Can employees damage their employer’s public image and reputation outside work? Page 2
CAMPUS LAND LOCKED
Two recent acquisitions and plans for a marine facility position Waikato University. Page 5
PRINCIPALS
Two Rotorua teachers from the same school are on a national leadership pathway.
11
AND ABOUT We were in Rotorua at a BA5, Tauranga for the business awards and at the Flavours launch.
Bay of Plenty exporters are emerging as early winners from New Zealand’s new free trade agreement with India, which removes barriers and opens preferential access to one of the world’s fastest growing markets. David Porter and Mary Anne Gill investigate.
AFree Trade Agreement between New Zealand and India is reshaping export prospects for Bay of Plenty businesses, with tariff reductions and new market certainty expected to drive growth across food, forestry and value‑added manufacturing.
Trade and Agriculture
Minister Todd McClay says the agreement dismantles obstacles that have historically limited New Zealand’s competitiveness in India, eliminating or reducing tariffs on 95 percent of exports. More than half will be duty‑free from day one, rising to over 80 percent once the deal is fully implemented.
The agreement gives regional exporters greater
confidence to invest, he says. Certainty at the border makes businesses more willing to commit capital, build supply chains and form long‑term relationships.
That certainty now applies to a market of 1.4 billion people, including a rapidly expanding middle class with a growing appetite for premium food products, processed timber and specialist manufacturing areas where Bay of Plenty firms already have strong capability.
Priority One chief executive Dave Courtney says free trade agreements create momentum that builds over time for regional exporters.
“When you’ve got the relationship and trade starts
to flow, you have the ability to refine it and improve the agreement over time,” he says.
Tauranga‑based mānuka honey producer Comvita is among the companies assessing what the agreement could unlock. India has, for the first time in any free trade agreement, agreed to preferential market access for mānuka honey, alongside apples and kiwifruit.
“The India trade deal is a milestone for Aotearoa New Zealand,” Comvita chief executive Karl Gradon says.
“We’re hopeful that with this new market opening, more global customers will be able to access the proven benefits of mānuka honey.”
Bay of Plenty’s
horticulture and apiculture sectors are widely seen as well positioned as tariff reductions improve competitiveness for premium products in a price‑sensitive market. The agreement also delivers what McClay describes as a world‑first outcome for kiwifruit, with duty‑free access for a large quota nearly four times current export volumes and a reduced tariff applying outside that quota.
Forestry and wood processing also loom large for the region, particularly as India looks beyond raw log imports to higher‑value building materials and structural timber. New Zealand previously exported about $300 million worth
of wood products to India, trade which stalled after regulatory changes around fumigation.
Those issues have now been resolved and log exports have resumed, but the greater opportunity lies in processed timber.
“Our preference is value‑added products, not just logs,” says McClay.
“The more processing done in New Zealand, the better the outcome for jobs and regional growth.”
He rejects suggestions that New Zealand lacks processing capacity, pointing to reopened and expanding mills in places such as Whakatāne exporting structural timber into overseas markets.
The agreement is also designed to level the playing field in sectors where tariffs have previously distorted competition.
McClay points to lamb exports as a cautionary example. Before Australia signed its own agreement with India in 2022, New Zealand supplied about 89 percent of India’s imported lamb. Today, around 91 percent comes from Australia.
“That’s not because Australian lamb is better,” he says.
“It’s because a 30 percent tariff at the border makes it almost impossible to compete. When that drops to zero, we’re back on an equal footing and I back Kiwi farmers to do very well.”
While dairy access remains
politically sensitive for India, the agreement still delivers gains for higher‑value dairy products manufactured in Waikato and Bay of Plenty. New Zealand has secured access for high‑value dairy proteins, as well as a pathway for infant formula to move to tariff‑free over time.
McClay highlights “import for re‑export” opportunities, where New Zealand dairy ingredients can be processed or blended in India and then exported into markets where India already has trade agreements. That model is attracting interest from both Indian companies and New Zealand firms considering manufacturing or joint‑venture opportunities offshore.
Beyond goods, the agreement places increased emphasis on services, investment and skills. India is investing heavily in infrastructure, education and urban development, creating opportunities for New Zealand companies in engineering, design, project management, agri‑services and financial technology. The deal includes expanded services coverage and a most‑favoured‑nation clause to future‑proof access if India later offers better terms to other trading partners. India has also committed to a single‑desk investment facilitation service for New Zealand businesses, while New Zealand will actively promote itself as an investment destination.
Editor
David Porter editor@goodlocal.nz 021 884 858
Senior Writer
Mary Anne Gill maryanne@goodlocal.nz 021 705 213
Advertising Director
Janine Davy janine@goodlocal.nz 027 287 0005
Owner/Publisher
David Mackenzie david@goodlocal.nz 021 684 304
To Advertise sales@goodlocal.nz
News Tips editor@goodlocal.nz
Office/Accounts admin@goodlocal.nz
Website goodlocal.nz
To Subscribe admin@goodlocal.nz
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. Bay of Plenty Business News is published by Good Local Media Limited.
Also publishers of
By TODD MULLER
Global conflict, local consequences: steady leadership will matter in the months ahead
From where we sit in Tauranga, conflict in the Middle East can feel a very long way away. New Zealand’s geography remains one of our greatest advantages. We live in a part of the world where we do not wake up worrying about military escalation or threats from the skies.
But what happens on the other side of the world still finds its way here — not through security threats, but through economic pressure.
The growing regional war involving the United States, Israel and Iran are already creating volatility in global energy markets. When instability affects oil supply or shipping routes, the impacts ripple quickly through fuel prices, transport costs, electricity prices, and ultimately into the day to day costs faced by businesses and households.
New Zealand may be geographically distant, but economically we are deeply exposed.
For many businesses this comes at a frustrating time. The past two years have already required real discipline. Inflation has squeezed margins, interest costs have forced tougher decisions, and many households have understandably pulled back spending. Just as
some confidence was starting to return, global instability is again creating uncertainty.
The reality is the next six months could feel tight.
I expect we will see continued caution from consumers, slower decision making, and continued pressure on margins. Some businesses will find this period genuinely difficult. That is not pessimism, it is simply the reality of economic cycles.
But tough periods also clarify what matters.
Tauranga has always been a city of practical businesses. Many owners here have already been quietly preparing for exactly this kind of environment.
A lot of local business have been trying to reduce debt, manage their costs tightly, improving productivity, and focusing hard on cashflow. Those disciplines may not have felt exciting at the time, but they are exactly what builds resilience now.
What will matter most over the coming months is steady leadership. Staying close to your numbers. Staying close to your customers. Being careful without becoming fearful.
There is also something else that matters in regions like ours; backing each other.
When times tighten, local decisions matter
By SARAH LIM
When an employee is off duty, what they choose to do in their personal time is generally considered their private affair. However, in an age where smartphones and social media create an unprecedented level of public visibility for all of us, it has become increasingly common for aspects of an employee’s private life to resurface in ways that could damage their employer’s public image and reputation.
Less than a year ago, a Tonkin + Taylor employee heckled Winston Peters during a media stand up while wearing a lanyard with work identification. There was also a recent scandal surrounding former Deputy Police Commissioner Jevon McSkimming and former Police Commissioner Andrew Coster.
This evolving landscape has prompted many employers to consider a tricky question: at what point does an employee’s conduct outside of work give rise to workplace misconduct?
If an employee’s private business outside of work has brought their employer into disrepute and/or negatively affected their employer’s reputation, then the
employee’s private affairs could be subject to a formal employment process. If the employee’s misconduct outside of work is so serious that it causes the employer to lose trust and confidence in maintaining an ongoing employment relationship with that employee, the result may even be termination of employment.
