Volume 35 | Issue 2 | April 2026 www.waterfordpress.co.nz West Coast wonder The stunning Punangairi Visitor Centre is a welcoming addition to the Punakaiki visitor experience... Page 34
2 | Contents 10| Power packed Leaft Foods has a vision to transform the future of food by utilising a remarkable plant protein. 28| Charity drive Fowler Homes Queenstown is doing a second charity build for the I Am Hope Foundation. 49| Close to home Oamaru Stone has fittingly been used in the extension of the town’s iconic Forrester Gallery. 28 49 10 #businesssouth #yourstory www.waterfordpress.co.nz Pegasus Engineering �������������������������������03 Oritain Global NZ �������������������������������������04 Chatham Islands Enterprise Trust ���������06 University of Otago ����������������������������������07 Churchill Private Hospital �����������������������08 Business Canterbury �������������������������������09 Leaft Foods �����������������������������������������������10 Thelning Design Innovation ��������������������12 Baker Boys ������������������������������������������������14 Harcourts Holmwood ������������������������������16 Saunders & Co ������������������������������������������17 Marlborough Chamber of Commerce ���18 Explore Marlborough ������������������������������19 Marlborough Tour Company ������������������20 Mag & Turbo Blenheim ���������������������������22 Marlborough Glass ����������������������������������23 Fresha Foods ��������������������������������������������24 Greg Donaldson Contracting ������������������25 Community House Mid Canterbury ������26 Fourflax �����������������������������������������������������27 Fowler Homes Queenstown �������������������28 Ayrburn �����������������������������������������������������32 Sheppard & Rout Architects �������������������34 Paparoa Great Walk ���������������������������������36 Danone Nutricia ���������������������������������������38 South Pacific Meats ���������������������������������40 Endura Mining ������������������������������������������42 Aggregate & Quarry Association ������������46 Central Aggregates ����������������������������������48 Oamaru Stone ������������������������������������������49 Mackersy Property ����������������������������������50 McVicar ITM ����������������������������������������������52 Cohesive Construction ����������������������������53 Flight Industrial Park ��������������������������������54 Bleeker & Weith ���������������������������������������57 DG Engineering ����������������������������������������58 DC Marine �������������������������������������������������62 Oddies Marine ������������������������������������������63 Altherm Canterbury ���������������������������������64 TDF Solutions ��������������������������������������������65 Fulton Hogan ��������������������������������������������66 City Forests �����������������������������������������������68 Murray Logging ����������������������������������������69 Jackson Orchards �������������������������������������70 Power Solutions Otago ����������������������������70 Hydramech �����������������������������������������������72 Precision Profile ���������������������������������������73 Greg Donaldson Contracting ������������������74 JRL Electrical ����������������������������������������������77 Dig and Form ��������������������������������������������78 Top Notch Roofing �����������������������������������80 Andrews Fencing ��������������������������������������81 On Site Mechanical Repairs ��������������������82 CA Architecture ����������������������������������������84 Chaney & Norman Architects �����������������85 W2 Architecture ���������������������������������������86 Walker Architecture ���������������������������������87 SAN Architecture ��������������������������������������88 OUR PARTNERS: Christchurch Office 112 Wrights Road, Addington, Christchurch Phone 03-983 5500 PO Box 37 346 www.waterfordpress.co.nz Queenstown Office 70 Glenda Drive, Queenstown 9300 MANAGING DIRECTOR James Lynch james@waterfordpress.co.nz BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT DIRECTOR Chris Pearce chris.pearce@waterfordpress.co.nz EDITORIAL EDITOR Nick Gormack nick@waterfordpress.co.nz Sub-editors Christine Defilice, Margaret Landauer Writers Alexia Anderson, Emma Bailey, Kim Bowden, Kelly Deeks, Hugh de Lacy, 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 sales@waterfordpress.co.nz PRODUCTION DEPARTMENT General Manager Luke Lynch luke@waterfordpress.co.nz Graphic Artists Anton Gray, Francesca Hildawa, Sophie McCleary, Liki Udam art@waterfordpress.co.nz CONTENT COORDINATORS Alissa Crosby, Ann-Marie Frentz, Josie Villa, Michelle Phelan OFFICE AND ACCOUNTS Lyn Barlow lyn@waterfordpress.co.nz T&C’s: These conditions are prescribed for the sake of understanding between the Waterford Press Ltd and its clients. 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Asym Design ���������������������������������������������88 Brooksfield ������������������������������������������������90 JTB Architect ���������������������������������������������92 Modcon Projects ��������������������������������������93 Fraemohs Homes �������������������������������������94 Blue Sky Property �������������������������������������95 Mike Greer Commercial ��������������������������96 J & M Built �������������������������������������������������97 G.J. Gardner Homes Wanaka ������������������98 Latitude Homes Canterbury ���������������� 101 Mark Cowan Building ��������������������������� 102 Well Built Homes ����������������������������������� 102 Whio Homes ������������������������������������������ 103 Blac Design & Build ������������������������������� 104 G A Building ������������������������������������������� 105 Harper Rye Homes ������������������������������� 106 Custom Builders ������������������������������������ 108 Douglas Spencer Building �������������������� 109 DS Building �������������������������������������������� 110 RLA Construction ���������������������������������� 111 Roman Building and Construction ������ 112 Angus McKellar Builders ���������������������� 113 Qestral Corporation ������������������������������ 114 Darfield School �������������������������������������� 116 Arthur Street School ����������������������������� 116 Breen Construction ������������������������������ 118 Te Āwhina Marae o Motueka Society � 119
