’. We want people to really appreciate this spot.” The glowworm cave is the cornerstone of the operation, with two options of guided tours taking visitors 125m or 250m into the limestone cave. Unlike ‘adventure caving’, requiring wetsuits, helmets, and harnesses, these tours are on formed paths and are accessible to a broad range of visitors in their street clothes. The park also offers bush walking, hut building, an obstacle course, bouldering and rock climbing, with more than 75 climbing routes across its Jurassic Crags. School and youth groups can use the property for outdoor education, and regular events including the Mud Run, Colour Run, trail running, and cave concerts bring additional visitors. That breadth is important to Ian’s vision for regional tourism, allowing visitors to spend several days at the property, rather than simply stopping for a single activity. “We’ve had people staying for a couple of weeks,” he says. “They might go away for a day or two, but then they come back here and use us as a base for their Northland holiday.” Waipu Caves Farm Park has been growing by about 80% a year, and Ian expects future growth to come from increasing visitor numbers through existing activities, as well as adding new experiences. Adventure caving is one of the next developments, offering a more active caving experience. Ian sees the park’s location as another advantage, as Northland works to capture more of the international visitor market. Situated north of Auckland and not far off the State Highway, Waipu Caves Farm Park provides an accessible destination for travellers heading into the region. “Glowworms are on the list for just about every international visitor,” Ian says. The park is contributing to Northland’s appeal through its focus on nature-based tourism, with the property’s native forest, streams, limestone formations, and farm environment forming part of the visitor experience. Developing the park has been a natural extension of Ian’s long entrepreneurial career, bringing together his experience in farming, tourism, ecology, and outdoor education, and so creating a destination that gives visitors more reasons to spend time in Northland. “This is a great attraction for Northland, and it hasn’t happened by luck or chance. It’s a lot of hard work, but when you’ve got ideas and a vision, you just keep working at it and eventually you get there,” he says.

4 | Hot tubs hit the spot The water in each tub is continually filtered and fully refreshed every 15 minutes. REGIONAL DEVELOPMENT Secret Spot Hot Tubs Rotorua T TVirginia Wright Wingspan Welcome recognition for conservation trust T TRussell Fredric In 2019, brothers Keith and Eric Kolver were paddling in cold rain down the Whakatane River in the Urewera National Park and dreaming about ‘what would be nice right now’: a hot tub and a mulled wine came to mind and they paddled on, imagining what it might look like as a business. A week later, Eric suggested to Keith that they combine forces to make the business a reality, and so Secret Spot Hot Tubs Rotorua was born. Now Rotorua locals, the Kolver brothers grew up on a dairy farm not far away and share a love for the area. Keith had spent years in the tourism industry and was ready to run his own business, while Eric had been involved in the dairy industry as a scientist and a farmer and was ready for something different. The business is currently a finalist in the Tourism category of this year’s Rotorua Business Awards, having achieved their vision of building a unique and authentic national tourism business from the ground up, and a business in which the locals also feel a sense of pride and ownership. Secret Spot Rotorua cleared, planted and developed their carefully planned oasis on the edge of the Waipa forest where they now offer customers their own private cedar hot tub surrounded by native ferns and overlooking the Puarenga Stream. Developing its visitor business alongside conservation work, Wingspan National Bird of Prey Centre is a finalist in the 2026 Tompkins Wake Rotorua Business Awards. General manager, Ineke Milner, says the Montana Food & Events – Not for Profit & Social Enterprise category recognition is especially meaningful after several years of operational change. Located in Ngongotahā, Wingspan was founded by Debbie Stewart in the late 1980s and formally established as a trust in 1992, beginning with the rehabilitation and release of injured birds. It has since developed four main areas of activity: rehabilitation, breeding, education and advocacy, and research. The organisation relocated to its current site about eight years ago, moving from repurposed facilities to purpose-built spaces. About three years ago, it raised $1.2 million for breeding and display aviaries built to international standards. “We have high standards for the care and the facilities our birds get,” Ineke says. The Wingspan team has more than 100 years of