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Connecting the dots

David Altena has 30 years of tech industry experience and is a founding director of The Better SMB Limited. david@altena.solutions Rob Bull, Director of the New Zealand Lean Academy rob@nzla.nz Connecting The Dots Everyone’s busy, capable and pulling in different directions Most manufacturers know what they need to do, but they’re doing it in pieces, with strategy, people and operations moving separately instead of together. The result is a growing list of sensible initiatives, moving in different directions and quietly cancelling each other out. We have explored several of the pressures facing New Zealand manufacturers – the cost of doing nothing, the investment gap many businesses create for themselves and the disciplines that separate the top performers from the rest. For some, that may have translated into a familiar feeling: we know what could be better here. The harder question is this: are those improvements connected inside your business, or are they sitting in different conversations, owned by different people, progressing at different speeds? Because when effort isn’t aligned, even good decisions create friction. The business stays busy, capable people work hard – and progress stalls. Direction without traction Most manufacturers have a strategy of some sort, even if it lives largely in the owner’s head. There is usually a clear sense of where to take the business, what needs to change and what success should look like. The problem is not ambition. It’s translation. Strategy often moves in one direction, while day‑to‑day decisions move in another. It doesn’t change what gets reviewed weekly, what leaders spend their time on, or what behaviours are rewarded or tolerated. The strategic intent exists, but it never reaches the work. When that happens, people make sensible decisions based on local priorities, not enterprise direction. No one […]

Keeping Southland Opportunity in Southland Hands

As Southland attracts increasing investment and larger projects begin to emerge across the region, Southland-based agency Naked Creative is encouraging businesses to consider whether they are positioned to capitalise on the opportunities ahead. Here comes Tender Ready! The agency, which has long championed regional development and the success of Southland businesses, believes the region’s greatest opportunity lies in ensuring local companies are ready to compete for the work generated on their doorstep. While the agency supports businesses throughout New Zealand, founder Carla Forbes says Southland’s success remains deeply personal. “We are fiercely proud of Southland and the businesses that call this region home. “We’ve spent years working alongside companies that are delivering exceptional work. We know the capability exists here.” “As Southland attracts investment and larger opportunities begin to emerge, we want to make sure local businesses are in the strongest possible position to secure that work. “The last thing we’d like to see is opportunities arriving in Southland only for that work to leave the region because local businesses weren’t ready to compete for it.” According to Senior Marketing Consultant Charlotte Neilson, the conversation has little to do with marketing in the traditional sense. “This is about regional development. We want Southland businesses to win the work. We want Southland businesses to benefit from the investment flowing into our region. The capability already exists. The challenge is making sure decision makers can see it.” Tender Ready Senior Marketing Consultant, Charlotte Neilson (left) and Director, Carla Forbes (right), discussing the Tender-Ready launch. The agency has launched a new programme called Tender Ready following conversations with business owners across Southland. While every business was different, the question was often the same. Does the way we present ourselves reflect the quality of the business we’ve built? “One of the privileges of our […]

Science reform: The missing link in NZ’s manufacturing productivity puzzle ?

The Problem We Have Been Ignoring By Sean Doherty, Manufacturing Commentator | NZ Industry Trends Ask any manufacturer about their biggest constraints and the answers are familiar: energy costs, skilled labour, margin pressure, and global competition from economies with far greater scale. What rarely comes up is New Zealand’s persistent underinvestment in the science and technology that lifts productivity. That gap is real. New Zealand’s total R&D investment sits at around 1.5% of GDP, well below the OECD average of 2.7%, and business investment is under 1%, among the lowest in the developed world. This shortfall is estimated to account for up to a third of our productivity gap. But this isn’t just about how much we spend. It’s also about how well manufacturing and science connect. When that link is weak, research struggles to reach the factory floor and manufacturers miss out on practical solutions. When it works, the gains are clear: better products, improved materials, and performance that carries through to export outcomes and productivity gains. All of this sits against a broader shift. Manufacturing’s share of GDP has halved since 2004, and close to 60% of what remains is concentrated in dairy, meat, food, and timber processing. These sectors matter, but focusing most of our limited science effort there won’t deliver the step change in productivity or living standards we’ll need. At best, it sustains incremental gains in mature industries. If we want a different trajectory, the focus has to shift toward building new capability, not just reinforcing what we already do well. What the 2026 Science Reforms Change The Government’s Science Investment Plan 2026–2036 is the most significant restructure of New Zealand’s research system in more than a decade. It also chooses a clear mission based focus and puts commercial outcomes as key objectives. Seven Crown […]

