Pro Features

Growing a market for hemp foods

Having to ramp up your target production because product demand significantly exceeds initial forecasts is one of those business headaches it can be nice to have. It’s the situation Isaac Beach and Simon White of Otane-based Kanapu Hemp Foods found themselves in this year. Kanapu has been growing hemp on Otane’s Ludlow Estate, Simon’s family’s farm, and the cold-pressed hemp...

Airports expansion set to take flight

A new passenger arrivals area at the Hawke’s Bay Airport will open in early December, drawing a close to stage 1 of the $20.2 million airport expansion. The expansion project was upgraded by $4.5m earlier this year due to forecasted passenger numbers being higher than first thought. The latest passenger growth figures now foresee one million passengers by 2025. The...

Irongate takes shape as industrial hub

Hastings District Council recently signed off a newly created industrial zone south of Hastings as well as negotiating with property owners a palatable development contribution rate, that has enabled construction progress. Long term property owner John Roil was a key figure in the negotiations and has recommenced construction on two sites and welcomed a couple of new tenants. John’s son...

Opera Precinct humming along

In August 2019 the first of three stages of the Hawke’s Bay Opera House Complex will reopen to the public, after it was closed in 2014 due to earthquake risk. The estimated $30m Hastings District Council Project is part of a major overhaul of the Hastings CBD and could well be the catalyst for additional developments including a hotel. Hastings...

Commercial developments in excess of $600 million boost our economy

Across Hawke’s Bay there’s a wave of large-scale commercial development that’s having a major impact on our economy. It’s estimated that there is more than $600 million worth of construction projects that are either currently underway or soon to commence. We’ve tried to provide as comprehensive a list of ‘just completed, under construction and proposed large-scale projects’ to paint the...

Art Deco Beer – combining a quality brew with a local identity

When Hawke’s Bay-based beverage company Parkers decided to add a craft beer to its portfolio, it started with a simple objective. “Our aim was to produce best-in-class beer,” says Parkers founder Doug Speedy. “Before we considered the branding, our starting point was that the beer had to be good.” Doug spent about six months researching pilsners and IPAs – the...

WilliamsWarn: taking local brewing technology to the world

After originally targeting homebrewers wanting a simple, quick way to make quality beer, Hastings company WilliamsWarn now has its sights set on a second, larger market – the hospitality sector. WilliamsWarn launched its BrewMaster appliance in 2011 leveraging their unique pressure fermentation system, building up a base of customers keen on an easy way to brew beer or cider at...

Mastering the plumbing business

Tim had been working as a contractor in Hawke’s Bay before making the decision to move to Port Headland, travelling around the Pilbara in Western Australia, setting up massive infrastructure for satellite mining camps – housing developments for between 2 to 5 thousand people. The money was amazing and the driving eye-opening. “I covered some huge km’s, often driving 5-6...

Business angels at the ready

Much-needed ‘angel’ funding is beginning to flow into local start-up businesses thanks to a new group that brings entrepreneurs and investors together. Deals are being done between Hawke’s Bay entrepreneurs and members of a new group established to bring together local investors willing to provide venture capital to early- stage and growth businesses in the region. The Hawke’s Bay Angel...

PickMee! in Full Blossom

PickMee! summerfruit trees are in full blossom, with almost perfect conditions producing good strong flowering for pollination, to grow crops of nectarines, plums and peaches in time for Christmas. “Blossom is right on time, with plenty of flowers for the bees to do their work,” says John Altham, whose family business is a major New Zealand producer under the PickMee!...