FEBRUARY 2025 VOLUME 9: ISSUE 2
UBCO HITS THE SKIDS
Promising local company collapses Page 1 and 3
BAY MAKES HAY
Kiwifruit crop sparks economic rise Page 5
WESTERN BOP ON THE UP?
Government deal unlocks growth Page 5
WOMEN LEADING BAY BUSINESS
COMMERCIAL REAL ESTATE
Property market trends 2025 Page 7
High-flying bike co collapses
> By DAVID PORTER
Tauranga-based UBCO has been placed in receivership and its collapse will impact the local business community, Nigel Tutt, chief executive of Priority One, told the Bay of Plenty Business News (BOPBN)
“There’s a bunch of really talented people that work[ed] for UBCO [who] we want to make sure we retain in the community and will be valuable for local companies,” said Tutt.
Obviously, they’ll be concerned about retaining their livelihoods, he added. “For most, or
all of them, to remain [locally] – particularly for growth companies – having people who have worked in other growth companies is really important,” he said.
“It was a very smart, talented company and I’m sure they have a bunch of people who we’d like to stay around.”
Winning concept
UBCO was launched in 2015.
Originally based on a winning concept of an electric powered, quietly running farm bike, it expanded rapidly and, seemingly, had no difficulty in raising funds to expand internationally. The
bike’s silent running was considered a key advantage, according to UBCO’s cofounder, Tim Allan.
In a surprising move, Allan stepped down as CEO in 2021, reportedly because he wanted to return to his original role of researching and exploring new > Continuedonpage3
Top row from left: Michelle Stephenson – Property Brokers, Kieran Hewitson – Toi-Ohomai, Eve Bachellier– BDO, Evaleigh Rautjoki-Williams – Bay of Plenty Regional Council, Bottom from left: Dellyn Mortleman – Fleet Partners, Denise Emery – Te Puia, Rachel Cleverly – C2 Design, Jasmine Kroeze – Creative Bay of Plenty, Jen Scoular – Tauranga City Council, Janet O’Shea – Tall Poppy, Susan Northey – Tall Poppy, Tonia Brugh – James & Wells
UBCO COLLAPSES
company developments. Currently, he is retained by Priority One to work on research projects.
The other key cofounder, Anthony Clyde, still operates out of Whakatane and remains devoted to exploring new bike designs. Neither Allan nor Clyde were available for comment on the demise of UBCO, but neither retains any significant shareholding in UBCO.
While bike developer, Daryl Neal, is cited as a third cofounder, Virgin Island-based Jubilee Glory Investments is listed as UBCO Holding’s largest shareholder according to the NZ Companies Office.
Sad to see
As Priority One’s Nigel Tutt put it: “Start-ups and growth companies are really, really hard. [UBCO’s collapse is] really sad to see. UBCO is a great company and there’s a really great bunch of people there. Sometimes these things don’t quite fly, but certainly everyone involved should hold their heads high.”
Tutt added that, for a company to do so well when based in Tauranga, demonstrated it was a high class product which managed amazing results.
“I would hope some of those
people would continue doing similar things at other companies. A lot of companies don’t finish up flying as high as they intend to, but the learnings from that are important.”
Grant Thornton’s David Ruscoe and Stephen Keen have been appointed as receivers of UBCO.
Ruscoe told BOPBN that Grant Thornton was appointed on January 18 by one of the shareholders, but he would not confirm which shareholder initiated the action.
“As there is no funding available, the receivers have ceased to trade the business of the companies,” Grant Thornton said in a statement. “The business and assets of the companies, including stock and intellectual property, are available for expressions of interest.”
No statement was made about the company’s debts or its creditors.
Mark Phillips, managing director of UBCO Australia from March 2020 until September 2022, said in a news report that UBCO’s rapid global expansion, lack of focus and what he regarded as an overly large management structure contributed to its downfall.
Phillips claimed resources were stretched too thinly on product development, including a trailbike and a quadbike
that never reached market leaving surplus, unsellable bikes in warehouses.
Vision collapses
UBCO seemed to be well on the way towards global expansion but that vision has now collapsed.
The company’s receivership came just a few months after UBCO signed a high profile partnership with Australia Post. According to news reports, UBCO chief executive Oliver Hutaff said the company had “bet a large
position” of its future on the success of fleet contracts. At the time he said there were also ambitions for a larger rollout, potentially amounting to 10,000 e-bikes, across Australia.
So, what exactly is going on? Clearly, UBCO was having money issues despite managing to raise NZ$70 million in investment funding and landing that high-profile deal with Australia Post. The company’s debts haven’t been fully disclosed but reports suggest that one of its biggest creditors is Callaghan Innovation,
a New Zealand Crown agency, to which around $400,000 is owed.
Noted by several observers, as receivership and bankruptcy aren’t the same thing, UBCO may yet survive in some other form.
Grant Thornton’s Ruscoe confirms to BOPBN that the receivers were looking to sell the brand and assets, while noting that there was still some stock available.
“We will, hopefully, find a sale for it [to enable UBCO] to continue,” he said. “These things are always a shock and every business failure is different.”
Silentrunning:UBCOfirstattractedattentionwithitselectricfarmbikes. Photosupplied
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Going up in smoke
> By DAVID PORTER
One of the grimmest of the current global ironies is that newly inaugurated US President Donald Trump will inherit responsibility for dealing with the aftermath of the latest spate of fires that have devastated Los Angeles. It’s ironic because Trump is, in his own often repeated words, a self-proclaimed climate change denier.
teer firefighters. In reference to a recent appeal for support from the NZ Fire Service, we are largely dependent on volunteer firefighters in some 600 stations nationwide. So, I was somewhat surprised to learn that in LA, and presumably other parts of the US, if you have the money, and firefighters are available, you can effectively hire your own private mini firefighting force to help keep you safe.
southern California had less than 10 per cent of average rainfall since October 1 and the powerful offshore winds that regularly hit the region catalysed the latest fire eruptions while wind gusts topped 70 miles per hour at several locations. This all adds up to the perfect (fire)storm.
Massive destruction
According to US media reports, a series of ferocious wildfires erupted on January 7 and spread across the LA area killing at least 27 people and destroying thousands of structures. Although the fires have, by now, been largely contained, the death toll could grow.
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This disaster comes at a time when much of the media coverage I have read lays the blame for the increasing incidence of these fires largely upon accelerating climate change. Yes, undoubtedly these fires are, to some extent, due to the local geography and especially the strong winds that sometimes supercharge the spread of LA fires. I do not, in any sense, wish to undervalue the tremendous efforts made by communities affected by the brush fires assailing the area.
In New Zealand, we rely, to a large extent, on volun-
All credit to the wonderful efforts to contain the damage, but clearly at issue is the growing impact of accelerating climate change in creating the conditions for the latest outbreak of fires. Apparently,
John Vaillant, author of Fire Weather: On the Front Lines of a Burning World said in one report that climate change is making disasters like the wind-driven LA fires even fiercer.
“We can expect fires of this intensity, and worse, in the future,” he said, expressing a view shared by many other climate experts. “The types of fires we’ve seen over the past 10 years are qualitatively different from the previous 100 years.”
As well as many other climate experts, in many media reports, Vaillant said the recent fires were caused by something science has been telling us about for decades, the CO2 our combustion engines keep pumping into the atmosphere.
Another climate scientist, Peter Kalmus, has been sounding the alarm for years – it feels like, while he’s trying to share the science of climate change with the world, no one is listening.
“So, for a few years I wanted to move to some place a little bit less fiery,” he said in a recent CBS report. “But I want to make it clear, I don’t think there’s any place safe from climate change. I am hopeful that, if there’s a silver lining to this tragedy, it’s that, you know, the public will wake up and get angry and say, ‘We need to do something about this. Enough is enough.’”
David Porter
Unlocking local growth –Western BOP to benefit?
Apartnership with central government could unlock opportunities for economic growth, connected, resilient infrastructure and housing in the Western Bay of Plenty.
The area has experienced rapid growth during the past 20 years and it is ready to deliver further growth, Mayor of Tauranga, Mahé Drysdale, expects.
“To achieve this, we need to work in partnership with the government to provide the tools and legislative settings we need to enable new housing and business development at pace, allowing growth to pay for growth,” he confirms.
“The subregion is ready to work together with central government to deliver.”
A Western Bay of Plenty Regional Deal is expected to deliver approximately 46,000 additional houses, 35,000 additional jobs and maintain annual economic growth at 4.6 per cent.
