News

Generosity and goodwill on a giant scale

2020 was certainly a tough year; one that none of us will forget and we will all feel the impact of for years to come. As we start 2021, there’s hope that Hawke’s Bay – which hasn’t been hit as hard as other provinces – will fare better. We’re very fortunate that our economy doesn’t rely on just one sector...

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...

Getting lift off – insight into youth development programmes

To counteract concerns the job market would get harder for its rangatahi (young people) following the Covid-19 outbreak, they fast-tracked plans to create jobs themselves and LIFT Business on Emerson Street, Napier, was born. This retail hub, supported by council and charitable funding, opened its doors in August selling products made by LIFT’s rangatahi ‘clients’ or their broader whānau. Part...

On the correct path – Icehouse insight to First Chiropractic

Brett and Emma Mead were forced to temporarily shut their doors for seven weeks when Covid-19 hit however, with the support of The Icehouse, the First Chiropractic Hastings owners are not only adjusting to a new economic environment, they are investing in new technology for their customers, taking on new staff and lifting the business to new levels. Almost two...

Kaitime: Fueling the next generation

It has been a rise of epic proportions for Maraenui-based Kaitime. The pakihi (business) is owned and founded by Tina Sheree Rangi and partner Jonny Tawhara with the mission to fuel the next generation by ensuring every child has at least one sufficient meal a day that is packed with nutrients and all the good things that our region has...

A template for success

Joanna Monteith has been helping businesses set up business software solutions for many years but it’s some of the easier requests that has the potential to launch a global marketplace business. Joanna owns Consult, a Napier-based business that helps transition businesses to cloud-based software as a service (SaaS) products such as Xero and WorkflowMax. The days of printing invoices out...

Sally Duncan Te Mata Estate & Hawke’s Bay Wine Growers Association

How has COVID changed how you foster/enhance your key relationships in China? Obviously the main change is the lack of market visits but we are engaging in many online and virtual tastings in China. How do you maintain a physical presence? Te Mata has had a great distributor in China called Torres for 20 years now. They know us really...

Catherine Wedd Bostock New Zealand on access to China markets

How has COVID-19 changed how you foster/enhance your key relationships in China? Covid-19 created extra demand for New Zealand organic apples. Chinese consumers were not going out to the wet markets or wholesalers to buy their fruit. They were buying from trusted retailers who were our customers. The consumers turned to organics as they trust it more and believe it’s...

Sam Harvey Fern Ridge Export manager views on China market access

How has COVID 19 changed how you foster/enhance your key relationships in China? We noticed a flattening off or decrease in demand from China during the initial COVID period. This alongside the fact we are unable to visit China in the current climate, which we would normally do 3-4 times a year, meant that we sought to maintain strong relationships through...