Good Things Are Happening
Signs of Hope In Aotearoa
🌿 Good News Aotearoa – Edition 7th August 2025
Despite a certain portion of the population who think that we Kiwis are the masters of tall poppy syndrome, we love a good yarn about success. A new business taking off. A local craft saved. A young person stepping into leadership and rightly so. There’s a lot to celebrate, even when the headlines often feel grim.
But if we’re honest with ourselves, even the brightest stories have shadows. That doesn’t make them less valuable. In fact, looking at the full picture, the benefits and the drawbacks, is part of growing a mature, fair-minded Aotearoa. So, here’s a fresh round of recent good news, told with both eyes open.
🌿 Opening Conservation Land to Business Use – More Than Just Jobs
The Government’s decision to ease restrictions on businesses operating in conservation areas is being hailed as a boost for tourism and regional economies. Local operators, particularly in eco-tourism, will now find it easier to get permits. Foreign tourists will pay a modest entry fee, while Kiwis continue to enter for free.
The good -
More jobs in remote areas. A smoother path for locally-owned ventures like guided walk companies, stargazing lodges and even regenerative farming initiatives and a better experience for tourists, who may now find our unique landscapes more accessible and better supported.
The consideration -
We must tread carefully here - literally. Conservation land isn’t just unused space waiting for commercial potential. It holds ecological value, biodiversity and deep cultural significance. The risk is that, once opened, these areas could be incrementally changed or damaged over time. DOC’s ability to monitor, regulate and protect these places must grow with demand, not fall behind it.
The balance -
Economic growth and environmental kaitiakitanga don’t have to be enemies, but they do have to be in constant, careful conversation.
🧶 Wild Earth Yarns – A Woollen Mill’s Rescue, but for How Long?
Christchurch-based Wild Earth Yarns, the last operational woollen dye house and spinning mill in the country, has been saved from closure. For the craft and textile community, this is more than a business story - it’s cultural preservation.
The good -
Local production continues. Jobs are saved. Skills that would have otherwise been lost are retained and Kiwi-made wool products can still be found on shelves without having to travel via China.
The consideration -
This may be more a lifeline than a turnaround. The wool industry has been in steep decline for decades and unless demand is revitalised, or new niche markets are built, keeping one mill afloat won’t shift the wider trajectory. Wool’s market challenge is real - it’s more expensive than synthetics and many consumers remain unaware of its natural, biodegradable benefits.
The balance -
Celebrate the save, but let’s pair it with a wider rethink - what does local, ethical production mean in a global economy and how do we support it sustainably?
💼 Celebrating Business Excellence – But Don’t Forget the Battlers
Deloitte’s Best Managed Companies list for 2024 featured Barfoot & Thompson, Signature Homes, Southbase Construction and others. These firms were acknowledged for outstanding leadership, innovation, culture and governance - all good signs in an uncertain economy.
The good -
These awards show that even under pressure, New Zealand businesses can lead with integrity and ambition. It’s great to see SMEs that are not just surviving but thriving - with systems, people and purpose at the core.
The consideration -
These kinds of accolades often highlight the top 1–2% of firms. Meanwhile, hundreds of other small businesses are struggling to pay wages, keep up with compliance, or simply stay open. It’s easy for awards to become echoes of privilege, rewarding only those who already had the tools and networks to succeed.
The balance -
Let’s recognise excellence and also invest in lifting the baseline so more everyday operators get a fair shot at getting there too.
💻 The $8.6B Digital Opportunity – With a Catch
A new report from NZIER, launched during Techweek, says small businesses in Aotearoa are missing out on $8.6 billion in potential value because of slow digital uptake.
The good -
The message is clear, going digital isn’t just about convenience. It can make a serious difference to revenue, productivity and market reach and with the right support, even the smallest operator can streamline systems and serve customers better.
The consideration -
Many SMEs are already overwhelmed. They don’t have IT teams or budgets for fancy platforms. Some don’t even trust the tools available, having been burned by poor advice or costly subscriptions. Telling them there’s an $8B opportunity doesn’t help if they don’t know where to start, or feel they can’t afford to.
The balance -
Digital success needs more than data. It needs trusted guidance, simple tools and practical education for business owners, especially outside the main centres.
🧡 Whare Hau Tutū – A Māori-Led Win That Needs More Than Applause
In the Waikato, wāhine Māori co-founders Julz Nonoa and Kiri Leach are building something special. Their social enterprise, Whare Hau Tutū, was recently profiled for its innovative approach to community engagement and empowerment.
The good -
It’s inspiring to see Māori innovation leading the way in grassroots enterprise. The business is grounded in kaupapa Māori, yet forward-facing and creative. It’s proof of the value that comes when systems let Indigenous knowledge flourish.
The consideration -
Most social enterprises like this run on smell-of-an-oily-rag funding. They rely on volunteers, short-term grants and goodwill. If we want these models to thrive, we can’t just applaud - we need to structurally back them with capital, policy and partnership.
The balance -
Support for Māori business must go beyond the feel-good. True equity means creating operating conditions that match the scale of the vision.
👩🔬 GirlBoss NZ – Leadership Starts Early, But It Must Continue
GirlBoss Edge has reached over 17,500 young women in New Zealand - helping them explore careers in STEM, law, health and more. Its founder, Alexia Hilbertidou, is now one of the country’s most recognised young changemakers.
The good -
This is what real youth empowerment looks like - mentoring, opportunities and confidence-building for young women, especially those from marginalised backgrounds.
The consideration -
The work doesn’t stop when the programme ends. Many of these young women still face systemic barriers once they enter the workforce - gender bias, pay gaps, tokenism. Unless employers step up too, the pipeline GirlBoss creates can leak potential.
The balance -
Programmes like GirlBoss are vital and they’re even more powerful when paired with industry-wide commitments to hiring, mentoring and promoting women into meaningful leadership.
🧭 Final Thought
Progress is never one-dimensional. Even the best ideas can create pressure points. But if we’re willing to hold both truth and hope at once - to see both the glow and the grit, we’ll make better decisions for Aotearoa.
Not just louder ones. Not faster ones. Better ones.
Maybe, just maybe, that’s the kind of good news we need most.
By the way, even the Americans who blow their own trumpets as loudly as they can manage, still complain about the tall poppy thing. Maybe we aren’t as bad as some think?
If you’d like a confidential, free of charge, free of obligation conversation about your business, here’s how to get me.
📞 Phone +64 275 665 682
✉️ Email john.luxton@regenerationhq.co.nz
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If you’d like to read more RegenerationHQ thinking on SME business and other things, go here – www.regenerationhq.co.nz/articlesoverview
🔹 RegenerationHQ Ltd - Business Problems Solved Sensibly.
Supporting NZ SME Owners to Exit Well, Lead Better and Build Business Value.