The legal test for whether an employee has brought their employer into disrepute is an objective one. It’s not what the employer personally thinks about the employee’s actions or their effects on the employer’s reputation. Rather, what is relevant is how others perceive, or may perceive, the employer’s reputation as a result of the employee’s actions. The question employers must ask themselves is whether a neutral, fair minded, and independent observer could consider that the employee’s relevant actions outside of work have brought, or pose a reasonable risk of bringing, the employer into disrepute.
Employers must also take care not to jump to conclusions, no matter how serious an employee’s conduct outside of work may appear. Before starting a formal process,
more. Choosing to buy locally where we can. Supporting the café that supports local staff. Using local trades. Continuing to show up for the businesses that help make this region what it is. None of that solves global energy prices, but it does strengthen the local economy we all depend on.
Tauranga has been through enough cycles to know that growth is never a straight line. We have absorbed shocks before, we have endured from financial crises through to natural events, and each time the region has come through because of the quality of its people and the pragmatism of its business community.
My sense is this period will not require heroic decisions. It will require disciplined ones.
Run good businesses. Manage risk carefully. Support your people. Back your region. Think long term.
We cannot control global conflict or oil prices. But we can control how we respond. And if history tells us anything, it is that Tauranga businesses understand exactly how to do that.
• Todd Muller is a long term Tauranga resident, former MP and current chair of Priority One. All views are his own.
it is important for the employer to first understand all relevant circumstances with an open mind. Even if the legal test for bringing the employer into disrepute is met, the employer must still comply with obligations under the Employment Relations Act 2000. These include adequately particularising concerns about reputational damage and providing the employee with a reasonable opportunity to respond.
Once the employer has gathered the necessary information, it should seek legal advice before commencing any formal process, as a matter of best practice.
EMA members can also access the organisation’s AdviceLine service, which provides up to date, practical guidance on employment and workplace issues. The service ensures employers have a reliable source of clarification when navigating unfamiliar or complex situations, helping to address potential issues early and reduce the risk of escalation.
• Sarah Lim is senior associate at the Employers and Manufacturers Association (EMA)
Building apprentices in Rotorua and Tauranga will compete in the New Zealand Certified Buildings Apprentice challenge this month, both at local Mitre 10 Mega outlets. At the heats, apprentices will spend eight hours constructing pātaka community sharing cupboards designed to hold books, toys, and food to support local neighbourhoods. Each apprentice will nominate a local organisation to receive their completed pātaka, creating a practical community resource that will be used long after the competition ends.
The inaugural Māori and Pasifika leadership summit was held at Bay Oval in Mount Maunganui last month. The one day summit brought together leading Māori and Pasifika business leaders, politicians, innovators and rangatahi from around the country. Keynote speaker was business leader Traci Houpapa.
The Flavours of Plenty Festival will offer nearly 60 foodie events across Tauranga, Western Bay of Plenty, and Whakatāne this month. Tourism Bay of Plenty head of destination marketing, Loretta Crawford, says it’s the fifth time the festival is being held, with this year the biggest one yet. A highlight will be the Battle of the Snack where four experienced chefs will guide four rising culinary starts to create 12 rounds of bite sized snacks. See Out and About, page 15.
The 2026 Bay of Plenty Share Farmers of the Year are Stefan and Rachel Grobecker, with runners up George King and Hannah Lukins. Reno Moses won Bay of Plenty Dairy Manager of the Year and the Dairy Trainee title going to Breiton Tuwairua. The Grobeckers are 50/50 sharemilkers for Wendy Wilson and Sue Hughes on Mary Allen Farm at Waimana, milking 255 cows on 119ha. King and Lukins are 50/50 sharemilking 250 cows for Michael and Kaye Watkins on 80ha in Matata.
Tauranga’s inaugural DayBreak event brought together businesses from across the region to explore how innovation can help organisations adapt and grow in an increasingly uncertain environment.
Aimed at strengthening innovation capability, the one‑day event last month attracted people from a wide cross‑section of the local business community, encouraging fresh thinking about the future and the role innovation can play across all sectors.
Western Bay of Plenty’s economic development agency Priority One hosted and championed the event. Chief executive Dave Courtney says DayBreak carved out a distinctive place by deliberately avoiding a narrow audience focus. Present were startups,
technology companies, teachers, marketers, local government, HR professionals and corporates.
“Our aim is to bring together people from a wide range of industries, roles and sectors to create new and deeper connections across the regional innovation ecosystem.
“We see ‘innovation’ –doing new things that create impact – as a common theme that can bring people together.”
The strength of DayBreak lies in its ability to expose people to different perspectives and ways of thinking, rather than prescribing a single pathway forward.
Too often people think of innovation as something that only applies to tech firms or startups, Courtney says.
In reality, every organisation is facing change, whether that’s through technology, customer expectations, workforce shifts or regulation.
A key objective for organisers was making high‑quality professional development accessible to local businesses by keeping it both affordable and close to home.
“DayBreak delivered a calibre of speakers and programme content that you don’t often see in the Bay of Plenty,” Courtney says.
“That makes it a valuable professional development opportunity for businesses to invest in their people without having to send them out of the region.”
He says attention was also paid to the overall experience, reinforcing the message that creativity
matters in how events and organisations are designed.
From the way sessions were structured to how people connected throughout the day, the programme was built to encourage participation and learning, he says.
Organisers have continued to refine the format by listening to attendees and trying new ideas, rather than delivering another standard conference.
One of the event’s keynote speakers was futurist and technology entrepreneur Melissa Clark‑Reynolds, who challenged attendees to rethink their assumptions about what the future looks like.
“People often ask what the future will be, as if there is just one version,” Clark‑Reynolds says.
“But there are multiple futures, shaped by different
To support growth at home, the agreement establishes a process for an average of 1667 skilled three‑year work visas per year, focused on areas of genuine skills shortage such as healthcare, engineering, ICT and teaching.
The visas are temporary and non‑renewable.
Regional economic leaders say the agreement’s value will ultimately depend on how effectively businesses use it.
Free trade agreements are as much about building relationships as they are about tariff schedules, says Courtney.
“Trade follows. Once you’ve got the relationship and trade starts to flow, you have the ability to refine
and improve the agreement over time.”
Simon Devoy, the Employers and Manufacturers Association (EMA) head of Membership and Export, says the free trade agreement is a “game changer”.
“This agreement opens huge opportunities. Nearly all of our major exports, from sheep meat to mānuka honey, will see significant
Melissa Clark-Reynolds
circumstances, levels of access to technology and choices we make today.” Courtney says that message resonated strongly. The future is not something that simply happens to organisations, he says. Events such as DayBreak help people see the possibilities and understand the role they can play in shaping what comes next. – David Porter
tariff relief,” he says.
“It is a chance for Kiwi businesses to connect directly with Indian markets. We’re seeing opportunities across agriculture, tech, healthcare and more.”
For Bay of Plenty exporters, the door to India is now open and the advantage will lie with those ready to step through it.
Waikato University has confirmed its purchase of Tauranga’s Bongard Centre, securing a strategic site as it plans long-term expansion of its city-based campus, reports David Porter.
Two recent property acquisitions, alongside plans for a major marine facility, have positioned Waikato University as a significant long term player in Tauranga’s future.
By locking in two key city‑centre sites the former Bongard Centre and the Craigs Investment Partners building the university is signalling its intention to expand its footprint in the CBD as student numbers grow.
