Held at the Horowhenua Events Centre in Levin, the awards that have been taking place over three decades, brought together businesses, supporters and community leaders from across Kāpiti and Horowhenua for an evening celebrating business excellence, innovation and community spirit.

Udderly Organic was a standout, taking home five awards: Electra Business of the Year; Manufacturing, Production and Processing; Customer Experience – Horowhenua; New/Emerging; and Environmental Sustainability. Its success highlighted the quality and ambition of businesses operating in Horowhenua and was a proud moment for the district’s food and beverage sector.

Shannon Four Square received the special Judges’ Award – Heart of the Community, recognising its contribution to the community it serves. Created at the judges’ discretion, this award is only presented when they believe a business is worthy of special acknowledgement, making it a particularly meaningful recognition for the team.

Other local successes included Nation Beauty, which won the Consumer Services Award, and Premium Garage Doors, which took home the Construction and Trades Award and the Innovation Award.

Doug Rowan was also announced as the 2026 Horowhenua Business Hall of Fame Laureate, recognising an outstanding career devoted to leadership and service. The honour celebrates his lasting contribution to business and the meaningful difference he has made in the wider community.

Horowhenua Mayor Bernie Wanden says the evening highlighted the people, hard work and community connections behind local business success.

“Our businesses contribute so much to Horowhenua. They create jobs, support local causes and help make our towns places where people feel connected. Udderly Organic’s outstanding success and Shannon Four Square’s Heart of the Community Award reflect the different ways our businesses make a difference.

“It was a pleasure to celebrate on home turf and welcome our Kāpiti neighbours to Levin. Our districts share strong connections, and these awards are a wonderful opportunity to come together, recognise achievement and celebrate the people behind our business community.”

The shared Kāpiti–Horowhenua awards provide an opportunity for businesses across both districts to connect, learn from one another and gain recognition for their work. Hosting this year’s celebration in Levin brought that wider business community together in Horowhenua.

Across the evening, the achievements of winners and finalists showcased the diversity of local enterprise, from food producers and trades to retailers and service businesses. The awards also recognised the commitment involved in building a business, developing a team and consistently delivering for customers.

“I also want to acknowledge Business Kāpiti Horowhenua, the volunteer-run community not-for-profit organisation behind these special awards. Their work ensures our community’s voice remains at the heart of the awards programme.”

Horowhenua District Council as a sponsor congratulates all winners, finalists and entrants, and acknowledges the organisers, judges and other sponsors who made the evening possible.

This year’s winners include:
Electra Business of the Year: Sponsored by Electra
● Udderly Organic Ltd

Construction and Trades: Sponsored by Mills Albert Ltd
● Premium Garage Doors

Consumer Services: Sponsored by Zebunisso Alimova – Mike Pero Mortgages
● Nation Beauty

Hospitality, Entertainment and Tourism: Sponsored by Kapinua
● The Custard Pie

Manufacturing, Production and Processing: Sponsored by MTF Kāpiti
● Udderly Organic Ltd

Not for Profit, Community and Public Services: Sponsored by LT McGuinness
● Ōtaki Women’s Community Club (OWCC)

Professional and Business Services, or Technology: Sponsored by Graphic Press & Packaging
● Pou Architecture

Retail: Sponsored by New World Levin
● We Love Local

Customer Experience – Horowhenua: Sponsored by The Horowhenua Company
● Udderly Organic Ltd

Customer Experience – Kāpiti: Sponsored by Spark Business Hub Kāpiti
● We Love Local

New/Emerging: Sponsored by Kāpiti Business Chamber
● Udderly Organic Ltd

Small Business: Sponsored by NZME
● Pou Architecture

Environmental Sustainability: Sponsored by ANZ Bank New Zealand
● Udderly Organic Ltd

Innovation: Sponsored by Elite Diagnostics
● Premium Garage Doors

Judges’ Award – Heart of the Community
● Four Square Shannon

Hall of Fame Horowhenua – Sponsored by Horowhenua District Council
● Doug Rowan

Hall of Fame Kāpiti – Sponsored by Kāpiti Coast District Council
● Mark Brosnahan

“Putting your business forward for an award takes courage,” said Heather Hutchings, Lead Judge of EBIA. “It means opening the doors, sharing your story, and allowing others to look closely at what you’ve built, and that in itself deserves recognition.”

