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Latest Hawke’s Bay business news

Strong passenger growth spurs Hawke’s Bay Airport Expansion upgrade

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The Hawke’s Bay Airport terminal expansion has been given an upgrade, boosted by the latest passenger growth figures and the target of one million passengers by 2025.

Last September the airport announced a redevelopment of the airport terminal increasing its size from 2500m2 to 3800m2 to accommodate the growth in passenger movements and visitors to the airport.

Recently appointed Hawke’s Bay Airport chief executive Stuart Ainslie said that due to continued passenger growth, potential new revenue opportunities and future security screening requirements, an independent review recommended upscaling the terminal by a further 540m2.

“The airport has reported strong passenger growth and we’ve also set a target of reaching one million passengers a year by 2025. At the same time, we reviewed the proposed floorplan and amenities and have made some generous modifications.

“It’s important that we create a sense of place and that visitors get a true taste of Hawke’s Bay either by visually promoting the region within the terminal or via retail offerings of Hawke’s Bay products such as food and beverages (wine),” Stuart said.

The airport has experienced strong passenger growth with 652,000 passenger movements recorded in the financial year ending 30 June 2017. The current expansion plan was set to cater for up to 800,000 passengers, which it was initially forecasted to hit in 2024, but has since been revised to 2020.

In the last week Air New Zealand has announced an additional 12 one-way flights between Napier and Auckland, while Origin Air is introducing new flights from Napier to New Plymouth, Palmerston North and Nelson.

Stuart has been in lead roles in the redevelopment of two international airports – Darwin, Australia and Port Morseby in Papua New Guinea. He commissioned a globally reputable airport planning consultancy Airbiz to review the existing terminal and apron design in relation to the current terminal construction plans.

“Based on the current ‘busy hour’ figures we are already at the anticipated capacity for when the redeveloped airport opens, so it’s important that we add additional floor space now.

The review also highlighted that the existing facility on opening will be constrained in three key areas – baggage makeup, commercial/passenger circulation space and Aviation Security, which is highly likely to become a regulatory requirement within the next 2 -3 years.

Stuart said the revised construction additions will lift the budget by $4.5m to $20.2m and push back the full terminal completion date to the second quarter of 2020. The increased investment, funded by Hawke’s Bay Airport Limited has been approved by current shareholders Napier City Council, Hastings District Council and the Crown.

Arrow International commenced the expansion construction in January this year and the first stage, the reconfigured arrivals hall will be completed and operational by late 2018.

Arrow International’s Central Region General Manager Chris Goldsbury, says the arrivals area would open as originally planned and that although the expansion had been upgraded, it didn’t create any inefficiencies.

“The team have made great progress so far. On many major construction projects you can expect variations and it’s far better to make the changes now, rather than towards the end. Arrow have been working very closely with airport staff, the project manager and sub-contractors, so it’s business as usual.”

Napier City Council mayor Bill Dalton said the council supports the additional expansion plans for the airport.

“There has been substantial growth in passenger numbers over recent years with Air New Zealand adding extra flights and increasing plane size and the arrival of Jetstar. We want to ensure that the airport has the capacity to meet continued growth predictions while at the same time being a welcoming and enjoyable gateway to the region,” he said.

Hastings Mayor Sandra Hazlehurst said “this is an exciting project for Hawke’s Bay and we share the airport’s vision to create the best provincial airport in New Zealand.  The Hawke’s Bay Airport is being very proactive in meeting the future needs given the predicted passenger number growth and the overall growth of the region.  Hastings District Council is delighted to support the new expansion plans.”

Stuart said an airport masterplan is also underway, which will safeguard the airport into the future. It will also enable the realization of new development opportunities both commercially, increased capacity by incumbent airlines and new entrants.  The Master plan process will include a reasonable period for community and stakeholder engagement.

“Our vision is to be the most vibrant and successful regional airport in New Zealand. We are also very aware of our environmental role in Ahuriri and surrounding areas and it’s important that we have an active environmental management plan.

The terminal has been designed in the shape of a Kuaka (godwit) bird in flight by local architects PMA with supporting design inspiration from local artist and Mana Ahuriri representative Jacob Scott.

