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The Dark Web – Beware!

What is the dark web? The dark web is a part of the internet that is not indexed by search engines and is a hidden collective of internet sites only accessible by a specialised web browser. It is used for keeping internet activity anonymous and private, which can be helpful in both legal and illegal applications. While some use it...

Return of the Brains trust

If there is a silver lining when talking about the global COVID-19 pandemic, it has to be the return to our shores of thousands of highly skilled Kiwis. For years, New Zealand has been a casualty of what has been termed ‘brain drain’, as highly qualified New Zealanders left in search of opportunities aboard. Recent figures show that over 50,000...

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,...

Focus on team culture gives business duo the edge

When Erin Maloney was six months pregnant, husband Jared announced he was leaving his job in the meat industry and launching a start-up. Catalyst Fuel Refunds was born soon after, as was son Jack. The business captured a niche market, with staff and customer numbers growing fast. Being new to business ownership, Jared looked around for options to develop his...

The road to success for QRS starts with being community focussed – Nigel Pollock

Nigel Pollock, Quality Roading and Services (QRS) chief executive puts the Wairoa based roading firm’s business award win down to maintaining a balance between economic support for council (which owns QRS) and its social responsibility to the people of Wairoa. QRS won the Hawke’s Bay Chamber of Commerce 2020 Pan Pac Supreme Business Awards at the end of 2020, with...

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...

Pro Business advice

The business pivot

While “Pandemic” was voted as the 2020 Word of the Year, you probably haven’t heard the word ‘Pivot’ used with quite so much frequency as you did last year. We’ve all heard amazing stories of companies that have taken up opportunities to shift their focus by changing their product offering, their target consumers, their delivery method, or the way they...

Pro IT

3 ways business intelligence can accelerate your business

Business intelligence (BI) and the ability to draw higher-level understandings from your data is fundamental for any organisation striving to be agile, future-proofed and ready for tomorrow. Business intelligence, or BI, is how organisations collect, organise and contextualise data, often using BI reporting tools to provide data-driven insights at a glance and in easy to understand formats. BI refers to...

Pro RMA

Are RMA reforms the solution for HB’s housing issues?

In February, Environment Minister David Parker announced the government’s proposals to repeal and replace the RMA with the following three Acts: 1. Natural and built Environment Act 2. Strategic Planning Act 3. Managed Retreat and Climate Change Act These actions are in response to a broad consensus that the system introduced by the RMA has not adequately protected the natural...