About the Awards
The Awards recognise businesses based in the Kāpiti Coast and Horowhenua districts. Running continuously since 1993, the awards celebrate innovation, sustainability and best business practice across all industries and sectors in our regions. Business Kāpiti Horowhenua (BKH), a volunteer-run, not-for-profit body, organises the Electra Business & Innovation Awards.

Kāpiti’s dedicated electrification expo is bringing solar, home batteries, electric vehicles, e-bikes, hot water heat pumps, induction cooktops and more together under one roof. 

Solar power expert Iain McIssac of Green Van Solar & Electrical says this is an opportunity for the public to see the tech up close, compare options and talk directly to the people who install, supply and use it every day.

“Basically the Expo is about finding ways to use the latest technology to help people to save money and ensure essentials are operating during a power cut, including medical emergencies and natural disasters.”

McIssac says there are a lot of options available now from hot water heat pump, DC car charging and the latest battery technology. He says even solar panels are getting upgrades every year.

“With power prices rising and now sitting at around 40cents a KW it doesn’t take long for those power bills to get out of control. Come and see us at the Expo and we can guide you through options says McIssac.

Home energy technology has changed dramatically in just a few years. An average household has the potential to save over $3,000 across their home energy and transport costs — and many people don’t realise how much is now within reach.

The Expo will have Exhibitor stalls — solar, batteries, EVs, e-bikes, hot water heat pumps and more from local and national suppliers. There will also be talks from independent experts and community leaders on what works, what to watch for, and how to get started

This free expo is on Sunday, 4 Oct, 10am – 4pm at the Waikanae Memorial Hall.

The Boil Water Notice for the Mangaore water supply was lifted at 4pm on Thursday 24 September 2026.

Test results from samples collected on Wednesday 23 September 2026 were received this afternoon and confirm the water meets all drinking water requirements. As a result, the precautionary boil water notice has been lifted and residents no longer need to boil their water before use.

The notice was issued as a precaution after two dead rats were discovered in one of the reservoirs during a routine inspection. The affected reservoir was immediately taken offline, and Council worked closely with Taumata Arowai, the water regulator while remedial work and testing were carried out.

Chief Executive Monique Davidson said the incident highlights the importance of regular inspections and robust monitoring systems.

“We know a boil water notice can be disruptive, and we’d like to thank the Mangaore community for their patience and cooperation while this work was completed.”

“We’re pleased to confirm that the water is safe to drink and the boil water notice has now been lifted.”

“While this type of situation was concerning, this is exactly why we have regular inspections, monitoring programmes and response procedures in place. These systems enabled us to quickly identify the issue and take immediate action.”

“Providing safe, reliable drinking water is one of our most important responsibilities, and we will continue to monitor the supply, and we’ll always err on the side of caution for this reason.”

Council will continue working with Taumata Arowai and review the incident to understand how the rodents entered the reservoir and identify any further improvements that can be made to the water supply system.

Residents can now return to using tap water as normal.

“The damning report details the inconsistent and incorrect answers, Board-level governance failures, and a lack of transparency around crucial procurement decisions coupled with no records from the time. This has led to aging and broken trucks, and years of delay for replacements,” Costley says.

Costley points to two key examples from the inquiry, relating to different types of fire trucks.

“Thirty new trucks were purchased in 2019, and none of them are in use seven years later. Aerial (ladder) appliances have also suffered significant delays. Despite a ‘final inspection’ in July 2025, they are still sitting with original manufacturers, not yet delivered to FENZ and far from being put into operational use.

“Both contracts are stuck in commercial disputes, with trucks withheld from FENZ while issues are resolved.

“Blaming today’s problems on the state of FENZ at its 2017 inception does not cut it. Many of today’s leaders held leadership roles in the Fire Service prior to 2017, and the state of the many fire appliances today is worse than it was nine years ago. FENZ have been going backwards, not forwards.

Costley says new taxes will not fix FENZ. “Funding has not been the issue, spending and delivery has been. FENZ needs to focus on consistently delivering new trucks into the fleet so every brigade has appliances within the expected age.

“It should not have taken an inquiry like this to bring these issues to light. We have seen misleading response rates, obfuscation over new appliances, and leaders telling the committee that there were processes and equipment were in place that simply were not. I have found the truth not through the answers given to the committee, but through endless hours spent trawling through submissions and speaking with firefighters from north of Auckland to the deep south.

“Despite the challenges the inquiry found, I continue to be impressed by the quality of the men and women who serve in fire stations, both full-time and volunteer,” says Costley.