collective experience. It has contributed to about 40 published scientific papers, and has a large collection of raptor eggs, study skins and related material outside a museum. The organisation operates with 4.3 full-time equivalent staff, welcoming around 6000 visitors a year and about 40 school visits, alongside running five to 10 off-site educational events. “People who are supporting us and people who are on the team, it’s not about egos – they’re here because they genuinely believe in the project,” Ineke says. There is no government or local-body funding, with visitors, memberships, donations and sponsorships supporting the trust. That funding model puts the visitor business directly alongside its conservation work. “We’re a conservation organisation that’s built a tourism business around our mission, rather than being a tourism business that just does a bit of conservation,” says Ineke. Visitor capacity is currently constrained by a modest retail, museum and ticketing facility, With you from the start. Proud to be part of the journey. • Accounting and tax • Bookkeeping and payroll • Business advisory • Software consulting and support Call 07 345 5831 www.bizwise.net.nz Soak in your own cedar hot tub on the forest edge, with bar service and cold plunge tubs. Relax in a private sauna, enjoy tasty smash burgers from BaseCamp street food kitchen & craft bar, and get a FREE Shinny Dip foot hot tub. secretspot.nz rotorua@secretspot.nz 07 348 4442 Specialist storage for valuable collections Designed & Manufactured in NZ sales@maxfiling.co.nz 03 389 9081 Enquire today 9 Museum 9 Archival 9 Library 9 Scientific “We’re a conservation organisation that’s built a tourism business around our mission, rather than being a tourism business that just does a bit of conservation.” with space for about 80 to 100 people and one show a day. Weather can further affect visitor numbers, while the limited capacity has meant Wingspan has not yet pursued large tourism operators or international coach groups. Recent changes are beginning to broaden its revenue base. An online booking system has been introduced, while a behind-the-scenes experience allowing visitors closer encounters with falcons and ruru (morepork) has proved popular. A small workshop space has added another activity, including art workshops as a means of adding revenue. Marketing remains a challenge, because most available funds are directed into conservation and other activities. Word of mouth is its biggest source of promotion, with visitors often arriving after recommendations from others. Ineke returned to Wingspan after working there from 2010 to 2015 and later working overseas and teaching. She stepped into the general manager role after Debbie left the executive director position. The awards recognition comes as Wingspan works through operational changes, while dealing with external risks, including bird flu. It has updated its biosecurity protocols and procedures in line with DOC and MPI requirements. For Ineke, the nomination recognises more than the visitor experience. “We do what we do because we love it and we believe in it,” she says. “We have to be smart about it and get our business acumen in line to try and make sure we function better and better all the time. But to be recognised in a business awards like this is very cool.” Wingspan’s patron is ‘bug man’ Dr Ruud Kleinpaste MNZM, who has held the role since 2009. Unlike Rotorua’s more usual geothermal offerings, the water comes from a high-forest aquifer. Heated to 39.9 degrees, the water in each tub is continually filtered and fully refreshed every 15 minutes. Guests can cool off with a cold cedar plunge tub, or just relax and order craft beers, wines and hot drinks from the tub, and if that relaxing beverage is all they want they are offered a complimentary mini-tub foot soak to get their own taste of a uniquely casual Kiwi experience. “Rotorua undoubtedly has the country’s best mountain biking trail network, and having amenities like ours helps make the experience really cool,” says Eric. “But these days the majority of our customers are destination travellers – people coming to the forest just for us, who would not have come to the forest otherwise. We love that they get to engage with nature in an easy, passive way.” Secret Spot Hot Tubs Rotorua has won multiple awards over the years, with the team at the core of it all working 13-hour days, seven days a week, to offer their authentic “forest bathing” relaxation experience. “We have an absolutely awesome team of 25 in total. Some of them have been with us since the beginning and they’re an essential part of our success,” says Eric. By the end of 2027, the Kolver brothers will have moved from being a local Rotorua operation to a national business. Their second Secret Spot is currently underway next to Christchurch’s Adventure Park, which offers a surprisingly similar environment to the one in Rotorua.

