August 2023 - Bay of Plenty Business News

AUGUST 2023 VOLUME 7: ISSUE 8
WWW.BOPBUSINESSNEWS.CO.NZ
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BOON FOR WHAKATANE
THE NEW WAVE OF UNDER 40'S
This month, Bay of Plenty Business News profiles a
group of Under 40’s from various industries who are
making their mark in the Bay of Plenty.
SEE PAGE 9-13
From left: Joel Murphy – Holland Beckett Law; Ash Gee – Miss Gee's Bar & Eatery; Larissa Hodgson – Trimax; Brad Walker – Property Brokers; George Jackson – James & Wells;
Arpége Taratoa – Creative Bay of Plenty; Jeremy Sparrow – Holland Beckett Law; Paul Churchman, Xero New Zealand; Tom Rutherford – Bay of Plenty candidate for National.
Beyond reasonable
doubt, it’s the start of
an exciting new era.
Tauranga’s Mackenzie Elvin
joins Tompkins Wake.
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August 2023 BAY OF PLENTY BUSINESS NEWS 3
Beyond reasonable doubt, it’s
the start of an exciting new era
Tauranga law firm Mackenzie
Elvin is officially part of Tompkins
Wake, with the two firms
merged and operating as one.
The merger marks a strategic move
by Tompkins Wake to strengthen its
presence in Tauranga and the wider
Bay of Plenty region, which has experienced
rapid economic growth in
recent years. With Tauranga emerging
as a hub for business and innovation,
the merger between these two firms
offers an exciting opportunity to provide
an unmatched level of service
within the golden triangle.
Tompkins Wake Chief Executive
Jon Calder says the merger presents
significant growth opportunities for
both firms, as they combine their
respective strengths to create a formidable
legal powerhouse in Tauranga
and the wider Bay of Plenty.
“We are delighted to announce the
acquisition of Mackenzie Elvin by
Tompkins Wake.
“This merger not only strengthens
our presence in one of New Zealand’s
fastest growing cities but also reinforces
our commitment to providing
legal services of the highest calibre
to our clients across New Zealand’s
economic and commercial heartland,”
Jon says.
Effective August 1, Mackenzie
Elvin Law’s 23 staff and 5 Partners
will join Tompkins Wake, boosting the
Tauranga-based team to 34 with over
200 professionals firmwide, including
35 partners and over 120 lawyers.
Mackenzie Elvin Law Founding
Partner Fiona Mackenzie says the
merger represents an exciting milestone
for their firm, clients and the
local community.
The merger will enable Mackenzie
Elvin’s local team to leverage the
This merger not only strengthens our presence
in one of New Zealand’s fastest growing cities
but also reinforces our commitment to providing
legal services of the highest calibre to our clients
across New Zealand’s economic and commercial
heartland.” – Jon Calder
national and global resources, expertise,
and connections provided by
Tompkins Wake, ensuring exceptional
client service for the Bay of Plenty,
both now and into the future.
“Our business in 2023 is vastly
different to what it was in the 1980’s.
In the last three years especially we’ve
seen profound change as global events
have affected every corner of the
world. Against this backdrop, aligning
with Tompkins Wake is a natural progression
for us,” Fiona says.
“We have long admired their reputation
and expertise. This merger
opens up new horizons for us in terms
of resources and expertise, their values
and progressive approach to client
service closely mirroring our own,
and we are very pleased that this
partnership will bring immense benefits
to our clients, team, and local
community.”
Jon Calder says Tompkins Wake
shares the same admiration. The firm
has worked across from Mackenzie
Elvin on many occasions and has long
admired the reputation and practice
Fiona and her fellow partners have
built.
“What became very apparent as
we got to know the Mackenzie Elvin
partners is that our values are closely
aligned. We have four core values, the
most important of which is People
Matter for us that’s our people and our
clients. It was clear to us that Mackenzie
Elvin is a firm that values its people
and puts them first, and that for us
was an important piece.
“With a strong culture and people
focused firm, we deliver exceptional
service and results for our clients.”
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4 BAY OF PLENTY BUSINESS NEWS August 2023
THE PORTER REPORT
A monthly update on the business
world from leading writer David Porter
www.bopbusinessnews.co.nz
CONTACT INFORMATION
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Alan Neben, Ph: 021 733 536
Email: alan@bopbusinessnews.co.nz
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Email: editor@bopbusinessnews.co.nz
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Bay of Plenty Business News has a circulation
of 8000, distributed throughout Bay of Plenty
between Waihi and Opotiki including Rotorua and
Taupo, and to a subscription base.
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Bay of Plenty Business Publications specialises in
business publishing, advertising, design, print and
electronic media services.
In case you missed
last month’s edition
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‘Our beds are burning’
I
am grateful to Australian
rockers Midnight Oil for the
title of this month’s column.
I apologise to readers for again
returning to the subject of climate
change. But I fear we
have entered a period of global
warming from which turning
back will prove difficult if not
impossible.
Many years ago, I was skippering
a yacht from Malaysia
to Hong Kong with my young
son as the sole crew. Although
the voyage was eventually successful,
it included more than
a few dramas. I wrote off the
inclement weather we experienced
at the time to our being
caught out in an El Nino effect,
which had begun the previous
year and stretched into the year
of the voyage.
While additional research
over the years has established
that indeed the El Nino and
the La Nina surges do affect
the weather, the reality is that
the climate change we are
now experiencing is largely
created by human practices.
And unfortunately, those in the
world who are best positioned
to affect climate change, seem
unwilling to do so.
Getting hotter
We have recently been directly
faced by an unavoidable example
of the reality of climate
change. A multiplicity of news
“How can we dance
when our earth is
turning? How do we
sleep while our beds
are burning?”
– Peter Garrett, Jim
Moginie and Rob Hirst
reports in July reported the
hottest temperatures recorded
globally. According to the
Guardian newspaper amongst
others, the temperature on July
3 was the hottest on record
ever, with the average global
temperature reaching 17.01C
(62.62F).
The northern hemisphere
in particular has been blasted
with heat waves. We have seen
out-of-control fires in Europe,
and heat stroke deaths all over
much of the world, including in
David Porter
the supposedly “advanced” US.
And spare a thought for
those millions of people who,
as a result of their poverty and
soaring populations, simply do
not have recourse to air conditioning
or even sufficient
healthy water supplies to ease
their suffering.
All of this can seem rather
distant to those of us living in
New Zealand where, arguably,
too much heat seems to be the
least of our problems. We have,
after all, been recently blasted
by cyclones. And here in Tauranga,
I find myself frequently
cold and shivering. Also let us
remember, we are rather far
down the globe, and nearer to
the Antarctic than to the topics.
But even the Poles are warming
and the ice cover is melting.
New Zealand is narrow and
long and we are already seeing
the impact of rising seas on our
coastal regions, which have
previously long commanded a
premium for house-owners.
Our monitoring experts,
as reported by NIWA, have
already documented the retreat
of New Zealand’s glaciers and
snowlines. This has impacted
winter sports and tourist visits.
NIWA postulates that as
New Zealand’s climate continues
to warm, the amount of
snow and ice on our mountains
will continue to decrease. Rising
seas and coastal erosion
will impact all coastal species.
And warmer waters and
changing currents will impact
oceanic productivity and the
abundance of prey species like
krill and plankton, the scientists
predict.
We should also be very
aware that New Zealand built
its export reputation initially,
and still relies heavily upon, its
efficient primary industry sector.
With the expected rise in
more frequent extreme weather
events, primary industries
might expect to face increasing
risks.
Midnight Oil’s 1986 hit was
a plea for justice for indigenous
Australians, and co-writer
Peter Garrett eventually went
on to serve as an environment
minister. The song offered
its international audience an
alternative view of outback Oz
culture. It remains a prescient
warning of the dangers all
countries are now facing.
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August 2023 BAY OF PLENTY BUSINESS NEWS 5
HVMS and AEM partner in New
Zealand’s heavy vehicle industry
Heavy Vehicle and Machinery Services (HVMS) and
Advanced Electric Machines (AEM) have announced
a strategic partnership aimed at accelerating
decarbonisation efforts within New Zealand’s heavy
vehicle industry. HVMS, a New Zealand company,
based in the Bay of Plenty, specialising in low carbon
heavy vehicle conversions, has joined forces with AEM,
a leading UK manufacturer of ‘rare-earth free’ and
recyclable electric motor systems.
HVMS directors Richard Gatward,
Scott Hale, and Wayne
Crouch, bring a wealth of
experience and expertise to the
partnership.
The company is dedicated to
assisting companies in decarbonising
their fleets through the conversion of
existing diesel assets to electric drivetrain
systems, powered by either batteries
or hydrogen fuel cells. With its
deep understanding of the New Zealand
heavy vehicle industry, HVMS
is well-positioned to support the transition
to sustainable transportation
solutions.
AEM, renowned for its innovative
electric motor technology, offers
‘rare-earth free’ electric motors that
have gained global recognition.
These motors, which remove the
need for rare-earth metals and copper
in their design, are currently integrated
into various electric vehicles,
including the Tevva electric truck.
AEM’s motors are also being used
in development projects with several
global vehicle manufacturers,
such as Bentley, SAF Holland, CNHi
and AsiaCab. The partnership with
HVMS opens opportunities to expand
AEM’s presence in Australasia and
explore new markets.
“We are excited to collaborate
with AEM to drive decarbonisation
efforts in the heavy vehicle industry,”
said Mark Irving, business development
manager of HVMS.
“Our partnership brings together
HVMS’s expertise in heavy vehicle
conversions and AEM’s cutting-edge
electric motor systems. Together, we
Our partnership brings together HVMS’s expertise
in heavy vehicle conversions and AEM’s cuttingedge
electric motor systems. Together, we can offer
comprehensive solutions to companies looking to
lower emissions and transition to electric drivetrains.”
From left: Scott Hale (HVMS Director), Mark Irving (HVMS Business Development Manager),
Rt Hon David Mundell MP (UK Prime Minister’s Trade Envoy to New Zealand), Richard
Gatward (HVMS Director) and Stephen Cartwright (British Consul-General Auckland)
can offer comprehensive solutions to
companies looking to lower emissions
and transition to electric drivetrains.”
The partnership agreement
includes HVMS becoming the exclusive
indirect sales distribution agent,
as well as the maintenance and repair
agent for AEM equipment and technology
in the heavy vehicle, machinery,
and automotive sectors within the
Australasian region.
HVMS will seek projects that utilise
AEM equipment, and both companies
will collaborate on developing
business opportunities and increasing
awareness of the AEM range throughout
Australasia.
“We believe that this partnership
will play a crucial role in promoting
sustainable transportation and reducing
carbon emissions in New Zealand,”
said James Widmer, CEO, and
co-founder of AEM.
“By leveraging HVMS’s industry
knowledge and client base, combined
with AEM’s advanced electric motor
systems, we can drive the adoption of
electric drivetrains in the heavy vehicle
industry, contributing to a cleaner
and greener future.”
The collaboration between HVMS
and AEM aligns with the global focus
on decarbonisation and sustainable
practices.
Both companies are committed to
supporting companies in their transition
to electric drive trains and are
exploring opportunities for localising
production and assembly of AEM
equipment using Australasian sourced
materials.
This partnership aligns with the
recent UK-NZ Free Trade Agreement
announcement and the visit of
UK Trade Envoy – David Mundell
MP to Tauranga on 10th June 2023.
It highlights the shared commitment
between the UK and New Zealand to
foster sustainable economic growth
and combat climate change through
innovative collaborations.
Whakatane Mill rebuild
nears completion
By DAVID PORTER
The Whakatane Mill Ltd
(WML) is poised to
restart expanded operations
in August after surviving
a closure scare in 2021,
said executive chairman Ian
Halliday.
