BUILDING A LEGACY

CBC Construction has spent two decades shaping Tauranga’s skyline, earning respect not through fanfare, but through steady delivery and an unwavering commitment to doing things well.

WORDS PIP CROMBIE | PHOTOS SALINA GALVAN + SUPPLIED

From l-r: Drew Beekie, Peter Cooney and Matt Lagerberg.

How does a company achieve a gold standard reputation and stand out above others in a competitive, cost-driven, time-constricted market, one which demands quality, sustainability, longevity and capability with care? The commercial construction business demands all of the above and locally owned and operated Classic Builders Commercial Construction (known as CBC) have proven time and again they have the answers.

With over 220 completed commercial projects in the last 20 years that have contributed a $400 million turnover in the wider community, there is no doubt that CBC has made its’ mark on the landscapes and skylines of New Zealand. As they acknowledge two decades in the commercial construction business, it is without major fanfare and celebration.

Sitting with managing director, Drew Beekie, in the CBC Mount Maunganui office tucked away in the back of the industrial area, there is an overall atmosphere of ‘business as usual’ - projects coming to completion, others in development. That in itself is part of the essence of their success, getting the job done, keeping the customers happy - it has earned an immense amount of respect.

CBC’s knowledge and expertise in the construction industry are the overarching factor in their reputation for delivery of excellence in the commercial building sector. Their work spans compact retail spaces to multi-floor office complexes, industrial warehousing, dedicated health and education buildings, accommodation complexes, hospitality and more. From demolition of existing properties through to f itout, the 20 years CBC has spent in the commercial construction space has cemented their claim that integrity matters deeply to them, that conducting their business honestly and well, at every level, has maintained their impeccable reputation.

The story of how it all began is worth telling. Drew, a Scottish qualified quantity surveyor with 10 years of experience in London, and then Auckland, crossed paths with Peter Cooney when Drew relocated to the Bay of Plenty. It was 2005 and at that time Peter was managing director of residential construction company Classic Builders Ltd (now one of several entities under the Classic Group).

“I approached Peter to build a house for me when I moved to Tauranga,” Drew explains. “The timing was serendipitous. Classic was just beginning to dip its toe into the water with commercial builds, my area of expertise. During the house build, Matt (Lagerberg) and I got chatting about a commercial construction company and by the end of the house build, CBC came to fruition. We turned a three bedroom house on 15th Ave into an office.”

He muses over the changes technology has brought to how the business is operated today. “We used fax machines, typewritten letters, power cuts blew us out, I had my laptop stolen from the office and with no iCloud backup there wasn’t a lot you could do, but start again”.

The first project Drew was involved with was the iconic apartment and boat-stack complex at Sulphur Point, the Nautilus. The build was an Australasian first of its kind, allowing residents to steer their boats right into the garage below. The project was brought together by Peter and sealed by a handshake with the developer. From this first project, Drew, who was and still is “the do-er, the person who puts all the pieces together, to literally get the projects out of the ground”, initiated Classic Builders Commercial (CBC).

Trustpower.

Today, Drew heads CBC as managing director, accompanied by group directors, Matthew Lagerberg and Peter Cooney. Their combined building industry experience and sharp business acumen make them a formidable team, one that with the well-considered selection of project-management teams have seen multiple properties transformed from blank canvases into prime real estate.

Ibex

Further developments followed. The award-winning glass-panelled, louvred office development, 247 Cameron Road (the ANZ Business Centre), opened in 2012 and was deemed a trophy building for Tauranga, the largest commercial office development undertaken in the city for 35 years. CBC’s ability to secure blue chip tenants for the 10,000 m2, four-level build saw the project fly and has been a premise of other successful commercial projects. “We promised it would be ready on September 6, 2012, and that’s the day we handed over the keys,” Drew recalls.

Trustpower’s three-storied central city office, a slick design inside and out, was a two-year project and boasts a positive architectural feature of a redeveloping inner city. Exterior materials were chosen to balance performance, longevity and affordability with a large interior atrium connecting the three floors with a light-filled collaborative space. The building accommodates over 600 staff, and was a two-year, $25 million build. Like other big developments CBC have had, they’ve often had to overcome complexities of factors out of their hands.

“We’ve always had a big project on the go like the Trustpower head office during a recession, the GFC, some kind of world crisis, COVID...” Drew says. “These events have all in some way affected the state of construction today, the limitations. Comparing when we first began in 2006 to 2026, there’s been huge overall cost inflation in construction. Projects require more of everything to get them over the line, the processes and consenting hurdles are more complex and take more time. They’re not insurmountable, but post-COVID we’ve seen around 40 percent inflation in costs.”

Mount Golf Club Driving Range

There is an extensive suite of developments CBC are proud to have brought to fruition. On Tauranga’s city limits in the Tauriko business park are Cubro, SIMS Distribution, Penske, NZ Windows and the awardwinning IBEX lighting building, which brings a modern design aesthetic to what is essentially a warehouse space, with Grade A office facilities. Add to that New Shoots Childcare, Te Wananga O Aotearoa Campus, Fresh Choice Papamoa, Pearl Kitchen, Mount Golf Club Driving Range - the variety of projects is significant.

Mills Reef

Transforming the iconic art-deco-styled Mills Reef winery building into The Vines at Bethlehem Clubhouse, complete with interior fitout including an indoor pool and spa, auditorium, theatre, library, gym and resident spaces contributing to the lifestyle of residents of the associated residential village was a 14-month project. CBC also work within the medical space, with completed developments for the District Health Board, St John’s Operations Facility and others. A recent significant development is the Bay Radiology Building on 17th Avenue, a complex build that required the use of lead windows and three-foot thick concrete walls to contain radiation.

Bay Radiology

While CBC has left its footprint around New Zealand with ventures completed in Auckland and Queenstown, their developments are generally concentrated in the Bay of Plenty region. The current project, 2 Devonport Road, began with the demolition of the existing original downtown Tauranga high-rise. With a finish date of December 2026, it will open as the new location of Craig’s Investment Partners, with other tenants taking up two of the seven storeys.

Over the past 20 years, CBC has enjoyed working with clients more than once. “Our customers have good reason to return, we complete on time and on budget and meet every required quality standard. The way I see it, my name is on the line for every job. If there’s ever an issue, I’ll personally sort it out,” Drew explains.

From management of planning, architecture, construction delivery and after-build care, CBC works on the premise that no job is finished until the customer is content. What more can you ask for?

CBC'S AWARDS

New Shoots Kennedy Ridge – Waikato and Bay of Plenty Architecture Award 2020.

IBEX – Waikato and Bay of Plenty Architecture Award 2024.

Mills Reef/Vines Clubhouse – Award of Excellence in the Naylor Love Heritage and Adaptive Reuses Property Award category at the Property Industry Awards 2023.

TECT/The Kollective – Merit Award and Judge's Choice Award Property Council NZ Awards 2019.

Trustpower – Waikato/Bay of Plenty Architecture Awards 2016.

ANZ/247 Cameron Rd – NZIA Waikato Bay of Plenty Architecture Award 2013 and Award of Excellence in Property Council New Zealand (PCNZ) Property Industry Awards 2013.

CUBRO - 2016 Tauriko Business Estate Design Award and 2017 Waikato/Bay of Plenty Architecture Awards (Commercial Category)

CBCCONSTRUCTION.CO.NZ

WINDS OF CHANGE

There’s an undeniable buzz building in the city. But how did Downtown Tauranga get its groove back? UNO goes in search of answers.

PHOTOS NICK NEWMAN + SALINA GALVAN + BEN PARKINSON @ PABLO CREATIVE

If you’ve visited Downtown Tauranga recently, perhaps to take the kids to the waterfront’s new destination playground, or grab a delicious bite from one of the many new cafes or eateries, or while away an hour or two in the stunning new Toi Tauranga Art Gallery, then you would have noticed that change is in the air.

Walking around, there’s a new buzz and vitality present. There are people and new shops opening everywhere you turn. As a local, it’s exciting to feel a vibe coming back to the downtown area.

Genevieve Whitson, general manager of Downtown Tauranga, says this shift has been gradual but unmistakable.

“It’s been a moving beast for a considerable period of time,” she explains. “It’s taken a lot of major stakeholders working with the businesses, and a variety of different organisations, including the local iwi, to get these developments up and running as part of this massive revitalisation. I would imagine that what the Tauranga City Centre is going through must right now be one of the biggest city centre activations happening across the country.”

The opening or near completion of major projects is really fuelling the sea change. Te Manawataki o Te Papa, the city’s new museum, is scheduled to open in 2028. The architecturally inspiring new library opens later this year. Panorama Towers and the Craig’s Investment Partners building continue to take shape. The large, mixed-use Northern Quarter development is now open and in full operation. These projects all add to the purposeful transformation that has been highly anticipated for years.

Since joining Downtown Tauranga in September 2023, Genevieve has been able to cross items off the city’s hypothetical ‘to do’ list.

“Every year I’ve seen more and more projects get ticked off. There are still more to go, but we’re starting to reap the rewards now.”

Along with the new developments, hospitality has also played a vital and visible part in bringing new energy to the streets. The formerly sleepy Grey Street is beginning to bustle with the arrival of Stassano Deli, which Genevieve credits with helping “zhuzh up the general atmosphere,” while at the other end of the street, The Clubhouse brings a unique experience, pairing a golf simulation and a bar setting.

“We haven’t had anything in the city centre before where you can go and play golf and then enjoy a drink,” she says. “That’s pretty cool.”

Alongside the eateries and bars, shops are coming back as well, many independently owned, giving the city a growing character.

“I think it’s going to have some niche stuff that you can’t get at a mall or sometimes anywhere else,” Genevieve enthuses. “Over the past four months, we’ve seen an increase in businesses choosing to move into the city centre.”

The injection of approximately 700 Tauranga City Council staff into the city centre last year has also supported weekday trade, adding a reliable base of customers for cafés and retailers.

Despite the complexity of construction and on-going change, the prevailing mood is shifting. “If we compare it to two years ago, it’s considerably better and if we compare it to a year ago, it’s definitely better,” she says. “There’s a sense of optimism building.”

The exciting part is that it’s only going to get better as more projects are completed, bringing people in with them.

Genevieve cites the new playground, a Tauranga City Council initiative, as one of the most significant contributors to the renewed energy, calling it “one of the best activations for the city centre.” It allowed families to plan whole days around a visit. With the updated Masonic Park, the waterfront swim access - complete with its popular Manu launchpad, and the Sauna Project, the area encourages people not just to visit, but to hang around.