Through the deal, government will work with Tauranga City Council, BOP Regional Council and Western BOP District Council as well as other organisations.
“We have an established spatial plan and strategy agreed by all three councils and tangata whenua, alongside key government agencies,” says Western
Bay of Plenty District Mayor, James Denyer. “Nevertheless, funding and policy barriers to growth remain and by seeking an enduring partnership through a Regional Deal, we aim to overcome these barriers.”
The partnership has been working on the concept for a regional deal for more than a year – Bay of Plenty Regional Council Chair, Doug Leeder, is confident these efforts will be rewarded. “The prospect of Regional Deals is exciting,” he says. “In particular, they will deepen the partnership between local and central government, with mutually agreed objectives
and delivery.”
All going to plan, the Western Bay of Plenty deal will build on infrastructure around key sections of the state highway network and encourage private sector investment, Todd Muller from economic development agency, Priority One, adds.
“The Port of Tauranga is one of the most significant pieces of economic infrastructure this country has. Building exports is critical to the future of New Zealand and this deal will help to ensure that infrastructure is provided to, and around, the port to support our exports getting to market.”
Science kit a hit with kids
Taking a mātauranga Māori approach to environmental issues, House of Science has launched an educational kit for primary school students.
The Forest Health kit (Te Ora o te Wao) captivated students during a recent trial at Tauranga’s Bethlehem School, teacher Andrea Acton confirms.
“We integrated it seamlessly across the curriculum, which inspired some of the [students’] best creative writing,” she says. “They also created posters full of newly learned facts and are enjoying this hands-on, science-based approach to learning.”
Activities encourage students to explore native forests through audio soundscapes, compare giant trees and conserve forests by dissecting seeds, studying tree growth and understanding diseases including kauri dieback.
The kits help young learners understand and protect New Zealand’s native ecosystems, inspiring them to become stewards of our environment, House of
Science CEO and founder, Chris Duggan, explains.
“By age 10, most children have formed a strong impression [about] careers... if science hasn’t been part of their lives by then, the chance they’ll follow this pathway is slim. Empowering teachers to deliver engaging science lessons will ensure a workforce with the necessary skills to support the future of work.
“Careers in science, technol-
ogy, engineering and mathematics are at the heart of many future workforce requirements and underpin the transition to a climate-resilient, sustainable, low-emission economy.”
House of Science is a charitable trust fostering scientific literacy and curiosity. Intended for children in years 1-8, the Forest Health kit is part of a wider library of resources covering topics such as electricity, climate change and soil.
Sponsorship by the BioHeritage National Science Challenge and the Freemasons Foundation will ensure most House of Science branches nationwide will have two copies of the kit.
“We have 20 House of Science branches serving more than 700 schools across most of the North Island and Christchurch,” Duggan adds. “Our kits have the power to reach more than 170,000 schoolchildren each year.”
The kit also includes Scion’s interactive app ‘E Heke e Heka!’ and the augmented reality tool
RATINGS –BAY BANKS ON BUMPER HARVEST
Otago may have topped the latest ASB Regional Scoreboard, but a ‘bumper’ kiwifruit season has seen the Bay crack the top ten.
‘The Bay of Plenty has seen favourable conditions for kiwifruit, with both quality and quantity showing promise,’ ASB’s report confirms. ‘We are hopeful for another excellent season, supporting the region’s exports. Additionally, improved dairy prices and potential interest rate cuts are expected to boost the economy.’
Covering the final quarter of 2024, the scoreboard provides detailed insights regarding which regions are delivering winning performances as well as the ‘alsorans’. The Bay of Plenty climbed three places to sit at ninth equal with Waikato.
‘Mātaihia Te Heka!’ to help rangatahi identify threats such as myrtle rust. Scion’s Katerina PiheraRidge led development of the app after recognising a gap in accessible resources about myrtle rust, particularly in Te Reo Māori.
“We identified a need to make scientific knowledge more accessible to whānau, communities and rangatahi. This app offers an interactive learning experience that helps young people understand the impact of myrtle rust and empowers them in their roles as kaitiaki,” she says. “[Inclusion in the kit makes] the app directly available to all House of Science member schools and kura, presenting myrtle rust science in Te Reo Māori and English and allowing young learners to engage with this environmental knowledge in a relevant and interactive way.”
The Forest Health kit marks a second collaboration between Scion and House of Science. In 2022, the two created ‘A Load of Rubbish’, a kit introducing students to resource management.
‘A bumper kiwifruit season might have driven this improvement… Improvements in car registrations and consumer confidence were [also] key drivers for Bay of Plenty’s rise. Annual car registrations increased by 9 per cent, compared to the 6% national average, and consumer confidence lifted significantly, although it remained below the national average.’
However, challenges such as a slower pace of tourism recovery and uncertain prospects for economic growth remain, the report asserts.
‘Employment remained almost flat locally, down 0.4% annually, aligning with a weak labour market nationwide. The housing market showed mixed results: house sales rose by 9.1% annually, above the 7.4% national gain, while house prices dropped by 0.6% annually, close to the 0.4% drop nationally.’
In addition, the construction sector saw a ‘significant decline’, down 24.5% annually compared to 1.7% nationally, mostly driven by non-residential consents.
Visit www.asb.co.nz and search ‘regional economic scoreboard’ for further information.
Children at Horohoro School learn about native forests.
TCC – DOWN TO BUSINESS
Summer in Tauranga has been busy, with plenty of visitors and sunshine, and we hope this has flowed through to the commercial sector. With the holiday season largely behind us, we can now focus on getting down to business, putting our 2025 plans into action.
For Tauranga City Council elected members, work starts with bringing together a draft Annual Plan which will seek to keep rates to a minimum
Mahé Drysdale
while acknowledging that it’s likely that 2025/26 rates increases will end up being higher than we would like.
There are two primary reasons for the increases: the cost of resources council has to buy often rises by much more than the rate of inflation, and we are playing catch up on overdue infrastructure investment which impacts council debt and interest costs.
While one response would be to cancel some of these investment plans, that would simply put us further behind in terms of the infrastructure we need to deal with the city’s housing crisis, congested road network and inadequate community facilities.
Our intent is to take a balanced approach, focusing on our urgent priorities and ensuring that everything we do provides real
SEEKA CONNECTS COMMUNITY
A local produce company is assisting a partner keen to bridge the digital divide. More than 20 laptops delivered to Western Bay of Plenty’s Tu Mai Digital (operating under the Poutiri Trust), will help bolster community connections, Seeka’s Michael Franks expects.
“They are not broken and can be repurposed, so it’s great to see them being put to such good use.”
Tu Mai Digital’s Digital Divide project is designed to assist households struggling to afford internet access and devices. By donating the laptops, Seeka is aiming to assist in this good work, the company’s Bryan Graham adds.
“It is great to see these devices go on to help our local community.”
Fertile ground
A year of slim pickings for some, 2024 delivered a profitable harvest for Te Puke based Seeka.
“Seeka is pleased to be providing a further positive update to the 2024 market guidance,” the produce company’s CEO, Michael Franks, confirms. “Increased earnings reflect a strong close out to the year through lower than expected overhead costs and higher than anticipated income in December.”
Seeka expects full year earnings at a profit before tax level of between $27.5 million and $31.5m, up from earlier expectations of $23-27m. This compares to a $21m loss in the 2023 financial year.
These figures are unaudited; audited results are due late February.
value for money and improves or maintains the levels of service required by our fast growing city.
We are also looking to find ways to reduce council operating costs without impacting services, giving us options to do more for less or reduce rates increases.
Another important, long term objective is to work with our partners – the Western Bay of Plenty District Council, Bay of Plenty Regional Council and central government – to reach a regional deal agreement.
The aim of such a deal is to lock in future investment by central government, which aligns with our strategic priorities, driving increased productivity for our region.
Housing shortages and affordability issues, as well as traffic congestion, would be at the heart
of any deal reached. We can’t afford to do this work on our own but, by securing investment from our funding partners, we will be able to get on with tackling our agreed priorities.
Any regional deal reached will be reliant on us paying our way, which emphasises why rates need to match the level of investment we require and the service delivery people expect.
We are currently looking at other revenue sources to see if there are options that would take some of the burden off our ratepayers.
Attracting new events and people to visit our city can also
> Looking to the near future, I encourage all businesspeople to participate in the forthcoming 2025/26 Annual Plan consultation process and make a submission for council to consider.
make an important contribution to Tauranga’s vibrancy and provide economic uplift for our local businesses.