Full production was
expected to be achieved by
November 2023. The mill
secured a substantial private
investment of over NZ$70
million from its shareholders,
Halliday told Bay of Plenty
Business News.
“It’s been great news for
the company and for the local
community,” said Halliday,
who is one of the shareholders.
“A large part of the work
at the moment is going into
local companies, the majority
of them New Zealand-based
and including East Bay contracting
companies. There is a
lot of money going back into
the community here.”
This marked the most significant
capital expenditure
for WML since 2004 and is
facilitating a major upgrade,
elevating the mill to industry-leading
standards.
Halliday said the timing
had worked out well and when
they did the deal the market
was slow. The group of private
investors acquired the
mill in 2001 when it was facing
closure. That gave them
plenty of time to organise the
rebuild.
“The first year prompted
us to look at the operation
Ian Halliday
and we felt there was enough
capacity in the market for us
to look at our output,” said
Halliday. “The decision was
taken in November 2021. We
started the engineering process
in February 2022 and
most of the equipment was on
long delivery times.”
That gave the mill plenty
of time to manage the rebuild
starting in late June, which
was now well underway and
was scheduled to open for
normal operations in August
this year.
The upgrade will deliver
an additional 50,000 tonnes of
premium folding box boards,
increasing WML’s production
from 150,000 to 200,000
tonnes. In a statement, the
mill said customers would
enjoy the advantages of higher
quality board, while the production
process will be more
environmentally friendly,
utilising less raw materials
and operating with improved
energy efficiency.
The upgrade is paving the
way for WML to potentially
produce up to 300,000 tonnes
of premium folding box board
in the future, the company
said.
Halliday noted that all
staff were still working on
the site as there had been a
tremendous amount of other
work to do in the course of the
upgrades. That included a lot
of training on the new equipment
and some workers had
also been working side by side
with the construction staff.
Per tonne of board, the
energy efficiency will be
approximately 30 percent
better, gas consumption will
be reduced by more than 30
percent and WML’s water
consumption from the local
river will also see a significant
decrease.
Additionally, WML will
eliminate plastic consumption
by transitioning from plastic
to paper wrap for packaging
of its finished products. The
heat recovery system will contribute
significantly to WML’s
ESG profile.
As the sole folding box
board producer in Australasia,
the mill’s improvements
offer main brand owners the
chance to reduce their carbon
footprint and avoid importing
packaging from countries
like Finland, Korea, China,
and Chile. This move towards
sustainability presented a positive
environmental impact,
the company said.
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6 BAY OF PLENTY BUSINESS NEWS August 2023
New Zealand embraces BEVs
As the world transitions towards a more sustainable
future, New Zealand is quietly emerging as a leader
in embracing battery electric vehicles (BEVs). One of
the crucial aspects of this shift is the development of a
robust BEV charging network that allows BEV owners to
explore the country with confidence.
By MITCHELL HANCOCK
Lexus of Tauranga
In recent years, New Zealand has
witnessed remarkable progress in
expanding its EV charging infrastructure.
The government, in partnership
with private companies, has been
instrumental in developing a nationwide
network of public charging stations.
As of July 2023, New Zealand
has 388 public chargers for BEVs
(according to NZTA), up from just 20
at the end of 2016.
Aside from Level 1 Charging using
a standard household plug at home
overnight, from cities to rural areas
and scenic routes, public charging
options have become increasingly
accessible. There are two main types
of public charging stations:
• Level 2 Charging: Often called
destination chargers, these chargers
offer a faster charging rate,
supplying approximately 20-30
km of range per hour. Level 2
chargers are found at shopping
centres, public parking lots, and
various other locations. They are
ideal for topping up your EV’s
battery during errands or shorter
stops.
• DC Fast Charging (DCFC):
The most rapid charging option,
DC fast chargers can charge a
BEV to 80% in just 20mins to
1 hour (depending on the vehicle).
These chargers are typically
located along highways, enabling
long-distance travel without range
anxiety.
To make the most of New Zealand’s
BEV charging network, EV
owners can rely on charging apps
that offer real-time information about
charging stations.
The simplest type are web-apps,
where no download is required. EV
users only need a browser and an internet
connection to search for chargers
near them. ChargeNet is the most popular
generic web-app option in New
Zealand, while some brands or manufacturers
also offer a brand specific
charger search tools such as www.
lexus.co.nz/en/charging-locations.
html for Lexus drivers.
As for native apps for use on
mobile popular charging apps include
ChargeNet NZ, PlugShare, and Openloop
to name a few. These apps display
the location, availability, and
charging rates of nearby stations,
making it convenient for drivers to
plan their routes.
Using a charging app is simple:
1. Download the preferred app from
your smartphone’s app store.
2. Create an account or sign in if you
already have one.
3. Enter your EV’s details, such as
make and model, to receive accurate
charging information.
4. Browse the map to find nearby
charging stations or search for specific
locations.
5. Reserve a charging spot (if available)
or navigate to the chosen
station.
Beyond just locating charging stations,
some apps also facilitate contactless
payments, ensuring a seamless
experience for EV owners.
In addition to charging apps, BEV
drivers can take advantage of innovative
services like A Better Route
Planner (BRP). BRP is an intelligent
trip planner designed exclusively for
electric vehicles. It factors in realtime
data to calculate the most efficient
and optimal routes.
The Better Route Planner has been
a game-changer for EV owners, as it
minimises range anxiety and ensures
a stress-free journey, even for longer
distances.
New Zealand has made significant
strides in establishing a comprehensive
BEV charging network,
making it a beacon of sustainability
in the transportation sector. Charging
apps and services like A Better Route
Planner further enhance the EV
ownership experience, empowering
drivers to explore the beauty of New
Zealand without compromising their
environmental values. As technology
continues to advance, we can expect
an even more seamless and efficient
charging infrastructure in the future,
supporting the nation’s commitment
to a greener tomorrow.
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TECT approves largestever
funding investment
TECT has confirmed its
largest-ever funding
investment towards a
project of regional significance,
approving a $21 million
grant for Tauranga city
centre’s new civic precinct.
The future civic precinct,
Te Manawataki o Te Papa, will
include a library and community
hub, civic whare (public
meeting house), museum and
exhibition gallery.
TECT’s funding is specifically
allocated to support the
development of the museum
and exhibition gallery, adding
significant cultural, educational
and economic value to
the city.
Earlier this year, TECT
asked people living in the
Tauranga City Council and
Western Bay of Plenty District
Council regions for their
thoughts on their draft strategy
and proposed funding plan,
including providing funding
towards the civic precinct.
The community feedback
signalled strong support for
funding strategic initiatives,
including almost 70 per cent
in support of TECT making a
contribution to the civic precinct
development.
Having considered this
feedback, TECT Trustees
approved in principle funding
of $21 million to be
made available to support Te
Manawataki o Te Papa – subject
to a funding agreement.
TECT Chairman Bill Holland
congratulates Tauranga
City Council for the huge
amount of work and vision
involved in creating this community
space and says the
Trust is looking forward to
working closely with Tauranga
City Council and the
Te Manawataki o Te Papa
Limited Board to progress the
development.
“As a community-focused
trust, TECT aims to support
initiatives that contribute to
our region’s vibrancy, connectedness,
growth and economic
success. Te Manawataki
o Te Papa certainly ticks
all of the boxes,” says Bill.
“This is one of the most
exciting and significant projects
the people of Tauranga
will see come to fruition in
their lifetime.
“We’re excited to see the
transformational impact this
project will have on our city
and are committed to working
with Council to ensure the best
outcomes for our city.”
Council Commission Chair
Anne Tolley says TECT’s
funding commitment to Te
Manawataki o Te Papa is
hugely important for the project
and the people of Tauranga.
“We are extremely grateful
to be receiving a grant of
this magnitude from such an
important community funding
organisation in the Western
Bay,” says Anne.
“This financial contribution
is a huge step towards
realising our funding goals.
The resounding support TECT
received about Te Manawataki
o Te Papa reinforces the
message we’ve also heard
from people right across the
region – that they want to see
this project brought to life, so
generations today and in the
future can enjoy and benefit
from what is set to become an
incredible community space.”
The news came as Tauranga
City Council’s Commissioners
were set to make key
decisions about the future of
the civic precinct at a Council
meeting on Monday, 24 July.
Subject to those decisions,
construction of the civic precinct
could kick-off early next
year, with the library and community
hub the first building
to be developed. The full programme
of work is currently
set to be completed by the end
of 2028.

August 2023 BAY OF PLENTY BUSINESS NEWS 7
Tips to keep
on top of your
tax obligations
Over the past few years,
businesses all around
New Zealand have
been under pressure and feeling
the economic pain and this
is likely to continue with New
Zealand’s economy entering
recession in the March 2023
quarter.
This has led to a rise in
the number of liquidations of
companies, including some
high-profile ones in the construction
sector.
Not all liquidations are
instigated by Inland Revenue,
but we are seeing a rise in
the number of those that are.
Inland Revenue takes a particularly
dim view of taxpayers
that don’t pay PAYE and GST
on time.
Even when times are tough,
it is important to keep your
tax affairs in order as the cost
of interest and late payment
penalties can add up quickly.
So, what can you do to help
keep in Inland Revenue’s good
books?
Keep on top of filing your
returns
During challenging times, you
need to keep up to date with
the filing of all your returns
even if paying the associated
tax is difficult, to avoid late
filing penalties being applied.
Late payment penalties from
$50 to $500 so can quickly add
up if you are late.
Make sure you avoid UOMI
TAXATION
> BY ANDREA SCATCHARD
Andrea Scatchard is a Tax Partner at Deloitte, based in the Bay of
Plenty. She can be contacted on ascatchard@deloitte.co.nz
Use of Money Interest (UOMI)
is paid by either the Commissioner
or a taxpayer when
tax is under or over paid and
applies to most taxes. The current
rate charged by the Commissioner
on under payments
is 10.39% and the rate paid on
over payments is 3.53%. The
high interest rate charged gives
incentive to ensure payments
are made on time to minimise
your overall interest costs.
Provisional tax payments
and tax pooling
Provisional tax payments due
are primarily paid based on
an uplift from the most recent
income tax return which has
been filed.
If you are forecasting
that your results for the 2024
year will be worse than 2022
or 2023, then paying provisional
tax based on the uplift
method may not be best from
a cashflow perspective. While
you can estimate your current
year liability and pay a lower
amount based on that estimate,
we don’t usually recommend
this as it exposes you to possible
penalties if that estimate
turns out to not be fair and
reasonable when you get to the
end of the year.
A better option is to make
use of tax pooling. Tax pooling
intermediaries operate
tax pooling accounts with
Inland Revenue, allowing
taxpayers to deposit income
tax payments into tax pooling
trust accounts which are then
transferred to Inland Revenue
once the tax returns have been
filed and the final tax liability
known.
Tax pooling is particularly
useful when there are decreasing
profits or missed payments.
It can also allow taxpayers to
postpone tax payments (at a
competitive interest rate) to
free up working capital or better
match your cashflow if you
have a seasonal business.
Set up instalment
arrangements
If your business is unable to
meet any of your tax payments
on time you may be
able to apply for an instalment
arrangement to pay the debt off
over time.
It is important to be talking
about this as an option with
Inland Revenue before your
payments fall due, not once
they are already overdue.
Essentially you will need to
agree on an instalment amount
and payment start and end
dates.
Inland Revenue may ask
for financial information to
support the application that tax
payments can’t be made. But
the overriding condition is that
you will need to agree to pay
the tax as quickly as possible.
