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Three new partners appointed to Tompkins Wake legal team in Auckland and Hamilton

Leading law firm Tompkins Wake is pleased to announce the appointment of three new partners: Daniel Erickson, Wayne Hofer and Karina McLuskie. Daniel joins the Auckland office of Tompkins Wake from the firm he helped establish, Douglas Erickson. For Daniel the switch to Tompkins Wake was the right career move at the right time. “In my own firm, I was having to deal with admin and the daily tasks of running a business. What I wanted was freedom to take my skills and practice to the next level. ...

Planning for reconnection

By Heather ClaycombA simple way I sometimes define the field of public relations to those who aren’t quite sure what I do with my time, is that it involves intentional communications and actions to build reputation and relationships. Over the past two years, the pandemic has given many organisations an opportunity to really ‘show their spots’ in these two areas.  Those who have deliberately focused on upping their game in the communications space have maintained and even enhanced thei...

Dairy farmers encouraged to maintain first calvers’ body condition to minimise wastage

Dairy farmers are being encouraged to maintain the body condition of their rising three-year-olds as first-time calvers to help secure their longevity in the herd and maximise profitability. GrainCorp Feeds hosted PGG Wrightson Technical Expert in Ruminant Nutrition Laura Pattie this month on a farmer webinar. She says prioritising rising three-year-olds for a second season is crucial to minimising wastage in terms of empty cows and lost milk production. This begins at calving time and throughou...

Rising fuel prices drive commuters to cost-saving e-bike alternatives

With fuel prices across the country continuing to hit new highs, commuters are looking towards alternative transport methods like e-bikes to keep their monthly bills down, amidst other economic factors such as rising inflation. Whilst the Government announced last week they are cutting 25c a litre off the petrol excise duty and road user charges for three months, the provisional forecast from the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment shows prices tracking on an upward trajectory. This,...

New business manager brings winning combo to the team

Mike Matthews’ energy, commercial experience and rapport with people are a winning combination for driving change and building on the value Perrin Ag delivers its clients. Mike (31) is the firm’s new Business Manager. He joined Perrin Ag after nearly a decade working in supply chain and logistics roles with dairy giant Fonterra and GPS positioning system company, Trimble Navigation. Combine that experience with a Bachelor of Management Studies in PR and supply chain management and he’s wel...

New graduate advisor impresses with self-drive, intentionality and hands-on farming experience

Laura McQuillan-Reese’s self-drive, intentionality and hands-on farming experience rivals most her age. As Perrin Ag’s newest graduate advisor, she is poised to make her mark on New Zealand’s agricultural sector.   Perrin Ag launched its Empower Graduate Advisor Development Programme in September last year, inviting applications from graduates from Massey, Lincoln and Waikato universities. Laura was the obvious choice. Laura (23) grew up on a sheep farm in the small town of Hawar...

Increasing number of Kiwis illegally using train tracks in dangerous photography shoots

TrackSAFE is blowing the whistle this March on an increasing number of Kiwis who are using train tracks as a backdrop for photography, from members of the public, to clothing labels and even musicians. TrackSAFE NZ Foundation Manager Megan Drayton says photography for creative campaigns on train tracks and at level crossings is a growing issue in New Zealand and TrackSAFE is being contacted frequently about people using railway tracks as a backdrop for their photography. “Almost every week we ...

New Zealand’s false housing market faces a reset as borders open

New Zealand is experiencing an artificially suppressed housing market.  As borders reopen, house prices, alongside demand, could reignite as those locked out through MIQ restrictions return looking for somewhere to live, says a Hamilton real estate agent. Lodge Real Estate Managing Director, Jeremy O’Rourke, says New Zealand has been operating in a false market with our borders closed and people hunkered down in a semi-lockdown state as Omicron numbers continue to rise.  He believes ...

