Back to Blog

CLIENT NEWS - Dutch pool player Marco Teutscher one to watch in New Zealand

Dutch native Marco Teutscher has already proven himself as one to watch on the global pool scene, and now the world-ranked number 61 is playing with a silver fern on his sleeve. The 27 year-old made a splash at the US Open 9 Ball championships in Las Vegas last month when he defeated tournament favourite, 2018 Mocconi Cup MVP Skyler Woodward, finishing the competition 17th overall out of 256 players. And while he plays at global tournaments under the flag of the Netherlands, he’s become an ado...

CLIENT NEWS - Waikato medicinal cannabis company launches public share offer

Medicinal cannabis research and development company, Cannasouth Limited, has lodged a Product Disclosure Statement (PDS) for an initial public offering (IPO) of new shares to raise up to $10 million. Cannasouth is the first New Zealand medicinal cannabis company to use a regulated offer to raise new capital. The offer opens on Monday May 27 and is expected to close on Friday June 14. Following completion of the offer, Cannasouth will list its shares on the NZX Main Board and in doing so, will be...

CLIENT NEWS - Suppliers needed to meet global demand in booming sheep milk industry

On the back of significant growth during the 2018/2019 financial year, sheep milk producer Spring Sheep Milk Co says the timing has never been better for farmers looking to get involved in the industry. Spring Sheep business manager Thomas Macdonald says international demand for New Zealand sheep milk products is strong, and he’s noticed more farmers making inquiries about converting their dairy farms to sheep milk. “Heading into our fifth dairy season we are noticing a lot more intere...

CLIENT NEWS - Hamilton’s Knowledge Sector Strengthens Housing Market

Lodge Real Estate Managing Director Jeremy O’Rourke sums up Hamilton’s strong housing market with one statement, “Hamilton just keeps on going.” He says, “In January Hamilton experienced a record median house price and March wasn’t far behind.  Historically April sales normally pull back a bit, but not this April.  Sales are still strong and prices are buoyant. “Now, with the lower OCR and bank interest rates following suit, we are seeing increased interest from homeowner...

Techweek Waikato 2019 - CLIENT NEWS

Organisers of Techweek Waikato 19 are encouraging Waikato’s towns and communities to head to a local event to see the technology talent on offer in their own backyard, as the week-long tech showcase gets set to kick off later this month. Running 20-26 May, Techweek Waikato 19 regional coordinator Jannat Maqbool says they’re taking technology on the road in an effort to engage Waikato’s smaller towns and communities with the innovative technology and talent being developed on our doorstep. ...

CLIENT NEWS - Creative Waikato Searching for New CEO

Creative Waikato today announced it will embark on a search for a new CEO.Headquartered in Hamilton, Creative Waikato was established in 2012 and works to build capability within the region’s creative sector. It provides support to artists, connects organisations to encourage collaboration, promotes Waikato’s creative sector and is an advocate for the arts community.The news of a CEO search follows the resignation of inaugural CEO, Sarah Nathan, whose last day with the organisation will be 5...

CLIENT NEWS: Unique pasture spray may hold the key to reducing on-farm environmental impacts while increasing production

The technology behind a product successfully used to improve kiwifruit health and productivity for the past ten years is now available to help pastoral farmers mitigate environmental impacts on-farm while increasing pasture yield and milk and meat production. Biozest is a pasture spray that has been scientifically proven in research trials to improve the productivity, resilience and quality of pasture. Paddock and farm-scale trials over the past decade have shown Biozest-treated pasture can incr...

HMC NEWS: Celebrate Milestones With PR Pizzazz

This year and last were big years of celebration for Waikato organisations.  Have you noticed how many commemorated major anniversaries over the past 18 months?  Last year National Fieldays was 50 and Gallagher Group turned 80.  And this year McCaw Lewis turns 100 while CRV Ambreed and Lodge Real Estate both turn 50.  A few not-for-profits are also celebrating with Habitat for Humanity Central North Island turning 25 this year and Balloons Over Waikato surpassing their 20th....