Along these lines, locals can expect more initiatives such as the recently announced return of Chiefs rugby to the city.
Looking to the near future, I encourage all businesspeople to participate in the forthcoming 2025/26 Annual Plan consultation process and make a submission for council to consider.
We’re keen to see positive suggestions that will advance the interests of the city, and council-elected members are looking forward to meeting as many locals as possible at drop-in sessions and other events in April.
The feedback we receive about our priorities and what the plan will mean for rates will play a key role in how we proceed for the next few years.
The dates and details of engagement opportunities will be on the TCC website by the end of February – my key message is to make a submission and give us your feedback.
Ngā mihi nui, Mahé.
GST net – opt out now?
Time is running out to opt out assets from the GST net!
Registering for GST and claiming some or all of the GST on the purchase of a holiday home – one that will be used some of the time for short term rental – is a common tactic to reduce the cash outflow required to fund a purchase. Roll forward to sale time for the property and, sometimes, owners are left wishing they had not claimed GST to start with.
The default position for such assets is that, where GST has been claimed on even just a portion of the purchase, a GST liability will be triggered by the sale of the asset.
This means unsuspecting sellers may be liable to pay 15 per cent of the sale price of their asset in GST, even if they only claimed GST on part of the asset. While they may be able to claim some level of additional GST credit at the time of sale, generally they will end up out of pocket to some degree at the conclusion of the sale.
Recognising this issue, and in conjunction with the introduction of the GST platform economy rules, a new rule was legislated in 2024. This allows newly purchased capital assets that are only partly used for GST taxable purposes (such as home offices or holiday homes) to be excluded from the GST net for capital pur-
poses. This applies even if they still generate GST taxable income and incur GST claimable costs.
This change means that, if no GST is claimed on the purchase or other capital costs relating to the asset, it will not be taxable on sale. The rule change also allows a limited time to opt out of the
GST net for older assets if they are only partly used to make GST taxable supplies.
If you have claimed GST on the acquisition of assets that have not been used for the principal purpose of making taxable supplies, you may be able to elect to remove these assets from the GST net before April 1, 2025. As part of this election, any GST that has been claimed over the life of the asset will need to be paid back to Inland Revenue. If you do this, the future sale of the asset is not subject to GST; if you don’t make this election and pay back the relevant amount of GST previously claimed, the sale of such assets will assume the default position that GST will be payable on the full sale price.
The rules regarding qualifying for the opt out provision are complex with many factors to
consider, but some examples of assets that might qualify include:
• A home office within a larger private family residence
• A holiday home occasionally rented out for short stays that is, primarily, a family bach
• Buildings used by businesses or non-profit organisations making a combination of taxable and exempt supplies
If you have claimed GST on an asset purchase and think you might qualify for the opt out, or you are purchasing new assets that will be used for both GST taxable and non-taxable use, you should seek expert advice regarding the options available.
Andrea Scatchard is a Tax Partner at Deloitte, based in the Bay of Plenty. She can be contacted on ascatchard@deloitte.co.nz
RETIRING TYPES – LOCAL DUO STEPS DOWN
Council CE0’s new horizons
Western Bay of Plenty District Council will be looking for a new CEO following John Holyoake’s recent resignation.
Mayor James Denyer says he has valued John’s insights and advice over the last four years.
“He has guided our council during a time of significant change and I thank him for what
he has achieved. We thank John for his service and wish him all the best in his future endeavours.”
Council is expected to announce the appointment of an interim CEO in the short term to ensure a smooth transition.
Kilwell stalwart retires
Almost half a century after Ian Levet first confirmed he had ‘gone fishing’, the Kilwell Firelab
stalwart will have more time to handle a line or two.
The Rotorua-based company has come a long way since Ian joined the Kilwell team and began assembling bamboo fishing rods in 1977.
Today, Kilwell produces carbon fibre components for a wide range of sectors including automotive, aerospace, defence, mining and sport.
During his 47 years at the
company, Ian has been at the forefront of the company’s development, serving as a production supervisor.
Although he has played a part in America’s Cup races and films – Kilwell was tasked with creating lightsabres for Star Wars –Ian has remained grounded and determined to make every post a winner during his career. He will be missed, a statement from the company confirmed.
Economic and commercial real estate outlook for 2025
As we move into 2025, we hold growing confidence in the outlook of the economic and commercial real estate landscapes which presents a mix of opportunities and, undoubtedly, some challenges. While global uncertainties persist, New Zealand is well positioned to capitalise on emerging trends.
Economic outlook
New Zealand’s monetary policy will play a pivotal role in shaping the economic year. The Official Cash Rate (OCR) is currently at 4.25 per cent, but leading economists expect it to drop to around 3.25% by December. This easing will lower short term interest rates, creating favourable borrowing conditions and supporting business confidence, investment and property value growth.
As term deposit rates reduce, investors are increasingly rebalancing their portfolios, moving away from cash into alternative yield and growth assets, including commercial property funds.
Globally, the US economy remains a wildcard. Donald Trump’s return to the presidency, coupled with Republican control of the Senate and House, introduces a mix of economic stimulus
and uncertainty. Policies such as corporate tax cuts, looser regulations and global trade tariffs are anticipated to boost US economic growth in the second half of 2025.
However, US policies come with risks – they are likely to be inflationary and will do little to rein in a projected $2.5trillion budget deficit, at approximately 8% of GDP, with longer term borrowing costs likely to continue to rise as a result.
The shift from globalisation to protectionism continues to reshape trade dynamics. For New Zealand, this underscores the importance of diversification and resilience in international markets. Domestically, the economy is expected to regain momentum in the latter half of the year, buoyed by easing monetary policy and growth orientated government policy.
Commercial real estate
The commercial real estate market is considered at, or around, the bottom of its cycle, presenting a rare opportunity to invest at good value before the upswing. High inflation and interest rates have driven up construction costs
while subdued consumer and business confidence have slowed the development of new buildings across most asset classes.
Although overall vacancies have increased, they have risen from record lows experienced during the pandemic, with prime space remaining in relatively short supply. As business confidence improves in 2025, demand for undersupplied, high quality existing properties will continue to grow, supporting rental income and property values. This positions commercial property funds for improved performance this year and beyond.
Value-add opportunities
The challenging economic environment during the past five years has placed financial pressure on poorly funded owners and passive landlords. Throughout 2025, active property and fund managers are poised to capitalise on the opportunity to acquire properties at good value and deliver value-add strategies such as renovations, retrofits or repurposing good properties with strong underlying fundamentals. These efforts aim to unlock
higher rental income and drive long term growth in value.
Technology and innovation
Proactive landlords are increasingly leveraging technology tools to enhance building management. Real time data, actionable insights and improved building connectivity allows more efficient operations. This boosts both economic and environmental performance while also reducing costs for tenants.
Sustainability
Sustainability continues to be a defining trend in commercial real estate as the industry works to reduce carbon emissions. Tenant expectations for properties with improved environmental performance are growing. This makes features such as end-of-trip facilities, green and energy rating certifications, waste management programmes, energy efficient retrofits and renewable energy solutions increasingly prized.
Properties excelling in these areas are well positioned to remain competitive, attract (and retain) premium tenants and
BY
SCOTT MCKENZIE
command higher rents.
With the market cycle shifting, it’s now an opportune time to take advantage of unique conditions which are unlikely to last. Growing demand and declining interest rates in the foreseeable future make commercial property funds offer exceptional opportunities to secure quality assets at attractive values.
Learn more at PMG’s Outlook 2025 event, February 27. Visit www.pmgfunds.co.nz/events for details.
Scott McKenzie is CEO and Director at PMG Funds. He can be reached on scott@pmgfunds.co.nz
JohnHolyoak
CityCentre Waterfront Transformation
Thelasttwelvemonthshaveseenamassivetransformationin Taurangacitycentre.Anew‘living’seawall,aboardwalkand railwayunderpass,multiplegreenspaces,newcarparking,a refurbishedwharf,andabrand-newwaterfrontplayground.
aurangawaterfrontisbecoming aplacewecanallbeproud of,withnewlydeveloped recreationalspacesthatoffersomethingfor everyone.Anumberofexcitingprojectshave nowbeencompleted,whichhelptomakeour citycentreanevengreaterplaceforpeople tolive,work,visit,learnandplay.
