Damon Harvey

Damon is the editor and publisher of The Profit. Damon has over 20 years experience as a journalist, content developer, marketer and public relations specialist. Damon is a huge advocate for Hawke's Bay businesses and The Profit was created as a platform to celebrate HB businesses and business people. Damon is also a director of Attn! marketing pr - www.attn.co.nz alongside wife Anna Lorck. He is also a Hastings District Councillor and chairman of Sport Hawke's Bay. In his spare time he loves surfing, mountain biking, crossfit and spending time with his family, which includes five girls! If you've got a great story contact Damon on 021 2886 772 or damon@theprofit.co.nz

Retirement on hold for Fidel

He may be 81 years old but that doesn’t stop Fidel Russ turning up to his job as production manager at Wood Mallets in Central Hawke’s Bay at 5.30am four mornings a week. Wood Mallets, located east of Otane, exports hand-crafted polo sticks and croquet mallets to more than 50 countries and Fidel has worked for the business since 1991....

Bumpy flight but Hawke’s Bay airport takes off

The path to getting to the major milestone has had more turbulence than a flight into Wellington on a stormy day, and as the airport’s chief executive Stuart Ainslie says, the adversity has created a more resilient airport as well as a stunning gateway to the Bay. Stuart himself arrived to the role after the design plans and the terminal...

New Zealand businesses urged to up game to unleash Blockchain opportunities

New Zealand businesses need to up their game and adopt a plan to embrace de-centralised technology or are at risk being left behind according to some leading Blockchain advocates. Stefan Korn, Chief Product Officer, Callaghan Innovation, Blockchain expert Mark Pascall and agribusiness business leader and founder of Carrickmore, a dairy export company specialising in marketing infant formula Chris Claridge believe...

On your side in fast changing times

Businesses are operating in uncertain and unpredictable times when 50 to 100 year events such as pandemics, droughts and floods are happening with more regularity. In Hawke’s Bay the rural sector has had two consecutive summer droughts while Napier was struck by a major flood event that damaged houses, vehicles and businesses. A well-established New Zealand insurance brokerage firm ICIB...

Local workplace Suicide Prevention Programme has instant impact

Many of us have been impacted by the loss of a family member, friend or work colleague to suicide. Between July 2018–June 2019, 654 suspected self-inflicted deaths (SSIDs) were reported in New Zealand, 46 of these were in Hawke’s Bay. At that time the national average of SSIDs was 12.86 per 100,000 population – Hawke’s Bay was double that at...

Rockit apple founder looks to raise $15 million for innovative cherry business

Successful primary sector Entrepreneur Phil Alison has commenced a $15 million capital raise for his vertically integrated Cherry business, Cherri Global. In 2002 Mr Alison launched Rockit, a miniature-sized apple packaged and marketed in tubes which has enjoyed international success and he is taking the same approach to disrupt the global cherry market. After selling his shareholding in Rockit in...

Mentoring is positive for the soul and community

The rest of New Zealand envies the Hawke’s Bay lifestyle and enormous potential our region has to offer. We’re renowned for our fertile soils, excellent climate, world-class Port, and the talented and entrepreneurial people who live here. At the same time, we locals must concede that Hawke’s Bay is a community in crisis. Levels of family violence and drug and...

Life experience leads to wellness and new business

Wellness practitioner Robin Wilson is concerned about burnout with many of us getting sent too much information, which is leading to us feeling as if we’re always on. “We are bombarded by information and not hitting the off button. We’re constantly on and wired. We need to stop. If we’re constantly in the red zone of stress, we will run...

Food hub ready to go

With the i’s almost dotted and the t’s almost crossed, the construction of Foodeast will be underway by September. The building of Hawke’s Bay’s Food Innovation Network hub, the sixth in New Zealand, is expected to be completed by the end of 2022. It will be a place of innovation and connection, designed to add value to the region’s food,...

Hastings – like a big city but better

Hastings District is the centre for employment and economic growth and ready to strengthen its position as the economic powerhouse of Hawke’s Bay. Hastings District Council economic development manager Lee Neville says the thriving primary sector district has a new wave of industry and business launching from the solid economic foundations on offer. Lee points to Foodeast, a $18 million...