HMC NEWS: Something's new around here

After 15 years, we thought it was about time we freshened up the HMC brand. You’ll notice we’ve changed our logo and we’ve also changed our name and website. This isn’t a change for the sake of change. Our team has thought long and hard about the transformation and there are five key reasons behind the new look: The solutions HMC offers go beyond one word. Don’t worry – sparking change through clever communications is still at our heart. But as...

CLIENT NEWS: Waikato biotech company earns Supreme and Innovation awards at industry event

Hamilton dairy biotech company Quantec was recognised for its innovation at the annual Natural Health Products NZ awards held in Hamilton on Wednesday 27 March.  The company took out the Supreme Award, which it also received at the industry’s 2018 awards event. Quantec was also awarded the Cawthron Institute Innovation Award. The Natural Health Products NZ awards recognise the success of New Zealand companies developing, manufacturing and exporting natural products, functional foods, comp...

CLIENT NEWS: CRV Ambreed launches new gene mapping service

DNA parentage testing has become more accessible to dairy farmers with the launch of CRV Ambreed’s revitalised DNA parentage testing service this month. The Gene Mapping service uses progressive technology to identify the ancestry of individual stock. DNA samples are collected by taking a small piece of tissue from the animal’s ear. Allflex tissue sampling ear tags are either applied to calves at birth, or as buttons on mature animals.  Tissue samples are then sent to CRV’s approved ...

PR TIPS: Tips for giving the speech of your life

This month my team is helping a client put together a ‘make or break’ presentation that will see him either get one of the biggest contracts of his life or send him packing to regroup and start again.  No pressure, aye? So, while we’re in the thick of it, I thought I would share a few tips on giving an incredible presentation.  Follow these six rules and you’ll increase your chances of success exponentially. Do your researchYour talk needs to relate to the sphere in which your...

CLIENT NEWS: First home buyers fire up February home sales in Hamilton

Lodge Real Estate Managing Director Jeremy O’Rourke says first home buyers are fuelling a fire at the lower end of the Hamilton housing market, sparking a surge in February sales. “First home buyers are extremely active in the city. Three-bedroom properties sitting around the $550,000 mark are often in a multi-offer situation.  “There is a lot of stock on the market right now and first home buyers are keen to grab quality properties that set them in good stead as they start their hom...

CLIENT NEWS: Melody Dairies breaks ground on $50M spray dryer to meet sheep milk export demand

Melody Dairies began construction of its new spray dryer on the campus of the Waikato Innovation Park this month. The new $50 million industrial spray dryer will sit alongside the existing Food Waikato dryer and will have 2.4 times its capacity at 1.2 tonnes of powder per hour. The dryer will be operational by February 2020 and will grow employment at the plant from 17 to 35 staff. Burgeoning global demand for sheep milk products is the impetus behind the new project.  Melody Dairies’ fo...

CLIENT NEWS: New book shares horror of domestic violence - and hope for the future

The hotline rings at 3am on Sunday. A woman is crying. “I need help,” is all she says before the line goes dead. It rings again. In the background there are sounds of fists pummelling flesh, an angry voice and screams. “Who are you calling bitch?” “Where are you?” I ask. It’s the most important question. An address means we have somewhere to go, or somewhere to direct the cops. The next question is, “Are you safe?” “No”, she says, and the phone goes dead again. On the thir...

CLIENT NEWS: Innovation, entrepreneurship allow CRV Ambreed to achieve 50-year milestone

CRV Ambreed turns fifty this year. Over the past five decades the company has consistently helped farmers achieve herds that are easy to work with and profitable, ensuring a better life for farmers, their herds and New Zealand’s economy.  Managing director Angus Haslett says the key to the company’s long-term success has been its culture of innovation and entrepreneurship. “When our founders started the company in 1969, their main goal was to provide New Zealand dairy farmers with an...

