Making It New Zealand from Invercargill
Invercargill is in the midst of a southern renaissance as large future investments promise a further runway of growth. The upgraded airport is the first sign that expansion plans are underway and it wasn’t unexpected to see Mayor Tim Shadbolt there embarking on a domestic trip to fly the flag for the city he has made home.
Making It New Zealand Slat Frame Beds
Robax Products — Slat Frame Beds — EPISODE 1
My reason for visiting was to visit businesses making it New Zealand Made from their Invercargill base. First up was visiting Ian Rosel from Robax Products who shared what it took to make a slat frame bed. Ian has helped New Zealanders get a great night sleep for 40 years and sells his products to retailers like the Bunk House and Beds ‘R’ Us.
Robax Products - Making It New Zealand - EPISODE 1 - YouTube
While most beds are made offshore from unknown timber sources, Ian could show that the timber came from Niagara Sawmilling who manufacture all of their finished timber products in New Zealand. Being able to trust how a timber product is treated is important, particularly when it comes to a product you sleep on.
Making It New Zealand Grown Fruit & Vegetables
Morrifield Tunnelhouses — EPISODE 2
Growing the best fruit and vegetables can be a neighbourly competition or it can be a business edge for commercial growers. Morrifield greenhouses supplies both residential and commercial having individually made over 10,000 greenhouses according to Gordon Morris, the original founder.
While the story of how Gordon got started making polythene greenhouses forty years ago grew out of love, what has shaped Morrifield’s success comes from its ability to outgrow its equivalent glasshouse. They’re enjoying riding the trend of grow-your-own fruit and vegetables supplying 2m to 4m tunnelhouses for backyards throughout New Zealand.
Morrifield Tunnelhouses - Making It New Zealand EPISODE 2 - YouTube
Making It New Zealand Carrots & Parsnips
Southern Cross Produce —EPISODE 3
Not all of us are patient enough to wait to harvest our crop, so we rely on the supermarkets for our weekly shop, who in turn rely on what Southern Cross Produce harvests. CEO Matthew Malcolm knows what a sweet carrot should taste like and why parsnips are the new potato in 2018 and has picked up on both trends through his consumer brand So Sweet. What was a revelation on the visit to his processing plant was just why Southland offers the optimum growing conditions if you like your vege’s sweet.
Southern Fresh Produce - Making It New Zealand EPISODE 3 - YouTube
Making It New Zealand from Invercargill Summary
It is easy to forget any location that is an end points rather than a traverse. Much like New Zealand is on the edge of the world, far from the commercial hubs of London, New York and Asia, Invercargill is our domestic equivalent. Yet that distance also gives Invercargill its advantages as seen through the businesses making it New Zealand from their base in the deep south.
This is just the beginning with a $300 million investment about to transform the CBD and the Invercargill airport will likely see more visitors.
