Author Archives: Damon Harvey

About 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

Pioneering courier business delivers 35 year milestone

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New Zealand’s pioneering courier delivery network Fastway Couriers is celebrating 35 years.

The company, which was established in Hawke’s Bay in 1983, is celebrating the milestone at its annual conference, to be held in Nelson on April 12-13.

Fastway Couriers chief executive Scott Jenyns says the businesses has come a long way from “one man in a van” to a global franchise with 63 regional depots and 1700 franchisees in New Zealand, Australia, Ireland and South Africa, 2,200 Pracel Connect agents and handling over 40 million deliveries annually.

In New Zealand there are 17 regional franchisees with over 250 courier franchisees delivery from Cape to Bluff.

“The parcel and delivery industry has changed dramatically over the past 35 years. The first Fastway van in New Zealand distributed in a world pre-smartphone technology and internet, in a market made up predominately of business to business customers,” Mr Jenyns said.

The rise of online shopping over the past five years has completely transformed our industry from 80 percent of deliveries being larger packages delivered between two businesses to 80 percent of parcels now being smaller than 3 kilograms on average and delivered to residential properties.

Over this time parcel movements have risen year on year by 10% with the majority of parcels now being delivered as a part of an online transaction between a buyer and seller.

He says much of the success of the business can be attributed to the franchise model that founding owner Bill McGowan initiated in 1984, after just one year in business.

“We get a real kick out of seeing the franchisees embrace our model and be true courier experts in their local markets.

“Our point of difference to that of our competitors is that our local franchisees are business owners applying their trade in a local market. It is very motivating as the CEO when you witness a national initiative being adopted by our franchisees into their region.

“A good example of this is our Parcel Connect agent network that now comprises of over 250 agents and is very much a key part of the Fastway ecosystem” Mr Jenyns says.

The rapidly growing appetite of New Zealand consumers for online shopping and the expectation of round-the-clock convenience has underpinned the development of a number of innovative new technologies to help future proof our business and franchisees and delight every customer at the door.

“The e-commerce growth rates are phenomenal, all of our large global e-commerce customers and domestic customers we are integrated with continue to perform well.

“We are turning the traditional delivery model on its head with a range of new technology and processes including embracing the sharing economy to help support franchisees and customers.

“We have invested heavily in new technology and innovation to capture more share of the growing e-commerce market, whilst not taking our focus away from servicing our more traditional customers, with all initiatives aimed to help support our franchisee network.

Parcel Connect, a new service recently introduced, taps into the diverse business hours of local stores and service stations across New Zealand to provide a close and convenient drop off and collection point for both customers and Fastway’s franchisees.

Fastway Couriers’ ability to innovate and lead the way for the delivery sector in New Zealand is accelerated by its connection to international courier and logistics company Aramex.

Aramex, which operates in over 70 countries, purchased Fastway Couriers in January 2016, providing the business and its franchisees with access to world-leading research, resources and expertise.

Mr Jenyns says little has changed to the franchise model since the sale to Aramex but it’s opened up parcel delivery to and from their international markets that they operate in.

“We have been able to launch an international service on the back of that acquisition which we were not able to do cost effectively prior to the acquisitions.

“We also get access to their technology which is immensely important as technology continues to drive changes in the way we do business. They are also very supportive of investing in start-up businesses, so with any new investment in a start-up business we get access to that information and make an assessment whether that is applicable to the NZ market.”

 

 

New container depot a win-win

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A new shipping container depot in Napier has been officially opened with property owner Mana Ahuriri Trust regarding it as a long term win-win with the prospects of job creation for its people and certainty of sustainable growth for tenants ContainerCo Limited.

Mana Ahuriri Trust chairman Piriniha Prentice said the Mersey Street land is part of its Waitangi Treaty Settlement with the Crown.  The trust is set to receive significant land holdings including commercial property and farm land.

Mr Prentice said Mana Ahuriri Trust is excited that the Mersey Street site is up and running with a well-established national business.

ContainerCo is one of New Zealand’s leading independent container storage and servicing businesses, operating at six strategic sites, which serve the four largest ports in New Zealand – Ports of Auckland, Port of Tauranga, Lyttleton Port of Christchurch and Napier Port.

“We see this as a good way of getting our investment portfolio underway. We’re thrilled to provide a new site for ContainerCo as it not only gives us long term cash flow but provides our people with career opportunities.

“For us business relationships are ‘about people’ not transactions; creating career opportunities for our people as well as developing long term relationships with successful businesses such as ContainerCo,” Mr Prentice said.

ContainerCo Hawke’s Bay Manager Mr Garry Fly said the new 5 hectare site is a consolidation of its two container park sites in Battery Road (which closed in 2016) and Austin Street, which will be transitioned to closure or re-purposed next year.

Mr Fly said the $4.5 million facility investment is a strong signal of export and import growth in Hawke’s Bay as well as the success of Port Napier in attracting cargo to and from the wider region.