In other words, this is not a
holiday or deferral from paying
tax. A 1% penalty (instead
of potentially 5%) will still
be applied upfront, but Inland
Revenue has discretion to
remit this down the track if
the business complies with the
arrangement.
In tough times, tax obligations
can cause extra strain
on business cash flow and
liquidity.
It is important to make sure
you keep communicating with
the IRD to avoid penalties, fees
and liquidation commencing.
Make use of the options
available and if you have any
questions or would like help
navigating options available to
you, please seek advice from
your tax accountant or adviser.
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8 BAY OF PLENTY BUSINESS NEWS August 2023
WHY BRAND AWARENESS IS
IMPORTANT FOR YOUR BUSINESS
MARKETING
Brand awareness extends
beyond mere recognition
of your business.
It involves crafting a unique
identity that resonates with
your customers and distinguishes
you from your
competitors.
It’s the driving force behind
customers choosing your
brand over others, even when
similar products or services
are available. It’s crucial to
differentiate this from personal
branding, as both concepts
are distinct and necessitate
entirely different strategies.
Brand awareness cultivates
customer loyalty, propels business
growth, and provides a
competitive advantage. When
customers are familiar with
> BY GEOFFREY CAMPBELL
Geoffrey Campbell is a director of The Why Marketing.
He can be reached at hello@thewhy.nz or 022 058 7214
your brand, they’re more likely
to select your products or services
over your competitors.
A common misconception
is that brand awareness
in today’s digital age is solely
about online presence. However,
this is a mistake we see
every day. Brand awareness
encompasses all customer
interactions with your brand,
both online and offline. Tangible
touch points are still
equally as important as anything
digital.
At The Why Marketing,
we’re dedicated to empowering
New Zealand businesses
by enhancing their brand
awareness. We firmly believe
that every business, irrespective
of its size, deserves visibility
and recognition.
We value collaboration and
work in close partnership with
our clients, functioning as an
integral part of their team. We
trust in the power of collaboration
to devise effective marketing
strategies. These strategies
include budget optimisation,
ensuring clients are using their
marketing budgets to optimal
efficiency.
Why are branded promotional
products a vital component
of every company’s
brand awareness strategy?
Branded promotional products
effectively augment brand visibility.
They convert everyday
items into potent marketing
tools that foster enduring relationships
with customers.
If they don’t know who you are, what
you do, and why you do it, you have to
convince them rather than just convert
them.” – Geoffrey Campbell, Director,
The Why Marketing
These products act as constant
reminders of your brand,
promoting customer loyalty
and shaping brand perception.
Be it a branded pen, a coffee
mug, or a tote bag, these
items keep your brand at the
forefront of your customer’s
minds, subtly reinforcing
your brand message each time
they’re used.
To make these opportunities
readily available to SMEs
at any stage of their business
growth, we’ve developed a
Virtual Marketing Officer
(VMO) service.
This service is designed to
deliver a comprehensive brand
awareness experience. Our
expert VMOs function as an
extension of your team, providing
specialised marketing
strategies tailored to our client’s
business objectives.
Whether our clients require
a full-fledged brand awareness
campaign or assistance
with specific tasks, our VMO
service offers flexibility, scalability,
and cost-effectiveness.
This allows you to access specialised
marketing expertise at
a fraction of the cost of hiring a
full-time employee or agency.
Our VMOs assist clients in
effectively utilising both digital
and traditional marketing
tools, guiding you through the
marketing landscape.
This holistic approach
ensures that every facet of
your marketing strategy collaboratively
works to enhance
brand awareness and stimulate
business growth.
Brand awareness is pivotal
for business success, and both
branded promotional products
and our VMO service play significant
roles in achieving this.
They offer cost-effective
and impactful methods to keep
your brand at the forefront of
your customer’s minds, fostering
loyalty and driving business
growth.
Kiwifruit growers groan at rates hike
By RICHARD RENNIE
SunGold kiwifruit growers
are reacting with
anger and frustration
at latest moves by district
councils throughout the Bay
of Plenty and beyond to hike
rates by 30-50 percent after a
recent High Court ruling was
upheld.
The increase is being felt
this winter as Western Bay of
Plenty District Council growers
get their final rates valuations
which determine rate
amounts for the coming three
years.
The increase has come
about through action taken
by Gisborne District Council
(GDC) two years ago to have
the SunGold kiwifruit licence
value included as part of a
property’s rateable valuation.
In the past council rates valuations
only included kiwifruit
vines but did not distinguish
between Green and SunGold.
New Zealand Kiwifruit
Growers Incorporated
(NZKGI) supported court
action against the council.
The council’s decision to take
action against grower Tim
Tietjen went as far as the Court
of Appeal.
However, the Court of
Appeal ruled in early July the
GDC’s move was legal and
has prompted other councils to
continue with ratings charges
based on the hike, pushing
growers well into double digit
rises.
NZKGI CEO Colin Bond
said the issue has prompted
more calls to the organisation
than any other. Grower anger
at the move was on the rise
as more realised it extended
beyond Gisborne to include all
key growing areas, but particularly
Western Bay where 80%
of SunGold fruit are grown.
Opotiki based grower
Adrian Gault has kiwifruit
interests across the district
councils of Gisborne, Opotiki,
Whakatane and Western
Bay of Plenty. He is anticipating
a rates bill almost double
that last one now the SunGold
licences are included.
Rates on his 4.8ha Opotiki
orchard have surged from
$8000 a year six years ago to
almost $18,000 this year.
“Over the last 10 years the
increase amounts to 20% a
year, with no additional services
provided. It is robbery,”
he said.
A spokesman for valuation
company QV tasked with
revaluing Western Bay properties
confirmed the SunGold
licence has been included for
growers in the district area.
As a result SunGold kiwifruit
orchards are experiencing a
50% increase in value over the
2019 valuation as a result. This
was reported as similar to the
growth in urban values.
However, urban ratepayers
on average have only experienced
a 7% rise in their rates.
Gault said growers are used
to accepting they often pay a
disproportionate amount of
a district’s rates, given the
low level of service they may
receive in return.
However, the ex-Opotiki
District councillor said he was
disturbed at the targeted nature
of the SunGold licence, and it
appeared to be the equivalent
of a wealth tax.
However, it was coming
at a time when growers were
under the hammer with significant
rises in costs, static
SunGold returns and severely
diminished Green returns.
He faced losses of almost
$400,000 this year across 8ha
of Green orchard crop.
Colin Bond said growers
have had to accept they have
no further legal pathways to
oppose the council rates hike,
but there were other options
NZKGI was encouraging them
to pursue.
Colin Bond, NZKGI CEO
“Growers can object to
councils about their rates valuation
of their property and seek
a revaluation of it.
“Secondly, we will be
approaching councils who
have the final decision on how
they implement this decision.
They do have the opportunity
to soften the impact upon
growers.”
Adrian Gault said councillors
needed to have greater
understanding about rates
mechanisms before reaching
for the simplest, bluntest tool
in the toolbox which was an
outright rates increase.
“Not enough take the time
to examine all the options
out there, including targeted
charges.”
NZKGI would also be writing
to QV, the property valuation
company, to better understand
how the ruling would
be implemented fairly and
consistently. The association
had received complaints from
growers that there were significant
inconsistencies in the valuations
they had encountered.
But Bond said the court
decision also holds significant
impacts for other licenced fruit
varieties where growers pay a
premium for the right to grow
that particular fruit.
These included apples in
particular, with some varieties
including Rocket and Envy
worth $80,000-$100,000 a
hectare.
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BUSINESS UNDER 40s
August 2023 BAY OF PLENTY BUSINESS NEWS 9
UNDER 40'S
MAKING AN IMPACT
IN THE BAY
The stories behind the people in this month’s business
Under 40s lineup are many and varied. We reached out
to the business community and said, “Tell us about the
new generation of personnel in your organisation who are
really making a difference?”
The feedback was immediate. We struck gold with a crop
of exceptional individuals at all levels of business from all
sorts of organisations.
At a time when so much business attention is focused
on inflation, high interest rates, staff shortages and the
upcoming general election, it is refreshing to read their
inspiring stories.
We spoke to lawyers, artists, politicians, entrepreneurs
and others – the takeout message for us: despite the
challenges confronting everyone right now, the future of
Bay business is definitely in good hands.
ASH GEE
WORKING FOR HER COMMUNITY AND
CREATING EXPERIENCES FOR OTHER PEOPLE
Since opening Miss Gee’s
Bar & Eatery in 2019, we
have been faced with many
speed bumps and much
uncertainty.
From Covid-19, to staff shortages,
to the current cost-of-living crisis, it
has been an extreme four years of
learning. Having the ability to adapt
and learn has really helped the
success of Miss Gee’s.
I did a period of mentorship with a
hospitality coach who taught me
some basic, but super-important
elements to build into my business,
and Miss Gee’s has excelled to be
where it is today.
Last year we won the Outstanding
Bar award at the Bay of Plenty
Hospitality Awards.
I also won Future Leader of the
Year at the national Hospitality New
Zealand Awards for Excellence –
an award for those who had less
than three years’ experience in the
industry.
In June this year, we took out the
award for Best Late Night / Live
Entertainment Venue at the national
awards again.
To win this award, especially being
up against some heavy hitters in
the industry, was amazing and
given all the ups-and-downs over
the last few years, this really feels
like a great achievement.
In December 2022 I decided to
join the Mainstreet Tauranga board.
Being a ratepayer in the city centre,
I was keen to see how I could help
fellow retailers and bring change
to the narrative of our struggling
CBD. I was soon voted in as Chair
and did not hesitate to seize the
opportunity to steer the ship with
some fresh ideas and guts.
I am loving being involved with
Mainstreet Tauranga. There is
a lot of work being done in the
background that not everyone gets
to see, but I am doing everything
I can to relaunch our city centre to
attract more businesses and create
a vibrancy that our community can
be proud of.
I live to help others. I have always
been a team player and get real
enjoyment from seeing
others succeed.
I was captain
of many teams
throughout my
school life and
grew up on a farm
where I had to start
working at an early
age, so hard work
and perseverance is
in my DNA.
Being in the role of
Chair for Mainstreet
Tauranga has helped
me to really extend my
capabilities and apply
myself to my community.
Throughout my career,
working for my community
and creating experiences
for other people has given
me the most satisfaction and
enjoyment I have ever had.
I am passionate about
giving young people the
confidence to put their hands
up and put forward their
ideas.

10 BAY OF PLENTY BUSINESS NEWS August 2023
BUSINESS UNDER 40s
TOM RUTHERFORD
PROUD TO REPRESENT HIS LOCAL COMMUNITY
Bay of Plenty local Tom
Rutherford says it's a 'real
privilege’ to be selected as
the Bay of Plenty candidate
for National. He was recently
selected to take over as the
candidate from current National MP
for Bay of Plenty, Todd Muller, after
Muller announced his plan to retire
at the end of his current term.
“I have massive shoes to fill
stepping into the role being
vacated by Todd Muller. Todd
made a big impact over the last
nine years, not to mention the
groundwork also done by his
predecessor Tony Ryall.
“Is it intimidating to be following
in their footsteps? Absolutely. Am
I going to be following everything
they did? Totally not. I’m my own
man – I’m Tom Rutherford, I’m
forging my own path. I’m not
here with a personal agenda. I’m
proudly here as a boy from the Bay
who’s put his hand up to represent
his community.“
Rutherford is experienced in
communications and media, local
government and policy. Most
recently he worked for Rotorua
Mayor, Tania Tapsell. But he is
no ‘newbie’ when it comes to
the robust realities of political life
having worked for the National
Party in Wellington from 2017-2020.
“While I might be relatively young,
I’m not politically inexperienced – I
know how parliament works and I
know how the Wellington political
beltway operates.”