She also mentions the Tauranga City Council and their 700 staff moving into their new building last May, as another key moment, as it brings increased foot traffic to hospitality and retail.

“The revitalisation of downtown has been a huge task. It takes time,” she explains. “Bringing that energy back is not something that you can change overnight. We've entered a marathon, not a sprint. Now we just have to be patient, because things are changing. We’ve not been without some teething problems, but things are moving in the right direction.” DOWNTOWNTAURANGA.CO.NZ

BEST OF BOTH WORLDS

Karl Puschmann puts the new Lexus flagship SUV, the RZ 550e F Sport, to the test on an overnight roadtrip through the winding Waikato. But, is the car a refined, luxury cruiser or a performance powerhouse? As it turns out, it’s both.

PHOTOS JAHL MARSHALL

A trip to Cambridge seemed the perfect excuse to test drive the new flagship EV SUV from Lexus. But really, it was the other way round. The sleek RZ 550e F Sport provided a compelling reason to drop the kids at Nana’s and hit the open road.

As the crown jewel of their EV range, the F Sport is brimming with high-end tech and all the creature comforts Lexus is renowned for. The package is topped off with a stylish, head-turning design and bleeding- edge performance that practically demands to be taken out of the congested city streets and let loose. I was happy to oblige.

As you’d expect, tackling the mountainous Kaimai Range proved no challenge. With a hefty 402-horsepower on tap, we thundered up its steep, winding slope and had more than enough juice to safely pass the lumbering trucks that pulled into the slow vehicle bays on the short corners of the decline.

From there, State Highway 29 is a mostly straightforward journey to Cambridge, which allowed me to get some real-world testing of the car’s driver features. These are bundled under the Lexus Safety System+ 3.0 umbrella and include Lane Tracing Assist, which helps keep the car centred in its lane when adaptive cruise control is engaged, All-Speed Dynamic Radar Cruise Control, which automatically adjusts acceleration and braking to maintain a safe following distance, and Curve Speed Management, which can reduce speed through bends when cruise control is active.

I found that letting the driver-assist systems shoulder much of the steering, acceleration and braking reduced fatigue, although this would likely be more noticeable on longer trips, with Cambridge only a little over an hour away. With these features engaged, the car can briefly track the lane on its own, though it quickly prompts you to keep your hands on the wheel if it senses you’ve let go.

Setting your speed and engaging the systems is as easy as pressing one of the touch-sensitive buttons on the steering yoke (yes, steering yoke, not steering wheel) once you reach your desired cruising speed. The yoke is the F Sport’s marquee feature, and we’ll get to it in a moment.

From there, you can run adaptive cruise control on its own, or add lane tracing assist for steering support, with the option to have both working together. Their status appears in the heads-up display, projected onto the windscreen directly in the driver’s line of sight.

This may be the sport model, but the ride inside was never anything less than comfortable and whisper-quiet, even on the plentiful stretches of chipseal road. The silence provided the perfect canvas for the impressive 13-speaker Mark Levinson sound system to shine, while the Ultrasuede-trimmed sports seats, with their blue- stitch detailing, proved both comfortable and supportive.

With my phone sitting on the charging pad, it was simple to navigate Apple CarPlay through the Infotainment system’s crisp and bright 14-inch touchscreen display. It was too nice a day to use the heated seats or steering yoke, but pressing a button to switch the Dynamic Sky panoramic roof from opaque to transparent flooded the cabin with natural light and

blue sky, making the spacious interior feel even airier. Much like the seats, the position of the steering yoke can be electronically adjusted for reach and height, with memory settings allowing multiple drivers to quickly return to their preferred seat, steering and mirror positions.

This is a good time to talk about the synthetic leather–clad steering yoke, which replaces the traditional wheel and looks like it’s been transplanted from an F1 car, complete with what Top Gear’s Jeremy Clarkson dubbed “flappy paddles.” The RZ 550e also ditches the mechanical steering column in favour of a full steer-by- wire system, replacing traditional mechanical linkages with digital precision. It’s easy to oversteer at first, but I quickly acclimated to its responsiveness, with the smallest turn of the wrist producing surgical maneuvers.

Not that I was too worried about precision or scratching the 20-inch alloy wheels, or their aerodynamic resin covers, when I pulled up outside the newly renovated, historic Clements Hotel, our lodgings for the night in the heart of Cambridge. Instead, I happily pushed a button and let the Advanced Park system navigate us into the space. Lexus EVs have had this feature for a couple of years, but it still feels like magic every time, and there’s a satisfying moment seeing the car parked perfectly in the middle of even the tightest spot.

We’d left Tauranga on a full charge and were still sitting above 60 percent on arrival, which was impressive, considering I’d been fiddling with every button I could reach, had the Climate Concierge cranking, and had really been putting the car through its paces.

We cruised all around Cambridge and ventured out to the Sculpture Park at Waitakaruru Arboretum, roughly 20 minutes from town, as well as the Takapoto Estate Winery, which was another 20 minutes in the opposite direction, before bidding farewell to The Clements, packing our two suitcases into the F Sport’s spacious boot, and heading home the next day.

There was one feature I’d purposefully saved for the return trip: the 550e F Sport’s exclusive Manual Mode. This uses the flappy paddles on the yoke to physically simulate an 8-speed manual gearbox, essentially transforming the car from an automatic into a rocket-powered manual, although it must be stressed that in auto, the car is no slouch, capable of throwing you back against your seat as it rockets to 100km/h in a mere 4.4 seconds.

Taking manual control of all that power was a thrill, seeing the rev counter race up to the red and hearing the engine roar as I planted my foot down. But, you may be thinking, this is an EV - I shouldn’t have been hearing any roaring whatsoever out of its battery- powered motor. And you’re right, I shouldn’t have been. But Lexus has very cleverly equipped the F Sport with what they call Active Sound Control, which simulates the sound of a high-performance engine, roaring, rising and falling in perfect sync with every flappy paddle gear shift. It makes for a visceral experience and one that is a heck of a lot of fun.

With an advertised 437 km range on a single charge, I had no battery anxiety at all on our trip, even with how much time we spent in the car and my enthusiastic pushing of the vehicle. In fact, I didn’t charge it at all until we got back to Tauranga, where I gave the car a quick blat from one of the Quick Charge stations at The Crossing while we grabbed a bite to eat.

With its sharp style, racy split rear spoiler, blacked out trim and aerodynamic body kit, the 550e F Sport leaves no doubt that it means business, while the sophistication of its design reinforces its premium luxury roots. This is reflected in its driving experience.

You can cruise in supreme comfort or harness the thrills of its power. Whichever you choose,it doesn’t disappoint.

LEXUS.CO.NZ/EN/DEALERS/TAURANGA

GUIDING THE FUTURE

From graduate to partner, Natalie Berkett’s journey at KPMG Tauranga is one of mentorship, opportunity and building a career full of challenges and rewards.

WORDS MONIQUE BALVERT-O’CONNOR PHOTOS DEBORAH DE GRAAF

She may have recently become a KPMG partner, yet those early days as a graduate are front of mind for Tauranga’s Natalie Berkett.

It’s 20 years since she attended grad camp with a freshly minted double degree (Bachelor of Commerce and Law) under her belt, and early this year she was back.

In what she describes as “a career journey coming full circle” Natalie was back at this year’s camp for new graduates; there to answer questions, join in activities, connect with the graduates, and share her experience. In short, she was ready to mentor the next generation, as is the KPMG way.

Immediately after grad camp, she was back at work to welcome the four new university graduates who have joined the KPMG Tauranga team. Also welcomed were a similar number of students straight from local colleges, who will be supported to study professional or tertiary qualifications part-time. At KPMG, learning is embedded in day-to-day work, not treated as an add-on - as an “exciting and significant” milestone last year highlighted, when 10 of the KPMG Tauranga team achieved chartered accountant status.

Natalie’s workplace journey reflects not only her firm’s long-term investment in people and its commitment to learning at every stage, but its culture of continuity and belonging.

Natalie recalls the time when, upon farewelling her Otago University days, she had the choice of four impressive graduate programmes.

She’d done her homework, choosing KPMG for its reputation of walking the talk when it came to putting people first. Twenty years on and she says she’s never seriously looked at working anywhere else.

KPMG’s Wellington office is where she cut her teeth and during her six years of tenure there she rose to the position of manager. A promotion to senior manager came with her move to Tauranga and then about seven years later she became a director. Natalie’s promotion to partner marks the latest milestone in her career and reinforces the growth of KPMG’s tax practice.

KPMG and tax have been Natalie’s career constants.

“But it doesn’t feel like I’ve had the same job, as I’ve had lots of opportunities to switch things out. Before children, I took a career break and travelled for four months with my husband; I had a short three-month secondment to KPMG Beijing; had two maternity leave stints; and changed office, so there was lots of variety and opportunity and I never feel as if there isn’t another challenge,” Natalie tells.

There was also the opportunity, had she wanted it, to focus on other areas of the business, given KPMG is a fully integrated firm bringing tax, audit and advisory together to support businesses as they grow and evolve. And given KPMG is a global enterprise, the option of further secondments (to places such as The Netherlands, Germany, Singapore, Australia and the United Kingdom) is also possible.

“You don’t just start at KPMG; you can grow up here and thrive,” says Natalie, who admires the firm’s culture of progression and the fact it is a “long term talent incubator” (to quote a colleague, Tracy Preston-Lett).

Natalie says there’s plenty to keep her with KPMG.

She enjoys the firm’s diverse client base that ranges from start-ups and entrepreneurs through to large, complex organisations - at her workplace the full spectrum of business is supported. All, regardless of size and stage, get to benefit from the KPMG team’s deep understanding of what it takes to scale, adapt and stay resilient.

Irrespective of needs, KPMG has a valuable service to offer, Natalie explains. The KPMG team can be there from a business’ conceptual, right through to celebratory, stage. KPMG can be a constant in terms of audit and compliance, or it can offer a dipping in and out service - being there as a sounding board and advisory service during a business’ life cycle as its strategies unfold.

Natalie values the people at KPMG. There’s a wide skills base of people always willing to give their time and share their wisdom and knowledge. They work hard and have fun as a team, she says. And Natalie says she feels valued too.

She’s happy to report that “people focus” she identified 20 years ago, when entering the work force, was on the mark. The firm’s purpose of “fuelling prosperity for New Zealand, for all New Zealanders” fits well with her value base.

“Take the grad camp, for example,” she says, citing a fresh-to-mind experience.

“Two days of it were held in Auckland, three at Northland’s Te Aroha Marae. We were intentionally connecting with grass roots New Zealand. We were encouraging our people to think about our KPMG ‘prosperity for all’ purpose. We’re here for all New Zealanders and really do focus on our people, in terms of both staff and clients.”

