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Black Caps visit Hamilton holiday programme to meet Buddies

Black Caps' Tom Latham and Kane Williamson visited the Artmakers Holiday Programme in Hamilton yesterday to pick up their Buddies in the lead up to national awareness event Buddy Day on 13 November. Buddy Day, established in Hamilton in November 2011 by national child advocacy agency Child Matters, aims to start conversations and drive change about the role adults play in the lives of children – from preventing child abuse to providing great environments for children to flourish. In its fi...

New ATC CEO: “there’s no one size fits all”

New ATC CEO, Chris Hubbard, is stepping into his role with a promise to move away from a "one-size-fits all" approach to education. Hubbard was appointed at ATC last month and replaces founding CEO Trevor Wilson as head of the educational institution - one of New Zealand's largest Private Training Establishments (PTE's). ATC's four divisions are Vision College, TrainMe, Instant, and Leadership Development New Zealand. It has campuses in Hamilton, Christchurch Auckland and Pukekohe. And wit...

NZ gluten-free boom prompts new testing service

New Zealand's largest privately owned testing laboratory, Hill Laboratories, has announced it is offering a gluten testing service with the fastest turnaround-time in the Country. The company has introduced the service in response to the rapid increase in consumer demand for gluten free products, which according to Coeliac New Zealand Incorporated, is increasing in NZ by an estimated 26% annually-1. Technologist, Sam Marengo, said Hill Laboratories developed the test to ensure those purchasi...

Businesses shifting Health and Safety management systems online

Businesses shifting Health and Safety management systems online Waikato human resources consultancy, Everest Group, said a trend is emerging with many businesses switching from paper-based Health and Safety management systems to online tools. Karen Wells, who started with the Everest Group last month, said "We're seeing more and more businesses who are extremely concerned with ensuring their systems are compliant with the Health and Safety Reform Bill, which was passed by parliament last week...

eCoast scientists working to reduce tsunami risk in New Zealand

Raglan, New Zealand – Efforts in tsunami hazard mitigation by Raglan-based eCoast Marine Consulting and Research are in-line with recommendations found in a recent report produced by the New Zealand Earthquake Commission. Key findings from the EQC-commissioned report 'Tsunami risk facing New Zealand' released earlier this month include the need to complete evacuation planning, improve early warning and communication systems and provide better information for decision–makers during tsunami ...

Shifting the Kiwi ‘can-do attitude’ to ‘can-do safely’

Dairy Women's Network is shifting its members' Kiwi can-do attitude to a 'can-do safely' attitude with its new Dairy Modules titled 'Step up to Safety' being offered from late October. The Step up to Safety workshops are run by DWN members who are experienced in the field of Health and Safety and are supported by expert organisations Worksafe NZ and Hazardco. "The most important thing participants will get out of these free workshops is a 90-day Health and Safety action plan. They will lea...

Buddy Day used as tool to fulfil community transformation plan

In year five of running community engagement event Buddy Day, organisers are excited to announce Buddy Day is back on 13 November 2015 – now in five North Island locations. Local iwi Ngāti Rangi will host Buddy Day in the Central Plateau towns of Ohākune, Raetihi and Waiouru this year – further widening the spread of the national event's messages and learnings. Ngāti Rangi pou arahi (chief executive) Andy Gowland-Douglas was quick to sign Ngāti Rangi Trust up to locally host Buddy Da...

eCoast wins major research grant to study New Zealand surf breaks

Raglan-based eCoast Marine Consulting and Research has been awarded a major research grant to study New Zealand's famous surf breaks. As part of a consortium led by the University of Waikato, funding was awarded from New Zealand's Ministry of Business Innovation and Employment as part of its 2015 Science Investment programme. The three-year project entitled 'Remote Sensing, Classification and Management Guidelines for Surf Breaks of National and Regional Significance' will gather baseline d...

