Waikato Business News | April, 2024

The challenge for hospice

The demand for hospice services is growing – but as Hospice Waikato chief executive Craig Tamblyn tells Viv Posselt, funding is inadequate and the organisation is confronted with obstacles.

raig Tamblyn says in addition to challenges linked to the funding of hospice services there are concerns around what health reforms might be just around the corner - and their potential impact.

“The health reforms came in after Covid and are taking a lot longer than thought… right now, we’re unsure when they will drop and what they could mean for us.”

Other pressing concerns he said need addressed are linked to pay parity in the sector, projected growth in demand, and questions on the sustainability of community fundraising at the level now needed.

Free hospice care is delivered to New Zealand patients and their families through 32 hospices nationwide, all falling under Hospice New Zealand. Income comes through a mix of crown and community funding, with the latter generated through hospice shop outlets, business support and community fundraising. There are nine hospice shops across the Waikato.

The percentage of government v community input varies among individual hospices with government funding generally covering between 50 to 60 percent of each hospice’s costs. In some cases, however, the government proportion falls below that.

In the Waikato, the community funds 35 percent of Hospice Waikato’s needs.

According to Hospice New Zealand figures, it cost over $186 million to provide free hospice care in the 2021-22 year, up $11.2 million on the previous year. Government funding covered $92.1 million of that and hospices raised over $94 million from their communities to bridge the gap.

With Waikato as one of the country’s fastest-growing population areas, and the burgeoning numbers of seniors choosing to spend their twilight years here, the need for hospice services is expected to rise considerably, said Tamblyn.

“Our area covers from Mercer to National Park, the Coromandel to Tokoroa and across to Raglan. We’re seeing significant growth across the district, but particularly in the Coromandel and from Te Awamutu through Ōtorohanga and Te Kuiti.

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The numbers

Hospice Waikato is one of the busiest in the country. It deals with around 1600 patients and their families a year and is projecting a significant increase as the region grows.

In the year ended June 2023, of its $14,933,041 income, $8,415,507 was government funding. Revenue from its shops raised $4,607,335 and the rest was generated through fundraising, grants and donations.

Costs for the same period came in at $15,126,883, resulting in a $193,842 deficit.

A total of 1436 people were referred to Hospice Waikato in that time.

Between 400 and 500 patients are cared for by Hospice Waikato at any one time, and about 50 seriously ill children and their families are supported the Rainbow Place team at Hospice Waikato.

Hospice Waikato chief executive Craig Tamblyn is hopeful the challenges facing Hospice Waikato can be met.

Photo: Viv Posselt

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027 287 0005

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Readers’ contributions of articles and letters are welcome. Publication of contributions are entirely at the discretion of editorial staff and may be edited. Contributions will only be considered for publication when accompanied by the author’s full name, residential address, and telephone number. Opinions expressed are not necessarily those of the publishers. Waikato Business News is published by Good Local Media Limited.

The challenge for hospice

“Some 95 percent of our patients don’t come into our Hospice Waikato site in Hamilton for more than a few days at a time, but instead receive our services at home. That means we rely on a network of skilled personnel who can deliver those services where they’re needed. Waikato’s growth will have a huge impact on us and we need to be ready for it.”

Hospice care goes well beyond the delivery of palliative care to the patient involved.

Once a family registers with hospice, the patient and their wider family receive holistic care for as long as is needed, and many whānau receive support for up to 18 months after the death of their loved one.

Concerns around the level of future government funding centres on differing political party views around healthcare delivery expressed before last year’s general election.

On the strength of Prime Minister Christopher Luxon’s pre-election statement, “we’ll look at boosting funding for palliative care once we are in government”, Hospice New Zealand briefed Health Minister Shane Reti on the situation in December. The briefing lists three core elements needed by the sector from the government – pay

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parity for hospice staff, support for the development of a business case for a fairer and more sustainable funding model to be included in Budget 2025, and for regular engagement to keep things on track.

Tamblyn said pay parity was a crucial element for future sustainability.

Council in the running

The Waikato Regional Council is a finalist in the Local Government Excellence Awards to be announced on this month.

The council has entered its virtual reality experience in the Datacom Award for Excellence in Digital Local Government category and is also a finalist in the environmental leadership section for its work in protecting kauri.

The council’s kauri protection team is working to encourage rural landowners, community groups, schools, iwi, stakeholders and industry groups to invest in the trees’ future.

Southern kauri are associated with the Coromandel Range, but the council has highlighted significant remnant populations in other parts of the Waikato. The region has over 94,000 hectares of kaurilands, of which more than 20,000ha is old growth kauri forest. The Waikato has the largest areas of kauri undetected for kauri dieback.

It also advocated for national funding and rules to protect kauri, leading to more Government funding and the development of Tīakina Kauri, the national kauri protection programme, and a national pest management plan introduced last year.

The council’s kauri team commissioned award-winning special effects and prop company Wētā Workshop Ltd to create a scale model of a mature kauri tree, which includes its widespread root system, to help spread the kauri protection message.

“We are currently in negotiations with government for our nurses to be paid the same rate as in other sectors. Government funding has not kept up and they are currently lagging well behind their peers working in other health areas. There should be pay parity for all specialists working in hospice”.

Tamblyn said Hospice Waikato is also working to reduce rural and cultural inequities in the district, and to further support Hamilton-based Rainbow Place, which until recently was the only hospice for children in the country.

He said he was ‘optimistic, but realistic’ that hospice requests could be met by a government facing a long list of issues needing attention.

Hospice Waikato chief executive Craig Tamblyn with some of the many Cambridge Hospice Shop volunteers who recently marked 10 years in their current premises.

Photo: Viv Posselt

Wētā Workshop created this scale model of a mature kauri tree

Ton up

Matamata’s Radius Country Lodge – which transformed from a maternity hospital to an aged care facility, will turn 100 on April 9. Two present residents – Maureen Massey and Anne Stokes –have shared their memories of giving birth in the lodge.

Light my fire

Waikato Wellbeing Project and Rainbow Hub Waikato are collaborating on the latest instalment of the Lots of Little Fires video series. Through storytelling, Lots of Little Fires aims to amplify the voices of organisations like Rainbow Hub Waikato, highlighting the role they play in fostering community, resilience, and self-acceptance.

New satellite

Cambridge’s Grassroots Trust Velodrome has become Oceania’s UCI Development Satellite Centre - one of nine in the world. The move is seen as significant for many cycling disciplines and is expected to attract cycling visitors across all disciplines in the sport.

Numbers up

Student numbers at Waikato University are up more than six per cent on last year. Ministry funded equivalent full-time students numbers are up three per cent in Hamilton and six per cent in Tauranga – and international numbers have risen 25 per cent – though they have yet to reach prepandemic totals.

More clams

Efforts to contain the spread of golden clams found in the Waikato River have taken a hit with the discovery of the fast-breeding Asian invaders in a lagoon at Lake Taupō’s Aqua Park. Initial thoughts were that the clams had been introduced there as a result of human activity.

The announcement from Biosecurity New Zealand confirmed the lagoon had been closed off as a result. The tiny clams were initially found in the Waikato River near Lake Karāpiro last May.

Seeing for themselves

The health-conscious Vietnamese consumer has seen what Waikato has to offer -

and likes it. Senior writer Mary Anne Gill met a group of Asian distributors who had a whirlwind tour of the region.

Hamilton scientist

Grant Washington-

Smith is convinced he is onto a winner with the premium adult nutrition products he exports to Vietnam but wanted his customers to see for themselves.

So much so, he brought 70 of his top Vietnamese distributors to Waikato and Auckland last month to check out the manufacturing process.

Washington-Smith launched Carefore Global last year having created premium products for several years in both New Zealand and the United States.

He created Colos IgGold - a powdered dairy drink with immunoglobulins from colostrum - now the company’s premium product delivering health benefits. Production is growing with up to 200,000 cans a month exported to Vietnam, Singapore and other Asian countries.

Several colostrum-based dairy drinks have also been developed.

The Vietnamese distributors saw firsthand the stringent quality controls, cutting-edge technology, and sustainable practices that goes into production.

One of the events was held at GMP Dairy Highbrook in Auckland where delegates were given a tour of the facilities.

The plant at New Zealand’s first and largest pharmaceutical grade dairy manufacturing facilities, is where Colos IgGold is manufactured.

The product had its fruition in the Waikato at Carefore Global in Innovation Park the brainchild of Washington-

“ We’re not just showcasing our commitment to quality and innovation; we’re actively driving an evolution within the dairy sector...

Smith, a nutritional scientist, food formulator and entrepreneur.

After working for nearly a decade in the United States for one of the world’s largest network marketing companies, WashingtonSmith returned to New Zealand as a nutrition and wellness consultant.