| 3 T T Hugh de Lacy New partnership drives strategic growth Pegasus specialises in large-scale structural steel and general fabrication. REGIONAL DEVELOPMENT Pegasus Engineering A 35-year-old Christchurch institution, Pegasus Engineering, is undergoing a strategic revitalisation under the leadership of its new owner (and former employee) Martin Griffin. Martin has since partnered Pegasus Engineering with the Hawke’s Bay-based Patton Group. This alliance provides a powerhouse nationwide reach, backed by a diverse, combined team of over 300 staff across Aotearoa, and a production capacity of over 8000 tonnes of fabricated, coated, and erected steel annually. “We’re in a phase of strategic growth with the Pegasus-Patton partnership,” says Martin. “Together, we have the resources and capacity to deliver significant structural steel and metalwork projects. It’s a true end-to-end solution that reduces project management for the main contractor by providing a single, expert point of contact. “As Pegasus Engineering & Patton we offer a full package of fabrication, protective coatings, including intumescent, and site installation of structural steel, metalwork and perforated sheet metal. Our expert team also provides specialised IP for design-and-build projects.” Pegasus Engineering remains one of the largest companies of its type in the South Island. Based at the Izone Business Park in Rolleston, the 1.3ha site features a 5000sqm purpose-built factory and a two-storey office where staff look out towards the Southern Alps – a constant reminder of the Canterbury landscape they help build. Established in 1987, Pegasus specialises in large-scale structural steel and general fabrication. Its versatility allows the team to handle complex projects across multiple industries, including stadiums, hospitals, schools and major infrastructure. Martin’s history with the company runs deep. He joined Pegasus after moving to New Zealand following the 2008 Global Financial Crisis. While he initially intended to stay for just a year, he quickly grew to love the lifestyle and the industry here. He spent four and a half years with Pegasus, rising to site manager for landmark projects like the Burwood Hospital expansion. In 2017, Martin founded his own successful steel installation company, MG Steelworks. When he learned his former employer was facing a period of transition in late 2024, he saw an opportunity to return to his roots. Recognising the immense value in the staff and the company’s 35-year heritage, Martin “Together, we have the resources and capacity to deliver significant structural steel and metalwork projects. It’s a true end-to-end solution that reduces project management for the main contractor by providing a single, expert point of contact.” stepped in to secure the brand’s future. “The Pegasus Engineering brand has a decades-long track record of capability. I knew that with the right leadership, a drive to modernise and expand our capabilities and a return to our core engineering values, we could move forward strongly, which we have already done by consistently delivering for our clients. “In addition, the new partnership with Patton Group allows us to have a much broader range of services we can offer, and that depth gives clients confidence that we can handle more than just the structural steel scope on the project. “It is a new dawn for the business, and there are exciting times ahead for the ‘new’ Pegasus Engineering & Patton.” The revitalised company has already hit the ground running, securing the structural steel package for the Christchurch Girls’ High School redevelopment. Currently, Pegasus is delivering steel and metalwork packages for over 30 projects across the South Island. “It has been a period of evolution for the industry, but we see plenty of momentum. With increasing inquiries for 2026 and beyond, the outlook for Pegasus Engineering & Patton is incredibly bright,” Martin says. Please contact our specialists on 0800 800 649 or visit the website unitedsteel.co.nz Proudly Supporting Pegasus Engineering Ltd Martin Griffin
4 | REGIONAL DEVELOPMENT Oritain Global NZ T TVirginia Wright Protecting people and the planet... Professor Russell Frew: “It took 20 years to be an overnight success”. In a world where it’s increasingly difficult to take anything at face value, Oritain bring certainty to global supply chains as a global leader in verifying the origin of products and raw materials. The science behind the proprietary methodology they use to trace those origins has its own origins in the University of Otago. In the late 1990s, chemical oceanographer Professor Russell Frew, while exploring the use of trace elements to understand ocean systems, worked for three and a half years with the British Antarctic Survey. “We used isotopes to look at how water masses moved around the globe. For example, we could take a sample at a depth of 5000 metres in the deep ocean near Greenland and identify that