Digital display screens make big impression

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Different types of digital displays are all around us, and both getting bigger (billboards) and smaller (watches).  This technology is unavoidable, and although it looks to be changing and growing fast, it may not be as more significant change as we would expect.  Before we see where we are going, let’s first take a look at where we have come from.

Virtual Reality has been around for over 100 years, and many of us know an early form of this in the View-Master toys that we had as kids.  As digital tech started taking over, and all the toys needed batteries, this type of VR almost disappeared.  Fast forward to the early 2010s and VR began to take off in new ways.  Now we can make a mount for our phones out of cardboard and use these for our own VR experience at home.

If we look at the iPad, this seems like a standard and very normal touch screen tech that came quickly and hasn’t left.  But let us not forget the tablets that came before this.  Some of you may remember the old flip tablet/laptops with Windows XP or even going back as far as Windows 3.1.  They were clunky, expensive, not very user friendly, and you had to use a stylus.

Then came along the iPad in 2010 with its sleek design, and we could throw away that frustrating stylus. While all the above was going on, classrooms had moved from blackboard to whiteboards, and some even used projectors on the whiteboard to display content from computers.

The incorporation of computers and whiteboards has been a goal of many for over ten years. In the early days, it was again clunky, expensive, and not user friendly.  Now, with help from Covid, video conferencing using apps like MicrosoftTeams or Zoom are very mainstream.

By using an interactive whiteboard, with a good camera, speaker and mic, a boardroom now allows businesses to connect and meet between cities or even countries without the expensive cost of travel.  Engineers can work on designs together, management can work through board papers and mark up changes or suggest adjustments required, and suppliers from across the globe can meet you in your own business and bring expertise otherwise inaccessible due to distance.

With other advances in tech, like IoT (Internet of Things), ML (Machine Learning), and AI (Artificial Intelligence), this allows for displays to be much more informative and valuable to businesses and their customers.

For example, you are heading to the Airport, IoT and AI knows that parking sections A, B and D are almost full, so a sign directs you to either C or E parking sections.  When you are going to check in your bags, IoT ML and AI can know how much luggage needs to be checked-in in each line and can estimate the length of time-based on past history.

The digital displays can then guide you to the quickest line.  At the café, instead of staff handwriting, the labels and prices of everything on the display cabinet, the glass of the display cabinet could be a transparent digital display and show you the price and the wait time for that tasty cheese scone.  And when the last scone is taken, the price and description automatically disappear.

With a world that is getting physically bigger (due to travel restrictions) but digitally smaller, other technology like AR (Augmented Reality) will likely become more critical. AR is already here, and most of us have heard of games like Pokemon Go, it was a big hit in 2016 but has disappeared from our focus.  Some local businesses are already using AR today.

I don’t expect to see considerable changes in digital display technology, but bigger changing in its integration with other technologies, whether mobile, IoT, ML, or AI, and it will change the way we use digital display and the value we place on them.

Who’s responsible/ The uncertainty of business liability when a cyber attack strikes

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As technology continues to dominate everyday activity, the risk of cyber-attacks occurring also increases. Businesses, irrespective of their size, are becoming more vulnerable to the menace of cyber-attacks. Ransomware, malware, and broad sweeping data breaches are only a handful of the growing categories of cyber-attacks prevalent in today’s market.

As the threat rises, questions of business liability because of an attack on client data remain unanswered. However, the responsibility to protect client data falls on the business itself. But how can that be? Do we not consider the exploitation of the business itself as the victim of the unlawful act of an internet stranger? Unfortunately, this may not be the case and businesses can be left exposed to the possibility of being held liable in law.   

The vigorous pace in which cyber-attacks have matured means that the law of business liability in this area remains unclear. How might New Zealand businesses be held liable in law when a cyber-attack strikes?

The cyber-attack on the Waikato District Health Board (DHB) in May of this year provides some insight. The malware attack on the DHB’s IT system saw the publishing of confidential patient information on the dark web, including bank details and passports. Privacy Commissioner John Edwards explained that the DHB may be at risk of claims against it if patients could establish harm resulting from the breach.

In his statement, Edwards confirmed that the responsibility of mitigating the harm of cyber-attacks on patient information fell on the DHB, explaining that an onus fell on the DHB to secure the data and communicate the privacy breach with the victims of the attack. In labelling the patients of this attack as “victims”, Edwards highlighted the seriousness of cyber security breaches.