| 5 REGIONAL DEVELOPMENT Wingspan National Bird of Prey Centre Wingspan was founded by Debbie Stewart in the late 1980s and formally established as a trust in 1992, beginning with the rehabilitation and release of injured birds. Photo: Clint Trahan Photography. A p p a r e l & P r o d u c t B r a n d i n g S p e c i a l i s t s Your Apparel & Product Branding Specialists Making teams look smart • Expert Craftmanship • Tailored Solutions • Fast Turnaround • Brilliant Service Enquiry@branding.nz | 0508 352 868 At Branding NZ, we bring your brand to life with high-quality apparel and product branding. As a 100% New Zealand-owned company, we specialize in custom embroidery, screen printing, heat press, and promotional branding solutions — all handled in-house for quality control and fast turnaround times. Learn More Branding NZ combines embroidery, screen printing and heat-press transfers with long-standing customer relationships, supplying branded clothing and promotional products from its family-run base The Waikato business has been trading under the ownership of Denis and Margaret Hibbs since 2017, although its history stretches back about 25 years. Its customer base extends throughout New Zealand, with work ranging from small schools and trucking companies to Defence Force civilian uniforms. Branding NZ’s services include embroidery, custom badges, screen printing, Supacolour heat transfers and promotional-product branding, covering uniforms, corporate clothing, high-vis workwear and merchandise. For embroidery, customer logos first have to be digitised so the machines can interpret the design. A contractor in Tauranga converts the artwork into a computer program controlling needle movements, colour changes and stitch placement. “He calls it ‘painting by numbers’. He draws what is required and it creates a computer program that the embroidery machines understand.” Heat-press work is handled with artwork prepared by the family’s art department in Wellington. The company replaced its embroidery machine about three years ago and upgraded its heat press from a manual model to an automatic machine with adjustable temperature, pressure and timing. The business has developed a particularly close relationship with Wingspan National Bird of Prey Centre in Ngongotahā, Rotorua, which operates under a charitable trust. Denis and Margaret visited Wingspan and decided they wanted to support its work; consequently Branding NZ now supplies its uniforms free of charge, while producing caps and hats for its shop at a discounted price. It has also produced enamel pin badges featuring a ruru and falcon. The relationship is reflected on Branding NZ’s website, where Wingspan describes the company’s embroidery as outstanding and says its team “has never looked so smart”. Denis sees branded clothing as more than a uniform, particularly for organisations wanting their name to be visible beyond their premises. “It keeps their name out into the public as well. They’re getting their logo on the front and their website on the back.” That visibility can take some unusual forms. One earthmoving customer has old trucks digitised for embroidered personal jackets, including International trucks dating from 1957 and 1800D models. Branding NZ’s work also includes hospitality and retail, construction and trades, sports teams and clubs, healthcare, events and promotional activities. The business caters to organisations needing everything from professional staff clothing and durable workwear to team apparel and promotional merchandise, giving it a broad mix of applications for its services.

6 | Giving pets the best in care The practice offers a full suite of services utilising the latest in diagnostic technology. T TSue Russell “We’re all driven by a desire to offer pets and their owners every possible support. We’re all pet owners ourselves and know how strong the bond is. When something isn’t right, we understand how upsetting this can be for clients and endeavour to do the absolute best for the pet.” REGIONAL DEVELOPMENT Barrowman Goodman Vets Driven by the aspiration to offer clients’ pets the very best in diagnostic and treatment technologies, David Barrowman and Anna Goodman established their veterinarian practice in Rotorua in 2020. “We had been colleagues in another clinic and were keen to develop a practice that had modern, advanced equipment and the capability to provide the next level of veterinary care for our clients in Rotorua,” says Anna. Today, six years since forming, Barrowman Goodman Vets has grown in scale to a team of 10, including four experienced veterinarians, four veterinary nurses and two receptionists, a size both Anna and fellow veterinarian Dr Jules Condie believe works well. And this year has marked a special moment — being nominated as one of five finalists in the NZME People’s Choice Award at the Rotorua Business Awards. Both Anna and Jules say they’re delighted to have received this recognition. “It’s a reflection on the whole team and we’re very proud of this nomination.,” Anna says. “As a team we all contribute our skills and experiences into the mix and having different areas of special interests means we can work up patients for multiple issues under one roof together. Patients may require an ultrasound, then a follow up endoscopy or orthopaedic procedure that can be completed at the same visit,” Anna says. From the word go, the drive to ensure the latest equipment, including digital X-rays, specialised dental diagnostic tools, ultrasound, echocardiography and, more recently, endoscopic and laparoscopic technologies have been the focus. It means today the practice can offer a full suite of services. “This year we have also invested in an anaesthetic ventilator to make anaesthesia for our patients as safe as possible. “We have so many modalities available that we also receive referrals from other veterinarians to assess and treat animals. Those referrals can come from around the North Island, so as a result we have a much wider family of clients that a typical clinic would,” says Jules. These days David attends the clinic three days a week and has a special interest in all aspects of surgery epecially orthopaedics. He has for many years visited Niue as a volunteer with The Rock Vets — a charity formed to bring veterinary services to the island, as Niue doesn’t have a permanent clinic. Jules says that having four diploma qualified vet nurses has a massive impact on the quality of care. “They’re very capable and professional and key to the efficient running of the clinic. We also receive vet and nurse students on placements to learn under the nurse’s supervision. “We place a lot of emphasis on ongoing professional development for all our staff, as new tools and procedures evolve.” Asked what makes the business tick, both Jules and Anna agree it comes down to a really strong team. Life at times in a practice can be challenging and with an attitude of very much supporting each other, encouraging and stepping in when called on, the clinic is a vibrant, welcoming and very professional space. “We’re all driven by a desire to offer pets and their owners every possible support. We’re all pet owners ourselves and know how strong the bond is. “When something isn’t right, we understand how upsetting this can be for clients and endeavour to do the absolute best for the pet,” says Anna. Reflecting on the journey to date Anna and Jules both share how proud they are of what Barrowman Goodman Vets has evolved into. “It’s wonderful to have these facilities and this team who are all so dedicated to provide the very best care we can to our clients.”