it started right down on the coast of the Antarctic in the Wedell Sea. We could trace that 20,000-kilometre journey with the isotopes,” Professor Frew explains. A call in 2001 from what was then the Ministry of Fisheries led to the first use of the isotope methodology in what became a successful $5,000,000 prosecution where they were able to prove that fish supposedly legally taken in the Chathams had in fact been illegally taken from the West Coast. Professor Frew then set up ‘Isotrace’ in 2003, a laboratory delivering an analytical service using that methodology, which eventually morphed into Oritain in 2008. In 2020, he bought the laboratory from the University of Otago when he joined Oritain as their chief scientific officer. The science remains at the core of what they offer, but it’s the service that has evolved around it that makes the company what it is today, and it was a small project demonstrating their ability to trace wool that led to a major boost for the company, the professor explains. “Every natural product, such as cotton, has a chemical composition that reflects the environment in which they grow. “Whether it’s trace elements from the soil, or the naturally occurring patterns of isotopes in the plant material, they vary globally. Essentially, nature produces a code, and we read that code. “Our science is trusted by governments, regulators, and leading brands worldwide, including US Customs and Border Protection, reinforcing the role forensic origin verification can play in supporting efforts to address forced labour and tariff compliance.” The same science and methodology that can verify that goods linked to forced labour in regions prohibited by global pieces of legislation, can now also be used as a preventative tool against other globally important initiatives. Under the impending European Union Deforestation Regulation (EUDR), for example, several products such as beef, soy, palm oil and wood will not be able to be sold in the EU if they are linked to deforestation, and Oritain provides the means to verify that there is no such link. Oritain’s forensic verification services combine science, technology and statistics to audit company’s supply chains, identify risk points, and collect samples from anywhere in the supply chain. Such work can independently verify that, for example, the Egyptian cotton being purchased did in fact come from Egypt; or that the leather coming into France, which should be from Argentina, is in reality from an area linked to deforestation. Developed in Dunedin, the global service providing forensic origin verification enables hundreds of leading brands and suppliers to ethically source their products. It is now harnessed by Oritain, who employ 200 staff across offices in England, the United States, Singapore and New Zealand. The comapny were finalists in the Best Large Business category in last year’s New Zealand International Business Awards, it won the Environment award at the global Greater Good Awards, and were ranked second in the Deloitte Fast 50 Master of Growth Index. “It took 20 years to be an overnight success,” says Professor Frew wryly. “But those awards recognised our growth over recent years as a New Zealand story on the international stage.” New CEO Alyn Franklin is leading their continuing evolution - “out of the entrepreneurial phase,” as the professor puts it - to focus on more closely matching their technology to an ever-changing market. He says Oritain is well placed to further develop its international presence, to keep supply chains honest, and to continue protecting the planet and its people through the 21st century. 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6 | New era looms for Chathams’ Exciting development: The new wind farm under construction at Point Durham. Chatham Islands Enterprise Trust T T Russell Fredric REGIONAL DEVELOPMENT With several major infrastructure upgrades completed and others nearing delivery, it is the dawn of an exciting new era for the Chatham Islands. Chatham Islands Enterprise Trust has responsibility for the majority of the island’s infrastructure assets, and governs the companies that underpin the local economy. Shipping, fishing, electricity, forestry, two ports and the airport sit within its portfolio, with each sector strengthened by significant government-backed investment during the past decade. At the end of the 2025 financial year, the trust’s businesses held $232 million of assets, reflecting the scale of capital deployed and the strategic importance of these operations. Trust chairman Hamish Chisholm says the focus has remained firmly on economic and community development. Two projects in particular have defined recent progress: construction of a wind farm at Point Durham, and securing a replacement for the island’s aging shipping link, the 40-year-old Southern Tiare. Supported by funding from the Ministry of Business, Innovation & Employment, three wind turbines have been constructed, significantly reshaping the island’s energy profile. “The turbines will reduce our reliance on imported diesel by up to 65%, allowing for a much-needed reduction in electricity tariffs to the community,” Hamish says. “The risk of being 100% reliant on volatile global diesel prices and the need for it to be imported has been all too obvious in recent years, with the increase in tariff prices and the two near misses where the island almost ran out of diesel during prolonged shipping outages.” The island’s energy resilience is closely linked to shipping reliability. Last September the Government announced the Southern Tiare will be replaced by a new, 78- metre purpose-built