When asked if he feels at all
apprehensive about the role, he
is typically direct: “If I didn’t think I
was up to it, I wouldn’t have put my
name forward”, he says.
He takes little time in getting
straight to the point: “There are
three ‘Cs’ that are the big issues for
Bay of Plenty voters now.”
He cites cost of living, congestion,
and crime. “50 percent of our
people worry about money every
day. They want us to fix the
economy. We have made a firm
commitment to upgrade SH2 all
the way through to Ōmokoroa,
which includes making all four
lanes available to general traffic,
instead of just two as is currently
planned. We must also prioritise
SH29 over the Kaimai Ranges.
This increasingly fragile transport
corridor is crucial in connecting our
port, businesses and people with
the Golden Triangle of Hamilton
and Auckland.
“Here in the Bay there are two gang
members for every one police
officer – that is not the community
most people have chosen to live in.
We plan to restore law and order so
our community is safe once again.
“People choose to live in the Bay of
Plenty for the lifestyle, the climate
and the luxury of living close to
the beach, but also because our
community is strongly rooted in
horticulture and agriculture.
“Our people work hard and
therefore want to live in an
environment that helps them relax,
unwind and feel safe. I’m proud to
live here with my partner Hannah.”
As Bay of Plenty locals, they want
their community to be the best and
the safest in New Zealand.
Bay of Plenty born and bred,
Rutherford is heavily involved
in his local community: he is a
volunteer firefighter with the Mount
Maunganui Fire Station, Greerton
Cricket Club captain and a New
Zealand hockey umpire and Bay of
Plenty rugby referee.
“I want voters to support me to be
their local MP so I
can be a strong
and influential
advocate for
them and for
the entire
Bay of Plenty
electorate.
As part of a
Christopher
Luxon-led
National team,
we will deliver
for Bay of
Plenty.”
ARPÉGE TARATOA
REALISING A UNIQUE OPPORTUNITY TO MAKE ART A ‘MUST SEE’
EXPERIENCE IN THE COMMUNITY
Arpége Taratoa (Ngāi Te
Rangi, Ngāti Ranginui,
Ngāti Pukenga, Ngāti
Raukawa, Ngāti Rarua,
Ngāpuhi) is a multifaceted
creative professional with a
background in fine arts and a
wealth of experience in the art
world. As the cultural engagement
manager for Shepherdess
Magazine, programme manager
for Shepherdess Muster Event,
marketing manager for Tātai Ora
Charitable Trust, and a freelance
writer, Arpége brings both critical
and creative thinking to her work.
Arpége’s artistic journey began
at Massey University in Hamilton,
and she later transferred to Elam
School of Fine Arts in Auckland,
where she completed her Bachelor
of Fine Arts (with Honours) and
a Postgraduate Diploma in Māori
Visual Arts. She progressed into a
career as a lecturer, curator and
creative director, and currently sits
on Creative Bay of Plenty’s Board
of Trustees.
After living in Auckland while she
completed her studies, and then
a brief stint in Rotorua, Arpége
returned to the Bay of Plenty,
a location that holds special
significance for her due to her
ancestral connections. Settling in
semi-rural Ōmokoroa, the natural
beauty of our region, particularly
the Mount, holds a deep sense of
connection to her land, ancestors,
and inner self.
Arpége believes creativity serves
as a portal to explore diverse
worlds, bridging the gaps of time
and space to encompass the full
spectrum of human experience.
She is especially passionate
about elevating the visibility of
Māori arts and culture, advocating
tirelessly for their recognition and
appreciation.
Arpége’s artistic influences include
her father, Kelcy Taratoa, who has
been a driving force behind her
development. Additionally, she
finds inspiration in the philosophies
of Frederick Nietzsche and
admires the work of Dr Linda
Tuhiwai-Smith, notably her book,
“Decolonizing Methodologies.”
Arpége is a strong advocate for
promoting the local art scene
in Tauranga, recognising the
abundant talent and cultural
richness present in the Bay of
Plenty region. Drawing inspiration
from the environment, she believes
that the art sector has a unique
opportunity to make art a mustsee
experience in the community.
Arpége feels that more recognition
and appreciation for Māori arts
and culture are crucial. She
strongly advocates for elevating
the visibility of Māori arts to enrich
our region’s culture.
Developed from an interview with Creative Bay of Plenty.

BUSINESS UNDER 40s
August 2023 BAY OF PLENTY BUSINESS NEWS 11
GEORGE JACKSON
PROTECTING THE INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY
OF BAY OF PLENTY BUSINESSES
As every business owner
will tell you, bringing an
idea to life takes time,
money, and an enormous
amount of energy. There is little
more rewarding than seeing
your idea turn into a commercial
success, but all too often, we see
others try to capitalise on that hard
work.
George Jackson has been
protecting the intellectual property
rights of Bay of Plenty businesses
for several years. “Good products,
reputation, and brands are
important to any business. If you
are successful, you are at risk of
imitation. Too often we see people
trying to skip the hard part by
copying a proven success.”
As a member of James & Wells’
commercial team, George advises
on and prepares agreements to
best secure his client’s commercial
position. “When I work with clients,
I want to ensure the best outcome
for them. A key part of that is truly
understanding their objectives
so that I can provide them with
commercially relevant, pragmatic
advice.”
A specialist in copyright, trade
marks and fair trading matters,
George is no stranger to intellectual
property disputes. His time in the
Tauranga District Court gives him
affinity for research and preparing
written material.
George’s work isn’t limited to SME
businesses. Working with James
& Wells, NZ’s largest independent
intellectual property firm, has
seen him involved with large
international corporations.
“The most important thing any
business can do is to protect their
ideas right from the very start.
Whether that’s securing your trade
mark, or patenting your invention,
it is much easier to enforce your
rights if you engage with an IP
specialist from the beginning.”
James & Wells has been
protecting intellectual
property for New Zealand’s
brand owners and innovators
for more than 40 years.
Their depth of experience
ranges from managing
large IP portfolios
for international
corporations, right
through to protecting
the ideas of startups,
and everything
in between.
PAUL CHURCHMAN
HEAD OF PARTNER SALES XERO NEW ZEALAND
In my early 20’s, I began my
career working as an
accountant in my home town
of Wellington.
I vividly remember a moment
when I was helping a florist set
up her business on Xero, and she
broke down in tears of relief at the
realisation her Sundays were no
longer going to be spent hunkered
down at the table sorting through
paper receipts. She would finally
have the day back to spend with
her two young boys.
It was at that moment I knew my
purpose was to help as many
small business owners realise
the potential of managing their
numbers productively, and
ultimately get back more time in
their day to focus on other parts of
their business.
Since my early days starting out in
the industry, I’ve had a rich career
working in both New Zealand and
Canadian markets.
I was working with one of Xero’s
very first partners when they
migrated onto the platform, and
I witnessed first-hand the impact
that technology had on a small
business when coupled with an
effective advisor.
After spending five years on
Canadian soil, I recently made the
move back to New Zealand with
my family to continue serving Xero
partners in my new role as Head
of Partner Sales for New Zealand’s
go-to-market team.
I feel incredibly proud to be
leading our Kiwi sales team in
Xero’s home market. Looking
to the second half of the year
and beyond, we’re focused on
providing our Xero partners with
as much value as possible, so
they can continue their vital work
advising small businesses across
Aotearoa.

12 BAY OF PLENTY BUSINESS NEWS August 2023
BUSINESS UNDER 40s
JOEL MURPHY
PROVIDING EXPERT LEGAL ADVICE ON
UTILITY-SCALE SOLAR PROJECTS
Despite the run of poor
weather in the Bay of
Plenty, the sun has been
shining on Joel Murphy,
a recently appointed partner at
Holland Beckett Law. Joel has
been inundated with inquires as a
result of the current land grab of
existing dairy and grazing farms
by national and international solar
developers. “It is great to see
the number of international solar
developers looking to come to New
Zealand to provide sustainable
alternative energy sources from
our traditional hydro, wind and
geothermal.”
A specialist in large scale solar
projects, Joel has a depth of
international experience enabling
him to provide sound advice
to landowners looking for an
alternative land use. Joel acts for
multiple landowners throughout
New Zealand advising and
negotiating large scale solar
projects as well as acting for a
global leader in utility-scale solar
development. “Understanding the
drivers behind both landowners
and utility-scale solar developers
allows me to provide pragmatic
advice and solutions to both
sensitive and complex projects.
The most important thing is that
landowners understand both the
benefits and risks in converting
what may have been a fifth
generation dairy farm to a utilityscale
solar farm.”
Joel joined Holland Beckett in 2019
after returning from the United
Kingdom, working as an in-house
counsel for Lightsource BP, a
global leader in utility-scale solar
development.
In addition to Joel’s specialist
solar expertise, Joel also advises
clients on all aspects of property,
including acquisitions and
disposals, leasing, developments,
financing, subdivisions and related
transactions. He has particular
expertise and passion for the
kiwifruit industry and residential
developments.
Joel is an advocate for the
growth of the Bay of Plenty
and is a committee
member of the Central
Regional Committee for
Property Council New
Zealand.
Outside of work Joel
enjoys spending time
with his young family,
fishing, diving and
playing touch rugby.
Joel Murphy
Partner
DDI 07 570 0682 Mobile 022 345 7761
joel.murphy@hobec.co.nz
hobec.co.nz
HOB200422
JEREMY SPARROW
YOUR SPECIALIST EMPLOYMENT LAW PARTNER
Jeremy joined Holland
Beckett as a graduate in
January 2012, and has
become the first law clerk to
Partner of Holland Beckett Law.
Jeremy started in the wider
litigation department, where he
acted on some of the firms major
cases including businesses
affected by the Rena sinking.
Jeremy then spent two years
working as a lawyer in London.
Upon his return to the Bay of Plenty
in 2018, Jeremy has developed
into a specialist employment
lawyer. Jeremy has grown a
substantial employment practice
and continues to be sought after
by clients for his effective, timely
and practical advice: this is from
some of the firms biggest clients to
the smallest.
Jeremy specialises in both
contentious and non-contentious
employment matters, including
health and safety, and leads a
large team of employment lawyers.
Jeremy advises employer and
employee clients on all matters
relating to employment including
resolving employment disputes,
personal grievance claims, exit
arrangements, restructurings,
performance matters, disciplinary
issues, sale and purchases of
businesses, and preparation
of employment agreements,
contractor agreements, and
policies.
When Jeremy joined Holland
Beckett Law in 2012, the
headcount was approximately 50
and now the firm has 125 staff.
With the support of the Partners,
Jeremy has progressed through
the firm and in April 2023 he
joined the partnership. Identifying
leaders who can build a team is
what has made Holland Beckett
Law a success and one of New
Zealand’s largest regional law
firms.
Jeremy deals with employment
law issues for his clients every day
and he is proud to be a partner
of a firm that is committed to
attracting and retaining the best
and brightest talent.
Retaining and growing staff is
the firm’s number one priority.
Holland Beckett Law achieves
this in a number of innovative
ways such as graduate
programme cash bonuses
or options for paid leave
to travel, regular salary
reviews, wide ranging
CPD options, flexible
working arrangements,
social and sporting
events, wellness
package and study
benefits.
Jeremy Sparrow
Partner
DDI 07 927 2758 Mobile 027 305 0781
jeremy.sparrow@hobec.co.nz
hobec.co.nz
HOB200422

BUSINESS UNDER 40s
August 2023 BAY OF PLENTY BUSINESS NEWS 13
LARISSA HODGSON
CREATING COMPETITIVE ADVANTAGE THROUGH
DIRECT CUSTOMER ENGAGEMENT
Trimax Mowing Systems
has been developing
commercial mowing
solutions since the
1980s. From humble beginnings
in Tauranga, to a global
manufacturer, Trimax has facilities
in New Zealand, Australia, the
United Kingdom, and United
States.
