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CLIENT NEWS: Intense competition and confidence drive Hamilton’s record median house price

Hamilton’s median house price achieved a record during April 2018 at $562,000, according to Real Estate Institute of NZ statistics released on 11 May. This is up from a $535,000 median in March 2018. Lodge Real Estate’s managing director Jeremy O’Rourke says strong competition from buyers, coupled with high confidence at the upper level of the market are key factors behind the surge. “Only 229 homes were sold in Hamilton during April as compared to 349 in March. However, the volume of ho...

CLIENT NEWS: Invercargill farmer ready for his 50th Fieldays

When Bill Johnston went to the first New Zealand Agricultural Fieldays in 1969 (or the Town and Country Fair as it was then known), he probably wasn’t thinking about the half-century long tradition he was starting. This year marks Fieldays’ 50th year of showcasing agriculture and innovation to rural and urban audiences. It’s also a special year for Bill, because 2018 will mark his 50th Fieldays. The Invercargill farmer hasn’t missed one since it started. Fifty years ago Bill travelled fr...

CLIENT NEWS: New free app means it is easier and quicker to navigate Fieldays

The official Fieldays app launches today, six weeks out from the internationally acclaimed New Zealand National Fieldays event at Mystery Creek on Wednesday 13 June. The new and improved free app has been developed specifically for use at Fieldays, and will enable visitors to use GSP mapping technology to better navigate the 114-hectare site and to plan their day in advance. “We are really excited about the technology, which means visitors will have a much better search and site experience,”...

HMC NEWS: Business leaders need a new approach to understanding Millennial workforce

Waikato business leaders gathered last week to talk about the importance of the Millennial generation and how to better attract, inspire and communicate with them. The Crucial Conversations over Lunch (CRUNCH) session in Hamilton last Tuesday featured a panel of four experts talking about Millennials from a variety of point of views, organised by local public relations consultancy HMC Communications. Understanding demographic groups and generational cohorts can help business people – and emplo...

CLIENT NEWS: Waikato farmer changing old farming attitudes

At the foot of the Kaimai Ranges lies the Troughton dairy farm. Ben and Sarah Troughton sharemilk 500 cows on the 200-hectare property, which is owned by Ben’s parents Terry and Margaret, and has been in the family for more than 100 years. A lot has changed over the last century, and the current generation of Troughtons are embracing a variety of sustainable and environmental farm practices because, as Ben says, it’s their duty to do so. “At some point you have to change that old att...

HMC NEWS: Let’s put the respect back into disagreement

Some of the best things in business – and life – can come out of an ethos of curiosity, questioning and disagreement.  You can’t have progress, innovation or positive change if you’re not willing to challenge conventional thinking and stir up the occasional healthy debate. What doesn’t work is when you couple disagreement with disrespect.  And don’t we see a lot of that lately? Trump is modelling this communication style for all the world to see.  But you don’t have ...

CLIENT NEWS: Bay of Plenty housing developers turning to non-bank lending to help build houses

Land developers and builders are increasingly turning to non-bank lending to be able to develop new homes for the Bay of Plenty. Omega Capital Corporation Ltd provides finance and equity solutions for developers, farms, businesses and more. It says it’s seen an increase in the number of land developers and builders in the Bay of Plenty region who are seeking finance and that would traditionally have been bank clients. The latest QV House Price Index Report shows Tauranga home values have rise...

CLIENT NEWS: Hamilton CBD cafe relaunches, to bring unique experience to inner city

Hamilton foodies and inner-city workers have an exciting new place to wine and dine with the relaunch of Prof’s on Alexandra this week. The Alexandra St eatery, a short work from Garden Place, is owned and run by well-known Waikato foodies, Kate and Allan Wilson, who are also behind the successful café, Prof’s at Woodlands in Gordonton. Prof’s on Alexandra has recently been awarded an on-license and is changing its focus to a café/restaurant serving tapas, fine wine and funky cocktails. ...