vessel, expected to be operational late 2027. “Now that we’ve got clarity on [the new ship], everyone’s pretty excited about the opportunities it could mean for growing the economy over here and securing the ability to do that for the next 20 years,” says Hamish. Alongside energy and shipping, other major upgrades during the past eight years have included a lengthened and strengthened airport runway, an airport terminal addition and refurbishment, and at Waitangi port, construction of a new all-weather cargo wharf and fishermen’s wharf. These projects collectively provide a more reliable and future-proofed platform for commerce and connectivity. With this core infrastructure largely secured, attention is shifting towards economic growth and diversification, with improved reliability across energy, transport and logistics creating the conditions to back local enterprise, expand tourism offerings and encourage new investment. The Chatham Islands’ unique biodiversity, landscape and cultural heritage position the region strongly for high-value visitor experiences, while investment in foundational assets supports population retention and workforce stability, essential for a community of around 600 people. Demographic trends reinforce that opportunity. More than 50 children under the age of five now live on the islands, signalling longterm confidence and renewed momentum. Following a decade of intensive capital investment, the islands are moving from infrastructure rebuild to sustained economic development. To help catalyse this next phase, the trust and Chatham Islands Council have jointly responded to Regional Development Minister Shane Jones’ direction for a reset of island infrastructure ownership and funding. 03 318 1198 admin@southernscreenworks.co.nz 50 Bealey Rd, RD1, Aylesbury www.southernscreenworks.co.nz On site mobile crushing and screening with modern tracked machines • Deliveries available from our Aylesbury Quarry of AP20, AP40, AP65, boulders, sand, dust & premix. ready for your adventure? 0800 FLY NOW Air Chathams is New Zealand’s largest privately-owned airline, proudly connecting regional communities. It operates scheduled services between Auckland and Whakatāne, Kāpiti Coast, Whanganui, and the Chatham Islands, as well as between Wellington and Christchurch and the Chatham Islands.
| 7 T T Karen Phelps Landmark development for Chch Health Precinct The six-storey facility is the largest and most ambitious project in the university’s Christchurch history. University of Otago: School of Medicine REGIONAL DEVELOPMENT Christchurch’s Te Papa Hauora/Health Precinct is preparing to welcome a landmark development as the University of Otago - Ōtākou Whakaihu Waka’s new WaiOra building nears completion later this year. The six-storey facility is the largest and most ambitious project in the university’s Christchurch history, promising to consolidate departments, expand student capacity and enhance collaboration across health disciplines. “The inception and early design work for the project started over a decade ago, driven in part by the impact of the Christchurch earthquakes,” says Kim Sneddon, University of Otago senior project manager. “It’s really exciting to see it come to fruition this year.” The Wai-Ora building is located on the former Tillmans furniture site between Montreal and Antigua Streets. Currently staff and students are spread across a number of smaller buildings. “For the university this will bring many of our different departments together and allow for a better level of collaboration and connection. The space itself, in the heart of the Te Papa Hauora, will enable research to flourish with the new laboratories and facilities.” Construction, led by Christchurch company Leighs, began onsite in mid-2022. The project has required complex excavation, de-watering and structural works due to the building’s tight inner-city location. Despite these challenges progress has been steady. Kim says the logistical difficulties of the site, coupled with the size and complexity of the building, have been well managed. Wai-Ora incorporates a strong cultural narrative developed with Ngāi Tahu, emphasising social wellness and balance within the environment. Ariki Creative is collaborating to transform this narrative into artworks that will feature throughout the facility. The building’s name, gifted by mana whenua, symbolises the spiritual and tangible relationship between the site, water and the health research, clinical practice and teaching it will host. The building will house four floors of laboratories, clinical research and teaching facilities, a simulation clinic and dedicated spaces for staff and students. Kim says the simulation clinic will replicate a six-bed hospital room, giving students hands-on experience in a controlled environment. Wai-Ora will offer a total area of nearly 17,000sqm. The southern side of the building will have a glass curtain wall, backed with a thermal curtain-wall system, and the north side has a folded louvre, which has a proprietary aluminium-framed thermal broken curtain with integrated external solar shade system. It will include an innovative artesian heating and cooling system which will extract warm water from underground aquifers to heat the building and reverse the process for cooling during summer months. Aligned with the university’s zero carbon strategy, Wai-Ora is targeting a 5 Star Green Star as-built rating by reducing emissions, promoting recycling, waste reduction and efficient building use. “These features reflect a commitment to sustainability, efficiency and long-term operational success,” says Kim. “Wai-Ora promises to transform the student and staff experience, strengthen the university’s presence in Christchurch and contribute to the wider health community through worldclass facilities and research opportunities.” Backing the University of Otago School of Medicine project with quality electrical services. 