Larissa Hodgson, Trimax Customer
Engagement Manager, heads the
global marketing teams, sales
operations, service strategy and
product innovation pipeline.
“We have a wide definition of
product innovation. We define
our product as the overall
experience that our company
provides. We’re one of the
highest priced manufacturers in
the global industry, so not only
do our physical products have
to perform, but our service and
every engagement with customers’
needs to exceed expectations.”
Trimax has a mixed sales model,
selling both directly to customers
and distributing through a
global retail network of tractor
dealerships.
“We made the decision a few years
ago to create direct engagement
channels, no matter the sales
channel. Our founder was out in
the field every day with customers,
you could see how much value
customers placed on this.”
The Trimax team have spent the
last few years creating processes
which they systemized and scaled
to provide improvement at every
possible customer touchpoint.
“There’s been a lot of investment
in customer resources and
platforms, especially to support
the thousands of machines out
operating in the field every day –
apps, e-commerce stores, CRMs
and marketing systems that
seamlessly integrate with F&O,
service programs, troubleshooting
and diagnostics, as well as global
training.”
Trimax’s direct engagement
strategy has increased lead
generation and grown aftersales
parts revenue which is on track
to become the company’s
largest revenue stream.
Most importantly it’s provided a
customer service model which
has created a real advantage
that cannot be quickly or easily
replicated by competitors.
BRAD WALKER
COMMERCIAL & INDUSTRIAL SALES CONSULTANT
Brad Walker has been
closely involved in the real
estate and construction
industry for over 20 years.
He’s always had a passion to help
people meet their goals and make
their dreams a reality. His early
years working on construction sites
provided him with a well-rounded
depth of knowledge which he now
brings to marketing, selling and
purchasing property,
Brad lives in Mount Maunganui,
close to the beach, with his wife
and their two young children.
He grew up sailing, then got into
kitesurfing, paddleboarding and
diving. He’s passionate about
the Bay of Plenty region and its
growth.
“I love being on the coast, having
stunning beaches on our doorstep
and lakes and activities all within
easy reach,” he says.“I also get a
buzz from our bustling city and the
surrounding region with industries
ranging from farming and
horticulture to logistics and supply
chains, all within easy access.”
Brad has exceptional
communication and negotiation
skills, an eye for detail and the
ability to build, maintain and
manage critical relationships.
He is committed to using his
experience and skills, along with
his knowledge of the local and
commercial markets to achieve
the best outcomes for everyone he
works with.
“For me, working with many smallto-medium
sized businesses is
fun. The people are what make it
so interesting. It is refreshing to
see the determination, attitude
and successes of the very people
that continue to keep this country
thriving on the world stage.”
Being results-driven, committed to doing
the hard yards and benefiting from being
part of a national team of commercial
agents, Brad aims to achieve the best
results for his clients every time.
“I want to continue working on
those foundations of solid
business relationships:
integrity and over delivering
on expectations. Nothing
makes me more satisfied than
achieving results for clients
which allow them to move
forward with their goals.”
Brad’s advice for property
buyers and sellers right
now: “Be patient! What you
want to achieve now will
pay off in the future if you
stick at it and surround
yourself with the right
people. Everyone has a
different goal and timeline
in their decision making.”
Brad Walker
M 021 474 838 P 07 928 000 E brad.walker@pb.co.nz

14 BAY OF PLENTY BUSINESS NEWS August 2023
Seeka releases
Sustainability
Report 2023
Listed New Zealand produce
company Seeka Limited (NZX-
:SEK) released its second Sustainability
Report in July.
The report, which outlines the
progress Seeka has made towards
the sustainability targets established
in 2022 also introduces Seeka’s
NZ$201 million Sustainability
Linked Loan, which replaces its previous
banking facilities.
The acquisition of two post-harvest
businesses, Orangewood Ltd and
NZ Fruits Ltd during the period, now
Seeka Orangewood and Seeka Gisborne,
as well as a full-year impact
of the 2021 acquisition of Opotiki
Packing and Cool Storage Ltd, now
Seeka OPAC, have increased Seeka’s
absolute carbon footprint to 22,839
tonnes CO2e compared to 19,864
tonnes CO2e in 2021.
The report details Seeka’s
response to climate change, with a
focus on learning from the number
of extreme weather events the company
faced over the past year, including
floods, frosts, cyclones, and
hail, together with the steps Seeka
is taking to reduce GHG emissions,
operate in a safe environment, care
for its communities and company
government.
Seeka announced it had completed
its banking refinancing at
30 June 2023, into a NZ$201 million
Sustainability Linked Loan,
with Westpac NZ acting as the Sole
Sustainability Coordinator, Agent
and Mandated Lead Arranger and
Bookrunner.
Seeka’s Chief Executive, Michael
Franks, outlined that sustainability is
increasingly considered in all business
operations and the introduction
of the Sustainability Linked Loan
further reinforces the importance
of sustainability in our business
decisions.
WORK FROM WORK
NOTION DRIVING DEMAND
It’s perhaps a novel idea after the
years of disruption we’ve seen
globally, but it’s time for people to
“work from work” and get back to
the office.
This is underpinning workplace
movement in and around the main
centres as large occupiers firm-up
space requirements and recalibrate
to get their teams’ feet under desks
in the CBDs once more.
Matt Lamb, Bayleys national
director office leasing said significant
commitments have already
been made by many big occupiers
in Auckland, like Spark recently
signing up to Mansons new Fifty
Albert development, and Beca
securing space in Precinct’s new
Wynyard Quarter Innovation office
development.
With new occupiers entering the
market and other established parties
starting to show their hand for large
tracts of office footprint, the market
remains active and vacancy is low.
“Expect to see some big movement
by major corporates in the
next couple of years as they look to
occupy fit-for-purpose space with
the benefit of a blank canvas to configure
layouts in-line with corporate
goals and changing staff demands,”
he said.
“This will free up floor plates in
the buildings they intend vacating –
which leads to opportunity for other
occupiers and a chance for landlords
to upgrade space to meet new
expectations around sustainability,
amenity and location.”
Lamb said there are still great
opportunities available for proactive
occupiers seeking large floor plates
within well-located properties that
prioritise ESG principles and offer
comprehensive amenities for staff.
“Engaging with the Bayleys
leasing team early will pay off for
any occupier considering a move in
the Auckland CBD as we are across
all upcoming space and landlord
timelines.”
Bayleys Wellington office leasing
specialist Luke Frecklington
said there are some reasonable-sized
deals being done for large space in
the CBD and while vacancy is low,
with many buildings undergoing
seismic upgrade and refurbishment,
there are some good opportunities
available.
“As some of the high-profile
occupiers start to vacate existing
office space for pre-committed new
builds, there will be further large
tracts come to the market for lease,”
he said.
“There’s been quite a lot of activity
and there’s more to come as the
capital is seeing some really encouraging
business growth.
“Hnry, the accounting software
company, is an example of a
business that is on the march, and
they’ve signed up for large office
space for their growing team within
the former David Jones building on
Lambton Quay.”
Frecklington understands that
the new building under development
for BNZ in Whitmore Street
will have some floors for sublease,
and, when the bank does relocate on
building completion, high quality
space in the three different buildings
they currently occupy will become
available to back-fill.
There’s a shortage of large office
floor plates in Christchurch according
to William Wallace, Bayleys
general manager South Island commercial
and industrial.
“How and where we grow the
Christchurch office market is a big
discussion point and we’d expect
to see city fringe areas like Sydenham
and Philipstown regenerate on
the back of locational advantages,
capacity for carparking, and emergence
of the new Te Kaha multi-use
arena,” he said.
“In the CBD, there’s still a pipeline
of planned work to be delivered
but for developers, it’s the perennial
cost versus reward dilemma.
“We’re seeing some movement
around the city by a few of the big
law firms and there’s a bit of space
coming up on the sublease market
– such as in the Vodafone building
within the Innovation Precinct.”
Wallace said the flight to quality,
underpinned by growing ESG
awareness and desirability of sustainability
ratings like NABERSNZ,
continues unabated in the Christchurch
market – as it does around
all of the main centres.
At Bayleys, we believe relationships are what businesses are built on and how they
succeed. We understand that to maximise the return on your property you need:
Professional property management
A business partner that understands your views and goals
Contact the Bayleys Tauranga Commercial Property Management team today.
Bayleys Tauranga
Commercial Property Management
07 579 0609
jan.cooney@bayleystauranga.co.nz
SUCCESS REALTY LTD, BAYLEYS, LICENSED UNDER THE REA ACT 2008
ALTOGETHER BETTER
Residential / Commercial / Rural / Property Services

August 2023 BAY OF PLENTY BUSINESS NEWS 15
THE BUSINESS OF HAPPINESS
The gurus say you can discover the secret to skyrocketing productivity
and workplace success with a simple yet powerful ingredient:
happiness. But in the real world, is the drive for happiness helping or
hindering the Kiwi business machine?
Stop what you’re doing.
Take a full minute to
really consider what I’m
about to ask you: Are you truly
happy?
I’m not talking about the
kind of ‘can’t complain I suppose’
contentment that my
British compatriots would consider
as practically orgasmic.
I’m talking about true, deep,
quiet, joy.
Chances are, you would say
“no”.
I don’t blame you. I would
have said the same thing.
After all, we don’t go into
business in pursuit of happiness.
We embark on an heroic
quest for business success.
Once we achieve success, then
we will be happy.
Or so I thought.
But what if we’ve got the
business of happiness totally
wrong? What if happiness
is not the outcome we seek,
but the key to unlocking
success beyond our wildest
expectations?
Falling off a cliff
For centuries, happiness and
the workplace were like an
unhappily married couple:
They managed to coexist,
but everything would be a lot
smoother if they could just
lead separate lives.
Work was not a ‘happy’
place. Employees were not
supposed to find happiness in
their roles. They turned up,
did the job, got paid and went
home.
But a couple of decades
ago, there was a shift in the
practice of positive psychology
and workplace wellbeing.
Traditionally, the ‘ambulance’
for stressed and unhappy
workers was at the bottom of
the metaphorical cliff: People
only got help when they hit
rock bottom.
Then, things changed.
Smart leaders started putting
support structures – the ‘ambulance’
– at the top of the cliff:
Workers got the support they
needed to keep them happy
and performing at the top of
their game, so the sharp performance
drop never arrived.
Happiness was becoming a
workplace science.
The pursuit of happiness
was becoming a realisation.
Happiness … guaranteed?
You don’t have to guarantee
happiness, you just have
to make its achievement a
possibility.
Happiness is not something
you pursue. It’s not something
you need to hunt down. It’s
right in front of you.
Happiness doesn’t come
from luck, your network, your
expertise or talents. It certainly
doesn’t come from your
circumstances.
It doesn’t come from a promotion,
a new client, a sales
win, a pay rise or your LinkedIn
post going viral.
Happiness is created by the
simple things you do every
day.
All the small things
People are usually miserably
busy and looking for a breakthrough
– the silver bullet in
their life or business that will
make the happiness bell ring.
But if you truly want to discover
the joy in what you do,
the secret lies in the power of
small, consistent actions that
compound over time.
These may include:
• Practising gratitude: Taking
a few minutes each day
to reflect on and express
gratitude for the positive
aspects of your life. Recognising
what you are grateful
for, fostering a sense of
appreciation and shifting
your focus to the positive
aspects of your role helps
you embed the sense of
MINING BUSINESS WEALTH
> BY FREDDIE BENNETT
Guinness World Record Holder, podcast host and bestselling author,
Freddie is known as ‘The Profit Hunter’. He helps business owners
enjoy more time, money and freedom by discovering and extracting
hidden profits in their companies. Freddie@conqueryourmedia.com
satisfaction.
