Back to Blog

Lending gap between mainstream and non-bank lenders closing as interest rates rise

Commercial property developers should shop around for finance as Reserve Bank interest rate hikes mean the cost of lending from a non-bank lender becomes a more favourable option. Omega Capital General Manager Noni Martin says the gap between the average cost of lending by mainstream lenders versus non-bank lenders has narrowed considerably over the past two months. “When you look at the pace that the mainstream banks have tightened their lending conditions and increased their interest rates, ...

Grain shortages and shipping uncertainties highlight the importance of planning ahead

With calving underway, dairy farmers are being urged to plan ahead, as feed availability is affected by global shortages along with slow and intermittent international shipping. “We are continuing to see the impact of a grain shortage, especially relating to starch-based feeds for this season,” says GrainCorp Feeds General Manager Daniel Calcinai. “There may be a few options available in some areas, but generally starch is short until next years’ harvest.” Starch is an important s...

Mortgage investment opportunities for wholesale investors shift to the regions

As property development projects in the urban centres slow dramatically, Director of Alpha First Mortgage Investments Scott Massey says this has created new lending opportunities in the regions. “Alpha First’s total mortgage investment portfolio has shifted to encompass more regional property development lending recently in response to an increasingly unstable property market. “For instance, a year ago, our portfolio included around 50% property secured lending in Auckland and 50% in the r...

Hamilton real estate market repricing itself, offering bargains for buyers

The Hamilton real estate market is going through a repricing, one agency recording the lowest sales volume for July since 2004 and vendors choosing to lower their listing prices as the market continues to weaken. Lodge Real Estate Director, Jeremy O’Rourke, says vendors should be pricing their homes tight to meet the market and ensuring they do their homework on what similar properties are selling for in their area. “The market is being repriced.  Agents are telling vendors the cold har...

Cannasouth research shows cannabinoids could provide relief for thousands of New Zealanders from debilitating neuropathic pain

A three-year neuropathic pain (pre-clinical) study by Cannasouth has confirmed that cannabinoids from medicinal cannabis could be effective at reducing debilitating neuropathic pain, which affects about 400,000 New Zealanders or 8 per cent of the country’s population. The study to understand the potential of cannabis as an alternative therapeutic to treat neuropathic pain is the first of its kind in New Zealand. It is part of Cannasouth’s science-led programme of commercially focused re...

Altus on track to have the most state-of-the-art facility for Aluminium Extrusion in NZ

Aluminium extrusion specialist Altus is on track to have the most state-of-the-art facilities for extrusion and powder coating in New Zealand. They’re rapidly expanding their Hamilton site with a new 6,500 m2 plant to accommodate the installation of another extrusion press line by the end of 2022. Altus National Operations Manager Mark Kennedy says, “the expansion is in direct response to the increasing demand for Altus products, which are sold to both Window and Door Joinery Franchisees and...

$50,000 grant will help more Rotorua kids fuel their passion for robotics and engineering

Tompkins Wake is continuing its support of Te Aka Mauri, Rotorua Library and Children’s Health Hub, with a $50,000 grant over the next three years. In 2019, senior leaders at Tompkins Wake were presented with an opportunity: to sponsor Te Aka Mauri in its quest to bring Rotorua’s young people into the world of technology and robotic engineering. The proposed work was grassroots in nature and creative in its intended output. CEO Jon Calder recalls the sponsorship decision. “We were impresse...

Keeping predators out to protect the endangered Brown Kiwi

In New Zealand and around the world, Gallagher fencing is mostly used to keep big animals in. But in a small scenic reserve situated in the Central North Island, a team of conservation volunteers is using Gallagher’s technology to protect a wild population of endangered North Island Brown Kiwi chicks. In 2002, it was estimated that a remnant population of 200 Eastern Brown Kiwi remained in the Kaweka Ranges. Chick mortality due to predation by stoats, ferrets and dogs was so high, only one out...

