Business digest: Winner of 2021 Kiwifruit Innovation Award announced – NZ Herald

Researcher Cathy McKenna wins 2021 Kiwifruit Innovation Award

Plant & Food Research’s Cathy McKenna has won the 2021 Kiwifruit Innovation Award for her work to create an effective armoured scale insect management programme for Gold3
(SunGold) Kiwifruit.

Over two seasons of trials, McKenna spearheaded a research team that developed a year-round programme capable of ensuring the high level of scale control required to satisfy market access requirements.

Armoured scale are insects, which can cause cosmetic defects on kiwifruit, and are difficult to control once populations build up on vines.

McKenna is the team leader of Kiwifruit Entomology at Crown Research Institute Plant & Food Research.

Zespri chairman and award judge Bruce Cameron said McKenna led a team that had successfully identified and demonstrated an effective management programme to minimise the levels of scale, which was becoming an increasing problem in Gold3 orchards.

This included determining a safe window for applying an organic oil treatment during summer which, having been validated over several years of trials and combined with existing techniques, has reduced scale populations without compromising the crop.

“Cathy’s work has resulted in an increased amount of kiwifruit meeting exacting phytosanitary requirements and being available for high-value Asian markets,” Cameron said.

“Ensuring supply is not constrained by pests is key to maintaining grower profitability, and the impact of Cathy’s work will be felt for years to come.”

Fellow judge Kristy McDonald QC, chair of kiwifruit industry regulator Kiwifruit New Zealand, said the award recognised McKenna as an innovator of a very high calibre.

“Innovative solutions are essential for industry growth and for New Zealand’s economic
prosperity. Cathy and her team are doing important work to ensure New Zealand’s reputation for high-quality produce continues into the future.”

NZKGI chairman Mark Mayston said it was important to fight against scale.

“Cathy’s work in managing this pest will support growers by increasing the ability of our high-value, great-tasting fruit to enter different markets.”

McKenna said she was “incredibly humbled and honoured” to be recognised with this award, “which I hold in such high regard”.

“The work we do for the industry gives me, and my team, a real sense of purpose, and I’m grateful to be able to work with such a collaborative group of people every day.

“Innovation is not about one person’s work, it’s truly a team effort. I accept this award on behalf of the researchers, growers, Zespri and everyone across the industry who I’ve been privileged to work with on this project.”

Tompkins Wake welcomes prominent Rotorua lawyer

National law firm Tompkins Wake has welcomed prominent Rotorua lawyer Catriona Gordon to its team.

Gordon joins the law firm as a new partner, bringing with her a team of two senior solicitors and two legal secretaries, increasing the size of Tompkins Wake’s Rotorua-based team to 30 staff.

Chief executive Jon Calder said the firm was thrilled to have attracted a lawyer of Gordon’s calibre, as it responds to a growth in demand from the Rotorua community for its services.

Calder said as well as being an outstanding lawyer, it was Gordon’s identity in the community and strong local connections that made her a great fit for the Tompkins Wake team.

“In fact, both Catriona and one of her senior solicitors worked for our legacy firm Davys Burton many years ago. It’s that history and local knowledge that is invaluable when it comes to understanding our clients’ needs, particularly as we look to support the local community in the wake of the pandemic.”

Gordon has worked as a property, trust and commercial lawyer in Rotorua since 1994. Her practice, Lava Law, is strongly focused on the legal needs of private clients, their families, and small to medium-sized business owners.

Gordon said she was drawn to Tompkins Wake by its culture of strong leadership, forward thinking and its holistic approach to looking after its clients.

“As lawyers, we work in the service industry, so my philosophy has always been to look after my clients, care for them and make them feel we understand their needs. I’m excited to have joined a firm that lives and breathes these same values.”

Gordon has a Bachelor of Law and Bachelor of Arts from The University of Auckland. Her areas of expertise include: Charities and Incorporated Societies; Commercial Property Transactions; Elder Law; Succession Planning; Trusts and Asset Protection; Wills and Estate Planning; Subdivisions and Property Development.

Gordon also holds a number of governance positions including Opus Orchestra Trust board member, Rotorua Trails Trustee and John Paul College School Board Trustee. She is also Vice-President of the Haemophilia Foundation of New Zealand.