Free service boosts feed efficiency for dairy farmers

In a bid to help dairy farmers in tight times, GrainCorp Feeds has announced that 150 clients nationwide will receive free access to a feed forecasting, tracking and monitoring service. GrainCorp Feeds is working with technical specialists DairyClub to provide additional on-farm assessment, monitoring and technical support alongside Tracker™, an online tool which measures current milk production and shows how the farmer can use supplementary feed to achieve maximum return. GrainCorp Feeds...

Two new partners sign with DWN

Dairy Women's Network is thrilled to welcome two new partners aboard to assist the Network in offering education and support to dairy farming women. Farming cooperative LIC and ruminant feed manufacturer SealesWinslow have both recently signed on as partners to DWN, a not-for-profit organisation that works to support women in the business of dairying. DWN chief executive Zelda de Villiers said the Network is extremely appreciative of the support provided by commercial partners to DWN, its m...

New business growth advisor joins Waikato Innovation Park team

Waikato Innovation Park's new business growth advisor Craig Purcell brings to the role a Waikato regional flavour, years of small business consulting experience and a passion for working with innovative and resilient people. Sitting within the Park's Business Growth Services team, Mr Purcell started in the role earlier this month, and says the businesses he will assist will vary greatly by size and industry. "Variety is one of the things l love about this field of work," he said. "It's the ...

NZ aviation company, Pacific Aerospace, gets huge profile boost in China

Hamilton, New Zealand - One hundred million Chinese are about to learn a whole lot more about New Zealand's own Pacific Aerospace and its flagship aircraft, the P-750 XSTOL. Six high-profile Chinese celebrities – two actors, a singer, a fashion model, television host and businessman –filmed two episodes of 'The Flying Man' in New Zealand this week. This popular aviation-focused reality TV show will air to 100 million Chinese viewers across 34 provinces and municipalities in late September...

Evita rehearsals underway in Hamilton

Cast from across the Waikato region have officially begun rehearsals for Evita; the next hit musical heading to Hamilton. The Hamilton Operatic Society's rendition of Evita (2006 London cast edition) will premiere at Clarence Street Theatre on Saturday 19 September and run for two weeks. The show stars approximately 40 cast and dancers from Hamilton and small surrounding towns. The lead role, Eva Peron, is played by Rebecca Wright from Auckland. Hamilton Operatic Society chairperson Rache...

Lodge City Rentals safeguards against potential ‘cowboy’ insulation installers

Hamilton, New Zealand – Lodge City Rentals general manager David Kneebone said the Government's new legislation that will see all rental properties fully insulated by July 2019, will undoubtedly bring out "cowboys" looking to make a quick buck through installation contacts. "If we take the same approach as Australia did when it introduced the Home Insulation Program in February 2009, contractors could be injuring and even killing themselves to quickly install insulation and keep up with dema...

First NZ Idol teaching teens in Waikato

Any New Zealander with access to television in 2004 will, without a doubt, remember Ben Lummis: New Zealand's first-ever 'NZ Idol.' Following his rapid rise to musical fame nearly a decade ago, Ben spent four years touring the world with his music before settling in Auckland to pursue a rather different, but equally heartfelt passion. For the past seven years Ben has given his all to youth social work at Auckland's Horizons Trust; a role he affectionately describes as "helping wayward teena...

Auckland ‘wealth effect’ hits Hamilton; first-home buyers get a hiding

Hamilton, New Zealand – Lodge Real Estate's managing director, Jeremy O'Rourke, said Hamilton is seeing greater numbers of Auckland investors jumping into the city's property market. "With house prices at an all-time-high in Auckland, owners have a larger asset base to borrow against. We're seeing them take advantage of this new-found wealth and using borrowed funds to get into property investments here in Hamilton. "On one hand, this 'Auckland Wealth Effect' is beneficial for local se...

Heartland grant completes Thermal Imaging Camera upgrade

The Turangi Volunteer Fire Brigade's Thermal Imaging Camera (TIC) is now completely upgraded thanks to a grant from KCE's Heartland Community Fund. For more than a year the Turangi Volunteer Fire Brigade has owned a TIC; a type of thermographic camera used in firefighting to pick-up on heat signals. However, chief fire officer (CFO) Tong Kingi said that to operate to its full potential, the TIC required a number of minor upgrades; including an attachment known as an Electronic Thermal Thro...