People, capability and confidence are all key words when it comes to KPMG’s role as trusted advisor to many, says Natalie’s co-worker and private enterprise partner Tracy Preston-Lett.

Like Natalie, Tracy’s carved out a long-standing (just shy of 30 years) career at KPMG and thrives on being part of a multi-generational office. There’s much to be gained from having 17-year-olds on board, through to one valued team member in their early seventies.

“We’re a place where people can start early, stay long, and go far. The different life stages and perspectives are seen not as a challenge, but a strength. Consider things like digital confidence, experience, fresh thinking and institutional memory and you can understand howknowledge transfer works both ways.

“We think our workplace reflects the real world. It’s multigenerational, diverse and is home to people constantly learning,” Tracy says.

It’s also a workplace heavily embedded in the local business ecosystem, developing people, supporting growth, and contributing positively to the region. The latter involves strong examples of pro bono professional assistance over the years to organisations such as Waipuna Hospice, ACORN Foundation, and choosing Merivale Primary School as a partner school.

“When we talk about prosperity for New Zealanders, we are talking business and community too,” Tracy says. Speaking as managing partner of the Tauranga office, Tracy says KPMG Tauranga, with its strong local roots and team of almost 100, can indisputably claim to play a key role in its region’s success stories. After all, well-supported people and well-advised businesses are key to regional prosperity.

“I feel really strongly about this region. It has a bright future. You only have to look at the infrastructure, work in progress, changes emerging and possibilities that are coming to life, albeit sometimes slower than people like.

“We are business advisors to a range of clients and get to see their strategic plans and hear their aspirations around what they intend to do or are contemplating. This really fuels optimism around regional growth. I strongly believe we are building a really great city that we can be incredibly proud of, to work and thrive in.”

She enthuses over the big anchor projects that are starting to reach key milestones in Tauranga’s city centre. There’s plenty to get excited about between now and a 10-year horizon.

“Within our KPMG Private Enterprise team, we have a tag line around ‘make possible happen’ and I like that because if you line up how we can work with people to make their possible happen, then that’s an exciting future.”

KPMG.COM/NZ

ON THE MOVE

Innovative Digital Solutions is in the midst of big changes with new acquisitions, new headquarters and a fresh chapter for the Bay.

PHOTOS KATIE COX

In Tauranga, if a business needs its printers to work, its digital workflows to run smoothly or its office tech to just behave, there’s a good chance Innovative Digital Solutions (IDS) is behind it. For more than 20 years, the company has become a backbone for businesses across the BOP, Coromandel and South Waikato, evolving alongside technology and local business needs.

Every story has a beginning, and IDS’s is modest. In 2005, co-founders Jim Tavendale and Dan Martin opened their first office with “just our name on the door and a phone number,” Jim recalls. With one technician, one office staffer and no clients, their mission was simply to listen and solve problems. That hands-on, practical approach became the company’s guiding principle.

The early days demanded improvisation and a willingness to tackle whatever came through the door.

As the company grew, its systems and team grew too. Continuous improvement became a steady foundation that would allow IDS to expand without losing its personal touch.

But IDS didn’t just stick with printers. As workplaces evolved, so did the company. Today, it offers everything from print management and advanced scanning, to digital signage, workflow automation and interactive smart screens for schools and businesses.

“We’re not selling machines, we’re helping businesses work smarter,” says Dan. “Whether it’s scanning documents efficiently or reducing unnecessary printing, it’s about making processes simpler and more sustainable.”

Despite expanding its services, IDS has remained staunchly local. Operating from Tauranga with a dedicated Rotorua office, the company ensures clients always talk to someone who knows their business and their challenges, not a call centre on the other side of the world.

Recent years have seen IDS grow through the onboarding of new clients and carefully considered acquisitions. In 2025, the company purchased Insite Technology, a BOP print supply business, adding a number of new clients. Then, in early 2026, IDS acquired Bay Copy, an exclusive Canon authorised partner with 16 years of local presence, further increasing the IDS customer base. Together, these acquisitions have strengthened two established local businesses, forming a powerful, community-based organisation. Alongside experienced staff and specialist expertise, they have enhanced the company’s local footprint and expanded its range of solutions.

To accommodate growth, IDS moved into a purpose-built headquarters a year ago. The space is modern and collaborative, a reflection of the company itself, which is practical and designed for people first.

But the company’s biggest strength is its team. Some employees have been with IDS since day one, and many long-term staff are approaching a decade of service.

Others take opportunities abroad and return with new perspectives, creating a blend of experience and fresh thinking. It’s a culture built on respect and a shared commitment to the local business community.

Two decades on, IDS is now a local story of growth and connection. And with a solid foundation, a new modern headquarters and a team that values people as much as technology, the next chapter looks just as promising.

IDS.NET.NZ

INTO UNCHARTED WATERS

While making Aotearoa’s coastline and seabeds safer for all, Discovery Marine has also taken a novel and highly commendable approach to encouraging young people into the industry. Company CEO Declan Stubbing explains all to UNO.

PHOTOS KATIE COX + SUPPLIED

CEO Declan Stubbing and CCO Kevin Smith.

It’s hard to believe, but as a species, we’ve mapped the surfaces of the moon and Mars in higher resolution than much of our own seafloor. It’s estimated that around 75 percent of the world’s seabed remains a mystery.

But that is changing. Discovery Marine (DML), a company based in Mount Maunganui, is charting and surveying the seabed not just in Aotearoa, but also in Australia and the Pacific, in great detail, using high-definition 3D technology.

“There are a few uncharted areas remaining on the New Zealand coastline,” Declan Subbing says. “The Wairarapa coast is one area that is largely unsurveyed, and we currently have a team down in Moeraki, near Otago mapping an uncharted area.”

Declan is the CEO of DML, whose core business is hydrographic surveying and mapping the seafloor. To perform this technical and demanding work, their boats are equipped with state-of-the-art sonar systems that produce 3D data. This data accurately paints a picture of the seafloor, right down to the pebble.

“It essentially visualises the whole seabed,” Declan explains. “We’re able to make sure we’ve got every rock, every pebble, positioned and that everything is mapped accurately.”

This is important information for a range of industries. Part of their work is updating the nautical charts for the New Zealand Hydrographic Authority at Land Information New Zealand. These charts are relied upon by various seafaring businesses. There are some areas that were surveyed over 50 years ago using equipment that Declan describes as “similar to a fish finder”.

The team deploying hydrographic equipment in Western Australia.

“We’re tasked with surveying the high-risk areas where there's a lot of shipping traffic, using our modern 3D multi-beam echo sounders to update those charts,” Declan says. “There are changes to the coastline and rocks or other hazards that might have been missed. That does happen occasionally around New Zealand’s coastline.”

DML is also busy in and around our ports, monitoring the impact of dredging, tracking sandwaves which migrate up and down the harbour, and providing data that ensures critical clearance levels for the massive container ships that visit are maintained.

DML's work gives the ports more confidence on where and when it’s safe to navigate ships.

Sand waves mapped using 3D technology.

“We survey the harbour seabed in 3D, which gets turned into navigation products for pilots,” he adds.

Declan studied hydrography, the name given to the science of underwater surveying at University of Otago.

Shortly before graduating, Greg Cox, the founder of DML, got in touch with the School of Surveying to see if anyone there was interested in a job in hydrography. Declan was keen and became the company’s very first employee. The team now comprises 16.

Excavator lost at sea mapped using 3D technology.

DML faces a number of challenges when recruiting, because of the specialist skills required and graduates being lured overseas. Declan says they identified this as a “risk to the business growing” five years ago. To tackle the problem, they came up with an innovative solution.

“We thought ‘How are we going to be able to encourage people into hydrography?’” He says. “That’s how we came up with the concept of offering a scholarship at the School of Surveying at Otago University.”

With many of their current staff having attended the university, it was a solution that held great appeal.

“We’ve got a really strong connection there,” Declan smiles. “I really like the idea of being able to give back to the institution that gave me a lot.”

Their scholarship covers full course fees for a final year surveying student who is undertaking research connected to hydrography. It also offers them support with their research, an internship at DML, exposure to the industry and opportunities to attend conferences with the DML team. A true kick start into the industry.

Their commitment doesn’t stop there. Employees at DML are encouraged to continue developing and gain certification within the industry.

Early morning hydrographic survey operations.

“We really push the certification angle within our business. We like the idea that you’re always working towards something. It keeps people motivated and it’s great when someone’s awarded a new certification. It’s a real reason to celebrate because it's a recognition of the hard work they’ve put in.”

Just across the ditch, demand for certified hydrographic surveyors is exploding with the Government committing to a 10-year programme of nautical charting work, to which DML was appointed to a panel of suppliers.

He says it’s “enormously satisfying” work, and would encourage people to consider it as a career. “You see where your effort has gone. At the end of the day, you know you’ve contributed to improving coastal navigation and making our coastal communities safer.”

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Hydrographic surveying is Kate’s ticket to the world

SEA OF POSSIBILITIES

Kate Downes, senior hydrographic surveyor at DML, swaps land for ocean depths and discovers a world of adventure.

With her interest in maths and geography, Kate Downes had been drawn to surveying as a career. But when she learned about hydrographic surveying, her plans quickly changed.

“I went along to an open day at Otago University, where they talked about surveying and explained it. I was like, ‘Yep, this is definitely what I want to do’. Then they talked about hydrographic surveying specifically, which hadn’t been well-advertised, and my ears pricked up. It sounded exciting. My family had a boat, so I was familiar with the water. It was right up my alley.”

Realising hydrographic surveying could be a ticket to see the world, Kate dived in. Upon graduating, she moved to Perth to work for one of the biggest survey companies in the world. During her five-year stint, she learned as much as she could from those she worked with and “doubled down on travelling”. She’d be rostered offshore for six weeks at a time, and then have six weeks off to do whatever she wanted. Which was seeing the world.

Eventually, she decided she wanted to come back home and be closer to family.

Since joining DML, she has excelled and is one of only six women across Australasia to earn the highest level of certification in hydrography. Now, as a senior member of the DML team, she leads their major nautical charting projects for the New Zealand and Australian Governments.

“It’s always been about seeing new places. That’s one of the draw cards,” she smiles. “We’re in remote places, seeing cool things. We see whales offshore all the time. Stuff like that I’m really interested in.”

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Georgia is chasing her dreams without compromising her lifestyle.