| 7 DMI Electrical Engineering T TKelly Deeks Specialist skills brought to tricky projects DMI designs, manufactures, and installs electrical equipment for process automation in the industrial sector. REGIONAL DEVELOPMENT A Rotorua electrical engineering company’s specialist approach to complex industrial projects has earned it a finalist spot in the manufacturing category at the Rotorua Business Awards. DMI Electrical Engineering managing director, Tim Wiringi, says the recognition reflects the value the business delivers from Rotorua, including work that takes its team across New Zealand, Australia, the Pacific, and further abroad. Based in Rotorua, DMI designs, manufactures, and installs electrical equipment for process automation in the industrial sector, with experience across sawmilling, wood processing, pulp and paper, food production, plastics, chemicals, mineral extraction and other processing operations. The company’s specialist capability recently took Tim to a remote forestry processing operation in Australia, where DMI was contracted to upgrade equipment that had been operating for more than 20 years. The project involved installing new control equipment alongside older machinery while keeping the existing process running. DMI also had to develop drawings that were not originally included in its scope, and complete the work within a tight operating time frame. Tim says DMI was brought into the project because of its long relationship with the equipment manufacturer, which it has worked with for about 23 years, and its experience integrating new equipment with existing processes. “We tend to take on the tricky projects,” he says. “I think we’ve got an exciting business that offers a lot of value, and the things we are doing are big, especially for a small town and a small company.” Travel is a regular part of that work, although Tim says it’s not as glamorous as it sounds. He spent a month in Australia on the latest project, while last year he spent 175 nights away from home and took 55 flights. “By flight 10 the glamour has worn off!” DMI was established in 2018 after Tim decided to build a company around the type of specialist work he enjoyed most. He had spent 13 years in the industry with a previous employer, where he learned through a trialby-fire approach with a broad range of work, and became increasingly focused on complex engineering and automation projects. DMI’s name reflects its core model of design, manufacture, and installation, while its narrower focus allows the team to apply the same processing fundamentals across different industries. The turnkey approach means customers can have a project designed, built, installed, tested, and commissioned through one team. DMI puts emphasis on developing its people, with apprentices working alongside experienced tradespeople, and opportunities for secondary school students provided through Gateway programmes. Tim says maintaining the team through a difficult period in the electrical and industrial markets, where projects have been delayed and new work has been uncertain, has been important in order to manage the eventual economic recovery He is now advocating for greater emphasis on competency and upskilling as technology changes the electrical industry. Solar power, electric vehicles, battery energy storage, automation, smart buildings and increasingly sophisticated power management systems have become mainstream, yet many of the industry’s training and competency frameworks still reflect a traditional view of the trade. Tim believes the industry needs to focus not simply on increasing apprenticeship numbers, but on ensuring people are properly trained, competent, and equipped to work safely and effectively with modern technologies before they are signed off. Maximize uptime. Minimize Risk. Engineered for Continuous Operations Harsh and Hazardous Areas Power Reliability & Reduntant Systems Energy Monitoring

8 | Skyline Rotorua T TVirginia Wright Gondola operation on upward curve Skyline Rotorua is part of the Skyline Enterprises Group, which includes the sister property in Queenstown and luge operations in Canada, Singapore, Korea and Malaysia. “People are our most important asset. We can have all the best and latest products but we can’t deliver an exceptional guest experience without people....” REGIONAL DEVELOPMENT Last year Skyline Rotorua celebrated the 40-year anniversary of its gondola opening in 1985 and the more than eight million visitors who have since enjoyed going for a ride. Many Kiwis have fond memories of their first gondola or luge ride. It’s become a quintessential part of growing up in New Zealand, while visitors from overseas can sit back, relax and enjoy some of New Zealand’s most iconic scenery. Andrew Jensen has been with Skyline Rotorua for 25 years and been General Manager for 10 of them. Skyline Rotorua is part of the Skyline Enterprises Group, which includes the sister property in Queenstown and luge operations in