The facility, within the Napier City Council Industrial zone, will be Container Co’s southern North Island base where up to 4000 – 5000 empty containers (TEUs) can be cleaned, repaired, tested and stored on behalf of some of the World’s leading shipping companies.

It will also be the regional home for ContainerCo’s container hire and sales, and specialised refrigeration businesses.

“The new site future proofs our presence in Hawke’s Bay. We have seen significant growth in the requirement for various container and other shipper related services in recent years and expect this to continue,” he said.

Mr Fly said the business has a fantastic relationship with Mana Ahuriri that extends well beyond being the norm of a tenant and landlord contract.

“This is a very unique partnership and we will be working with Mana Ahuriri to create career opportunities starting from apprenticeships through to management.

The Napier facility employs around 15 staff and ContainerCo about 200 staff nationally with around 40 percent Maori.

Additional development of the facility will provide a new range of services designed to support containerized horticultural exports in the region.

“The site is rail served and we look forward to working with Mana Ahuriri Trust and Kiwi Rail to improve rail options for shipping companies and shippers.

Mr Fly said the facility design incorporates environmental protection features as well as for the future implementation of new types of cargo handling and information technologies that will increase capacity.

Demand for off-port container processing and storage has steadily grown and this site is important as it is near port and rail infrastructure, reducing truck movements and exporter and importer costs.

“The cost of container handling needs to be as low as possible to ensure that exporters are competitive and costs are minimized, therefore container parks need to be as close to the port and rail as possible,” he said.

 

Steaming ahead for success

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When the Newton team took to online capital-raising platform Kickstarter in September seeking seed funding, it took them just 23 minutes to secure the $10,000 they were after.

Production of a unique Hawke’s Bay eco-friendly coffee machine is underway after the team behind the award-winning project took just 23 minutes to raise the required start-up funding online.

Designing and manufacturing the Newton Espresso maker has been a labour of love for two EIT staff members – 63-year-old Alan Neilson and Hayden Maunsell, 31 – who say their differing “old school, new school” approaches have enabled a best-of- both-worlds outcome.

The project began with a conversation about making a new coffee machine, one that would produce a great crema without compromising on design or the environment.

Design sketches drawn up by Hayden were adapted into working prototypes by Alan and the ensuing collaborative design process of testing ideas and materials, developing and refining, has evolved the Newton into a quality functional apparatus.

The Newton – a modern take on the lever- press machine that calls on established principles of coffee extracting – is described as offering the perfect balance between a “sculptural art piece” and a “domestic tool”.

The simple-to-use device only requires boiling water and fresh coffee grinds and,

unlike many espresso machines on the market, creates zero waste and does not use electricity.

The Newton’s minimalist design, considered aesthetics and pop of metallic burnt-orange colour are features that have seen it honoured in recent design awards. It was named winning design in the HOME New Zealand Design Awards from Fisher & Paykel and was recognised at the Designers Institute of New Zealand Best Design Awards, picking up silver and bronze awards in the Designed Product and Colour categories, respectively.

The Newton in action

When the Newton team took to online capital-raising platform Kickstarter in September seeking seed funding, it took them just 23 minutes to secure the $10,000 they were after.

At the same time, the Newton was put to the test and received “rave reviews” at a Kickstarter launch event attended by about 120 people at the Hawke’s Bay Business Hub in Ahuriri.

Craftsman Alan completed an apprenticeship in toolmaking at a cycle and lawnmower manufacturing company and went on to do prototype research and development in that field.

His diverse skills in crafting and engineering also saw him working with exceptional accuracy restoring medical and scientific antiques in London. He is a self-taught wood turner, winning many awards and accolades both in New Zealand and overseas.

His other achievements include restoring his 100-year-old home and making furniture, cabinetry, fittings, jewellery and toys for his home and for his family.

Hayden completed an apprenticeship in refrigeration engineering after finishing school, working in that field for eight years before completing a Bachelor of Visual Arts and Design followed by a Masters of Art and Design.

Demand for the Newton has now seen the team expanded to include professional photographers and videographers Josh Neilson (Alan’s son) and Steph Everson, along with graphic designer Tara Cooney.

www.newtonespresso.co.nz

Port success sets region up for growth

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The foundations for the growth and success of our regional economy are underway at Napier Port, with the operation posting record cargo volumes, delivering a strong financial result, and lodging an application for consent to build a new wharf.

A record 4.754 million tonnes of cargo crossed the port’s wharves in the year to 30 September 2017, up from 3.916 million tonnes in 2016. Container volumes grew 12% to a record 288,444 TEU. Log exports also hit a new high, with 1.63 million tonnes exported through Napier – a 35% increase on last year’s record.

After a large volume of scientific research and almost two years of pre-consultation with the community, Napier Port also reached a huge milestone in the development of its proposed wharf and dredging project when it lodged its resource consent application with Hawke’s Bay Regional Council last December.

