The Daily Blog Open Mic – 4th May 2025

https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/country/559892/boutique-dairy-company-in-havelock-north-to-close-down-after-15-years (Hawke’s Bay, North Island)
…The business is owned by Joanie and Richard Williams, who produce a range of milk, cheese and yoghurt products that it sells in local supermarkets, farmers markets, and to cafes and consumers. Their refillable glass bottles and unique refillable milk kegs for cafes have proved popular – with the business reducing plastic in the region by 3500 plastic bottles a month.

“…I feel it’s a tragedy because the brand is about improving the outcome for the planet and delivering highly nutritious food for our customers.
“It is very, very sad. One of the things that’s been a lovely part of what we’ve done is the relationship we’ve got with customers,” Joanie said.

In August last year Origin Earth decided to close, due to rising lease costs, predatory pricing by larger companies and a struggling economy. But after a huge public response, they managed to stay open….
In December 2024 Origin Earth terminated the lease on their Havelock North building with landlord Peak Vision Church, and said the catalyst was a 32 percent rent increase over three years.

They continued on a month-by-month lease and were looking at selling the business, when in March the landlord sent a scanned letter saying the lease was ending and Origin Earth had to be out of the building by 31 May.
“We asked for an extra couple of months which was declined. And they said we can take another four weeks.
“But four weeks is not going to solve the problem we have of finding a building that not only meets what we want, but also meets the requirements of MPI and the auditing system,” Joanie Williams said….

Peak Vision Church spokesperson Pastor Jack Lamborn told RNZ it was the Williams who made the first move by terminating their lease in December.
“They didn’t give any explanation, which they don’t have to. They just said ‘we are not going to renew our lease’,” he said.
Origin Earth asked Peak Vision if they could keep operating while they tried to sell or find new premises. However, Lamborn said they had enquiries from people wanting to lease the building long term.
“So technically we didn’t have a contract with them since December. They were in there on a verbal arrangement.

The problem partly is that when you start dealing with a church of the new finance-savvy, prosperity-type which is rather more business-focused than people and soul-focused, they are not going to act like a church but will default
to bottom-line action. It’s a choice ‘between the money or the bag’ as Selwyn T. used to say on his show.

Also when people have a basic business that is doing well, following good green guidelines, it would be wise to have a community investment fund. Kiwis have to stop sitting back like little lords and ladies and both give people work to do as consumers and also put some skill in to feel satisfied that they too are keeping the local economy going. Think locally, support your charmed circle, gong global is cold and hard.

I’ve introduced the Afghan chap in one of our takeaways to the saying ‘Up the creek without a paddle’ which he hadn’t come across. I suggest we all need to keep that in mind, and stick together over the hard times that come. and when choosing a tradesman, or food from the supermarket deli, try and choose locally not by price. I must support the farmer’s market too, Do you know when and where yours is. Save your strong paper bags and pass them on while still in good nick. Small things, perhaps lead to big things; be friendly as a pleasant word cheers.

5 COMMENTS

Greywarbler May 4, 2025 At 7:15 pm

https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/political/559866/defence-force-maritime-helicopters-to-be-replaced-at-cost-of-over-2-billion
Have a helicopter – it’s good for your health. Put a call though to the provider through the new efficient ‘Among-the-mags’ free cellphones to your allocated health providers, down at your supermarket and look at the covers while you wait. Chairs for hire if needed by urgent cases.
Greywarbler May 4, 2025 At 9:26 pm

The Daily Blog icon on my computer used to be parallel red lines. Now it’s a red star. Why the change? It seems provocative.
Greywarbler May 4, 2025 At 9:29 pm

Electricity demand and AI. OOOer. https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/national/559895/artificial-intelligence-a-wildcard-in-electricity-demand
Greywarbler May 4, 2025 At 10:09 pm

https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/country/559892/boutique-dairy-company-in-havelock-north-to-close-down-after-15-years (Hawke’s Bay, North Island)
…The business is owned by Joanie and Richard Williams, who produce a range of milk, cheese and yoghurt products that it sells in local supermarkets, farmers markets, and to cafes and consumers. Their refillable glass bottles and unique refillable milk kegs for cafes have proved popular – with the business reducing plastic in the region by 3500 plastic bottles a month.

“…I feel it’s a tragedy because the brand is about improving the outcome for the planet and delivering highly nutritious food for our customers.
“It is very, very sad. One of the things that’s been a lovely part of what we’ve done is the relationship we’ve got with customers,” Joanie said.

In August last year Origin Earth decided to close, due to rising lease costs, predatory pricing by larger companies and a struggling economy. But after a huge public response, they managed to stay open….
In December 2024 Origin Earth terminated the lease on their Havelock North building with landlord Peak Vision Church, and said the catalyst was a 32 percent rent increase over three years.

They continued on a month-by-month lease and were looking at selling the business, when in March the landlord sent a scanned letter saying the lease was ending and Origin Earth had to be out of the building by 31 May.
“We asked for an extra couple of months which was declined. And they said we can take another four weeks.
“But four weeks is not going to solve the problem we have of finding a building that not only meets what we want, but also meets the requirements of MPI and the auditing system,” Joanie Williams said….

Peak Vision Church spokesperson Pastor Jack Lamborn told RNZ it was the Williams who made the first move by terminating their lease in December.
“They didn’t give any explanation, which they don’t have to. They just said ‘we are not going to renew our lease’,” he said.
Origin Earth asked Peak Vision if they could keep operating while they tried to sell or find new premises. However, Lamborn said they had enquiries from people wanting to lease the building long term.
“So technically we didn’t have a contract with them since December. They were in there on a verbal arrangement.

The problem partly is that when you start dealing with a church of the new finance-savvy, prosperity-type which is rather more business-focused than people and soul-focused, they are not going to act like a church but will default
to bottom-line action. It’s a choice ‘between the money or the bag’ as Selwyn T. used to say on his show.

Also when people have a basic business that is doing well, following good green guidelines, it would be wise to have a community investment fund. Kiwis have to stop sitting back like little lords and ladies and both give people work to do as consumers and also put some skill in to feel satisfied that they too are keeping the local economy going. Think locally, support your charmed circle, gong global is cold and hard.

I’ve introduced the Afghan chap in one of our takeaways to the saying ‘Up the creek without a paddle’ which he hadn’t come across. I suggest we all need to keep that in mind, and stick together over the hard times that come. and when choosing a tradesman, or food from the supermarket deli, try and choose locally not by price. I must support the farmer’s market too, Do you know when and where yours is. Save your strong paper bags and pass them on while still in good nick. Small things, perhaps lead to big things; be friendly as a pleasant word cheers.

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