Canada, Singapore, Korea and Malaysia. The company is also developing a new site in Swansea, Wales. Gondolas, restaurants and luges remain the core of the business, with additional activities such as zip-lines and retail introduced to offer visitors more options, encouraging them to stay longer. ‘We’ve gone from those early days when we had a four-seater gondola, and a café with plastic resin tables, to today when we’ve got two chairlifts, a revamped, well-appointed restaurant with a full kitchen, and 5 luge tracks totaling 7.3 kilometres, making us the longest luge track system in the world,” says Andrew. “We continue to refine and improve our offering, adopting the latest technology in terms of maintenance and safety,” he says. Investment in their future extends beyond physical infrastructure into people, which Andrew believes is equally important to their continued success. “People are our most important asset. We can have all the best and latest products but we can’t deliver an exceptional guest experience without people, even in this day of AI,” says Andrew. As Skyline Rotorua has grown and expanded so has the number of career pathways they offer, with apprenticeships, trade qualifications, and opportunities to grow to management positions both locally and globally. “We’ve got quite a few team members who started as luge operators after-school and during school holidays who are now leading operations for our offshore sites,” explains Andrew. Skyline Rotorua works closely with other tourism operators, Tourism New Zealand, and the local Rotorua Tourism Office (RotoruaNZ), to support the destination in domestic and international markets. Rotorua, with its geothermal attractions and cultural history, has always been at the heart of tourism in the country and as the region has grown so has the number of visitors. Skyline Rotorua’s visitor numbers have grown over recent years and they’re fully committed to sustaining that progress. They’re equally committed to doing it in a sustainable manner. Their first solar installation of 288 panels not only allows Skyline to power their gondola and administration building with renewable Rotorua sunshine for six months of the year, but its clever, elevated design provides shade in the carpark for visitors year-round. They’ve created wetlands and are supporting the surrounding environment of Mount Ngongotahā to return to its natural state, with the planting of trees and native flaxes, thus encouraging native birds such as tui, kākā and korimako (bellbirds) to return to the area. They’re working closely with PredatorFree New Zealand Trust to eradicate noxious weeds and pests. To reduce their waste to landfill they are working closely with the Rotorua Sustainable Charter, focusing on soft plastic recycling and reducing waste in general. Food waste is diverted from landfill and converted to Biofuel at the EcoGas facility in Reporoa. These are just some of their initiatives. “We’ve been here for 40 years, and we’re investing into a more sustainable future for years to come,” says Andrew. Andrew and Skyline Rotorua are constantly looking for opportunities to add new activities that their visitors might enjoy. In the meantime there’s plenty of fun to be had, or just a good coffee and a bite to eat while enjoying the view from the restaurant in the sky above Rotorua. ALL ROUND ELECTRICAL Established in Rotorua in 2011, All Round Electrical provides high-quality electrical services across residential, commercial and specialist projects. We work across a wide range of industries including tourism, hospitality, manufacturing, construction and health, combining electrical expertise with a practical, hands-on approach. Whether it is a straightforward electrical installation or a project requiring underground services, trenching, specialist equipment or a custom electrical solution, our team works closely with clients from planning through to completion. Residential Trenching & Thrusting Pool Heating Temporary Power Commercial Underground Services 027 699 9258 www.allroundelectrical.co.nz

| 9 Skyline Rotorua Rotorua, with its geothermal attractions and cultural history, has always been at the heart of tourism in the country and as the region has grown so has the number of visitors. REGIONAL DEVELOPMENT Designed to withstand New Zealand conditions, our products are built to last. We specialise in rotational moulding and o er a diverse selection of products both online and in-store. With over 40 years of experience supplying Skyline with Luge Karts, our diverse range includes motorhome and caravan tanks, camping canopies, portable bathrooms, boat seats and pedestals, garden ponds, grease traps, larger rainwater and holding tanks, and more. Fenton Quality Produce 250 Fenton Street, Victoria, Rotorua 3010 Phone: 07-348 1442 Email: admin@fentonproduce.co.nz www.fentonproduce.co.nz Delivering daily to Restaurants, Cafes, Hotels & Schools YOUR ONE STOP SHOP FOR OEM MANUFACTURERS IN NEW ZEALAND 65 HYLAND CRESCENT, ROTORUA, NEW ZEALAND CNC TURNING • CNC MILLING • CNC ROUTING • 3D PRINTING ROBOTIC WELDING • INDUSTRIAL DESIGN • FULL FABRICATION SHOP For over 30 years, we have proudly partnered with Skyline Group, manufacturing luge carts, conveyors and pick-up units s 07 348 2215 sales@hdp.co.nz www.highdutyplastic .co.nz COMMERCIAL SPECIALISTS SINCE 2016 GET IN TOUCH TO FIND OUT HOW SOLAR CAN SUPPORT YOUR BUSINESS 0800 SUNERGY SUNERGYSOLAR.CO.NZ

