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Driving for Positive Change

SWIFT were delighted to commit to a third year of funding for the South Waikato Drivers Licensing programme with Transform Aotearoa taking over as lead providers in 2023....

SWIFT Launches 'South Waikato Business Growth Workshop Series'

Excitement is brewing as SWIFT works to launch 'South Waikato Business Growth Workshop Series.' We have partnered with SODA inc. in support of funding available through Regional Business Partner (RBP) Network to bring the best business growth specialists and advisors to our district.This opportunity removes the barriers of time and cost for local businesses to access specialised training for business development at a heavily subsidised rate....

Introducing 'Level 1'

It’s been an exciting start to 2024 with a number of projects coming to fruition, including the opening of ‘LEVEL 1'.This is a new professional co-working space based at Pūkenga Rau Trades Training Centre. Also, home to the SWIFT team.This space is perfect for regional businesses needing a base in South Waikato, or locals needing off-site meeting rooms or even people wanting to expand from their home-based business.Aptly named ‘Level 1' being the position of the space at Pūkenga Rau, wit...

Waikato Business Chamber Host Business Networking Event in South Waikato

SWIFT and Toi Ohomai | Te Pūkenga were delighted to support the latest Business networking evening hosted by Waikato Chamber of Commerce on 6th March at Pūkenga Rau.With a noteworthy line up of successful business leaders who spoke to the theme of ‘the success of business born out of the South Waikato’.This included David Hallett, Co-founder /Director of Company-X. Tijay Asiata, Group Executive, LM4 and Gareth van der Heyden, CEO, Better Eggs....

SWIFT Scholarship Recipients come together to connect.

In February this year, we hosted a ‘Connection Workshop’ for the recipients of our first Scholarship Scheme which launched in September last year....

SWIFT Team Attend Pride in Putāruru Business & Community Awards

It’s not often that our team gets time together…We were delighted to be in attendance as principle sponsors at the Putāruru and Tirau Business & Community Awards on 9th September 2023.It was fantastic to celebrate our amazing business community and support Pride in Putāruru.Congratulations to all the winners, especially Tirau Earthmovers Ltd for winning the Overall Award – we love your work!...

SWIFT Launch $50,000 Scholarship Scheme

South Waikato Investment Fund Trust (SWIFT) has launched a $50,000 scholarship scheme to help South Waikato residents of all ages with their tertiary education.SWIFT Chief Executive Amanda Hema says applicants who are not eligible for the Government’s fees free programme may receive up to $5,000 ($1,000 for course related costs and $4,000 for study fees). People who are eligible for the Government’s fees free programme may receive up to $1,000 for course related costs in their first year....

SWIFT Appoint New Board Members

South Waikato Investment Fund Trust (SWIFT) has appointed three new board members: corporate lawyer Kate Searancke (Ngāti Maniapoto), accountant, lawyer, director and investor Michael Crawford and kaupapa Māori environmental consultant James Whetu as it plans for trustee retirements and adopts a new strategic focus.SWIFT Chair Bruce Sherman says the three new board members bring a wealth of professional, business and governance experience and will help ensure the strategy steering the Trust’...

Trust Waikato Team Visit the South Waikato

We couldn’t feel luckier to have wonderful partners in Trust Waikato, who continue to support our community and contribute to its growth.Today we got to share the fabulousness of Pūkenga Rau with the Trust Waikato team, share our hopes for the new facility and acknowledge the funding support they provided to make this dream a reality for our community.Thank you for your visit and for being amazing supporters of the South Waikato District.A special thanks to Maree Kendrick and James Putoko fro...

SWIFT Appoint Chief Executive

South Waikato Investment Fund Trust (SWIFT) is focusing on the future with a new Chief Executive and a refreshed emphasis on supporting communities and businesses in the region to manage the impact of the pandemic and rapidly increasing inflation.The Trust has recently appointed Amanda Hema, Tirau local as Chief Executive. Ms Hema brings extensive community experience and networks to SWIFT, supporting the Trust’s strategy of building long-term connections for the collective prosperity of ...

Winning in the Generation Program

Since the commencement of the CNIWC Generation Programme in 2021, which, alongside others has been funded by SWIFT, there has been success with many students who have gained employment within the forestry industry or continued further education. Olive Williams has been a prime example.Olive was part of the first cohort to have completed the Generation Programme run in Tokoroa in November 2021. Olive had been previously home-schooled by her mum who encouraged her to explore a future in the F...

Whakauru Stream Restoration Reveals Long-lost Track

Clearing the banks on a section of the Whakauru Stream for a community tree planting held today led to the unexpected discovery of a long-forgotten punga-lined walking track that has been overgrown with blackberry for decades.Pokaiwhenua Catchment Group chair Andrew Lennox said the track was rediscovered in February by contractor Aaron Palmer from Land clear using a digger mounted flail to munch the blackberry from the riverbanks in preparation for today’s planting of 2,200 native trees and sh...

Collaborating for Success & Workforce Growth

Collaborating for success and workforce growthTen months ago, Bevan Wood bought Wood Automotive from his Aunty Kathy and Uncle Barry Wood who had owned and operated the small automotive service and repair business for 30 years.Today, with support from Government-funded Regional Business Partner (RBP) Network, RBP manager Soda, South Waikato Investment Fund Trust (SWIFT), and the South Waikato District Council’s WORKit initiative that places young people in jobs or training, the business is on ...