BEACONWHARF
Therevampedwharffeaturesanew gangwayleadingdowntoapontoon,agreat spotforkeenfishersandeasieraccesstothe innerharbourforrecreationalboats,kayaks andpaddleboards.Improvedlandscaping andaviewingplatformenhancethespace, celebratingtheconnectionbetweenthecity andTeAwanuiTaurangaHarbour.
MASONICPARK
Thetransformedparkisavitallinkbetween thefuturecivicprecinct,TeManawatakioTe PapaandtheTaurangaMoanawaterf ront. MasonicParkfeaturesseatingoptionsin thesunandshade;grasscoveredmounds; landscapedgardenswithfeaturetrees; andsparklingwaterfeatureswhichdelight visitingchildren.
SOUTHERNWATERFRONTBOARDWALK
(withconnectingrailwayunderpass)
RunningalongsideTeAwanuiTauranga Harbour,thenewboardwalkoffersseating areasandalargeplatformspacetotakein thestunningharbourviews.Residentsand visitorscanenjoyaleisurelystrollorcycle al ongtheharbour-edgeandpassthrough theconnectingrailwayunderpass,andhead totheTunksReservestairs(equippedwitha cyclerunnel)anduptoElizabethStreet.
NORTHERNWATERFRONTRESERVE
Thisvibrantnewgreenreserveoffersspace foreventsandcommunityrelaxation;a sharedpathwayrunningalongsideTeAwanui TaurangaHarbour;arefurbishedliving seawall,featuringinnovativeseapodsand tidalstepsforviewingthe marineplantand animallife;andabasketballhalf-courtfor someactivefun.
WATERFRONTPLAYGROUND
Themuch-anticipatednewwaterfront playgroundisreadytoexplore.Boastingan impressive8-metre-tallwakatowerstructure withavarietyofwaystoaccess,fromthe elevatedpathwaywithconnectingbridges toropeclimbingforkidswholoveabitmore adventure.Fromthetop,it’sagreatlookout withthestunningviewofthemoanaanda vantagepointforspottinglocal marinelife. Therearefourdifferentplayzones, includingthewakatowerstructure.Ready foradventures,there'salso:anature trailzoneforclimbingandbalancing;the elevatedpathwayetchedwiththe MilkyWayandMatarikistars;andthe popularwaterplayzonewithtroughs, waterpumpsandmore.
DiveCrescentcarpark
Locatedclose-by,theDiveCrescentcarpark providesaconvenientparkingoptionfor familiesvisitingthewaterfrontplayground, whichcanbeea silyaccessedusingtheshared pathwayintheNorthernWaterfrontReserve.
Thenewwaterfront playgroundinthe citycentre.
TeManawataki
oTePapa
heheartofTaurangacity istransformingandatthe centreofthetransformation isTeManawatakioTePapa–the heartbeatofTePapa.Featuringa libraryandcommunityhub,civic whare(publicmeetinghouse), museumandanexhibitiongallery, thenewcivicprecinctwillbe aninclusivespacefortheentire communitytoexperience.
AcrosstheTeManawatakio TePapasite,progressistangibly visiblewiththestructureofthethree floorsforthelibraryandcommunity hubinp lace,andthefullprojectset forcompletionin2026.
Some1,500RammedAggregate Pileshavenowbeeninstalled,marking
Friendsof Tauranga Museum
TheFriendsofTaurangaMuseum isafreemembershipprogramme, designedtobuildacommunityof supportersaheadofthemuseum’s openingin2028.Membersreceive quarterlye-newsletterswithupdates abouttheTaurangaMuseumproject, collectionstoriesandinvitationsto exclusive‘Friendsonly’events.
The2025FriendsEventProgramme willbeannouncedintheMarch editionofthemuseumnewsletter. TobecomepartoftheFriends community,completetheonline formhere:www.tauranga.govt.nz/ friends-of-museum
amilestoneforthefuturemuseumand exhibitiongallerywhichisexpected tobecompletein2028.
TeManawatakioTePapawillbea placetoengagewithourhistory,
sharestories,andcelebratethe richanddiverseculturalheritageof TaurangaMoanarightintheheart ofthecitycentre.
Formoreinformationabout citycentreprojects,visit: www.tauranga.govt.nz/ ourfuturecitycentre
WOMEN LEADING BAY BUSINESS
From tourism, education, health and the arts to local government, accounting, law, logistics, manufacturing, architecture and real estate, local wahine are playing significant roles.
Taking the lead in a diverse range of industries, dedicated Bay of Plenty locals are shaping our businesses and our communities. For this reason, Bay of Plenty Business News is delighted to be profiling many of our most impressive women through our fourth edition of our Women Leading Bay Business
CREATIVEBOP
Popular additions to our 2022, 2023 and 2024 issues, this special feature is again revealing more about numerous wahine movers and shakers – including their secrets for success – making a significant impact across a broad spectrum of industries.
Proving that the Bay of Plenty region has fantastic talent and depth when it comes to inspiring people, the following pages provide insight into some of the most driven women our region has to offer. Enjoy the fourth edition of Women Leading Bay Business!
JasmineKroeze–Artwithpurpose
Wallscanworkwondersdoingmuchmoreforabusinessthansimplysecuringitsfoundations. Suchspacescantellinspiredstoriesascreativitycombineswithbusiness.
LocalartistJasmine(Jaz)Kroeze bringscreativityandconnection tolocalbusinesses.Nestledin thecoastalsuburbofPāpāmoa Beach,Jazistransformingthe waybusinessesandindividuals experiencetheirspaces.With almosttwodecadesofcreating murals,illustrationsandsurface patterns,shehascarvedouta nicheasatalentedcreativein theBayofPlentyandbeyond.
“Ilovetohelpturnplainwalls intocolourful,inspiringworksof art,”sheexplains.“Ithinkmywork speaksforitself.Fromvibrant muralstobespokedesignsfor coffeecups,wallartandapparel, Iaimtoinjectlife,personalityand asenseofstoryintotheenvironmentsI’mlookingtotransform.”
Oneofhermostrecentmurals, fortheTaurangaTiahuiaproject, wascommissionedbyTauranga CityCouncilandfundedbythe DepartmentofInternalAffairs’ HineteHiringaFund.
“Thisartwork,whichhonours theTaurangaWomen’sRefuge,is anabstractcompositioninspired bytherefuge’scorevaluesof manaaki,aroha,tautokoand awhi.Visualrepresentationsof organisations’valuesareahallmarkofmypractice–Icallit ‘bringingsoulintoaspace’.”
Thispassionforstorytelling throughartresonatesdeeply withbusinesses,Jazconfirms.
“Icantellanybusiness’story throughmuralart.It’smorethan justdecoratingaspace,it’sabout
creatingaconnectionandaconversationstarter.Awelldesigned muralcaninspireabusiness’ team,attractcustomersand reflectabrand’suniqueidentity.”
Thankstodigitaltechnology,Jasmine’sworktranscends geography–shehascompleted projectsforclientsshe’snever metinperson,designingpatternsandinstallationsforspaces she’snevervisited.Fromboutiquecaféstolargecorporate offices,herartaddswarmthand vibrancywhereveritlands.
Jazsaysherclientsaredrawn toherboldcoloursandbeautiful designsbutalsotoherapproachabilityandpassionforcreating meaningfulwork.
“Whysettleforbeige-on-
beige,”shelaughs,“whenyou couldhaveahappysunshineyelloworanearthygreenthatbrings abuzzofcreativitytotheroom?”
Balancingherartisticwork withfamilylifeinPāpāmoa, Jasminefindsinspirationinthe smallestofmoments.
“WhetherI’mlisteningtopodcastswhileworkinginmyhome studioorsketchingideasfor mynextproject,I’mpassionate aboutartandstrengtheningconnectionsisattheheartofallof mywork.
“Businesseslookingtostand outwillfindmyartoffersaway totelltheirstory,inspiretheir peopleandtransformtheir spacesintosomethingtruly unforgettable.”
>>JasmineKroeze
WOMEN LEADING BAY BUSINESS
ACCOUNTINGANDADVISORY
EveBachellier-buildingexceptional relationships
Toachieveourdreamsbybuilding asuccessfulbusinessweneed tobebravewhenfacingthehard timesaswellasthegood.When businessleadersneedsupport, adviceandencouragement,Eve Bachelliercomesintoherown.
Acharteredaccountantand associateatBDOTauranga,Eve drawsonexperienceacross(but notlimitedto)thehorticulture, manufacturingandconstructionindustries.Sheismost passionateaboutworkingwith businessesfacingchangeand uncertainty.
