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CLIENT NEWS: Post-election rise in Hamilton house prices and sales volumes expected

Lodge Real Estate’s managing director Jeremy O’Rourke says the looming election has put a damper on residential property listings and purchases in Hamilton.  However, a lift in prices and buyer activity is expected to occur in the city post-election.  Statistics by the Real Estate Institute of NZ released Friday show the number of homes listed in Hamilton during the month of August was down 22% as compared to one year ago.  Whereas the number of homes sold was only 255, down 2...

HMC NEWS: How to perform well on video

For many people, the idea of being photographed or appearing on video is enough to make them want to hide behind their desk – or pull a sickie at work. However, speaking on video doesn’t need to be painful. In fact, with preparation, some smart tips and a dash of confidence, it can actually be quite fun. At HMC Communications we often help clients with video work. Video is an engaging way to share your message and tell your story. It’s something that can be shared on social media, loaded t...

HMC NEWS: Marketing & PR: get your balance right

During my thirteen years of running a local public relations (PR) agency, time and again we’re asked to help companies develop marketing campaigns.  When I provide our standard response: “We don’t do marketing, we only do PR,” this is usually met with silence on the phone or a blank stare.  For many, it is difficult to understand the difference between the two disciplines.  So, I thought I’d take the time to demystify it for you. But first: “Why should you care?” If ...

CLIENT NEWS: Search begins for new Momentum Waikato CEO

Momentum Waikato Community Foundation is seeking a new Chief Executive following news that founding CEO Cheryl Reynolds is stepping down after four years in the role. The organisation is seeking a new leader to take over the reins from Ms Reynolds, who will be leaving at the end of the year to establish a new philanthropic startup venture in 2018. “It has been an honour to serve my community and be part of such a game-changing organisation from the outset,” says Ms Reynolds. “When I arrive...

CLIENT NEWS: Short film celebrates the importance of play for children

A short film, celebrating the importance of childhood play, is going viral on social media. The beautiful video from Creators Educational Trust launched on Saturday, and has already amassed thousands of views.  The Hamilton-based non-profit organisation has four early childhood centres and also runs a home-based early childhood education programme, Creators@Home. The video was commissioned to engage staff, parents and the wider community on the importance of play and its impact on child dev...

CLIENT NEWS: Second pregnancy compels Waikato mum to quit smoking, Once and For All

Hamilton-based pregnant mum Dayna Allen, 25, inhaled her first puff of smoke ten years ago as a curious 15-year-old, barely old enough to drive a car. As the addiction set in, Dayna worked her way through an average of 36,500 cigarettes over the next decade, about 10 per day. She ceased to slow down even when she found out she was expecting baby number one in 2012. Following alarming smoking-related health complications with her first pregnancy, Dayna knew it was time to kick the habit when she ...

HMC NEWS: Product launches – what do you need to know?

Many organisations, at some stage, will launch a product or service to market. You might think a launch is all about marketing.  However, in addition to your marketing plans, it’s important to have a communications strategy as well.  Having a communications strategy will ensure that this positive time in your company’s history will not only serve to give your bottom line a sales boost, but will also ensure your overall reputation gets a big boost as well. So, from a communications...

CLIENT NEWS: Farmer calls on others to do progeny testing to boost national herd

Dairy farmer Mike Tillemans is calling on others to get involved in progeny testing, not only to benefit their own farm business, but to benefit the national herd. Tillemans is a farm owner from Atiamuri, between Taupo and Tokoroa. He milks 450 cows at the peak of the season, on his 150ha dairy farm. Tillemans has been part of CRV Ambreed’s sire-proving programme known as the Progeny Test Programme for about eight years and says it’s put him at an advantage when it comes to achieving the be...

CLIENT NEWS: New street of architecturally designed duplexes offers new way of living in Rototuna

Hamilton’s newest and most innovative street – Springside Court in Rototuna – will be officially opened by the City’s mayor at the end of July, marking a new way of living in the northern suburbs. On Sunday July 30 at 2pm Hamilton mayor Andrew King will open the cul-de-sac street of 14 architecturally designed duplex townhouses. The public are invited to the event, which will also include a sausage sizzle, and can walk through the modern townhouses, which are priced from $650,000. Lodg...

