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2023 BUSINESS HALL OF FAME

The Mayoral Business Hall of Fame laureates were announced at the Electra Business and Innovations Awards, on the 19th of October.The Award is sponsored by the Horowhenua District Council. The two exceptional individuals who have left in indelible mark on our community are Charlie and Chrissy Pedersen. As joint laureate nominees of the Horowhenua Business Hall of Fame for their leadership, business success, and tireless contributions to the Foxton Community, stand as an inspiring examp...

FUTURE CAREER PATHWAYS EXPO

There were opportunities galore, including a career in policing for Horowhenua rangatahi at the Future Pathways Expo held last Thursday in Levin.The Expo, held at Te Takeretanga o Kura-hau-pō (Levin Community Centre) connected youth with employers, training providers and social services to help them dream big and plan their futures.There were more than 40 interactive stalls, inside and outside the centre.Levin Community Senior Constable Simon (Sye) Carter was one of the local staff helping at t...

Ō2NL Project Business Opportunities

Kia ora e te whānau,Just letting you know about the next step for Ō2NL Business opportunities.Attached is information with the link to the Expression of interest which iwi, Māori and local businesses can complete should you have an interest in future work opportunities on the Ō2NL project.The information will help ensure that packages of work are put together which meet the needs of local businesses, as well as identify support which businesses may require to help you get ready to participat...

Waka Kotahi to survey Horowhenua businesses on its capacity for work on Ō2NL

With the Ōtaki to north of Levin expressway (Ō2NL) a certainty with cross-party support and the consenting process well advanced, the project team for the road is looking to make contact with as many local businesspeople as possible to see how anyone local can help them realise the Horowhenua Expressway.They would like to spend as much as possible of the $1 billion available locally, providing jobs and work. They have set up a procurement process and would like to start with a survey of local ...

Mabel Central Development - Case Study

One such new housing development nearing completion, poised to impact Levin's housing landscape significantly, is Mabel Central, situated off Mabel Street.This unique development is the first of its kind in the Horowhenua - a multi-residential community of townhouses ensuring that it accommodates a broad spectrum of lifestyles.The project embodies a vision of modern, sustainable living for the new residents. With a commitment to sustainability, a range of housing options, and...

Ō2NL Project Outcomes

Waka Kotahi, Muaūpoko Tribal Authority and local hapū of Ngāti Raukawa ki te Tonga are working in partnership to deliver a new, safer and more reliable State Highway 1 from Ōtaki to north of Levin. Lonnie Dalzell, Ō2NL Project Director, speaks about what the new highway and shared user path will bring to the region....

New Major upgrade for Capital Connection train service

Five carriages have been upgraded with a sixth carriage set to be added in September to support an anticipated increase in passengers.More carriages are currently being upgraded locally at KiwiRail’s Hutt Workshops with 11 in total eventually able be to be used.Transport Minister David Parker said the refurbished carriages would tide the service over until brand new hybrid trains were brought onto the network within five years.“These new, refurbed coaches increase the quality of what people ...

The Baked Dane shop dream comes true

Lisa Brink started off baking bread and crackers for a weekend market. Now, less than five years later, she has officially opened shop and is distributing The Baked Dane products all over New Zealand.You can smell The Baked Dane before you see it. The proof is in the eating, too, and word of mouth has seen a busy opening week of the new outlet, located at the new Bush Street business park south of Levin.The grand opening was a significant moment in what had been a meteoric rise for The Baked Dan...

Inward Investment Case Study - Caci Levin

The Horowhenua Company caught up with Jamie Stout the owner of the latest Caci clinic in Levin, to hear about her journey from opening a pop-up clinic late last year in 2022 before outfitting an old $2 shop site on the main street of Levin. Jamie spoke candidly to us about the last 8 months of opening her new business and the challenges and triumphs it’s had in the few short months of being open. A Registered Nurse for 18 years, she was completely new to owning her own business and the le...

Foxton vertical farm providing strawberries in winter

Some things are intrinsically linked to summer – the smell of sunscreen, the chirp of cicadas, or maybe the sweet taste of strawberries. But if you look at the temperature outside right now, strawberries might seem like a distant memory. Not in Manawatū-Whanganui. In Foxton, you can get fresh strawberries all winter long.Indoor farming company 26 Seasons has produced 50,000 vertically-farmed strawberry plants this year — all grown in a shed originally used for dyeing carpets. ...

Building companies join forces in new plant

Two heavyweights in the building game have joined forces in the new plant that will take much of the construction process indoors and give more sureity to supply. A joint venture between Wayne Bishop Group and Placemakers will see frames and trusses manufactured at a new factory now operating in the trade-based business park at Totora St in Levin. There was an offical opening this week fro tradesmen, staff, and the representatives of the companies involved, shared a barbecue and heard ...

Bishop has vision for the future

Scores of local business owners turned out for this month's BA5, which was held at the new Totara Bush Business Park. Expecting it be solely a trade-based business park the Wayne Bishop Group has been overwhelmed with interest from non-trade businesses. Wayne Bishop and Barry Judd presented their 20-year plan and showcased a few projects they have in the wings. Staff had mocked up a few models of some of the projects too. They included a three-storey apartment complex at Speldhurst, social ...