The liability alluded to by the Privacy Commissioner is that of negligence. Businesses owe duty of care to their clients that their information will be securely held, and liability can arise when clients become the victims of cybersecurity breaches.

For businesses, preparation is everything. To ensure you are protected from the possibility of breaching your duty of care owed to your clients, preventative action needs to be taken to mitigate business liability.

One option available to businesses is inserting effective exclusionary clauses in your terms of trade. An exclusionary clause operates to protect businesses by excluding liability in the instance of a situation ordinarily considered a breach, and the clause should afford the business some protection against claims of liability in the event of a cyber-attack.

What constitutes a valid exclusionary clause is governed by the Contract and Commercial Law Act 2017, the Credit Contracts and Consumer Finance Act 2003 and the discretion of Judges in court proceedings. For businesses who have already entered contracts with clients, exclusionary clauses may still be incorporated, however, an incorporated exclusionary clause must comply with the rules prescribed in law. It is therefore critical that in drafting exclusionary clauses businesses seek expert legal advice.

The rapid expansion of technology has brought many positive impacts on businesses with it. However, as cyber-attacks continue to increase in our developing technological environments, business data becomes increasingly susceptible to exploitation. Now is the time to take preventative action and protect businesses from the uncertain liability that may attach to the offending of another.

Intensive housing options should be considered

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erraced housing is not always on the agenda for developments, but surely Hawke’s Bay is on the cusp of providing for this type of housing as it presents an opportunity for another type of living within Hastings and Napier.

The planning provisions in the Hastings District Plan provide for terraced housing. The expectation for terraced housing is generally to be provided for in groups of three, comprehensively designed for the site and its surroundings. A design-led approach demonstrating that the design is the best option for the site, given all the competing uses and effects — such as building footprint, private outdoor space, carparking, utility space, logical indoor — outdoor flow, privacy, daylight and sunlight.

Terraced housing could do with a positive marketing campaign so it is no longer considered as a lower quality living option. Terraced, duplex or other forms of denser housing can provide the perfect set up for a range of different lifestyles.

Busy lifestyles that require time out and about with work, sport, socialising (when we’re not in a bubble), and yet where people can return to a warm new home offering living over two levels.

Depending on the size of the dwelling between two and four bedrooms, open plan living and carpark/storage. Private open space that optimizes sun and shade, developed with appropriate landscaped garden and fencing that gives privacy and outlook, and an inviting entrance from the street.

The National Policy Statement on Urban Development 2020 (NPS-UD) ramps up the concept of residential intensification for our larger cities which are identified as Tier 1, of the NPS-UD).

It also gives a nod to Tier 2 centres such as Hastings, Napier, Palmerston North, New Plymouth to do as much as they can. Like all local authorities, the Hastings District Council will be investigating how and what they need to do to implement the NPS-UD, and what if any changes need to be made to the District Plan to support intensification.

Meanwhile Napier City Council has recently released a draft Spatial Picture for comment. The draft Spatial Picture collates and presents layers of spatial information such as regional employment, transport/movement, centres, residential intensification, and provides an initial evaluation of growth options.

This draft Spatial Picture will be an important tool going forward for the city and wider region to implement the NPS-UD. In addition, and related, Napier City Council released their draft District Plan for comment — so we can see where and how the rule book provides for different land uses — including how denser residential developments are to be provided for.

Whilst it is inevitable that the residential environments of the future, in Hastings and Napier, will have denser forms of housing, perhaps we can skip the ugly phase and have quality denser environments that are also enjoyable places to live.

The value in being prepared

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You would need to be living under a rock in New Zealand if you did not realise the property market is running hot.  Against all the predictions and crystal ball gazing buying, selling and developing property went into overdrive as soon as we got out of lockdown last year.  Initially, we thought we would have approximately three months of residual energy after lockdown and then a slowing of the market.  The complete opposite has occurred and as buyers, developers and sellers you need to be prepared when you hit the property market, as turnaround times are now impacted.

Of course, we deal in property all day every day, but for some buying a property either residential or commercial, this is a first-time experience and in the current environment unless you are prepared it can be very challenging. If you need to borrow money from a lending institution you will need to get your finance approved and to know that you can get a loan and what your borrowing threshold is.  Currently, there are more buyers than there is property available which is creating upward pressure on both stock and housing affordability.  If you want to buy a property you need all your ducks in a row preferably before entering the bear bit of buying property.