10 | T T to page 12 Auckland Council / CMP Construction : Avondale Library - Te Hono T T Kim Newth Connection the focus of new civic hub REGIONAL DEVELOPMENT More than a decade in the making, Te Hono is poised to transform Avondale’s civic centre with the new library, community hub, playground, and upgraded town square now only months away from completion. The new facilities are expected to open in mid-2027. Funded by Auckland Council, this significant project is delivering two new buildings, together providing 2,600sqm of floor space, that connect with and flow into Avondale’s revamped town square. The northern building houses a library and community centre over three levels (reserve, street and mezzanine), while the southern building provides a single-storey shared community space. Linking the two buildings and the square is an architectural staircase called Te Ara Whakahono, or the pathway of connection. Connecting place, people and purpose with the local and wider cultural landscape, Te Hono has been designed and developed to create a vibrant heart for Avondale. The project is being led by the Auckland Urban Development Office on behalf of Auckland Council, in partnership with mana whenua. Te Hono means ‘the connection’ and this defines its fundamental purpose. The name was gifted by mana whenua and carries the whakataukī: He hono tangata e kore e motu; ka pā he taura waka e motu (a human bond cannot be severed, unlike the rope of a canoe). “This idea of connection runs through the building, the outdoor areas and mahi toi in the project,” says Richard Davison, priority location director, Auckland Urban Development Office, whose team has worked closely with mana whenua to achieve a quality outcome that reflects their values and identity in this place. “Te Hono will host a wide range of community activities, including hui, overnight stays with access to a commercial kitchen and and dismantling for commercial and residential clients across Auckland. With over 10 years experience in sca olding, Senior o er one of Auckland’s leading specialist sca old services. Great design, fast and e icient construction and dismantling with full site support and an impeccable safety record, everything we do is aimed at providing the exceptional to our customers. Proudly Supporting AUCKLAND COUNCIL / CMP CONSTRUCTION 09 - 947 6132 seniorscaffold.co.nz SERVICES INCLUDE Pipework from 20mm to 500mm in PE, DI, UPVC New Reticulation, Network Extensions and Diversions Installations of PRV’s, Meters, Backflows and Associated Pits and Cages. Traffic Management and Full Reinstatement. Testing and Sterilisation. Established for 25 years, we specialise in Water main and Fire main construction in the greater Auckland Area. Ph: 09 573 0566 • P.O. Box 251176, Pakuranga, Auckland 2140 • citycontractors.co.nz Proud to have completed another great project with CMP. showers, wānanga as well as bookable and programmable spaces for community use.” Athfield Architects has responded to the cultural narrative with a thoughtfully-integrated design that positions Te Hono as a place for learning, creativity and meaningful social interaction for people of all ages, abilities and interests. As Richard observes, it also provides a place that expresses cultural identity and a sense of place, connected to the wider whenua of Te Wao Nui a Tiriwa (the Waitākere Ranges) and Wai Te Whau (the Whau River). Proudly supporting Auckland Council / CMP Construction 022 548 8088 admin@cblmasonry.co.nz

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12 | Focused on connection Te Hono is delivering two new buildings that connect with and flow into Avondale’s revamped town square. T T from page 10 Auckland Council / CMP Construction: Avondale Library - Te Hono REGIONAL DEVELOPMENT info@subzerowaterproofing.co.nz 0212784777 Specialists in all aspects of waterproofing with quality workmanship you can trust. Our highly skilled team are dedicated to delivering robust solutions across all types of residential and commercial projects. Contact one of our friendly team today Tanking Membranes | Liquid Membranes Sheet membranes | Leak Remediations When Avondale’s new library and community hub Te Hono opens next year, it will be standing on irm dry foundations. Auckland-based Sub Zero Waterproo ing has delivered the professional underground waterproo ing required to safeguard the building for decades to come. Sub Zero brings years of trade experience, quality products and best practice techniques to residential and commercial