MAKING WAVES

Charting hidden coastlines, Georgia Pendred, graduate hydrographic surveyor at DML, discovers adventure and a strong sense of purpose.

It’s a rare day off the boat for Georgia Pendred when UNO calls.

“At the moment, I’m in Dunedin, Moeraki specifically, for a big three-month-ish, maybe longer job we're doing,” she says. “We towed one of our biggest boats down from the Mount, and each day we head out and do our survey.”

It’s not a bad way to spend a summer’s day. Even today, the weather is “a bit stinky”, meaning the team is staying on land. The team rotates out every two weeks, so she’ll be on the water for another week before returning to the office for two weeks, creating the perfect field to office balance.

“Travelling is a big perk, and it’s really fun,” she enthuses. “You get to see some cool locations and remote spots that not many other people would see. Parts of the Moeraki coastline, for example, hasn't been charted before.”

A Tauranga native, Georgia grew up around the water. Her family had a little boat, and they’d go out to Matakana Island for a BBQ or go biscuiting on the lakes. Even still, she didn’t realise her career would see her oceanbound. Instead, her focus was on land.

“I wanted to do environmental management. I love the sustainability side of things and protecting our earth. That's what led me to a Bachelor of Surveying at Otago University,” she explains. “Hydrographic surveying popped up as a paper that you could take as an elective. The lecturer, Emily Tidey, an industry role model, was so passionate about it and really sold it to me. I realised it was still the environment and still looking after our planet. Only on water, not land.”

She took the paper and “fell in love” with the subject. After that, she focused all her energy on hydrographic surveying.

She says it’s an ideal career for people who love the outdoors, because “you’re doing fieldwork all the time.” It would also suit people who enjoy problem-solving, as things pop up every day that need troubleshooting.

As for surveying being a math-heavy career? Georgia is happy to bust that myth.

“I suck at math,” she laughs. “I dropped out in year 11. I love literacy, history, classics and all that stuff. When deciding to do surveying, I knew math was going to be a challenge.”

She says that while the degree does get math-heavy, if you’re determined, you can get through it.

“I put my mind to it, and put my head down. I asked a lot of questions, and because we’re a tight-knit group at the School of Surveying, I had a lot of support from my lecturers and classmates. If you’re motivated, definitely give it a go,” she says. “Don’t be afraid of surveying or scared off because everyone says that it’s math-heavy.

I managed to get through it, and actually came out the other end with the math papers being my highest subjects!”

While at university, Georgia was awarded the DML scholarship for her final year where she completed an Honors research project. This enabled her to gain insight into the industry and complete an internship before accepting a graduate role at DML.

She’s already taking advantage of the opportunities to progress towards certification. “I’m starting to chip away at that,” she says.

Talking with her, it’s clear how passionate she is about her work, and the impact it has on the environment. She’d love to see more women taking it up.

“There aren’t many women in surveying in general, and then it gets even more niche when you go into hydro,” she says. “But it’s definitely changing, and DML is representing that really well. It's really cool to know we’re part of a new generation that's changing things. I'd like to keep that going. DMLSURVEYS.CO.NZ

TAKING THE REINS

At just 34, Kelly Van Dyk is taking on the male-dominated horse racing industry, and winning. She tells Karl Puschmann all about Prima Park, the world-class facility she heads and the challenges she’s faced to get to the front of the pack. PHOTOS CHRISTINE CORNEGÉ + SUPPLIED

Kelly Van Dyk at Prima Park in Matamata, where she leads the next generation of thoroughbreds.

In the world of horse racing, everyone knows that bloodline is key. A horse’s pedigree reliably indicates what racing traits it will inherit and, most importantly, its champion potential. But, it turns out, you can extrapolate the bloodline theory out to the world of horse training as well.

Kelly Van Dyk is a third-generation horsewoman, a former champion equestrian and New Zealand representative, and now the head of Prima Park, the prominent, family-run thoroughbred farm and equine facility located in Matamata, the heart of New Zealand's racing country.

“My grandfather Brian trained racehorses as a hobby,” Kelly explains. “He’d take my mother, Louise, and her sister for riding lessons and decided he was going to try and train and breed racehorses himself. He was quite successful in doing that, and mum was a very successful rider herself, competing in events at a high level.”

When Kelly came along, Brian wasted no time in introducing his granddaughter to the sport.

“He bought me a pony when I was really young. I rode from when I could walk,” she says.

Brian’s plan worked. “I caught the bug,” she laughs. But, so had her whole family.

Her dad, Leighton, retired from the family business, the popular furniture chain Van Dyks Furniture, in 2010 to focus on the fillies. He bought two weanlings, foals that are six months old, intending to resell them. There was, however, a big problem.

“I was at the height of my dressage career riding in Germany, when dad rang me up and said, ‘I’ve bought these two horses. I don't really know what to do with them. You’d better come home.’”

So, she did. Kelly and her dad took those weanlings to the New Zealand Bloodstock Ready To Run Sale, sold them for a profit and then did it again. And again. And again. Eventually, she was able to leave the job she’d taken at Waikato Stud, where she’d been studiously learning the “tricks of the trade”, to work on Prima Park full time.

With Kelly’s sole focus on the business, things started to take off. They outgrew the family farm in Putararu, where they’d been since 1992, and moved to a bigger property in Mystery Creek in 2016. They wouldn’t be there long.

In 2022, Kelly took the reins, so to speak, to head the company. She expanded both Prima Park’s offerings and its premises, moving the company to its world-class 50ha facility in Matamata.

“Mum and dad were getting older and wanted to take a step back. It’s a demanding job, very physical, hands-on work,” Kelly explains. “I felt like I was just getting started. I had that hunger and drive to really sink my teeth into it. I could see the opportunity.”

Prima Park’s business expanded to include the services it offers today, including breaking-in, pre-training, and agistment, all supported by its purpose-built equine facility, which even includes an 800-meter training track allowing specialised preparation for the yearling and Ready to Run bloodstock sales.

The success has been notable. Prima Park has graduated multiple top-tier racehorses, including Beat The Clock, a four-time Group 1 winner and Hong Kong Sprinter of the Year, and Warmonger, the 2024 Group 1 Queensland Derby winner. They’ve also won strong market recognition by consistently producing highvalue sales in the yearlings and Ready-to-Run sales. As well as the local market, Prima Park’s horses are also sold into Hong Kong, Singapore and Australia. At last year’s New Zealand Bloodstock sale, they sold 18 of their 19 horses, making them the second leading vendor by aggregate, a new milestone for the facility, and selling the second highest horse of the sale for a whopping $775,000.

What makes it all the more impressive is that Kelly is the only woman in Australasia running a facility of this scale. Something that she says hasn’t always been easy.

“It’s been hard because I’m dealing with males 24-7 in the industry,” she admits. “But I wanted to prove that women could do this and that we can do anything. I have my own goals of what I want to achieve, and just because I’m a woman, it doesn’t mean that I can’t do it.

It’s just choosing a path you want to go down and sticking to it, really.”

Another challenge is balancing her love of horses with the commercial realities of needing to sell them on. She spends months with these animals and gets to know them and their personalities intimately.

“You’ve got to separate your emotions because you form a bond with them, you love the horse, but we do need to sell them. I wouldn’t say it gets easier. It’s just part of it. But there’s satisfaction in knowing that you’ve installed a lot of groundwork that then becomes results on the track.”

“Ultimately, we want to prepare horses to go on and do great things,” she says. “That’s what we keep our focus on. It’s getting better and better every year. We’ve got some big goals, and we want to keep building and producing quality horses that win big races.”

Then, smiling, she adds, “This is just the beginning.”

PRIMAPARK.CO.NZ

SEA CHANGE

A Tauranga seaweed farm is turning local waters into a hub for climate and coastal innovation.

WORDS ALISON SMITH PHOTOS PAUL ROSS JONES + SUPPLIED

Huna Hough of Greenwave Aotearoa at the Tauranga hatchery.

When healthy, New Zealand’s reef ecosystem is a rich and beautiful tapestry of fish species navigating golden hued kelp forests, pink paint and coralline seaweeds against a backdrop of teal green sea and bubbling tide.

This underwater world is underexplored and underappreciated by many, with spearfishers and snorkellers the most common admirers of its charms. Yet seaweed holds huge potential not only as an ecosystem in its own right, but as a climate hero for its ability to absorb carbon, filter water and provide a source of nutrients to humans and animals.

At the University of Waikato Marine Station in Sulphur Point Tauranga, a small and dedicated team lives and breathes seaweed. Greenwave Aotearoa began as a pilot project funded in part by the Sustainable Food and Fibre Futures Fund (SFFF) administered by the Ministry of Primary Industries.

Led by Auckland-based venture developer EnviroStrat, Greenwave Aotearoa is building capacity for a network of regenerative ocean farmers to farm seaweed nationwide.

Māori have used seaweed for centuries — as a food source and for storage. As Te Ara Encyclopedia of New Zealand explains: “with its long coastline and abundant seaweed resources, New Zealand has the potential for a thriving seaweed industry.

However, the labour-intensive nature of harvesting and aquaculture has prevented the country from competing against bigger producers in Asia.

Lucas Evans, Premium Seas, with Peter Randrup and Ryan Marchington, both Greenwave Aotearoa.

Greenwave Aotearoa has been working to turn this around.

“Our oceans hold vast potential for sustainable innovation and seaweed is one of the most promising solutions,” believes founder Dr Nigel Bradly. “By farming seaweed and creating high value uses for the harvested biomass we can create a future that supports our needs while protecting the environment.”

Getting to this point has taken a great deal of learning. The project began in the Hauraki Gulf at a seaweed trial adapted from mussel farm infrastructure off the Coromandel coast. It faced challenges — including skeleton shrimp eating early-stage growth, a marine heatwave, and adapting gear to grow something never farmed here before.

Here, mussel farmer Dave Blyth — who says he keeps meaning to retire — has had his retirement sailing trips disrupted by helping grow a new seaweed industry in New Zealand alongside the Greenwave team.

The process begins with collecting seaweed under permit from the wild. The team works with the seaweed to induce spores in a Sulphur Point hatchery, where it’s nurtured under red lights using techniques refined over three years.

Microscopic baby seaweed (sporophytes) is grown on spools. The Tauranga-based team led by Peter Randrup had to determine exactly what was needed for it to thrive in an artificial environment so seedlings could be produced at scale for planting on farms. This is where farmer Dave Blyth comes in.

Dave is showing the ropes to scientists including Greenwave aquaculture lead Ryan Marchington, who brings his seaweed farming experience from Europe. Seaweed farming is new in New Zealand, and the team had been using systems designed for mussels, not seaweed.