35 HIGHRISE CONSTRUCTION SOLUTIONS Providing specialist hire equipment throughout NZ. If you need a material handling solutions for your multi storey and high-rise projects, look no further than SkyTech. No matter if you are constructing a brand-new high rise or renovating an existing structure, SkyTech can help. 0508 759 832 | office@skytech.nz | www.skytechnz.co.nz Sky Hoists Sky Decks Logistic Solutions Industrial & Marine Coating Contractors Not Just Coatings are a proudly owned and operated New Zealand company successfully completing a wide range of industrial and commercial projects throughout New Zealand. We specialise in: • Grouting • Sealants • Waterproofing • Line Marking • Concrete Repairs • Crack Injection Please visit our web site to view our capabilities and modern fleet of equipment or email us for a quote. +64 27 287 1515 • sales@notjustcoatings.nz • www.notjustcoatings.nz • Concrete Grinding • Foam Insulation • Internal Tank Cleaning • Water Blasting up to 40’000 psi • Hydro Demolition • Abrasive Blasting • Industrial & Commercial Coatings • Marine Coatings • Intumescent Coatings • Epoxy Coatings • Polyurea Coatings • Seismic Strenghthening (FRP)
8 | Growth plan a win-win Churchill Hospital General Manager Belinda Watkins: “Our co-location with the public hospital is unique and special; it works really well.” Churchill Private Hospital T T Kim Newth “What I really like about Churchill Hospital is how committed it is to the community. That has been a big drawcard for me... ” REGIONAL DEVELOPMENT Fresh from celebrating its 30-year anniversary milestone last year, Churchill Hospital is poised for further growth to meet rising demand for specialist surgery in Marlborough. Churchill Hospital, Marlborough’s only private surgical hospital, is located on the grounds of Blenheim’s public hospital, Wairau Hospital. Both work closely together in a mutually beneficial way, complementing each other to meet local patient needs. “Our co-location with the public hospital is unique and special; it works really well,” says Churchill Hospital General Manager Belinda Watkins. “For example, we pay to maintain and refurbish an operating theatre that we built on site in 2018, which is used by us and the public hospital. We also gifted a recovery room to the public hospital. Similarly, the public hospital supports us with post-operative complications if needed.” For surgical specialists, being able to work across the public and private health spheres makes Marlborough an attractive choice. “In turn, it means we can give people here more scope and choice in the surgical services they can access without them having to travel outside the local area.” Churchill Hospital is dedicated to providing first class healthcare for patients in a respectful, kind, purposeful way. Their 30-strong nursing team are known for their friendly, professional care and service. As well, Churchill Hospital consistently invests to have the best equipment, including robotics (for joint replacements) and laser technology (urology). Owned by a registered charitable trust, Churchill Hospital gives back to the community and supports health and wellness through donations, NMIT for nurse scholarships and other initiatives. The Churchill Private Hospital Trust is a major sponsor of Hospice Marlborough, as well as The Whale Trail between Picton and Kaikōura, and also supports Sports Tasman, the Tasman Rugby Union and Garden Marlborough. Belinda only joined Churchill Hospital late last year, with her previous roles having been with Access Community Health as national operations manager and as a Hospice CEO in Northland. “What I really like about Churchill Hospital is how committed it is to the community. That has been a big drawcard for me, along with having grandchildren in Blenheim too.” This year, Churchill Hospital is in expansion mode, with construction underway to take inpatient capacity from nine beds to 15 beds. That growth is largely being driven by the need to increase their capacity to cater for the growing aged population and the increased volume of Health New Zealand outsourced patients being referred to the private health sector for elective surgery to help alleviate pressure on public waiting lists. “In fact, we’re currently on the lookout for new surgical specialists,” says Belinda. “Blenheim is a great place to live and work, and we have a fantastic team here. The quality of care is exceptional. We get really good feedback from our patient satisfaction surveys.” As is the case across New Zealand, Marlborough has an ageing population. Much of the additional elective surgery being undertaken at Churchill Hospital is for joint replacements and cataract/ophthalmology along with general surgical procedures, but the hospital is also aiming to build its capabilities in specialty areas like endoscopy, ENT, urology and plastic surgery. “We do gynaecological procedures here as well. All the surgeries we do make such a difference to patients’ quality of life.” Churchill Hospital is currently in negotiations with Health New Zealand to extend their current lease beyond 2043 to give certainty and confidence to carry out their additional plans to expand Churchill Specialist Centre. “With growth in procedures and growth in demand for private hospital services, we’re bursting at the seams. “We really need more consultation rooms for our