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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...

Trust links Horowhenua with U.S. Ambassador

The visit saw the Ambassador visit The Horowhenua Business Park and meet anchor tenant, Thermosash, before meeting directly with the business community.Chair of the Horowhenua New Zealand Trust, Antony Young, says that the visit was particularly well timed to explore the potential of the U.S. - NZ relationship moving forward.“Horowhenua is growing, and we have national and international companies choosing to do business here. The link with the U.S. is an important one for our business communit...

National Library and other government services to move to Horowhenua

The National Library of New Zealand, Archives New Zealand and Ngā Taonga Sound & Vision are moving to Levin into the new purpose built Horowhenua Business Park, Internal Affairs announced today.Seeing government facilities return to the area, Horowhenua Developments Limited have been successful in their bid to make the business park the new home of a purpose-built, state-of-the-art facility of national significance.The first step towards a new home for the facility was announced today by th...

Bouncing back from COVID-19

For a Levin manufacturing company, lockdown saw all of their clients temporarily close their doors. So, what do you do when you can't do business as usual? Check out the video below to hear how the team at Concrete Pumping Equipment NZ used open communication and future planning to mitigate the economic effects of the COVID-19 lockdown....

Rising to the challenge: How The Baked Dane used lockdown to reach new markets

Especially when a majority of your business relies on retail sales and local markets. The team at The Baked Dane, took lockdown in their stride. Check out the video below to hear founder, Lisa Brink, share how her team turned the lockdown period into an opportunity to expand their delivery service and inspire some baking creativity during a nationwide yeast shortage....