With Ryan sharing knowledge from overseas, the team has now optimised on-water operations using custom systems.

“It’s been a big learning process. You can grow seaweed in a hatchery but it doesn’t automatically follow that they’ll keep growing in the water,” says Dave. “I enjoy the innovating — designing the gear and coming up with new ways of doing things and working with the young people from Greenwave Aotearoa and the University of Waikato. Peter and Ryan and all the guys are good; no-one has got all the answers. You don’t curtail their enthusiasm but it’s good to inject how to do things out on the water in a way that will make it easier and more efficient.”

This collaboration between a seasoned mussel farmer and international techniques was a crucial turning point. Growing seaweed closer to the surface, as farmers do in Scotland, allowed the young sporophytes to photosynthesise more efficiently and outcompete fouling.

“Our hatcheries were producing good-quality spools. The issue was the farming system design,” explains Ryan. “Once we changed that, we saw the difference.”

Greenwave Aotearoa is now expanding to the South Island and is successfully growing Ryan’s favourite product innovation is key to the success of the industry, to enable full utilisation of New Zealand’s precious seaweed resources with benefits to seaweed farmers in coastal communities, product innovators and consumers. All without taking away the underwater forest upon which so many marine species rely.

GREENWAVE.NZ

Keeping Christmas alive

More than a Christmas shop, Angela Thomson’s magical Te Puke store

reflects her lifelong mission to create lasting joy for others.

WORDS Hayley Barnett | PHOTOS Alan Gibson

In the heart of Te Puke sits a little pocket of wonder, a tiny store in which every corner whispers nostalgia. Christmas Magic Makers is one woman’s mission to bring joy and magic back into people’s lives. Angela Thomson, a mother of nine, a grandmother and a woman who has poured every inch of her spirit (and savings) into keeping the magic alive, admits her love affair with Christmas is ingrained.

“My parents split when we were young,” she says. “But Mum always made sure Christmas was magical. We’d wake up to presents and stockings, and then go to be with my grandparents, cousins, aunts and uncles. Everyone was there. We’d pick peas and corn from the garden for Christmas lunch. It was that perfect kind of chaos.”

That sense of magic became something Angela couldn’t let go of, and nor did she want to. With nine children and now five grandchildren of her own, she’s been recreating that spirit every year, passing it on through Christmas rituals.

“Most of the kids say, ‘That’s just Mum’s thing,’” she laughs. “Though one of my daughters has started doing her own version. It’s toned down now, but I can see her growing into it.”

But what many don’t see behind the tinsel is the personal cost. After a failed marriage, and dealing with the challenges of raising a son with severe cerebral palsy, Angela faced depression and health complications. Her rare blood vessel disease, coeliac disease and iron intolerance mean regular infusions that leave her depleted for days.

“Some infusions wipe me out for up to six days,” she says. “I’ll be stuck in bed, aching, puffy-eyed, unable to think straight.”

She opened the shop in 2017 and still runs it alone. “There’s no staff. Just me.”

Despite the physical toll, she presses on. Her second husband, Phil, and one of her older sons, Matthew, who lives on their property in a tiny home, step in to help care for Sam, her son with cerebral palsy.

“Sam can’t walk, talk or eat on his own,” she explains. “Matthew is amazing. He’s said he’ll care for Sam for life. When he walks into the room, Sam just lights up. Their bond is beautiful.”

In many ways, Christmas Magic Makers is Angela’s 10th child, something she nurtures. But times are hard. Last Christmas was her worst sales season yet, and this year she’s using her own retirement savings to keep the lights on. “It panicked me,” she admits. “I’ve got zero in the business account, but I love what I do. If I stopped, what would I be doing?”

She’s not interested in turning the store into a moneymaker. “It was never about money. It’s about making memories.” And she does that, not just through décor and retail, but through unexpected acts of kindness. Like the little boy who walked in last year and fell in love with a toy train. Angela gave it to him. “He was just so happy. It was sitting unused in the back anyway.”

Still, she’s trying to evolve the business to survive. She’s begun stocking general giftware, especially for kids, that can be bought for birthdays, not just Christmas. “I’m making Lucky Dip boxes now,” she says, referring to surprise boxes filled with small treasures. “Kids love them, and it doesn’t take much.”

But the reality of running a seasonal shop in a small town is tough. “Te Puke’s rent is high, and I can’t just move somewhere else. The whole shop is built into this space. If I had to pull it apart, I wouldn’t do it again.

“I know they say not to tell people you’re struggling, but I think people need to know. Once this place is gone, it’s gone. There’s nothing else like it.”

Her store might be filled with toys, but its foundation is built on grit. Angela started her working life in the Air Force, and later found herself raising children with special needs and battling serious health issues. It seems Angela has never chosen the easy path. During this time she even earned a PhD in law, a move she now admits was about trying to please her mother. “But that wasn’t me. I never even practised. I just wanted to make her proud.”

Now, finally, Angela is doing something just for herself. Christmas Magic Makers is her passion project and her gift to the community. Whether it survives past the next lease renewal (in August next year) depends largely on whether the community embraces it.

“People think, ‘Oh, it’s just a Christmas shop,’” she says. “But it’s more than that. It’s a place where kids make memories and where families can come together.”

As we wrap up, Angela’s eyes water. “I’ve spent my life doing what others expected. This shop is for me. I’m not ready to give it up.”

If you’re ever near Te Puke, step inside Christmas Magic Makers. You might walk out with a stocking filler, but more than that, you’ll carry a little piece of the magic Angela’s been creating her whole life.

CHRISTMASMAGICMAKERS.CO.NZ

A legend lives on

Sir Gordon Tietjens is busy creating a new legacy off the field.

WORDS NICKY ADAMS | PHOTOS ALAN GIBSON

“I built my teams based on traditional values, honesty, respect, humility... all the qualities you need in an individual. Then you had to create the culture. You want to pick players that are prepared to roll their sleeves up and work hard. Because that’s the Sevens game.”

While Sir Gordon Tietjens is clearly discussing the attributes needed in an elite sportsperson, there’s a direct alignment with the qualities needed to build a solid business. After an exceptional career spanning 22 years of coaching the All Black Sevens team (while simultaneously working at Bay Engineering Supplies), Sir Gordon left a legacy in this field that most New Zealanders would agree has been unparalleled. He has, however, more recently found his niche in another sports related arena. In 2019 he was approached to become brand ambassador for Legend Sportswear; he jumped at the challenge of this new opportunity but quickly realised that it was something to which he could add not just gravitas, but also his expertise. As with everything he does, rather than being a figure head, this is a ‘boots and all’ role.

Player from Rotorua Primary School wearing Legend Sportswear.

The Legend Sportswear brand had only recently established itself in apparel when Sir Gordon came on board. It had already been successfully operating in garment manufacture since 2004 from its dedicated factory in Shanghai. When Mandy Qi and Looi Tan, the Australian owners, decided to move into sportswear, they first targeted the Pacific market, quickly making firm inroads into the sports circles of Australia and Fiji, securing the apparel supply for the Newcastle Jets in Australia and the Fiji rugby league team to go to the World Cup. Coming on as brand ambassador, Sir Gordon straight away immersed himself in the role — representing, speaking and promoting the brand. However, it wasn’t long before he saw that here was a gap in the New Zealand market, and one that Legend Sportswear could fill.

Australian owners of Legend Sportswear Mandy Qi & Looi Tan.

“I saw a real opportunity to build and grow our brand,” says Sir Gordon. “Two of us started up, my current office manager Amelia Tagica and myself, and straight away we contracted three sports clubs in the Bay of Plenty. It’s just grown from there. We’ve now got an office here, three graphic designers and three administrators.”

Initially concentrating on sportswear, Legend is now the choice for adults and children across multiple sports disciplines, plus school sports and even school uniforms.

For a person with a public persona, becoming the name - and face - of a brand is layered. Of course, the exposure is there from the offset, however, there is a definite responsibility to the public that the product lives up to the endorsement. There is no question in Sir Gordon’s mind that Legend Sportswear is more than worthy of having his name behind it. He knows that Legend’s core values align with his own - trustworthy, affordable, high-quality and exceptional customer service.

“I see more than anything that you need to build relationships, and within that relationship you build trust. That to me is the real key,” he explains. “That’s what it’s all about. If you want to build the brand you build it around being professional and being right up there and competing with the best... Being a new brand we’ve got to prove ourselves. That’s what we’ve been doing, and we’ve seen the growth.”

The quality is, of course, important. Without doubt there are aspects to the construction process that Sir Gordon is very proud - sublimation (a technique where design is transferred onto the fabric) being one. Another is their ability to be flexible and make changes to the stock design, plus a high level of sustainability; something the company stands behind.

Of huge importance too is the process itself. “One of the real benefits is that we provide the opportunity for our customers to come in and sit with our graphics team to do their own designs... You might spend a couple of hours, but your designs are approved and set and away you go.”

Add to this the efficient rollout: “A big positive for us is the delivery. Our times are really good,” he adds. “We’re looking at four weeks, sometimes three, from the confirmation of the artwork being approved and the order being placed.”

I wonder how Sir Gordon’s background and expertise plays into the whole process. “I suppose because I’ve been immersed in sport, coaching the All Black Sevens for 22 years, and I’ve been involved in the different apparel companies. I know the expectations of what an athlete wants and what’s good and what’s not. And I’m putting my name next to a product that excites an athlete, that they really want to wear and

that’s good quality.”

As a home-grown Bay of Plenty native, Sir Gordon holds his authenticity and the value of personal service dear, which is why when the product arrives, it’s in a van being delivered by Sir Gordon himself.

LEGENDSPORTSWEAR.CO.NZ

Two paths, one purpose

How one Tauranga school is helping students thrive in their own way.

PHOTO ALAN GIBSON

ACG students Carl Huppmann and Ruby Jones.

There’s a saying that excellence doesn’t come in one shape. At ACG Tauranga, it’s nurtured in many forms. Just ask Ruby Jones and Carl Huppmann. From early mornings in the pool to international academic accolades, the two senior students have carved very different paths, and yet, their journeys are rooted in the same thing: a fiercely supportive school environment.

For Ruby, sport was always in the picture, having been a competitive swimmer since childhood. But it was ACG that introduced her to the team side of things.

“I wasn’t into netball at all before coming here,” she admits. “But we were such a small school back then, they needed more players. I gave it a go and ended up loving it.”

Today, she juggles netball, volleyball and art, along with her school work, and leads by example.

“Leadership for me is about including everyone. Making sure people feel seen, like they belong.”