During his 12 years as a consultant, he created a product range that was a finalist in the 2014 New Zealand Innovation, the 2021 World Beverage and World Food awards.

“We’re not just showcasing our commitment to quality and innovation; we’re actively driving an evolution within the dairy sector, redefining its role in supporting health and wellness across the later stages of the lifespan,” said Washington-Smith.

“We have carefully crafted a product that resonates with the health-conscious Vietnamese consumer. This visit was an opportunity to showcase the journey of Colos IgGold, from the lush pastures of New Zealand to the high-tech manufacturing facilities in Hamilton and Auckland.”

The day after their arrival

on March 13, the delegation visited the Hamilton plant of Bodco, a Pukete based and operated company that supplies to global markets, nutritional and lifestyle milk powder based products.

From there they had a tour of Waikato Innovation Park and then visited the Bardoul farm near Mystery Creek where Kaipaki Dairies has its headquarters bottling premium quality milk.

Despite torrential rain, the delegation got up close and personal with the Bardouls’ 600 Holstein-Friesian dairy cows.

The group headed north to Auckland where they

heard from Vietnamese ambassador Nguyen Van Trung and other officials about the potential for trade between New Zealand and Vietnam.

Earlier that week Prime Minister Christopher Luxon had met Vietnam prime minister Pham Minh Chinh in Wellington where New Zealand confirmed a $6.24 million investment into Vietnam’s horticulture sector. The project will focus on improving climate and economic resilience within the country’s passionfruit industry.

Research is a critical component in any export

industry. The delegation heard from the Institute for Nutrition and Human Health’s Paul Davis about the importance of validated independent research.

Canny consumers demand proof a product does what is says it will, he told them.

The institute is about to embark on a research programme looking at bone health in women over 35.

Washington-Smith is confident the products his company produces marks a significant shift from the traditional emphasis on infant formula to the nutritional needs of adults and the elderly.

One of the Vietnamese distributors interviews Carefore Global founder Grant Washington-Smith at Kaipaki Dairies. Photo: Mary Anne Gill.

New Zealand’s investor immigration policy is not for the faint hearted!

Over the years New Zealand has had a wide range of immigration policies to attract migrant investors. Some were successful, and some not, with policies often to the forefront of political leanings as to whether such migrants should be enabled to “buy” their New Zealand residence.

The previous investor policy ran successfully for over a decade before closing in July 2022. During this time, it attracted over $12 billion of investment into New Zealand. Investors had the option of investing $10 million for 3 years, or $3 million for 4 years. There were incentives for investors who invested in active investments (eg; the $3 million could be reduced to $2.5 million) but generally most investments were made, understandably, in lower risk managed funds and bonds.

The previous Labour Government introduced the current Active Investor Plus (AIP) policy in September 2022 saying – “we want to encourage active investment into New Zealand, which generates more high-skilled jobs and economic growth compared to passive investment”.

It is fair to say the AIP is a highly complex policy. Applicants must nominally invest $15 million but the actual investment amount is determined by the weightings given to the different acceptable investment options. For example, investment in Direct Investments has a 3 x weighting, meaning only $5 million investment is required, while an investment in Managed Funds has a 2 x weighting. Investment in NZ listed shares is still available but has a 1 x weighting and a maximum investment of $7.5 million. The full investment amount must be transferred within the first six months of approval, and the amount to be invested in acceptable investments must attain 50% within 18 months, and 100% within 36 months with the full investment term being 48 months from the date of the initial investment. Pending full investment, the residual funds are held in Holding

Investments such as bank deposits and Government Bonds. There is an English language requirement, and the applicant must spend a minimum of 117 days in New Zealand during the 4 year investment term.

Acceptable Direct Investments and Managed Funds are determined solely by New Zealand Trade and Enterprise who assess and approve applications from providers based on particular “benefit” criteria. However, NZTE does not undertake due diligence on these investments meaning there is significant onus, and risk, on individual investors to undertake their own research. Acceptable investment options have been limited to date, but investment managers are now developing more bespoke products that better align with both the policy, and investor risk appetite.

To date 47 AIP applications have been made although 5 were subsequently withdrawn. Of the remaining 42 applications, 19 have been successful, and 12 have been approved but have yet to complete their initial investment – while 11 remain under process. The main source countries are USA and Hong Kong, followed by Germany, UK and China, and around half of the investments made to date have been into Direct Investments.

New policies always take time to become understood, and to gain traction in the market, but it is apparent, given the success of the previous investor policy, that the AIP is facing headwinds and some changes to simplify the policy settings, and provide more mainstream investment options (eg: infrastructure bonds?) are needed.

With the Australian Investor Programme (BIIP) effectively closed, New Zealand is well positioned to benefit from migrant investors looking to relocate down-under. The AIP is our only investor visa option currently and requires significant professional guidance to navigate its complexity – it is definitely not for the faint hearted!

Chamber expands south

The South Waikato celebrated two events in quick succession last month as the Waikato chamber and prominent women called in.

Waikato Chamber of Commerce has put its lens on the South Waikato. Chief executive Don Good said in collaboration with the South Waikato Investment Fund Trust (Swift) “our intention is to initiate activities through a proposed Waikato Chamber membership that will add value to businesses in South Waikato through advocacy and lobbying, networking events, social media activity to raise brand awareness, and connections with businesses

in the wider Waikato region”. Business leaders travelled to Tokoroa last month for an event hosted by the chamber and supported by Swift and Wintec/Toi Ohomai.

Speakers included David Hallett, co-founder of software innovator Company-X, Tjay Asiata, Group chief executive of Pasifika-owned LM4 Group and Better Eggs chief Gareth van der Heyden.

Good said the establishment of many more innovative businesses, in the areas

of forestry, engineering, home construction, social services and the education in Tokoroa and Putāruru created a demand for better connections with regional, national and global companies.

Swift chief Amanda Hema said her organisation and the Waikato Chamber were complementary with Swift focusing more on local capability development and the chamber being able to provide regional, national and international connections.

Messages from Wahine toa

Lisa Tamati was among the speakers for International Women’s Day.

Tokoroa-born entrepreneur Anna Mowbray, who co-founded multi-billion-dollar toy manufacturer Zuru inspired senior students as part of International Women's Day. Mowbray was joined by other successful women from various backgrounds including Taranaki based ultra distance runner Lisa Tamati who spoke to 150 Year 12 and 13 women from South Waikato schools at the Tokoroa Event Centre.

Māori and Cook Island producer and

director Lanita Ririnui, executive director of Ngā Aho Whakaari Māori In Screenan organisation that advocates for Māori representation in the screen industry - was the opening speaker.

The event is co-funded by Swift – the South Waikato Investment Fund Trust - which is a community-owned economic development fund dedicated to the growth and development of business in South Waikato.

Pictured from left at the Tokoroa event were Rob Finlayson (Waikato Chamber) Company X founder David Hallett, Gareth van der Heyden of Better Eggs, Swift’s Amanda Hema, Te Pukenga executive director Huia Haeata and LM4 group chief Tjay Asiata.

‘Untenable’ hit for tourism

Just when tourism is coming out of its Covid nightmare, councils around the Waikato are cutting their funding to the regional promotion organisation driving the recovery. Senior writer Mary Anne Gill looks at what that could mean for Waikato.

The jobs of more than 12,000 people are at risk from funding cuts by Waikato local authorities in the tourism sector.

As Hamilton and Waikato Tourism chief executive Nicola Greenwell completes her reporting round of six council funders – including a presentation at Waipā District Council’s finance and corporate committee late last month – alarm bells are ringing.

Hamilton, Waikato, Waitomo and Waipā have all signalled they will slash funding from July 1 as they grapple with balancing the books in the most testing environment for local authorities in decades.

Matamata-Piako will stay firm while Ōtorohanga has yet to decide.

In a swipe at the short sightedness of the decision, Hamilton and Waikato Tourism chair Richard Leggat said the 43 per cent across the board funding cut would make the organisation’s work “untenable”.

“Tourism directly employs

more than 12,000 people across the region and is a key contributor to the region’s GDP, providing $1.9 billion in visitor spending every year.

“It provides jobs, enriches culture and provides community vibrancy through its support for cafes, restaurants, hospitality venues and events in our city and towns,” he said.

The regional tourism organisation’s role is to increase international and domestic leisure and business travel, lead destination management, marketing, business events and conventions.

Its funding comes from tourism operators and local authorities.

Waikato has the fifth highest share at 6.3 per cent of the lucrative tourism market having such attractions as Waitomo Caves, Hobbiton, Sanctuary Mountain Maungatautari, Hamilton Gardens, Te Awa River Ride and Raglan.