“It’s important that we incorporate a strong sense of place with reference to the Kuaka and reflecting the Gateway Te Hau- Te Waharoa and Mana Ahuriri and Ngati Kahungunu Iwi aspirations.

The terminal when complete will be 74 percent larger than the existing footprint and will include new airline check in areas, an automated baggage handling system, a dedicated arrivals gate, a central hospitality and retail area; new bathrooms, airline offices and an expanded Air New Zealand regional lounge. The rental car concierge area will also be relocated within the terminal.

The new entranceway to the airport at the intersection of Watchman Road, SH2 and Meeanee Quay is also close to completion and is due to open by the end of September 2018.

 

 

 

ORIGINAIR to fly from Napier to New Plymouth, Palmerston North and Nelson

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Nelson based airline Originair will introduce services from Napier commencing September 28th, direct to New Plymouth and Palmerston North and via these cities onto Nelson.

The airlines Managing Director, Robert Inglis, said that “the airline has been operating from Nelson to Palmerston North for the past three years and to New Plymouth for a year and adding services to Hawke’s Bay was a natural extension”.

“The company appreciated the passenger support received to date and whilst these services are not extensive, they do offer Hawke’s Bay travelers another choice” Mr. Inglis said.

Hawke’s Bay airport CEO, Stuart Ainslie, said in support “We are pleased to welcome Originair to Napier from September. Over the last three years we’ve seen significant growth of over 45% in passenger numbers mainly across the main city connections. It’s important to us that we work with airline partners to grow regional connectivity across the domestic network offering more choice and flexibility. Congratulations to Originair and we look forward to supporting further growth on new routes”.

The airline will operate direct services from Napier to New Plymouth at 4:00pm each Friday and Sunday to offer weekend travelers an easy option when visiting New Plymouth. Direct services from New Plymouth to Napier will also depart on these days at 2:10pm.

The airlines Marketing Manager, Holly Parata, said she believed “the direct 45-minute flights will offer a significant time and cost saving for travelers as it avoids transiting via Auckland or Wellington”. These Friday and Sunday services to New Plymouth also connect onto the airlines New Plymouth services direct to Nelson at 5:20pm.

Flights will also operate direct from Napier to Palmerston North at 11:10 each Monday and 4:00pm on Wednesdays, with an easy connection onto Originair’s direct flights to Nelson.

The company will continue to use its British Aerospace Jetstream aircraft for this new service.

For more details regarding flight times and fares visit the Originair website: originair.nz.

Mana Ahuriri announces $100m of New Developments for Napier

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Mana Ahuriri Trust has set out a bold vision to become one of Hawke’s Bay’s largest commercial property and asset owners announcing new developments worth over $100 million, as part of the first phase of a growth strategy following its Treaty Settlement.

Kerry Avery (left), director of Avery Team Architects discusses plans for the development of the “gravel pit” site on Napier’s Monroe Street with Mana Ahuriri Holdings Limited directors Warren Ladbrook (centre) and Barry Wilson (right).

Directors of the Trust’s subsidiary, Mana Ahuriri Holdings Limited, Barry Wilson and Warren Ladbrook, who is also project manager, today launched a visionary plan that will transform the commercial and retail landscape in Napier.

Mana Ahuriri was established as the post settlement governance entity to receive and manage the Ahuriri Treaty of Waitangi Settlement and represents the Ahuriri and Napier areas with 2500 members. The Trust’s settlement was signed in 2016 and the majority comprises over 90% of Crown land assets along with $19.5 million cash.

Mr Wilson, who was the lead negotiator of the Settlement and worked closely with the Crown, said until now commercial growth in much of Napier City had been stalled because there has been limited land for development in key areas.

“Through our Treaty Settlement, Napier’s retail and commercial sectors can expect to see a great improvement in the overall offering. This will attract business and more investment, enabling economic growth and new jobs.

“The new developments are part of building a strong investment portfolio with a solid revenue base and on-going cash flow, representing long-term business partnerships and sustainable growth to support and benefit the Trust’s 2500 members.