CLIENT NEWS: Southland stock agent values healthy, efficient cows

Stock agent Matt Brinsdon loves his job. He’s with Rural Livestock in Southland and has been working as a stock agent, based in Gore, for 12 years. “It’s a busy job year-round, and the work varies depending on the time of year,” says Brinsdon. It involves everything from photographing and marketing calves and cows, to showing and selling stock to clients and sorting contracts. The period leading into May and June is always particularly busy, as cows and heifers change hands and are deliv...

CLIENT NEWS: New CEO for Dairy Women’s Network

From 16 May, a new face will be at the helm of Dairy Women’s Network. Jules Benton will take over from Zelda de Villiers as CEO, who announced her resignation in December 2017. Benton was recently general manager for Wolters Kluwer CCH New Zealand, a research and workflow solutions company. Prior to that she spent more than a decade consulting to businesses to develop leadership capability, streamline processes and promote ongoing professional development and education. Dairy Women’s Netwo...

CLIENT NEWS: Massey University announced as partner of the New Zealand National Fieldays Society

New Zealand National Fieldays Society, owner of the iconic Fieldays event in June, has a new partner in the form of Massey University. The university and Society signed the three-year initial term agreement earlier this month, ahead of the first Society board meeting to be held offsite since incorporation. Fieldays celebrates its 50th anniversary this year during the 13-16 June event at Mystery Creek near Hamilton. Nick Dromgool, GM Commercial for the Society, believes Massey University’s stro...

CLIENT NEWS: Southland woman Fonterra Dairy Woman of the Year

Southland dairy leadership coach Loshni Manikam is this year’s Fonterra Dairy Woman of the Year. The human behaviour and leadership expert took out the 2018 title from an impressive line-up which included Tararua district mayor Tracey Collis and Hawke’s Bay dairy consultant Rachel Baker. The awards ceremony was held tonight in Rotorua as part of a gala dinner at the Dairy Women’s Network’s annual conference, which also marked the Network’s 20th year. Manikam, originally from South Afr...

CLIENT NEWS: Taupo dairy farmer recognised in Dairy Community Leadership awards

Taupo dairy farmer Kylie Leonard has been recognised for her community involvement by Dairy Women’s Network with the 2018 Dairy Community Leadership Award. The award celebrates the unsung heroes of rural communities and was presented at a gala dinner tonight during Dairy Women’s Network’s conference in Rotorua. The conference also marked the Network’s 20th year. Leonard milks 400 cows at Oruanui, Taupo, with her husband Rick and daughters Kate, Isla and Eloise. Her family has a long hist...

CLIENT NEWS: Cervical screening highlighted for hundreds at Waikato’s Poukai

Earlier this month, Pinnacle Midlands Health Network and Nga Miro Health Centre together attended five Waikato-based marae across five days during Poukai for the first time in the tradition's history, reaching hundreds of priority group women with cervical screening messages.Poukai is a tradition dating back to the 19th century, where the marae affiliated to the Kīngitanga receive an annual circuit of visits by the king that includes feasting and cultural performances. This was t...

CLIENT NEWS: Hill Laboratories’ family name stands firm with new CEO appointment

New Zealand’s leading analytical testing lab, Hill Laboratories, today announced that company founders Roger and Anne Hill’s son, Dr Jonno Hill, will step into the company’s chief executive officer (CEO) role in May 2018.     The family name has stood firm at Hill Laboratories for more than three decades, with Dr Jonno Hill’s parents Roger and Anne establishing the company in 1984 and Dr Hill himself working in the business for the past 13 years. According to Dr Jonno Hill...

CLIENT NEWS: Chasing the perfect cow: Cambridge farmers using genetics to improve their herd

Simon and Elle Clarke farm on 307 hectares at Hora Hora, near Cambridge, in the Waikato. The Clarkes are in their fourth season at the farm, where they milk 480 dairy cows including 100 autumn calvers, 100 calves and 100 heifers. They average about 190,000kg/MS off the 480 cows a year. It’s a beautiful place to live and work, located near Lake Karapiro, in the shadow of Mt Maungatautari. The four Clarke children – Toby, 11; Hayley, 9; Harrison, 5; and Blake, 3 – love the farm lifestyle. A...