It also hosts nearly 10 per cent of New Zealand’s business events attracting

about 95,000 delegates a year.

“Tourism is a real asset to our region and the benefits it brings suggest council investment in our regional tourism organisation pays for itself many times over,” said Leggat.

The continued investment in the regional tourism organisation should be viewed not only as an investment in an organisation, but in the social, cultural, environmental and economic wellbeing of our communities.

The hundreds of local jobs and hundreds of millions of dollars spent by visitors make continued investment a no-brainer.”

Support for a funding rethink came from Hobbiton’s Russell Alexander, Nick Andreef of Waitomo Adventures and Helen Somerville from Sanctuary Mountain who all point to an impressive postCovid recovery.

Pulling funding would jeopardise that growth like it did in 2006 when Hamilton

and Waikato Tourism’s predecessor closed.

Visitor numbers, spend, bed nights and employment all suffered for five years before the organisation’s revival in 2011.

Greenwell told Waipā district councillors her organisation worked on 17 regional conference bids in the last six months: winning four and losing six. A lack of higher end and overall accommodation availability was a factor behind the lost bids.

Working alongside Tourism New Zealand,

Hamilton and Waikato

Tourism was bidding for an international conference which would bring 250 academics from around the world to the Waikato.

Summer data was not available yet, but operators were reporting record, or near record, visits.

“We hear of some operators being fully booked, with the overflow benefitting neighbouring smaller operators. Visitors from USA and Australia are the larger component of international manuhiri; with great domestic visitation

also occurring,” she said. Hamilton and Waikato Tourism wants people to “stand up” for tourism when local authorities open consultation on their annual and long term plans.

“Now is the time for people to stand up for tourism, events and hospitality sectors and the multitude of flow on benefits they provide to Waikato communities. We will continue fighting hard for our sector – there’s too much at risk not to,” said Leggat.

• See Industry in danger, page 8.

Lynette Smith, centre, with Japanese students she hosted at her Tamahere lifestyle property, poses for a photo at the Rural Tours pick up in Cambridge. Photo: Supplied.

Out and about…

More Out

Bringing in a new perspective

Hamilton-based Braun Bond and Lomas (BBL) is going to become even better on April 1, when Erin Anderson becomes a Director.

It’s not that she is new to BBL, one of the largest litigation firms outside of Auckland. The talented lawyer had been part of the team prior to leaving and working with another local large and well-respected legal firm for four years.

“I have a very strong connection with Braun Bond and Lomas” Erin says.

“Despite enjoying where I was, I really looked forward to the next stage of my career at BBL.”

Erin says she brings a different focus and approach which will complement the already strong directorial team of Toby Braun, Kevin Bond and Kieran Lomas.

“They are very well known, with consistently good, expert approaches in their specialized areas of litigation,” she says.

“I believe I bring a good balance to that, focusing on client-driven results with a refreshed approach.”

In addition to having a broad commercial litigation practice, Erin has focused on employment law in the past, and she has recently been involved in what turned out to be the largest Employment Court award in New Zealand history.

“Toby and I argued the case; however, it was a huge team effort which would not have run near as smoothly without the support of the BBL team. It was a significant court case that resulted in two large judgments, with the net result being

“They are very well known, with consistently good, expert approaches in their specialized areas of litigation.”

the largest employment award ever made in New Zealand – with new law being made, which made it quite exciting.”

“We are always looking for the best results for our clients – and this was certainly one of the most satisfying outcomes after a long process.”

Kevin, the Managing Director of BBL, says that the three directors are looking forward to having Erin at the management table.

“Erin introduces a unique approach which is different to the three of us. Her perspective will help us improve,” he says.

“It’s a very exciting time; it’s the first time a new director has been appointed since 2016. “And, more than 10 years into the life of the firm, we are a more mature operation now in a lot of ways. We pride ourselves on our willingness to change and try new ways of doing things, and having

a new director around the table, with a fresh perspective will bring an extra dimension to the business.”

The firm’s focus is entirely on dispute resolution and litigation, and their strong team with its excellent legal networking means it has access to expert knowledge for every conceivable kind of dispute that might arise. This could include anything from commercial and residential property leases and sales agreements, farming, employment issues, tax issues, consumer law or Resource Management Act, through to relationship property.

While advocacy for clients is important, and resolution of disputes

before court action is usually the preferred course of action, litigation via courts is often a necessary step, and Braun Bond and Lomas is proud of its reputation for fighting on behalf of its clients, and for the results it achieves.

BBL directors, Kieran Lomas, Kevin Bond, Erin Anderson, Toby Braun.

Tuahu Watene from Workforce Development Council Ringa Hora and South Waikato District councillor Thomas Lee pictured during the March Waikato Chamber of Commerce event in Tokoroa.

The Trenwiths entertained at the Foster Construction 50th anniversary bash at Claudelands in Hamilton last month. The band are Paul Trenwith, founder of the Hamilton County Bluegrass Band, his sons and a nephew who play three generations of music - a mix of modern songs, folk songs and old-time bluegrass music.

Photo: Supplied.

Cambridge High School Arts committee co-chairs Mirinae Kang, left and Ally Smith at the art exhibition in the school's new $12.4 million classroom block. Photo: Steph Bell-Jenkins. Innovation Park in Hamilton.

Photo: Mary Anne Gill.

Peter Watt, president of the Cambridge Woodturners, hard at work making Easter Egg cup holders at the Cambridge Autumn Festival's Main Street Carnival and Art Market. Photo: Mary Anne Gill. Yonatan, Inbar, Noga, 3, and Ella, 1, Weissler moved to Cambridge from Israel four months ago and are loving the town, particularly the recent Autumn Festival carnival day. Yonatan and Inbar are working as software engineers

Help shape the future Hamilton Kirikiriroa

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Have we got the balance right?

The new National Party Cambridge branch committee with Taupō MP Louise Upston after their annual meeting last month is from left: Brownen Byers, Upston, chair Ruth Crampton, Jo Gordon, Warwick Kiely and Gerard Charteris. Photo: Mary Anne Gill.

St John’s College Hamilton hospitality students, from left Aston Fitzgerald and Ben Vanderschantz with maths teacher and fill in waiter Jackie Shi at In the Frame, an art expo hosted by St John’s College Foundation to raise money for a new chapel at the school. Photo: Mary Anne Gill

Long-time Waikato Times feature editor and columnist Denise Irvine, who is also a marriage celebrant, caught up with Jane Thompson who won the open photography section at the Cambridge Autumn Festival. Thompson is the first bride Irvine married several years ago.

Photo: Mary Anne Gill.

The Waikato Modern Choir – Mosaic – in full voice during the Cambridge Autumn Festival. Photo: Mary Anne Gill.

Want Some Really Interesting Insights? – Podcast / Interview

An interview with Scott Pritchard, Chief Executive of Precinct Properties

https://youtu.be/RViSLH1U_

UE?si=IjyHkauJg6zIqm2Z

This is an insightful interview with Madison, that sheds light of debt levels, different funding sources and the benefits of having a portfolio of quality assets, evening in a challenging environment. Rarely are you given facts and figures in an openly candid forum. Well worth a watch and less than 20 minutes.

Real Estate of Mind – The REINZ Property Podcast

How to thrive in Commercial And Industrial real estate in 2024

https://open.spotify.com/ episode/1IG7uBk5sua08uY0Axial6

chance. It was interesting to note that in the United States, many corporates still work in cellular offices, have longer commutes and stayed away during the pandemic for longer, hence a habit that has been more difficult to break.

Retail & Industrial

While it is not a new, we now see an increased and direct intertwining of retail and how it is connected to logistics. Tainui Group Holdings and the Ruakura Inland Port highlights this, with the K-Mart distribution centre eventually removing 65,000 long haul truck journeys off the road annually, within the golden triangle.

MORTGAGE ADVICE

New Zealand doesn’t have a true capital gains tax when it comes to the property market (something that property investors, economists and central government are divided upon) but we do have a funny little piece of tax legislation called the Bright Line Test.

And there have been some big changes announced to the current rules in March, which have the potential to change the game for property investors and make it cool (and financially beneficial) to own multiple properties once again.

So what’s this “test” and how does it affect the market?

By CLAIRE WILLIAMSON

Brighter times ahead?

affecting the availability of rental properties in the market.

What has concerned me is that the supply of new rentals had dried up – and the incentives to build new, with cheaper lending options, weren’t large enough to cover the significant drop in yields for investors.

After all, we have to look at this like any business – is the return on the capital required to run the business significant enough to warrant the risk of purchasing a property in an uncertain market, topping up the mortgage, finding good quality tenants, and meeting all the government obligations? For many would-be investors, that risk was too high, and cashflow wasn’t there, so they chose to invest in shares, funds, or businesses.