Deputy vice chancellor
Alister Jones says the acquisitions secure strategic capacity for the university, although there is no confirmed timeline to move in though.
There is a lot of work and planning to do before then, he says.
“Our immediate focus has been securing the property and assessing the work required before it can be brought into use.”
The university opened its $55 million Tauranga
campus in 2019, but early growth was disrupted by Covid 19.
Jones says enrolments are now recovering, placing the campus into what he describes as a “strong growth phase”.
Business and property observers say the Bongard Centre acquisition appears to be a land banking move, securing space ahead of anticipated student and staff growth rather than signalling immediate development.
The sale also removes the Bongard Centre from earlier discussions around potential conversion to social housing, with the site now firmly retained within Tauranga’s emerging education and knowledge precinct.
Tauranga MP Sam Uffindell says retaining the Bongard Centre for tertiary use is critical to the city’s long term development.
“It’s really crucial that Tauranga’s knowledge precinct retains this site,” he says.
“This plays an integral role
in the city’s wider vision.”
Jones says increased student presence in the CBD would have a material economic impact.
“Bringing more students into the heart of Tauranga supports local businesses, adds energy and diversity to the city, and strengthens Tauranga’s identity as a place to live, learn and build a career,” he says.
Alongside its CBD expansion, the university remains committed to establishing a new marine
research and education facility in Tauranga.
The state of the art Marine Centre, expected to begin construction around 2028, would be located at Marine Park, Sulphur Point, replacing the existing Coastal Marine Field Station.
The facility is expected to focus on sustainability, blue‑green innovation and community education.
The university currently operates across several Tauranga sites, including
the main Tauranga campus on Durham St with two accommodation facilities, the Coastal Marine Field Station at Cross Rd and the Adams Centre in Mount Maunganui.
University data as at mid last month shows 1533 full time and part time students were enrolled last year, equivalent to 1029 full time students, with reported student satisfaction at 91 percent.
Jones says the long‑term
objective is for Tauranga to be recognised nationally as a university city, with the growing CBD footprint providing the capacity to support that shift as demand increases.
Combined with plans for a major marine research and education facility at Sulphur Point, the strategy signals a sustained commitment to Tauranga not as a satellite campus to Hamilton, but as a core part of Waikato University’s future.
The start of the academic year brings renewed energy to the University of Waikato’s Tauranga campus as students return to the city centre to begin or continue their studies. Orientation activities provide an important opportunity for students to connect with their peers, meet academic staff and become familiar with both the campus and the wider Tauranga community.
This year we are seeing encouraging growth in the number of students choosing to study in Tauranga. Total enrolments at the campus have increased by 9% compared with 2025, while our international student cohort has doubled. This trend reflects Tauranga’s growing appeal as a destination for study and the increasing recognition of the opportunities available within the region.
Students are drawn to Tauranga for a range of reasons, including the opportunity to study in a city where they can also build
connections that support future career opportunities in the region. The campus offers highquality academic programmes alongside the advantages of studying in a smaller, connected space where students can build strong relationships with staff and fellow learners.
The city itself also provides a distinctive learning context, with strong industry partnerships and access to sectors that are important to the Bay of Plenty’s economy, including marine science, engineering, education and business.
First-year marine science student Leonardo Fisher, who moved from Kerikeri to study in Tauranga, says the transition has been a positive one.
“It’s a big change coming from a small town, but it still has that beach, surfing and fishing lifestyle I enjoy. Studying marine science here just fits. Orientation was great. It was easy to meet people and get involved, and everything has been even better
PROFESSOR ALISTER JONES
than I expected.”
Second-year primary education student Bethany Priday, who moved from Auckland and is now a Residential Leader (RL) at Selwyn Street Studios, says the campus environment has supported both her study and wider university experience.
“I really like the Tauranga campus. It’s smaller, which makes it easy to connect with people and build strong relationships with lecturers. Being an RL has also been really rewarding. It’s great to support new students and help
create a sense of community in the halls.”
Experiences like these highlight Tauranga’s ability to attract students from across New Zealand who are looking for a different university experience: one that combines academic quality with lifestyle and connection.
The campus itself has become an increasingly important part of Tauranga’s city centre, contributing to the vibrancy of the area and strengthening connections between education, research and industry. As Tauranga continues to grow, these connections will play an important role in supporting the
region’s future workforce and innovation capability.
The continued growth in student numbers reflects the momentum building at the Tauranga campus. As the academic year gets underway, we look forward to seeing students engage with their studies, build connections and make the most of the opportunities available both within the University and across the wider Bay of Plenty region.
Professor Alister Jones is the Deputy Vice-Chancellor of the University of Waikato. He can be contacted at alister.jones@waikato.ac.nz
Strong recent attendance and lower operating costs have reinforced the decision to return Rotorua’s Night Market to its traditional inner- city setting, writes David Porter.
Rotorua’s Night Market is back where it belongs in the central business district after a failed trial at Kuirau Park that drew complaints from stallholders and the public.
Strong crowds in recent weeks have confirmed the return to Tūtānekai St was the right call, says Rotorua Lakes councillor Robert Lee, who pushed for the move after concerns were raised about accessibility, atmosphere and rising costs at the park venue.
“The market works because it’s in the middle of town,” Lee says.
“You get foot traffic, you get energy, and you get people staying longer in the CBD.”
The night market had been shifted to Kuirau Park as a trial, part of a wider council review aimed at reducing the annual cost to ratepayers, estimated at about $200,000 a year.
But feedback from vendors, customers and nearby businesses made it clear the park location was not delivering the same commercial or community benefits.
More than 370 people took part in a council survey comparing the two sites, with a clear majority favouring the inner city location, Lee says.
Traffic management costs were a major factor in the review. Until recently, the council had been hiring external contractors each week, significantly adding to the market’s operating deficit. The council is now moving traffic management in‑house, a change Lee says has already halved the shortfall.
“There’s no reason we can’t manage this ourselves,” he says, noting the council already runs traffic management for other events and activities.
Further savings are expected through modest increases to stallholder fees, which Lee said remain among the lowest in the Bay of Plenty. Many vendors attend multiple markets each week, and small adjustments could bring the Rotorua market close to breaking even.
Earlier this year the council also tested the market’s commercial appeal, calling for expressions of interest from external operators.
Four proposals were received, but none stacked up, Lee says.
Some required ongoing council subsidies, others proposed moving the market again or demanded costly new infrastructure.
As a result, elected members
voted to keep the night market under council management while focusing on operational efficiencies rather than wholesale change.
The market, held every Thursday weather permitting between 5 9pm, first started in March 2010 with 24 stall holders along Tūtānekai Street between Pukuatua and Haupapa streets.
Its intention was to add vibrancy and life in the heart of Rotorua.
Five years later the market – now known for its food trucks, boutique stalls and live entertainment expanded to add another block between Te Manawa and Haupapa streets.
Lee says the market’s value went well beyond its balance sheet.
“It’s a great place to meet people and socialise. Rotorua is a tourist town, and the night market creates a real buzz in the CBD. It’s a joy to be there and as good as anywhere in the world.”
> By MAHÉ DRYSDALE, Mayor of Tauranga
The future of the Bay of Plenty’s investment fund is an issue that should matter to every ratepayer across our region. Established more than 30 years ago with a clear intergenerational purpose, the fund began as a $53 million shareholding in the Port of Tauranga. Today, it has grown into a diversified portfolio valued at more than $3 billion, making it the largest ratepayer owned investment fund in New Zealand.
