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Horowhenua’s Wayne Bishop Group among top 10 busiest builders in NZ

Levin building heavyweight Wayne Bishop knew things were cranking along, but even he was surprised to see his company ranking among the top 10 busiest residential home builders in New Zealand.Wayne Bishop Group, which built 159 homes in the past year worth $44 million, keeps company in the big pond now with the likes of GJ Gardner Homes and Fletcher’s, according to the latest Building Construction League list.“I never knew they ran a list like that,” he said.“We’re just a little l...

Levin Kia hosts NZ global launch

Last night locally owned business Levin Kia, held their NZ event for the Kia Worldwide Global Launch of the new electric Kia EV5. The EV5, a completely new design electric prototype, is being showcased at launches across NZ Kia dealerships with Justin Benzie, Kias National Sales Manager (the car is available for pre-orders before its arrival June). ...

Horowhenua students attending London International Youth Science Forum

Waiopehu College students Cole Campbell and Isabel Paroli have been invited to attend the 65th London International Youth Science Forum.Two students from Levin’s Waiopehu College accepted for an international science forum in London are baking cakes to get there.Cole Campbell and Isabel Paroli have already managed to raise half of the $20,000 needed to attend the 65th London International Youth Science Forum and are also holding quiz nights, firewood raffles, and baking more cakes to...

A 30-year plan for infrastructure is coming

Photo: Todd Strode-Penny owner of TSP Construction, Minister Chris Bishop, THCL Chair Brendan Duffy.   Photography Vicki Timpson THCL ...

Senior Horowhenua College commerce students hear from local business owners

The Horowhenua Company Ltd’s work readiness programme ‘Get-Go’ informs students about local career options in Horowhenua.  The programme is a pathways to employment initiative,  which connects college students, teachers, and local employers.   One component of the programme are the College ‘Snapshot’ visits. These targeted visits inform senior students about career options in the Horowhenua District, and involves employers visiting colleges ...

Government storage facility project in Levin axed

A plan to build a storage facility to house some of New Zealand’s heritage items has been scrapped, despite $12 million being spent on the project.The Department of Internal Affairs announced in 2020 it had bought land in Levin to build a storage facility to house the growing collections of the National Library of New Zealand, Archives New Zealand and Ngā Taonga Sound and Vision.The construction was subject to further funding decisions, but was scheduled for completion in 2025.Now Stuff&...

Tara-Ika, 3500 home development

Tara-Ika, a 420ha block of land to the east of Levin, enables the development of more than 3500 homes of different sizes, a commercial area, new parks and reserves and education opportunities....

Womenhood Journal set for release on International Women’s Day

Twenty-six inspiring stories of businesswomen in Kāpiti and Horowhenua feature in the latest annual Womanhood Journal.“Every year, I’m impressed with the vulnerability of the women who share so authentically about their personal journeys in business and life,” project co-ordinator Anna Colville-Smith said.“When going through the editing process, I can’t help but be inspired and proud to be able to help pull together this passion project.”Interest in the project had grown since ...

Local wins at RMB Apprentice of the Year Awards

Proud to celebrate two decades of excellence among carpentry apprentices, Registered Master Builders in partnership with CARTERS announces the top three apprentices from the Central North Island & East Coast / Hawke's Bay Region. Now in its 20th year, the Apprentice of the Year competition recognises excellence among carpentry apprentices and raises awareness of career opportunities in the building and construction industry. The competition tests our future sector leaders' project manag...

ELECTRA BA5 EVENTS KICK OFF

David Cunliffe, a Director at Polis Consulting Group was the first speaker to kick off this years ELECTRA BA5 events for 2024. David shared his views on the new government's first 100 days and the regional opportunities he sees for Horowhenua, particularly with the Ō2NL project set to unlock the district to future growth.  Hendrix Warren (THCL Business Growth Manager) welcomed everyone with a karakia before Mayor Bernie Wanden began the introductions.David’s presentation focussed on...

Shannon’s buzzing with a hive of new businesses

Renee Cohen our business growth advisor visited Dave Collins this week at his recently opened Wild Stag Honey store in Shannon.Dave, a Shannon local, who has turned his hobby into a business, used to export his product and sell to suppliers across NZ. He is now selling Wild Stag kānuka and mānuka honey online and in his new retail store. The Mānuka and kānuka honey has been aged for five years in the barrel, the longer in the barrel, the better the honey. The store which is located just...

TATUM REDEVELOPMENT BEGINS

One of the historical sites of Horowhenua with a strong of history is Tatum Park. The property is located on SH1 south of Levin, boarding the Waikawa Stream and fertile market gardens. The property is full of interesting stories, and history starting with the first owners Charles and Alice Tatum who undoubtably had the vision and foresight to develop the grounds and build the homestead, which in their later years and beyond was used by The Scouting Association of New Zealand.Its legacy acro...

Preferred alliance partners for Ōtaki to north of Levin highway announced

The Ōtaki to north of Levin (Ō2NL) project takes another significant step forward today with the announcement of preferred alliance partners to deliver the new highway and walking and cycling path.Ō2NL project partners NZ Transport Agency Waka Kotahi (NZTA), hapū of Ngāti Raukawa ki te Tonga and Muaūpoko Tribal Authority have selected preferred tenderers, with a view to forming two alliances to support the ongoing development and delivery of the Ō2NL highway project.NZTA Project Director ...