“This is an exciting time for everyone in Hawke’s Bay. We will be creating great opportunities for our members and also for the people of Napier and the wider region. The first ten, of up to 50 different projects, have the potential to create more than 1000 new jobs alone,” he said.

Napier Mayor Bill Dalton said Mana Ahuriri’s plans are robust, progressive and will breathe new life into Napier.

“Our region is already in good heart, and Mana Ahuriri’s vision will help to ensure that the growth we are enjoying now is sustained well into the future.

“I’m particularly pleased at the many opportunities for employment these projects will afford our community – they’ll not only bring new blood into Hawke’s Bay, but ensure our top local talent find reasons to stay, work and live here,” Mr Dalton said.

The first project, Napier’s 65 Munroe Street Large Format Retail (LFR) development is planned to start in September.

Mr Ladbrook said the $20 million project of almost 6000m2 will turn the unsightly “gravel pit” into an impressive large format retail strip. It will house high profile retail chains including Briscoes and Rebel Sport, along with over 150 customer carparks.

“The aim is to centralise and consolidate LFR in Napier and is part of our vision of providing a better retail offering and experience, with greater employment opportunities.”

The next area for development is Napier’s Prebensen Drive industrial zone, where the Trust will own two sites covering 30ha and 6ha. Already there is strong interest in this $40- $60million project from blue chip, long-term clients, he said.

Over the next decade, Mana Ahuriri Trust will develop a wide and varied asset portfolio representing a range of investments.

It will include high profile retail and industrial zoned sites, significant residential development, commercial investments across Napier, forestry and the Ahuriri Landcorp Farm.

Mana Ahuriri Trust will also have a 50% shareholding in Ahuriri Airport Hawke’s Bay and will own the site which has a $4.5 million shipping container depot, which opened last month with new tenants ContainerCo.

Mr Wilson said the Trust would lead by example and as the first Mana Ahuriri Trust project, the Munroe St development would feature the latest waste and water treatment technology, including a new filtering system.

“We would like to see our actions as the beginning of Napier working towards this becoming standard in terms of new building consents.”

Mr Wilson said Mana Ahuriri Trust is fully committed to working towards cleaning up the Ahuriri Estuary, and protecting the ecology of the area, which holds significant cultural and historical value to Trust members, for everyone to enjoy.

“Another highlight of all our new building developments will be the introduction of subtle but important Mana Ahuriri Trust influence in both look and feel, projecting the connection and cultural values on both the architecture and landscape,” Mr Wilson said.

Local artist Jacob Scott is working closely with the Trust and his influence is already featuring in the design of the Watchman Road roundabout and the corridor to the airport terminal as well as the new airport terminal expansion by projecting the story of the Kuaka (Godwit Bird) which is significant to the land, sea and air of Ahuriri.

As with ContainerCo, Munroe St tenants are entering into a goodwill agreement offering jobs for Trust members along with opening up opportunities for everyone through career training, development and permanent employment, Mr Wilson said.

The Hawke’s Bay Regional Council is also pleased to be working closely with Mana Ahuriri on the future management and restoration of the Ahuriri Estuary. Chairman Rex Graham said the development on Napier’s Prebensen Drive presents an opportunity to showcase best practice commercial design and storm water management.

ENDS

 

New Zealand’s Apple Industry Leads the World Four Years Running

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The World Apple Review has for the fourth year running named New Zealand’s apple industry the most competitive on the global stage, against 33 major apple growing countries.

Released this week by Belrose Inc, the US based world fruit market analysts, the World Apple Review, stated that the innovations emerging from New Zealand’s apple industry will increasingly impact production and marketing throughout the world.

New Zealand’s high productivity gains helped deliver the outstanding performance, ahead of its closest rivals Chile and the United States.

New Zealand Apples & Pears chief executive Alan Pollard said being named the best in the world is a huge honour and signaled the major significance New Zealand has on shaping and leading the industry on the world stage.

The world leading ranking comes as a huge reward to New Zealand’s $850million apple industry which is celebrating one of its best seasons this year.  This also recognises the efforts of the thousands of Kiwis working across the sector, he said.