When buying a residential property, we often get phone calls enquiring how much the fee will be for a valuation for mortgage security purposes.  However, the first point of contact should be with your bank as all residential valuations for mortgage security purposes are ordered by your bank through a panel (Corelogic or Valocity) and a Registered Valuer is randomly selected to undertake the valuation.  In the current environment, there is a six-day turnaround for bank panel valuations, two if it’s urgent but you will incur a penalty urgency fee.  This turnaround time has only recently been extended from four-six days as valuation firms were unable to undertake the work in the specified turnaround times.  Given that we also take direct instructions for a variety of other purposes, for example, relationship property settlement, insurance, trusts, GST apportionment, compensation, planning to name but a few, means that all the Valuers in our office (and we are not alone) have at least six week’s work ahead of them.  Therefore,  it can take a while through the panel to find a firm that has the capacity to take on further instructions even though you are under a deadline.

As Registered Valuer’s we have a duty of care and professional pride to provide best practice work as well as complying with strict obligations to our stakeholders, professional governing bodies and professional indemnity insurers as well as valuing in an uncertain, Covid-19 impacted world.  Valuations are evidence-based and considered and there is a time factor involved, no matter how efficient our systems are. For example, we need to physically inspect, and gaining access to a property can take time, we need to sight comparable sales and then we need to analyse  the evidence to provide a valuation that the stakeholder and client can rely on.  This all takes time if the work is to be robust and considered, especially in the current environment.

The same applies in the commercial property sector where the work is often further complicated by how many parties are involved, leases, the scale of the facility, the special purpose or use of the property and the level of compliance required by the stakeholders and our professional governing bodies, not to mention the increased strictures our Professional Indemnity cover and providing the necessary consideration such a job requires.

To expedite the process, it helps to have as much detail for us to complete the work especially in the commercial sector, such as Deed(s) of Lease, various renewals, insurance premiums, seismic and asbestos reports and depending on the purpose any other information required.  If building off plans, supplying costings, stamped plans and an accurate location of the property is helpful.  We have often lost days going back to the panel/and or client for more information and detail required to do the work.

There is high demand, low-interest rates and not enough property.   This combined with the high levels of compliance, professional best practice and the impacts of the new Covid-19 impacted world we inhabit means that the sector and all its component parts are at capacity.  It is advisable to give yourself time and understand that the turnaround times will be slower even though we are working as efficiently as possible.

Government proposes new commercial lease rent abatement clause

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What has been proposed? 

The government proposed to amend the Property Law Act 2007 by inserting a clause into commercial leases, when introducing the Covid-19 Response (Management Measures) Legislation Bill.

The proposal notes that when there is an epidemic and the tenant is unable to access all, or part, of their leased premises due to health and safety reasons, that the landlord and tenant should negotiate for a ‘fair proportion’ of an abatement in rent and outgoings. The proposal indicates that this could take place from the 28th of September (inviting submissions on the date) and be enforced for the period of the epidemic, which in this case is up to the 19th of December 2021, which could potentially be extended.

Didn’t this happen in 2020?

The government looked to introduce a similar, albeit different, amendment in June 2020. It did not proceed, most seemingly a result of the coalition government at the time, with Winston Peters calling it “poorly targeted policy”. Also, many, but not all, landlords and tenants had or were already in the midst of negotiation given it was finally proposed in June after the country went into its first Alert Level 4 lockdown in March 2020.

So, what are some of the differences this time? 

Apart from there being no coalition government this time, other differences include:

  • there has been a substantial time period put in place irrespective of Alert Levels
  • there isn’t a restriction on business size, previously it was 20 or fewer full-time staff at the leased premises
  • the government is seemingly leaving it up to the landlord and tenant to agree on what is ‘fair proportion’
  • suggested that if ‘fair proportion’ is not determinable, parties seek mediation or arbitration
  • parties could agree that the clause does not apply
  • would only apply to leases which do not already provide for adjusted rent payment terms during an epidemic emergency.

Was there guidance on what ‘fair proportion’ was previously? 

Yes, there were some guidelines to assist with what ‘fair’ might look like, such as taking into consideration the levels of tenant income lost during the period the company could not trade fully, any landlord mortgage obligations, the previous years’ profitability of both parties, any financial assistance provided, the ability of both parties to survive financially and any other relevant factors. The government also provided $40 million for accessing dispute resolution services, which has now ended.