Andrew Stringer, Managing Director of CBRE New Zealand, and Carl Johnson of NAI Harcourts in Invercargill, join host Jen Baird of REINZ to discuss trends in C&I real estate, how businesses are thinking about people and property in a post covid world, and how data is shaping future demand.

Retail is either about experience or convenience. Experience where you stay longer and enjoy the whole experience, not just the purchase experience, and convenience where its super slick and easy. Therefore, it highlights how malls are better able to control the shopping environment, than high streets.

What is the market needing, to generate activity ?

What I took out of it, is that the market is much more sophisticated and educated today. There is no doubt, currently it’s a challenging environment out there. But we live in a cyclical world, so it’s more about being mindful of the depth and length of these cycles, such as the one we are in today. We are bottoming out, so the question remains when will we see lift-off ? the second half of 2024 appears to be the stronger bet.

Office

Occupier demand is being driven by location, amenity (within the building or adjacent) and quality of the space. There is positivity at one end of the market – and significant challenges at the other, as this drive to quality continues for businesses looking to attract and retain staff. For those at the “other end” of the quality scale, reduced rental invariably means reduced value.

As with all businesses, we need to look at how people are working and how they want to work. Businesses will continue to evaluate what their footprints look like - decisions need to be made that bring people back into the office, more often than not. The biggest challenge as a leader in a business is culture - and culture can’t be left to

• Reliability of outlook, which appears to be getting closer. CPI figures are progressively looking more positive

• Greater certainty around government policy. This relates to infrastructure and how its going to be funded. Government and Council processes just take too long. It’s unfortunate, but sometimes a quick no, can be better than a long yes.

Business Fundamentals

Not just in commercial real estate, but there were a number of take outs for many industries, as it relates to success, particularly for those that are self employed.

“You won’t always be motivated, so you must always be disciplined”

Andrew Stringer

• The best lessons are often the hard ones.

• Trust is something that doesn’t happen overnight – its something that you continue to build and therefore continues to grow.

Integrity comes from repeat business, which is built on trust and

I would strongly suggest that anyone with an interest in commercial and industrial real estate, should watch the interview with Scott Pritchard and listen to the Podcast with Andew Stringer and Carl Johnson – there will be take outs for everyone.

Put simply, the Bright Line Test requires income tax to be paid on the capital gain on a property between the time it is purchased and sold. But the most relevant part is the length of time an investor must wait before they are no longer required to pay tax.

The previous government, under pressure amid a red hot property market in 2020 and 2021, extended the bright line test out to 5 years for new build homes, and 10 years for existing homes. This meant that if a property was bought and sold within those time frames, there would be tax payable on any capital gain.

They also reduced the ability for residential property investors to claim the cost of loan interest as an expense to their businesses, a move that put a lot of highly leveraged owners under financial pressure.

In a simple example, an investor who may have borrowed $500,000 to purchase a property which received $500 a week in rent is now paying just under $35,000 a year in interest costs, and receiving just over $25,000 a year in rent.

They’re covering an extra $10,000 year over and above the rent they receive, and with interest deductibility removed (or treated as if it doesn’t exist as an expense), they were also paying income tax on the rent, of around $8500.

Plenty would say this isn’t a bad thing, and that investors and developers had benefited significantly from the gains since Covid19, but the reality we’ve seen has been the “Mum and Dad investors” battling to cover their tax obligations, and this in turn

The new government sees this differently and has made some big changes to the way they’ll treat residential property investors heading forward. They’ve reduced the Bright Line Test to two years rather than 10 years, and will phase interest deductibility back in over the next two financial years.

With surging migration and still a relative lack of new build properties as rising costs of building has slowed or put a stop to projects, property is still in demand, and it just got a little bit more attractive to own one.

Does that mean the housing market is going to surge? I don’t think so.

With interest rates till at decade long highs and most mainstream banks offering one year rates in the late six, there are still plenty of people who don’t meet the criteria for purchasing multiple properties, and few investors are seeing yields that match or get close to their expense costs to run a property.

But I do think the changes announced will support modest capital growth across our region in 2024-2025. The Official Cash Rate is expected to decline in the coming years and that will relieve rate pressure from most households.

So while the horizon isn’t likely to bring sunshine and rainbows anytime soon, there are bright sparks out there we certainly can’t ignore.

• Claire Williamson is a mortgage advisor for My Mortgage

TOURISM Industry in danger

We knew this year would be challenging with our six funding councils looking at their Long Term Plans (LTP) for the 2025-2035 period, with all areas of the budget coming under close scrutiny.

Based on what we know from the consultation process so far, we have grave and growing concerns about proposed council funding cuts for Hamilton and Waikato Tourism (HWT) and the resulting impact on our Waikato visitor sector.

At a meeting last November, Hamilton City councillors voted in favour of the draft LTP budget with a 50 per cent cut to funding for HWT, equating to $357,000.

Similar funding reductions are being tabled by some of the other five Waikato councils that partner us – Waipā District Council is proposing a 20 per cent decrease, Waikato District Council a 50 per cent reduction, Waitomo District Council have indicated a significant cut, Matamata-Piako District Council are proposing to hold and at

By NICOLA GREENWELL

the time of writing this, Ōtorohanga District Council is yet to confirm their funding decision.

HWT’s annual operating budget at $1.343 million is already one of the lowest across the country – only three of New Zealand’s 31 regional tourism organisations receive less per capita. The relatively small savings in council budgets will have a huge impact on our activity and will put at risk millions of dollars in visitor spending, which impacts business sustainability and jobs.

Currently, tourism directly employs more than 12,000 people across the region and is a key contributor to the region’s GDP, providing $1.9billion a year in visitor spending - adding an average of $5.1 million each day to the region’s economy.

It provides jobs, enriches culture and provides community vibrancy through its support for cafes, restaurants, hospitality venues and events in our city and towns.

Leading a team in tune

Catherine Gibson knew as soon as she picked up the oboe it was her musical instrument of choice. Senior writer Mary Anne Gill finds out where that passion led her.

An orchestra is like a rugby team, made up of assorted sizes and shapes who all know what their roles and positions are.

Catherine Gibson, the Hamilton-based chief executive of Orchestras Central - Ngā Tira Pūoru o te Pokapū – can spot whether someone is playing an instrument they are comfortable with like a rugby coach can pick a hooker or a flanker.

She gives herself as an example. Born in England and raised in Loughborough in the Midlands, Gibson’s parents were wondering which instrument their daughter might be interested in.

There was never any doubt.

“Oboe – it’s always the one I chose as a child,” she recalls.

“It was the sound. It’s very beautiful. It plays a really important part in the orchestra and often has beautiful solos to play.”

And it is the oboe which even today, Gibson, now in her 60s, is passionate about.

An anonymous donor recently donated two oboes to Orchestras Central and you can bet she had a part

in that.

Gibson joined Orchestras Central three years ago as chief executive.

She began her musical career in the United Kingdom as a professional oboist, free-lancing with orchestras and small chamber groups that toured with music societies. She also managed the London Conchord Ensemble.

Gibson and her then husband, also an oboist, moved to New Zealand because they thought it was the best place to raise their two children Todd and Bryony – who went on to become professional musicians.

“He was always surrounded by ‘double reed’ madness,” says Gibson of Todd who is now a bassoonist with the Sydney Symphony Orchestra. Bryony is a violist with the Marmen Quartet, a London based chamber music group.

Gibson has spent most of her musical career teaching and says choosing the right instrument for people is crucial.

“You’ve got a student for the first time, you want to see if they have a spark, if they

have the feel, or the sound. You can usually find out quite quickly.”

Seeing her own children’s development in music makes Gibson attuned to the opportunities and challenges open to young New Zealand musicians.

She graduated from Victoria University with a Bachelor of Music in oboe performance and the history and literature of music then taught in central Otago and Canterbury.

“We lived in Christchurch when we had the earthquakes. That was really challenging, my kids were at school. The two to three years of aftershocks was exhausting.”

So, she moved to Wellington to work at Chamber Music New Zealand as artistic manager and then chief executive until April 2021.

Post Covid she was looking for other opportunities.

“The whole idea of wellbeing and social connectivity became hugely important.”

She secured the chief executive job at Orchestras Central and moved to the Waikato, settling in Cambridge.

Every year more than 10,000 people end up connecting with one of the orchestras which take music out into communities – last year to Huntly, Te Awamutu, Putāruru, Raglan and into Cambridge for the Autumn Festival.

“Our mission is to connect with Waikato and the arts.”

Comfortable Classical has been an enormous success – the latest was held in the Cambridge Town Hall last month during the Autumn Festival.

“We’re never quite sure who will come. It’s really designed for people who feel uncomfortable in a normal

concert.”