“To earn and then retain this world leading title year on year is an outstanding achievement, and rewards everyone who is part of New Zealand’s exciting and dynamic apple industry.

“This is an incredibly exciting time for our apple industry, together we are growing great people and the best apples for the world.

“Our world leading achievements reflect New Zealand’s apple industry’s ongoing investment and commitment to leading and adopting greater innovation, research and development, new technologies, and environmental and social sustainability,” said Mr Pollard.

The World Apple Review highlighted that given New Zealand’s relatively small size, export orientation and distance from major markets, the industry had long relied heavily on innovation to provide it with a competitive edge.

It had been the leader in popularising Gala and Fuji, pioneered the first true club variety JazzR, developed and produced a stream of new varieties Pacific RoseR, EnvyR, SmittenR and KoruR.

Mr Pollard said not only has the industry benefited from this varietal innovation, but the New Zealand Government via its Crown Research Institute, Plant & Food Research, has benefited significantly through royalty streams on these successful varieties.

In ranking the 33 countries, the World Apple Review compares production efficiency, infrastructure and inputs, and financial and market data.  New Zealand was the best performer when all three rankings were combined.

According to the World Apple Review, over the past two seasons, New Zealand’s top performance, through exploiting new growing strategies and technologies produced over two and half times the average yield per hectare compared with the rest of world’s apple growing countries.

In general, off-season exporting countries like New Zealand had been forced to continually upgrade production systems to meet growing demands from the Northern Hemisphere.

For almost three decades, much of the innovation in apple varieties has emanated from New Zealand as the country has sought to offset its geographic disadvantage in accessing world markets.

The report stated that probably the single, most significant measure of innovation in a country’s orchards is the percentage of new varieties in production.  It specifically highlighted how New Zealand was still actively searching for newer apple varieties to remain ahead of the field.

The bottom line on competitiveness, is that it is a moving target –continually moving upwards.

The apple industry needs to always monitor how the competitive bar is shifting and needs to be willing and able to adapt rapidly so they do not lose out in the competitive race, the report stated.

 

Direction Focused

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“Stay focused on your direction, and don’t get too hung up on specifics,” is the advice one of Hawke’s Bay’s most experienced farming leaders has for the future generation when goal setting.

Sam Robinson, who is this year’s recipient of the Laurie Dowling Memorial Award for services to agriculture, is now spending more of his time mentoring and sharing his experience as a company director and chairman, of both private and public cooperatives and investor-owned entities.

As a young farmer, Sam says he can remember putting down some goals – have 5,000 sheep, 200 cows and to be on the New Zealand Meat Board. While he never made it onto the meat board, Sam, says doing this simple exercise made him realise where he wanted to head.

“Opportunities are never obvious, and when you do spot them, there is always risk attached. If you do see an opportunity, back yourself and have a go.”

Sam freely admits to being “one of those” from the PMS (pale, male and stale) club, but says for him, diversity is more than the result of genetics; it is also from how you think.

He’s always taken a long-term view of life, both on his farm and in governance.

He’s put an emphasis on making his Flemington farming business resilient both economically and environmentally. Of the 1,030 Hectares of land he and his family own, only 830 hectares are in pastoral use, and even that has a good covering of willow and poplar plantings, and at last count there are about 18Km of shelter belts on the farm. The remaining 200 hectares are made up of approximately 75 hectare of production forestry, and the balance is retired. Recently he entered a sharefarming equity partnership with young farmer Jason Wyn-Harris on the property.

Similarly, with a business such as AgResearch, which he chaired for nine years, Sam says there can be up to 15 years between deep discovery type research to commercialisation.

The Ruataniwha Water Storage Scheme he says was also about a long-term view of what improvements are possible for both the Hawke’s Bay economy and environment.

A fundamental strength and opportunity for both New Zealand and Hawke’s Bay is food production.

“Food needs three things to grow. Hawke’s Bay has an abundance of soil and sun, and the third – water – can be provided as irrigation, which is only precision rainfall.