Tompkins Wake’s history in Rotorua dates to 1898, when Davys Burton was founded.

Earlier this year, the firm committed to investing $100,000 for four years as naming sponsor of the Rotorua Business Excellence Awards, as well as providing pro-bono legal services to the Rotorua Business Chamber and its members. It also provides financial support and pro-bono services to the Te Aka Mauri the Rotorua Children’s Health Hub and Rotorua Hospice.

Tompkins Wake has offices in Hamilton (HQ), Auckland, Rotorua and Tauranga.

Tauhara North Tourism Limited appoints new head of tourism

Rotorua-based Tauhara North Tourism Limited has confirmed Kiri Atkinson-Crean as Kaiārahi Tāpoi – head of tourism as the trust begins its rebuild for the return of tourism.

Atkinson-Crean comes to the role after 18 months with New Zealand Māori Tourism. She was general manager of sales and marketing for Te Puia | NZMACI for eight years and has held other senior roles in tourism marketing, sales and operations.

She said she felt especially privileged over her appointment and having the opportunity to contribute to Tauhara’s tourism journey, with operations including Tamaki Māori Village and Rapids Jet.

“Tauhara has some big goals for its people and place – a 100-year vision and a careful plan unfolding to get there.

“Everything is focused on the legacy that new generations will inherit, a quiet, humble but determined plan that I just love.

Tauhara North Tourism Limited is owned by Tauhara North No.2 Trust (TN2T).

“Tourism has a role to play within TN2T, generating employment, education and learning opportunities, ensuring daily access to history and traditions,” Atkinson-Crean said.

“Tourism brings to life sites of significance and helps to protect the environment to which the river iwi belong. Manuhiri (visitors) and the stories they carry and bring with them are also important – it is fully about reciprocity.”

TN2T chief executive Mana Newton said Covid-19 meant it was a challenging time in tourism right now.

“We are pleased to have Kiri’s experience across tourism, especially Māori cultural tourism, as we anticipate the future in this important pou for the trust.

“We are looking ahead at what future international traveller values will be. TN2T anticipates that manuhiri will have commitment to the environment, toward the host culture and sustainability, which aligns with our values and imperatives.”

Tower appoints chief claims officer and chief risk officer

Tower has announced two executive appointments to its team.

Following a global search, Steve Wilson will join the Tower team in January as chief claims officer.

He joins Tower after more than five years at QBE Insurance, including as regional head of claims for Asia, across Hong Kong, Singapore, Malaysia, Vietnam, Macau, Indonesia, Philippines and the Pacific Islands.

Prior to working at QBE, Wilson worked for more than 17 years at IAG in Australia and Asia, across a myriad of roles.

Tower chief executive officer Blair Turnbull said Wilson brings a wealth of experience in large operations, claims, international markets, loss adjusting, supplier management, agencies, digital transformation, change management and customer experience adoption across insurance.

The second executive appointment is Tower’s current managing director of the Pacific, Paula ter Brake, who has been appointed with immediate effect as Tower’s chief risk officer and will also retain her current role.

After two and a half years with Tower, ter Brake will now lead Tower’s risk, compliance, conduct and legal functions, as well as its operations across our eight Pacific Islands territories – Vanuatu, Fiji, Solomon Islands, Cook Islands, Papua New Guinea, Samoa, Tonga and American Samoa.

Turbull said ter Brake’s extensive executive experience in financial services with significant regulatory, strategy, distribution and risk expertise, made her the perfect candidate to take up the role of chief risk officer.

BNZ and Zeald partner to boost business with digital clusters

Bank of New Zealand (BNZ) and Zeald are partnering to launch The Digital Cluster Initiative. This encourages groups of businesses to come together to transform their digital operations, grow their businesses and strengthen small-to-medium enterprise (SME) performance in the regions.

Starting as a three-cluster pilot, BNZ and Zeald are committing $500,000 to the project that will equip businesses with state-of-the-art e-commerce and digital collaboration tools to increase productivity, competition and develop new routes to market.