“Sometimespeoplesimply needachattoorganisetheir thoughtsandhavesomeonereinforcethekeyissues,”shesays.“At othertimes,I’mhappytoinves-
Recentyearshavetestedlocalbusinesses.Thankfully,BDOTauranga has beensteppinguptosupportlocalsandcutchallengesdownto size.
tigatethingsfurther,dealwith complianceheadachesorhelp withnextstepdecisionmaking.”
EvejoinedtheBDOTauranga officein2014andhasaccumulatedmorethan18years’experienceinbusinessadvisory services.ShemanagestheCorporateFinance&BRIS(Business Restructuring&InsolvencyServices)team withsupportfromthe widerBDOnetworkinNewZealandandinternationally.Building connectionsandcommunityisa primaryfocusforher.
“Ilovethehumanconnection andfriendshipsthatdevelopas partofmyjob–theydriveme toworkhardertomakeadifference,”Evesays.“Icareabout doingwhat’sright,providing
valuableadviceand,ultimately, helpingpeoplethroughtough situations.”
Duringthepastyear,Evehas seenlocalbusinessesfacingregularbusiness concerns,suchas strugglingwithcashflowanddisputesthathaveimpactedtrading.Anothercommonchallenge comesaboutwhenbusiness leadersareunawareofthesize ofanewprojectorproblemand, therefore,underestimatethe scaleofresourcesrequired.
Eve’stipsforbusinessleaders whoarenavigatingthesechallengesinclude: •Seekprofessionaladvice earlyanddon’tletproblems accumulate •Useyouradvisorasasounding
boardforplansandproposed ideas –aquickrunthrough mayalertyoutorisksdown thetrack
•Seekpracticalandrealistic stepstoimprovingcashflow positions
Adviceshouldbetailoredto suityourbusiness.Supporting businessownersrequiresan understandingoftheparticularebbsandflowsaccordingto theseasonandthemarketin whichabusinessisoperating. Eveemphasisestheimportance ofkeepinganopenmindwhen advisingherclients,whichhelps ensuretheyreceivethebestpossibleoutcomes.
“Peoplehavecomplexlives andmotivations,andIneedtobe
opentooptionsforthebestway forward.”
TospeakwithEveaboutyour businesschallengesoropportunities,visitwww.bdo.nzand search‘EveBachellier’. >>EveBachellier
REGIONALCOUNCIL
Drivinginnovationataregionallevel
Attheforefrontoftechnology,oneoftheBay’scouncilshasdevelopedanenviablereputationdue, innosmallpart,toadedicatedchiefdigitalofficer.
EvaleighRautjoki-Williams,chief digitalofficeratToiMoanaBay ofPlentyRegionalCouncil,is leadingthechargetomakethe regionalcouncilatechtrailblazer.
Withmorethan23yearsatthe council,shehaswitnessedfirsthandtheevolutionoftheorganisationandtheway itembraces technologytobetterservethe community.MsRautjoki-Williams joinedToiMoanain2001,asaservicedesktechnician,atatime whenthecouncilwassmallerand technologywassimpler.
“Myjob,basically,involved crawlingunderdeskswitha screwdrivertofixcomputers,” sherecalls.
Today,MsRautjoki-Williams leadsateamof36,supporting
Visitorsto RegionalParks
staffacrosstheregiontodeliver importantservicestothecommunity,eachwithdiversetechnologyrequirements.
“Frommobileappsandinteractivemaps,towebsitestrackingbusesandsecuringinformationandsystems,ourworkisso dynamic–it’soneofthethings Iloveaboutworkinghere,”she says.“We’resupportedtotry newthingsandembracenew thinking,toalwayslookathow wecanworksmarterforour communities.”
WhenMsRautjoki-Williams startedhercareer,womenwere ararityinthetechindustry.At conferences,sherecallsbeing oneofjustahandfulofwomen among thousandsofmen.Today,
thelandscapeisremarkably different.
“ToiMoanahasa,roughly,60 to40female-to-maleratioand ourexecutiveteamispredominantlyfemale.Thereishuge diversitynow,notjustinterms ofgenderbutculturallytoo.Iam reallyluckytohavepeoplefrom allovertheworldinmyteam.”
MsRautjoki-Williams’scommitmenttogrowthisevident inhereducationjourney,from earningagraduatediplomain informationsystemstocompletinganexecutiveMBA.AtToi Moana,she’sproudtochampion ongoinglearningforherteam.
“Withtechnology,youhave tostayuptodate,soweensure everyonehasopportunitiesto
growanddevelopnewskills.”
OneofthemanyprojectsMs Rautjoki-Williamsisleadingat ToiMoanaistheexplorationof artificialintelligence(AI),focusingonhowitcansavestafftime andenhanceefficiency.
“Whywouldn’tweembrace toolsdesignedtoimproveefficiency,especiallyinacouncilenvironmentwherewe’re accountabletothecommunity?” shesays.
UnderMsRautjoki-Williams’s leadership,thecouncilhasprovidedstaffwithguidanceonsafe AIuse,empoweringthemtoharnessitspotentialwhilemanaging risks.
>>EvaleighRautjoki-Williams
Contrarytotheoutdatedperceptionofcouncilsasslow-moving,shedescribesafast-paced, tech-drivenworkplace.
“Technologyenablesusto connectandlearnfromothers worldwide,sharingsolutionsto commonchallenges–thepossibilitiesareendless!”
FLEETANDLEASING
Dellyn’scommitmentfuellinggrowth
AcommitmenttosmallbusinesssuccessistheprimaryfocusofFleetPartners’businessdevelopment manager,DellynMortleman.
Whenshefirststartedoutin theautomotiveindustryover25 yearsago,Dellynneverimagined theincrediblejourneyahead. Earlyon,shehadthechanceto workcloselywithsmallbusinesses,learningabouttheir ambitionsandhelpingtoovercometheirfleetchallenges.
“Itdidn’ttakelongformeto realisehowmuchIlovedfindingsolutionstohelpbusinesses thrive,”shesays.“Fastforwardto today,and,asaBusinessDevelopmentManageratFleetPartners,I’mluckytostillbedoing whatI’mpassionateabout–helpingsmallbusinessessucceed.”
Thepaththatledherhere hasbeenanythingbutboring. Dellynworkedfor20yearsatthe
WaikatoTimes sellingautomotiveadvertising,includingeight yearsmanagingthe MotorTimes, soit’sfairtosaysheknowsa thingor twoaboutherindustry.
Herexperiencehastaught herthevalueofdeliveringreal resultsforbusinesses.Now,at FleetPartners,shefocuseson helpingcompaniesmakesmart decisionsaboutvehicleleasing sotheycangrowwithoutstressingovercashfloworflexibility.
Dellynsayswhatsheloves mostaboutherroleisbuilding relationshipsthatgothedistance.Someconversationsshe hasareaboutsortingasingle leasebutmanyturnintolong termpartnerships.
“ThemoreIworkwithclients,
thebetterIunderstandtheir goals,whichmeansIcantailor leasingsolutionsthattrulyfit eachclient’sneeds.Seeingthe differenceoursolutionsmakein theirbusinessesiswhatmakesit allworthit.”
AnotherthingthatkeepsDellynenergisedishowfastthings arechangingintheleasingworld.
“We’relivingatatimewhen thevehiclesareincreasinglyvaried,withsomanynewmakesand modelsinthemarketorcoming soon–EV,PHEV,HEVetcetera,” sheexplains.
Inaddition,businesses’needs areevolvingallthetimeand FleetPartnersisconstantlyinnovatingnewtoolsandtechnology tosupportitscustomers.
Beinglocalisahugebonusfor Dellyn.
“Thebusinesscommunityis fullofenergyandcollaboration, andit’salwaysinspiringtobe partofit,shesays.“Whetherit’s hostingeventsorchattingabout tailoredsolutionsatdealership Fleetdays,everyinteraction remindsmewhyIlovewhatIdo.”
Atheart,Dellynisdrivenbya simplegoal–tomakeleasingas easyandaccessibleaspossible.Whetherit’shelpingasmall businesstaketheplungewith theirfirstfleetvehicleorteamingupwithdealershipstocreate smarteroptions,shewantsevery clienttofeelsupportedandconfidentintheirchoices.
Lookingahead,Dellynis
excitedaboutwhat’snextfor FleetPartners.