Ō2NL is happening

It’s over – the speculation about a yes, no or even a maybe for the Horowhenua expressway, that is. And the Government’s commitment to the road has delighted locals, the council and Build Our Road campaigners.“There has been much conjecture and uncertainty with the project over a number of years now, so to finally hear and read the minister’s commitment to the project is extremely encouraging,“ Horowhenua Mayor Bernie Wanden said.The council has received assurances from Transport Min...

Government committed to Ōtaki to North Levin highway project - Transport Minister Michael Wood

Transport Minister Michael Wood has affirmed the Government’s support for building the Ōtaki to North of Levin (Ō2NL) highway.“The Government is committed to delivering Ōtaki to North of Levin (Ō2NL) highway, as set out in the business case, through the NZUP programme.“The business case proposes a four-lane highway with a walking and cycling path, which the Government has agreed to and committed $1.5 billion of funding.“I’m pleased the project is progressing well, with property acq...

Business After 5 aiming to inspire

Its easy to talk about something you are deeply passionate about.You got the feeling Jamie Tout could of talked for hours when he was in Levin last week.Tout was speaking at Te Takaretanga o Kura-hau-pō at the invitation of The Horowhenua Company's business group BA5 (Business After 5), who routinely attract guest speakers each month from a range of backgrounds. He was conscious of the time, glancing occasionally at his watch, as he was supposed to knock off at 7pm. Tout did his best to condens...

Futures Day 2023 - Case Study

The fourth annual Get-Go Futures Day was held on Thursday 23rd March, providing the opportunity for over 300 Horowhenua Year 10 students and their teachers to visit a range of different employers on the day to explore future local employment options. Futures Day provides students the opportunity to connect their learning at school to workplace environments and expectations.The Get-Go Futures Day event is an employment initiative by Get-Go, in partnership with Horowhenua College, Manawatū Colleg...

Ō2NL Project Updates

The Ōtaki to north of Levin project is the northern most section of the Wellington Northern Corridor and will improve the safety and resilience of the transport network connecting Ōtaki and Levin, and the wider region.To read current updates : CLICK HERE ...

LABOUR MARKET CASE STUDY

Description of the local context and needs Across the Horowhenua District and in each of its communities there are a range of significant labour market and wider socio-economic challenges, from educational attainment, to unemployment, to rates of young people not in education, employment or training (NEET), to beneficiary rates. Across all these measures the Horowhenua District performs poorly when compared to surrounding districts, or to comparable local area or to regional and n...

THCL Discussion Series 2023

THCL Business Growth Manager, Hendrix Warren spoke to Bernard Hickey on his recent speaking engagement at the Electra Business After 5 event, to discuss his thoughts on the political environment, heading towards the General Election in October 2023....

Winners of Horowhenua – Kāpiti Business Awards 2022

The Electra Business and Innovation Awards supreme winner is Sustainable Foods. The company, based in Te Roto Drive, Paraparaumu, won an impressive three awards at the gala evening held in the Horowhenua Events Centre on Friday night. "I was humbled, honoured and very proud on behalf of our team," Sustainable Foods chief executive Justin Lemmens said. Scooping three awards was "a fantastic result driven by the hard work our team has put in since entering the market in 2018 and moving to Kā...

Special emergency room planned for kids at Palmerston North Hospital

This is the first fundraising project for the new Palmerston North Hospital Foundation, of which former Horowhenua mayor Brendan Duffy is chairman. Palmerston North Hospital is the main hospital for Horowhenua residents, providing 24-hour emergency care for Horowhenua families, he said. A dedicated Emergency Department (ED) for children will be built next year within the existing footprint of the Palmerston North Hospital. It will provide a separate waiting and treatment area for children, desig...

Techlam - Case Study

Techlam is a New Zealand owned and operated company based in Levin, with projects spanning the Southern hemisphere. The company is celebrating 30 years in November 2022 and started from humble beginnings. Andrew Hamilton was a builder who went out on his own in the early 90s, and in 1992 started making internal archways for houses, using customised curved wood. Working with his son Brett, their first office was in a double garage in Green Ave, Levin. The business grew in size and product range...

Woodhaven Gardens - Case Study

In Horowhenua, Primary Industries account for 13.2% of the local economy, compared with 6.3% in the national economy. In employment by broad sector, Primary Industries account for 15.2% in Horowhenua District compared with 5.9% in New Zealand. In order to introduce students to a range of employment opportunities in the horticultural sector in the region, this tactical initiative was formed between Get-Go, Horowhenua College and Woodhaven Gardens. ...

Henare Tuhoho, Farm Assistant, Lewis Farms - Case Study

He’s been with them since February 2022 and is loving his new role. He’s not originally from Horowhenua but moved here from Wellington in his teens to live with his grandparents. Henare had done a bit of labouring and farm work before and was looking for some work locally. However, most of the work that was available was out in the ‘wop-wops’, too far to travel or was seasonal mahi. Life also hadn’t been without its struggles, and he was finding the whole process of finding employment...

Horowhenua Health and Wellbeing Hub planning is underway

Horowhenua District Council has agreed to sell Council-owned property 15-23 Durham Street (Levin) to The Horowhenua Company Limited. The terms of the agreement stipulate that the land be used to develop a primary healthcare facility for Horowhenua, a vision Council has been culminating for several years. Horowhenua New Zealand Trust (HNZT) Chair Antony Young says “Our joint vision is to build a modern and multi-purpose health and wellbeing hub that meets the health needs of our communit...