CLIENT NEWS: January home sales slow in Hamilton – blame the baddies

The risk of money laundering and terrorism crime has prompted many changes around the world.  But who would have thought that, in a roundabout way, it would affect house sales in Hamilton? Lodge Real Estate Managing Director, Jeremy O’Rourke, says that’s exactly what happened last month. “From January first, all New Zealand agents began complying with the AML - the Anti-Money Laundering and Countering Financing of Terrorism Act. “The additional paperwork now required has slightly le...

CLIENT NEWS: Waikato company Cannasouth secures new licenses to import, cultivate and research medicinal cannabis

The Ministry of Health (MOH) has granted new licenses to allow Waikato medicinal cannabis company Cannasouth to import and cultivate a wide range of cannabis cultivars for research purposes.  These licenses are in addition to Cannasouth’s other MOH-approved license to possess controlled drugs, which allows the company to extract, process, and manufacture cannabis products for scientific research. One of the new licenses allows Cannasouth to import an approved pharmaceutical ingredient (AP...

HMC NEWS: What’s the rise of populism have to do with you?

Populism. It’s a term most often used in political circles and basically refers to policies and rhetoric which appeal to the “ordinary person.”  Populism is often named as the main reason why Trump got elected and the Brexit vote went through. But, as a business owner or manager in little ole’ New Zealand, you might be lulled into a false sense of security thinking, “That’s got nothing to do with me.” I beg to differ and believe there are four lessons all of us can learn from...

HMC NEWS: Can you really say 'yes' to everything at this time of year?

How many emails have you opened in recent weeks from companies telling you they've donated to charity for the holidays? Corporate charitable giving at Christmas is now the norm rather than the exception, and us Kiwis are a pretty generous bunch.But can you really say 'yes' to everything at this time of year?  Read Heather Claycomb's article in The Spinoff which offers some advice for small businesses wanting make the most impact out of their charitable giving....

HMC NEWS: Christmas Communications Checklist

Christmas is coming and for many of us that means a long summer break is on the horizon. But before you turn out the lights and head off, take a few moments to ensure you’ve got your communications sorted. Here’s a list of five communications actions to tick off your list before your break. Distribute good newsWith a dearth of business news coming out over the Christmas and New Year break, journalists are often looking for good news stories to fill space.  This creates an opportunity to...

CLIENT NEWS: KCE backs Waikato Westpac Rescue Helicopter’s life-saving work

Waikato Westpac Rescue Helicopter will receive ongoing support from energy generator King Country Energy (KCE) with a $20,000 sponsorship in 2019. KCE general manager Chris Fincham says the sponsorship is a way of saying thank you to the 24/7 life-saving service. “Due to the geography of the region, and the isolation of some farms and roads, the quick response of the chopper crew makes a real difference to people who have been injured or hurt,” he says. In 2018 alone, the Waikato Helicopter...

CLIENT NEWS: Early $12,000 Christmas present for King Country communities

Nine community initiatives across the King Country including four in the Taupo-Turangi region will receive an early Christmas present thanks to the latest Heartland Community Funding round. More than $12,000 will be distributed to local community organisations in recognition of their commitment to enhance the King Country. One of the recipients, the Turangi Foodbank, will be putting the funding towards food parcel items that have not been donated by the community. Toiletries, meat, milk and soa...

CLIENT NEWS: Hamilton house prices have found their mark

The Real Estate Institute of New Zealand released their monthly residential property data today, showing Hamilton’s median house price dipped 2.3% between October and November and now sits at $555,000.  Lodge Real Estate Managing Director, Jeremy O’Rourke, says, “Hamilton house prices have normalised and found their mark.  “And we believe Hamilton residents looking to buy or sell at the start of the new year can expect the market will remain steady well into 2019. Buyers can e...

CLIENT NEWS: Top tips for feeding cows this summer

Generating and adhering to a daily feeding plan could be the key to getting cows through an expected hot summer. That’s the message from GrainCorp Feeds technical support manager Ken Winter who says effective nutrition management can be easy and rewarding if dairy farmers focus on a daily plan. Winter says a focus on nutrition for cows is essential in summer, and a lack of preparation in previous months can impact on the summer period. “In summer, we find in many cases that the main barriers...