Waikato Business News April/May 2019

WAIKATO BUSINESS NEWS April/May 2019
49
University campus
officially opened in
Tauranga
The new University of Waikato campus in
Tauranga’s Downtown CBD was formally
opened in a ribbon-untying ceremony led
by university chancellor and former prime
minister Jim Bolger in April.
By DAVID PORTER
Around 200 staff, senior
business and education
leaders, and supporters
gathered to open the $60
million campus development,
which has been in operation
since March - a year earlier
than expected.
So far in 2019, more than
900 individual students are
using the new campus, a 32
percent increase on the same
time last year. There are 31
general staff in Tauranga: 50
academic staff, and 36 academics
visiting regularly from
the Hamilton Campus. The
campus was expected to reach
full capacity of about 1800
students or 1500 full-time
equivalents within five years.
Degree-level courses
offered at the campus included
education, social science and
business. The university has
offered courses in Tauranga
for 20 years, but had previously
always needed to borrow
facilities owned by other institutions.
We see ourselves
as an enabler
of education –
giving people the
opportunity to access
higher education and
transform their life
prospects.
– Neil Quigley
University of Waikato Chancellor Jim Bolger: Officially launching
the new Tauranga university campus. Photo/Supplied.
Vice-chancellor Neil Quigley
said that it was the beginning
of a new era for the university
in Bay of Plenty, with
the institution becoming deeply
embedded in the Bay’s social
and economic systems, and
transforming Tauranga into a
true university city.
“To us this means enhancing
social outcomes, contributing
to economic growth and
being a catalyst for change,
regionally, nationally and internationally,”
he said.
“We see ourselves as an
enabler of education – giving
people the opportunity to
access higher education and
transform their life prospects.”
Senior deputy vice-chancellor
Alister Jones told Bay
of Plenty Business News the
campus was an exciting development.
“Feedback from students is
very positive, the staff are enjoying
teaching in the environment
and the building is living up to
expectations,” said Jones.
“But what is really important
to understand is that the
building is only an artifact of
what we’re trying to achieve.
It’s great having the building,
but that’s only part of the
equation. It’s about delivering
to students, getting the right
programmes and the right
courses.”
The new campus development,
led by the university on
behalf of the Bay of Plenty
Tertiary Partnership, enhances
the range of qualifications and
study options available to students
in the Bay.
The development has been
made possible through the support
and drive of the region,
especially the key funders:
Tauranga City Council,
Bay of Plenty Regional Council
and Tauranga Energy Consumer
Trust.
Chancellor Bolger thanked
all involved in bringing the
project to life. These included
key supporters, advisors, leaders
and artists who have guided
the process of bringing history
and heritage to the building,
and the iwi of Tauranga Moana,
he said. Jasmax, Greenstone,
Hawkins Construction, RLB
Consultants, and other consultants
such as Beca were also
key in this project.
Neil Martin, architect and
principal at Jasmax, said they
were delighted to deliver the
aspirational project.
“Mana whenua engagement
with Ngai Tamarawaho was
instrumental in informing the
brief, and has been integrated
into the design process from
early concepts,” he said.
Business events power the Mighty Waikato
When it comes to
hosting business
events, meetings or
conferences, you can’t beat
the Mighty Waikato with the
region now fourth most desirable
place to host, meet and
learn.
The Ministry of Business,
Innovation and Employment
released its quarterly Convention
Activity Survey and
Waikato ranked fourth behind
Auckland, Wellington and
Christchurch for market share
by the number of multiday
business events.
So, what does this all mean
to our region?
Not only do conference
delegates spend more than the
leisure traveller, if they also
have a favourable experience
of a place, they will return
for a holiday with family and
friends.
International business
delegates spend on average
$299 per night when visiting
Waikato and stay around
seven nights in New Zealand.
Domestic business event delegates
spend more, with an
average of $461 per night, and
stay around three nights in the
region.
Business delegates eat out,
love to shop, be entertained
and visit some of our tourist
attractions. They also require
transport and business support
services, plus help keep
our venue, event and technical
staff in employment.
Not only are conference
delegates high-value visitors,
they are here to be educated,
sharing knowledge and opportunities
with like-minded people.
Another key factor with
business events and travel is
that it is not seasonal – it is
a year-round activity which
keeps many venues, AV technicians,
caterers, entertainers,
transport providers and
event organisers in sustainable
employment. This is different
from the leisure traveller who
traditionally likes to explore
our region during the summer
and shoulder seasons.
Attracting international
conferences to our shores also
deliver significant benefits to
New Zealanders. It brings the
best minds in the world for
each relevant sector within
easy reach of individuals,
organisations and our communities.
Attending an international
conference half way around
the world can be a huge ask for
New Zealand-based businesses
or organisations, so it makes
it more affordable to attend
an international convention in
our own country. The opportunity
to expand our education
and knowledge, build professional
relationships and business
opportunities, plus creating
joint ventures, funding
arrangements and social legacies
should not be under-estimated.
We are fortunate in our
region to have world-class
venues and facilities like
Claudelands Event Centre
and Mystery Creek, plus a
world-leading university who
help attract international conventions.
We have also recently
joined forces with Dunedin
Convention Bureau to launch
“Meet North South”, an initiative
to generate business events
which will benefit both regions
over consecutive years. The
partnership effectively solves
the challenge experienced by
New Zealand associations
looking to hold business events
for up to 500 people on a North
Island / South Island regional
rotation.
If there is an international
conference you would love
to bring to our region, please
get in touch. Not only can we
help with the bid process and
conference delivery advice, we
may be able to attract support
funding from Tourism New
Zealand’s Conference Assistance
Programme.
TELLING WAIKATO’S STORY
> BY JASON DAWSON
Chief Executive,
Hamilton & Waikato Tourism