Review of Omicron isolation periods may save New Zealand businesses

The shortening of Omicron isolation periods may give some relief to businesses say insolvency experts, but many are still facing permanent closure if they can’t open their doors due to staff isolating. Tompkins Wake insolvency specialist Wayne Hofer says even before Omicron entered New Zealand there was a severe labour shortage economy wide, compounded by New Zealand’s border closures. “Some businesses had already seen their bottom line reduce drastically. If they have no staff, they canno...

Dairy farmers look to quality supplements to combat summer pasture protein deficits

A deficit in pasture protein levels this summer, combined with a good payout, has seen dairy farmer demand for quality, cost-effective protein-rich supplements soar, according to GrainCorp Feeds General Manager Daniel Calcinai. “Protein levels in pasture typically decline during summer months, so supplementing a cow’s diet with a quality protein source can provide significant animal health and economic benefits in terms of lifting milk production and maintaining body condition,” he says. �...

Our top 4 tips for running TikTok ads

TikTok is the fastest growing social media platform in the world. In September 2021, the company announced that it had 1 billion global monthly active users and claims that marketers can reach 824.5 million users aged 18 and above on the platform – even though the app is not available in China and banned in India two of the most populous countries in the world. TikTok used to be the playground of anyone under 20, but the demographic is changing. While Gen Z is 60% of the users, there are growi...

CRV brings world leading sexed genetics technology to New Zealand to help dairy farmers breed better cows faster

CRV has collaborated with Genus IntelliGen® Technologies to bring proven innovative sexed semen technology to New Zealand, giving dairy farmers access to high quality sexed semen to accelerate the genetic gains of their herd. CRV today officially opened its new sexed semen processing facility at its Bellevue production and logistics facility in the Waikato. It is equipped with IntelliGen® Technology, the only commercial laser-ablation¹ semen sexing technology available in key global markets. ...

Students and young professionals shut out of shared flatting because of rental shortage

Students and young professionals are having to consider living alone as many reassess their accommodation because of a lack of suitable three- and four-bedroom rental properties for flatting. Hamilton’s largest property management company, Lodge City Rentals, had just 25 empty homes on their books available for rent in January, and with growing rental housing demand in the city, it was becoming almost impossible to secure a three- or four-bedroom home to flat in. Lodge City Rentals General Man...

Waikato business owners dedicating their profits to passion

Waikato couple Heather and Rod Claycomb are seeing lives changed across the world thanks to their unique family charity that supports social entrepreneurs to start new businesses for the benefit of people in need. The couple are both entrepreneurs themselves who own two successful Hamilton-based businesses, award-winning PR company HMC and dairy biotech company Quantec. They founded All Good Ventures three years ago out of a shared passion to see people from all corners of the globe freed from ...

Omega Capital says inconsistent Government legislation is ‘tying developers’ hands’ – worse housing crisis looms

Government moves to free up housing supply is doing little to help developers who are feeling a credit squeeze leaving them unable to get finance to buy land and build more houses, say mortgage brokers. The General Manager of Waikato based Omega Capital, a commercial broker specialising in sourcing property finance, Noni Martin says Omega is experiencing four times the number of finance enquiries than they usually receive this time last year. “It’s no secret there is a real credit squeeze at...

Number of homes for sale doubles in Hamilton but rental properties are scarce

The number of homes for sale in Hamilton has nearly doubled compared to the same time last year but the number of rental properties available in the city is at an extreme low says real estate agency Lodge. Lodge Real Estate Managing Director, Jeremy O’Rourke, says the number of residential properties currently for sale in Hamilton sat at 780 at the end of January, which was a vast improvement on the 410 available on the market at the same time last year. Lodge City Rentals, Hamilton’s larges...

Are your staff communication channels ready for 2022?

By Heather Claycomb  Two years ago, at the start of the Covid-19 pandemic, organisations were forced by necessity to smarten up their internal communications.    For many in the corporate sector, improved staff communications and relationships was one of the upsides of the pandemic.  For many, staying connected during remote working and building regular wellbeing check-ins into the work-week has reaped benefits in terms of staff loyalty and enhanced team dynamics.  ...

