Latest news with #HavelockNorth
RNZ News
5 days ago
- Business
- RNZ News
Havelock North boutique dairy company Origin Earth saved by last minute buyer
Origin Earth use refillable glass bottles and refillable milk kegs for cafes. Photo: Supplied / Origin Earth Havelock North-based boutique dairy company Origin Earth has been saved from the brink of closure by a last minute buyer who will keep the business operating as usual. In May the business told RNZ is was closing down after 15 years of providing customers with locally sourced sustainable products. But in a surprising turn of events, the much loved local company will now be keeping its doors open, just under new ownership. "The Company has been purchased from Joanie and Richard Williams. New owners Bruce and Kathy Wattie are preferring to stay in the background and will concentrate on relocation and expansion of the business." The business produces a range of milk, cheese and yoghurt products that it sells in local supermarkets, farmers markets and to cafes and consumers. Their refillable glass bottles and unique refillable milk kegs for cafes have proved popular - with the business reducing plastic in the region by 3500 plastic bottles a month. They've had a rocky year, as in August last year Origin Earth decided to close, due to rising lease costs, predatory pricing by larger companies and a struggling economy. But after a huge public response, they managed to stay open. Origin Earth produce a range of milk, cheese and yoghurt products. Photo: Supplied / Origin Earth In December 2024 Origin Earth terminated the lease on their Havelock North building with landlord Peak Vision Church, and said the catalyst was a 32 percent rent increase over three years. They continued on a month-by-month lease and were looking at selling the business, when in March the landlord sent a scanned letter saying the lease was ending and Origin Earth had to be out of the building by 31 May. However, the new owners have negotiated an extension of the lease so they can keep supplying customers while a new location is found. Origin Earth founders, Joanie and Richard Williams told RNZ they'll continue to have a role in the company and are excited at the prospect of the new structure. "We have always had the visions but like many small businesses, have lacked the capital. We are very keen to see our last 15 years' work recognised and expanded by new owners," Joanie said. She said nothing would change and there would be no interruption to supply chains. "Our local milk will still be on your supermarket or favourite store shelf or served at your favourite café. We will be expanding the availability of our cheeses. "Origin Earth's sheep milk cheeses which we have been producing for 15 years will also continue alongside our cows' milk offerings," she said. Sign up for Ngā Pitopito Kōrero , a daily newsletter curated by our editors and delivered straight to your inbox every weekday.
RNZ News
09-07-2025
- Automotive
- RNZ News
‘Fine sweeper' snaps more than 5000 parking violations in five months
The Mobile Licence Plate Recognition (MLPR) system issued more than 5000 tickets in five months. Photo: Paul Taylor - NZME The Hastings District Council's fine sweeper - a camera-covered car that catches out overstaying parkers - has snapped more than 5000 vehicles in five months. From 1 January to 1 June, the car pinged 5326 vehicles for parking infringements in Hastings and Havelock North. In the same period, parking officers on foot ticketed 3926 vehicles for overstaying in metered and time-restricted spaces. The LPR (licence plate recognition) vehicle is not quite clever enough to issue tickets yet, and that job falls to the team of four parking officers who take turns driving it. But it is functioning "very efficiently", a Hastings District Council spokesperson said. A council spokesperson said the car picks up on violations of time limits and photos of these are sent to the office for processing by the team, who then send out infringement notices. The hybrid vehicle cost $73,000 and was funded out of parking income, not rates, and has advanced technology in its roof and rear and a camera that takes photos of cars and tyres of parked vehicles. The wheel images are reviewed by officers to determine if the vehicle has moved or not, while the license plate identifies the offending vehicle. Although it could "see in the dark", the council does not use it in the dark, a council spokesperson said. Once the photos are taken, a parking officer evaluates the record and issues an infringement. They only issue infringements using the LPR for overstaying a zone, however time zones apply in all metered spaces. The spokesperson said while the officers had not been abused while driving the car, this was still a problem for on-foot officers. Asked if and when the car would pay for itself, the spokesperson said while there were benefits, there were significant ongoing costs of running the system. These included: "Vehicle and running costs, infringement processing administration, IT systems and maintenance, infringement court filing fees and staff costs." However, they said the objective was to process offenders and keep staff safe. The top three areas in Hastings where people are overstaying since the start of the year are Canning Road, Lyndon Road and Avenue East. The smart car first hit the streets in July 2024, but system function issues meant only warnings were sent out in the first few months. LDR is local body journalism co-funded by RNZ and NZ On Air.
