ASB Backing Business

G Chris Saunders and Sara Smeath's return to New Zealand was much earlier (and more eventful!) than expected. Now based in the Bay of Islands they've combined their unique skills to create a platform which they hope will transform the local tourism industry - and Jordan can't wait to try it out!

G Sometimes we need a lifeline to stay afloat - it also helps if you have many different skills to lean on too! Jordan joins Ultimate Descents, a white water rafting company, in Murchison to hear about the 'quintessentially Kiwi' lifeline they were thrown that has helped them through one of the toughest few months ever faced by our tourism industry.

G For Haley Lowe, Company Director of O Te Motu creations, business is all about connections; from the guidance of her tīpuna through to a social media page set up to help NZ creative business survive lock-down. Jordan joins her and her daughter Mereana, aka Boss Kōtiro, at their home studio in Papakura to find out more about their kaupapa - reminding us that sustainable business practices can be beautiful.

G For Sean and Eugene, lock-down was a wake-up call. Both seasoned veterans in hospitality - both have spent years working for someone else. Having always wanted to set up their own establishment, they realised they could sit around and wait for the right time - or they could seize the moment, put everything on the line and make it happen.

G The Gurr family live in the seaside town of Mangawhai but the pressures of life meant they weren't spending much time together, in the beautiful place they call home. Jordan joins Myf and Dave to hear about a decision they made shortly after lock-down which, quite possibly, landed them with the catch of a lifetime… Additional drone footage supplied by Hammerhead.Visuals

G Jordan heads deep into the heart of Marlborough to meet Ben Leggett, co-owner of Elemental Distillers, who came up with a very handy way to not only keep their business operating during lockdown - but also local businesses and organisations in the community too.

G Eat My Lunch is a social enterprise that provides lunches to Kiwi kids who need them - funded by offices and corporates through a 'buy one give one' model. But with businesses and schools closed over lock-down, the team needed to do some quick 'pivoting' to keep those hungry bellies full. Jordan meets the Eat My Lunch team who, instead of packing it in, packed a lunch instead - and finds out what they're planning to do to keep Kiwi kids fed in 2020 and beyond.

G 86 days out from Fieldays 2020, mass gatherings were cancelled. The team were faced with an unprecedented decision - do they close the gates or do they come up with a new way to bring the largest agricultural event in the southern hemisphere to their loyal audience?

G When an SOS call was sent out to help collect some rather 'lively' passengers who were stranded around the country - due to grounded planes and lock-down restrictions - Air Chathams were able to adapt and mobilise their unique fleet and come to the rescue. They are now capitalising on a huge tourism boom to the island, so much so they're extending their runway and upgrading to bigger domestic planes. While their initial pivot, of moving live freight, has mostly reverted back to Air New Zealand - Air Chathams' quick thinking has meant they are still flying high today...

G We all know our mates can help us out in a crisis - and a global pandemic is no exception. Jordan is in Penrose, Auckland, where a classic example of 'mates helping mates' has led to unexpected opportunities. Hypermeat is a combination of two existing businesses who were forced to make a quick change over lockdown, in order to stay afloat - a collaboration that continues to evolve and flourish, even today...