CLIENT NEWS: Frustrated investors deserting bank deposits for mortgage investments

Investors frustrated by low interest rates are increasingly turning to investments via property mortgages to secure higher income. That’s the view of Alpha First Securities, which says it’s seeing an increase in the number of investors who have “frustrated capital” - they have money to invest but consider the returns from banks unpalatable. Director Olivia Fraser says the firm has seen at least a 25% increase in the past six months of investors wanting active investments in the property ...

CLIENT NEWS: Million dollar home sales reach record numbers in Hamilton city

Lodge Real Estate’s managing director Jeremy O’Rourke says the number of million dollar homes sold in Hamilton city increased six-fold within the past five years, reaching an all-time high number sold in the city during 2017. He predicts 2018 will be another record-breaker. “In 2013, there were 11 million dollar homes sold within Hamilton city, representing .4% of all home sales.  During 2017, that number rose to 76 which was 2.5% of all sales,” says O’Rourke.  “At the star...

CLIENT NEWS: KCE superheroes dash dozens of kilometres for cancer

Eleven staff members from Taumarunui-based electricity retailer King Country Energy (KCE) have made the local community proud by keeping a relay baton moving for 12 hours straight in a bid to raise awareness and funds for the Cancer Society. The group was one of 36 teams to participate in the recent superhero themed Cambridge-based Relay for Life held at the Cambridge Raceway on Saturday (10 March). The purpose of the event was to celebrate cancer survivors, remember loved ones lost to cancer an...

HMC NEWS: Inspiring women – my meeting with Helen Clark

Former New Zealand Prime Minister Helen Clark came to Hamilton on Tuesday night, to speak at a Zonta International Function to mark International Women’s Day. In no uncertain terms, Ms Clark is a bit of a legend, not only with the crowd of 400+ people that packed into that conference room at SkyCity Hamilton, but with generations of women. There were people of all ages in the room, but I was heartened to see local high school students among those waiting to hear Helen speak. I was there with f...

CLIENT NEWS: CRV Ambreed introduces forward-looking index to help farmers breed healthy and efficient cows

Breeding company CRV Ambreed is now providing dairy farmers with a holistic approach to building their herds through a new style of index for sire selection. The company is responding to the changing needs of New Zealand’s dairy industry. The Better Life Health Index and Better Life Efficiency Index rank bulls so farmers can easily and quickly choose those sires that will produce the most healthy and efficient herds for them. The health and efficiency index is being discussed with farmers at n...

CLIENT NEWS: Lake Surgery nurse hangs up the stethoscope after half a century

Half a century to-the-year after qualifying as a registered nurse, Lyn Durno of Pinnacle MHN practice Lake Surgery in Taupo has recently hung up her trusty stethoscope, put away her blood pressure cuffs and waved goodbye to her colleagues and patients to step into the world of retirement. Having officially retired on 1 March, Lyn confidently sums up her 50 years as a nurse as "incredibly rewarding". She shares fond memories of camaraderie with colleagues spanning decades, treating a third genera...

PR disaster averted: lessons on getting through a crisis

Recently my team led the communications during a major crisis for a client.  It was one of those projects every consultant dreams about where the client closely adhered to our recommendations and was stunning at executing under pressure. More than once, we’ve said around the office that the project was a classic case study for others to learn the correct communications steps to take to avoid a public relations disaster.  Here was the basic situation:  The client’s staff made ...

CLIENT NEWS: Digital game developed to help with sign language learning

Hamilton woman Adele Hauwai is the innovator behind SeeCom (Reo-a-Karu), a social enterprise which provides sign language classes and products, and is developing an interactive, digital sign language game to help people communicate. “Sign language is one of the easiest languages to learn and it can be fun for children, parents and whanau,” says Ms Hauwai. “There are so many benefits to learning sign language. It’s not just for deaf people. We educate parents how to communicate with all c...

CLIENT NEWS: Family trusts: roles and responsibilities of Trustees

We know that there are as many as half a million trusts in this country, and when it comes to protecting the ownership of assets – a family home or farm from creditors – a discretionary family trust provides important protection, especially to the self-employed and those running a business. There is a lot of interest in family trusts – and confusion – so it’s important to be clear about how they operate. Last month I wrote about who needs a family trust, and this month I will detail th...