Revamped space brings staff together

Hawke's Bay Today general manager Russell Broughton (left), Tremains Real Estate director Simon Tremain and NZME Radio Eastern Regional manager James Cooper look over the plans which led to the dramatic makeover. Photo / Warren Buckland

After nearly six months of lodging in with their print media counterparts in Tennyson St, the NZME Napier radio crew have moved into NZME's smartly refurbished new offices on the corner of Dickens and Dalton St and the print media and sales team have joined them.

The two-storied Art Deco building, which has been the home of radio in Napier for more than 40 years, was vacated last September as the major refurbishment got under way.

The result, which is the new, unified base for NZME radio and print (Hawke's Bay Today and Napier Courier), as well as Grab One, was greeted with smiles yesterday as the staff moved in.

"It is just awesome for the staff and especially for our customers to come into," NZME Radio Eastern Regional manager James Cooper said of the revamped space.

"And to have print, radio and Grab One all together means we can share ideas and get the best results for our customers."

Before the major revamp, the workplace had been showing the wear and tear of age.

So in stepped building owner Simon Tremain, director of Tremains Real Estate.

He bought the building about six years ago.

"I was looking for something at the time and this came up," Mr Tremain said.

He said he was keen to keep NZME as a long-term "very good" tenant and recognised its workplace needed a spruce-up job.

So the contractors were called in and the entire second floor was vacated, except for the studios where The Hits hosts Martin and Sarah were able to keep broadcasting from as the hammering contractor crews worked around their show times.

"It is fantastic to get to this day, to see it finished," Mr Tremain said, adding that the next stage would be a stunning makeover of the exterior.

He has worked with the Art Deco Truston the design.

A smart new corporate meeting room, interview room, front reception and a kitchen area have been created, along with plenty of good open-plan office space for staff and with plenty of good lighting after previously obscured windows were opened up.

A skylight, which had also previously been hidden, has also been restored.

Hawke's Bay Today general manager Russell Broughton said it had been the goal for the past couple of years to integrate the print and radio components of what is now NZME.

"I'm thrilled to see this. We have all our Napier-based sales representatives under one roof, so come and see us," he said.

"It is a tremendous new area and we can't thank Simon enough for doing this. It is just great."