Moving a food manufacturing business: Lessons from Old Country Food

From June issue NZ Manufacturer magazine Family-owned Auckland manufacturer Old Country Food is one of New Zealand’s largest Asian food producers, making more than two million steamed buns and about 15 million dumplings annually for supermarkets, hospitality businesses and specialty retailers across the country. Founded more than 35 years ago by immigrants from Hong Kong, the business has evolved through several groups of Asian ownership before CEO Dr Amy Sevao’s family bought into the company in 2015. Its food philosophy reflects that journey. The business originally specialised in Cantonese-style dim sums before northern Chinese expertise refined its dough-making techniques. Taiwanese influences later shaped the product range, while a distinctly Kiwi approach to ingredients and flavour helped transform the business into a modern Asian fusion manufacturer. “When I took over, I brought in Kiwi executive chef Cameron Knox to rethink the recipes,” says Amy. “The goal was to create a distinctly New Zealand flavour profile: cleaner, simpler and more ingredient led. That really became part of our identity.” That innovation-led approach has helped Old Country Food grow despite difficult trading conditions across the food manufacturing sector recently. The company was behind the launch of the world’s first hāngī steamed buns, a Māori and Asian fusion product that sold out nationwide and has just launched a new dumpling range specifically designed for air fryers. In 2025, Old Country Food moved from its premises from Henderson to a customised 800sqm North Shore facility. Amy says the move to a larger, more efficient factory has been central to the company’s next stage of growth, allowing it to streamline operations, reduce costs and double production capacity. Old Country Food has been an EMA Member for nearly two years and the team took a tour of the facility recently. The EMA’s Nicholas Russell sat down with […]

Last month massive for the Manufacturing sector

-Hon. Cameron Brewer, Minister for Small Business and Manufacturing I had the opportunity to attend and speak at the Hutt Valley Manufacturing and Innovation Expo, where I saw first-hand the breadth of activity and innovation underway in the region. Following this, visiting EMEX 2026 (Pictured)and speaking directly with exhibitors reinforced a clear message: high value added, innovative manufacturing is happening right across the country. Not just in the main centres, but in places like Bluff, Gisborne and everywhere in between. A particular highlight for me was the second Minister for Manufacturing Awards. It was a great opportunity to celebrate success and recognise the high standards being set across the sector. This year’s finalists and winners showed the innovation and strong execution needed for the sector to stay competitive and grow its $22 billion contribution to the economy. The awards showcased what excellence looks like in practice, with businesses investing in their people, improving processes, and adopting new technologies to lift productivity and performance. One of the new categories this year, the Manufacturing Lifetime and Legacy Award, recognises sustained leadership and impact. Jeff Douglas of Douglas Pharmaceuticals was a highly deserving recipient. Over three decades, he has led the transformation of the business, choosing to anchor high value research and development and specialised manufacturing in New Zealand rather than following the global trend of offshoring. That kind of long-term commitment is exactly what strengthens our manufacturing base. For my part, this Government is committed to backing manufacturing by getting the basics right. That means supporting investment, strengthening skills, enabling innovation and improving access to markets so businesses can grow, compete and succeed. The 2026 Budget, released in late May, delivers a number of measures that will support the sector to remain competitive and resilient in a changing operating environment. These respond […]

Do you have a plan for after your exit ?

From June 2026 issue NZ Manufacturer magazine -Mike Warmington, Director, Platform 1 Having a plan for after you exit your business is just as important as the exit plan. You may have been in your business many years and it defines you. There has been structure to your life and you have emersed yourself in what you know and are good at. Many owners find that when they exit they have not defined what their purpose and direction now is. You like golf and fishing, but not for 7 days a week. You wonder how your business is performing, and also the lives of your loyal staff and long-term customers. A post exit plan before you fully leave the business enables you to consider the legacy you want to leave behind and how you can make a positive impact. Last week I spoke to a business owner who had some exciting new idea’s to implement in his business. At the same he wanted to start stepping back from the business but hadn’t fully determined what he would do. It became apparent an option was to find a Business Partner to grow the core part of the business, allowing him focus only on the new initiative which working 2 days a week when he wanted to. This also would give him time to plan out the future and emotionally come to terms with it, without a complete hard reset. He could gradually exit on his terms. Some key considerations for post business life: Don’t rush into it and you could consider a more gradual exit. The transition out of a business can be emotionally and mentally challenging. Having a plan can mitigate this by providing clarity. Work out your new purpose in life. Discuss your transition with your family and loved […]

Q & A: Greg Balla, CEO, AoFrio

From June issue, NZ Manufacturer magazine. How is business? The business is in great shape and we’re genuinely optimistic about where we’re heading. In 2025, AoFrio’s revenue reached a record NZ$83.2 million, up 4.4% on the prior year with strong growth across our IoT business. We expect full-year 2026 to exceed this, supported by the commercial launch of our flagship products SCS800 and AoFrio iQ, which open the door to meaningful growth in IoT and software across the US and European markets. Part of what makes AoFrio a great company is the people on our team, and the relationship we have with customers. We have over 150 people in our organisation now, with around 100 of those in New Zealand. The team is growing and we’ve managed to keep our staff engagement high. Our customer NPS scores are around +62 which is really high for our industry, and that comes down to the great people in the regions building strong relationships Your blue-sky picture of future transformation must be a challenge that excites you? It absolutely does. We built a respected business based on the manufacture of high-quality EC motors and controllers. That’s our heritage. But what we’re building toward now is something quite different: an AI-powered intelligence company. The foundation is already there. We have almost a decade of data from 3.2 million connected devices in commercial beverage coolers, that competitors simply cannot replicate. What makes this genuinely exciting is that our hardware manufacturing heritage isn’t a constraint. It’s the very reason we can credibly pursue this transformation. Helping build AoFrio into a great New Zealand technology company is something I find deeply motivating. How long has AoFrio been a motor manufacturer? We began manufacturing our own EC motors back in 2001 and launched the ECR2 in 2016. […]