In May of this year Internal Affairs Minister Brooke van Velden announced a new Chair had been appointed to the Fire and Emergency New Zealand Board.

“I am pleased to announce that I have appointed Mr Raveen Jaduram as Chair of the Fire and Emergency New Zealand Board,” said Minister van Velden.

Mr Jaduram succeeds Rebecca Keoghan MNZM, who has served as Chair since July 2021, following her earlier role as Deputy Chair from June 2019.

“I would like to thank Ms Keoghan for her service during a critical period for Fire and Emergency New Zealand. She has supported the organisation through its post-amalgamation phase, strengthening its structure, and advancing important work on workplace culture and organisational integrity,” said van Velden.

ACT Party MP Brooke van Velden is retiring from Parliament in November.

The SFO’s Counter Fraud Centre has been offering free webinars to government agencies, drawing on insights and practical examples from real SFO cases – and will now open these to all businesses with a New Zealand business email address.

“Fraud and corruption can have a substantial impact on businesses, including cost, stress to staff and reputational damage,” SFO Director Karen Chang says.

“We know that when people are under pressure, the risk of an insider threat – someone who can cause harm to an organisation from within – can grow, with small, private companies particularly vulnerable.”

According to a recent global report by the Association of Certified Fraud Examiners (ACFE), private companies were victimised by the largest percentage of insider fraud, accounting for 44% of 2402 cases from 143 countries studied, with smaller organisations being the most vulnerable, followed by public companies and government.

The findings are backed by a recent NZ New Zealand Security Intelligence Service report, which says more insiders are causing harm to their organisations. The report said both public and private sector organisations in New Zealand are vulnerable to these threats, including theft of intellectual property, not following proper process, or misuse of assets.

“Very few employees become an insider threat, but they could do disproportionate damage to their organisations,” Ms Chang says. “It’s important to understand the risks and red flags. People may be led to commit fraud or corruption due to a series of pressures and events including financial stress, work dissatisfaction or job insecurity.

“We want to help businesses learn more about strong oversight and controls to detect and prevent fraud and corruption in their organisations.”

Upcoming webinars:

• Corruption 101 – September 22: This webinar explores what corruption looks like in practice, why people become involved, and where risk is highest across common operational areas. Participants will gain a practical, risk-based understanding of how to help strengthen an organisation’s defences.
• Fraud risks in procurement – October 15: In this webinar participants will learn about the various forms of fraud that can occur throughout the procurement lifecycle and see how taking a risk-based approach can help manage the risks.

To register visit: https://www.sfo.govt.nz/counter-fraud/workshops-and-webinars

The toilet block has reached the end of its useful life. Despite several attempts to fix it, the problems have continued, and the manufacturer has now confirmed it cannot be repaired. Council will remove the block, as spending more on it would not be good value for ratepayers.

Five other public toilets remain available in and around the Levin town centre:

• Salisbury Street, Levin
• Public Gardens, Bath Street
• Levin Adventure Park
• Mako Mako Road at Weraroa Domain
• Te Takeretanga o Kura-hau-pō, 10 Bath Street

The Salisbury Street, Bath Street and Levin Adventure Park toilets are open 7am to 5.30pm, extending to 8.30pm during daylight saving. The Mako Mako Road toilets are open 24 hours. The toilets at Te Takeretanga o Kura-hau-pō are available during the facility’s opening hours.

Horowhenua District Council’s Parks and Property Manager Lacey Winiata said the recurring faults had reached the point where continuing to repair the facility was no longer sustainable.

“We’ve had contractors attend the block a number of times, but the same faults continue to return. Spending further ratepayer money on short-term repairs that do not provide a lasting solution is neither sustainable nor responsible, particularly when other public toilets are available nearby.”

Ms Winiata acknowledged the closure would be an inconvenience for some people.

“We know this one is handy if you’re already in town. The map shows the closest alternatives, and Mako Mako Road is the one to remember if you need somewhere outside normal opening hours.”

Horowhenua District Council apologises for any inconvenience.

Pictured above: Map of public toilets in and around the Levin town centre.

The fund comes from endowment land at Foxton Beach and is managed by Horowhenua District Council on behalf of the community. Grants are paid from the income the fund earns each year, never from the fund itself. This helps ensure the fund continues to support future generations.

Until now, there was no public application process. That changed with a policy adopted in September 2025, developed with Te Awahou Foxton Community Board, descendants of the original landowners of Papangaio J Block, and the wider Foxton Beach community.

