Latest News

Fingermark announces investment from global sustainability leader, Ecolab

Award winning New Zealand tech innovator, Fingermark, has secured a cornerstone investment from global water, hygiene and infection prevention leader, Ecolab. This investment includes a multimillion dollar capital injection that will support Fingermark’s rapidly rising global growth trajectory. Luke Irving, Founder and Chief Executive of Fingermark, hailed the deal as transformative. “This is a true collaboration that will help both...

Tackling the housing shortage – the Hastings approach

Housing is one of the biggest discussion topics in Hawke’s Bay. Housing supply, urban intensification, expansion on to primary productive land, resource and building consent timelines and success, fast tracking government consents, 30 year land supply, houses vs building communities are usual parts of the conversation by planners, councils, developers, builders and government agencies. In 2019 the region was facing...

New Sport and recreation leaders ready to tackle challenges

Three sport organisations at the forefront of increasing participation, health and wellbeing and supporting our top athletes to reach the pinnacle of their sport have new leaders at the helm. Sport Hawke’s Bay has promoted Ryan Hambleton to chief executive while the Regional Sports Park Trust (RSPT) has Glenn Lucas as its new chief executive and Hawke’s Bay Community Fitness...

Funding loss could limit public access to Te Mata Park

The loss of vital funding from the Hawke’s Bay Regional Council will set Te Mata Park back by a decade and will fail to protect the region’s most popular recreational and tourism asset. The Hawke’s Bay Regional Council Long-Term Plan proposal to pull its $120,000 a year Park maintenance funding will see Te Mata Park Trust launch a ‘Protect the...

Hopes for food hub tenants soon

Hawke’s Bay will be served up a food innovation hub in early 2024, with a tenant prospectus now released and hopes for a first tenant to be in by June. Foodeast-Haumako, was the brainchild of Hastings District Council before setting out to find funding partners in 2019 for the $18 million project. The Government’s Provincial Growth Fund $12m in 2019,...

Unison invites community contributions to mark centenary

Unison is proud to celebrate 100 years of powering Hawke’s Bay on 19 June 2024 and is inviting contributions from the community to collectively tell the story of Unison’s journey in the region. From its establishment as the Hawke’s Bay Electric Power Board on 19 June 1924, Unison has been an integral part of the local economy and Hawke’s Bay....

More funding needed for road to recovery in Hawke’s Bay

Hawke’s Bay leaders are calling for more government funding to rebuild the region’s extensively damaged roads and bridges. As the powerhouse of its local economy, the region’s primary sector and associated supporting services rely heavily on a reliable and resilient roading network. Whilst Councils are grateful for the Government support received to date and as a result have made good...

Acquisition of Bostock Brothers Limited in New Zealand

Inghams Group Limited (ASX: ING) (Inghams, Company) today announces its intention to acquire 100% of the Bostock Brothers organic chicken business in New Zealand for NZ$35.3 million (approximately A$33.0 million). Key points Acquisition of New Zealand’s only organic poultry producer with premium market position is strongly aligned with Inghams strategy Acquiring 100% of the shares in Bostock Brothers Limited (BBL),...

Flood protection work in Hawke’s Bay a step closer

Cabinet has agreed to engage on a proposal for a temporary change to legislation under the Severe Weather Emergency Recovery Legislation Act 2023 (SWERLA), which would speed up the delivery of flood protection work across Hawke’s Bay. On the back of Cyclone Gabrielle, Hawke’s Bay Regional Council has earmarked seven areas where new flood infrastructure would see category 2A and...

Large scale development gets fast track consent approval

Wairatahi, a large scale residential development in Hastings owned by Heretaunga Tamatea Pou Tahua – the commercial arm of Tamatea Pōkai Whenua, (formerly Heretaunga Tamatea Settlement Trust) - has secured approval to go ahead via the Government’s fast track consent process. Tamatea Pōkai Whenua (TPW) chair Pōhatu Paku said the Covid-19 Recovery Fast-Track Consent decision was a significant outcome for...