Alan Bollard on the changing rules of global trade

By EMA Head of Export and Manufacturing Simon Devoy From supply chain disruptions and geopolitical tensions to tariff disputes and shifting trade alliances, business disruption seems to arrive from all angles, often with little warning. For exporters and manufacturers, the challenge is constant. How should they respond? How should they prepare? These are some of the issues Dr Alan Bollard has dealt with throughout his career and continues to examine today. Ahead of his keynote appearance at the EMA’s Global X Summit on 15 September, EMA Head of Export and Manufacturing Simon Devoy, spoke with Dr Bollard about the forces reshaping global trade and what New Zealand exporters should be paying attention to. After decades at the forefront of economic policy and international trade, Bollard is currently reflecting on a more confronting reality. He is writing a book titled Darkside Economics, which examines how economic tools can be used not just to grow economies, but to damage them. “It’s about how to use economics to damage economies and how to defend yourself,” he says. “It’s something that, 10 years ago, I wouldn’t have thought about. And it’s a bit of a sad reflection on what’s happening today.” That observation goes to the heart of what is shaping the global economy right now. Trade is no longer only about efficiency and growth. It’s increasingly entangled with power politics, strategic competition and national security. For Dr Bollard, any credible discussion about the outlook has to begin with geopolitics. “When we talk about what’s happening in terms of trade policies, trade tensions and geopolitical tensions, that takes you straight into the US and China,” he says. Europe still matters, but in his view it’s “a little bit less pressing” compared with the forces emanating from the world’s two largest economies. Those forces […]

Will the budget boost small firms? Not in the way we might think

Rod McNaughton, University of Auckland, Waipapa Taumata Rau With the lid lifted on Budget 2026 many small and medium New Zealand businesses will be poring over the detail to see what it has in store for them. Many may come away disappointed. With the government having been upfront about its spending constraints, this budget was never likely to deliver a large new package for small firms. Instead, the budget delivers a mix of smaller compliance changes, infrastructure spending and energy transition support. It also includes funding for advisory services, digital systems, early-stage capital initiatives and small-business capability programmes, alongside changes to research and development support. It might be asked whether this mix of small initiatives adds up to anything that will lift productivity. But aside from offering direct support, budgets can also act as useful signals from government. On this test, this budget appears strongest on encouraging restraint and resilience in a difficult economic environment, even if it is less clear how ordinary small and medium firms are expected to become more productive. That is important because New Zealand’s productivity problem will not be solved by large firms, infrastructure projects or high-growth startups alone. It also depends on whether thousands of everyday businesses can lift capability, adopt technology and improve margins. There is an important distinction here. Business support helps firms navigate rules or cope with pressure. Productivity policy helps firms change how they create value. If we look closely, there are measures in the budget to assist in both areas. The hidden small-business budget Several budget initiatives are relevant to small firms. Simplified fringe benefit tax rules for private motor vehicle use will be welcomed by owner managers, trades businesses and service firms. Removing detailed logbook requirements may not sound transformational, but compliance time is time taken away from customers, […]

Manufacturing excellence celebrated at annual awards

NZ Manufacturer Manufacturing awards presented during EMEX 2026. The people and businesses driving innovation, growth and resilience across New Zealand’s manufacturing sector have been recognised at the second annual Minister for Manufacturing Awards. “This year’s finalists have set the bar for excellence in modern New Zealand manufacturing,” says Minister for Small Business and Manufacturing Cameron Brewer. “Innovation and strong execution are critical to staying competitive in a challenging global environment and manufacturing remains vital to New Zealand’s future prosperity. “Manufacturing contributes around $22 billion a year to our economy and makes up roughly 60 per cent of our goods exports,” Mr Brewer says. “Beyond the numbers, it anchors our regions, strengthens supply chains, and turns ideas into globally competitive products, making a big impact. “The awards recognise what excellence looks like in practice: businesses investing in their people, improving processes, and adopting new technologies to lift productivity and performance. That’s what keeps the sector moving forward, even as cost pressures and global uncertainty persist.” Since taking on the Small Business and Manufacturing portfolio in early April, Mr Brewer has visited many manufacturing businesses nationwide and will continue to engage directly on the factory floor and with the Manufacturing Productivity Advisory Group (MPAG) in the coming months. “This Government is committed to backing manufacturing by getting the basics right, supporting investment, skills, innovation and trade, so businesses can build their future and grow, compete and succeed,” Mr Brewer says. “Congratulations to all finalists and winners. Your leadership and ambition are helping shape the future of New Zealand manufacturing.” 2026 Minister for Manufacturing Awards winners: Excellence in Process Innovation: Supported by Swell Architectural Glass Products Architectural Glass Products was created to solve a growing market need for dependable, high-quality double-glazed glass supply in New Zealand. Through advanced automation, purpose-built systems and a culture […]

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