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Levin: A Hub of Growth and Opportunity

Once known primarily for its iconic clock tower and beloved liquorice shop, Levin is redefining itself as a future centre of economic and commercial activity. This year, the town has experienced an upswing in development, signalling a bright future on the horizon.  Central to this transformation is the anticipated construction of the Ōtaki to North Levin (Ō2NL) bypass, set to commence in late 2025. This major infrastructure project has already sparked a surge in both commercial inves...

Enterprise Drive Development - Case Study

The Enterprise Drive Development, located in Levin, Horowhenua, represents an active economic development initiative that is transforming a long-vacant parcel of industrial land into a thriving industrial hub. The project showcases the power of collaboration in driving regional growth and explores the development's background, key milestones, economic outcomes, and broader impacts on the Horowhenua District.In 2019, unproductive land on Enterprise Drive was purchased from the Horowhenua District...

Horowhenua New Zealand Trust invests $1.6m in local healthcare services

Photo: Trustees Ron Turk and Larry Ellison with volunteers at Foxton Beach Community Centre and Health Shuttle.The Horowhenua New Zealand Trust has committed over $1.6 million to enhance healthcare access and services for the district through a series of grants and investments.One of the healthcare services the trust is investing in is the Health & Wellbeing Hub.In October, the trust said it would make a $1.5m investment into the development of the Horowhenua Health & Wellbeing Hub, curr...

Construction of new Health and Wellbeing Hub for Horowhenua begins

A significant step toward enhancing community health services in Horowhenua was taken on October 18th 2024, with the official dawn blessing of the site of a new primary healthcare facility site at 15 Durham Street, in Levin. The site blessing, conducted by the Muaūpoko Tribal Authority, was followed by a groundbreaking ceremony.The event brought together key stakeholders, including representatives from Muaūpoko Tribal Authority, Mayor Bernie Wanden, local MP Tim Costley, MP Dr. Vanessa Weenick...

Wayne Bishop announced as Hall of Fame laureate

Wayne Bishop was announced as the 2024 Mayoral Hall of Fame recipient at the Electra Business and Innovation Awards held on Thursday 10th October which was held at the Horowhenua Events Centre.Wayne Bishop stands as one of Horowhenua’s most prodigious developers, embodying the spirit of a local boy who made good.His roots run deep in Ōhau, where he grew up on a dairy farm, attended Ōhau School, built his own home, and developed one of his crowning achievements, the Speldhurst Country ...

Horowhenua-Kāpiti food and beverage sector shines at Parliament event

Horowhenua and Kāpiti’s food and beverage sector has been celebrated in style in Parliament’s banquet hall.The event, called A Taste of Horowhenua-Kāpiti, took place on Tuesday evening and saw 45 food and beverage businesses showcase their fare.Guests sampled various food and beverages, chatted with people behind the businesses, were entertained by Ōtaki College’s The Pretty Boys Band, and listened to speeches by Ōtaki MP Tim Costley, who hosted the event, and Hospitality and Tour...

Horowhenua now the 10th Fastest-Growing District in New Zealand

Published on June 14, 2024The latest Census results for 2023 provide a detailed picture of the remarkable growth and development within the Horowhenua District."Horowhenua now ranks as the 10th fastest-growing district in New Zealand, outpacing many larger areas in both the Horizons and Greater Wellington regions. While cities like Lower Hutt and Porirua have grown over the last five years, Horowhenua has seen the largest increase in population across the two regions, all this while the capital ...

Joy Tufuga's Completes Her Trade Certificate in Carpentry

Greenhaven Homes owned by TSP construction, celebrated the remarkable achievement of Joy Tufuga, the first female trade-qualified carpenter in Levin. Joy recently completed her carpentry apprenticeship through BCITO at Greenhaven and now leads her own team. Owner Todd Strode-Penny is committed to fostering a positive and inclusive work environment. He is dedicated to professional growth and development by investing in their employees, Greenhaven ensures a skilled and motivated workforce, se...

Brewtown general manager speaks at Electra Business After Five event

Guests at the July Electra Business After Five event heard from self-professed bogan and Brewtown general manager Phil Gorman.Gorman, who married a Levin local, shared his experiences and insights, arriving with a chilly bin filled with a selection of Panhead, Te Aro and zero craft beers for the guests, setting a convivial tone for the evening.Having previously served as the Upper Hutt City Council economic development manager for four years, Gorman drew parallels between the challenges Upper Hu...

Sustainability workshop

Sustainability and local small business.  Horowhenua’s local hospitality businesses, Zaaffran ‘Taste of Morocco’ Food Truck, attended a sustainability workshop series, organised by WellingtonNZ, Tourism Industry Aotearoa and Hospitality New Zealand. The workshops covered measuring emissions, reducing waste streams, and discovering industry specific information. In addition, an expert consultant made a site visit to analyse opportunities for improvements at each business invo...

Highway to boost Horowhenua’s burgeoning population even more

The proposed highway from Ōtaki to north of Levin is expected to boost the already burgeoning population of the Horowhenua district.The latest Census results for 2023 show Horowhenua to be one of the fastest-growing areas in New Zealand, and the new four-lane highway is expected to lure even more people to the district.The Ōtaki to North of Levin (Ō2NL) highway is set to be finished by the end of 2029 and is expected to cut the drive between Levin and Wellington ...

TSP Construction Ltd - Case Study

THCL spoke with Todd Strode-Penny, director of TSP Construction whose company manufactures architecturally designed, transportable homes under their Greenhaven Homes brand in their purpose-built facility on Hokio Beach Road, Levin. This state-of-the-art factory, established in 2022 on the former site of General Metal Recyclers is built to global standards on a picturesque 3-acre property adjacent to the Levin Racecourse.Todd and his wife Natalie established Greenhaven Homes seven years ago....

MABEL CENTRAL DEVELOPMENT WINS AWARD

Te Kāhui Whaihanga New Zealand Institute of Architects Western Architectural awards 2024 winner - Housing Multi Unit : MABEL CENTRAL Wright & Gray Architects  were incredibly proud to receive a Housing - Multi Unit award at the Te Kāhui Whaihanga NZIA Western Architecture Awards. The Mabel Central housing project focused on a sense of community, streetscape, and open space while being affordable low-maintenance housing. Jurors citation: A successful medium-density devel...

Roads of Significance will be built : Ō2NL

Transport Minister Simeon Brown announced on Monday more so-called Roads of Significance will be built. The new ones are not of National Significance, but Regional Significance, though Ō2NL still makes the list of roads considered to be of National Significance.This includes a major change to decision-making: no longer do ministers decide on scope and funding decisions. That will be a job for NZ Transport Agency Waka Kotahi (NZTA), Brown said.Roads of National...

FUTURES DAY 2024 CASE STUDY

 The fifth annual Get-Go Futures Day was held on Thursday 14th March.  Futures Day provides 400 Horowhenua Year 10 students and their teachers the opportunity to visit a range of different employers to understand more about the world of work and explore future local employment options. Futures Day is aimed at connecting students’ learning at school to workplace environments and expectations. The Get-Go Futures Day event is a work ready employment initiative b...

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...