Getting the right feed to farmers at the right time – new ops manager finds his niche

Keith Arnold is national operations manager at GrainCorp Feeds. It’s his job to coordinate the importing and distribution of a range of supplementary feed to New Zealand dairy farmers. Even in an ideal world, that’s a lot of orchestration. There are multiple shipping lines bringing in GrainCorp Feeds’ products from around the globe. Upon arrival, these products must then be transported to liquid and dry storage facilities dotted around New Zealand, strategically located to service each dai...

Herd testing can help boost dairy farmers’ production by up to 160kgMS

Some dairy farmers could be missing out on up to 160kgMS of production because they are not herd testing. While the number of cows being herd tested jumped by 1.2 per cent last season¹, many farmers may still not realise its value. CRV Herd Testing Manager Mark Redgate wants to change that. For some dairy farmers, herd testing can be another job to add to the list. They may not see the upsides. More specifically, they may not see how the expense of herd testing could make them enough money to j...

Real estate agent’s message to home buyers - don’t wait for the market to change

A Hamilton real estate agent says property owners are being realistic and listing their homes with asking prices close to market value, rather than holding out for huge gains as the New Zealand housing market continues to cool. Lodge Real Estate Managing Director, Jeremy O’Rourke, says this winter has been one of the quietest on record with less interest from buyers and less listings, but those who were choosing to sell were setting their prices very close to their property’s market value, l...

Cannasouth signs three-year supplier agreement with German-based WEECO Pharma

Cannasouth has today signed a supplier agreement with WEECO Pharma GMBH based in Germany for the supply of cannabis flower from New Zealand into Europe. The total value of the agreement could be worth between NZ$12 million and NZ$15 million over years two and three. WEECO is one of the leading importers of medicinal cannabis in Germany. Under individual cultivar supply agreements to be negotiated, cannabis flower will be supplied to WEECO from Cannasouth’s world-class cannabis cultivation and ...

Buoyant Hamilton rental market bucks nationwide oversupply trend

Hamilton’s rental property market continues to be strong, despite evidence of the rental oversupply reported in other major New Zealand cities, says the general manager of Hamilton’s largest property management company. Jason Waugh says Lodge City Rentals had just 48 empty homes on its books available for rent in June. “With demand growing for rental housing in the city, it’s still challenging for potential tenants to secure a two or three bedroom property. “While our June statistics ...

Three Waters reform just part of re-shaping service delivery to communities in NZ

Linda O’Reilly, Special Counsel, Tompkins Wake (Auckland) Regional New Zealand has whipped itself into a frenzy over the Government’s Three Waters reform, but massive changes are afoot that will reshape how nearly every other key service is delivered to New Zealand communities. As billboards went up across the New Zealand countryside, the Government pushed on with introducing the new Water Services Entity Bill in June. The Bill is the first in a suite of legislation that will enact three wat...

Business benchmarking the key to tackling climatic and market extremes

As farmers ride out extreme climatic and market conditions, benchmarking their businesses against others in their sector has become crucial for setting goals and understanding how they’re performing. That was the message from Perrin Ag senior consultant John Stantiall at the recent New Zealand Veterinary Association Conference. John is encouraging farmers to benchmark their businesses against similar operations to identify where they can improve and how they can continue to perform in increas...

Why you should upgrade to the new version of Google Analytics ASAP

After 10 years in service, Google’s Universal Analytics (UA) is being replaced by Google Analytics 4 (GA 4), starting July 1 2023. Don’t be fooled by thinking that this is your standard simple upgrade from version 3 to version 4; GA 4 is an entirely new system that will require setting up from scratch and the  creation of new reports to replace what you’re currently using in Universal Analytics. The main difference between GA4 and Universal Analytics lies in their measurement models....

Tompkins Wake gifts $250,000 to the Waikato Regional Theatre as the firm celebrates 100 years

Tompkins Wake is gifting $250,000 to support the development of the Waikato Regional Theatre to help boost the region’s economy and create a space where culture and communities can thrive. The announcement comes as the law firm celebrates its 100th birthday this month and recognises the importance of its Waikato heritage.    Chief Executive Jon Calder says the Waikato Regional Theatre will be a world-class facility and a valuable community asset. “The Theatre is one of several proj...