• Moments that matter: Identifying
and incorporating
moments of mindfulness
into your day. Be fully
present in the moment and
observe the world around
you. This simple practice
cultivates a sense of calm
and clarity amidst the
chaos.
• Acts of kindness: Engage
in small acts of kindness
towards colleagues, customers,
and clients. Yes,
that actually means doing
something nice … for free.
These gestures create a positive
ripple effect, boosting
both your happiness and the
recipient’s.
• Learn (or teach) something
new: Cultivate a growth
mindset by learning or
teaching something new
every day. It is the process
of developing mastery
for ourselves, or cultivating
mastery in others
that allows us to feel part
of something bigger than
ourselves.
• Celebrate wins: Acknowledge
and celebrate the
accomplishments of yourself
and your team, no
matter how small. Recognise
your progress and
give yourself credit for the
steps taken towards your
goals. This fosters a positive
mindset and boosts
motivation.
But this is only half the
story, happiness is achieved by
the things you don’t do every
day.
Zero negativity
If small daily actions can create
happiness, the opposite is
also true. As Newton’s third
law states: Every force has an
equal and opposing force.
There are a number of daily
habits you’re cultivating that
can be destroying your chances
of happiness:
• Dwelling on negativity:
Constantly focusing on
negative thoughts, dwelling
on past failures, or engaging
in self-criticism can
diminish happiness over
time.
• Comparison and envy:
Constantly comparing oneself
to others, feeling envious
of their achievements,
or focusing on what one
lacks rather than appreciating
what they have can lead
to unhappiness.
• Living in the past or future:
Constantly dwelling on past
regrets or worrying excessively
about the future can
rob one of the joy and contentment
found in the present
moment.
• Holding onto resentment
and grudges: Harbouring
resentment, holding
grudges, or refusing to
forgive others can create a
negative emotional burden
that hinders happiness.
You choose you
In the end, the business of happiness
is not a solitary endeavour
but a shared mission.
Together, you and your
team can uplift, support, and
empower one another on this
transformative path.
Choose happiness. Live it.
Share it.
Remember, it’s not
something you pursue. It’s
something you can create.
Immediately.
Happy now?
Green light for Te Manawataki
o Te Papa development
Late last month, the Tauranga City Council Commission approved the most significant investment in community
facilities the city may ever see, with the redevelopment of the civic precinct given the green light.
Anne Tolley
By ANNE TOLLEY,
Tauranga Commission Chair
Named Te Manawataki
o Te Papa – the heartbeat
of Te Papa – this
$306 million redevelopment
will see the construction of a
new library and community
hub, civic whare (community
meeting house), museum
and exhibition gallery on the
central city block bounded
by Wharf, Willow, Harington
and Durham streets. Associated
landscape and waterfront
improvements will also add to
a greatly enhanced city centre
environment.
A business case for this
development received at the
Council meeting on 24 July
clearly outlined the significant
benefits the development
would create for the city,
its residents and the wider
subregion.
Of particular importance
is the impact Te Manawataki
o Te Papa would have on the
revitalisation of the city centre,
with an expected tripling of
visitor numbers (to 5,500 people
a day, or 2,000,000 visits a
year) by 2035. By comparison,
current foot traffic counts in
The Strand/Wharf Street area
are around 1,600 people a day.
In economic terms, that is
expected to increase the present
value of local and regional
economic output by around
$500 million, with wider benefits
totalling a further $500
million over the life of the
buildings.
Part of the reasoning
behind the development is also
to encourage greater inclusiveness,
a sense of belonging and
cultural awareness and identity
and in that regard, the museum
and library/community hub
An artist’s render of Te Manawataki o Te Papa – Tauranga’s future civic precinct.
facilities are expected to have
a considerable impact, with
over 300,000 and 800,000
visits respectively each year.
As a result of that community
involvement, it’s anticipated
that by 2035, most residents
would have a greater sense
of pride in their city and
would therefore be prepared
to recommend it as a visitor
destination.
All of that additional activity
will contribute significantly
to city centre GDP, generating
wider economic benefits of up
to $1.37 billion (in net present
terms) over the next 60 years.
As part of that equation, a
more attractive city centre is
expected to support further
high-density accommodation
development, with around
3,000 extra people living in
the area, plus around 600 extra
businesses opening up within
the 60-year timeframe.
There is of course a price
tag for this development and
one of the key challenges the
Commission set for the proposal
was that, in addition
to the benefits being demonstrated,
the financial strategy
behind Te Manawataki o Te
Papa also had to stack-up.
Since we rebooted the
civic precinct project in 2021,
a number of ongoing national
and global challenges have
been encountered, such as
Covid-19, escalating construction
costs, and a rise in inflation
and interest rates.
Given these challenges, it’s
really pleasing to see that our
development partners, Willis
Bond, are confident they can
deliver the civic precinct programme
of work within the
overall approved budget of
$306.3 million.
The initial commitment we
made was that the rate-funded
debt for the project would not
exceed $151.5 million.
We are confident that a
sound financial strategy now
exists, which will ensure all
the funding required is achievable.
TECT’s recent approval
of a $21 million grant towards
Te Manawataki o Te Papa – the
Trust’s largest-ever contribution
to a single project – represents
a huge step towards
achieving the project’s wider
investment targets.
Together with the $12.1
million in central Government
Better-Off funding we
received last year, this puts
us in a good position to reach
our goals and we will be leaving
‘no stone unturned’ in our
efforts to secure the financing
required.
We hope the business community
will join with Council
to help make Te Manawataki o
Te Papa a reality and support
the revitalisation of our city
centre.

16 BAY OF PLENTY BUSINESS NEWS August 2023
Less tax on
lump sum ACC
payments for
injured kiwis
Chartered accountants around the country
are pleased to see changes that will address
the long-standing unfair tax treatment of
New Zealanders who receive backdated
lump sum payments from the Accident
Compensation Corporation (ACC), says
CA ANZ NZ Tax Leader John Cuthbertson
FCA.
As detailed in the latest taxation omnibus
Bill, the tax liability on backed lump
sum payments is set to be calculated on
an averaged basis over a four year period,
rather than solely in the year of receipt.
“Under current tax law, if an individual
receives a backdated lump sum payment
from the ACC, they are taxed in the year
that it is received, at their marginal tax rates,
even if the sum relates to compensation
from earlier years,” said Mr Cuthbertson.
“That means more of the payment goes
back to the Government, and less to the
individual, which is just plain unfair.”
“It’s a familiar scenario for many kiwis
who have an accident, suffer a serious
injury, and then been in dispute with ACC
about eligibility for compensation, or the
amount of compensation.”
“These disputes can take multiple years
to resolve so when the payment finally
comes through it can bump them into the
next tax bracket and beyond. It’s unfair,
because if there hadn’t been a dispute, they
would have been paid out across multiple
years and would be much less likely to
shift the client into a higher marginal tax
bracket.”
Between 2012 and 2016, over 6,000 clients
won their ACC decision reviews, some
of which ran over multiple years.
“The proposal is that a backdated lump
sum ACC payment will be taxed at the individual’s
average tax rate, calculated as if the
payment had been spread over the preceding
four years.”
“Having an accident and being off work
is stressful enough, without a tax technicality
taking more of your money. This has
been a longstanding issue that we’ve raised
so we’re pleased to see this change.”
Mr Cuthbertson provided an example of
the current legislation’s unfairness.
“Say someone on an annual salary of
$68,000 - just under the up to $70,000, 30%
tax bracket - has a serious accident, can’t
work, and applies for ACC. For whatever
reason there’s a dispute, which is resolved
3 years later, and they get a lump sum payment
of 80% of their salary over that period,
which comes to $163,200. Unfortunately,
that shifts them into the 33% tax bracket,
due to no fault of their own, and they’re
going to pay a significant chunk - over
$93,000 - at the higher 33% tax rate. That’s
been the situation for many kiwis over the
years and it’s not fair. And it’s not uncommon
for the sums in question to be bigger,
and the disputes to run much longer.”
“However, we are not quite there yet,
as the proposed change is only intended to
apply to payments made from 1 April 2024.
This is a cruel and unsatisfactory outcome
for pre-1 April 2024 recipients, who if they
are aware of the proposed change, would
not push ACC to settle their claim in the
remaining months.”
“It’s CA ANZ’s view that the solution
should apply to payments made on, or after
the date that the proposed changes were
announced (18 May 2023), or that any ACC
recipients who received a payment during
the year ended 31 March
2024 should be eligible
for the new
tax treatment,”
concluded Mr
Cuthbertson.
CA ANZ NZ Tax Leader
John Cuthbertson FCA
Cash flow woes push small
business owners to make sacrifices
Cash flow has long been
a challenge for small
businesses in the Bay of
Plenty and across Aotearoa New
Zealand. With recent inflation,
steep interest rates and reduced
consumer spending, it’s apparent
small businesses are walking a
tightrope every day.
To better understand perspectives
and behaviours towards
cash flow management, Xero
surveyed small business owners
across Aotearoa New Zealand
and the results were concerning
to say the least.
A staggering 46% of business
owners and 60% of sole traders
aren’t paying themselves in order
to keep their business running.
Additionally, over half of
Kiwi small businesses (52%)
have increased prices to cover
their cash flow challenges, while
a similar number (48%) have
looked to review and remove
costs.
It’s clear our small business
owners are facing significant
financial stress and as a result,
it’s beginning to take a toll on
both their emotional and physical
health.
Cash flow is one of the biggest
hurdles our small business owners
are facing and Kiwis need to
be aware of the sacrifices they’re
making to persevere through this
challenging time.
When small business owners
experience cash flow issues, the
first thing to go is their own pay.
In this current cost-of-living crisis,
this puts our small business
owners in a vulnerable position.
The inability to pay suppliers
often comes next, having a
knock-on effect throughout the
economy.
There is a lot to consider
when looking to make the
jump from employee to
franchisee entrepreneur. Amongst
concerns that come to mind for
most are the economy, interest
rates, access to staff, consumer
confidence, election cycles and
a myriad of possible scenarios,
most of which are beyond the
control of the individual, and
generally macro issues that affect
every business.
Something new that we are
seeing is potential franchisee
entrepreneurs creating their own
barrier to entry by their expectations.
It goes something like this:
potential franchisee has decided
that they want to be in business
for themselves and have narrowed
their search to a category
or brand, when they find out that
they are under-capitalised to buy
into the brand or category they
decide, “I’ll keep working until I
have the funds”.
In my view these budding
entrepreneurs are unnecessarily
delaying their entry into franchise
ownership. When you jump on
the property ladder most people
do not buy their dream house as
their first, nor do you start you
career and jump into your dream
senior role - in both cases the path
is not to sit on the side-lines but to
develop skills, build equity, and
benefit from being in the game.
It’s a fragile cycle which can
see business owners in the Bay
of Plenty and across the country
using their personal savings,
working unsustainable hours, and
sacrificing their own wellbeing to
keep the business running.
When asked about the emotional
and physical impacts of
cash flow management, business
owners reported feeling stress
(80%), anxiety (70%), trouble
sleeping (60%) and losing time
with friends and family (47%)
The same approach should be
applied to franchisee ownership
and here are my top five reasons
why:
Learn how to run a business
By jumping into a smaller business,
the franchisee entrepreneur
will develop skills and experience
from owning and operating
the business. Even if they are
employed in a similar industry,
there is no substitute for running
your own business.