specialists as we look to build our volume. “‘Our plan is to expand our specialist centre capacity by another third.” Belinda says Marlborough Medical Imaging, which sub-leases space in the Churchill Specialist Centre, is also backing the expansion as it would free up space for their own plans that include adding another much-needed CT scanner for Marlborough. URBAN FARE BAR • CAFE • CATERING Food that brings people together. Thoughtful catering with the finest local ingredients. Contact us ANA OXOBY Catering Manager 8 Scott Street, Blenheim 021 023 86246 info@urbanfarewairau.nz Passionate about delivering quality innovative designs WWW.HAWKINSARCHITECTURE.CO.NZ Proudly Supporting Churchi l l Private Hospital PROTECTING YOUR FAMILY AND PROPERTY FIRE PROTECTION IQP INSPECTIONS BUILDING WOF Nelson: 03 548 2640 office@ffpnelson.co.nz ffpnelson.co.nz Proudly supporting Churchill Pivate Hospital 03 578 0931 admin@robinsons.co.nz www.robinsonconstruction.co.nz Delighted to be working alongside Churchill Private Hospital
| 9 T T Kim Newth Outlook strong as confidence rebounds Business Canterbury REGIONAL DEVELOPMENT Canterbury has a spring in its step, with business confidence having turned a corner over the past six months. More businesses are expecting stronger economic conditions to prevail this year. In turn, that’s flowing through to positive decisions on hiring staff and investment in property, plant and equipment. Business Canterbury Chief Executive, Leeann Watson, says it’s all pointing to an exciting year ahead for the region. “The latest November 2025 business survey showed the highest level of confidence since Covid,” she says. “The region is in a really good place. Canterbury’s unemployment rate is 3.7%, well below the 5.4% national average. Businesses are out there recruiting with some 900 new jobs being added each week. “We have GDP growth of +0.1% here, (compared to the national average of -0.9%) and the value of goods exported through the port is up 12% year on year.” Eight years ago, Leeann became the first ever woman appointed to lead what was then the Canterbury Employers’ Chamber of Commerce. It has since been through a process of transformation to become Business Canterbury, the home and voice of Canterbury business. With over 2700 members, Business Canterbury enables and supports businesses to thrive by providing a range of training opportunities, resources, and events that help the business community stay connected, informed and agile. The organisation also promotes local business innovation and success. For example, Business Canterbury recently launched Canterbury Trusted, a certification that recognises and celebrates businesses committed to leading with trust, integrity and responsibility in the region. Business Canterbury’s talented and passionate team bring considerable expertise and experience to their various roles supporting Canterbury’s businesses, whether it’s providing guidance on HR and employment law, advice on exports and market access, or helping with navigating government reforms. “Businesses are choosing to move here and investors are investing here. We have the highest internal net migration in New Zealand. This year, Canterbury has entered an exciting new chapter in its story.” “I feel proud and privileged to be working alongside some amazing people at Business Canterbury and amazing business leaders across our business community. “I get to engage with a wide variety of people, including those working on the frontline to the factory floor. Not a day goes by that I don’t learn something new. I love that about my job. “Right now, this region is the place to be in New Zealand. “Businesses are choosing to move here and investors are investing here. We have the highest internal net migration in New Zealand. This year, Canterbury has entered an exciting new chapter in its story.” She suggests Canterbury’s strength as a regional economy lies both in its resilience and diversity. Along with the region’s primary producers, there are engineering specialists and entrepreneurs and innovators breaking new ground in aerospace and advanced manufacturing. Having worked for the Chamber in four different roles over 28 years, Leeann certainly understands how challenging it has been at times over recent years. “[But] through it all, you learn the importance of being able to adapt to change. Right here, right now, change is a constant for everyone in business and in life. Following the earthquake rebuild, we have a brand new Christchurch and now some amazing new businesses like Leaft Foods and Kea Aerospace. I’m excited about the future of Canterbury.” Newly launched this year is the Canterbury Ambition, a two-page vision statement developed by Business Canterbury, led by businesses in the region and supported by the Canterbury Mayoral Forum that lays out a clear foundation for the region’s future growth. It urges investing ahead of demand in infrastructure, protecting the region’s competitive advantage in affordable housing and enabling innovation by ensuring regulation is fit for the future and aligned across the region. “We’re speaking with a clear and unified voice on where we want to go as a region, what’s important to us, and how we can protect and continue to invest in the things that are unique and special to us.” Business Canterbury Chief Executive Leeann Watson: “Not a day goes by that I don’t learn something new. I love that about my job.” With over 2700 members, Business Canterbury enables and supports businesses to thrive by providing a range of training opportunities, resources, and events that help the business community stay connected, informed and agile.