Levin Waitārere Beach Surf Life Saving Club opens new building

The Levin Waitārere Beach Surf Life Saving Club has a stunning new facility, named Te Whare Waitā, which was opened last Saturday, an event that was followed by an open day for the public. Sitting on top of the dunes close to the water it has a large room, with balcony and a watchtower with a 180-degree view of the beach and water. The old building had gradually disappeared behind encroaching dunes over the years.It was opened with a karakia, pōwhiri to welcome guests, and official handing ov...

NEW ROBERT HARRIS CAFÉ OPENS IN FOXTON

"Hello Foxton!! We are so excited for the opening tomorrow and can’t wait to see you here" say Karyn and Veronique Read. They are the new owners of the Robert Harris Franchised Cafe, the first in the Horowhenua region, which is located on the corner of Johnstone Street and State Highway 1 in Foxton. ...

WOMEN IN BUSINESS LUNCHEON HUGE SUCCESS

The final Women in Business Luncheon was hosted at the Levin Kia showroom on Friday the 24th November. Dining with the ‘cars’ became the new catch phrase as forty women had the chance to mix and mingle and meet other businesswomen, and then enjoy a lunch from The Baked Dane.Lisa Brink the owner of Baked Dane provided the catering, with the help of her friends at Get Content, set up a beautiful graze table of salads and open sandwiches to enjoy, as well as Danish Pastries to follow with...

WOMANHOOD JOURNAL HIGHLIGHTS HOROWHENUA WOMEN

The Womanhood Journal is a publication which has provided a platform for women’s stories to be acknowledged and celebrated.To date there are more than 80 women in our community whose stories have offered depth, variety and meaning to the pages within....

BRAD OLSEN SPEAKS WITH HOROWHENUA'S BUSINESS COMMUNITY

The Horowhenua Company Ltd held its end of year Electra BA5 last week at Te Takeretanga o Kura-hau-pōwith guest speaker Brad Olsen, the CE and Principal Economist at Infometrics Ltd.  Around 100 people attended the business after 5 event from Horowhenua and Kāpiti region, to hear from Brad who spoke about the latest updated insights and information. His vibrant speaking style makes him a compelling speaker, and he passionately delivered the latest Infometrics data and infor...

SNAP SHOT PROGRAMME - CASE STUDY

This year Get-Go developed a careers initiative which engaged college students, teachers, and local employers.  The ‘Snapshot’ visits programme informs students about career options in the Horowhenua region....

Electra sells SECURELY®

Electra Services is an award-winning security and monitoring company. It operates under the SECURELY brand and is wholly owned by Electra Ltd, which is one of New Zealand’s largest electricity distribution companies, founded in 1922. With many years of experience delivering and monitoring electricity, Electra applies this accumulated experience of monitoring critical, and often life impacting, utility supply to provide a robust monitoring service that is built on leading edge technol...

HOROWHENUA’S MANAKAU MARKET WINS TOP SHOP

Manakau Market became the 2023 recipient of the Electra Business and Innovation Top Shop Award, presented last month at Southwards Museum. On the awards night, the trophy was accepted by Manakau Market’s coffee supplier, Matt Payne from Dark Horse Coffee, on Manakau Market's behalf.   Matt spoke of the team’s exceptional customer service making them deserved winners.  He was accepting the award, as they were busy making pizzas and unable to attend the event.&nbs...

HOROWHENUA'S CIDER MAKER WINS AT NZ AWARDS

New Zealand’s only female cider business owner and producer of Cider in NZ, is Elemental Cider in located in Kuku and is owned by Carmen Gray - an Award Winning Cider maker. ...

LOCAL HOROWHENUA BUSINESS WOMAN WINNING AWARDS

Maria "RIWA" Wawatai and her business art by RIWA® was the winner of the Ikaroa Regional Award at the MWDI Māori Businesswomen’s Awards 2023, held at the Aotea Centre, in Tāmaki Makaurau on Friday, 27 October 2023.Riwa was also a finalist for Pakihi Toi Ora (Creative Arts & Design) and finalist for Te Amorangi (People & Capability).art by RIWA®has crafted a niche in the market for Māori weaving, specialising in wahakura (baby bassinettes), made from harakeke.&n...

OUTWARD BOUND SCHOLARSHIP 2023

Get-Go, a programme delivered by the Horowhenua Company Ltd, recently received an 8 day Outward Bound Scholarship to award to a local young person. We saw this as an incredible opportunity. One Horowhenua recipient, being either a local college student or recent school leaver would join the June intake. Outward Bound is  based at Anakiwa, located in the Marlborough Sounds, where the classrooms are the mountains, bush and waterways of this beautiful corner of New Zealand. Outw...

Ō2NL ENVIRONMENT COURT HEARING

This week the Environment Court is conducting hearings for the O2NL consent process. Lonnie Dalzell from Waka Kotahi presented their proposal for resource consent.Affected parties presented evidence or concerns.As the chair of the Horowhenua New Zealand Trust, Antony Young represented the trust’s opinion on the process to the court in the HDC chambers. This is what he said:“One frosty morning in June 2021, Frank and Karen Slobbe left their home in Foxton Beach just after 5am. They were excit...