RNZ News
03-06-2025
- General
- RNZ News
Havelock North residents consider legal options to stop Crematorium from being built
A group of Havelock North residents say building a crematorium in the middle of the village is distasteful and they plan to fight it. Photo: LDR/Supplied A group of Havelock North residents are considering legal action in a last-ditch bid to prevent a crematorium being built in the middle of the village. Lawyers say the only avenue open to them is to get the 2024 resource consents, issued by Hawke's Bay Regional Council and the Hastings District Council, overturned. Hastings District Council says the application to include a crematorium at the existing Terry Longley and Sons funeral home in Cooper Street, over the road from the New World supermarket, was carefully assessed. Resource consent required an air discharge consent from HBRC, and a land use consent from HDC. A Hastings council spokesperson said its resource consent department determined that when measured against the criteria, the proposed crematorium's adverse land use effects on the environment would be "less than minor". That meant that notification of the community was not required. A spokesperson from the Havelock North group Andrew Fulford said they would be focusing on fighting the fact the consent was non-notified. "To slip it through without communicating with the community - unnotified - that's the point we would go to court with," Fulford said. "We haven't decided yet if we will continue with the legal pathway, because of the potential cost," he said. "It's a lot of money but it's not out of the realms of possibility. We have had some generous support." He said one option was to apply for an injunction, which meant if the crematorium were to go ahead, any work would be at Terry Longley and Sons' own risk. The Havelock North group, who met with Hastings District Council last month, claimed building a crematorium in the middle of the village was "distasteful". Local Democracy Reporting contacted Terry Longley & Sons for comment but they "politely declined to comment". Montage of the proposed cremator's flue as seen from New World's access to Cooper Street, Havelock North. Photo: LDR/Supplied At a public meeting called by the funeral home in late March, general manager Terry Longley said they had looked at alternative sites, including ones in Napier, Omahu and the Tukituki Valley with no luck, so had turned their attention back to Havelock North. There are only two crematoriums in Hawke's Bay, serving a population of 180,000. There is a need for another, with Hastings District Council's crematorium at Hastings Cemetery nearing 100 percent capacity. The other is a private facility also near Hastings Cemetery. Longley said the alternative would likely be cremations taking place in Taupō, Gisborne or Palmerston North. Councillor Henry Heke, who attended the meeting, said he agreed the community should be heard and that a Crematorium in Havelock North village was not ideal. "It has so many perceived risks," Heke said. "But owners have the right, as they went through a process they believe to be the correct. "I, however, believe that possibly the zoning could have been reviewed or the community around the industrial area consulted on changes in the area. "I do support the development of a new crematorium, but I don't support the current proposed location." The council spokesperson said the council understood there were some concerns within the community. "However the Resource Consent has been approved (within the regulatory framework per the requirements of the Resource Management Act 1991) and therefore there is no formal opportunity to oppose the granting of consent. "The only party able to decide whether to proceed or not with the consented project is the business which holds the consent, in this case Terry Longley & Sons." The funeral home is owned by Australian company Propel Funeral Partners Ltd (Havelock North) which also owns two other Hawke's Bay funeral companies Tong and Peryer Funeral Directors (Hastings), as well as Howard and Gannon Funerals (Taradale). The resource consent for the site was first issued in 2015, but lapsed in 2017. Since then a New World supermarket has been built across the road. The crematorium would have a 14m chimney, clad in stainless steel, the only feature visible beyond the site. The resource consent said there would be no visible particles, smoke or haze emitted from the cremator and the cremator's heat, which created a shimmer, was all that would be seen above the chimney. LDR is local body journalism co-funded by RNZ and NZ On Air.
