170403_Minutes_April_2017

Minutes of meeting

of Kaikohe Business Association

held Monday 3 April

at Kaikohe RSA

Present, Mark A, Joe Nol, Mike E(until left meeting @ 6.30pm), Sally McCauley, Aimee Ruka, Arthur Webber, Jack Poutsma, Dianne Maxwell, Rena Toia,

1. Apologies – received from Nic Anderson, Mike Shaw, Mike Edmonds, John & Elodie Vujcich.

2. Minutes of previous meeting – recived and accepted as a true & accurate record. Mark/Jack P

3. Financials – presented by Joel Nol.

4. Towns flags – Correspondence received from Mara Pickery regarding the poor state of current main street flags. Agreed they need to be replaced. Sally McCauley advised she was looking at flag options and that Top Energy can assist with installation, Joe Nol to prepare funding application for new flags

5. Kaikohe Rugby Club fundraiser dinner update- function very well attended and received by community. Fundraised circa $18,000 towards night lights. Good community spirit after negative aspects of youth issues in town

6. Cycleway Trust – Nicole Anderson and Hirini Tau have been put forward as joint trustees with one vote for the Kaikohe section of the cycleway at a meeting held at FNDC in March. Their respective positons yet to be confirmed by the Cycle way Trust

7. Youth in town – the future. Noted that the negative publicity continues to put the town in a negative light, but is required to draw attention to the lack of police presence in town. Mark A had been interviewed on radio and TV highlighting the need for increased police presence in Kaikohe.

8. Food Processor opportunity Update – Dianne Maxwell. Dianne presented to FNDC seeking a loan to establish a food processing business potentially “gifted” to the town if it could raise around $150,000 capital for building fit out specific to the operation. After a report with inaccuracies was presented by council staff, the opportunity was voted down by a majority of councillors. The KBA was very disappointed in the outcome and highlighted double standards within FNDC and the way it continues to fund things like the Turner Centre to the tune of $300,000/year yet will not “loan” on a opportunity to generate jobs in a town that desperately needs employment opportunities.

9. Energy Park – Mark A advised that the proposed Energy Park - along with a number of other projects that are key to the town’s future prosperity - are on a draft MOU that is undergoing a feedback process. The document will be presented at a future meeting.

10. Kaikohe Korero – Aimee Ruka presented a draft “Kaikohe Korero” newsletter that will be produced monthly for the residents and businesses. Mark A advised that we needed to see local businesses and residents get in behind this great initiative by advertising regularly. This colour publication is also available online at

https://kaikohekorero.wixsite.com/kaikohekorero and on Facebook - Kaikohe Korero

11. Arthur Webber – Solomon Group – Arthur addressed the meeting as a new business entity in town that provides intensive mentoring and trade training for long term unemployed. Solomon Group is a national organisation and has a premises in Marino Court. Arthur is keen to assist business owners find staff.

Meeting closed 7.30pm