Learn how to get the most
out of working within a
franchise system
Being in a franchise is a unique
business format. It’s not for
everyone, and not everyone can
really make the most of the system.
By starting small, you can
hone your skills and learn to work
within a system. Franchises also
provide the ability to benchmark
WORKPLACE WELLBEING
> BY BRIDGET SNELLING
Bridget Snelling is the Xero Country Manager for New
Zealand
FRANCHISING
> BY NATHAN BONNEY
Nathan Bonney is a director of Iridium Partners. He can be
reached at nathan@iridium.net.nz or 0275-393-022
– you can know how well you are
doing against your fellow franchisees
in that system.
Build an asset and create
capital gains
Much like jumping onto the
property ladder, by successfully
owning and operating a smaller
franchised business, a budding
franchisee entrepreneur can build
value and equity in the business
and in turn create capital gains on
exit. The latter can be the critical
distinction versus working to
build capital.
Reduce risk, increase your
ability to fund in the future
Business is not without risk, and
this is usually a major consideration
for people investing into a
franchised business for the first
time. There is risk associated
with business, as well as with
an individual’s ability to own
over the past 12 months.
The research also revealed
94% of small business owners
weren’t achieving their business
goals, and 90% of those feeling
less confident they’ll meet their
financial obligations are suffering
from stress.
This shows us how closely
business goals and financial
health are connected to the stress
and anxiety of our small business
owners.
Across the country, inflation
has heightened cash flow
struggles, with 48% claiming it
had a high impact on their cash
flow management these past six
months.
These figures are a worrying
sign for the future of our small
business community and highlight
the need for change.
It’s no secret late payments are
one of the biggest contributors to
small business cash flow issues.
In fact, last year we found late
invoice payments were costing
Kiwi small businesses $456 million
annually.
Getting paid on time is crucial
for small business operations, and
this largely relates to big businesses
paying their invoices on
time.
That’s why at Xero, we’ve
challenged big businesses to
commit to paying invoices within
10 working days. This will not
only help our small business community
but strengthen the New
Zealand economy as a whole.
However, it doesn’t just come
down to big businesses, small
business owners have the power
to take matters into their own
hands and tap into digital tools to
help manage cash flow.
Whether it’s for planning,
forecasting, or even invoicing,
it’s time to make the most of the
digital tools available.
Five reasons to start your
franchise journey NOW
and operate a business. By starting
in a smaller business, with a
lower investment level, risks are
reduced.
Additionally, if a franchisee
can successfully operate a business
within a franchise format, it
will potentially assist them with
funding a larger, higher investment
level franchise in the future.
There is always more money,
there’s never more time
Economic considerations will
change over time, but two factors
will always remain; there is
always the ability to earn more
money either as an employee or
by owning and building your own
business, but there will never
be more time. So, if ultimately
owning and operating our own
franchise business is your goal,
starting small and growing could
be the strategy for you.
My question to you now is,
“What are you waiting for?”

August 2023 BAY OF PLENTY BUSINESS NEWS 17
Don’t get caught in
the Phishing Net!
TECH TALK
> BY VARUN PARASHER
Varun Parasher is a technical engineer at Stratus Blue with a passion
for cybersecurity. He can be contacted at varun@stratusblue.co.nz
Use technology to solve
transportation problems
SUSTAINABLE TRANSPORTATION
> BY STEVEN VINCENT
Steven Vincent is the founder of GoTo Car Share.
He can be reached on steven@goto.nz
We are all aware of the
impacts of cybercrime
on people
and businesses in Aotearoa.
Indeed, it is a regular topic
of this column but I make no
apology for raising it once
again. According to Cert NZ,
the average number of cyber
incident reports per quarter is
2191 resulting in an average
direct financial loss of $4.9
million.
In the Bay of Plenty a lot
of us enjoy fishing. However,
increasing numbers of us are
being targeted by the other
type of Phishing.
Phishing attacks aim to
deceive people into revealing
sensitive information, such as
passwords, credit card details,
or personal identification numbers
(PINs). CERT NZ’s 2023
Q1 report states that out of
1968 reported incidents, 946
were Phishing and credential
harvesting.
Phishing comes in a
number of forms:
Classic email phishing –
Cybercriminals send deceptive
emails that mimic legitimate
organisations or individuals,
tricking recipients into divulging
confidential information.
These emails often contain
urgent requests, enticing users
to click on malicious links or
provide personal details.
Spear phishing – This is a
more targeted and sophisticated.
Cybercriminals gather
information about specific
individuals or organisations
and tailor their attacks accordingly.
By using personalised
messages or posing as trusted
contacts, attackers increase the
likelihood of success. These
attacks have been known to
target government officials,
executives, or employees with
access to sensitive data.
Smishing – A combination of
SMS and phishing – attackers
send text messages containing
malicious links or ask recipients
to reply with personal
information.
Who is being targeted?
Phishing attacks often target
employees of organisations,
seeking access to sensitive
company data or credentials.
By impersonating colleagues
or high-ranking executives,
cybercriminals aim to exploit
human vulnerability and gain
unauthorised access to corporate
networks.
Elderly individuals, who
may be less technologically
savvy, are often targeted by
phishing scams.
Financial organisations are
also common targets. Cybercriminals
send emails or text
messages disguised as legitimate
financial institutions,
attempting to trick recipients
into disclosing their online
banking credentials or other
sensitive information, leading
to unauthorised access to bank
accounts and financial loss.
What can I do to protect
myself?
Be wary of suspicious emails.
Exercise caution when receiving
emails from unfamiliar
senders or those requesting
personal information. Look
out for misspellings, grammatical
errors, or generic greetings.
Legitimate organisations
usually address customers by
name and use professional
language.
Verify the sender’s identity.
Before clicking on any links
or providing sensitive information,
verify the sender’s
identity. Hover over links to
reveal the actual URL (web
address) and ensure it matches
the organisation’s legitimate
website. If in doubt, contact
the organisation directly. No
financial institution, especially
banks, would ask you for your
password.
Avoid clicking on suspicious
links. Do not click on links in
emails or text messages that
seem suspicious, especially
those asking for personal
information. Instead, manually
type the organisation’s web
address into your browser or
use a trusted bookmark.
Keep security software
updated. Regularly update
your antivirus and anti-malware
software to protect
against the latest threats. These
tools can detect and block
phishing attempts, providing
an extra layer of security.
Enable multi-factor authentication.
Wherever possible,
enable multi-factor authentication
(MFA). MFA adds an
extra layer of protection by
requiring two or more forms
of authentication, such as a
password and a unique verification
code sent to your mobile
device.
Regularly back up data.
Phishing attacks pose a significant
threat to all of us. Recognising
the different forms
of phishing and implementing
preventive measures is crucial
in protecting personal and
financial information from
cybercriminals.
The top 20 cities around
the world for transportation
and mobility all
have one thing in common.
They have all invested in various
transportation options,
including extensive public
transportation networks,
well-developed cycling infrastructure,
walkable neighbourhoods,
and innovative
mobility solutions. Their
metropolitan areas also have
populations of over a million
people.
Small cities, like Tauranga,
face unique traffic
challenges due to their limited
resources and infrastructure
compared to these larger
metropolitan areas. However,
several approaches can be
adopted by small cities to
mitigate their traffic problems
and technology can play
a big role in improving transportation
efficiency.
Real-time data, enhancing
traffic management systems,
and promoting more efficient
transportation options are
some ways technology can be
used to achieve this. Here are
some of these technologies in
more detail:
Intelligent traffic signal
control
Implementing smart traffic
signal control systems that
use real-time data to adjust
signal timing based on traffic
conditions can help optimise
traffic flow at intersections.
These systems can reduce
congestion and improve
overall traffic efficiency.
Traffic data and
analytics
Utilising advanced traffic
monitoring technologies,
such as cameras, sensors,
and GPS data, can provide
valuable insights into traffic
patterns and congestion
hotspots.
Analysing this data can
help city planners and traffic
management authorities
make informed decisions to
improve traffic flow.
Mobile apps for
navigation route
planning
Navigation apps with realtime
traffic updates, like Google
Maps or Waze, can guide
drivers to less congested
routes, diverting traffic away
from heavily congested areas
and spreading the traffic load
across the road network.
Smart parking solutions
Implementing smart parking
systems that provide realtime
information from parking
sensors about available
parking spaces can help drivers
find parking quickly.
Way-finding screens can
direct traffic to available
parks and reduce the time
spent searching for parking,
which can contribute to traffic
congestion.
Parking technology can
be installed in on-street and
off-street parking locations,
and can also inform decisions
about car park volume and
location planning.
Public transportation
apps
Mobile apps that offer realtime
information about public
transportation schedules,
routes, and vehicle locations
can encourage more people
to use public transit, reducing
the number of vehicles on the
road.
Ride-sharing and
carpooling platforms
Technology-enabled
ride-sharing and carpooling
services can help reduce the
number of single-occupancy
vehicles on the road by facilitating
ridesharing arrangements,
especially during peak
hours.
Real-time traffic
information displays
Electronic message boards
and dynamic signage that provide
real-time traffic updates
can inform drivers about road
conditions, accidents, and
alternative routes, allowing
them to make informed decisions
while on the road.
Predictive traffic
modelling
Utilising predictive analytics
can help forecast traffic
patterns and congestion,
enabling authorities to take
proactive measures to prevent
or mitigate traffic issues.
Connected and
autonomous vehicles
Connected vehicle technology
can enable vehicles to
communicate with each other
and with traffic infrastructure,
optimising traffic flow and
reducing accidents. Additionally,
the integration of autonomous
vehicles could potentially
lead to more efficient
and safer traffic management.
By harnessing technology
in these ways, I believe
that cities like Tauranga can
create more efficient and
sustainable transportation
systems, reduce congestion,
and improve overall mobility
for residents and visitors
alike. While we have begun
to implement some of these
technologies in Tauranga we
still have a way to go before
we can be on the same page
as cities such as Helskini and
Singapore who lead the way
in multi-modal transportation.
As we navigate our journey
of mode-shift and enhancing
our current options for
travel around our city, could
we put technology at the centre
of every decision and set
our goal for Tauranga to be in
the top 20 cities in the world
for transportation and mobility
within the next decade?

18 BAY OF PLENTY BUSINESS NEWS August 2023
LOL – Change the
record Grandad
world has
changed.’ This statement,
more than any ‘The
other, has repeatedly wheedled
its way into my columns
in the last three years.
Human lives have always
evolved and changed, from
generation to generation –
that’s the nature of human
evolution. That’s progress.
Humans adapt and learn to
do things in ways that afford
security, enjoyment, safety,
sustenance, and satisfaction.
As a species we generally
consciously strive to enhance
our physical, mental and
emotional wellbeing, though
the three are not always in
balance.
The wheel was invented
about 7,000 years ago, and
3,000 years later horsedrawn
carts started to really
speed up travel and haulage.
Fast forward another 4,000
years and we have cars with
wheels driven by engines
containing numerous other
variants of smaller wheels.
During that period of
advancement several hundred
generations of humans
were able to slowly adapt to
the changes brought on by
the wheel. No problem.
But now problems
brought on by change are
emerging daily. Change is
happening fast – really, really
fast – and we no longer have
the luxury of learning from
our forebears how to adapt
and best deal with change.
The speed of change is
causing social groups to
HAVE YOU EVER NOTICED?
> BY ALAN NEBEN
Alan Neben is a Mount Maunganui local and experienced New
Zealand publisher. His columns provide a light-hearted perspective
on social changes effecting New Zealanders.