Whether it’s younger students running up to say hello or teammates bonding during games, her influence is felt widely. But she’s also candid about her journey not always being smooth.

“I’ve never been an overachiever,” she says. “When I started here, I struggled, especially with the academics. I had to learn how to manage my time, ask for help and actually study.”

She speaks openly about the pressure of juggling schoolwork, training and her creative passions. “I put a lot of time into art. It’s something I’m really proud of.”

Carl’s story is slightly different. A self-proclaimed non- athlete when he first moved from Germany, he found his stride at ACG through the freedom to explore.

“I wasn’t into sport until I came here, but we had PE all the time, and I just gave things a try. One day I walked into the sports office and asked if I could join the hockey team and that was how I got started.”

Since then, Carl’s achievements have soared, topping the world in IGCSE PE and mentoring students through coaching and leadership roles. But he’s quick to credit the culture around him.

“Here, every teacher knows your name. They know how to help you grow.”

That close-knit feel is something both students agree on. Teachers are accessible and students are encouraged to take risks, whether in sport, the arts or academics. “It’s a school that doesn’t box you in,” says Ruby. “They support your passions, whatever they are.”

And for students just starting their ACG journey? “Don’t stress the small stuff,” Ruby says with a smile. “You’re here to learn, and everyone’s got your back.” Carl agrees: “Take every opportunity, because in a place like this, they’re everywhere.”

TAURANGA.ACGEDU.COM

Future served

Young Kiwis are flipping expectations while quietly growing into tomorrow’s leaders.

Jaun Odendaal

Walk into any McDonald’s across the country and you’ll find something remarkable happening behind the counter. Teenagers and young adults are managing teams, solving problems on the fly, training others, and picking up life skills they’ll carry long after they leave.

As one of Aotearoa’s largest youth employers, McDonald’s employs more than 10,000 people across the country, with around 70 percent of them being under 25. While it’s often seen as just a stepping stone, what’s becoming increasingly clear is that Macca’s can be the launchpad for something much bigger.

Seventeen-year-old Hamish Lawes, from McDonald’s Fenton Street Rotorua, is proof of just how far a young person can go when given the tools and encouragement to grow. Having joined the crew a year ago, the John Paul College student and avid musical performer, was drawn to the flexibility Macca’s offered.

“I liked the hours and the team,” he explains. “When I started, I thought I’d come and get the job done, but the more I learned, the more I realised how much opportunity there actually is.”

He’s now assistant shift manager, preparing to take on the shift manager role, and will soon be attending McDonald’s Advancing Your Leadership course.

“I love that no two days are the same,” he adds. “Teaching others different stations keeps things fresh, and the problem-solving skills I’ve gained are things I’ll use forever.”

Hamish Lawes.

Down in Taupō, Jaun Odendaal has had a similar experience. At 23, he’s been at McDonald’s for four years.

“I started while I was still in school, just to make some money,” he says. “I enjoyed the job so much I decided to stay and work up the ranks.”

Now a crew trainer with a hand in kitchen operations and maintenance, Jaun is aiming for a management role.

“It’s not just about flipping burgers,” he says. “For me, being a crew trainer is about understanding people. I like figuring out how they learn and adapting the way I train.” Looking ahead, Jaun adds, “I want to be the best manager I can be for my crew.”

There’s still a tendency to underestimate jobs like these. But, in many ways, what young people learn at Macca’s, including valuable skills like communication, time management and teamwork under pressure, are the same skills that carry them forward in life, no matter what they choose to do.

For Hamish, Jaun and many others, it’s not just a job. It’s where they learned to back themselves.

MCDONALDS.CO.NZ/LEARN/CAREERS

Unstoppable Women

The BWN Speaker Series 2025 lit up Tauranga with some big names, bold stories and infectious energy.

WORDS CARRIE BROWN

Robyn Malcolm.

When actor Robyn Malcolm, global thought leader Cassie Roma, broadcaster Toni Street and fashion designer Kiri Nathan are all on one stage you know something special is about to happen.

This year’s Business Women’s Network (BWN) Speaker Series brought together an extraordinary lineup of inspiring women, each sharing stories of resilience, leadership, creativity and confidence. Held at Baycourt Theatre in Tauranga, the 2025 event was the largest and most dynamic BWN event to date, drawing 450 attendees for a day of insight, empowerment and connection.

Toni Street.

Toni Street opened the programme with a raw and heartfelt talk on navigating personal hardship, and how sharing your story can foster deep human connection. Kiri Nathan followed with her journey of cultural identity and purpose, offering a moving reflection on what it means to lead with authenticity.

Then came the laughs. Robyn Malcolm delivered a sharp, witty and candid talk that had the audience in stitches while also reflecting deeply on the power of living truthfully at every stage of life. Rounding out the speaker sessions, Cassie Roma brought electric energy to the stage with her call for women to lead with kindness and back themselves unapologetically.

Kiri Nathan.

The event theme ‘Unstoppable: Owning Your Story’ pulsed through every talk. Throughout the day, MCs Jase Reeves and Sam Wallace from Coast FM’s Morning Show kept the energy high and the atmosphere light, weaving fun and warmth through the entire experience.

Guests were welcomed with drinks and canapés before exploring the upstairs Connect and Nourish Hub, where a fresh, vibrant lunch was served alongside sponsor activations and tastings from local vendors.

Downstairs in the Style and Sip Lounge, the focus was on fashion, flair and indulgence.

Guests browsed Kiri Nathan’s garments and pounamu designs, enjoyed makeup touch-ups, sipped coffee and wine, and soaked up the relaxed, elegant atmosphere.

This year’s Speaker Series was more than just an event - it was a celebration of women showing up, owning their stories and lifting each other up.

Cassie Roma.

Tauranga Business Chamber offers a heartfelt thank you to the sponsors who made it all possible: principal partners Cooney Lees Morgan and Craigs Investment Partners, alongside partners Coast FM, KingSt Design, Hatch Consulting, Kale Print, Port of Tauranga, Rentlink Property Management, Toi Ohomai and Westpac. And to the hundreds of women who attended: thank you for being part of it.

The Business Women’s Network is a part of the Tauranga Business Chamber.

TAURANGA.ORG.NZ

A different kind of calling

A teacher, a doctor, a pilot, a movie star... Becoming a funeral director probably isn’t on many childhood wish lists. But for funeral director, Fergus Keith, it’s his most rewarding job yet.

photo MARK FRUISH @ MATCHING BLACK

With a calm presence and a passion for helping others navigate grief, Fergus Keith shares his insights into the surprising realities of his role, what makes the work so meaningful, and why it’s time we all started talking more openly about death – and life while we’re at it.

UNO: What did you want to be when you grew up?

Fergus: Honestly, a funeral director wasn’t on my radar. Like most people, I didn’t leave school thinking, ‘I’m going to work in the death care industry’. It’s a vocation that found me later in life.

Tell us a little about your work history prior to Legacy Funerals?

Before coming to Legacy Funerals, I spent time working as an ambulance officer and a church pastor, and I’m also a volunteer firefighter. Those roles have given me a deep understanding of how to relate to a wide range of people, especially during crisis and grief. My own personal experiences with loss as a teenager also helped me become more comfortable in that space.

What does a typical day look like for you?

We’re not just dealing with the deceased – we’re working closely with the living. There is a lot of variety within the role, from behind-the-scenes work planning funerals, organising logistics and working with celebrants, to supporting grieving families. It's a careful balance between organisation and event planning, and ceremony, ritual and empathy.

What surprises people most about your job?

It’s not all sad and sombre. There are lighter moments and laughter with families as we work alongside them to keep the stories of their loved ones alive. Funerals are about more than saying goodbye, they are a vital part of the healing process – not because someone has died, but because they have lived. And they’re not just for the front row of mourners. Friends, colleagues and community members also need that moment to reflect and grieve.

What do you find most rewarding about your work?

It’s deeply fulfilling to know that by taking the time to craft the funeral experience just right, it helps people grieve well. Helping families feel supported at their darkest moments is a privilege that feels more like a vocation of service rather than a job. Also, Legacy Funerals is owned by a charitable trust, so profits go back into our community.Being part of something bigger adds another layer of meaning to what we do.

Do you have any advice for those considering a career in this field?

In my role I am a guide, a storyteller and above all a listener. There is a certain level of maturity and life experience needed for the job. There is also on-call work – sometimes you're answering the phone at 2am when someone’s world has just fallen apart. But being that trusted person in those moments is incredibly humbling.

Any final thoughts?

As New Zealanders, we often rush grief and avoid talking about the inevitable. I encourage people to talk more openly about death, plan ahead and think about what their family will need when their time comes. At Legacy, we help people pre-plan funerals, not just to make things easier logistically, but to ensure the final farewell is a meaningful experience that enables their loved ones left behind to grieve and heal. After all, funerals aren’t just about death, they’re about taking the time to celebrate and honour life.

LEGACYFUNERALS.CO.NZ

Kind, firm, calm

Could the secret to great parenting be KFC?

Ever find yourself second-guessing the decisions you make as a parent? Wondering if you're being too strict, too soft, too harsh, too lenient?

Good news – there is a simple balance that offers an easy-to-remember parenting posture. It combines warmth and affection, is held in place with gentle leadership, and is delivered calmly knowing that children thrive when the atmosphere is peaceful.

I like to call this KFC – kind, firm, calm. Keeping a balance of these three things is the key to parenting.

Be kind

When we’re communicating with our kids, our tone of voice really matters. We need to stay kind and pleasant. If we are mean, sarcastic or shouty, our children will feel like they need to defend themselves and the issue will get lost in a fight.

Listen to your children and offer them empathy and support. Convey warmth, interest and love so they feel seen and heard by you. A stern look or raised eyebrows can communicate our impatience and irritation. On the other hand, gazing lovingly at your children and showing you are pleased to see them offers a deep feeling of safety and being loved.

Be firm

Children need us to be firm, even though they will do their best to get us to fold. Work out what you’re prepared to stand by and stay the course. Children will be relentless if they find they can sway us, and our job will be much harder. A great motto is, “Say it, mean it, do it.” Remember that children feel safe, loved and protected when the big people set boundaries and stick to them.

Be calm

We need to be a constant source of calm in our families – as if we are set on a thermostat. The weather may change, but we don’t. When storms threaten, instead of losing our cool, yelling and reminding our kids about stuff they already know – we stay calm. Our confidence is conveyed by speaking quietly and bringing our voice down at the end of a sentence. Avoid fighting words that invite a challenge. For example, “There will be no biscuits until you have unpacked your school bag” works better with an invitation to cooperate instead.