What about the ADLS lease clause 27.5?

Given many agreements utilise an ADLS lease, which has the 27.5 ‘no access clause’, discussion is arising that this could be considered a rent adjustment clause anyway. Further, there will already be many current agreements in place that will potentially supersede this proposal, which comes 1.5 years after Covid-19 was officially called a global pandemic by the World Health Organisation.

So, what now? 

The proposal is still to go to the select committee, and there is a lot of lobbying underway given the implications that changing existing legal contracts represents, so some changes may still occur. It would be fair to say that there are seemingly a few gaps, leaving many potentially feeling that the proposal is not of real assistance for landlords or tenants. With strict lockdowns (fingers crossed) already behind us, many will have negotiated a way forward a long time ago, so this will be of less relevance. No guidance on what ‘fair proportion’ represents doesn’t really help, especially those in a dispute already. Perhaps the best way forward from this is to focus on how New Zealand emerges safely and effectively from current Covid-19 restrictions, so that the clause doesn’t need to be enacted.

Take a deep breath

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Want to refocus and find some balance in life? Try breathing exercises

I regular get asked questions about finding balance between work and life and how to best manage it. It’s a great question and the answer will vary from person to person. One thing that I do say to everyone is take some time to stop and breathe each day. It will calm your nervous system and quickly give you a different and more positive perspective on your day. Sometimes the balance is there, right in front of us and we just need to stop and see it. Other times, we just need to take a step back to see how we can create the balance we want. Either way, taking the time to breathe will allow us to refocus and do this.

There are many breathing techniques that we can try. Patrick Mckeown, James Nestor and Wim Hof have all developed some amazing methods that are well worth exploring in more detail.

Breathing properly is a sometimes underestimated, but critical building block of good health. Slow, deep breathing gets rid of carbon dioxide waste and carries plenty of fresh oxygen to your brain and muscles.

If you can breathe efficiently at rest, you will be better equipped to manage your day, and you will be able to perform better in all aspects of your life.

Make some time each day to concentrate on your breathing. The following exercise will help you get the full benefits that come with good breathing. These techniques are ones you should aim to develop when breathing normally and can take a bit of practice, but it’s well worth it.

Spend about 10 minutes on this exercise, but if you are pushed for time you can halve the amount of time taken for each step. Most of this can be done anywhere when you need to relax or clear your head.

1.     Get Ready (two minutes):  Lie flat on your back, or sit against a wall. If you need to you can use a pillow for comfort. Make sure no part of your body is strained or supporting weight. Close your eyes and pay attention to your breathing for a minute or two. Don›t try to change your breathing, just notice how it feels. Imagine the blood flowing through your body. Listen to your surroundings.

2.     Stage One (two minutes): Practice breathing in and out through your nose. Exhaling through the mouth is okay for quick relaxation, but normal breathing in and out your nose is best. Take long breaths, not deep breaths. Try not to force it; you shouldn›t hear your breath coming in or out. You›re drawing slow breaths, not snorting air or blowing it out. Feel the rhythm of your breathing.

3.     Stage Two (three minutes): Good breathing is done through the lower torso, rather than the upper torso. Each breath should expand your belly. Relax your shoulders and try not to breath with your chest. Put your hands on your stomach and feel it rise as you breath in and fall as you breath out. Relax your face, neck, cheeks, jaw, temples and even your tongue.

4.     Stage Three (three minutes): Feel the new air enter your lungs and the stale air leave your body. Exhale for the same amount of time as you inhale to make certain all the old air is gone. Take long slow breaths. Most people take 12 to 25 breaths per minute. Ideally, at this stage you should be doing 6 to 10 breaths per minute. Now try to exhale a little longer than you inhale for a while. Pause after you exhale without taking a breath. Focus on the stillness and on not forcing yourself to inhale. Your body will breathe when it needs to.

5.     You’re Done: Slowly open your eyes, stand up and carry on with your day, a bit more re-energised and focused.

Summer fun or summer bummer

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The summer events season is up in the air due to ongoing COVID-19 restrictions.

Hawke’s Bay is a magnet for major events over summer and as we remain at lockdown Level 2 (as of early October) our key events such as Horse of the Year, the Mission Concert, Art Deco  and many other outdoor concerts and festivals remain up in the air.