CLIENT NEWS: The hunt’s on for the country’s best bull calves

CRV Ambreed is on the market for New Zealand’s very best bull calves that will produce the next generation of high performing dairy cows.  With calving now underway, CRV Ambreed Breeding Manager Aaron Parker says it’s time for farmers to get in touch with the herd improvement company if they have a top-notch bull calf hit the paddock. “Year-on-year we’re carefully building a portfolio of genetics to suit a broad range of environments, conditions and farming systems to ensure New Ze...

CLIENT NEWS: Recommended location announced for Waikato Regional Theatre

The recommended location for the new Waikato Regional Theatre has been announced as the Hamilton Hotel site on Victoria St, Hamilton, and the community’s feedback on this is being sought. The privately-owned site currently has a range of restaurants and bars and is bordered by Embassy Park (with the Riff Raff statue) on one side and Sapper Moore-Jones Place (formerly Marlborough Pl) on the other, and runs down to the river. A new theatre development would look to restore the facade of the old ...

CLIENT NEWS: Housing issues impacting on family violence victims – Waikato Women’s Refuge

A shortage of rental housing in Hamilton is impacting on the ability of Waikato Women’s Refuge to continue helping victims of family violence. Waikato Women’s Refuge Co-Founder and CEO Ruahine Albert QSM says the impact of a tight rental market in Hamilton is now being felt. Ms Albert says so many people are trying to rent houses in Hamilton that women and children who are ready to move on from the refuge safe houses and set up home are unable to do so. She estimates it’s affecting at lea...

CLIENT NEWS: Innovative feed tracking tool boosting dairy production

Latest results show dairy farmers using an innovative online milk monitoring and prediction tool are achieving 9.15% more production than the average Fonterra farmer this season1. To the end of April, 82 per cent of GrainCorp clients actively using Tracker™ were up 7.48 per cent on production compared to the same time last year.  The average across all clients was an increase of 4.89 per cent. The results come off the back of another previously successful season where Tracker™,...

HMC News: A communications dictionary

The world of public relations is a world of words. To make things a bit easier, we've sorted through a few commonly used acronyms, words and terms used by PR or communications people so the next time you stumble across them you don’t have to pretend you know they mean. APR– This is the internationally-recognised Accreditation in Public Relations (APR).  Half of HMC’s team has this accreditation, which takes around six months of study including passing written and oral exams to achieve...

HMC NEWS: You’ve got issues – sort it!

A lot of organisations are fortunate enough to avoid crises.  But, when it comes to issues no organisation is immune.  Every single organisation has issues.  However, every organisation does not have a robust system in place to manage communications around issues. Before we get into issues management and what every organisation should be doing within this discipline, let’s first look at the difference between a crisis and an issue.  Because I think a lot of organisations er...

HMC NEWS: Communications health check event | Wed 26 July

You're invited to a communications health check – we recommend this is best performed with a glass of wine in hand and nibbles on the side. As winter sets in, we often find ourselves looking for ways to boost our health and wellness to stave off winter bugs. At HMC we also believe winter is a great time to do your communications health check. That's because when you're 'comms fit' you can keep all those nasty bugs - or PR pitfalls - at bay. If you're ready to get your organisation's commu...

HMC NEWS: PR - Something wicked this way comes?

Every day, calculating, evil PR professionals sit at a their antique oak desks in leather swivel chairs, rubbing their hands together in glee as they think about the millions they're making from twisting truths and perpetuating lies. They think, "This is so much fun! Look at ALL THE MONEY WE MAKE FROM YOU, you silly, silly publics." It's no secret PR professionals feel like they're getting the short end of the stick right now. It's because we are. And one comment in Karl du Fresne's 19 June ar...