In addition to an e-commerce platform, businesses in each of the pilot clusters will be set up in a centralised digital marketplace, with wraparound support to help establish their online brand.

BNZ chief economist Paul Conway said business clusters have huge potential to transform Kiwi SME performance.

“Many small Kiwi businesses operate in insular local markets, but by clustering on e-commerce platforms and using digital tools they will be able to expand into new territories, lift performance and returns.

“Digital marketplaces help bring both domestic and international economies closer to Kiwi SMEs. Over time we hope it creates new export markets for New Zealand businesses.”

Zeald chairman David Kelly said the digital opportunities for New Zealand were enormous.

“Through this initiative, we want to help businesses collaborate, to adopt e-commerce and to build a digital economy.”

The Digital Cluster Initiative is part of BNZ’s and Zeald’s commitment as founding members of the Digital Boost Alliance.

Business groups within New Zealand can apply to be one of the three pilot digital clusters at www.digitalclusters.nz. Applications are open until December 16.

Future of forestry continues to attract young Kiwis taking up higher-level study

More young New Zealanders are making forestry and wood-processing their future, with seven more talented applicants joining the Ngā Karahipi Uru Rākau – Forestry Scholarship programme.

Director of business and spacial intelligence at Te Uru Rākau New Zealand Forest Service, Debbie Ward, said it was fantastic to keep seeing young people embarking on their forestry career.

“The growth in the sector means more opportunities for highly skilled people due to research, innovation and increase mechanisation.

“The scholarship programme offers students a pathway to higher-level study, where they gain the skills, expertise and capabilities which the forestry and wood-processing sector needs now and into the future.”

The successful scholarship recipients for the 2022 academic year are Paula Tucker Camano from Hamilton, Phoebe Naske from Gisborne, Stephen Thompson from Rotorua, Emma Plomp from Invercargill, Joe Falloon from Masterton, Tyler Rowe from Wellington, and Whanarua Edmonds from Pukehina.

The scholarship programme, now in its fourth year, aims to grow the capability of the forestry and wood-processing workforce and increase the number of those that identify as female and/or of Māori descent, encouraging greater diversity in the industry.

To date, 23 students throughout New Zealand have received scholarships since 2018, with the first students expected to complete their qualifications at the end of next year.

Te Uru Rākau – New Zealand Forest Service is also funding three new scholarships this year for the Diploma in Forest Management at Toi Ohomai Institute of Technology in the Bay of Plenty starting 2022.

“We are proud to be partnering with Toi Ohomai to offer these new scholarships which offer another pathway to a career and opportunities in forestry,” Ward said.

“The diploma course covers a range of topics to prepare students for roles including business planning, forest health and management, supply chain and harvesting, and operations management.”

Applications for the Diploma in Forest Management scholarship to study at Toi Ohomai close on November 17.

For more information about Ngā Karahipi Uru Rākau – Forestry Scholarships, visit mpi.govt.nz/forestryscholarships

Changes at BusinessNZ

BusinessNZ has appointed a new deputy chief executive and director of advocacy.

BusinessNZ chief executive Kirk Hope has announced the appointment of Phil Love as deputy chief executive and Catherine Beard as director of advocacy.

Love will continue in his current roles as BusinessNZ general manager of business development and the Major Companies Group in addition to his new role as deputy chief executive.

Prior to his time at BusinessNZ, Love worked as a journalist, business editor and corporate affairs executive for major companies. He is BusinessNZ’s representative on the Australia NZ Leadership Forum.

“I’m excited about the new challenges and opportunities involved and look forward to adding maximum value to Major Companies members and the BusinessNZ Network,” Love said.

Catherine Beard will transition from her current roles as executive director of ExportNZ and ManufacturingNZ to director of advocacy and will manage BusinessNZ’s policy strategy, alignment and implementation.

Beard’s background includes managing policy and advocacy for a wide range of sectors and issues, including manufacturing, exporting, insurance, agri-business, climate change, energy, R&D and others, and has represented BusinessNZ at various international fora.

“I’m really looking forward to working with our policy team, brand directors and the BusinessNZ Network throughout the country to foster joined-up advocacy for our business members on the issues that most affect them,” Beard said.

The two roles will be operational immediately.