The Orchestras Central Trust Ensemble played a sellout Vivaldi by Candelight concert at the festival and the Youth Orchestra wrapped the 10-day event up with its Fire and Romance concert.

Gibson is proud of the fact that people can now see more than 30 orchestral events a year in Waikato provided by over 300 musicians.

“The focus on the arts tends to be Auckland and Wellington. We’re changing that.”

Hamilton has first class facilities and places like the Cambridge Town Hall with its “amazing acoustics” can

provide a satellite venue for orchestral music.

Working in the Gallagher Academy of the Performing Arts at Waikato University –Orchestras Central’s strategic partner - is something Gibson adores. “I love the university campus. It’s beautiful.”

But it is music and getting it out to the masses which has always driven her since she started playing that oboe all those years ago.

“Music is an art form that can create all sorts of emotions, it has so much potential.

“If you change the life of one person, it’s going to have a knock on affect.”

Catherine Gibson backstage at Cambridge Town Hall checking out the lighting and acoustics for an orchestral performance. Photo: Mary Anne Gill.

A chapel in the frame

For 70 years, Waikato’s only Catholic secondary school boys’ college has been without a chapel. Senior writer Mary Anne Gill goes to an art expo which the foundation behind it hopes will have spiritual results.

If walls could talk, the old gymnasium at St John’s College in Hamilton would have hundreds of stories to tell.

Another one was added to the list last month with an art expo fundraiser.

In the Frame, organised by the St John’s College Foundation, ran over three days and featured the work of 56 artists and 148 artworks.

Curator Caroline Peacocke attracted a diverse group of artists and artistic expressions including work from current and past students, a staff member and parent.

Money raised from the expo – about a third of the artwork sold over the three days - goes towards repurposing the old gym into a multi-purpose space with a dedicated sanctuary area.

At a gala opening, principal Shane Tong said

the boys-only Catholic school – which opened on its Hillcrest Road site next to Waikato University in 1962 - did not have its own chapel.

“For many years, we’ve dreamt of St John’s College having a chapel onsite which will provide a sacred space for our students and wider community.”

The school could host a fortnightly Mass for its more than 500 students and provide performing art space for up to 100 people.

There would also be a quiet space for prayer and reflection.

Foundation chair David Kilbride of Cambridge, who attended the college from 1981-1985 and has a history in the agricultural industry, said he hoped the expo would bring the wider college community together, build connections and raise funds for the college.

The launch night featured

several old boys including new Catholic bishop Richard Laurenson, who attended the school at the same time as Tong, new papal knight Paul Barnett and business leaders from around the Waikato.

The school’s hospitality students prepared canapes and helped with service, other students set the event up, welcomed visitors and answered questions while the St John’s College Jazz combo entertained.

Marketing and Communications coordinator Gaby Douglas said the whole Catholic community came together to help.

The foundation – founded in 1999 - is a charitable trust which receives donations, grants and bequests on behalf of the school and organises fundraisers for projects such as the upgrade of the Number One playing field’s spectator area, the new Marcellin Centre gymnasium, the tennis and hockey centre and various scholarships.

Riding the Wave: The Rising Popularity of Business Events

2024 has kicked off with a series of Chamber events that have been a roaring success so much so that many have sold out and we’ve had to put people on waiting lists. It’s been wonderful to see our members using these events as opportunities to network, make new connections, and learn things along the way Many of our members are telling us that they are seeing the value in events from a networking perspective and that by attending, swapping business stories and

meeting new people, that’s translating into opportunities to grow their businesses.

Check out some of the photos below of this year ’s events.

2024 WAIK ATO BUSINESS AWARDS

The most highly anticipated business event of the year – Waikato Chamber of Commerce Business Awards, supported by Fosters Construction will take place on Friday 15 November at Globox Arena, Claudelands. Award entries open on Monday 29 April.

Thanks to our event sponsors:

I encourage you to take a look at our website for more information and to see what award category might suit your business. waikatochamber co.nz/waikato-business-awards/

There are many more events coming up so be sure to check out the events tab on the Chamber website and get in early to secure your spot. You can also check out our social media pages for any photos and videos we take at events of our speakers and guests.

Rebecca Aston, Events and Marketing Manager, Waikato Chamber of Commerce

Guests, including Bishop Richard Laurenson, at the In the Frame art fundraiser at St John’s College in Hamilton. Photo: Mary Anne Gill.

Consultation season

We’re very fortunate in New Zealand to live in a fairly stable democracy. The flipside of this is that we’re generally becoming more apathetic, and often only engage with political issues after decisions have been made that affect us negatively.

We then typically ask why there wasn’t more consultation.

Well right now, in local government at least, there’s more consultation than you can shake a stick at. Local councils are facing a perfect storm of cost inflation, increased interest rates, and a drop in revenue, leaving a significant hole in their finances. They are therefore in the unenviable position of proposing double-digit rates increases, and seeking public feedback on a range of initiatives to reduce costs and increase revenue.

Hamilton City Council is consulting on its 2024-2034 Long Term Plan, closing on April 21. Alongside the LTP, the council is asking for feedback on their revenue and financing policy, rates remissions and postponements policy, development contributions policy and growth funding policy.

Some key points of interest from Hamilton City’s consultation include feedback on the proposed walking and cycling bridge, part of a contract with the Infrastructure Acceleration Fund which delivers $150 million of central government funding for HCC.

There is also a proposal to remove two hours free parking in the central city area and introduce ‘demand responsive pricing’ with new technology. Proposed Development Contributions are a significant increase, particularly in the Peacocke growth area and some infill areas.

By PHIL MACKAY

Matamata Piako District Council is also consulting on their Long Term Plan until April 21. It includes a range of proposals to limit new spending, while highlighting a few key projects that they view as priorities.

Waikato Regional Council is about to begin consultation (April 2 – May 2) on their Long Term Plan, which covers a host of environmental issues, Public Transport, flood protection and natural hazard infrastructure.

In Waipā District, council have opted for an “enhanced annual plan” process, which enables them to defer the Long Term Plan decision-making until next year.

Waipā is consulting to April 26 on proposed fees and charges and Cambridge Connections Of particular note is the Cambridge Connections transport plan.

Waipā is seeking feedback on options, which include potential locations for an additional bridge in Cambridge and the proposal to limit the existing Victoria (high-level) Bridge to pedestrian and cycle traffic only.

Likewise, Waikato District Council is presenting an enhanced annual plan which is also open for feedback until April 26.

Whether you’re concerned about increased rates or rent, or worried about service cuts or key projects, I strongly suggest you take the opportunity to have your say on the decisions that are being made by our local councils right now.

They can be easily found on most council websites, and while I’ve covered a few of the councils around the Hamilton Metro area here, other councils in the Waikato are also consulting.

• Phil Mackay is Business Development Manager for Paua Architects

The Cancer Society would like to thank the business community for supporting

Relay For Life

With your help, we can continue to support people with cancer and their whānau across the Waikato, giving them an easier path through their cancer journey.

Your support helps provide free accommodation at the Cancer Society’s Lions Lodge, transport to treatment, advice from an experienced nurse, access to counselling and more.

To find out more about what we do, please visit cancer.org.nz

Industry in danger

Our share of the market sees the Waikato ranked fifth highest when it comes to visitor spend and we host 9.7 per cent of all New Zealand business events, attracting 94,400 delegates last year.

So, some may say that tourism is already doing well and therefore continued sustained investment in regional tourism organisations (RTO) isn’t required. However, we know that the compounded investment to date in the RTO from our council partners has enabled and assisted these great results, and any significant funding cuts have the potential to have a devastating impact on the many Waikato businesses and residents that directly and indirectly rely on the visitor sector for their livelihoods.

National and international figures clearly show that reductions or cessation in investment creates a loss of momentum, and the growth trajectory and market share of visitators is detrimentally impacted.

In fact, it happened here before when the Waikato organisation was closed in 2006. There was a clear decline in visitor numbers, spend, bed nights and employment until 2011 when the RTO was re-established, and the growth trajectories began to return.

This is because it is the conductor of the visitor sector orchestra – working behind the scenes to bring the industry together and to facilitate, drive and enable growth. We

are the delivery arm for Councils to achieve success across many of LTP outcomes such as economic benefit, environmental care, infrastructure development and community pride. It is a partnership of mutual benefit, and the Council’s continued investment in the RTO should be viewed as an investment in the social, cultural, environmental and economic wellbeing of the communities we operate in.

Of course we understand, like all businesses, councils up and down the country are facing rising costs, tight budgets, and tough decisions; some of which are needed to reset the fiscal situation into the future. However, as a high performing and valuable sector, their investment and partnership in tourism and the hundreds of local jobs and millions of dollars in visitor spending should not be sacrificed.