10 | Business Canterbury - Leaft Foods T T Kim Newth Harnessing a new source of protein Rubisco powers photosynthesis and is nature’s most abundant and nutritious protein. “Within a couple of years, we plan to build a factory that will be 10 times larger. We’re confident that Canterbury has plenty of arable capacity to support further growth.” REGIONAL DEVELOPMENT Leaft Foods is a fast-growing Canterbury company with a vision to transform the future of food by utilising a remarkable plant protein that’s contained in every green leaf. Known as the utopia protein, Rubisco powers photosynthesis and is nature’s most abundant and nutritious protein. Innovation-focused Leaft Foods has put in the hard yards to be the first to extract Rubisco at commercial scale, and is now putting it to use as a next-generation food ingredient and a highly nutritious grab-and-go fuel shot. Maury Leyland and husband John Penno (who previously founded Synlait) were looking for a way to help farmers shift towards lowerimpact, higher-value production when they realised the answer – Rubisco – was right in front of them in every green leaf. They recognised the potential of Leaf Rubisco as a new and vital source of protein. The only problem was that no-one had ever managed to successfully extract it. Maury and John were convinced it was possible and began working on their “crazy idea” in 2018. By 2019, they had formed Leaft Foods and joined forces with Ross Milne, an engineer, who had designed and built some of the world’s largest food factories. At the end of 2019, after countless trials, they had finally produced enough gel-like Rubisco extract to make a pavlova using Rubisco instead of egg whites. “It was a massive milestone,” says Maury. “We’ve since had very rapid growth and are now operating at commercial scale out of a factory in Rolleston’s iZone hub. “The location works very well for us as there is easy access to the motorway and we’re close to our growers and other businesses. We have the right processes and industrial equipment in place; everything is repeatable and integrated into the local farming system.” Leaft Foods’ ground-breaking Rubisco Protein Isolate, using Rubisco extracted from Canterbury-grown alfalfa, has a best-in-class amino acid profile, and is a highly functional protein ticking all the boxes on taste, mouth feel and digestibility. “It’s a white, creamy product that does a couple of things really well: it acts just like eggs in baking and tastes great, and also brings more protein to dairy-based products like yoghurt while achieving a creamy texture and mouth feel without graininess. “We’re super excited about the applications,” says Maury. In December 2025, Foodstuffs South Island partnered with Leaft Foods to trial Rubisco protein in place of egg protein in a range of bakery products. Leaft Foods’ other exciting product is Leaft Blade – with18g of Leaf Rubisco protein delivering the equivalent of 50,000 green leaves in every pouch – serving as a daily performance enhancer that’s engineered for rapid digestion, and offering superior daily protein and whole-body nutrition. There is rising interest from highperformance athletes in New Zealand, as well as opportunities opening up in the US sports nutrition market. Today, Leaft Foods employs 30 full-time staff and has strong connections with arable farmers in the Southbridge area, with 100ha of alfalfa currently being grown for Rubisco extraction. Organic co-products from their process are converted into silage for dairy cows that increases milk production while reducing nitrous emissions. “Within a couple of years, we plan to build a factory that will be 10 times larger. We’re confident that Canterbury has plenty of arable capacity to support further growth.” As members of Business Canterbury, Maury says they appreciate the organisation’s strategic focus on food and fibre as a very important sector in the regional economy. “We have a voice in the future of Canterbury that we might not otherwise have had, and a place at the table. Business Canterbury is telling our story and sharing it with others, and all that promotion is really helpful too. “We’re very lucky to be here in Canterbury and standing on the shoulders of those who have come before us, both in farming and in research and development.” Want to know more? GEA.com/contact Scaling with confidence. With engineering expertise across the entire production chain, GEA brings a holistic view to manfuacturing alernative proteins. The goal: help producers move from early-stage concepts to scalable, stable processes.