If granted, it will see a 350-metre wharf built when cargo demand and increasing ship size warrant it.

Napier Port and the Hawke’s Bay economy are also enjoying the benefits of the cruise industry, with 60 cruise ships set to bring more than 153,000 passengers and crew into the Bay this cruise season.

Napier Port chairman Alasdair MacLeod says 2017 was an historic year for Napier Port.

“We faced a major challenge in the wake of the Kaikoura earthquake, and I’m proud of the way our people stepped up.”

Napier Port saw a significant and unexpected spike in cargo following the quake on 14 November 2016, as containers were rerouted to Napier.

“Essentially, we saw six years’ forecast growth in one year.”

It wasn’t the only major feat for the port in 2017, with giant cruise ship the Ovation of the Seas becoming the largest ship ever to berth at Napier Port when it made its maiden call in January.

“We had a fantastic cruise season, and the Ovation’s call was undoubtedly the highlight. It really showed what we’re capable of achieving, and it was great to have such strong support from our tourism partners and our local community.”

More than 125,000 passengers and crew visited Napier over the 2016-2017 season, bringing around $20 million into the local economy.

The port’s onsite packing facility, Port Pack, also continued its growth trend, with 48,310 TEU containers handled over the course of the year. Port Pack now accounts for nearly a third of Napier Port’s containerised full export throughput, and has grown into one of the biggest packing facilities in New Zealand.

The port also invested $18.7 million in capital projects and equipment, including land holdings in Pandora and Whakatu and specialist studies to support its application for resource consent to build a new wharf.

The resource consent application for its proposed 6 Wharf Development and Dredging Project is a crucial element in Napier Port’s future strategy. Alasdair says cargo volumes across the port are likely to nearly double over the next decade and Napier Port needs to develop its facilities to handlethatgrowthonbehalfoftheregion.

“Napier Port is critical to Hawke’s Bay’s economy – we’re associated with 27,000 full and part-time jobs and more than half of Hawke’s Bay’s gross regional product,” he says.

“Hawke’s Bay’s economy is in growth mode, and we’re forecast to see cargo volumes nearly double over the next decade, while ship size is also forecast to grow. Having a sixth wharf in place will strengthen our connection to global markets and ensure Hawke’s Bay can continue to thrive and maintain its enduring relevance.”

Long-serving chief executive Garth Cowie passed over the captain’s duties to Todd Dawson at the end of last year, after 18 years at the helm, and Alasdair says Todd is the right person to continue Napier Port’s success.

“We absolutely have the right person for the role. Todd brings the skill, acumen and tenacity we need to take Napier Port into the future.”

Todd comes to Napier Port from Kotahi Logistics, where he has been for the last five years, the last two as General Manager BoxConnect, leading their strategic programmes and implementation of new ventures and strategic partnerships. Todd says he’s excited to get stuck in.

“I’ve had a great welcome from the Napier Port team, and I’m enjoying meeting our many local customers. I’m very focused on a successful future for Napier Port, and I’m looking forward to working towards that with our team, our customers and our community stakeholders,” Todd says.

New pastures for Brent Linn

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Brent Linn has stepped down as general manager of Hawke’s Bay A & P Society, one of the region’s oldest and most traditional organisations.

Brent was in the role for seven years and during that time has seen the society add additional events such as the Edible Garden Show, while at the same time ensuring the long-term sustainability of the annual Hawke’s Bay Show. In 2017, the showgrounds hosted 101 events.

He also established a master plan for the venue, which he hopes will be fully implemented.

The Profit caught up with Brent and asked him about some of his highlights and what the future holds for both the A & P Society and himself.

What are some of the highlights of your tenure?

Growing the society events to become a true celebration of the incredible diversity, resourcefulness and success of our primary sector industry and people.

Reconnecting the showgrounds with the wider Hawke’s Bay community, a symbolic opening of the gates to its beneficial owners and a general, more outward- looking organisation. Last year we hosted 260,000 people at the showgrounds at 101 events.

Establishing a master plan for the development of the showgrounds; delivering the $1 million Stage 1 infrastructure phase in 2017 and developing the concept plans for the $3.5 million multi-use building to support the Hawke’s Bay Farmers’ Market, Horse of the Year and other users.

What have been the challenges?

Trying to develop the society events and the showgrounds venue with limited financial resources.

What does the future of the organisation look like?

Bright I believe. The realisation of the opportunities that have been created is going to be down to the new team and leaders; all the building blocks are there, it’s just a case of arranging them.

Most people know the A & P Society for the spring show, but it’s more than that… can you briefly explain its activities?

The society is a not-for-profit, registered charitable, membership-based organisation whose charter directs it to showcase and champion the primary industry’s contribution. It has about 800 members ranging from farming families through to Hawke’s Bay businesses to urban families. Membership is open to anyone and currently costs $65 per annum.

