Fruitbowl - Fresh Ideas from Hawke's Bay

Pacific Fibre are one step closer to making faster, inexpensive, unlimited broadband a reality with the announcement today of a partnership with Asian telco Pacnet. The guys at Pacific Fibre, Rod Drury among them, have taken on a challenge of epic proportions here and this milestone is no small feat – well done! Stuff Article TVNZ Article Earlier Fruitbowl Article ...Read more

Air NZ has just announced it’s Starfish card. I guess its a step in the right direction but they I don’t think they listened to the strong feedback I’ve heard to set a price and not just a discount. Also the cheap flights are much less business friendly than they used to be.  So even a 30% discount to a massive fare doesn’t do it for me. It’s still a punitive fare ...Read more

To AirNZ’s credit they have launched their regional survey. http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/NWHJMJ7 I think that most of us are very proud of Air New Zealand.  It’s an admired company for almost all New Zealanders.  We want to support it. But I disagree strongly with the approach of a upfront fee, to get a discount.  The survey tests a few different combinations of this approach ...Read more

In the paper this morning  …. Air New Zealand plans fare changes It is understood that central to the plan is an annual discount card which would be sold for between $1000 and $1500 in return for a discount of between 20 per cent and 35 per cent on any regional fare. The discount card would also include Koru lounge membership, worth about $600, and all fares would continue to earn ...Read more

Telecom upgraded the amps on their Tukituki and Haumoana/Te Awanga towers on June 10 so you should get even better XT. Thanks Telecom! Have you noticed a difference? We’re making good progress to get Waimarama beefed up. I know that some people would love to have no coverage out there but for me at least I can spend more time at the beach with the kids if my mobile works. Please be ...Read more

Here’s some good news to start the week. The Fruitbowl 737 Corporate Jet is a step closer to reality!! Local MP’s Chris Tremain and Craig Foss are today celebrating the approval of extensions to the HB runway by the Minister for State Owned Enterprises, Simon Power. Approval ensures that all shareholders in the airport are now supportive of the extension. This is great news!“This ...Read more

To coincide with the network infrastructural changes that they are undertaking, Airnet has initiated a number of marketing workstreams. Among these, Airnet has commissioned Tank to evolve and strengthen their brand into something that would offer the company a meaningful point of difference. Right from the outset, the team at Tank advocated that Airnet should shift from a ‘me-too’ ...Read more

Research and Education Advanced Network New Zealand Ltd (REANNZ) has entered into a long-term partnership with FX Networks to provide the national connectivity for the Kiwi Advanced Research and Education Network (KAREN). Following a thorough and comprehensive evaluation process, REANNZ has selected FX Networks to provide the national network for KAREN from December 2010. The arrangement secures ...Read more

My last night in London after a huge week. We’ve done around a 1000 miles talking to partners in Bristol, Midlands, Newcastle, York, Manchester and London.  One more sleep and time to head home with a stock of Jeffery Wests. I always enjoy coming up here.  The contrast between NZ where 200 years ago we were all in grass skirts, to walking past a 14 century church I have trouble ...Read more

The Bay has done a great job of being a nice place to visit.  More than that – the Bay is the the best place to live. In order for people in the middle of their careers to live here we need good infrastructure of course, but just as important is reasonable and predictable commuting costs. I’m hearing more and more people complaining about the costs of Air New Zealand flights in and ...Read more