That growth reflects decades of disciplined decisionmaking, professional investment management, and a consistent focus on long-term value rather than short-term gain. But the fund’s true value goes beyond financial returns. It provides stability, supports critical infrastructure investment, and helps create the conditions for sustainable
economic growth across the region, now and into the future.
The Bay of Plenty Regional Council is currently considering potential changes to the future structure and management of the fund. Given its scale and importance to the region, it is appropriate that the fund’s future is carefully examined.
From my perspective as Mayor of Tauranga, and with a background in investment and financial advisory, this is a pivotal moment. Decisions made now will shape not just the next few years, but the next few generations.
At the heart of this discussion is a fundamental question: how do we ensure the investment fund is protected from short term pressures, particularly those that can arise across election cycles?
In my view, three core principles should guide decisions about the fund’s future.
First, intergenerational protection. The capital
base of the fund should be preserved in real terms, maintaining its value after inflation. Distributions must be balanced so today’s benefits are not achieved at the expense of tomorrow’s communities. Given the size and strategic importance of the fund, it’s important that legislative protection is sought for an additional layer of protection.
Second, independence. The fund’s success has been built on professional, arm’s length investment management. Independent governance enables skilled investment professionals to focus on long-term performance, free from short-term political or fiscal considerations. That independence is critical to maintaining strong returns and investor confidence.
Third, democratic accountability. Elected representatives must maintain a clear role in deciding how investment returns are used for community benefit through Long-term Plan and Annual
Plan processes. However, it is essential that this role remains focused on allocation of returns, not investment decision making. Blurring that distinction risks weakening performance and undermining confidence in the fund’s governance.
The conversation about the fund’s future is also occurring alongside significant reform across local government, including the potential for reorganisation. I think decisions about the fund should be considered within that broader context.
Comparable investment funds demonstrate that it is possible to return around 4-5 per cent per annum to the community in addition to protecting the real value of the asset. That represents annual returns of approximately $120 million to $150 million that can go towards supporting economic growth and community wellbeing. To do that,
changing the structure alone will not reach this fund’s potential. In my view, we should allow investment professionals to manage the investment, free from restrictions and political interference, while the politicians distribute the returns for public benefit. Done well, this approach will deliver the best outcome for the region, now and into the future.
By OSCAR NATHAN
Tauranga and the Western Bay of Plenty visitor economy has experienced a mixed but resilient start to the year — balancing seasonal demand with ongoing disruption.
The closure of our famous landmark, Mauao, following the 21 January extreme rainfall event, continues to impact foot traffic in the immediate Mount area. However, Mount Maunganui, including its beachfront, hospitality and retail precincts, remains open and welcoming visitors. Our focus has been on reinforcing that message clearly across all channels, including with our key partner Tourism New Zealand.
International performance has been encouraging. Visitor days increased 11% in January, alongside a 21% lift in international retail spend in the Western Bay. Key markets remain Australia (31%), the UK (16%), Rest of Asia excluding China, Japan and Korea (16%), and North America (11%).
Domestically, visitor days declined 15% compared to January last year. This reflects both the immediate impacts of the weather event, particularly several road closures that affected access, and broader cost of living pressures influencing travel behaviour nationwide.
Despite these headwinds, the region has delivered strong event led outcomes. The first ever concert at Bay Oval, featuring global DJ FISHER, attracted more than 20,000 attendees and generated over $4 million in visitor spend. The sold out Black Clash also delivered record national viewership, reinforcing the region’s ability to host and leverage major events.
Cruise ship arrivals also continue to track well, with a further five ship visits scheduled before the season concludes on 5 May with
the Crown Princess. As the deputy chair of the NZ Cruise Association, I’m pleased with our efforts to confirm the first time attendance of Minister for Tourism and Hospitality Louise Upston, at the global Seatrade Conference in Miami this month.
This is a very strong recognition by central government of the cruise sector’s value and importance to tourism in New Zealand and here in Tauranga specifically.
We’ve also recently launched the fifth Flavours of Plenty Festival programme, with more than 50 events running from 16 April to 3 May. This festival remains a cornerstone initiative — showcasing our local producers, supporting operators, and strengthening the region’s food and beverage provenance well beyond this year’s 18 day festival.
In the meantime, we’re continuing to invest in our business event partnerships. This includes planning for the annual BYATA (Backpacker Youth and Adventure Tourism Association) conference, which Tauranga is hosting for the first time, in August.
We’re mindful of the Middle East conflict and its impact on travel, including the likelihood of fewer domestic road trips as fuel prices continue to rise. Whilst international capacity may tighten as airfares increase, New Zealand’s distance from global events may well increase our appeal and international visitor arrivals in the coming months.
Along with our core stakeholders and agencies, we remain vigilant in monitoring data, staying aligned and in communication with key partners, and adapting as conditions evolve.
• Oscar Nathan is General Manager at Tourism Bay of Plenty
Rotorua Business Chamber has moved from Hinemoa Street to the corner of Haupapa and Tutanekai streets above Eves Real Estate. Chamber chief executive Melanie Short says the new space will provide more room for larger meetings, training sessions and workshops, along with hot desking options for members needing a convenient central place to work.
WSP has opened a new laboratory building in Tauranga with more than three times the floor area of its old lab which has served the community for 40 years. More than 50 per cent of WSP’s lab work involves field testing for civil engineering and quality control, supporting contractors and consultants on projects across the Bay of Plenty. WSP is a global company employing 83,000 people with headquarters in Montréal, Canada and 17 offices in New Zealand.
The Graeme Dingle Foundation is relaunching its flagship youth development programme Project K in the Waikato, marking the programme’s return to the region for the first time since 2009. The return has been made possible through the Mental Health Innovation Fund enabling a further 36 young people aged 13–15 across the Western Bay of Plenty, Waikato, and Christchurch to access the programme.
If you have a project in mind for your local school, sports club, or other community facility in the Western Bay then funding is available to help bring it to life. Western Bay of Plenty District Council’s $116,812 Facilities in the Community Fund is now open for applications. The contestable fund is available every two years, to help community groups improve or develop facilities used by the public. This can include
Let’s face it: getting to work these days is putting a serious dent in most people’s pockets, whether they are just commuting to work or required to do work related travel in their job.
Fast rising fuel costs are the main contributor, and employers may be considering (or being asked) how they can help their employees out, as well as how to keep company costs down. While there are lots of factors to consider with all options, tax will naturally play a part in any decision making.
Public transport –employers can help staff by subsidising public transport costs and generally wont pay FBT or PAYE on the subsidy. Salary sacrificing is also an option to keep overall costs down for the employer.
Biking to work – if employees are keen on commuting to work by bike or scooter, employers can
often fund the purchase of bikes or scooters without needing to pay FBT. As these can be bigger ticket items, employers may prefer that the employee funds the cost and it is common to use a salary sacrifice scheme to reduce the employee’s before tax pay. There are a number of providers in the market offering these schemes. Car pooling – this might be an option where employees live in close proximity to each other. If employers want to sweeten the deal by providing carparks or some form of reimbursement they will need to consider whether this can be done tax free. Smaller employers may be able to provide petrol
vouchers tax free if they fall under the de minimis threshold for unclassified benefits.
Employer provided transport – it is not unheard of for employers to provide park and ride type services for employees, especially where the workplace is remote or not well served by public transport. This could be a fringe benefit to the employees so needs careful review.
Mileage reimbursement –staff may be more inclined to claim reimbursement for work related travel given the increased costs, so employers should be aware of both the allowed IR mileage rates and the other options that
facilities run by sports clubs, schools and volunteer organisations. The facilities can be on either private or Council owned land, but they must be available for community use.
