Far North Holdings uses its assets and expertise to boost investment and employment in the Far North for the benefit of our communities and our local businesses.

Part of this includes the provision of commercial support for locally-based and owned businesses.

For example, part of our strategic plan for Opua is to grow the marine services hub here. We developed a new, state-of-the art boat-building and paint shop facility at Opua which we were able to lease out on commercial terms to Bluefix Boatworks, a business that was previously based in Kerikeri and unable to expand due the lack of a suitable premises.

Since moving to Opua Bluefix Boatworks has expanded significantly, increasing the number of people it employs locally and helping to boost Opua’s reputation around the Pacific as a centre of excellence for boat-building, design, repair and maintenance.

Another example was the role we played in negotiating and securing a replacement provider for the scheduled commercial air service between Kaitaia and Auckland, following Air New Zealand’s withdrawal from the route. In this case the airline involved wasn’t able to maintain the service but we did everything we could to put a replacement provider in place and ensure that the operating environment was as favourable as possible. We continue to monitor the market for a possible replacement service provider.

The town of Kawakawa is set to be transformed through the development of a major Visitor Centre that exploits the town’s connection with the celebrated artist Friedensreich Hundertwasser. FNHL has worked closely with the community and played a central role in enabling and facilitating the project, known as the the Kawakawa Hundertwasser Visitors Centre – Te Hononga. We have been instrumental in sourcing and co-ordinating funding for the project.

This economic regeneration initiative will enhance the town’s ability to benefit economically from the already significant flow of tourist traffic attracted to; the Hundertwasser Toilets, the Bay of Islands Vintage Railway and the Twin Coast Cycleway.

FNHL is also engaged in a build/lease arrangement with Copthorne Hokianga. The project involves the redevelopment and expansion of the hotel’s accommodation.

This is a land and buildings deal in a standard ‘build and lease’ arrangement. It allows an existing solid West Coast business to grow and contribute further to the local economy while FNHL gets to expand its commercial asset base.

The deal complements FNHL’s previous investment in the commercial infrastructure of this part of the District, in the form of the iSite, café and 4Square in Opononi.

Enabling and empowering Northland business is very much part of our brief. If you have a business challenge you think we can help with, or if you would like to see how we might be able to assist with a project you are involved with, please don’t hesitate to get in touch.