“Alongwiththebusinesseswe workwith,we’lltacklethechallenges,embracenewideas,and keepfindingwaystohelpbusinessessucceed.”
ARCHITECTURALDESIGN
C2Designcelebrates10years
Foundedin2015byRachelCleverly,architecturaldesignstudio C2Designiscelebratingitstenth anniversarythisyear.Thestudio hasevolvedfromasolooperation intoasix-strongteam.
“It’sahugeachievementto reachthismilestone.I’vehad greatsupportfrommyteam,with manystafflong-serving.It’sbeen greattoseetheirgrowthaswell,” saysRachel.
Thestudio’scomprehensive serviceofferingspansresidentialandcommercialarchitectural design;withprojectsranging frombespokehomestoinnovativeworkspaces,renovationsand commercialdevelopments.
C2Design’sall-femaleteam bringsauniqueperspectiveto architecturalandinteriordesign, saysRachel.“Wedelveintohow peoplearelivingintheirhomes
andunderstandingthisona deeplevel.Wereallygointoalot ofdetailduringtheinitialbrief stage.”
Rachel’sjourneytoestablishingC2Designbeganwitha DiplomainInteriorDesignfrom Unitec,Auckland,followedbytwo yearsworkingwithanarchitecturalfirminEngland.UponreturningtoNewZealand,shegained valuableexperienceinherfamily’s residentialandcommercialbuild-
ingcompany,obtainingaMitek COCqualificationandlaterher DesignLBP.
Thiscombinationofinteriordesignexpertiseandpracticalconstructionknowledge hashelpedshapethestudio’s approach.RachelisalsoanExecutiveMemberofADNZ(ArchitecturalDesignersNewZealand), reflectingherleadershipwithin theindustry.
Asherteamhasgrown,Rachel
hasenjoyedtheopportunityto mentorandencouragethecareers ofseveraltalentedwomen.
Thecompany’slongest-standingteammember,KelseyGarfitt, hasbeenwithC2Designalmost sincethebeginning.
“Startingasaninternwhile workingtowardsherDiplomain ArchitecturalTechnologyshe quicklydemonstratedherpotential,earningherplaceasavalued teammember,”saysRachel.
CarleyO’Connell,withaBachelorofArchitectureandaMasterof Architecture(Prof)underherbelt, bringsakeeneyefordetailand designtoeveryproject.
“Carlyenjoysgettingtoknow theclientandworkingcollaborativelywiththeprojectteam,” Rachelconfirms.
Sincegraduatingin2012witha DiplomainArchitecturalTechnol-
ogy,BrittanySpencerhasenjoyed creatinghomesandspacesthat makeclient’sliveseasyandcomfortable.ShebecameaLicensed BuildingPractitionerin2021. However,nobusinesswould becompletewithoutafantastic backingcrew.ExecutiveAssistant ReneeHollardexcelsatbringing calmfromchaos-sheprovides perfectsupporttoRacheland herbusyteam.JennieCampbell roundsouttheteam,managingaccountsandpayrollforthe company.
TheC2Designteamblends creativevisionwithexpertise, practicalityandtechnicalknowhowtoeveryprojectandwillguide youthrougheachstageofthe architecturalprocess.Rachelsays “AtC2Designwesimplylovewhat wedoandwe’rereallylookingforwardtothenexttenyears.”
>>DellynMortleman
WOMEN LEADING BAY BUSINESS
Michelle–realestatewithpassion
Morethan21yearsinrealestate andalifetimespentintheeasternBayhavehelpedMichelle StephensonfromPropertyBrokersbecomemorethananagent –she’satrustedadvisor,communitychampionandadrivingforce behindmanysuccessfulproperty journeys.
“Havingcalledtheregion homeformorethan50years, mylocalknowledgeandgenuine lovefortheeasternBay’sunique lifestyle–withitsbreathtaking beaches,vibrantcommunities, andstunninglandscapes–fuels mypassionforhelpingothers findtheirperfectplace,”she confirms.
Beforeherinvolvementinreal estate,Michellewasasuccessful businessownerinKawerauand Whakatane,developingstrong leadership,negotiationandcus-
tomerserviceskillsthatnowset herapartintheindustry.Her workhasearnedhernationaland internationalrecognition,includingprestigiousClientExperience Awards.
WhatsetsMichelleapartisn’t justherexpertisebutalsoher approach.Shecreditsintegrity, professionalism unwaveringcom toclientswith makeherone mostrespecte soughtafterage inWhakatane consistentl y rankingamong thetop10in herregion forsalesand listings.
“Tome, thetrue
rewardisnottherecognitionof successbutthejoyofassisting clientswithwhat,formost,isthe biggesttransactionintheirlifetime,”shesays.“Iaimtomakethe processseamless,stressfree andevenenjoyable.”
Withherbusinessgrowing, Michelleteamedupwithher n yearsago. plimentary avesince ugeadvanr clients. praiseher r commuation,care andability todeliver outstandingresults timeand time again.
Sheenjoyscreatinglong-lasting relationshipswithmanyclients whothenbecomefriends.
Overtheyears,Michellehas receivednumeroustestimonials includingcommentssuchas: ‘Alwaysprofessional,positive,friendly,showedgenuine interest...Knowledgeableinher profession,super-efficient,supportive,trustworthy...Recommendhertoanyone...Verysensitivetomyneedsthroughoutthe process...AjobwelldoneandI amdelightedwiththeoutcome... Theshiningrecommendationsof Michellehavebeenfoundtobe true.’
Michelle’sdedicationtothe communityextendsbeyond realestate.“I’mafirmbeliever insupportinglocalbusinesses, schools,theatreandotherinitiatives,activelygivingbackto
ElevatingRealEstatewithPassionandPurpose!
theregionthathasgivenmeso much,”shesays.
Justoneexampleofthisis herregularChristmasactivityof givinglocalchildrencertificates fromSanta,whichhasgrown overthepastsixyearsanddeliversjoytomany.
“Tome,realestateisabout muchmorethantransactions –it’saboutpeople,dreams,and community.”
Whetherthey’rebuying,sellingorsimplyseekingguidance, Michellehasbecometrusted bymanyontheeasternBayreal estatesceneforturningvisions intorealitywithpassion,experienceandanunshakablecommitmenttoexcellence.
“Thinkingofbuyingorselling? Partnerwithmeandyou’llexperiencerealestatedoneright,”she adds.“Getintouchtoday!”
IPspecialistfostersclientsuccess
James&Wellsintellectualpropertypartner,ToniaBrugh,weavesherPasifikabackground andcultureintoheruniquewayofworkingwithherclients.
Toniaisadualqualifiedtrade markandintellectualproperty specialist,withover20yearsof domesticandinternationalexperienceadvisingclientsinthis area.
BasedintheJames&Wells Taurangaoffice,Toniaalsohas significantexperienceinthe entertainmentandITsectors, includingauniqueperspective givenherworkingwithsomeof thelargestUSmediatechnology companiessuchasAppleCorp, WarnerBros.andGoogleacross theirUKandEuropeanmatters beforebringinghersignificant expertisetotheBayofPlenty.
ToniaalsooffersIPexpertise inindigenousrights,privacyand dataprotectionandsovereignty
aswellascommercialcontracts.
Shefocusesonlong-termconnectionandauthenticrelationshipbuilding,placingpeople andconnectionattheforefront ofeverythingshedoes.Tonia walkswithherclientsfortheir wholejourney–sheworksto empowerherclientstosucceed ontheirownmeritandsupports themalongtheway.Tonia’saim istobuildafoundationofunderstandingandanopportunityof empowermentwithoutalways havingclientsbeingworried aboutlegalcosts.
Toniaispassionateabout youthmentoringandfacilitates freeworkshopsforstudentsat schoolsintheIP/creativespace, includingeducatinginthepro-
tectionoftaongasuchascarvings,waiata,andweaving,ensuringfuturegenerationsofMāori andPasifikahavethetoolsthey needtoprotecttheircreative work.
SheworkswithRangitiraand youthviatalksandworkshops toshowthattherearemultipleoptionswhenconsidering careers.Toniawantstoempower communitiestoseethatthereis aplaceforeveryoneacrossmultipleprofessions:especiallylaw. Sheisworkinghardtochange theperceptionof“lawyering”, andthatyoudon’thavetochange yourvaluesetinordertobea successfullawyer.Toniashows youngpeoplethatitispossibleto beasuccessfullawyerbyweav-
ingcultureandworkingtogether.