Hayes International took out the annual Rotorua Business Chamber ambrose golf tournament at Arikikapakapa last month. Heather Keefe had both the women’s longest drive and closest to the pin while Ngai Bidois won the men’s longest drive and Paul Stewart was agonisingly close to the pin. Thirty teams of four competed.
Dean Whiting who has Bay of Plenty family connections through his father the renowned artist Cliff Whiting and Te Whanau ā Apanui, centred on Te Kaha has been appointed Heritage New Zealand chief executive. Whiting will move from his current position as deputy chief executive Kaihautū Māori at the organisation.
Findex raised $65,000 for local charities during its annual charity golf day last month at the Omanu Golf Club with 120 golfers competing. Since 2018, the Findex Community Fund has donated over $4.1 million to charities. Money raised goes to men’s mental health initiative UOKBRO, Omanu Beach Surf Life Saving Club, and food rescue and practical support organisation Good Neighbour.
The Government’s inquiry into January’s landslides at Mount Maunganui and Pāpāmoa will be chaired by former Supreme Court justice Sir Mark O’Regan. The inquiry is expected to make findings about whether relevant agencies took appropriate steps to reduce the risk of death or injury. It will report back by December. Penk expects that the expert panel will communicate with the families of victims as the inquiry progresses.
Sponsored Content
BY
ANDREA SCATCHARD
are available for working out tax free reimbursement amounts. These other options may allow a higher tax free reimbursement than the current IR rates. Inland Revenue generally releases their annual mileage rates around May each year so we should be seeing an update soon – although they calculate these based on historic data which would not really reflect the current fuel pricing increases, we have asked whether a prospective rate could be issued.
Travel allowances –while travel from home to work is generally treated as private, there are some limited situations where reimbursements can be
made tax free.
If you are looking at supporting your employees, a chat with your accountant or tax adviser will help brainstorm the pros and cons of the options so you can make a fully informed decision.
> “Fuel vouchers could be tax free if under the FBT de minimis threshold”
Andrea Scatchard is a Tax Partner at Deloitte, based in the Bay of Plenty. She can be contacted on ascatchard@deloitte.co.nz
For Gursharan Dhami and Bhenaa Chandar, the road back to medicine has been long, uncertain and deeply personal.
Both trained as doctors overseas, both migrated to New Zealand with hopes of continuing the profession they loved and both found themselves waiting, studying, and working in other roles while holding onto the dream that one day they would practise medicine again.
Now, that dream is back within reach as they begin a new chapter training to become GPs through a nationally launched programme designed to bring overseas trained doctors into New Zealand’s primary care workforce.
The NZREX GP pathway is a two year, Government‑funded training programme that is now live nationwide following a successful pilot across Lakes, Waikato and Taranaki. Its aim is simple but critical: to help qualified international doctors gain registration and move into general practice, strengthening primary care services across the country.
In January, a new group of 13 doctors began the programme, joining 33 doctors already training through an earlier intake. Further cohorts are planned throughout the year, with up to 100 doctors expected to take part overall.
Among the latest intake are Dhami and Chandar, who have both started their training at Rotorua Hospital.
Originally from India, Dhami arrived in New Zealand five years ago on a study visa to complete a master’s degree in health informatics in Christchurch. It was there she met her now husband and began building
a life far from home. While she wasn’t able to work as a doctor, she found another way to stay connected to healthcare, spending the past two years working as a healthcare assistant in a general practice in Hamilton.
“That gave me a valuable insight into primary care,” she says.
Becoming a doctor, she explains, has been a lifelong ambition.
“My parents’ sacrifices and belief in me made that dream possible, and my husband’s steady support throughout my exams helped me stay strong. Medicine is more than a career to me it represents service and purpose. Continuing this journey in New Zealand feels incredibly meaningful.”
Chandar’s journey has also spanned countries and systems. She trained in India and Malaysia and spent four years working in Malaysia, including two years as an internal medicine registrar. She moved to New Zealand in 2023, determined to understand how healthcare worked here and what it would take to practise again.
Last year, she completed an observership at Auckland City Hospital, working alongside house officers to gain first‑hand experience of the New Zealand health system. It was during this time that she became drawn to general practice, particularly for the balance it offers alongside the opportunity to build long‑term relationships with patients.
Both doctors have passed the necessary exams to work in New Zealand, including the clinical exam required to enter the NZREX GP pathway.
Their training began with an induction programme
at Rotorua Hospital, where they were introduced to inpatient units, systems and day‑to‑day processes.
Starting in a smaller hospital environment has helped them ease into the transition, and both say the support they’ve received at Lakes has made a real difference.
“It’s like a family,” says Chandar.
“I really enjoyed the orientation. I like the system, the support we get, and the time we’re able to spend with patients. I feel truly delighted and relieved knowing I’ll be able to practise medicine once I complete this training. It reassures me that all the years of hard work and studying have been worthwhile.”
For her, medicine has always been about service.
“Training in medicine has been a childhood dream of mine. It has always been my passion to serve the community and make a positive difference in people’s lives.”
The NZREX GP pathway has attracted strong interest, with around 180 overseas‑trained doctors expressing interest in the programme.
By creating a clear, supported route into general practice, it offers experienced international doctors already living in New Zealand the opportunity to contribute their skills where they are needed most and, for doctors like Dhami and Chandar, it offers something just as important: the chance to finally return to the profession that inspired them in the first place. –Alison King, Health NZ
The liquidation of five Te Puke based kiwifruit companies linked to Gurwinder Singh Bains is expected to take months to work through, with PwC saying early investigations point to cash‑flow pressures and a complex court process.
PwC partner Wendy Somerville, one of two court‑appointed liquidators, says the firms were now under formal investigation while a High Court application by Bains to terminate the liquidation proceeds.
“The investigation and the court process are likely to take some months to work through the system.”
The companies Bains Fruit Productions, Bains Hort Group, Bains Farms, Bains Bros and GDP Orchards were placed into liquidation following a High Court appointment. PwC’s Malcolm Hollis is acting alongside Somerville as joint liquidator.
Somerville says PwC’s immediate priority was stabilising operations and preserving value while assessing the financial position of each company.
“For any company, cash‑flow management is a key issue,” she says.
“Especially when developing a business, it’s important to have sufficient cash on hand to meet the demands of growth.”
Based on PwC’s investigations to date, that did not appear to have been the case across the Bains group, although she stressed the inquiry was ongoing and subject to court oversight.
Gurwinder Singh Bains is
listed as the sole shareholder and director of the companies and according to Companies Office records is also linked with other entities. Somerville confirmed she was seeking to halt the liquidation through the High Court, with PwC continuing its work while those proceedings were underway.
“The liquidators are in discussions with company representatives, and our immediate focus is on orchard operations.”
A first report to the Registrar of Companies is expected shortly. PwC is still determining the number of unsecured creditors and the extent of liabilities, with further detail likely to emerge through court filings.
It was too early to speculate on outcomes for creditors or whether any recoveries would be available, she says.
The length of the process reflected both the number of entities involved and the need to proceed carefully under court supervision.
“This is not a quick process.” – David Porter
Bay of Plenty exporters can take a step into the global spotlight, with entries now open for the 2026 Bay of Plenty Export Awards celebrating excellence, ambition and international success across the region.
The prestigious awards gala will be held in August in Mount Maunganui, celebrating the exceptional achievements of Bay of Plenty businesses exporting goods and services to global markets.
The event is organised by the EMA and ExportNZ, in partnership with New Zealand Trade and Enterprise.