“You may have a biscuit as soon as you have unpacked your school bag.” If you find yourself flooded with emotion, find a way to regain your composure. Press pause. Take some deep breaths and a few steps back. Make a cup of tea or go outside and reflect on what just happened.

When you keep your composure, your children look at you and see how it’s done. They see that the big person in their life is not thrown or overwhelmed by their behaviour and it helps them relax and begin their own process of self-regulating.

PARENTINGPLACE.NZ

Extracted from Kind, Firm, Calm – Simple strategies to transform your parenting, by Jenny Hale.

Mishaps and mayhem

Proud farm girl turned radio personality, Hayley Bath’s chaotic life is comedy gold.

Radio host Hayley Bath isn’t just the voice keeping you company from 9 to 3 on The Hits – she’s also the kind of woman who accidentally eats her pet sheep, marries a man after 12 weeks and loses her last baby tooth at 32. (Yes, really.) Here Hayley shares 10 delightfully unfiltered facts about couchsurfing with criminals, misbooking Mandarin bus tours, and raising a son who thinks Santa’s reindeer crashed into their lounge. Warning: you will snort-laugh reading this.

1. I accidentally ate my prize-winning pet sheep.
I’m a country girl who grew up just outside of Pukekohe on a lifestyle block, where we had cows, sheep, chickens, pigs, and even a horse at one point. I earned pocket money by rearing calves and quickly learned that naming a cute piglet ‘Bacon’ helped when the circle of life inevitably came around and it was time to stock the freezer. I always knew that my ribbon-winning sheep, Harry, would eventually be turned into lamb chops but when the time came, I absolutely refused to eat him. Lamb? Fine. Harry? Absolutely not. About a year later, I was reassured over dinner that Harry was long gone from the freezer, so I tucked into a lamb chop without a second thought. Fast forward three years to a heated argument with my sister, when she suddenly screamed: “YOU DID EAT HARRY’S LAST CHOP AND THE WHOLE FAMILY KNEW!”

2. I once had dinner with a drug smuggler and spent the night on the couch of a (ahem, cough) ‘woman of the night’.
My sister and I couchsurfed our way around the world, staying on strangers’ sofas and encountering all sorts of characters, some more colourful than others, as mentioned above. We went to 14 different countries in 90 days, travelling as cheaply as possible, which naturally led us to a few hairy situations. My poor mum was worried sick for us. For that reason we didn’t tell her when we got into a stranger’s van in Cambodia, got driven around the middle of nowhere and then had to give him cash to be let out of the van. Some things are best left unsaid.

3. I accidentally went on a four-daylong, full mandarin-speaking guided bus tour in the US.
In the aforementioned trip, my sister insisted I pull my weight and organise something on the trip for a change. I chose a Grand Canyon bus tour but I left it until the night before to book it. We only found out why it was so cheap the next morning when the bus took off and the tour guide started speaking mandarin – for the entire time – for four long days. By then we were stuck on it. To this day I have no idea of any of the history or even what state we were in.

4. My hubby and I decided to get married just 12 weeks after meeting.
When you know, you know, and I’m still unashamedly smitten with the gorgeous man. It was a whirlwind engagement that left a few people shocked, and more than a few assuming I must be pregnant (I wasn’t). So we decided to lean into the whole “shotgun wedding” narrative. Our ‘save the date’ invites featured me dressed as a pregnant hillbilly, with my wonderfully kooky dad posing behind Chris and me with a shotgun, implying an enforced marriage. We tied the knot just four months later. And now, 10 years on, I can happily say we’re still going strong – and still laughing.

5. I lost my last baby tooth at the age of 32.
I know. Odd, right? Turns out there was never an adult tooth underneath it, so it just stayed put. Eventually, it had to be removed by a periodontist. Having waited nearly 32 years for the tooth fairy to show up, I figured this tooth must have gained some interest on the original two-dollar coin I never received. Surely, by now, it was worth at least a five-dollar note. So, with great hope, I placed my final baby tooth on the windowsill. The stingy tooth fairy, however, left me just one miserable chocolate peanut. A far cry from reimbursing me for the rather expensive dental implant that followed.

6. One of my most prized possessions is a taxidermy stag head hunted by my greatgrandfather in the 1940’s.
I’ve named him Lenny, after my great-grandfather Leonard. He hangs on the wall in our lounge. When my son was three years old, he developed a habit of swearing, completely unaware of what “naughty words” actually were. One day, I overheard him in the lounge, delightfully chatting to the stag and calling it a “f**king reindeer”. I think he believed it was one of Santa's reindeer that had accidentally crashed through the wall and become stuck while trying to land on our roof at Christmas. Now, every December, Lenny gets a red nose.

7. I’m a giant.
Okay, technically I’m only 5 foot 10, but I feel like a giant. I shot up before all the boys at school, which is a crushing blow to any 12-year-old’s self-esteem. At my year eight formal, I finally plucked up the courage to dance with my crush, who, unfortunately, was eye level with my chest. In hindsight, he probably wasn’t too bothered, except that my body seemed to use all its energy growing upwards, leaving other, err, developments for much, much later.

8. I am a grateful recipient of the lifesaving service that is Life Flight.
While I wouldn’t necessarily call this a fun fact, I was flown on a Life Flight Air Ambulance while pregnant with my twins. At the time, there were very few NICU beds available across the country, which placed me in a dangerously overdue situation and threatened the life of one twin in the womb. I was transferred on an emergency flight from Wellington Hospital to Palmerston North Hospital – one of the few places with available NICU beds. I’m now fortunate to have two healthy twin boys, along with their older sister. I’m incredibly thankful for the amazing team at Life Flight and the outstanding medical staff here in New Zealand.

9. I spent a whole heap of money on a largely unused degree.
In high school, I wanted to study radio, but decided it might be too risky career-wise. So instead, I opted to study acting at New Zealand’s leading drama school, Toi Whakaari (I’m not quite sure why I thought that was the safer option). Fast forward three years, and I realised that my favourite part of the intense, and very expensive, degree was actually the small bit of radio voicing I did for a handful of radio plays. So, I then went on to study radio after all. An expensive reminder to always trust your gut!

10. I’m secretly an old soul – a 90-year-old trapped in a 34-year-old’s body.
If I weren’t married, my dating profile would probably read: “Loves reading,

gardening and staying in on a Friday night. Always up for discussing self-pollinating

trees.” Thankfully, I’m not single, because, as my husband once put it, “I’m not sure we would have matched if we’d met on Tinder.” Ouch.

Catch Hayley on The Hits 95FM weekdays from 9am to 3pm.

Cracking the first home code

Buying your first home doesn’t have to be confusing. Brooke Reynolds from Rapson Loans and Finance says there are more loan options available than most people realise. With the right advice, you can find a solution that fits your budget, deposit size, and property goals.

If you're a first-home buyer, you might be surprised by how many loan options are actually available to you. It’s not just one-size-fits-all.

Here are three main types of loans to consider, along with how each one works:

1. First Home Loan (via Kāinga Ora)

Some banks offer First Home Loans in partnership with Kāinga Ora. The bank handles the initial assessment using its own lending policies, and then Kāinga Ora gives final approval for both the loan and the property you're looking to buy.

It’s important to note that just because Kāinga Ora gives the green light doesn’t mean the terms, such as how much you can borrow or the interest rate, will be the same across all banks. These can vary depending on the lender.

The minimum deposit is five percent, and the deposit can come from personal savings, a gift, or proceeds from selling an asset. Not that you’ll need to meet Kāinga Ora’s eligibility criteria, which can be found at kaingaora.govt.nz

2. 10% Deposit Home Loans

These are widely available through all major banks. While banks may pause pre-approvals based on application volumes, you can still proceed by making an offer on a property. Once your offer is accepted, the application becomes a live deal and can be assessed. Some lenders still offer pre-approvals for auction purchases. The minimum deposit is 10 percent, and at least five percent must be from genuine savings (e.g. KiwiSaver, cash savings, investment funds, or sale of an asset).

The remaining five percent can come from a gift or a deed of debt from family. Bank rates vary between lenders, however the rate will be higher than a 20 percent deposit loan. Some banks may offer a $5,000 cash-back for first-home buyers.

3. 5% Deposit Loan (Non–Kāinga Ora)

There’s at least one bank offering five percent deposit loans for borrowers who don’t meet Kāinga Ora’s criteria. This loan requires genuine savings for the full five percent deposit. Pre-approvals are not offered, but live deals (including auction purchases) will be assessed. Availability is subject to bank capacity – some may pause new applications from customers not already with the bank.

Important to note for all loan types

A professional property valuation is required for all three loan types. Make sure your offer includes enough time for both the assessment and valuation. These loans are not available on interest-only terms – you’ll need to make principal and interest repayments from the start. Navigating your first home loan can feel overwhelming, but a trusted mortgage adviser can guide you through the process. Ideally, choose one with access to all lenders, as borrowing limits and interest rates vary significantly between banks.

RAPSON.CO.NZ

Progressive positioning

Coombes Johnston welcomes customers into a new era.

words NICKY ADAMS | photos JAHL MARSHALL

As Coombes Johnston marks 30 years representing the BMW brand in Tauranga, the timing feels fitting for a major transformation. The dealership has just completed a major showroom upgrade, designed to modernise not just the look, but the experience of buying a vehicle. The result is a space that feels less like a traditional showroom and more like an extension of the brand’s identity.

The second location in New Zealand to have undergone the international ‘Retail.Next’ initiative, the new showroom is overarchingly aspirational while reflecting the brand’s emphasis on customer centricity. “We have always had outstanding customer service,” says manager Kevin Pead. “We always had the DNA for that. Now we’ve lifted up the environment to match the level of service that we’ve been offering to our customers in the Bay of Plenty for 30 years.”

BMW has an undisputed reputation as a premium European luxury brand. The freshly renovated showroom, with its stylish interior and multi-functional spaces, is testament to this positioning. As I walk through the doors, the receptionist beams a sunny smile, radiating warmth on a wet winter’s day. Leading me to the inviting seated area, fresh coffee on the table, the feeling is less showroom and more lounge area. Glancing around I notice the stunning feature lights. These, Kevin explains, he initially thought may be overkill, but when they were installed, all was revealed. Without doubt purposeful, the pendants glisten over the seated area where they serve to create a cosy, intimate environment; meanwhile my eyes are drawn to the M wall where a feature white and red longline ceiling element is suspended over the latest highperformance luxury M3 model, the light showcasing the sleek contours of this beautiful vehicle.