Toniaalsoassistsanumber ofMāoriBoardsinapro-bono capacity,includingsupportingTeAkaMāoriDictionaryand workingwithMāoriownedtelevisionandcontentcompanyLong WhiteCloudProductions.Tonia alsosupportsthePacificIsland TrustBayofPlenty(PICBOP) andsupportsawholeoffamily, wraparoundservicetocommunityusingPacificmodelsofcare, whichisturncreatespathways forourcommunitiestothrive.
Toniaalwaysletsherclients shineandtaketheleadtodrive theirprojectsandvoice.Sheis veryhumbleandtakesabehind thescenesapproachtoclient matters.Youwouldnotknowthat
sheguides,mentorsandstrategicallyadvisesanumberofprominentinternationalpersonalities, asshewalksrespectfullybeside herclientsandallowsthemto shine. >>ToniaBrugh
>>MichelleStephenson
CULTUREANDTOURISM
DeniseEmery–strengthinwhakapapa
TePuiaGeneralManagerVisitorExperienceandRotoruaChamberof CommerceBoardMemberDeniseEmery(NgātiWahiao,Tūhourangi),shares herthoughtsaboutwomeninbusiness.
Eharatakutoaitetoatakitahi, hetoatakitini:mystrengthisnot thatofanindividual,butthatof thecollective.
Aswomeninbusiness,we takeonthelegacyofourgreat, great-grandmothers.Theywere theoriginalentrepreneursata timewhenwomeninbusiness werelargelyunheardof–my great,great-grandmother,Timu, wasaguide,leadingmanuhiri thoughtheValleyin1910.Back then,womenwouldreceive15 shillings(whichissignificantly greaterintoday’scurrency)from eachtourparty.
Toourtribe,thelegacyofthe guidingnamethatthoselong agoentrepreneursbeganiswhat setsusapart.Thisismorethan justajob,thisisaresponsibility toupholdthevaluesofmanaaki-
CITYCOUNCIL
tangaandkaitiakitanga(hospitalityandguardianship)handed downthroughthegenerations–thisisknownastaongatukuiho. Itencapsulates whyTePuiaand itspeopleareiconicsymbolsof tourism.
Everyonefeaturedinthe photototherightisconnected throughwhakapapatoHaira HimionaHakaraia,whowasborn in1853.Mydaughter,Jessie (NgātiWahiao,Tūhourangi),is TePuia’smeetings,incentives, conferencesandexhibitions (MICE)salesmanager–acrucial areaduetoitsbusinessimpact andabilitytodrivegrowthacross multiplesectorsespeciallyin winter.
Myniece,MorganHurihanganui(NgātiWahiao,Tūhourangi),ishostcoordinator,
leadingtheoperationalon-thegroundguidingteamdelivering personalisedexperiencesto approximately250,000visitorseachyear.Anotherofmy nieces,MereniaMorgan(Ngāti Wahiao,Tūhourangi),isaKaiarahiTuakana(seniorguide)who assistsMorganandothermanagersintrainingyoungerguides.
Asforme,Itrytoinstillthe importancetoeveryoneof theirplaceinourlegacyhere and,morewidely,thereputationofAotearoaasthehomeof manaakitanga.Daytoday,Ilead strategyandmanageastaffof 50kaiarahi(guides)aswellas theadmissionsandreservations team.
We’reallinthesamewaka ofthelargerorganisation.Currentlyattheexecutivelevel,Te
Puiahasthreewomen(including myself)andfourmenbringinga diverserangeofskills,perspective,experienceandbackground tothetable.
Weareaniwi-ownedbusiness
operatingundertheNewZealand MāoriArtsandCraftsInstitute 2020VestingAct.Asanorganisationour‘why’isToituteahurea MāorileadersinupliftingMāori culture.
JenScoular–skills,experience,networks
TaurangaCityCouncilhassometoughchallenges ahead,butadetermineddeputymayoriswellqualifiedtorisetotheoccasion.
ElectedbytheMauao/Mount Maunganuiwardbasedonher commercialexperienceand attributes,JenScoular,deputymayorofTauranga,joins anelectedteamofcouncillors governingTaurangaCityCouncil (TCC).
Fivemonthsintothejob, Jensayssheisveryawareof thesignificantworkneededto deliverforthepeopleofTauranga,acrossaverywiderange ofexpectations.
MayorMaheDrysdaleleadsa committedteamofcouncillors ingoverningTaurangaCityCouncilforafouryearterm,missing thelocalbodyelectionsthatwill occuracrossthecountryinOctoberthisyear.
“Iseethisasarealbenefit, withsomuchworktodototake thecityforwardaftermanyyears ofunderinvestment,”Jensays.
Priortoherappointmentas deputymayor,Jenhadanextensivecommercialcareerinbanking,diplomacyandhorticulture.
ShewasCEOofNZAvocado for12years,treasureratZespri Internationaland,in between, servedfouryearsasNZConsul GeneralandTradeCommissioner inHamburg,Germany.
JenisalsoaDirectorof theEnvironmentalProtection Agency,boardchairofHouseof ScienceandPatronoftheMount MaunganuiSurfLifesavingClub. Outsideherbusinesslife,she lovestheoutdoors,hasstarted cyclingtoworkandenjoysthe wonderfulcafesaroundtown.
Jenisbringingallofherskills, experienceandnetworkstothe tableinhernewrole.Tauranga CityCouncilhas$7.9billion ofassets,isapprovingannual capitalspendingintheorderof $500m,hasastaffofapproximately1200andisworkingto supporttheneedsofagrowing city,sheconfirms. Councilfundingcomes, mostly,from61,000ratepayers, allofwhomhavetheopportunity toprovideinputthroughconsul-
tationabouthowtheirratesare spent.
“Peoplerightlyexpectgood roads,waterservicesandcommunityamenities,”saysJen. “Thesearehugelyexpensive assetsthatneedtobewell managedwithinaconstrained amountoffunding.Understandingthefinancialsituationiscrucialsothatopportunitiescan beleveragedwhileensuringthe city’sfinancesareundercontrol.”
Thelevelofriskcouncilisgoverningissignificant,sheadds.
“It’sahugeandcomplexchallengetogetthatright,anticipatingtheneedsofagrowingcity, theneedsofthepeople,and meetingtherequirementsof bothlocalgovernmentandcentralgovernment.
“Taurangawasgovernedfor fouryearsbyindependentcommissionersappointedbycentral government.Thenewcouncilhas inheritedprogressmadebythe commissioners,butalsosome significantchallenges–these requireverygooddiscussion, reviewanddecisionstomitigate and/ortakethemforward.”
Jenstronglysupportsthe ‘teamoften’ledbyMayorMahe Drysdale.
“It’simportanttohavevarying viewsaroundthetableandthe electedmembersbringdifferingbackgrounds,attributesand thinking.”
Astrongadvocatefordiversityofthinkinginthegovernance ofanyorganisation,Jenwas surprisedbytheoutcomeofthe election.
“Thereweresomeexcellentwomenstanding,andmore than50percentofvoterswere women.”
Beingtheonlywomanelected questionsherassumptionthat Taurangaisaprogressivecity. TakingtheCBDdevelopment forwardwasanimportantdecisionearlyonforthenewcouncil. Jenishappytoseenew vibrancyinthecitycentrewith theopeningofthewaterfront boardwalkandplayground.In herownward,theMarineParade BoardwalkandMountSkatePark areterrificnewassetsforthe city,sheadds.
“Ourdecisionmakingneedsto recognisethevaryingneedsof ourcommunitieswithintheconstraintsofkeepingratesatlevels peoplecanmanage.It’sahuge challenge,howtomakeTauranga agreatcityforitspeople,without bustingthebank.Icertainlyam up forthis.”
www.tauranga.govt.nz
>>JenScoular
>>TePuiawāhineconnectedthroughwhakapapa:Merenia Morgan,MorganHurihanganui,JessieEmery,DeniseEmery.
WOMEN LEADING BAY BUSINESS
TallPoppy-futurefocusedapproach
Whilerealestateisoftenperceivedasahyper competitiveindustrywheretransparencyishard tofind,Tauranga’sTallPoppyfranchiseowners demonstratetheopposite.
In a collaborativeculture,Janet O Shea andSusanNortheylead their teamsatTallPoppywitha clientfocusedapproachand the typeofservicethat winsawardsandbuilds greatrelationships.