HOY and the Mission were also cancelled at the last minute in 2020 and although contingency plans are in place, if Auckland was to stay at a higher lockdown level or goes into a high lockdown level again, New Zealand’s largest equestrian event would be unlikely.

Already events such as Hawke’s Bay Racing’s Spring Carnival and the Hawke’s Bay A&P Show have been impacted, with the show being cancelled for only the second time in 158 years, the only other time being during World War 2.

The New Zealand Events Association has also postponed its own conference and awards event, which was due to be held in Napier in September, but has now been pushed out to December.

A hot topic at the event will be how the sector will recover from COVID-19. In fact the events headline name is ‘Eventing the Future’.

The conference, being held at the War Memorial Centre, has attracted some impressive key speakers such as Andrea Nelson, the CEO of the ICC Women’s Cricket World Cup and Minister for Tourism Hon. Stuart Nash.

Last year the Government provided $60 million to the events sector – a $10m Domestic Event Fund (DEF) and a $50m Regional Events Fund (REF).

Stuart is likely to be put under the spotlight as the sector looks for support as it navigates the economic impact of the pandemic.

A letter was sent to the minister in September by the NZ Events Association which said level 2 had ‘brought the sector to its knees’.

The association has asked the government to consider five requests – targeted and extended financial support, a risk based approach to events at alert level 2, a government backed insurance facility for events, new ‘‘tools to the event toolbox” such as rapid COVID-19 testing and improved MIQ systems.

New Zealand Events Association survey found that a week into alert level 4, 182 events were cancelled and 231 events were postponed.

Of the 100 respondents 42 per cent said the disruption had a considerable financial impact on their organisation and 36 per cent reported a moderate financial impact.

The cost was conservatively estimated to be close to $6m and that doesn’t include many large events which did not respond to the survey, the association says.

Co-owner and chief executive of Duco Events, Rachael Carroll has 5 large scale events that take place between October and February. Each event expected more than 5000 people is one of many within the sector that are asking for greater support and direction by the Government.

Rachael says Duco has invested heavily into these events and tickets sales have been strong but it’s a case of fingers and toes crossed that they happen.

We are looking to NZ Government to provide a road map out of the pandemic with some guidance about what can happen when aligned to vaccination rates.

We currently do not know when these events can take place but remain optimistic. We are supportive of restrictions and controls to protect health, but the lack of uncertainty of the next 6 months puts pressure on event companies.

Rachael says Duco has a diverse portfolio of events, many of which have been postponed since March 2020 and with lack of international talent, they have shifted to using more local talent.

“Since the pandemic hit we have been able to shift focus to events with local NZ talent (eg SYNTHONY music event, T20 Black Clash and staging a local Joseph Parker heavyweight fight).

Whilst postponement by no means as dire as cancellation it takes time / energy and money and income is delayed putting pressure on business cash flow.”

Event organisers within the sector are all on the same page when it comes to the support needed by the Government.

Both Rachael and Chris Randle, Head of Event Success at Blerter and a board member of the New Zealand Event Association calling for a road map and having a different status from other mass gatherings.

“Within this road map events need to be considered differently to a mass gathering as  ticketed events are controlled and we have the ability to use mandatory masks, QR codes, and can separate audiences to support contact tracing,” Rachael says.

Chris adds that “there is no one size fits all and the industry is incredibly diverse so access to a system that acknowledges that and supports a risk based approach to decision making would be very helpful.”

“We need clear information, appropriate systems and consistency.”

Chris says as summer arrives  there is a mix of optimism and anxiety across the sector although time and continued uncertainty is one of the biggest challenges many face.

Chris says as well as the economic benefits events bring to New Zealand and host regions, events also have a positive impact on the wellbeing of those that attend and give the wider community a buzz, that an event is being held in their city.

“Economic impact is often the statistic that makes headlines when it comes to events.  However, events can connect and reconnect people and the profound positive impact that events can have on the physical and mental health and wellbeing of people and communities is important now more than ever.”

Hawke’s Bay events champion and Napier City Council Events Manager Kevin Murphy hopes that the new normal, will be less forgiving on the local events sector and the many businesses across Hawke’s Bay that benefit.

“It will be a pretty sad summer if we can’t get out and about and enjoy events such as  international cricket at McLean Park, Art Deco,concerts across the region and the big local free events like New Years Eve.