Selling a home requires a new approach in the current ‘cool’ market

The city of Hamilton currently has around five months of housing stock listed for sale on the market.  This compares to around five weeks of stock just one year ago. Lodge Real Estate Managing Director Jeremy O’Rourke says the slow market means vendors must change their sales approach.  He says there are three things vendors must get right to minimise the number of days to sell. “There are three considerations vendors need to understand about what it takes to sell a property in a m...

Increasing numbers of property developers turn to Alpha First to access non-bank finance

Mortgage investment firm, Alpha First, says demand from borrowers for funds has grown 20% in the past six months on the back of a growing need for property developers to access non-bank financing. With $150M of investor funds and 60 loans in its portfolio, Director Scott Massey says the firm is on track to double its loan book within the next 24 months. “Alpha First works with our other company Omega Capital, which primarily is a brokerage, financing property developers operating across New Z...

Genetics can help dairy farmers take steps this season to reduce their emissions

Genetics can help dairy farmers take steps this season to reduce their emissions while they wait for further new tools and technologies to be developed, says CRV managing director James Smallwood. “Dairy farmers in New Zealand want to breed cows that are more productive, last longer in the herd and convert feed more efficiently into milk solids. “And as they achieve these results, herds will naturally have a lower environment impact. Breeding for lifetime production also means farmers requi...

Matt Chisholm partners with Rural Support Trust on a nationwide mental resilience tour

TV presenter turned sheep and beef farmer, Matt Chisholm, has signed on as the inaugural Ambassador for Rural Support Trust.  He kicks off his ambassadorship role with a nationwide tour talking to rural communities on the topic of mental wellness and resilience. Chisholm has shared openly about his mental health struggles.  Through the tour, he will talk about his personal experiences and how he found a way through. Chisholm will visit rural halls on the Rural Support Trust’s Time Ou...

Barfoot & Thompson takes equity stake in Hamilton-based Lodge Real Estate

Lodge Real Estate announced today that Barfoot & Thompson has taken a 50% shareholding in the company, effective from 30 June 2022.  The Auckland-based real estate agency bought the full shareholding off David Couch.  Managing director Jeremy O’Rourke remains a 50% shareholder. “After 52 years with Lodge, David Couch has decided it is time to retire fully and sell down his fifty percent holding in the company. While we are sad to see David step down, it is also an exciting time for...

Ag career gives new territory manager sense of purpose

Kaitlin Bates’ love of the land goes back to childhood. Graincorp Feeds’new Territory Manager for Northwest Waikato grew up on a farm in Tokoroa and surprised no one when she majored in biological science at Massey University. In spite of what seems a predictable path to a career in agriculture, Kaitlin recalls a time when she thought about becoming a teacher. “What I wanted in a job was a sense of purpose, something that got me out bed in the morning to go make a difference. For a short s...

New Zealand surrogacy law needs a total revamp says legal expert

One of New Zealand’s leading surrogacy law experts says New Zealand’s surrogacy law needs a total revamp. The Law Commission is set to publish a review on New Zealand’s surrogacy law shortly and Tompkins Wake Partner, Zandra Wackenier, who sat on a working group submitting to the review, says it’s time for New Zealand to move on from the inadequate legislation currently being used. “Most other countries in the world have a totally separate piece of legislation but New Zealand has laws ...

Transitioning feeding crucial as recent rain heightens milk fever risk for dairy farmers

With many dairy farmers now experiencing a pasture flush following recent rain, a well-planned Transition feeding regime is even more crucial to minimise the increased risk of milk fever. As dairy farmers countdown to calving, Transition feeding can help minimise the costs of milk fever on animal health and farmers’ bottom lines. This was a key message of Nutritech’s Ruminant and Forage Technical Services Manager Nadine Olsen on a recent GrainCorp Feeds webinar. The webinar is part ofGrain...