The seating, while perfect for meetings, faces a screen which boasts the very latest in technology. The EVE – Emotional Virtual Experience – is an immersive experience that allows customers to digitally design and watch as their dream car comes to life. Even the more old-school customers are on board with this technology, as it helps to bring a real sense of confidence to decision making. “There are so many different makes and models we can’t stock all of them, so if someone wants to bespoke a car this allows them to see what the finished product would look like from the comfort of a lounge type environment.”

The brand concept behind the Retail.Next upgrade is, says Kevin, “to create a warm, embracing, relaxed atmosphere.” The days of the hard sell are long gone. Today’s experience of looking for a new car involves a more consultative approach. BMW considers itself a market leader in more than just its innovative car design and production. After all, Kevin points out, “BMW doesn’t follow, it sets the standard”. The ‘shop floor’ is obviously a part of this. From the moment someone arrives, “You want them to feel as though they want to buy a car; and whether it’s the latest and greatest or it’s an older model, the level of service is the same.” The split for new versus used vehicles is roughly fifty-fifty, but rule of thumb is that “used car buyers will one day become new car buyers.” I question why this is, and Kevin looks amused. “It’s a natural progression – it’s a great audition, isn’t it!”

Car enthusiasts will already be aware that BMW is considered the ultimate driving machine, and Kevin is excited about what’s coming, with product launches for 2025 set to defy expectations further – what’s on the horizon is “younger, fresher, more exciting; and our technology advances with each new model.”

We circle back to the fact that the customer journey is a key focus here at Coombes Johnston. This explains how, for two years running, BMW Tauranga were awarded Excellence in Customer Service nationally from BMW New Zealand. Kevin firmly believes that you have one shot at making a first impression. “The people that come have generally done their homework and are making a comparison. We are here to identify their needs and make sure they find the right vehicle.” Of course, he continues, “people want more from buying a car – they want, and deserve, a premium five-star experience.”

The service is wrapped up in so much more than excellent product knowledge. When dealing with uber high-tech models, to help bring a purchaser up to speed with the technology can often, Kevin says, involve up to five post-sale sessions. His customer handover includes happily giving his mobile number to each client as part of the aftercare. This is indicative of the way these relationships are cultivated and valued. The ability to form firm relationships is something, Kevin says, that is lost when people shop further afield. There is often a belief that if you go to a bigger city, you’ll get a better deal – not the case, Kevin assures me. “As soon as you’re out of the door, you’re just another number – here you will always be a valued customer.” And one which will be looked after as part of the Coombes Johnston family.

The team of 13 share the same passion – Kevin has been with BMW for 10 years, and Simon, the service manager is soon to celebrate 20 years with the company. Longevity relates not just to staff relations but also to customers, with, says Kevin, many of their customers holding longstanding relations. Indeed, when I speak to owner Richard Johnston, he tells me anecdotally that he has been selling to one customer since 1987, starting the relationship when he was a junior salesman. The new look of the premises, he believes, does justice to the BMW brand. “Over the years the showroom has evolved, but this is a massive change – a quantum leap to something truly spectacular for 2025.”

As for being a BMW ambassador, Richard is clearly as passionate as ever about the Group. “They strive for excellence, and they measure us on excellence. There is an understanding at all levels of our team that the execution is at a very high level. The design, innovation, BMW’s ability to pivot quickly – there’s a very strong focus on drivability and the passion and emotional experience that comes with being behind the wheel of one of these cars. That in itself, in my opinion, sets us apart – and as a small family run business it’s a real privilege to represent the brand.”

COOMBESJOHNSTONBMWTAURANGA.CO.NZ

Pacing the planet

The overnight success of fitness app The Conqueror’s Challenge took more than a decade to take off. Co-founder and Bay local Adam El-Agez explains how a treadmill, a paper map and a big idea became an $80 million fitness empire.

words KARL PUSCHMANN

One afternoon, Adam El-Agez’s ex-wife stepped off their treadmill, fetched a paper map of New Zealand, and pinned it to the wall in front of the machine. Then she got back on and kept running. When she finished, she checked her distance and marked it on the map, determined to “run” the length of Aotearoa without ever leaving the house. Intrigued, Adam joined in.

A former PE teacher, he loved the motivation the challenge gave him as he clocked up kilometres and made his way across the motu. But there was one part that constantly bugged him.

“We had a notebook and a calculator, and every time we went for a run on the treadmill, we’d put a line on the map. I found it clunky. I’m not good with pen and paper,” he laughs. “I was like, ‘There must be an app for this.’”

Surprisingly, there wasn’t. Adam searched online forums and discussion groups, but all he found were people like him, using pen and paper to track their running journeys. That’s when the Pāpāmoa entrepreneur realised his running app idea had legs.

“In my early 20’s I left teaching and went down an entrepreneurial pathway,” he says. Over two decades, he reckons he’s started around a dozen different companies, picking up skills in everything from online marketing to coding along the way.

“People call me a generalist. I’ve got no specialist skills, but a lot of knowledge and ability at a low level. I thought the app might be something I could build, so I just went off and built it.”

That app was The Conqueror Challenges, a fitness goal-setting app that’s now one of the world’s most downloaded exercise apps, generating a staggering $80 million per year. At its core, it’s a digital implementation of marking progress on a paper map.

“If I went for a 5km run, on the app I would advance down the length of New Zealand by 5km,” he explains.

While The Conqueror Challenges (TCC) stays true to Adam’s original, lo-fi concept, its popularity is because it makes fitness fun by gamifying exercise with a range of virtual challenges designed to keep you motivated. Sure, you could run the length of Aotearoa, but you could just as easily cycle the Inca Trail, or even follow Frodo’s The Lord of the Rings footsteps and walk from The Shire to Mordor. Along the way, users get virtual postcards packed with trivia, but the real prize is, funnily enough, a real prize. After crossing the finish line, you get sent a desirable physical medal to mark the accomplishment.

“The medals have become a bit collectible,” a chuffed Adam says. The app’s popularity hasn’t gone unnoticed either. In 2025, The Conqueror Challenges won Best Digital Interactive Product at the Licensing International Awards in Las Vegas for its Harry Potter Virtual Challenge series — beating out heavyweight finalists like Minecraft, Lego Duplo, Five Nights at Freddy’s and Roblox. “We’re just a relatively small, scrappy crew — no big machine behind us — yet somehow we’re out here doing global deals, delivering licensed products like clockwork, and getting high-fives for it. Honestly, it still blows my mind,” Adam says.

From the vantage point of 2025, it’s easy to assume TCC was an overnight success. That’s not the case. The journey began way back in 2012.

“It’s been a hell of a slog,” Adam admits. For years, he poured time and money into the app with little to show for it, aside from losses, frustration, and false starts. The traction he was convinced existed never seemed to arrive. But he didn’t quit.

“I was almost too deep in it,” he says. “You can’t sell a failed fitness app. You just turn the servers off and give up.”

A chance meeting online changed everything when Adam connected with a Romanian strategist named Raul Vintila. Raul wasn’t the first marketing expert Adam had brought in, but he was the f irst to truly understand Adam’s vision.

“He smashed it,” Adam smiles. Within a year, the app was out of the starting blocks. Adam was so impressed that he made Raul a co-founder, giving him half the company. Finally, the momentum Adam had believed in for so long had kicked in.

“The success happened super quick after a long, painful, hard, unsuccessful time,” Adam says. Despite the success, “literally the culmination of 20 years of business experience”, it hasn’t stopped him from dreaming up his next move. As an entrepreneur, he can’t help it. His restless drive is part of why he loves the Bay.

“I’m a very active person, and living here allows me to have that amazing quality of life, which helps, when you’re an ‘always-on’ entrepreneur,” he says, listing surfing, fishing, and mountain biking as some of his hobbies. Which lately, he’s had more time to engage with.

“Entrepreneurs don’t belong in mature businesses. I think they’re bad for it unless they bring a strong set of skills to the table. I don’t, so I stepped down as CEO. It’s been great! I’ve been doing heaps of hobbies, travel and spending time with family.”

After years of hardcore hustle, the break has been welcome. “I’ve enjoyed my time, but I know I need to move into something else.” Then, like a true entrepreneur, he grins and says, “I’m just not sure what that is yet.”

THECONQUEROR.EVENTS

Rebranding the Bay

What makes a place truly unforgettable? Is it the golden beaches, the rolling hills, or the vibrant urban buzz? For Our Tauranga Region, the answer is something deeper. It’s in the stories of the people who live and work there. Now, in a bold move to express the essence of Tauranga and the Western Bay, the team is turning to the community to help define the region’s next big identity.

words HAYLEY BARNETT

After years of watching Tauranga and the Western Bay grow in size and diversity, Our Tauranga Region has embarked on a journey to develop a new brand. In fact, it will be the first brand the region has ever adopted, and they want to make sure it’s one that genuinely reflects the spirit of those who call the Bay home.

“We’ve got this beautiful region, but the way we talk about it hasn’t caught up with who we are now,” explains Haydn Marriner, project lead at Our Tauranga Region. “We didn’t want to slap a logo on a postcard and call it a brand. It has to be a reflection of the people – our mana and values.”

Rather than relying solely on marketers or consultants, Our Tauranga Region is crowdsourcing the heart of the brand from its own community. They’re meeting with iwi, local businesses, artists, and residents to uncover what truly defines the region and its people. Nothing has been decided yet; even the term 'Our Tauranga Region' is a temporary white label identity that will be retired once the new place brand has been delivered.

“Branding is no longer a top-down process,” says Marriner. “It’s about co-creation. We’re not just building something for the community. We’re building it with them.”

One of the key principles guiding the project is authenticity. Our Tauranga Region is working closely with tangata whenua to ensure the brand is grounded in te ao Māori and the unique cultural fabric of the region. As Marriner puts it, “You can’t tell the story of this place without starting with the people who have been here the longest.”

While culture and heritage are central, the brand also aims to represent the region’s evolving identity and its entrepreneurial energy, creative spirit, and laid-back lifestyle.

The process has been anything but conventional. From community hui to online submissions, the brand development has become a dialogue, not a monologue. And it’s working.

“What’s been amazing is how much people care,” Marriner says. “There’s a sense of pride and ownership coming through in every conversation. Whether someone’s been here five minutes or five generations, they’ve got something to say about what makes this place special.”

The branding project is set to roll out over the next few months, with a visual identity and messaging platform expected later this year. But for Our Tauranga Region, the journey has already delivered its own reward, which is a stronger connection between the people and the place they call home.

“If we get this right, if we create something true to us, it'll resonate with locals, with visitors, with businesses – with everyone!” Marriner says. “Because it’s real.”

Have your say at: OURTAURANGAREGION.COM