It owns the showgrounds, a common misconception being that they are owned by the Hastings District Council, so unfair comparisons are sometimes made with other venues that are funded by the ratepayer.

The society delivers four events and after 154 years, the spring show is naturally the most recognised. That said, the National Horticultural Field Days, Napier Port Primary Sector Awards and the Hawke’s Bay A & P Bayleys Wine Awards are now more important in that direct engagement with the primary industries.

What are your future plans?

I have a couple of personal projects that I am working through in the short term, most notably, vintage 2018 at my vineyard. However, 2018 is all about getting that much talked-about work–life balance thing sorted so I will be looking towards project-based roles that have a beginning, middle … and end.

What type of roles will you be looking at?

Supporting my agriculture degree, I have 30 years’ experience in building business capability, infrastructure development and relationship management in and around the primary sectors. I now want to utilise that experience to help businesses that have a development or process they are working through; in simple terms, project management.

What does the future of the primary sector look like in Hawke’s Bay?

Generally, the Hawke’s Bay primary sector industries are on a roll and are currently enjoying good product prices and good conditions climatically. We can look at investor confidence in certain sectors of the Hawke’s Bay primary sector – for example, Pipfruit – as providing an insight

into heightened expectations around the future of those sectors.

In wider terms, what do you see as the challenges facing the primary sector in Hawke’s Bay?

OK, you could call them challenges but those who master them will turn them into opportunities. Here are a couple off the top of my head:

For the exponentially expanding horticulture sector, it would be having the right people at the right time in the right roles. So, the industry or operators will need to consider how their recruitment, training and reward structures attract and retain staff, from the orchard to the board room.

Another will be that whole collision of opinion surrounding the environment and the production of food that will see those who take an entrenched position, on either side, being left behind. We will see the increasing importance of production accreditation schemes, traceability and the consumers’ connection to the place of origin.

Nash rolls sleeves up for SME’s

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There’s a new party running the country, Labour, and Napier MP Stuart Nash has picked up one of the most coveted and important portfolios – in fact he’s got two – Minister for Small Business and Minister of Police. We thought it was important to get Stuart’s views on how the government can support SMEs and what opportunities he sees exist for the Hawke’s Bay economy.

What’s your business background?

I have a Master’s degrees in law and management and have worked in sales and marketing for large corporates (Carter Holt and Fletchers) and elsewhere in the private sector. I spent seven years importing and trading petrochemical derivatives into New Zealand, Australia and Singapore and also worked in strategic development (writing business cases justifying capital development). So, rather wide and varied.

What do you think are the most common challenges for SMEs?


There are a number, and it often depends upon where we are in the economic cycle, what sector the company is in and how mature a firm is; however, the three that I have heard constantly are:

  1. Provisional tax – people tell me they hate the system!
  2. Access to affordable capital in order to grow and expand.
  3. Finding good employees. The new government is looking at innovative ways to address all three issues.

What role does government have in supporting SMEs?


First and foremost, we can change the law and alter the regulatory settings to make it easier to do business. For example, this year sees the introduction of the Accounting

Income Method (AIM) for paying tax for the SME sector. This is pretty much like PAYE for small-to-medium businesses (and I would advise all SMEs to ask their accountants about this). AIM should provide more certainty to SMEs around tax payments and make planning ahead much easier.

The www.business.govt.nz website also provides a treasure trove of advice to small businesses, from constructing an employment agreement to writing a business plan to paying tax and everything in-between. It really is a fantastic resource.

So, the government’s role can be anything from providing advice and support through to, for example, proactively helping companies develop new markets overseas.

What initiatives to support SMEs will you be looking to roll out over the next 12 months?

One that I can talk about is reconstituting the old Small Business Development Group into a body with a much stronger mandate to advise government, advocate on behalf of the sector and provide solutions to the issues that are important. I would like this body to inform the research that needs to be done in order to support change and also take a level of responsibility for information dissemination.

Then there is the AIM, which should make paying tax easier. I will absolutely be

pushing the NZ Business Number, which is an amazing initiative whose value isn’t well understood. This needs to change. There are a few other initiatives that we are planning but just can’t discuss at this point in time.

How do you think Labour and your success will be judged by SMEs?

Always a tricky one. For me, it has to be about ease of doing business. While everyone acknowledges there has to be a certain level of compliance, if we can remove unnecessary red tape and replace this with initiatives that actually make doing business easier, then we all win. Of course, there will always be businesses that fly and those that fail, but if we can help get more off the ground and minimise the number that crash, then we all do well.

What Hawke’s Bay business people and businesses do you admire?


There are the obvious high-profile ones like, for example, Rod Drury (Xero), Jenny Yule (Porse), Hamish White (NOW), Rob Darroch (FPG), Kate Radburnd (Pask Winery), Hamish Whyte (Furnware), Claire Vogtherr (Holly Bacon), John Bostock, Kirsten Wise, Kevin Atkinson, the Tremain Family and the Beatons. There are, however, many small, medium and large companies that do fantastic work in the Bay.