Public consultation on the city and districts’ draft Long-Term Plans takes place in March and April, and we encourage everyone who directly and indirectly benefits from the visitor sector to have their say.

Now is the time for people to stand up for tourism, events and hospitality sectors and the multitude of flow-on benefits they provide to Waikato communities - there’s too much at risk not to.

• Nicola Greenwell is Chief Executive, Hamilton and Waikato Tourism

Wānanga’s new scholarships

Two new Te Wānanga o Aotearoa scholarships honour men who were crucial to its establishment.

The wānanga relaunched scholarships last year and is adding three news ones in 2024.

Te Tumuaki Rongo H Wetere Scholarship recognises a tauira Māori who is the first in their whānau to study at a tertiary level.

Boy Mangu Mātauranga Māori Waharoa Scholarship recognises a tauira who

demonstrates their commitment to the advancement of mātauranga Māori by studying a mātauranga programme.

The third new scholarship is the Te Pou Postgraduate Diploma Kaitiakitanga L8 Scholarship which is awarded to a registered health professional who is enrolled in the Postgraduate Diploma in Kaitiakitanga L8 programme. Applications for the scholarships run to June 30.

Creating strong foundations to thrive

Nestled in the suburb of Te Rapa in Hamilton is a haven for young minds – the Barnardos Early Learning Centre. Led by Centre Manager Paridhi Bohra, this vibrant space fosters the love of learning for tamariki in the community.

With over a decade of experience, Paridhi understands the crucial role early learning plays. With the team, they champion tamariki by providing a supportive environment during their critical first 1000 days, a period when 80% of a child’s brain development occurs.

“We believe each child deserves the best start. Our team nurtures a love of learning through engaging activities, ensuring their social, emotional and learning development thrive so they are set up for life,” Paridhi says.

The centre provides a space that tamariki can grow and flourish in. With light-filled rooms and a spacious outdoor playground, it provides a nurturing environment that is also adventurous. Their focus extends to healthy development with a revamped food menu offering free nutritious meals for the wellbeing of tamariki. They also provide fee exemptions for the first three months of enrolment.

Enrol your child today at Barnardos Early Learning Te Rapa. Visit Barnardosearlylearning.org.nz or call 0800 227 627

The Te Rapa centre offers a unique whānau support system within the centre. As the largest not-for-profit early learning provider, they prioritise accessibility with flexible options.

“We’re a family here. We understand that whānau needs may vary, so we provide support where we can to address those needs and empower whānau to build a solid beginning for their tamariki.”

The early learning centre is a part of the wider Barnardos Aotearoa whānau, New Zealand’s leading children’s charity.

Centre Manager Paridhi Bohra

Great lives start at Southwell

In 1921 Southwell boarding started with a gift and since then the Southwell Boarding House has sat at the heart of the school and served thousands of students as a home away from home.

A World-Class education in the Heart of the Waikato, Hamilton City, inspiring and nurturing Year 1 to Year 8 boys and girls. Growing great people since 1911.

That’s the aim of Southwell School, a day and boarding school nestled in 32 acres of parklike grounds just 1.5km from the city centre. Southwell has a unique village feel with its magni cent 1920’s architecture emphasised throughout its campus.

With 112 years of tradition to build on, the school puts the focus rmly on personalising its students’ learning, building relationships and developing character.

The new, state-of-the-art Boarding House has been made possible through the immense generosity of Otorohanga couple John and Sarah Oliver and their significant gift towards the construction of the new Boarding House.

John attended Southwell from 1946 to 1950. His uncle Mr Robert Oliver was Southwell’s first student and his father, Ian and uncle Brian attended a few

“Southwell prides itself in offering an educational experience designed to inspire individual achievement, strong personal values and con dence in life”, Headmaster Jason Speedy says. Its commitment to small class sizes and continued enhancement of its programme and facilities. The campus is world class, including a recently opened modern Junior School

years later. John and Sarah’s son, 17 grandchildren and many extended family have also attended Southwell with the majority of them boarding. The Oliver family’s loyalty and commitment to Southwell stems back five generations to John’s grandmother Violet Constance Oliver who during the 1920’s was able to financially support the school during difficult times.

featuring exceptional classroom spaces, with breakaway and multi-purpose areas and a purpose built Alumni Sports Pavilion where we can come together through sport. Currently under construction are a new purpose built Boarding House and a 25m Swimming Pool.

Southwell Boarders are able to make the most of the magni cent campus and are drawn from the Waikato and beyond. “We have a group of around 40-50 boarders from Year 5 to 8”, Jason says. The routines, structure and care aim to provide a home-like atmosphere where each student’s academic, social, physical and emotional wellbeing occur seamlessly, and their life skills are developed like no other environment.

John and Sarah’s ethos of ‘Give with a living hand’ has enabled this impressive project to come to life, for the benefit of many Southwell generations to come.

Whether it is in performing arts, sports or academic achievement, an extensive range of specialist teaching is offered. Specialist classes are taught by quali ed, specialist teachers in well-resourced facilities.

All learning is underpinned by the Southwell values: Integrity, Respect, Caring, Resilience, Creativity and Excellence.

BE THE BEST YOU CAN BE

Be the Best You Can Be

Southwell School’s New Boarding House

“Boarding is in Southwell’s DNA and five years ago we started to develop ideas of what a new Boarding House would look like”, Headmaster Jason Speedy says.

Boarding allows families from within the Waikato and other regions to gain a Southwell education and for local families to gain from the immense benefits of boarding.

Boarding is an education in itself, where the skills of developing relationships and learning to be tolerant, patient, accepting, collaborative and developing independence is constant.”

Jason Speedy believes boarding leaves a significant impression on the mind and manner during these incredibly shaping years that lasts a lifetime.

John and Sarah Oliver

Mechanical & manufacturing Engineering

We design, analyse, manufacture and maintain mechanical, industrial and engineered products and systems since 1954. We also provide structural steel components for high end architectural and residential

Our

Very flexible and adaptable to family needs and situations.

• Family-style environment with tremendous leisure and relaxation zones, passive to sporting, just a stride away.

• Students arrive for their weekly boarding either on a Sunday evening or Monday morning and go home for the weekend either Friday afternoon or after Saturday sport.

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Re ections Head Boarders

Ryan and his team are proud to be assoicated with the

Maddy Darke

This is my second year boarding and I have loved every moment of it and made lots of friends and met lots of great people.

The things I most love about boarding is how everyone looks out for each other and we’re all a big family with our own silly little quirks and funny personalities. I also love the environment the Tutors and Housemasters encourage, and seeing everyone grow and help each other out.

I love how the Boarding staff plan fun events and activities like baking nights and valentine celebrations.

Fiachra Kelly

In the Boarding House I enjoy the nice mix of freedom and structure. I particularly enjoy going over to the music room after school and playing the drums. I also enjoy playing basketball with the tutors and the other boarders.

One of my favourite meals here at Southwell would have to be the steak that we have at Southwell barbecues together with chips and mashed potato. I enjoy the company of my friends because they let me be myself and we enjoy each other’s company.

The tutors here at Southwell inspire me to help other people succeed and achieve great things in life. I might become a tutor here myself when I finish school. In the past three years I have met so many new people from around the world and I have made some lifelong friends.

Head Boarders Maddy Darke and Fiachra Kelly

Friendship forged

Afriendship forged when two boys first started school at the age of 5, is the basis for the success of Switched on Electrical, a business that this year, celebrates its 20th anniversary.

Growing up together, and entering the same trade as electricians meant Michael Horsburgh and Paul O’Donnell had the unique ability of understanding each other’s dreams and aspirations right from the very beginning.

Sharing those dreams and aspirations while learning their trade meant that it was always going to happen that the pair were going to go into business and in 2004, that dream became a reality.

Since then, the consistent drive to provide Hamilton and the greater Waikato with secondto-none service, the answers to any electrical problem and being first port-of-call when it comes to

Your guarantee of excellence

“We are proud to say we’ve become the most trusted and reliable electrical business in the Waikato”

understanding and applying new technology in the sector, has seen the business grow to become one of the first names customers look

for when they have an electrical need.

“We are proud to say we’ve become the most trusted and reliable

electrical business in the Waikato,” Paul says.

And it’s not surprising.

The services Switched on Electrical offer aren’t just the standard ones you’d expect from a respected firm.

‘We are available 24 hours a day, seven days a week – if you have an electrical emergency, we can be there to help you with it,” Michael says.

For example, residential homes and rental properties often require regular maintenance of their electrical systems, which is crucial to ensure it remains safe and works efficiently.

Some older homes need checking to be sure the wiring isn’t in need of replacing as components wear out and old wiring becomes a potential fire hazard.