NZ Herald
18-05-2025
- Sport
- NZ Herald
Hawke's Bay club rugby: Villagers end Mighty Maroons' unbeaten run
Havelock North co-captain, former New Zealand Māori, Highlanders, and Magpies prop Brendan Edmonds, was rapt that his team had the services of Hurricanes loosie Devan Flanders as a second half substitute. 'Devan is a huge part of the village. It was awesome to have him playing alongside his brother Cooper. We also had the Allen brothers and we've also got the Paewai brothers and the Leach brothers. 'It's a real family club and we've been building during the last five or six weeks. We're just enjoying it ... I managed to have a beer with one of our supporters after one of our tries,' Edmonds explained. Taradale captain and loosie, Josh Eden-Whaitiri, said receiving the Nash Cup after the match was 'bitter sweet'. 'We will have to come back more hungrier when the Maddison Trophy comp starts next weekend. Retaining the Maddison is our next goal.' His team missed seven regular starters on Saturday and he agreed they will take a lot of confidence out of the game and the win against NOBM into the Maddison Trophy comp. Along with Edmonds and the Flanders brothers, lock Reuben Allen impressed in the Havelock pack. Winger Eroni Nawaqa deserved his hat-trick. Prop Lolani Faleiva had a powerful first half for Taradale. Busy flanker Josh Combs worked hard for his two tries while former New Zealand Sevens player and Havelock North first five-eighth Trinity Spooner-Neera was classy against his former club. Napier Technical captured the hotly contest sixth spot for the Maddison Trophy competition with a 62-0 drubbing of MAC at Whitmore Park. Texans manager Cyril Whitburn said powerful No 8 Donovan Mataira, busy flanker Oliver Larbi and winger Elia Bari, who was playing against his former club, were all prominent in the victory. Former New Zealand Sevens rep Tamati Samuels played his second game of the season for the hosts and his direction from second five-eighth was top shelf. Whitburn said his troops know the Maddison Trophy comp will be tough and they will have to perform a lot better than they did in the Nash Cup to be competitive. Napier Pirate Rugby and Sports dedicated their performance to former Pirate age group player Kaea Karauria who was fatally stabbed the previous weekend. 'Today was more than a game. The club has pulled together well after Kaea's death,' Pirate player-coach Sheridan Rangihuna said. Former Hawke's Bay under-16 Māori rep Karauria was a lock and Rangihuna's team named him as a lock on their team sheet prior to the game. 'His whānau was keen for him to play for us when he finished kura,' Rangihuna said. 'It has been awesome for clubs to have regular service of Super players during the the Nash Cup. I believe Taradale will still be the team to beat in the Maddison comp but it will be the closest Top Six comp we have had.' Hurricanes hooker Jacob Devery started at No 8 for Hastings Rugby and Sports in their 40-26 victory over Central at Elwood Park. Central had to get the maximum five competition points out of this clash to qualify for the Top Six. Aotea posted their first win in the Nash Cup competition with a 38-24 victory over hosts Clive at Farndon Park. Aotea, Clive, Central and MAC all missed out on berths in the Maddison Trophy competition. Scorers: Havelock North 38 (Eroni Nawaqa (3), Cooper Flanders (2), Tom Woelders tries; Le'Sharn Reiri-Paku 4 cons), Taradale 31 (Josh Combs (2), Dylan Gallien, Lolani Faleiva tries; Trinity Spooner-Neera 4 cons, pen). HT: Taradale 21-0. Napier Technical 62 (Donovan Mataira (2), Elia Bari (2), Isimeli Vono, Elijah Martin, Manaaki Aranui, Sam Wilkins, Tamati Samuels, Samu Gaualofa tries; Leighton Shaw 6 cons), MAC 0. HT: 26-0. Hastings Rugby and Sports 40 (Bryson Ioane (2), Jacob Devery, Perez Malo, Jessie Sipaia, Thomas Kirikiri tries; Koby Deacon 4, Oscar Sowman cons), Central 26 (Dylan Wind, Tejay Oliver, Trei Nepe-Apatu, plus one unknown tries; Tate Harte 3 cons). HT: 26-9. Napier Old Boys' Marist 44 (Will Tremain (2), Johnny Faleiva, Kere Penitito plus two unknown tries; Patrick Hedley 4 cons, 2 pens), Napier Pirate Rugby and Sports 29 (Jericho Wharehinga, Chaz Heke, Andrew Tauatevalu, Eneri McGrath, Hugh Taylor tries; Tauatevalu, Liam Batt cons). HT: Pirate 19-5. Aotea 38 (Rangi Chase, Manahi Goulton, Trent Conway, Samuel Jones plus two unknown tries; Hoera Stephenson 4 cons), Clive 24 (Charlie Varcoe (2), Petera Kahui, Aminiasi Koroi tries; Tamati Rautahi 2 cons). HT: 21-12.