“If we look at the Heretaunga Plains, they were once predominantly pastoral, including a good proportion of dairy farming. In 1935 Sir James Wattie built a food processing plant. By the 1960s there were significant areas of peas and beans as well as apples and pears, and today we’re growing squash, new varieties of apples and other high value crops.”

In 80 years the Heretaunga Plains have gone from basic to sophistication in food production.

“When I think about the transformational opportunities for the Ruataniwha Plains we can do the same.”

He accepts that “at this stage” the RWSS has some significant challenges to be overcome if it is to eventuate. However, he is hopeful that “in time there will be another discussion about the merits and risks of the RWSS and the true potential of the Ruantaniwha Basin Plain can be realised for Hawke’s Bay, all the way from the paddock to the port”.

In accepting the award, Sam paid tribute to the late Laurie Dowling, for his self-less commitment to both agriculture and the community.

“Laurie always had time for people.”

2018 Napier Port Hawke’s Bay Primary Sector Awards

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The 2018 Napier Port Hawke’s Bay Primary Sector Awards has this year recognised the outstanding contribution of seven past, present and future leaders in their field.

Hosted by the Hawke’s Bay A & P Society at the Hawke’s Bay Showgrounds, Tomoana, Hawke’s Bay’s Primary Sector Awards is the biggest night on the region’s primary sector calendar with over 400 people gathering to mark the event.

The society’s president Simon Collin says championing and celebrating primary sector excellence has reached a new level for the region.

“These awards celebrate our past, present and future leaders. They are working incredibly hard, they are all dedicated to their different sectors and they are all making a real difference in helping make our region successful.

“Hawke’s Bay’s has a proud history as a primary sector engine house from its rugged hinterland to the rich productive plains of the lowlands. We have seen innovative producers harness these resources to place the region as one of the most significant food producing regions of New Zealand.”

Announcing the award winners, chairman of the Award’s committee Peter Tod says it’s pleasing to see such a high calibre and depth of entries across all competitions within these awards.

“It shows the strength of the primary sector in Hawke’s Bay, and future leadership and innovation will continue to drive our economy.”

The ultimate Hawke’s Bay farming trophy, was awarded to Putere district farmer David Danks, managing Monarae Station for the Pam Torbett Charitable Trust as the 2018 Silver Fern Farms Hawke’s Bay Farmer of the Year.

Monarae Station farms sheep, beef and deer at 3,000 feet, combined with a small finishing farm near sea level.

“David demonstrated real strengths in his business across governance, management and supervision of this property. There is a formidable team who are all accepting of innovation and performance gains in a sustainable manner to achieve award- winning results”.

Maraekakaho farm business owners Charlie and Michelle Bogard won the Pan Pac Hawke’s Bay Farm Forester of the Year Award. The Bogards’ had excellent forestry management, and showed how small farm units can be maintained within a family. While the pastoral management is leased out, they keep a close eye on what is happening and remained fully involved in the decision-making.

This year Hawke’s Bay raises a glass to John Buck, as the recipient of the Hastings District Council Primary Sector Industry Leader Award for 2018.

In doing so, Peter says the sector recognised him as a pioneer, innovator, and entrepreneur.

“We thank him for the significant contribution he has made to both the wine industry and Hawke’s Bay. With so many accolades and awards over the years, John is a very worthy recipient”.

As chairman of family owned Te Mata Estate Winery, he considers his greatest accomplishment as taking a run-down, historic, business to a position that its classically styled wines are today regarded amongst the world’s best, all while remaining privately and New Zealand owned.

John is the first resident Hawke’s Bay patron of Cranford Hospice and chairman of the Cranford Foundation Trust, which is building a new hospice at Chesterhope between Hastings and Napier.

Bayleys Hawke’s Bay Primary Sector Professional of the Year winner, farm consultant John Cannon, is recognised for being a highly regarded professional among his peers and fellow industry experts both locally and nationally.

“John makes an outstanding contribution through his knowledge, skill and application to improving the performance of businesses in Hawke’s Bay and beyond,” says Pete.

