Steph lifts Bonnet into NZ top two
Local entrepreneur and mum Steph Kennard has launched a national tech solution that helps motorists keep track of when their next warrant of fitness, car rego and service is due in a free, easyto-use app.
Bonnet users can also keep track of Road User Charges (RUCS) mileage, and warranties for their vehicles, from a single car to a family load or fleet, helping to eliminate the stress of a fine or overdue services.
The app has made an impressive debut in the New Zealand app store charts, currently ranking number 2 second only to Google. Kennard said more than 3000 downloads since launching last week had “smashed all our expectations”.
Six years in the making, the app was created when Kennard said she saw a clear gap in the market after working in the vehicle industry for many years.
The nationwide app requires users to simply enter their number plate to access all relevant information.
“I work in the tech industry, running my own digital agency and have worked with prestige car brands throughout my career. I saw an opportunity to solve a problem that affects a huge number of New Zealanders through a seamless app solution,” Kennard said.
Bonnet also recognises when a vehicle is a diesel car and automatically shows the driver’s paid Road User Charges (RUCS) balance with Waka Kotahi transport agency.
Users will soon be able to load their service history into the app, eliminating the need for a physical glove box book and making it easier to sell their car with a transferable profile. Kennard plans to add toll payments, fines and even insurance to the app.
“The goal is to become a onestop-shop tool for all Kiwis’ vehicle administration needs,” Kennard said.
The app also aims to load all service centres in New Zealand, making it even easier for users to book appointments and keep track of their vehicles’ maintenance.
Professor recognised for making waves around the world
With a sea captain for a grandfather, it’s no surprise that Professor Karin Bryan was drawn to studying the deep blue. A passion for maths and physics led the University of Waikato Professor to physical oceanography.
Bryan is one of the new Royal Society Te Apārangi Ngā Ahurei a Te Apārangi Fellow. She has been honoured for her research on estuarine processes, coastal morphodynamics and climatedriven variability in waves, which has gained international recognition over more than 20 years.
As Dean of Te Mata Kairangi School of Graduate Research, Bryan is committed to demonstrating the value of graduate study in creating useful knowledge for society.
“This year I want to focus on helping students get real value out of their university experience. It sounds corny, but [I want] to show that universities still have a place in creating useful knowledge for societies.”
Coastal visitor sector commits to greener practices
Tourism Bay of Plenty has launched the first Eastern Bay of Plenty intake of its free 12-week programme, The Green Room Te Ru¯ ma Ka¯ ka¯ riki, in O¯ hope, with 18 businesses and organisations taking part.
The part-time programme takes a holistic approach to sustainability, incorporating economic, visitor, community and environmental actions. It includes topics such as carbon footprint measurements and practical steps that can be taken to reduce waste and carbon.
The Green Room was launched in Waihī Beach in May last year, and 28 Coastal Bay of Plenty visitor sector businesses and organisations have since graduated from the programme. Tourism Bay of Plenty head of strategy and insights, Stacey Linton says the aim is to have 100 graduates from across the region within two years.
“Consumer values are changing as people become more conscious of climate change and the impact of their actions. Locals and visitors are wanting to support businesses and destinations that leave a light footprint or, better yet, give back. This was an emerging market pre-covid, and it’s growing,” she says.
“According to Expedia, 90 per cent of consumers are looking for sustainable options while travelling.”
Ballance Board welcomes new associate director
Ballance Agri-nutrients has appointed Olivia Buckley as the new associate director for the board.
Buckley is a Te Kuiti-based vet and an owner and director of Eight Mile Farms Ltd, a family farming operation, which integrates dairy and forestry with several sheep and beef properties.
Ballance chairman Duncan Coull said: “We were very encouraged by the calibre and interest in this role, which gives hands-on training to those wanting to grow their experience in governance. Olivia’s background and aspirations to continue to contribute to building a sustainable future for the sector through governance roles sits well with the objective of growing the governance acumen of future leaders for the primary sector.”
Golf club raises $10k for cyclone-hit clubs
The Mount Maunganui Golf Club has raised $10,000 for cyclone-hit clubs in Hawke’s Bay. Maunganui club general manager Michael Williams said about 300 golfers attended this week’s golf night.
Williams said after hearing about how badly Hawke’s Bay golf clubs had been affected by the cyclone, they wanted to help.
The money raised will go directly towards Red Cross and a New Zealand Golf trust fund to be distributed to the clubs that need it the most, he said.
Kiwifruit en route to Japan
The first shipment of the 2023 New Zealand kiwifruit season has now departed the Port of Tauranga, carrying around 2500 tonnes — more than 600,000 trays — of Zespri Sungold Kiwifruit to customers in Japan. The Southampton Star is the first of 53 charter vessels Zespri will use this season to deliver around 145 million trays of green, Sungold and Rubyred kiwifruit to more than 50 countries.
Zespri acting chief global supply officer Jason Te Brake says after a challenging 2022 and a tough start to 2023 given adverse weather including Cyclone Gabrielle in Hawke’s Bay and Gisborne, the start of the new season represented a reset for the industry.
“Demand for our fruit remains strong, and with this season’s harvest ramping up over the coming weeks, we’ll soon move into mainpack where the bulk of our fruit is harvested. It’s a proud moment seeing the first ship taking our fruit to customers and consumers but especially this year given it’s been such a challenging start to the year for some of our growers.”
Delivery app Delivereasy launched in Whakata¯ ne
Delivereasy will be one of the first ondemand delivery services to start operations in Whakata¯ ne — the app’s 31st location throughout the country.
Delivereasy chief operations officer Quinn Davis said it was thrilled to bring on-demand delivery to the eastern Bay of Plenty community.
“This brings a whole new dynamic to Whakata¯ ne’s hospitality sector, by expanding retailers’ reach and enabling more convenience for their customers, Delivereasy is delivering more local neighbourhood favourites to the wider community.”
Eateries and local establishments that have signed up include Mcdonald’s, Burger King, Gallipoli Turkish, Ataturk Turkish, Mata Beer Brewery, Office Bar, Deli Roast and convenience outlets Night’n Day.
Since its launch in 2016, almost 400,000 Kiwis have used Delivereasy to order more than 5 million meals.
Delivereasy founder Nick Foster said: “Our personal approach to making it work for every restaurant is really what makes us different for restaurants and customers.”