For example, we have just had some work done around our section and the quality of work from the excavation company through the team that put in the retaining walls and the firm that laid the concrete is absolutely legendary! I admire and respect anyone and everyone who is out there making it happen.

Who has been a mentor in your career?

I haven’t really had what I would call a mentor. There are a few people whom I have regularly sought advice from at various times over the years or who have been role models in terms of how they conduct themselves or the quality of their leadership, but no one stands out over anyone else.

How do you think the Hawke’s Bay economy is performing?


The local economy is doing extremely well. There are a few retailers and tradesmen who I talk to regularly in order to keep a track of how things are going. While it is completely unscientific, all report that spending is up, there is a lot of work on and there is plenty of people visiting and living here who have cash to spend. I remember talking to a group of young Napier entrepreneurs about three years ago, and they said that the major barrier to doing business in the Bay was the cost of airfares between Napier and Auckland. With Jetstar’s arrival, this has changed. We should not underestimate the value that Jetstar has brought to the region.

What general improvements could be made to keep the local economy strong?

More people moving here with money and ideas and businesses. We need to make Hawke’s Bay the ‘easiest place to start and run a business from in the country’.

Also, there aren’t many here who understand the size and potential of the Maori economy. Once all the settlements are concluded, I think the level of economic activity will increase. Already Ngati Kahungunu, under Ngahiwi Tomoana’s operational leadership, is a significant investor in the Hawke’s Bay economy, with the vision, power, resources, governance and operational skills – and mandate – to really make a significant difference.

While I can’t comment about the work of the Hastings District Council, I do think the Napier City Council has done some fantastic work over the last little while to really spruce the city up in an effort to once again turn it into a premium destination to visit, live and do business. Still plenty more to do in terms of reducing compliance and increasing advocacy and proactive support, but we will get there.

What investment model do you support for adding new infrastructure to the Napier Port?


I have yet to see the business case for any of the options, but I am keen to see the Port retained in local ownership (and there are a couple of ways this can happen while still meeting the requirements of the shareholders – you and me).

Do you see any water storage projects getting off the ground in Hawke’s Bay? If so, where?


Our economy is closely tied to three variables we have no control over: the weather, commodity prices and exchange rates. So in order to mitigate economic risk, we need to exercise control over that which we can control. Water is one variable that we can have a level of control over, thus mitigating the risk of damage due to adverse climatic events. I am, therefore, a fan of water storage. After listening to all sides, I came to the conclusion that the Ruataniwha Water Storage Scheme (RWSS) wasn’t the optimal model for the region. I am, however, a believer of the value of on- site storage and other innovative ways of capturing water that doesn’t cost the region close to $1 billion to implement. I await with interest the Hawke’s Bay Regional Council’s next step in this area.

How closely will you work with the Minister of Regional Economic Development?


Very closely. We are good friends as well as cabinet colleagues. I will advocate hard for any worthwhile project that I believe will add value to the region. There are already three that I have discussed with him that we will hopefully be able to progress. While I won’t win every battle, I will certainly push our case extremely hard.

In the briefing from the Ministry (MBIE), they talk about road shows, when is this likely for Hawke’s Bay?

It’s likely to be Thursday 7th June. Further details are to come closer to the time.

 

Insure HB – New venture for Insurance Brokers

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Long-time work colleagues Rick Behague and Kerry McIntyre have stepped outside of the safety net of being employed to set up their own local insurance broker business.

Rick and Kerry have worked alongside each other in the insurance industry for 13 years, within large multinational firms and also a local independent broking company.

They always wanted to own a business and be in charge of their own destiny. 2018 appeared the perfect time to start establishing their business Insure Hawke’s Bay.

“It’s exciting times for us. In fact, there’s been a wide range of emotions and we’ve definitely stepped outside of our comfort zones, having been employed by other firms for many years,” says Rick.

Insure Hawke’s Bay will specialise in broking insurance for the business, residential and rural sectors. Its aim is to step away from the industry norm, modernise what is regarded as a very traditional sector, as well as up the game when it comes to client servicing.

“Insurance is often seen as a ‘grudge purchase’ or ‘necessary evil’, but we want to change that. We want to put some personality and fun into the transaction and not just tick the boxes when it comes to regulations. We want to be more relevant than that,” Rick says.

Kerry adds the duo complement each other both in regards to experience and knowledge. Kerry has a strong interest and vast experience insuring specialist heavy machinery such as earth moving equipment, excavators and diggers, or as he calls them, “big boys’ toys”.

Meanwhile, Rick has a background in insuring within the construction sector, from small trade businesses through to large construction firms.

“Just like good insurance, we cover each other in strengths and weaknesses. We have over 35 years’ combined experience in the industry. But if there is an area that we might need to find out more about, we have the support of the Insurance Advisernet and NZbrokers groups.”