“Passionateabout theTallPoppybrand andallithastooffer, webelieveinafairer system,forclientsand ourteams,”Janetsays. “Whatresonatesmost isTallPoppy’sbusiness modelwhichiscentredon honesty,valueandresults.” Janetownsandoperates
theTaurangaSouthfranchise andSusanholdsthereignsat theTaurangaCentralbranch,but theyworktogetheronpromotingTallPoppy’smessagewithin theircommunities.Whileleveragingtheirindividualstrengths, theyfocusonthebiggerpicture andonredefiningtheindustry’s future.
“Mycareerinsalesbegan straightoutofschool,working inretailpharmacyandlateras asalesrep,”Janetsays.“Real estatewasanaturaltransition; forme,successinsaleshas alwaysbeenaboutsolvingproblemsandensuringcustomers feelbetteraftereveryinteraction.Apassionformakinga differencehasbeenthecornerstoneofmycareer.”
Susanobtainedherreal estatequalificationsintheearly
2000s,butshehonedherskillsin salesandmarketingwithalarge BayofPlentymediaorganisation andlaterasafranchiseownerof HerBusinessNetwork,founded byAnnaStretton.In2018,she purchasedtheTaurangaCentralfranchisebecauseshewas drawntoTallPoppy’sfairersystemanditsfocusontechnology.
“TallPoppyhasprovidedus withaplatformanddigitaltools thatenableustoworkinthe bestwaypossible,”Susansays. “Thisfocusontechnologyand innovationisfantastic,andwe areproudtobepartofNewZealand’smostforward-thinkingreal estatecompany.However,it’s importanttonotethatweare, andalwayswillbe,apeople-centredbusiness.”
Janetelaborates,confirming that,atTallPoppy,internalcom-
Witheveryhousewesell,there’syetanotherKiwiwhoappreciatesour “nosurprises”fixedfees,our results-basedmarketingandourone-agentapproachwhichputstheneedsofthesellerfirst. We’reawardwinning,we’refuture-focused,andwe’rehereforyou.
EDUCATION
petitionandthe‘usualdrama’ thatcomeswithworkinginareal estateofficeisathingofthepast.
“We’vecreatedasupportive environmentwhereteammemberslookoutforoneanother. Communicationiskeyandwe genuinelycareabouteachother andourclients.Therearenohiddenagendashere,”shesays.
Together,JanetandSusan areexcitedaboutbuildingthe TallPoppybrandfurtherinTauranga,prioritisingqualityand serviceoverrapidexpansion.
“Wearelookingforwardto growingourteamsandwouldlike tohearfromexceptionalsalespeoplewhosharetheirvisionand passion,”addsJanet.
“WithTallPoppy,wearewell positionedforthefutureand readytosetnewstandardsfor realestateintheBay.”
KieranHewitson–evolvingeducation
Communitiesthrivewheneducationisaccessibleandmeetsthechangingneedsofthepeopleand industriesitserves,asToiOhomai’sexecutivedirectoraffirms.
KieranHewitson(NgātiPorou, TeWhānau-ā-Apanui)hasbeen apivotalfigureatToiOhomai InstituteofTechnologysince 2014whenitwasknownasBay ofPlentyPolytechnic.Overthe years,herrolehasevolved,especiallyduetorecentchangesin thevocationaleducationsector. Now,asexecutivedirector,she isresponsibleforsteeringthe organisationthroughitsnext periodofitsevolution.
Kieran’sloveforherjobiscentredonpeople,bothākonga(students)andkaimahi(staff)alike.
“Seeingcampusesbustling withlifeandwitnessingthe transformativepowerofeducationissoinspiring,”shesays. “Welcomingnewākongawitha
pōhiriatthebeginningofeach semesterandthenseeingthese sameākongaatgraduation ceremoniesisahighlight–it’s wonderfultotrulycelebratethe achievementsofourgraduates.”
Aschangeisaconstantwithin theeducationsector,itcanpresentchallenges,butitalsopresentsopportunitiestoadaptand evolve,Kieranconfirms.
“Wearecurrentlyfacingsome bigchangeswithinthevocational educationalsectorandwehavea responsibilityasanorganisation torespondtothechangesina waythatwillsetToiOhomaiup fordeliveringexcellenteducation nowandintothefuture.”
Astrongadvocateforequity andinclusiveness,Kieran
believesinstrivingforafairsocietyinwhicheveryonecanthrive. Sheacknowledgesprogress alreadymadebutalsoasserts thatthereisstilllongjourney aheadtowardsequitableoutcomesineducation.Mentoring andencouragingwāhinetostep intoleadershiproles,breaking downbarriersandfosteringa supportiveenvironmentisof particularimportancetoKieran.
However,adaptabilityisalso crucial.
“Havingbeenintheeducationsectorforthemajorityofmy career,I’veseenhowitsdemands change.Currently,we’reseeing employerswantinggraduates withmorepracticalskillswhoare workready,”shesays.
“We’realsoseeingmorepeoplewantingflexiblelearning options.Manycannotaffordto giveupworktostudyfulltimeso, overthepastfewyears,we’ve offeredmorein-workoptions. Weworkwithemployerstotake learningintotheworkplace whiledeliveringmoreoptions onlineandduringeveningsor weekends.It’saboutensuring wegetthebalanceright,offeringcoursesthatmeettheneeds ofourindustriesaswellasour communities.”
Althoughthefutureofeducationischanging,Kieranisexcited aboutthechallengesahead, ensuringToiOhomaiprospers overthelongterm.
“Withastrongleadership
team,ToiOhomaiispoisedto navigatetheevolvinglandscape oftertiaryeducation,continually adaptingtomeettheneedsof communitiesandindustries.” >>KieranHewitson
>>JanetO’SheaandSusanNorthey
SamandKateCochrane(JuniorSurfathletes).AndrewCochrane(DirectorofAssetsandSearchandRescueCo-ordinator), ChiaraWoodford(SeniorLifeguard)andJakeArmstrong(SeniorLifeguard)withDonnaPfefferle(ClubChair)
AbespokeprojectbyFostersforWaihiBeachLifeguardServices Clubhasbeenabigwinfortheclubandthelocalcommunity.
Withtheobjectiveofcreatingafunctional‘all-weather’spacewhere clubmembers,volunteers,SurfLifesavingNZandthecommunity couldcometogetherwithoutlimitations,theClubapproachedFosters.
“Fosterscamehighlyrecommendedby(theClub’svolunteerproject manager)CraigMcQuoidofCMConsulting,whosaidthatbeinga charity,weneededtogetthisjobdonerightandwithinbudget,”said ClubChairDonnaPfefferle.
ActingonaclearbrieffromtheClub,Fostersbroughttechnical expertisetothetable,workingwithdesignerKirkRobertstoadda newenclosedcanopytotheexistingdeck.
PullingtogetherFosterConstructionastheleadcontractor,Foster Engineeringtofabricatethestructuralsteelcanopy,andFoster Maintainfortheroofingcomponent,Fostersprovidedaone-stop solution.
“Fromthestart,wewereimpressedatFosters’professionalism”, continuedDonna.“Havingafewex-lifeguardsontheFostersteam wasabonus;theyquicklysizedupwhatweneeded,understanding
Fostersdelivered oneverylevelabsolutelylivingup tothe‘doitonce,do itwell’mindset.
DonnaPfefferle,
ClubChair
thattheywouldhavetomanageconstructiontominimiseimpacton ourlifeguardingandsearchandrescueoperations.”
Challengesincludedtimeframe,astheprojectneededtobecompleted withinsixweekstoaccommodatesummerbeachgoers,andsharing aconstructionsitewithlifeguards,athletesandclubmemberswho wereactivemostdays.Onweekends,thesitehadtobeleftcleanand tidysotheclubcouldoperatenormally.Whenunexpectedtorrential rainputastoptoprogress,theFostersteamputinextratimeto catchup.
“Fosterscollaborativeapproachwasoutstanding,”saidDonna. “Alwaysconsiderateofhowtheirworkmightimpactclubactivities, thelevelofcommunicationfromtheirteammeantwewereneverin thedarkaboutwhatwashappening.Theymadeiteasy.
“Thecanopyhasintegratedintothebuildingasifitwasalways there,andtheworkmanshipisexceptional.Nowfullyfunctional,our encloseddeckisalreadymorevaluabletotheclubandthevisitors thanwehadenvisioned.
“FromtheClub’sperspective,Fostersdeliveredoneverylevel–absolutelylivinguptothe‘doitonce,doitwell’mindset.We’ve alreadyhanded themournextproject.”