Latest News

Rockit – small but packing a mighty punch

t may only be 100 grams in size, but the world’s smallest commercial apple is packing one big punch across the world. With over 100 million apples packed in 2021 and forecasted growth of over 400 million apples packed by 2025, it doesn’t take rocket science to work out that Rockit Global Limited needed a multimillion-dollar purpose-built, automated post-harvest facility...

Pop Up Business School Supports budding entrepreneurs

Business Hawke’s Bay hosted the pop up Rebel Business School Aotearoa supporting the region’s budding entrepreneurs, as part of its economic and social development, and regional recovery initiatives at Hastings HIVE. Funded by Business Hawke’s Bay, Hastings District Council, Napier City Council, Ministry of Social Development, and Te Puni Kōkiri, the Rebel Business School Aotearoa is a fantastic opportunity for...

Conroy’s keeps moving forward

Family-owned business Conroy Removals celebrate 50 years in 2022 and despite one of the most challenging times in their history, dealing with both the COVID pandemic and a flood wreaking havoc at their Onekawa, Napier base, the father and daughter-run operation has emerged stronger than ever. Just prior to COVID, general manager Fiona Conroy followed in her father David’s footsteps,...

Where to now for regional economic development

Economic Development in Hawke’s Bay is set for a big shake-up. However, Minister for Regional Development and local MP Hon. Stuart Nash is urging the region’s councils to have a new delivery model for economic development up and running faster than the proposed timeline of 12–18 months. He is also telling the councils they’ll need to contribute more money for...

All Blacks help kickstart new local business

A small Hawke’s Bay business has been able to use some heavy weights influencers to help launch their business. Sensory Haven 4 Kids sells quality, affordable products that can provide comfort and security for both children and adults who are challenged by Sensory Processing Disorders, Anxiety, Fetal alcohol disorder, Attention Deficit Disorder (ADD), Dementia and Autism. Business owners Lynair Bergman...

Flightpath – Hawke’s Bay Airport update

Bay Espresso is set to land at Hawke’s Bay Airport in 2021, much to the excitement of local coffee lovers. The stalwart of the Hawke’s Bay coffee roasting and café scene will form part of the airport’s desire to tell the story of the region, its culture and history. Bay Espresso owners Chris and Jonelle Jarvis have built the brand...

Hawke’s Bay Business Hub turns 5

In May 2020, in the midst of New Zealand’s COVID-19 lockdown an important milestone for the Hawke’s Bay business community slipped by, unnoticed. Opened five years earlier, in May 2015, by the then Minister of Economic Development Stephen Joyce, Hawke’s Bay Business Hub Ahuriri, has spent the past half decade as a unique, highly regarded example of regional collaboration, supporting...

Event champion on search for new events

ourism and events have been the two sectors that have been hit hardest due to COVID-19. In Hawke’s Bay, the events sector dodged a bit of a bullet in part due to our busy events period running between October and March. However, iconic events such as the Hawke’s Bay Marathon and the Big Easy were cancelled. Although there’s no accurate...

Flexibility the key to employment – insight into youth development

The COVID-19 pandemic has affected business in different ways, including impacting employment rates across the country. According to a recent report from Statistics New Zealand*, unemployment rates for men actually fell for the June 2020 quarter. However the same could not be said for women. Unemployment rates for women rose in the same period, and the number of women who...

Whare for all – insight to Youth Development

For a growing number of Hawke’s Bay residents, finding a place to call home is an ongoing struggle. Like many areas around New Zealand, our district is experiencing a chronic housing shortage. Although the construction sector is ramping up to meet demand, the focus is often on building larger up-market properties. This leaves very few affordable housing options for first-home...