Switched On Electrical offers routine maintenance services, including inspections, testing and upgrades to meet current safety codes and regulations as well as Healthy Homes requirements. Their experienced team can help you identify potential issues, before they become major problems that

From left to right company directors Michael Horsburgh & Paul O’Donnell on Switched on Electricals’ first day 4 February 2004

Continued from previous could cost you thousands and make recommendations to improve your home’s electrical systems.

Some of the services

Switched On offer are:

• Electrical installs and repairs such as power points, light switches, light fittings etc

• Hot water cylinder repairs

• Stove and oven install and repairs

• Rangehood installs and repairs

• TV, internet and phone outlets

• Extractor fan installs and repairs

• Ventilation system installs and repairs

• Spa pools

• Swimming pools

• Heat pump installs, servicing and repairs

• Lighting design and installation for both indoors and outdoors

• Switchboard upgrades

• Security systems

• Complete house re-wire New builds come with their own set of requirements and this doesn’t matter whether it is residential, commercial or business.

Your guarantee of excellence

From installing temporary builders supply, to mains power and trenching, through to the design and installation for new builds, Switched on Electrical can do it all.

Technology is such today that many things can be operated from apps and phones and often, smart home technology requires electrical know-how to ensure it runs smoothly.

Switched On Electrical can work with designers, builders and clients and their budgets every step of the way to make sure this is done.

Getting the electrical fit-out right is a vital part of building a comfortable new home. Switched On Electrical will make sure all the fundamental products and features that you need to consider when building a new home are covered and used.

Some of these might include:

• Lighting design and Installation

• Electrical wiring

• Home automation

• Home theatre systems

• Heat pumps

• Ventilation systems

• Exterior lighting design and installation

• Security systems

• Whole home Wifi solutions Then there are the outdoor areas of your home – whether new or existing. There is so much that can be done with exterior living spaces today, from garden lighting or heating, electric gates and security lights, through to water features, spa or swimming pools, security cameras – even installing fully functional outdoor kitchens.

For commercial and business fitouts, from small to medium commercial shops and offices to large shopping malls, office complexes, and industrial-sized electrical systems, the same attention to detail applies, especially when dealing with much more complex situations.

Some of the areas Switched on Electrical works with include:

• Lighting designs, upgrades, installations, repairs and maintenance

• Retail shop and office electrical and lighting fit-outs

• Testing and tagging as per AS/ NZS standards

• Switchboard maintenance

• Electrical Inspections

• Wiring for refurbished or new buildings

• Fault Finding

• Three phase outlets

Another area that is often overlooked in today’s times the pair says is that of the pre-purchase electrical inspection. In much the same way as it’s becoming very much standard practice to have a building inspection, the same is beginning to happen in terms of an electrical inspection.

You don’t want to get a nasty shock when buying your new home, rental property or commercial building.

“Our electricians will carry out a visual inspection on the property you are considering that would typically include such things as the health of the switchboard, the hot water system, oven/hob/ rangehood and check all the light fittings, switches and power points are in working order” Paul says.

It will also include any heat pumps, or if there is a swimming pool, the pump or heater on that.

“Any other electrical appliances that may also be considered part of the sale will be looked at.”

The award-winning team at Linecrest Homes are experienced and reliable and would love to bring your next home to life

Our company philosophy is to complete everything to a standard we are proud of, and to build homes that we would be happy to live in ourselves.

forward to many more projects together.

A detailed report is provided identifying any areas in your potential investment that may need either attention or repair, both imminently or in the future.

This is particularly a good idea if you are looking to purchase a home as an investment, where the Healthy Homes Act comes into effect – with the final date for this

Apprentices

From what started as a switched on pair, has now grown to 17 electricians and two dedicated administration staff at Switched On Electrical.

The Hamilton-based electrical firm now in its 20th year prides itself on the sustained training of top-class electricians from start to finish who are taught to the same exacting standards of finish work as the company principals Paul O’Donnell and Michael Horsburgh.

“We enjoy taking on challenges, finding solutions and solving electrical problems and we pass this ethic onto our staff,” Paul says.

“When they see customers delighted that Switched on Electrical has solved a problem that no one else has been able to solve, it makes their day.”

being July 2024.

Switched On Electrical specialises in supplying and installing reliable and cost-effective appliances such as heat pumps, flat panel wall heaters, ventilation systems, kitchen rangehoods and bathroom extractor fans, to ensure your rental property meets the Healthy Homes Standards.

The team values shared by Michael and Paul influence the strong team ethic of every staff member.

“We encourage our electricians to all draw on each other’s experience and knowledge to collectively problem solve and provide practical electrical solutions,” Michael says.

Switched on Electrical has a policy of engaging apprentices (up to six at any one time) to ensure the continuity of good practice in the profession.

“Our apprentices are trained and supervised by those with experience, and are expected to deliver the same high standard of work as their supervisors,” Michael says.

“It is a real source of pride when our apprentices gain their registration through their work with Switched on Electrical.”

Christmas cards

One of the most looked forward to events on the Switched on Electrical calendar is the annual Staff Christmas card.

What started back in 2006; as a way to show thanks to their customers for the support they had shown during the year and to wish them a Merry Christmas, has now turned into a Switched on Electrical tradition. Sent out to all its clients for the first time in 2006, the cards

feature the caricatures of all of the staff in an amusing scene put together by a local Hamilton artist.

“This has become something really looked forward to by our existing clients,” director Michael Horsburgh says.

“We try and make sure our talented staff are show casted in almost realistic likeness and I’m sure, after eighteen years, there’s more than a few collections that have been started.”

Workmanship Guarantee

Switched on Electrical prides itself on the standard of its workmanship to the extent it offers, as members of Master Electricians, the $20,000 workmanship guarantee.

What this means is that in the very unlikely event of a problem occurring against its members who offer this, claims against workmanship for residential prescribed electrical work are considered under the terms of the guarantee.

The claim period is up to 12 months after either the date the contract work was completed or the date given on the Certificate of Compliance (COC), whichever is the later.

Michael Horsburgh and Paul O’Donnell believe strongly in their top class standards of workmanship and are happy to offer the workmanship guarantee to their clients, believing it gives added assurance to any project their clients are undertaking.

“We believe that every job carried out by our team deserves the Switched on Electrical Guarantee of Excellence no matter the size of the job.”

Your guarantee of excellence

Looking to the future

Looking forward to the next 20 years Paul says they are excited to see what new and exciting developments will happen as the business moves forward into a a time of rapidly developing technology.

“We wish to say a big “thank you” to all the hundreds of customers who have supported us over the years, you helped us get to where we are today and to all our new customers, we look forward to meeting you and providing you with Switched On Electricals first-

class service and Guarantee of Excellence,” Paul says.

“And finally – we wouldn’t be where we are today without the fantastic team we have,” Micheal says. “I’d like to acknowledge them all for all of the work they have done over the years to get us where we are today and look forward to continuing to work with them in the future – a big thanks to them all,”

Michael says.

Bringing in the required workforce Property and Development across Waikato

As the city continues its inexorable business growth, Hamilton is also home to two of the country’s largest subdivisions; Peacocke and Te Awa Lakes.

The former, a 720ha development which had its beginnings originally in the Waipa area more than 30 years ago, is now underway with the help of Government funding to the tune of $290 million through its Housing Infrastructure Fund in 2019.

Some $100.1million of that was a subsidy from Waka Kotahi NZTA to help with roading infrastructure required to bring such an ambitious growth project to fruition.

It’s thought it will take another 30 years for it to be fully completed, but once done, will see more than 8000 homes for more than 20,000 Hamiltonians.

Some 100ha of the land available will be kept in its natural state, with more than 45kms of it Waikato River frontage, some of the regions unique gully systems and an archaeological reserve close to Nukuhau Pa in the south eastern corner of it.

In 2021, the resource consent was granted for 830 residential sections in the Amberfield area, using more than 109ha of land and featuring a town centre

Changing the face of building

The ability to save up to 70% of energy costs when building a new home isn’t something to be taken lightly. Yet it is a basic tenet of any home that is built using the Structurally Insulated Panels (SIPs) method.

For Cambridge builders Shaun and Vanessa Higgins, whose company Higgs Building Co has been using the system to build high-performance homes for more than three years, there simply is no better system in the New Zealand market place.

“This system is ideal for passive house design, as it creates an airtight envelope with ease,” Shaun says.

“New Zealand’s Building Code is full of patched up holes as we try and find solutions for energy efficient sustainable homes,” Shaun says. Yet SIPs, he says, are a solution to all those holes.

As a certified passive house tradesperson himself, he knows what that entails. Passive homes are built on five principles; using a passive energy modeling program, the plans take into account everything from solar positioning, specific high-performance windows and doors, heat recovery ventilation, airtight building envelope, super insulated insulation, and thermal

in addition to the sections. The area, sited between the Waikato River and Peacocke’s Rd, is already well underway.