KCE and local pest management group trap unprecedented number of pests at Lake Kuratau

A new trapline near Lake Kuratau set up by King Country Energy (KCE) and the Omori Kuratau Pest Management Group (OKPMG) has captured an unprecedented number of pests in just three months. The new trapline is intended to capture possums, stoats, rats and mice that both compete with native wildlife for food and habitat and prey on them. It runs through a forestry block around the southern part of Lake Kuratau, above the Kuratau Power Station owned by KCE. “Usually a new trapline takes about a m...

Payout news will help farmers tackle the summer dry

This week’s record forecast payout announcement by Fonterra is good news for dairy farmers as they tackle the effects of the summer dry, says Perrin Ag senior consultant Daniel Payton. The co-operative has lifted its 2021-22 forecast farmgate milk price range to $8.90 - $9.50/kgMS, up from $8.40 - $9.00 per kgMS. “As temperatures soar across the country, pasture is scarce and many farmers are priority feeding their milking herd by culling cows. “Many dairy farmers are also reviewing their...

Employers concerned about Covid infection risks, sick leave and business continuity as people return to work

As people return to work after the summer holidays, concerns are surfacing from employers about how to minimise Covid infection risk, manage sick leave and ensure business continuity in the event of a local outbreak. A month on from the introduction of the Government’s Covid-19 Protection Framework, Tompkins Wake Senior Associate Karina McLuskie says employers’ focus is shifting from vaccination conversations to working through a myriad of ‘what ifs’ as employers prepare for the impact C...

Father and son venture makes cycling accessible for more Hawke’s Bay locals as e-bike demand triples

A new venture run by a Hawke’s Bay father and son is making cycling accessible for more locals, with estimated demand for e-bikes in the region tripling over the last three years. Respected local cycling enthusiast, Dave McGregor, is the owner of New Zealand’s newest Electrify NZ e-bike franchise in Taradale, working with his son Alex. Born and bred in the Bay, Dave has been in the cycling industry for more than 25 years, with 18 of those as sales manager for another bike shop in Taradale se...

Lodge Real Estate says sanity is returning to Hamilton housing market

Real estate agents say some sanity is returning to the Hamilton housing market as they tackle conversations with vendors about their price expectations and buyers face having bank preapprovals removed. For some, however, November prices may have still felt insane. The Real Estate Institute of NZ reported that Hamilton’s median house price broke another record in November, moving to $881,000 from just $829,000 in October.  This compares to Hamilton’s median of $693,000 in November 2020.&...

NZ’s largest Isuzu dealer invests $34M in new Auckland and Whangarei facilities

CAL Isuzu, New Zealand’s largest independent Isuzu dealership, announced today it will build a new $22M dealership and workshop in East Tamaki and a new $12M dealership and workshop in Whangarei.  Tenders for construction open soon with construction set to begin in mid-2022 with hopes both new facilities will be fully operational in early 2023.  The Whangarei operation will also grow its team numbers from three to around 12 once the facility is completed. While many companies tighten...

Plan next season’s recruitment now to avoid unnecessary headaches

Dairy farmers taking on new sharemilkers or contract milkers next season should be planning recruitment now, as the industry continues to face staff shortages with competition high among employers.Perrin Ag senior consultant Mark Williams says in his experience many dairy farmers don’t plan their recruitment well and end up rushing the process. That can spell trouble down the track. “If you know you will be recruiting for the 2022/23 season, you should be spending time now getting your ...

When good news is just not news

It’s exciting when your team wins awards or appoints new people. Sharing the news internally is a great way to boost your team’s morale and instil pride. But if we’re brutally honest, most of the time, no one else really cares! So how do we make them care? How do we engage clients, customers, key stakeholders and potentially, media? Kate offers some tips : Link your news to an industry trend or topical issue – why have you appointed a new person? Do you need the extra resource to cater f...