Lady Judi Gallagher named Patron of Waikato Women’s Refuge

Waikato Women's Refuge today announced Lady Judi Gallagher has become the organisation's inaugural Patron. Waikato Women's Refuge is a union of both the Te Whakaruruhau Maori Women's Refuge and Hamilton Refuge and Support Services. It operates safe houses and domestic violence support services for women of all ethnic backgrounds who come from throughout the Waikato to receive help in Hamilton city. The refuge currently supports 54 women and children in six safe houses. Lady Judi Gallagher, w...

CRV develops new herd testing device

Herd improvement company CRV Ambreed has developed a new, industry-leading herd testing device to create better efficiencies for New Zealand dairy farmers. Patsy Booth, herd testing manager at CRV Ambreed, says the new herd testing device will get milk production data to farmers quicker, which is a "great step in the right direction for enhancing and improving CRV Ambreed's herd testing service". CRV Ambreed currently employees 25-30 fully trained herd testing technicians across New Zealand ...

Good news all round for Hamilton renters and investors alike

Hamilton, New Zealand – An increase in the number of property investors purchasing Hamilton homes is increasing the number of rental properties available in the city, according to Lodge City Rentals business development manager David Kneebone. Kneebone recently presented to the Auckland Property Investors Association on the merits of investing in Hamilton. He says there is huge interest from Hamilton's northern neighbours and tells of one Auckland investor who recently purchased 15 proper...

New Farmax accreditation on offer for all

Pastoral science company Farmax is giving rural professionals a chance to become accredited in the Farmax system with its new accreditation process that was recently launched at the company's biennial conference. The accreditation is offered free of charge to anyone interested in completing it. "We often get people contacting us for recommendations on who the best people are to carry out projects using Farmax, and we will be recommending those who are 'elite' accredited," said Farmax senior ...

Young Mamma Mia leads geared to give star performance

Hamilton-locals Gwen Lyon (20) and Conor Gyde (19) are, by their very nature, geared to give a star performance at the opening of hit Broadway musical Mamma Mia in Hamilton later this month. Gwen and Conor have been cast as young leads, Sophie and Sky, in the Hamilton Operatic Society's rendition of Mamma Mia, set to play at Founders Theatre from Friday 19 June to Saturday 4 July. And if there's one thing the dynamic-duo have in common, it's their innate desire to perform: not only on-stage,...

FoodWaikato plant expansion to inject $38.5m into NZ economy

Economic Development Minister Steven Joyce today opened the $5m expansion of Waikato Innovation Park's FoodWaikato plant. The expansion is expected to inject an extra $38.5m per year in export revenue back into the New Zealand economy from the sale of new, value-added consumer products directly produced there. The first stage of the plant, a spray dryer facility, was opened in May 2012 and was funded by Innovation Waikato Ltd. and a Government grant of $3.95m and cost $12.8m to complete. ...

Hamilton man receives national aviation award

Rocky Rua (37), of Maori descent, is one of only ten people nationwide to receive an award at this year's Royal Aeronautical Society (RAeS) Annual Dinner held in Wellington this month (22 May). Mr Rua, a flight safety officer at Hamilton-based flight training organisation CTC Aviation, was the 2015 recipient of the prestigious Michael J Neville/Boeing Airplane Company Award. Chairman of New Zealand Aeronautical Trusts Limited (NZATL), John Mounce, said the award is managed by the NZATL and wa...

Hamilton PR agency wins national award for Buddy Day campaign

Hamilton PR agency HMC Communications took out a top Public Relations Institute of New Zealand (PRINZ) award at the industry organisation's annual conference dinner in Wellington on Thursday night (20 May). HMC Communications was one of nine category winners of the 21 award finalists, winning the Sustained Public Relations category for its work with child advocacy agency Child Matters on the annual child abuse prevention awareness event, Buddy Day. HMC Communications director Heather Claycomb...