ExportNZ Bay of Plenty chair Warwick Downing says the event is a platform to recognise outstanding businesses, and a prime opportunity for networking and knowledge sharing.
“These awards shine a well‑deserved spotlight on the incredible exporters
in the Bay of Plenty who work tirelessly to bring New Zealand products and services to the world,” says Downing.
“Equally important is the opportunity they provide to bring the exporting community together, to share stories, challenges, and insights that help drive Bluelab founder and director Greg Jarvis, who is an awards judge, says the awards underscore the importance of recognising success in the region.
“The Bay of Plenty has a rich history of innovative and forward‑thinking exporters who have built a reputation for excellence on the global stage,” says Jarvis.
“These awards are a chance to celebrate that success while also fostering a culture of learning, community and connection across the Bay of Plenty export sector.”
From its world‑renowned kiwifruit and avocados to high‑quality timber and dairy products, the Bay of Plenty showcases a diverse range of goods that reach international markets.
EMA Head of Membership and Export, Simon Devoy says the awards highlight the dedication and skill of the people who drive this success.
The theme of the awards gala is ‘On The World Stage’. The awards feature five categories, including the coveted Exporter of the Year, and are judged by a panel of experienced export specialists from ExportNZ and NZTE.
Award categories: Best Emerging Business: Celebrating early‑stage export success, Excellence in Innovation: Acknowledging businesses that have successfully commercialised innovation internationally, Unsung Export Hero
Outstanding Individual Contribution: Honouring an individual who has made a significant contribution to export growth, often
behind the scenes, Service to Export: Recognising the significant and sustained contribution of an individual or organisation to
exporting success, Exporter of the Year: Recognising established businesses with a strong track record in export markets. Supplied
Waikato and Bay of Plenty teachers are among 200 educators nationwide selected for a programme designed to grow confident, capable principals and strengthen school leadership for the future. Mary Anne Gill talks to participants and the programme’s director.
For Sharleen Nathan, leading the Ministry of Education’s new Aspiring Principal Programme at Waikato University is both professional and deeply personal.
She knows the programme from the inside. More than a decade ago, Nathan was herself an aspiring principal, grappling with the same questions now facing this year’s cohort am I ready, what does the role really involve, and what kind of leader do I want to be?
“That experience changed the way I saw myself as a leader,” she says.
“It gave me confidence and it made me think bigger.”
Now director at Waikato University’s Te Whai Toi Tangata: Institute of Professional Learning she is overseeing the national delivery of a programme designed
to prepare the next generation of school principals for one of the most demanding leadership roles in the country.
Waikato is the right place to base the programme, she says, because of its long‑standing reputation for innovation, strong research foundations and deep, trusted relationships with schools across the country.
The university is known for combining academic rigour with practical impact, and for designing professional learning grounded in the real work of schools rather than theory removed from practice.
Just as important is her own credibility. Nathan brings more than 25 years’ experience across classrooms, senior school leadership, the Ministry of Education and governance roles. She has worked as a Student Achievement Practitioner and Waikato professional learning and development lead, supported schools through major NCEA changes, and understands how policy plays out on the ground.
“I’ve been an aspiring principal myself,” she says.
“I know what it feels like to test your readiness and start thinking bigger.”
The programme starts in term two following investment in Budget 2025 and has attracted strong national interest.
All 200 places were filled, with 15 teachers from Waikato and 14 from the Bay of Plenty. Participants were chosen through a Ministry led application and interview process and require the backing of their home schools.
Deputy Secretary Education Workforce Anna Welanyk says the programme responds to the increasing complexity of the principal role.
“Principals need a wide range of skills, as well as the ability to connect with students, families and communities,” she says.
“This programme provides intensive learning and practice opportunities to help participants build confidence and capability before stepping into the role.”
The programme funded at $12.8 million over seven years, with an initial three year delivery period and formal review points built in was awarded to Waikato University following a highly competitive procurement process.
Unlike traditional leadership courses, the programme is designed to sit alongside participants’ existing roles.
“This is not a full time course,” says Nathan.
“Participants complete their leadership inquiry within the context of their own school, applying what they learn directly to their day today leadership practice.”
The curriculum aligns closely with the Beginner Principal Programme and is delivered through a mix of online modules, leadership inquiry and face to face learning.
Each aspiring principal is supported through three key relationships: their home principal, a mentor principal from another school, and a programme facilitator who leads regional communities of practice.
Mentoring is one of the programme’s defining features.
“Being supported by a current, practising principal gives participants access to lived experience and honest insight into the realities of the role. That kind of support is invaluable.”
The programme also offers a reality check. Research shows
many principals leave the role within their first five years, often due to workload and burnout.
“This gives people a chance to explore the full scope of the job governance, finance, property, people leadership and decide if and when they are ready,” Nathan says.
For school boards, the programme provides reassurance that candidates who complete it have been exposed to the full breadth of principalship.
“Our responsibility is to make sure people don’t step into principalship under‑prepared,” Nathan says. “This programme is about confidence, capability and support not throwing people in at the deep end.”
For the teachers profiled here, selection marks both recognition of their leadership potential and the beginning of a nationally supported pathway toward leading schools where students, staff and communities can thrive.
Strong leadership, prepared early, is the foundation of sustainable performance in schools as in business. It is succession planning at scale: identifying talent early, investing deliberately, and preparing leaders before the role requires it.
Whangamatā Area School
SYOS Aerospace was the major winner at the Tauranga Business Awards, taking out the Supreme Award alongside category wins for Innovation and International Trade.
Judges cited the company’s rapid growth, international reach and commitment to developing high‑performance aerospace technology in New Zealand.
Chief executive Sam Vye says the recognition was a significant milestone for the business and reflected the effort and commitment of the SYOS team.
The Tauranga‑based company designs and manufactures advanced aerospace systems for military and government customers worldwide. Judges acknowledged SYOS for its agility and ability to deliver complex projects at pace, supported by significant manufacturing investment in the region.
They also highlighted the company’s success in securing
international contracts while keeping its research, development and manufacturing operations based in New Zealand. The decision to remain in Tauranga while competing globally was identified as a key point of difference.
The company was a leading example of a globally competitive technology business operating from the Bay of Plenty with an ability to attract international talent and demonstrate that advanced aerospace capability can be developed locally, the judges said.
Tauranga Business Chamber chief executive Matt Cowley says a clear theme emerged across the awards, with businesses achieving strong growth in highly competitive markets. He described SYOS as a notable example, pointing to its growth from a small start‑up into an international operator within a relatively short period.
The awards highlighted the depth and diversity of business activity across the region, with many finalists and winners having grown from small enterprises into leaders in their respective fields.
The SYOS team regularly works long hours to ensure the company remains competitive internationally, says Vye. The awards provided strong validation that the business was delivering impact and that its approach was being recognised both locally and by customers overseas.
The excellence awards went to: Business of the Year – SYOS Aerospace, People’s Choice Award – Bay Paediatrics, Emerging Business – Archishade, Women in Leadership – Jacinta Horan, Bureta Physiotherapy, Industry Achievement – Collab Digital, Manufacturing – Modcom, Māori/Pasifika Business – JNP Aviation Ltd, Marketing Impact
Matt Cowley
–
–
International
Aerospace, Supply & Logistics – Container Co, Special Judges Impact Award –Barber Spence. David Porter • See Out and About page 14
Principal Alistair Luke has put his name forward as a mentor, having been a graduate of the Aspiring Principal Programme in 2015.
“The role of a mentor is really to help participants understand the realities in the first instance but also open up a network of support if they do go on to become a principal,” says Luke.