“It also has the potential to change the events scene for years to come, as the other sectors that rely on the economic windfall from events such as accommodation providers and bars and restaurants.”

Taking horse tack to the world

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Wairoa-based New Zealand Mecates grew out of founder Ilana Cheiban’s love of horses and her desire for quality, locally made gear.

When she couldn’t find the type of horse tack she wanted, Ilana decided to make it herself – and the business was born. It now produces top-quality, handmade horse gear and leather products to local and overseas markets.

NZ Mecates’ success earned Ilana the Judge’s Choice Award at this year’s ExportNZ ASB Hawke’s Bay Export Awards.

In winning the discretionary category award, the judges said Ilana had done “a supreme job” in carving out a company from scratch, and they unanimously wanted to acknowledge NZ Mecates, which exports about three-quarters of its products.

Ilana’s venture began when she sold halters for the first time at a local horse and tack auction.

“I sold 17 halters for $23 each. I remember realising that there was a market for the gear that I was making for my family, that there was something I could provide and a way to keep us afloat,” she says.

With a background in fine arts, a talent for using her hands and an eagerness to learn, she started her mecate-making craft journey in 2014 when she purchased a hand twister off eBay.

“Like any good business, we were born out of a backyard shed, supported enough to eventually risk quitting the day job. What started with halters soon branched out into rope and leather reins, headstalls and breastplates,” she says.

“I couldn’t help laughing when my daughter asked why I couldn’t just have a normal job like a normal mother when we were stretching out hides one day.”

The business grew to specialise in making Californian-style tack and Ilana believes she is the only manufacturer in the world producing wool-based mecates, equestrian ropes traditionally made out of horsehair.

She says it took a year of trial and error to develop the “recipes” for her unique mecates and her family was called into service.

“It took three people to make one mecate. We would spend every weekend walking the length of the veranda of our house, twisting up mecates, which often indulged in being difficult and obstinate. We spent many frustrated hours on that veranda.

“What we produce now are six-strand mecates that have a core of twisted wool. They are one-of-a-kind, bespoke mecates that are durable yet soft in your hand and have a wonderful life to them.”

Ilana says having learnt her craft “with the aid of nothing but a few books, YouTube and wit”, she plans to keep refining her skills so she can extend her range of products.

“I just love making what I make, and I keep adding new designs, refining and making the products better.”

Using New Zealand wool is a core aspect of the business, Ilana says, because it is a natural, sustainable, iconic Kiwi product and it is important to keep showcasing it to our international markets.

“It would be really nice to see more small businesses using wool in a way that is innovative, added value and got it offshore. It gives the farmers encouragement, gets them back in the woolshed. I’m lucky to be able to access really good quality and quantities of wool and it’s the best in the world. It’s the best fibre.”

NZ Frost Fans Stands Out with Innovative Approach

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An earlier decision by New Zealand Frost Fans to send stock to a key South American market proved its value when Covid-19 hit last year.

With its fans already on the ground in Chile before disruptions to global shipping schedules took hold, the Hastings-based company found itself with a competitive edge in one of its fastest-growing territories.

It is that type of strategic planning that saw NZ Frost Fans named ASB Exporter of the Year for 2021 at the ExportNZ ASB Hawke’s Bay Export Awards. The company also won this year’s T&G Global Best Established Award at the same event.

The award judges said NZ Frost Fans stood out from the many strong entries. “The strong and local partner ecosystem, innovative production and shipping systems, and IP in their blades combine to showcase a very well-balanced company with strong capability and growth prospects. Despite many challenges with sheer growth, logistics and without the ability to travel to many of its markets, they have performed in an exemplary way.”

The business specialises in frost fan design and manufacture, as well as the subsequent field placements, installation and servicing. Its range of FrostBoss fans are marketed through its own companies in New Zealand and Australia, and through

a network of local distributors in Canada, Israel, Europe and South America.

“We’ve been involved in the Chilean market for about four years and have seen huge growth there in the past financial year,” says marketing and business development manager Chris Kay.

“We sent machines to Chile for stock, which shortened our lead times and gave us a good competitive advantage there – even more so when COVID-19 hit and it became harder and more expensive to arrange sea freight.”