NZ Herald
16-05-2025
- Sport
- NZ Herald
Top four Eastern Premiership football teams on show in Gisborne Saturday
Thistle will be close to full strength. Coach Tam Cramer is likely to rest utility player Nick Land, who has been playing with a niggling injury, and midfielder Federico Suarez will still be missing through injury. But the influential 'spine' of the side – goalkeeper Mark Baple, centre backs Martin Kees and Junior Jimmy, midfielder Cory Thomson and striker Jimmy Somerton – will be there. 'We're expecting a tough game,' Cramer said. 'They won the Pacific Premiership last year – went through the season unbeaten – and they've been pretty good this year. 'With a full squad we fancy ourselves against anyone, but it won't be easy.' Gisborne United have looked to be title contenders in their first year back in this level of competition. They took their foot off the pedal in the second half of their game against HSOB Gisborne Boys' High School last week, but that won't happen against Havelock North. Player-coach Josh Adams has a side close to full strength, although Andy McIntosh – a standout performer in goal this season – is unavailable for the clash due to a longstanding commitment. Adams picked up an injury niggle on Tuesday and, with the Thistle-United derby only a week away, will look to protect it by playing in goal. He has played there before and is not a weakness in that position, but he will be missed up front. Campbell Hall will take his place as central striker and will offer a different though still effective type of threat. Corey Adams will play alongside Hall. Sam Royston looks set to be in the starting line-up at right wingback, a role he has filled admirably in the past two weeks. The rest of the side look solid. Dane Thompson, Dan Torrie and Aaron Graham are a formidable central midfield combination and central defenders Kieran Higham, Ryan Anderson and Jonathan Purcell are all likely to feature at some stage. Kieran Venema is also having a good season in the back four or in a holding midfield position. Warren Muir has come into the squad and can cover both goalkeeping and outfield positions. United will need to be at the top of their form, as Havelock North have an enviable reputation as perennial contenders for honours at this level and above. HSOB Gisborne Boys' High School travel to Hastings to take on Western Rangers, who are only three points ahead of them on the league table. Centre back Kauri Holmes is unavailable, but midfielder Matt Hills and defender Kaden Manderson return to the squad. Left back Kyran Lasenby, who has been sidelined with an elbow fracture, is expected to be fit for training in a week or so, and goalkeeper Aiden Armstrong came through the game against United with a man-of-the-match performance a week after dislocating a finger. Coach Garrett Blair said he would have a squad of 15 to travel and was looking for a continuation of last week's second-half performance. Jacob Adams would probably play alongside Hills in an attacking midfield role, with Euan Cramer looking to build play from deeper positions. Blair said Boys' High had interschool qualifying games against Hastings Boys' High School on May 26, Napier Boys' High two weeks after that and Lindisfarne College on June 19. Eastern Premiership games were providing invaluable preparation for those matches.