For Te Awa Lakes, the concept is a showcase of the new subdivision designs of this century, where careful attention has been made to provide for mixed housing models ranging from large homes on good sized lots overlooking the Waikato River, through to apartments on the waterfront of the lakes which form part of project, based around the old sand quarry which is the basis of the project at Horotiu. The stages feature shopping areas, as well as business precincts – even leisure time has been carefully inserted into the mix with the 70-kilometre-long Te Awa River Ride, local nature walks, Ngāruawāhia Golf Course, Horsham Downs Golf Course and Waikato Equestrian Centre all catering to active lifestyles.

It is designed to have 2500 homes for around 6000 Hamiltonians in the completed concept.

While the biggest, these are just two of a large number of large subdivisions that are either underway or nearing completion in the planning works that are bringing into the region the net migration the city needs.

Hamilton mayor Paula Southgate

agrees with others that there are very good reasons why Hamilton is New Zealand’s fastest growing and a thriving city.

“Firstly, we are the heart of a productive and innovative region and strategically well placed between the two big cities, and sea ports, of Auckland and Tauranga, known as the Golden Triangle,” she says.

“We also have significant inland ports and a good transportation network. We have a diverse economy that includes a strong tech sector, agricultural manufacturing, education, and logistics.

“We also have a young and talented workforce. A key role for Council has been and remains making sure we grow well. This means making sure we have enough land, in the right places, with the right infrastructure in place to support our

communities so Hamilton continues to be a great place to live, and we have done this.

“We have big infrastructure projects under way, in partnership with Government, in Peacocke and the central city to unlock more housing in key growth areas. Peacocke alone will eventually be home to up to 20,000 people.”

She says the fact that existing businesses are choosing to invest in Hamilton, and in turn providing employment opportunity for people, “is an indication we're doing something right.”

“And let’s not forget that people want a good quality lifestyle outside of work. I believe we have that. We have a wonderful green and vibrant river city, that is easy to live in and fun.”

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bridging, which is minimizing heat loss potential via doors and windows. A passive home must be certified as such before it can claim that title.

Instead of the conventional framing and studs, SIPs are panels constructed of sustainable timber sandwiching rigid foam. These are put together to provide a watertight and airtight envelope which provides an energy-efficient, better living environment.

“It does speed up the building process; you can work on both interior and exterior at the same time, which is useful in terms of time frames.

Additionally, other high-performance products like MaxRaft floor slabs and either U-PVC windows or the APL thermally broken Centrafix exterior joinery system which boosts thermal performance by between 20% to 30%, are critical. A ventilation and heat transfer system provide the home with continuous fresh air and help regulate indoor air quality and temperature. With all these elements taken into account in a high-performance home,

the temperature remains consistently around 20°C to 22°C throughout the year.

Shaun sees the passive home building as the way New Zealand will go, seeing as how much of the world has already put their own building codes into place based on this. “Scotland has just done it, the UK is about to – Switzerland and Germany – which started it in the first place – have been doing it for years. New Zealand, unfortunately, tends to be 20 to 30 years behind the times, but there is a strong movement towards being more energy efficient and in countries like ours, that’s a necessity. For too long, we’ve had to live in cold homesin winter and homes that overheat in summer – and that often includes new homes that are being built even today.”

Councils are taking to the system well, he says.

“The company we use has a design guide where everything goes back to 3604 in the Building Code, so councils we’ve worked with have been quite comfortable in the implementation of it.”

Builders, long used to more conventional ways, are also slowly coming round to the new system. “It is a different way of construction, but an easier one for the most. And certainly, more architects are using it as well.”

The new homes that Higgs Building Co builds are done so in conjunction with architects and other construction trades with the same philosophies of providing better, stronger, and more sustainable homes for future generations. They are homes that will stand the test of time in providing the best available living environments –something Shaun and Vanessa remain passionate about.

Address: 31 Oliver St, Cambridge

Phone: Shaun Higgins - 022 6107144

Website: www.higgsbuilding.co.nz

FROM LEFT: Shaun Higgins - owner of Higgs Building co working on a high performance home, installing SIP wall panels; The latest high performance SIPs home, with roof panels being installed.

Exciting Developments Unfold at Greenhill Park

Greenhill Park continues to uphold its reputation as a sought-after residential subdivision. With sections maintaining steady demand despite market fluctuations, Greenhill Park remains a vibrant hub of activity, having already sold over 20 sections in the first months of 2024.

Brendon Hewett, General Manager of Chedworth Properties, reiterates the attractiveness of the subdivision, highlighting its thriving community spirit, convenient proximity to the upcoming Neighbourhood Centre, easy access to the Waikato Expressway, and a short commute to the city center.

“Greenhill Park epitomizes the perfect blend of modern living and natural beauty, offering families an ideal canvas to build their dream homes amidst native plants, open parks and essential amenities,” states Mr Hewett.

With only 14 of the 33 lots remaining in Stage 20, these sections are expected to quickly find new owners, building upon the legacy of previous successful releases.

Limited sections are also available across Stages 18, 19, and 25A, featuring various lot sizes, including high-density options in Stage 25A, priced from $376,625 to $523,250 incl GST (if any).

Design and consenting work has commenced on the Greenhill Park Neighbourhood Centre. The centre, which will form a new hub for Greenhill Park will include a Childcare Centre, Supermarket, Café/Restaurant, Medical Centre and Pharmacy, along with 12 retail spaces for a range of different services such as hairdressers.

“We are really excited about the upcoming Neighbourhood Centre and

it’s great to be progressing into the detailed design and consenting work. We feel this will be a great addition not only for Greenhill Park, and for Hamilton City as it will provide an upmarket high amenity space for people to come and enjoy”.

The consenting of the project is

expected to commence through 2024 and physical works to get underway in 2025/26. Tenancies are available and the team welcome enquiry for any potential business interested in in the centre. More information on the centre is available at https://www.greenhillpark. co.nz/neighbourhood-centre/

The ongoing development on Webb Drive marks another milestone for Greenhill Park, with the imminent completion of a swale stormwater management system, facilitating future growth while preserving environmental integrity. This infrastructure, along with the upcoming connectivity through

The new 900m long stormwater swale to Webb commitment ethos. core, community completion, already

to the Ruakura Superhub provided by Webb Drive, reinforces Greenhill Park’s commitment to its “Live, Work, Play” ethos. Nestled northeast of Hamilton’s core, Greenhill Park promises a thriving community of over 1,500 homes upon completion, with over 500 homes already occupied. Its extensive green

Recently completed Stage 20

spaces, wetlands, and recreational facilities underscore its commitment to fostering a high quality environment for its residents.

For those keen to be part of this great community, Brendon Hewett invites inquiries on 0800 639 929 or through the website www.greenhillpark.co.nz.

Hamilton Christian School’s roll has grown hugely, increasing from 440 students in 2020 to more than 900 today.

To cater for this growth, Hamilton Christian Schools Incorporated (HCS Inc), which owns the state-integrated school’s land and buildings, launched an extensive campus upgrade in 2020.

Operations Executive, Esré Bezuidenhout, said HCS Inc approached Fosters based on their reputation for building excellence, and they were immediately impressed.

“We found we had values that aligned,” she said. “When people walk through my door, I put everything aside to help them, and I felt Fosters did the same for us.”

The total project includes the construction of two new blocks (I and J) featuring multiple classroom spaces, with outdoor learning environments, playgrounds and a gym to be added later.

Through Early Contractor Involvement (ECI), Fosters was engaged from the outset.

“It wouldn’t have come together as well if the builders weren’t in the room from the start,” Esré said. “They knew what we could achieve on the budget we had, and they brought a lot of pragmatism to the table, which

For Fosters, it’s not just about winning a project; they really care about what happens here at our school and they want to see us succeed.

Esré Bezuidenhout, Operations Executive Hamilton Christian Schools Incorporated

meant we would never go off on a tangent. They were always looking at ways to save us time and money.”

Fosters ran the project on an open-book basis to give the board complete budget transparency.

“There was never a point where we felt we couldn’t ask questions,” Esré said. “We had full access to all of the invoices throughout the whole tender process.”

The company also used its expertise to suggest best-fit subcontractors.

“I can’t remember a single time when we pushed back on one of their recommendations,” Esré said.

“Fosters have all the relationships within the industry; they’re very wellknown and the tradies enjoy working with them. I was really impressed with them in that space.”

She feels the company’s biggest strength lies in its client relationships.

“For Fosters, it’s not just about winning a project; they really care about what happens here at our school and they want to see us succeed,” she said.