A growing market for fan upgrades now exists as new technology is adapted for the population of ageing fans, especially in New Zealand and Australia. The efficiency and productivity of such fans can be significantly improved by the retrofitting of composite blades, centrifugal clutches and gearboxes, particularly when coupled with automated controllers.

NZ Frost Fans has a significant research and development programme focussed on improving the efficiency and reliability of its fans. The result of this research has been the development of the FrostBoss C49 frost fan, incorporating the proprietary FrostBoss clutch, controller and C49 composite blades.

The C49 was developed with the help of former Team New Zealand aerodynamics research engineer Richard Karn to optimise noise reduction.

“One of our key advantages in all the markets that we’re in is our low noise emissions,” says Chris.

“Noise is becoming a bigger issue in a lot of countries that we’re in, either through regulation or just through demand from local communities.”

Web-based monitoring of frost fans is also becoming more popular among both large and small growers alike. NZ Frost Fans’ remote monitoring option, FrostSmart, enables growers to access real-time monitoring of fans around the world, together with text alarms and historical data and graphs on temperature, run hours and machine performance.

While COVID-19 has brought challenges, the business is continuing its strategy for managed growth and is constantly evaluating new markets.

“Previously we provided technical training face to face. With COVID-19, we’ve had to do that remotely, meaning we’ve had to develop a lot of new training materials, including videos, in multiple languages,” Chris says.

“The good thing is we’ve still managed to grow even though we can’t travel.”

Norish takes out Innovate Hawke’s Bay awards

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Budding entrepreneurs Gina Urlich and Andy Spear of Norish have taken out the first ever Innovate Hawke’s Bay awards with their nutritious baby food product.

They headed off other local entrepreneurs who pitched their ideas to three judges and 75 guests at ToiToi: Hawke’s Bay Arts & Events Centre, winning $5000 plus entry into The Factory’s accelerator programme run out of Havelock North.

INNOVATE HB – Awards evening, ToiToi, Hastings, New Zealand, November 24 2021. Photo by alphapix

The event attracted just under 50 entries, 20 of which moved through to the semi-finals where they pitched to 25 Innovate Hawke’s Bay mentors. Seven finalists were then selected and put through a structured programme over two months, culminating in the final pitch night.

 Gina Andy pithed Norish, where nourishing meets moreish. Norish carefully selects the best of what Mother Nature has to offer and combines it with an innovative technology to create a shelf-stable nutrient-rich baby food product line.

“Just being a finalist was a really big winning moment for us,” says Gina. “And receiving the title of Innovate Hawke’s Bay winner for 2021 was incredibly humbling. That external validation for our idea means so much.”

Both on a separate yet similar journey, they connected via Instagram and quickly realised the power of collaboration. Working together, they came up with a solution to fill a hole in the baby food market where they recognised there was a real lack of nutritious commercial baby food.

Going through the Innovate process opened up their networking opportunities. “It broadened and strengthened our vision and business plan,” continues Andy. “Our business plan became better every time we spoke to a mentor.”

CE of The Factory, Dave Craig says of the event, “it was extra special to be able to run a live event. We’re stoked that Hawke’s Bay has welcomed The Factory into the region and our intention is that this is the first of many years to come.”

Now in its tenth year, Innovate’s proven playbook is a staple in the Manawatū business scene. Bringing it to the Hawke’s Bay was made possible thanks to Luke Irving from Fingermark in Havelock North.

“The support from the business community and the way in which they have embraced the event, along with the calibre and breadth of entries, has created a really strong platform to build on,” explains Luke. “The aim is to have Innovate Hawke’s Bay become a staple on the region’s event calendar.”

Gina and Andy have advice for budding entrepreneurs. “There is opportunity everywhere and if you feel you’ve got an idea, I know it’s really cliché, but you just have to really put everything out there and have a crack,” encourages Andy.

Innovate Hawke’s Bay is run through The Factory by Havelock North local, Hal Josephson. Hal’s experience in the start-up and angel investing landscape is immense.

The judges for Innovate Hawke’s Bay 2021 were Annabel Toogood, Executive Director at Skyline Healthcare Group; Jason Wilton, CEO at Resero; and Susan White, Global Marketing Manager at FPG. The Master of Ceremonies on the night was David “Toddy” Todd.

Innovate Hawke’s Bay is sponsored by Rockit, Fingermark, Metalform, Furnware, Ask Your Team, Re-Leased, Innove Design, People & People, Baker Tilly Staples Rodway