Changing of the Guard

The end of May saw us gather for the Business Association AGM where we celebrated the years achievements.

Support was given to:

Dark Sky

Phasing out of single use plastic bags

Wairarapa Chamber of Commerce trainings and buy local campaign and the Summer of Cycling

Council discussions and representations included:

Showers for cyclists

Issues with Liquor licenses, food safety plans, parking, water

Held a member only meeting with council over first water crisis

Advised recruiter of our needs in the new CEO

Focused initiatives included:

New Association logo and the buy local campaign

New Membership Website

CCTV for the village centre

Cycle racers away from centre of village

We also said farewell to Peter Couchman who has decided its time to hand on the baton to new Chair Allan Hogg. Committee member Conor Kershaw commented ‘It has been great having Pete to lead the MBA over the past 2 years. He has lifted the bar with his engagement with partners of the MBA such as the South Wairarapa District Council  and the Wairarapa Chamber of Commerce. I am excited to see where Allan can help lead the MBA in the future.

We would like to introduce Allan who is new to the village but is bringing a wealth of knowledge to the role:

‘My wife (Nicola) and I are new to Martinborough having moved over from Wellington last April. I am retiring from corporate life at the end of June. 

While we are new to Martinborough we have lived in the Wairarapa before, me in Masterton back in the 70,s and more recently we owned a beach property at Flatpoint on the Wairarapa coast for eight years.

We now have a five acre Olive Grove in Martinborough where we are currently building our home . I have a business background in both the private and public sectors spending 15 years in the years in the insurance and investment industry and my own consulting business in addition to many years in Social Welfare and Customs industries.

I have a strong interest in regional NZ and in particular small business performance and success. A lot of Kiwis are employed in small businesses .Small business is significant to our GDP. 

The community and business are inextricably linked so the MBA purpose and focus brings these two things together nicely. Our community includes a significant visitor population for getaways, events and holidays. Our business community needs to continue and grow its work to be well positioned to nuture this and meet the expectations of visitors to our area to ensure they have a great experience. 

Important to our success is the role of local and central government agencies. MBA serves an important function of bringing a central voice to issues and concerns of the business community. How we all collaborate will be so beneficial to that success .

I look forward to supporting the MBA and contributing to the Martinborough community.  To be able to do this through an interest area is sort of perfect