Raukawa Blesses New Trades Training Centre and Gifts New Name

Raukawa kaumatua blessed the soon-to-be opened $14 million South Waikato Trades Training Centre in Tokoroa in a dawn ceremony last Saturday and gave the building a new name Pūkenga Rau.Pūkenga derives from personal skill and ability development while Rau is a reference to the many people of South Waikato as well as rarau, the acquiring of knowledge, and Raukawa, the people of the rohe.Speaking at the blessing, Amanda Hema, Chief Executive of South Waikato Investment Fund Trust (SWIFT), wh...

Taking South Waikato to Parliament

South Waikato Investment Fund Trust, South Waikato District Council, local iwi Raukawa, community and business representatives took the district to Parliament on Wednesday 31 August to advocate for long term co-investment to address multigenerational inequalities.Then, South Waikato District Council Mayor, Jenny Shattock, recognised that while the district had achieved remarkable growth it still found itself the fifth most deprived community in New Zealand.Both SWIFT’s and Council’s desire f...

Generation Program Delivered in South Waikato

Forestry and timber training in the district has a multi-pronged approach, including the Trades Centre, Forestry Machine Simulators and the Generation Program.In 2020, the opportunity arose to set up local forestry training based on the highly successful Generation Program model developed by the Eastland Wood Council. This project was led by South Waikato District Council and the Forest Industry Contractors Association (FICA).Alongside others, SWIFT assisted in funding the development of a Busin...

Green Frame Ltd Establishes a Steel-Frame and Truss Plant in Putāruru

Green Frame Ltd are establishing a steel-frame and truss plant in Putaruru with the medium-term objective to build full modular transportable homes.Light steel frame buildings are well-proven over 50 years in NZ house building.  In fact, New Zealand is home to the world’ s highest regarded roll-form machine manufacturers (Scottsdale Napier, Hayes Rotorua and HowickLtd Auckland and Framecad Auckland.Market demand for housing and residential developments has never been stronger and doesn’...

Changing of the Guard

There’s been a changing of the guard at the South Waikato Investment Fund Trust after the retirement of three long-serving board members.Stephen Veitch, the newly appointed chief executive of Waikato Innovation Park, was appointed chairperson of the trust, known as SWIFT, at a recent annual general meeting. He takes over from Bruce Sherman who has been on the trust’s board since 2018 and was chairperson since 2019.Kate Searancke, a lawyer who became a member of the board in November 202...

Van Dam Plumbing Ltd 2020 Growing from Strength to Strength

Van Dam Plumbing is well known across the South Waikato having been established 60 years ago.  Stephen Mulholland who has recently purchased the business with his partner Jade Corry, had worked for Van Dam Plumbing for 15 years and is well known in the Putāruru sporting community.Key customers include many of the major individual and corporate farmers across the district along with companies including Fonterra, Inghams, Mercury and SWDC.SWIFT provided assistance to help expand the capabili...

Hancocks Forest Management Brand New Premises in Tokoroa

Hancocks Forest Management (HFM) are part of the Hancocks Natural Resources Group – the world’s largest forest owners, and locally manage the 145,000-hectare Kinleith Forest. Hancocks operate from old premises in Tokoroa and needed an operations base and offices that were fit for contemporary forest management needs.Hancocks approached SWIFT to see if it was possible to create a purpose-built facility by either refurbishing an existing premises or building new. Hancocks also w...

SWIFT Partners with Te Waka to Promote the Regional Business Partners COVID Assistance Program

2020 presented many challenges for the district and the nation. However it also provided a great opportunity for different organisations to work together on the single focus of business survival and regeneration.These included SWDC, SWIFT, Te Waka, Firestation, The Event Girl, and EMA.Moving very quickly, SWIFT set up a program and budget alongside SWDC with a focus on assisting local businesses. Rapid surveys were done to identify the most pressing areas of need and support required as well as ...

Driver Licence Project for South Waikato

One of the major barriers for youth to attend training and go for jobs some distance away from home is the lack of a driver’s license. In 2020 in the South Waikato there were 120 offences issued for driving without a license.In early October, prior to the project starting, the contributing schools undertook a survey to gain some primary data about drivers licensing in the school communities. The results of this survey reinforced what we knew anecdotally.61% of eligible students had no lic...

New Forestry Simulators, Training and Facilities in South Waikato

The forestry sector is a major force in the South Waikato economy, generating some 25% of the districts GDP. The district has a multi-pronged approach to forestry training, including the Trades Centre, Generation Training Program and Forestry Machine Simulators.With the forestry sectors increasing use of mechanised harvesting and technology, the need is for skilled trainees to shift quickly and safely into operating new types of equipment.The challenge for young people in the regions, particular...

Business Recolated to Located to South Waikato with the Help of SWIFT

WJM Profiles is a specialist machining business that relocated to the South Waikato with assistance from SWIFT.  The business specializes in high-quality technical profiles including picture frames, balustrade rails and colonial facia mouldings.   The previous premises were too small for the operations, customer inquiries and growth prospects.  By relocating the business provided a far greater space at a similar cost, is closer to suppliers and customers as well as a supply o...

South Waikato Trades Training Site Blessed by Raukawa

Construction of the new $14 million South Waikato Trades Training Centre in Tokoroa received the official blessing of Raukawa kaumātua Te Hapuku Rikiriki and Poihaere Barrett in a ceremony today attended by representatives from the district’s diverse cultures.Raukawa Charitable Trust Tumu Whakarae (General Manager) Maria Te Kanawa said it was a momentous occasion for the iwi to bless the site on the corner of State Highway 1 and Chambers St at the northern entrance to Tokoroa.“The Trades Tr...