| 11 Business Canterbury - Leaft Foods Leaft Foods founders Maury Leyland and John Penno: excited about the applications of Leaf Rubisco. REGIONAL DEVELOPMENT “Coolpak Coolstores Ltd are Proud to Support Business Canterbury - Leaft Foods” COLD CHAIN STORAGE SOLUTIONS & SERVICE, WITH YOU IN MIND. 03 684 9100 WWW.COOLPAK.CO.NZ Food Testing That Keeps You Ahead When it comes to food safety, quality, and nutrition, certainty matters. With 9 labs from Auckland to Invercargill, and a global science network of 950 laboratories behind us, we deliver trusted world-class testing wherever you are in New Zealand. • Food microbiology & chemistry testing • Full range of water analyses • Soil, plant and feed testing Local labs. Global science. Real confidence Auckland. Tauranga. Taupo. Hastings. Wellington. Christchurch. Queenstown. Dunedin. Invercargill. 0800 3876 3467 | www.eurofins.co.nz Really Local. Truly Global. Sarah Stiles Business Development Manager Eurofins Food and Water Testing NZ 35 O’Rorke Road Penrose, Auckland 1061 New Zealand Phone: +64 27 522 0344 Email: SarahStiles@eurofins.com Eurofins Agro Testing NZ Name: Jeremy Bell Our services include: • IT Systems for your business • Onsite Support • Offsite Electronic Backup • Network Hardware • Microsoft 365 Office 365 • Virtual Server Hosting Business IT Support Specialists Specialising in delivering reliable and robust systems through tailored hardware and software packages that suit your business needs. able IT at an affordable rate ct us. Business IT Support 03 384 7084 | info@adapt.co.nz | adapt.co.nz CULTIVATION & DRILLING CARTAGE STRAW SILAGE BALING SERVICING THE SECTORS OF ARABLE AND LIVESTOCK CENTRAL CANTERBURY TIM RIDGEN: 027 279 6457 SOUTHBRIDGE & HORORATA
12 | Business Canterbury - Thelning Design Innovation T T Kim Newth Innovative engineering boosting business growth The TDI robotic depositor is also on an Australian pie production line, where it is being used to draw smiley faces atop pies at the rate of 225 pies per minute. “It’s about utilising machinery to do jobs that are really not that suitable for people.” REGIONAL DEVELOPMENT For a small Christchurch company, Thelning Design Innovation (TDI) is making an outsize impact on productivity by helping New Zealand companies scale up and transform their operations using advanced engineered machinery and automation solutions. Founder Nelson Thelning, an experienced engineer with a background of machinery development, launched his business a decade ago to provide an advanced engineering and automation service to New Zealand industries facing various production challenges. “At that time, there was very little opportunity for New Zealand manufacturers to take advantage of automation and utilise technology to be more efficient.” Nelson explains. “Hardly anyone was offering that service. Instead, there’s been this tendency in New Zealand to throw people at processes, even though labour’s expensive and it’s often hard to find people willing to do those repetitive tasks in manufacturing. “We’re only a small company, but we’re adding a lot of value and the projects we’re completing are quite significant. We’re developing unique bespoke machines, customised to requirements, that are suitable for any industry.” Thelning Design Innovation employs a skilled team of six, including technical director Arthur Woolhouse, who brings a wealth of business leadership and technical engineering expertise to the TDI team, having previously founded and managed a successful composite product manufacturing company in the UK. Nelson notes that Business Canterbury has been a consistently positive source of support and encouragement for TDI, serving as a business enabler, keeping their team up to speed with relevant legislative changes and economic trends, and facilitating business networks. “We’ve had some really helpful business advice and support from them, particularly around that Covid time when they wrapped a team around us. They help spread the word on our services to other potential clients – it’s support across multiple layers. We share the same objective of wanting to help Canterbury businesses improve and grow.” In the field of food manufacturing, TDI is fast scoring wins for companies seeking greater scale and efficiency. For example, TDI’s robotic depositor is being used by Christchurchbased Baker Boys to add mashed potato swirls on top of savouries. This engineered solution has automated an onerous task that was physically demanding, and the production process is now much more efficient. The TDI robotic depositor is also on an Australian pie production line, where it is being used to draw smiley faces atop pies at the rate of 225 pies per minute. “Previously, they were having to run their production at 50% capacity, because manual resource was too slow and they couldn’t secure enough staff – adding this has provided a big boost to their business.” As Nelson observes, automation is ideal for production tasks that are difficult, unpleasant, unsafe or repetitive. “It’s about utilising machinery to do jobs that are really not that suitable for people.” Construction is another area where TDI’s engineering expertise is making a real difference. A few years ago, TDI developed a large machining centre for a company in Yaldhurst (Bode) producing modular homes from SIP panels. Essentially, the machining centre enables flat- pack homes to be efficiently produced in a factory, before being sent to sites around New Zealand. The past two years have not been easy for many New Zealand businesses. TDI’s preparedness to think outside the square has helped them weather challenging times. For example, TDI secured a contract last year to manufacture net-cleaning machines for aquaculture on behalf of another company, (Bossaqua). “That was a key strategic decision for us,” says Nelson. “We’re now looking forward to bigger projects with the likes of George Weston Foods. “What we’re finding is that large capital projects that were put on hold two years ago are now starting to come back again – it’s really exciting to see that confidence return with companies again looking at how investment in innovation can help them pursue bigger opportunities both here and internationally.” Proud to supply quality robotic and automation hardware to Thelning gantries & robot 7th axes automation & drives hygienic robots www.cncdesign.co.nz/products
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