“That network was one of the most valuable things for me in those first few years, when I was facing a constant stream of challenges I’d never seen before.”
The step up to principalship can be more complex than many expect.
“It’s one of those jobs where the experiences you have in preparation, as a classroom teacher or even a senior leader, don’t necessarily prepare you for the realities of principalship, especially in areas like finance and HR which you often don’t encounter until you’re in the role.”
He believes programmes for aspiring principals can help address this gap.
“A programme like this can play a real part in building that workforce desire back up again, while also helping people understand whether principalship is the right path for them before they step into the role.”
Federated Farmers is celebrating a major win for young farmers, with the Government finally allowing them to use their KiwiSaver funds to buy their first home or farm. Finance Minister Nicola Willis and Commerce and Consumer Affairs Minister Scott Simpson announced they will be making a technical change to the KiwiSaver Act which means farm staff in service tenancies (living on farm) will soon be able to use KiwiSaver to buy a house without immediately moving in.
Strong returns and lower debt servicing costs mean more farmers than ever are making a profit, according to the latest Federated Farmers Confidence Survey. Of 650 farmers who responded to the survey in late January and early February, 70% said their farm was currently profitable. More farmers are having difficulty recruiting skilled and motivated staff. When asked about their expectations for after tax profit over the next 12 months, farmers’ optimism has dropped sharply, with more now predicting a fall in profits than an increase.
Senior writer Mary Anne Gill meets two Rotorua deputy principals who are stepping onto a national leadership pathway, carrying with them decades of lived experience, cultural connection and a shared belief that great schools are built on trust, courage and community.
When Laurelle Tamati and Caroline Gill sit side by side in an office at John Paul College in Rotorua finishing each other’s sentences and laughing at how far they have come it is easy to forget that this moment represents something much bigger than two careers quietly progressing.
Both deputy principals have been selected for the Ministry of Education’s new Aspiring Principal Programme, a highly sought‑after national initiative designed to prepare the next generation of school leaders. Of the 200 places available nationwide, only 14 have gone to the Bay of Plenty. Two of them are at the same school.
That alone is remarkable.
But then, John Paul College has long had a habit of producing people who leave their mark.
The Catholic co‑educational secondary school in Rotorua, catering for Years 7 to 13, opened in 1987 following the amalgamation of Edmund Rice College and MacKillop College. Established to serve Catholic families in Rotorua, it remains, nearly four decades on, a place where faith, culture and education intersect in deeply personal ways.
For Laurelle Tamati, 47, the connection is lifelong.
She grew up in Rotorua, immersed in te ao Māori and Catholic values, was a John Paul College student, a prefect, a Young Achiever, and a performer at Te Matatini while still at school an unusual feat that foreshadowed a life of leadership long before any formal title followed.
Te Matatini is New Zealand’s premier national kapa haka festival. It represents the highest level of kapa haka performance in the country often described as the Olympics of kapa haka. Most performers reach Te Matatini as adults, making Tamati’s achievement while still at school particularly rare.
She went on to study Māori and then teaching, working across both primary and secondary education. Her leadership journey includes more than a decade shaping haka excellence, where teams she led became national champions, and teaching at Rotorua
Girls High.
When she returned to John Paul College as a deputy principal, Tamati began one portfolio from scratch rebuilding relationships with iwi and re‑establishing Māori presence in a school that, for a time, had lost its way in that space.
“There was a perception in the community that this was a Pākehā school,” she says.
“Māori weren’t engaging in Catholic education, and Catholic education wasn’t engaging Māori.”
Changing that has required careful, relational work rebuilding trust, strengthening cultural identity, and grounding leadership in tikanga and whanaungatanga. It is not work that fits neatly into spreadsheets, but it is work that lasts.
Alongside her sits Caroline Gill, 41, whose path to leadership was less linear but no less determined.
Gill laughs when she recalls that she did not get into teaching the first time she applied after completing her secondary school education at Sacred Heart Girls College in Hamilton.
“I always wanted to be a teacher. My nana was a teacher. It was just what I thought I’d do.”
Initially turned away, she followed another passion performing arts and physical education at Waikato University before reapplying and being accepted. That detour shaped the leader she has become: reflective, curious and deeply invested in learning.
Now overseeing curriculum, assessment, staffing, timetabling and professional growth at John Paul College, Gill is known as a change‑maker comfortable leading in complex spaces.
“I love learning, and I believe that as educators we should always be looking to improve our practice.”
A strategic thinker, her leadership is grounded in fostering a strong culture of learning, where decisions are student centred and teachers are supported to strengthen their craft so students can thrive. It is work that requires conviction, resilience, and trust
qualities that have not gone unnoticed.
Her leadership centres on high‑impact teaching practices and supporting teachers to strengthen their craft so students can thrive. It is work that demands conviction, resilience and trust qualities that have not gone unnoticed.
Bernadette Fredricksen, the school’s director of mission, has watched both women step into leadership with confidence and humility.
“To have two deputy principals from the same school selected is extraordinary. It reflects the calibre of leadership here.”
She acknowledges the bittersweet reality of the programme, which is designed to move participants into principal roles potentially within 18 months.
“That’s the flip side of accelerating really good people.
“You might lose them. But they go on to make a bigger difference,” says Fredricksen.
The Aspiring Principal Programme, launching in term two, is a government‑funded initiative announced in Budget 2025 and delivered by the University of Waikato. It combines academic study,
practical leadership projects, mentoring by experienced principals and time spent working in other schools.
Gill and Tamati speak candidly about the realities of leadership: budgets, health and safety, governance, making hard calls, and always putting student wellbeing first.
“At this level, you see things differently. If my gut tells me something isn’t safe for kids, then it’s not happening.”
Both credit John Paul College with giving them space to lead reporting directly to the board, making decisions, and being trusted to do so.
“We’re supported here. We’re given autonomy, but we’re also collegial. We check in with each other,” says Tamati.
It is that combination trust, challenge, faith and community that has shaped them.
And as they prepare to step into a national programme designed to fast‑track future principals, there is a sense this is not an ending, but a continuation.
Two women. One school. And a leadership journey rooted in service to students, to community, and to the belief that education, done well, can change lives.
Diplomats, farmers and agribusiness leaders will converge at Mystery Creek as Europe marks a new chapter in its agricultural partnership with New Zealand, reports Mary Anne Gill.
The European Union will host a high‑profile lunch at Fieldays in June, using the new Fieldays Function Centre for what the EU’s New Zealand ambassador says will be a flagship international event.
The lunch will bring together leading European agri‑businesses, New Zealand agricultural leaders and senior political figures, with a focus on innovation and strengthening European New Zealand relations.
It will be hosted by European Union Ambassador to New Zealand Lawrence Meredith, who told Good Local Media all 27 European Union member countries would be represented.
Fieldays chief executive Richard Lindroos says the event is a major endorsement of both Fieldays and the Waikato region, highlighting Fieldays’ growing role as a national and international meeting place.
“This is a new European Union lunch on the Thursday of Fieldays, and it’s a big statement,” he says.
“Lawrence is hosting it to bring New Zealand and Europe together again, with a strong focus on innovation.”
The lunch will be held in a large marquee on the Village Green, forming the centrepiece of the newly created Fieldays Function Centre, designed to host major events in a more central, public‑facing part of the site.
Fieldays was the ideal location to showcase Europe’s long‑standing and evolving relationship with New Zealand agriculture and mark mark two years since the Free Trade Agreement came into force.