Te Awahou Foxton Community Board Chairperson Ross Brannigan, said the change puts community ideas front and center. 

“For years, we’ve had people come to us with ideas about what Foxton Beach needs. Now there’s a clear way for them to put those forward.

“Foxton Beach is a small community and local people here know exactly what would make a real difference. I’d encourage anyone with a good idea to apply.”

Funding is available across four areas: heritage and culture, recreation and conservation, economic development, and wellbeing and community. Projects could include community facilities or shared assets, environmental and coastal projects, cultural and heritage initiatives, or projects that simply bring people together.

Applications must be for public services or amenities that benefit the people of Foxton Beach, and the project needs to sit within the Kere Kere Ward.

Applications will be assessed by Council officers, then reviewed by a working group of Board members and representatives of the descendants of Papangaio J Blocks original landowners. The Board will then make recommendations to Council, which will make the final decision.

Applications close on Wednesday 30 September. For help with your application, phone 06 366 0999 or email Democracy.Services@horowhenua.govt.nz

Full criteria, FAQs and details on how to apply are on our Apply for Foxton Beach Endowment Fund page.

The first of these significant decisions saw Horowhenua District Council adopt the Levin Town Centre Retail Transformation Strategy and approve $200,000 in funding to begin delivering improvements and implementation of the Strategy.

The Retail Transformation Strategy provides a roadmap for strengthening our town centre over the next 10 to 15 years, with the goal of making it the place people from across Horowhenua choose to meet, eat, shop and spend time.

Councillor Clint Grimstone, Levin Ward Councillor and Council representative on the project’s Steering Group, says the decisions signal a shift from planning to action.

“We know the Taitoko, Levin town centre has huge potential, and these decisions give us a clear direction and some real momentum,” Councillor Grimstone says.

“Council’s aim is to create a town centre our community can feel proud of. By investing now, we can make improvements people will see and experience, while supporting local businesses and creating a town centre that works for everyone.

“A strategy sitting on a shelf won’t transform our town centre. By making $200,000 available from our existing Town Centre Activation budget, we can get moving now and deliver improvements our community can see and experience.”

The funding will support early initiatives such as improved street cleaning and gardens, better signage, enhanced public spaces, and work to improve access, safety and vibrancy.

Council will also establish a contestable fund to support town centre retailers and property owners to improve their shopfronts. Potential projects could include repainting, upgraded signage and lighting, façade improvements. The details and timing of the contestable fund will be finalised and communicated in the coming weeks.

The Strategy responds to feedback from residents, retailers and property owners, who highlighted the need for greater retail variety, a stronger hospitality offering, more activity and a refreshed town centre environment.

At the same meeting, Council made a second key decision confirming the pathway for the redevelopment opportunity associated with the six strategically located Council-owned properties on Oxford Street. Council chose to apply the intent of its First Right of Refusal to Iwi Policy by providing iwi and hapū with an exclusive opportunity to put forward redevelopment proposals through an Expression of Interest process before any opportunity is offered to the wider market.

“This is an opportunity to work in partnership with iwi and hapū and invite forward ideas that can deliver the outcomes we want for these important sites,” Councillor Grimstone says.

The opening of the Ōtaki to north of Levin expressway, currently expected in late 2029, will significantly change how traffic moves through Horowhenua. Councillor Grimstone says Council is determined to prepare early and make the most of the opportunities ahead.

“We’re not waiting for the expressway to open before thinking about what comes next,” he says. “This is our opportunity to make Taitoko, Levin town centre a destination in its own right, somewhere people choose to stop, spend time and return to, rather than simply pass through. With the direction set, funding behind it and key sites moving forward, now it’s time to get on with it. The redevelopment of these Oxford Street properties presents an opportunity to be a catalyst and transformative development in the heart of the Town Centre.”

Agreed by Horowhenua District Council, Palmerston North City Council, Rangitīkei District Council and Nga Tapūwae o Hau through the Joint Shareholders’ Committee, the Statement will guide Central Districts Water (CDW) through its establishment phase and once it begins delivering water services on 1 July 2027.

At its core, the Statement requires CDW to provide affordable, efficient, safe and reliable water services, while planning for the long term and remaining accountable and connected to the communities it serves.

It requires a long-term and affordable approach to infrastructure investment, aligned with council growth plans and iwi and hapū planning documents. It also sets expectations for strong governance and financial management, open communication and responsive customer service, resilient services, improved environmental outcomes and meaningful involvement of councils, mana whenua, iwi and hapū in planning and delivery.