The world has changed
since Grandad's day.
splinter and fracture – goths,
punks, neo-Nazis, conspiracists,
antivaxxers, greenies,
surfers, skaters, emos, Ls,
Gs, Bs Ts, Qs, +s, … music,
fashion, religion, media have
all splintered into sub-cultures
and new genres.
I learned from my father
how to change the spark
plugs in my car. He learned
from his great grandfather
how to shoe a horse. That
was the power of intergenerational
learning.
But have you (or your
grandfather, or great grandfather)
taught your kids how
to make a Tik Tok, deal with
a troll, ghost an epic fail
Bumble hook-up or manage
extreme social anxiety? Nah.
Almost certainly, ‘nah’.
Because they already
know more than you about
‘that stuff’ and, well, forget
grandad, he’s still changing
his own spark plugs.
The world is just changing
too fast for the last generation
to be able to pass on
useful advice to the next.
Now I can’t even find the
spark plugs in my car (the
dealership says don’t bother
opening the bonnet other
than to add wiper fluid) and
when I go EV, there won’t
even be spark plugs to find.
As for shoeing my horse,
well that’s seriously not a
biggie for me nowadays.
Which does make me
wonder, “will it all end up
coming to a grinding halt, the
way an ice age turned back
the clock (so to speak) for
previous civilisations?”
I recently heard an expert
suggest the answer to stopping
students using ChatGPT
for exam and essay assignments
is to go back to requiring
hand-written content.
There is no better illustration
of the speed of
change than the uptake of the
ChatGPT.
And no better illustration
of the inadequacy of our
‘last-generation’ response to
its misuse than the recommendation
that we go back
to pen and paper.
I wish I had a better solution.
I don’t. Sorry.
Maybe it’s time we
all took my grandfather’s
advice – he was always adamant
there was nothing a
cold shower and a hard day’s
work wouldn’t fix.
Then again, the world has
changed since his day.
The quick or the dead
CREDIT CONTROL
> BY NICK KERR
Nick Kerr is regional manager for Debt Free and director of
International Private Investigations Ltd. He can be reached on
021 876 527 and nick.kerr@debtfree.net.nz
In the business world, time is
money, but more importantly,
money is money.
Prompt payments are crucial
for maintaining a healthy cash
flow and ensuring the smooth
operation of any enterprise.
While it’s seen as being charitable
to give people a second
chance when they are late, or
don’t pay, there are compelling
reasons why swift collection
action is a more prudent
approach, especially in these
times, according to the latest
Centrix data. Key July 2023
Centrix highlights are as follows:
• The number of people that
are behind on their payments
has improved to 414,000.
• Mortgage delinquencies fell
slightly in June but are still
up 34% year-on-year.
• Consumers under the age of
25 are among those hardest
hit by the cost of living crisis.
• Company liquidations are
continuing to rise, up 36%
year-on-year, 1,790 this year
so far as of the time of writing
with the majority being businesses
in construction, retail
and manufacturing.
What this means is people
and businesses are accessing
credit in increasing numbers.
This indicates a lack of free cash
on hand – while credit is ‘all well
and good’, it has to be repaid,
which makes the ability to react
to unforeseen costs or incidents
much harder while repayments
are being made. This is being
played out in the construction
sector where liquidations and
losses suffered by the trades
are radiating through ancillary
industries.
Requiring a deposit, having
set charge services paid upfront,
and keeping the aged trial balance
with an empty 90+ column
are all things that can make a real
difference.
People know when they owe
you: if they aren’t talking and
aren’t paying then escalation is
necessary. By taking immediate
action regarding non-payment,
businesses send a clear message
that they value punctuality
and responsibility. Establishing
a reputation for being firm but
fair with late payers encourages
accountability among clients and
customers. This practice creates
a stronger business culture and
minimises instances of non-payment
in the future; basically,
only reward the behaviour that
you wish to continue.
Although it may seem counterintuitive,
swift collection
action can actually help preserve
professional relationships. When
businesses fail to act promptly
on late payments it can take a toll
on the trust and respect they have
established with clients and customers.
However, by addressing
payment issues immediately,
businesses demonstrate their
commitment to professionalism
and fairness which can
strengthen relationships rather
than damage them.
Collecting outstanding payments
in a timely manner is also
a form of risk management. By
not allowing overdue accounts
to accumulate, businesses can
quickly identify and address any
financial instability. This proactive
approach helps prevent
potential losses and provides an
opportunity to assess the creditworthiness
of clients mitigating
the risk of future non-payment
incidents.
A business that takes decisive
action when faced with non-payment
is more likely to be perceived
as reputable and reliable
by both suppliers and customers.
Maintaining a reputation for
being prompt and professional
in financial matters fosters trust
attracting new clients and vendors.
This positive image can
have a substantial impact on the
overall success and growth of
the business.
While it may feel kindhearted
to give people second
chances in business , in the long
run it never really works out in
my experience – the number of
large debts we have seen at Debt
Free where the account is 365
days aged because they were
trying to “give the guy a break”
would make your eyes water.
Now, instead of releasing the
pressure, it is compounded not
only in terms of debt size, but
also in terms of impact to the
relationship; the debtor will be
so embarrassed by their actions,
despite your “being good about
it”, that the chances they will
ever return to your business is
probably best expressed by a
very round number.
Ultimately swift collection
action is a vital component of
maintaining financial stability
and securing the long-term success
of any business venture. A
business carrying the weight of
excessive debt / unpaid invoices
simply cannot be as agile and
sustainable as one that isn’t – it
is that simple.
So, have your credit management
system set up to a best
practice standard, utilise credit
data to make decisions, have an
advisor you can trust and have a
recovery company that you can
refer debts onto without delay.
This will give you the best possible
chance.
Just a thought.
AI and the shifting landscape of NZ recruitment
The recruitment industry
in New Zealand, much
like in other parts of the
world, is constantly evolving
and adapting to new technological
advancements. Over the
past few years, one of the most
transformative technologies
that has emerged is Artificial
Intelligence (AI).
AI has the potential to
challenge and reshape the
recruitment landscape in New
Zealand, presenting both
opportunities and challenges
for employers, job seekers, and
recruitment agencies.
Firstly, I’ll go through some
of the perceived advantages of
utilising AI in your recruitment
processes.
Enhanced candidate
sourcing and screening
AI-powered tools can significantly
improve candidate
sourcing and screening processes.
These tools can quickly
scan through a vast number of
resumes and identify top candidates
based on specific criteria
and qualifications set by
employers. This not only saves
time but can also ensure that
the hiring process is more efficient
and effective.
Reduction of bias
Human bias is a significant
concern in the recruitment
process. Unconscious biases
can influence decision-making
and lead to discriminatory
practices, hindering diversity
and inclusivity. AI, when
designed and trained properly,
has the potential to reduce bias
by making recommendations
based solely on objective criteria
and qualifications.
Personalised job
recommendations
AI-driven algorithms can analyse
a candidate’s skills, experience,
and preferences to offer
personalised job recommendations.
This not only assists
job seekers in finding suitable
opportunities but also helps
employers in reaching the right
candidates for their vacancies
more efficiently.
Streamlining administrative
tasks
Recruitment involves various
administrative tasks, such as
scheduling interviews, sending
follow-up emails, and managing
candidate databases.
AI-powered chatbots and
virtual assistants can handle
these mundane tasks, freeing
up recruiters’ time to focus
on building relationships with
candidates and developing
more strategic recruitment
strategies.
Skills assessment and
training
HUMAN RESOURCES
> BY KELLIE HAMLETT
Talent ID are Recruitment Specialists and can support you through
your recruitment process. Please feel free to talk to us about this by
calling 07 349 1081 or emailing kellie@talentid.co.nz
AI can be utilised to assess
candidates’ skills accurately.
Automated skill assessment
tests can help employers gauge
candidates’ abilities in specific
areas, ensuring a better match
between job requirements and
individual capabilities. Moreover,
AI-powered training platforms
can offer personalised
learning experiences, upskilling
the existing workforce and
ensuring they remain competitive
in an ever-changing job
market.
I’ve outlined some of way
in which AI can assist, so what
are some of the challenges we
may also face with adopting AI
into our businesses.
Data privacy and security
AI relies heavily on data, and
in the recruitment context, this
means handling a vast amount
of sensitive candidate information.
Ensuring data privacy and
security is of utmost importance
to prevent any potential
misuse or breaches that could
harm both candidates and
employers.
Algorithmic bias
While AI has the potential to
reduce human bias, it can also
inherit biases present in the data
used to train it. For instance, if
historical hiring practices were
biased, the AI algorithm could
perpetuate these biases, leading
to unintentional discrimination.
Constant monitoring and
regular audits are necessary to
identify and correct any biased
behaviour in AI systems.
Loss of human touch
Despite the efficiency gains,
some candidates might find the
use of AI in recruitment alienating.
The lack of human interaction
at certain stages of the
process could lead to a sense
of detachment and this could
quite well affect candidate
experience negatively.
Inclusivity and accessibility
AI-powered tools and platforms
might not be accessible
to all candidates, especially
those with limited access to
technology. It is crucial to
strike a balance between technological
advancement and
inclusivity in the recruitment
process.
AI is undeniably transforming
the recruitment industry
in New Zealand. As technology
continues to advance,
it is essential for employers
and recruitment agencies to
embrace AI responsibly and
ethically. By leveraging the
potential benefits of AI while
remaining vigilant about its
challenges, New Zealand’s
recruitment industry can evolve
into a more efficient, inclusive,
and diverse ecosystem that
matches the right talent with
the right opportunities. It is the
careful integration of human
expertise with AI-driven
insights that will pave the way
for a successful and mutually
beneficial future for candidates
and employers alike.

“
I would, without
hesitation,
recommend Fosters.
”
Dr Brandon Adams,
Da Vinci Plastic Surgery Clinic
Plastic and reconstructive surgeons Brandon
Adams and Adam Bialostocki know the
importance of precision and attention to detail.
So, when it came to finding a construction company
to fit out their new Da Vinci Plastic Surgery Clinic,
they put their trust in Fosters.
The business partners had already purchased a
300m² ground-floor space inside Tauranga’s new
Vantage building at 359 Cameron Rd, which Fosters
was building.
“Grace Hospital, a private hospital here in Tauranga,
had a large project undertaken by Fosters recently,”
said Brandon. “Because I do some of my work
at that hospital, I’d seen the quality of work that
was done, and I knew they (Fosters) could deliver
medical facilities to an excellent standard.”
“And they were able to carry out the clinic fit out
concurrently with the building project, which was a
big advantage for us. It meant we could move in six
months earlier.”
The new clinic had to meet specific electrical,
plumbing and air quality standards, while
incorporating sound proofing and ensuring
patient privacy.
Adam said the Fosters team worked closely with
their architect and interior designer to provide
valuable input from the beginning.
“The design was ours but there was discussion
along the way, and we benefitted from Fosters’
building expertise,” he notes.
“Their communication was excellent and so were
their processes. They were also extremely accurate
with their cost estimates.”
Key for Brandon was Fosters’ ability to mitigate
Covid supply chain problems.
“Because they are a large organisation, when
they needed to flex workforce and manpower to
maintain timeframes, they did. This was critically
important for us,” he said.
Brandon adds that he particularly appreciated the
company’s proactive approach to problem solving
and would work with them again “without a doubt”.
“I would, without hesitation, recommend Fosters,”
he said.
Looking for help with a construction project?
Call Fosters on 07 570 6000.
Fosters service offering is structured around the full
cycle of commercial property. Talk to us about:
Development solutions
Commercial construction
Engineering products
Maintenance planning
and delivery expertise
to care for your property
for years to come.
33 Oak Lane, Judea, Tauranga | 07 570 6000

20 BAY OF PLENTY BUSINESS NEWS August 2023
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made
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