“We’re really delighted to have the opportunity to host a major lunch between Europe and New Zealand on agriculture and agricultural innovation,” says Meredith.
“Fieldays is the largest agricultural event in the Southern Hemisphere, and there’s no better place to have this conversation.”
Around 200 guests are expected to attend, including European exhibitors already on site at Fieldays, leaders from New Zealand agribusiness, farming organisations and political representatives from both sides of Parliament.
The lunch will also highlight the progress made since the EU New Zealand Free Trade Agreement, which came into force nearly two years ago and has delivered tangible
benefits for both economies.
“The relationship has never been stronger.
“Since the Free Trade Agreement came into effect, it has brought more than $2 billion in benefits to New Zealand exporters, while also opening up new opportunities for European companies.”
The agreement had strengthened cooperation well beyond traditional trade, particularly in agricultural research, innovation and sustainability.
“We’re seeing strong partnerships through programmes such as Horizon Europe, including joint research in areas like pest control, productivity and sustainable farming,” he says.
“That collaboration is going both ways European agritech and innovation are feeding into New Zealand farming systems, while New Zealand expertise is shaping how Europe thinks about agriculture.”
While the event carries diplomatic weight, Meredith brings a personal connection to farming that makes Fieldays feel like home.
Born in Ireland and brought up in a Yorkshire dairy‑farming village near Skipton, Meredith grew up in the countryside made
famous by All Creatures Great and Small, the television series based on the stories of Yorkshire vet James Herriot.
“I was brought up around farmers and farming.
“That Yorkshire connection means Fieldays feels very familiar to me.”
He is already looking forward to the winter conditions at Mystery Creek.
“I can’t wait to bring my Irish tweed jacket and my Red Bands,” Meredith says.
“Fieldays is a great opportunity to talk directly with farmers, hear what matters to them and see innovation happening on the ground.”
Lindroos says the event reinforced how Fieldays week was increasingly becoming “New Zealand’s agribusiness week”, with Waikato at its heart.
“We want people to see this happening here the Prime Minister, opposition leaders, ambassadors and international partners all coming into Mystery Creek.
“This is about showcasing Waikato, showcasing Fieldays, and showcasing New Zealand to the world,” says Lindroos.
By MARY ANNE GILL
Every year, business award nights deliver the same familiar language: innovation, resilience, global relevance, punching above our weight.
This year’s Tauranga Business Awards deserve that and more largely because of SYOS Aerospace.
When a company that began life in a garage walks away with the Supreme Award, along with category wins for Innovation and International Trade, it’s not just another feelgood headline. It’s a reminder that genuinely worldclass businesses are being built in Tauranga not just serviced here, not just headquartered here for lifestyle reasons, but created here.
SYOS Aerospace designs and manufactures highperformance systems for military and government customers around the world. That matters, because New Zealand has a habit of assuming serious technology happens somewhere else. Auckland, maybe. Silicon Valley, definitely. Defence and aerospace? Surely not here. And yet, here it is.
Chief executive Sam Vye was modest about the win, calling it “a great moment for the business, and more importantly, for the team”. Fair enough. But the bigger takeaway isn’t about trophies or speeches. It’s about what this company represents and what it quietly challenges the rest of the region to rethink.
What impressed the judges most wasn’t just SYOS’s rapid growth, but its decision to stay put. Head judge Jamie Lunam summed it up: the company is operating on a global stage, securing international military and government contracts, while keeping its research, development and manufacturing firmly based in New Zealand.
That’s a crucial distinction.
Too many regional success stories end the same way a buyout, a headoffice shift, a gradual hollowingout of local operations. SYOS has made a different call. It’s investing in Tauranga, attracting international talent to the region and proving that globally relevant technology doesn’t need to be exported offshore to succeed.
That choice raises the bar.
Tauranga Business Chamber chief executive Matt Cowley said a clear theme emerged across this year’s awards: underdogs achieving extraordinary success. He’s right but there’s something else at play. There’s a growing confidence that Tauranga doesn’t need to downplay its ambition.
From aviation and logistics to advanced manufacturing, the awards reflected a region no longer content to play supporting roles. SYOS, named Business of the Year, was the clearest example of that shift.
It hasn’t come easily. Vye has spoken openly about the long days, late nights and weekend work required to compete on
the global stage. There’s no overnightsuccess myth here just sustained effort and an appetite for complexity.
The judges noticed. They praised SYOS’s agility, ambition and ability to deliver complex projects at pace, backed by significant manufacturing investment in the region. In plain terms, this is a company doing hard things properly.
The awards also recognised impact closer to home, with the Judges’ Impact Award going to Barber Spence & Co a reminder that business success isn’t measured solely in exports or contracts, but in lives changed and communities strengthened.
Still, SYOS’s win stands apart for what it signals. Tauranga is producing businesses that think globally, act boldly and choose to stay rooted where they started.
That’s not something to applaud politely and forget. It’s something to take seriously and build on.
Because if a worldleading aerospace company can grow out of a Tauranga garage, the real question is no longer whether this region can compete globally.
It’s what happens next if it stops thinking small.
• Mary Anne Gill is an award-winning journalist of 40 years and a Tauranga ratepayer who works as a senior writer for Good Local Media, publishers of Bay of Plenty Business News.
Location and Date: Tompkins Wake, Tuesday, 3rd March 2026
Co-Hosts: Tompkins Wake and Montana Food & Events
Photography: Michelle Cutelli Photography
Tompkins Wake and Montana Food & Events hosted a lively BA5, with beautiful food, easy conversation, and a fun bingo game that got everyone mixing, connecting, and meeting new faces quickly.
Photographer - Salina Galvan Photography
Celebrating the region’s premier showcase of business excellence, proudly supported by Deloitte and Farmer Autovillage. Thursday, March 12, 2026
Hosted by Tasman Holiday Parks Papamoa Beach.
This event brought the Coastal Bay of Plenty’s tourism and hospitality sectors together, along with other key stakeholders and funders, to celebrate the launch of the 2026 programme for this month’s Flavours of Plenty Festival.
This fit-for-purpose two-court indoor sports facility serves both the Matamata community and the College. Welcome to Open Country Community Stadium.
The shared-use venue supports a wide range of sporting codes – basketball, netball, volleyball, badminton, pickleball and futsal – with a mezzanine level providing elevated viewing and additional storage. It’s a central hub for community connectivity and a sustainable building that will support generations to come.
Fosters won a competitive tender process for this project, in part due to proposing a gateway programme for Matamata College students to be involved in the construction project, said Senior Project Manager for Matamata-Piako District Council Chris Lee.
He noted that the “genuine buy-in” from Fosters, from the start, was a major factor in the success of the project.
“Throughout the tender and design stages they provided practical insights that improved functionality and usability,” said Chris.
“Consistently looking ahead, they made design and construction recommendations that supported long term performance, ensuring the facility wouldn’t leave the community with future liabilities.
“Drawing on their experience with similar projects, Fosters helped shape this into a truly purpose-built facility, improving functionality and usability.”
Drawing on their experience with similar projects, Fosters helped shape this into a truly purpose-built facility, improving functionality and usability.
From Matamata College Principal Dr Angela Sharples perspective, Fosters added significant value “by moving well beyond a standard construction role and genuinely partnering with us to deliver a purpose-built community facility.”
Three students were on site for a day a week, as part of a 6-week Matamata College Gateway Programme. One student has since secured an apprenticeship with Fosters.
“Delivering on a core objective of the project” she added, “the stadium has strengthened connections between the school and the community. Fosters played a key role in bringing that vision to life. They have been an outstanding partner to Matamata College.”