As part of a wider network of brokers, Insure Hawke’s Bay has access to insurance products from well-respected insurers and business systems, as well as additional external expertise.

“It provides us with great buying power for insurance products, as well as the ability to design solutions that meet the needs of our clients. In other words, we’re not going to put our client in an off-the-shelf product, it’s going to be more tailored. Though cost is important, we put the emphasis on service and advice. This way our clients can make informed decisions,” Kerry adds.

Insure Hawke’s Bay sees the major difference of using a broker over going direct is that it will source the best cover and when the unfortunate time arises to make a claim, that the process is as smooth and stress-free as possible.

“One of the least understood parts of a broker’s role is the claims process, but to us it is the most important. We work for our clients,not the insurers.I t’s our job to get the most out of the policies should a claim occur,” Rick says.

As we went to print, Kerry and Rick had only been in business about a month but they’ve been thrilled with the response.

Both men are members of business referral network BNI and that has helped to quickly get the message out but also in utilising the skills of fellow members.

“We are local and I think that’s what gets lost by some of the larger insurance companies. We have made it a priority that wherever possible we will use local suppliers for our business.

“We are proud Hawke’s Bay residents and that was a key reason why we wanted to have the region’s name as part of our brand,” Kerry says.

Although the business is in its infancy, Kerry and Rick have big plans for growth.

“We might only be two brokers at the moment, but we want to be an employer of choice and we have ambitions to be a sizeable business. We want to attract great staff and know we can offer a fantastic working environment.

“We’ve hit the ground running and the response has been fantastic. Our aim is to lift the standard of client services to a new level. We have a stake in the ground with this being our own business and we want our clients to feel informed, secure and valued.”

www.insurehb.co.nz

 

 

New Hawke’s Bay business a game changer for women

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Hawke’s Bay woman Robyn McLean is having fun with her new business venture that is a game changer in women’s health.

Robyn and long-time friend Mary Bond, based in Wellington, have launched the Hello Cup Company producing a range of menstrual cups – something that has released them from their bugbear of buying single-use tampons.

Hello Cups not only save money but also have huge benefits when it comes to the environment.

“As mothers we knew there had to be a better option for our daughters than expensive and wasteful tampons and pads. The Hello Cup is that option.”

A single cup will last at least five years and holds three times the amount of a tampon. While most cups on the market are made from silicone, Hello Cups are made from medical-grade plastic, which means they are fully recyclable at the end of their lives.

Robyn and Mary, a registered nurse, came up with their first business idea about 15 years

ago when they both had their first child around the same time. The initial idea was to sell children’s clothing, but around the same time there seemed to be an explosion of children’s clothing retailers and they decided it probably wasn’t the best idea.

“We kept talking about joining forces and starting a business over the years but it had to be the right business. We’ve finally come up with something that suits us both. Being a nurse, Mary really cares about people’s welfare and I had a hunch this would be something that we could do together and really make a difference to the lives of women, not just in New Zealand but around the world.”

Robyn had been interested in using menstrual cups for a while but it wasn’t until she was in need that she finally gave one a try.

“I went into a pharmacy in Havelock North and enquired about menstrual cups. The pharmacist was a user of one and was really encouraging and enthusiastic so I bought one and it was instantly life-changing.

“It seems crazy that women have been led to believe for so many years that there is

really only a couple of options in tampons and pads. Not only do they create a hideous amount of waste, but they are unaffordable for so many women.”

After a bit more research Robyn decided she wanted to buy a New Zealand-made cup. When she found there weren’t any, she went to Mary with her latest business idea and the rest, as they say, is history. Period!

The product development phase included trying to source high-quality medical- grade plastic to make the cups, quality and comfortable design of the cups, a manufacturer and then a great brand name.

The medical-grade TPE (a type of plastic) is purchased from Germany and they are fortunate to have found a manufacturer in Napier who is able to produce the cups to their exacting standards.

“You don’t want anything dodgy going up there, so there was no way we were going to cut corners. Our design is quite different

o others on the market. We have specifically designed it to be as comfortable as possible with as little ridges,” says Mary.

Robyn says having the manufacturing team in Hawke’s Bay has been a huge bonus. “It’s so awesome to have the Hello Cups made in Napier. It proves that Hawke’s Bay has everything you need.”

The inspiration for the brand name ‘hello.’ was based on a desire to have a positive perspective to something that is a dreaded monthly hassle, says Robyn. “It also plays on the full stop being called a ‘period’ in America, which if we expand into that market, will make more sense to them probably than Kiwis!

“We wanted to have some fun and get woman to embrace their period. We’ve done this with the brand name as well as some of the marketing taglines such as ‘bloody brilliant’ and ‘no strings attached’.”