projects of all types, servicing clients throughout the greater Auckland area. At Te Hono, Sub Zero worked alongside CMP Construction as their trusted waterproo ing partner. “Our team started on site last December and inished at the end of September this year,” says Giovanni (‘Gio’) Spadotto, who co-founded Sub Zero Waterproo ing in 2021 with his wife Neota (‘Neo’). “We did all the waterproo ing/tanking to the underground foundations and lift services, including all the groundings, footings, external walls buried underground and the lift pit.” A high water table on-site was a key challenge, particularly with lift services at the lowest point of the building. “That was getting pumped out 24/7, but it also underlined the importance of getting the waterproo ing done.” As Gio observes, it’s easy to underestimate the value of waterproo ing when it’s underground and can’t be seen. In fact, it’s of pivotal importance, protecting concrete and steel frommoisture damage. “If you want to build a lasting legacy then professional waterproo ing is essential.” Sub Zero has previously worked with CMP Construction on multiple projects and also works closely with geotechnical engineers, structural engineers and architects, using best product solutions applied with industry best practice precision. “Nuralite was speci ied at Te Hono. It comes in sheets that mechanically bonds to concrete and the laps are torched together so water can’t penetrate.” As well as tanking and underground waterproo ing, Sub Zero o ers specialist waterproo ing installation services to protect external wet areas and expert leak detection and repair solutions. Gio has 20 years’ experience in the waterproo ing industry across New Zealand and Australia. Neo brings a background in logistics, process and technical improvement to her role as business development manager. Together, they lead a busy team of 16. “Starting during Covid was actually the best timing, as there was so much work coming in then and we’ve continued building momentum. We’re currently in the hunt to hire a project manager.” Other recent/current projects bene itting from Sub Zero’s waterproo ing expertise include remediation works at Kaitaia Hospital, a new high-end apartment development in Ponsonby and a new supermarket at Point Chevalier. Supporting Avondale’s Te Hono hub with best practice waterproofing The need for a new library and community hub in Avondale was identified in 2016, with the current location seen as providing the best long-term outcome for the growing community, allowing the new facility to be integrated with an upgraded town square. Situated at a central junction within the community, Te Hono is poised to breathe new life into Avondale. “It will create a vibrant, flexible place to meet, connect and spend time in the heart of Avondale,” says Richard. “Landscaping will extend to Great North Road and Avondale Central Reserve, retaining existing trees and adding new planting that reflects the history of the whenua, from the Whau and market gardens to food growing and recreation.” A new playground, designed for children and young people of different ages and abilities, is included in the wider project, made possible in part by the Mayor’s Fix and Finish Fund. It has a large play tower at its centre and will include climbing, swinging, spinning, balancing, water play and areas for sensory and nature-based play, as well as green space for running and ball games. An existing basketball court and learn-to-ride track will remain and be better connected with the playground. Te Hono achieved a 5 Green Star rating from the New Zealand Green Building Council in recognition of social, economic and environmental outcomes that demonstrate leadership. “Green Star certification provided a way to show that the project is delivering on its environmental commitments, supporting Auckland’s Climate Plan and the council’s Sustainable Asset Standard while lowering ongoing costs through more efficient energy and water use. Sustainability also shaped how the site was cleared. Rather than demolishing five existing buildings, the team took them apart carefully so materials could be recovered and reused,” says Richard. CMP Construction won the open tender to lead the build on-site and Richard says their team has been great to work with. “They’ve been responsive where needed and supported local procurement and career pathway work with students at Avondale College as well as offering a scholarship to university students.” The southern building is currently nearing completion with cladding works starting on the northern building elevations. “There is a fair amount of excitement from the local community leading up to the opening of Te Hono. It will be a real asset for the wider area and bring people together for many activities,” Richard says. Te Hono complements a wider revitalisation programme underway in Avondale to help set it up well for the future.

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