While CDW will operate across a larger service area, the Statement recognises that communities , iwi and hapū, have different circumstances, priorities, relationships and responsibilities and these need to be built into the way CDW operates from the outset.

Horowhenua Mayor Bernie Wanden says one of the strengths of the Statement is its focus on both affordability today and investment for future generations.

“Water infrastructure requires decisions that look well beyond a single annual plan or council term. CDW needs to take a long-term approach while keeping affordability and value for money front and centre. That means being upfront about investment, managing risks well and making sure the capital programme supports the growth and environmental outcomes our communities need.”

Palmerston North Mayor Grant Smith says signing the Statement gives the CDW Board a clear understanding of what is expected.

“We’ve been determined from the outset that Central Districts Water should be built through true partnership, with our communities and their long-term interests at the centre of decision-making. There are no side chats, everyone is at the table, the rules of engagement are clear and there has been real unity.

“This Statement gives us a common direction: safe and reliable services, value for money, good long-term planning and an organisation that remains connected to the communities it serves.”

Rangitīkei Mayor Andy Watson says the partnership has been strengthened by recognising that communities across the service area are different.

“Rangitīkei is different from Palmerston North and different again from Horowhenua. We have rural communities, smaller towns and different infrastructure challenges, so retaining that local understanding is incredibly important to us. What has worked well through this process is that we haven’t tried to pretend every community is the same. The Statement gives CDW a clear expectation to deliver the benefits of working regionally while keeping a strong local focus.”

Nga Tapūwae o Hau representative Danielle Harris says the Statement provides a crucial foundation for an enduring partnership between CDW and mana whenua, iwi and hapū across the three districts.

“Wai is not simply infrastructure. It carries responsibilities and relationships that have endured for generations. What is significant is that these expectations have been agreed collectively. There is a shared understanding that relationships with mana whenua, iwi and hapū are part of the fabric of how CDW thinks, plans, invests and makes decisions from the beginning. That gives us an honourable starting point for a meaningful relationship built on trust, where local knowledge, tikanga and the different circumstances of iwi and hapū across the rohe are understood, respected and given effect to. We will not be judged by what we have done today, but by what the state of wai is in centuries to come.”

Central Districts Water Chair Hon Steve Maharey says the Statement gives the Board and establishment team clear priorities as they build the organisation.

“This document tells us very clearly what our shareholders and partners expect from us. Success will not be measured simply by whether water continues to come out of the tap, or goes down the drain. Our job is to gain the benefits of working together at scale without losing sight of the different communities, relationships and priorities within the area we serve. Having our partners aligned on those expectations gives us clear direction as we work towards 1 July 2027.”

The full Statement of Expectations can be viewed at www.centraldistrictswater.co.nz/expectations

Communities can stay up to date through the CDW website, social media channels and an email newsletter launching in the coming months.

There will also be opportunities for people to learn more and provide feedback, including on the Water Services Strategy, as CDW prepares to begin operating on 1 July 2027.

Until then, the three councils remain responsible for water services, and service requests or concerns should continue to be directed to the relevant council.

As part of the Levin Town Centre Transformation, the project will deliver a series of public murals across Council-owned buildings and spaces, helping to create a more vibrant, welcoming and distinctive town centre.

Public art is an important part of creating places where people want to spend time. It brings colour and character to everyday spaces, celebrates local identity and helps the community to connect with the places they live, work and visit.

Mayor Bernie Wanden says the project is about creating places that reflect the unique character of Horowhenua.

“The Levin Town Centre Transformation is about creating a town centre that’s vibrant, welcoming and uniquely ours. Public art has an important role to play in achieving that vision. It helps tell our stories, reflect who we are and helps create places that people are proud of and want to visit.”

Council is looking for artists who can create high-quality, contemporary works that respond to place and contribute to Levin’s evolving identity.

Murals will be commissioned for a range of Council-owned sites, with artists selected based on their style, experience and how well their approach suits each location.

Expressions of Interest are open to both established and emerging artists. Council is particularly interested in artists who value storytelling, creativity and collaboration, and who understand how public art can enhance shared public spaces.

Applicants will be asked to provide information about their artistic background, examples of previous work and their approach to creating public art that reflects both place and community.

Expressions of Interest close at 5pm on Monday 7 September 2026.

The Expressions of Interest Guide and online application form are available on Placemaking – Mural Expressions of Interest page.