Periods are not a typical conversation topic but for Robyn and Mary, they’re talking about the Hello Cup daily together and to happy converts throughout New Zealand. They’ve both quickly become experts as well as period counsellors!

Robyn sees a massive future in the Hello Cup. It’s quickly become a passion and they’re already looking at new products. In 2018 a sports Hello Cup and a Teen Cup will be added to their product range.

TheSportsCupwillbefirmer,asfitfemales often have stronger pelvic floor muscles, while the Teen Cup will be smaller and

softer and a good option for first-time cup users. Hello Cups currently retail for $49 for a single and $69 for a box containing both sizes.

Robyn, a former journalist and public relations practitioner, will be putting her communications and marketing skills to good use. She will take care of the marketing, including social media and responding to non-medical enquiries.

Mary is responsible for distribution and putting her medical training to use in responding to medical-related enquiries.

“We get some incredibly personal questions from women and so it’s amazing for them to be able to talk to a registered nurse who can answer their questions from an informed medical perspective.”

To get the word out about the Hello Cup, a marketing plan includes reliving their youth and heading to university orientation weeks across the country.

They see huge opportunities with the secondary school and tertiary markets. The cups last at least five years, so that means a student can have one for their secondary schooling and then get another that will last for their entire tertiary study.

“We hear dreadful stories of girls not going to school when they have their periods because they can’t afford it. A single cup will last them their entire high school years.”

The only speed bump Mary and Robyn have hit so far was agreeing on whether they

used the word vagina on their website or something less formal.

“Being a nurse, Mary was keen to stick to the name given in medical texts. I preferred vjayjay and fanny.”

To overcome the issue, their website features a ‘vagina switcheroo’ tool, whereby visitors are able to type their preferred name into a box that will then change the text throughout the site to the user’s chosen name.

“We love what women come up with,” says Mary. Twinkle cave, magic box and foo foo are a few examples.

With more than 7 billion tampons and pads going into the world’s landfills each year, menstrual cups have a huge future.

“We think menstrual cups will be the norm for the next generation and we are planning on taking the Hello Cup to women not just in New Zealand but around the world.”

The Hello Cup can be bought at

www.thehellocup.com

 

Co-working and Shared Spaces – Join the Movement

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Co-working (shared worked spaces) is gaining in popularity in the Bay, with a wide range of businesses and people co- located in shared spaces.

While it is common to attract start-up businesses, self-employed professionals or freelancers, for others it’s an opportunity to reconnect outside of working from home, or to further develop a not for profit or social enterprise.

Cultivate Hawke’s Bay is a new collaborative space in Taradale established by Haylee Wren this year with a specific focus on small business and not-for profit support. Haylee wanted to create a friendly approachable community within an intimate office space and has seen immediate uptake from a range of organisations.

Co-working spaces provide immediate access to a network of businesses and offer the opportunity to mix with a diverse range of people. It’s all about innovative like-minded people working on their own businesses in the same space as others so that collaborating, idea-sharing, and working together occurs naturally between them.

The Chook House in Waipukurau, was an early entry into providing a shared work space in the region; designed to build a community to motivate and inspire small business owners and freelancers in the heart of Central Hawke’s Bay.

The greatest asset of any co-working space is its members with each shared space having its own culture. A recent reviewer of Oh My Goodness community space in Hastings

comments, “Such a beautiful space to spend a day working away on my laptop – so spacious, a swing and table tennis with baker, Scott and beautiful food. Feels like home, a community place.”

As well as making financial sense, the other value-adds can be the likes of facilities management, reception services and Wi- Fi. Someone owns the lease and provides the infrastructure, freeing up community members to focus on building their business, without the distraction of day-to-day details.

Another example is the Hawke’s Bay Business Hub in Ahuriri, which has been operating for two years. Out front, the Business Hub is open for any business person to pop in for a few hours and work at the casual drop-in tables in the café-style area, taking advantage of the free Wi-Fi and the informal business connections that can be made in the shared space. For confidential appointments, there are meeting rooms, training and event spaces, and a boardroom available to book.

Sixteen business support agencies are co- located at the Business Hub.

Business Hawke’s Bay Acting CEO, Carolyn Neville, says that one of the key successes of the hub is the collaboration that occurs between member organisations. “The connection, collaboration and community that comes from working in a shared space is to the benefit of the businesses and the people that we work with.”

This has sparked a new initiative within a key action in Matariki, the Hawke’s Bay Regional Economic Development Strategy.

Business Hawke’s Bay is exploring how business support and growth programmes can be provided through linking with the region’s co-working spaces. “The first step is to create a regional directory of existing and new co-working spaces. With many new spaces opening up, or under development, this will enable people to find a community that meets their needs,” says Carolyn.

“The next step is to connect with the people who work in those spaces. You can grab a desk or chair anywhere, and that is all that some people need. But for others, the support and opportunities to learn, share and grow are equally as important.”