The inaugural BWR Hawke’s Bay Primary Sector Innovation Award winner went to StockX, which is leading innovation, through an online platform that trades livestock across New Zealand. StockX is the only business of its type currently operating in the country.

Coming together 29 months ago, StockX has grown in excess of 3,700 registered farmers and 16 meat processing companies, with a collaborative approach to market functionality and design, being a key focus for growth

Massey University veterinary science student Marcus Yule received the Lawson Robinson Hawke’s Bay A & P Scholarship. Growing up on a sheep and beef farm in Central Hawke’s Bay, sparked Marcus’s initial interest in both working and living rurally.

Agri-business leader, farmer and company director Sam Robinson, has been awarded the Laurie Dowling Memorial Award for Outstanding Contribution to Agriculture.

The considerable time Sam has spent mentoring young people in the agri-business sector and within farming over the last three decades, is a real tribute to helping grow future leaders, says Pete.

New residential development for Arataki

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The largest residential development in Havelock North in the last seven years will be released to the market over the next six months.

Greenstone Land Developments which has a successful track record of residential developments in Havelock North and Hastings has purchased the ex-Arataki Motor Camp.

The company bought the camping ground from the former owner, who recently purchased it back from the Crown, after the land was deemed no longer suitable for education purposes.

Greenstone Land Developments director Tim Wilkins said site preparations are well underway for the development with 39 residential sections planned ranging in size from 400m2 to 750m2.

The first stage of 9 sections is expected to go to market in June, but already Greenstone has had more registrations of interest than sites available.

Sales manager Peter Cooke said interest is already high following the listing of information on the Greenstone website – www.greenstoneland.co.nz

“This isn’t surprising since it’s the largest release of land in Havelock North for some time, and follows the same strong demand we experienced with our large residential development in Lyndhurst, Hastings”.

Tim has kept a close eye on the Arataki Camp Ground site since he purchased and developed adjacent land in 2004.

“That development, Arataki Mews, sold quickly and those who missed out asked about the potential of the camp ground site. We’re now thrilled to be able to offer new sections in Havelock North,” he said.

De-commissioning the camp ground and clearing the 70 plus buildings including 20 cabins is already underway, with some of dwellings being purchased for RSE worker accommodation and a number of caravans sold to the Hastings and Mahia Motor Camps.

“There’s a lot of work to do to clear the site and our aim is to recycle as much as possible. It’s been an eye opener walking through and seeing what was left behind, everything from bedding and televisions to barbeque tables. There is also an indoor swimming complex, a cinema and library,” Tim said.

Greenstone has submitted a resource consent with the Hastings District Council. It has also submitted engineering plans for onsite infrastructure and services.

 

 

 

Celebrating Hawke’s Bay Primary Sector Excellence

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The 2018 Napier Port Hawke’s Bay Primary Sector Awards has this year recognised the outstanding contribution of seven past, present and future leaders in their field.

The 2018 winners are:

Silver Fern Farms Hawke’s Bay Farmer of the Year – David Danks

Pan Pac Hawke’s Bay Farm Forester of the Year –  Charlie and Michelle Bogard

Hastings District Council Primary Sector Industry Leader of the Year – John Buck

Bayleys Hawke’s Bay Primary Sector Professional of the Year – John Cannon

BWR Hawke’s Bay Primary Sector Innovation Award –  StockX

Lawson Robinson Hawke’s Bay A & P Scholarship – Marcus Yule

Laurie Dowling Memorial Award – Sam Robinson

Hosted by the Hawke’s Bay A & P Society at the Hawke’s Bay Showgrounds, over 400 people celebrated the biggest night on the region’s primary sector calendar.

The society’s president Simon Collin says championing and celebrating primary sector excellence has reached a new level for the region.

“These awards celebrate our past, present and future leaders. They are working incredibly hard, they are all dedicated to their different sectors and they are all making a real difference in helping make our region successful.

“Hawke’s Bay’s has a proud history as a primary sector engine house from its rugged hinterland to the rich productive plains of the lowlands.  We have seen innovative producers harness these resources to place the region as one of the most significant food producing regions of New Zealand.”

 

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.