CLIENT NEWS: Les Misérables back on stage after 16 years

The well-known sounds of I Dreamed a Dream and One Day More will soon resound in Hamilton after a 16-year-long silence. Come June, Hamilton's Operatic Society will present Les Misérables (Les Mis), arguably the world's most loved musical of all time, at Clarence St Theatre. Hamilton Operatic Society chairperson Fiona Bradley said, prior to now, Les Mis hasn't been performed in New Zealand for many years due to restricted rights while the movie was in cinemas. "These have since lifted, ...

CLIENT NEWS: KCE wins Safeguard NZ Workplace Health and Safety Award

Local electricity generator and retailer, King Country Energy (KCE), has won best health and safety initiative in the small business category at the prestigious 2017 Safeguard New Zealand Workplace Health and Safety Awards. KCE's winning health and safety initiative centred on keeping the company's team of meter readers safe using a detailed, four-pronged safety approach. This is the first year KCE has entered these awards, and CEO Rob Foster said that to be announced as winner is an outstand...

CLIENT NEWS: Change your thinking - Louise Thompson’s advice for dairy women

How you approach life is everything. Those are the words of life coach Louise Thompson, one of the headline acts at this year's Dairy Women's Network conference, DWN17 Connect, in Queenstown, 11-12 May. Thompson is a no-nonsense life coach, wellbeing writer and speaker with an easy-to-digest ethos: how you think is how you live. She says no matter how busy, stressful and full your life is, the way in which you think and approach your thoughts is at the heart of true wellbeing. She'll share...

CLIENT NEWS: CRV Ambreed announces a new collaboration for BVD and Johne’s Disease

CRV Ambreed has appointed a new laboratory to enable New Zealand dairy farmers to gain access to further information about BVD and Johne's Disease from their herd testing. The herd improvement company has announced an exclusive arrangement with Disease Research Ltd, part of the University of Otago. From June 2017, New Zealand farmers will get their normal herd test information on Bovine Viral Diarrhoea (BVD) and Johne's Disease (JD) but are now able to directly take that a step further with Di...

HMC News: Keep ‘em outta the bushes

As a communications professional – and American citizen - I've been intrigued and sometimes gobsmacked as I watch the White House communications team perform their duties. Like many of you, I continually catch myself shaking my head and promising to focus on something other than US politics while being unable to wean myself off CNN. With my public relations hat on, I'm not so much watching The Don as watching to see how his team cleans up behind him. The month of May was a doozy for the ...

HMC News: 5 steps every leader should follow to initially respond to a crisis

Rule #1: be sympathetic United Airlines chief executive, Oscar Munoz, spoke at a conference yesterday in Mexico and told attendees that one lesson he learned from last month's passenger dragging fiasco is that he "should have been more apologetic at first." 1 If there is one key lesson leaders can learn from watching the United Airlines crisis unfold, it is the lesson Mr Munoz discovered the hard way: respond quickly with sympathy as your first step. By not apologising quickly, United Air...

CLIENT NEWS: Waikato Innovation Park seeks investor to bring $180 million growth vision to life

Waikato Innovation Park, a unique business park that leverages collaboration in the agribusiness industry, is seeking an investor for its property arm to grow the Park to the next level. The Park, which sits on 17 hectares of land in Hamilton, opened in 2004 with the aim of clustering businesses to help drive economic growth. It is now worth about $25 million, has four buildings including a spray dryer, and is home to 46 tenants who have more than 1600 staff between them (including 562 working ...

CLIENT NEWS: Impressive line-up for Fonterra Dairy Woman of the Year 2017

Three of New Zealand's emerging dairy industry leaders are finalists in the sixth annual Fonterra Dairy Woman of the Year. They are Claire Nicholson from Bay of Plenty, Jessie Chan-Dorman from Canterbury and Jolene Germann from Southland. Claire Nicholson (Ngāti Ruanui) is a Director of Paraninihi Ki Waitotara (PKW) and Chief Executive of Sirona Animal Health, Jessie Chan-Dorman is a Fonterra Shareholders Councillor and a Director of the Ashburton Trading Society, and Jolene Germann is...