To find a co-working community, or to list your shared space on the new regional directory, go to the Hawke’s Bay Business Hub website, hbbusinesshub.co.nz.

Building owners on shaky ground with new legislation

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Due to the new earthquake-prone building legislation, building owners across the country could be facing a mandatory structural assessment to determine whether or not their buildings are earthquake prone.

No longer will owners of older buildings be able to postpone structural assessments as the new legislation gives clear guidelines on time frames. Local councils are required to assess their building stocks to determine if they consider a building to be potentially earthquake prone based on a set of assessment parameters, such as age, building material, location and size. Once a letter of notification is received, owners will have 12 months to engage a structural engineer to undertake an assessment.

Hastings District Council has indicated they will start sending out letters in 2018. Napier City, Wairoa District and Central Hawke’s Bay councils have yet to confirm time frames but they too have a deadline of 2022 to complete their reviews.

Gerard van Veen of Hastings District Council has stated that the new profiling rules effectively reduced the number of potentially earthquake-prone buildings in Hastings compared to the old policies. “Initial estimates identified 1,200 buildings, which has now reduced considerably under the new legislation.”

Strata Group director Guy Lethbridge has been involved in seismic assessments and upgrades since the 2007 Gisborne earthquake and says the extended time frames for the council profiling, structural assessments and even the 7.5-to-15-year time frames to upgrade reflect the pressure the new policies will put on the councils and the engineering and construction industry.

“In an already busy construction environment, getting through the volume of expected assessments will be challenging.”

With tenants now more aware of building rating, it is rare for landlords of older buildings not to be asked for an indication of building strength.

“National franchises have already set minimum thresholds for buildings they currently or intend to occupy, so knowing your building strength will become a landlord expectation.”

The assessments are required to report the existing building strength as a percentage of an identical building constructed to modern day standards. Any building with an outcome of less than 34% is likely to be rated as earthquake prone and will require strengthening to achieve an outcome of greater than 34% NBS.

“While a strength outcome of, say, 35% will deem the building not earthquake prone, tenants are typically targeting a higher threshold of 67% NBS.”

The new legislation, Building (Earthquake- prone Buildings) Amendment Act 2016, came into effect on 1 July 2017 and with it came extensive criteria of what a Detailed Seismic Assessment (DSA) report must cover.

“The new reporting structure means more consistency in evaluating and reporting earthquake-prone buildings. In the past, engineers have been criticised for a spread of assessment outcomes on the same building and it is hoped that under the new regime, this range of outcomes will be reduced.”

The Act states that councils will be required to identify priority buildings such as schools, hospitals and emergency response buildings by 1 January 2020 and if assessed as earthquake prone, then any improvements must be carried out within 7.5 years. All other buildings, such as commercial buildings, are to be identified by 1 July 2022 and rectified within 15 years. Residential buildings are not included in the assessment criteria.

Guy says most of the post-1931 earthquake Art Deco buildings in Hawke’s Bay will contain unreinforced masonry and owners of these buildings should expect a letter from council.

“We would encourage building owners to do their own assessment based on the profiling parameters. If you are unsure then contact your council or an engineer for advice.

“In our experience, many building owners have not taken the news that their asset will require capital investment well; however, once the reality has set in that an upgrade is mandatory then they take a fresh new look at the building.

“Many of the older building stock are no longer fit for purpose and finding new tenants is difficult. By incorporating some layout changes and external facelift work as part of the upgrade, the building will stand out from its neighbour. We work with our clients to get the building ready for market.”

Strata Group has been involved in assessments across the East Cape and has observed that the Napier and Hastings building stock is better than the surrounding districts.

“The 1931 earthquake and subsequent fire destroyed many of the older buildings in Hawke’s Bay and the replacement buildings were of a higher standard. Buildings in other areas still have pre-1931 building stock, which generally result in lower strength outcomes.”

The 20-strong Strata Group team has already completed a large number of building assessments, both under the previous Act and now under the new amendment. Strata Group has assessed buildings such as the Hawke’s Bay Opera House, which is currently undergoing strengthening, as well as Napier’s Civic Administration and Library buildings.

“These high-profile cases have prompted a great deal of debate around true risk and perceived risk. The Building Act has given engineers an assessment benchmark, an assessment process and specific reporting parameters. We hope the public don’t shoot the messengers if the news isn’t good.”

Guy says building owners who don’t know the strength of their buildings potentially reduce options around sale and purchase, refinancing, tenant lease negotiations, insurance premiums and general peace of mind.

“We appreciate that potential unforecasted costs of hundreds of thousands of dollars to upgrade your building is a bitter pill to swallow, but the option to bury your head in the sand is no longer available.”

Guy’s parting advice is that building owners who think their building will be profiled as potentially earthquake prone should talk to a local structural engineer and get an indication of time and costs of an assessment. The risk of not doing this is you may be at the end of the queue and that could present a risk of losing your tenant.

www.sratagroup.net.nz