Waikato Business News January/February 2020

He says this includes a
The “pillars” of internationalisation,
innovation
Continued on page 4
34 WAIKATO BUSINESS NEWS January/February 2020
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Deidre Morris
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Richard Walker
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It’s a new dawn, it’s a new day
As we start a new year and a new decade,
I found myself reflecting on the last 12
months and thinking about what motivates
me to get out of bed in the morning.
Naturally, my family
was the first thing that
came to mind. Surf ski
paddling has been a passion of
mine for more than 40 years
and I enjoy the tranquility of
my evening training sessions
on the Waikato River.
More recently, I was honoured
to be invited to join
the Haeata Waka Ama team,
which recently medalled in the
2020 National Sprint Championships
at Lake Karapiro.
But when I’m not paddling
my own waka, I am motivated
and inspired each day
by the opportunity my team
and I have to help the Waikato
region thrive.
Improving the wellbeing
and prosperity of Waikato
communities is at the heart of
what we do.
It’s a big job. But our
responsibilities essentially boil
down to delivering on three
key priorities for our region –
building infrastructure, growing
capability and attracting
investment.
We didn’t just pluck these
priorities out of thin air.
Instead, they represent what
more than 250 of the region’s
business, iwi and community
leaders believe is essential for
Waikato to thrive.
These three themes capture
the essence of the Waikato
2018-2022 Regional Economic
Growth Programme, which we
launched in November 2018.
Since then, Te Waka has been
working hard to ensure all the
talking and planning translates
into action and gets results. So
we’re sharpening our aim.
Let’s talk infrastructure.
We need a strong platform
of infrastructure to support
our region’s growth. That
means making sure Waikato
is well-connected to the rest of
the country and the world by
road, air, rail and sea.
Te Waka is playing a leadership
role, talking with key
Government officials, promoting
Waikato’s infrastructure
needs, and providing a voice
for the region on the project
team for major projects,
such as the Hamilton-Waikato
Metro Spatial Plan.
Securing land for business
and housing development is
also a priority. Te Waka is connecting
businesses with the
right people at local councils
to help break down any barriers
to business development
and growth in our region.
We’re also tackling the
issue of housing availability
and affordability.
The Waikato Region Housing
Initiative – 2018 Housing
Stocktake showed that the
Waikato needs 51,000 more
houses in the next 25 years.
We already have a shortfall
of 7500, with 4500 of those in
Hamilton alone.
Te Waka is part of the working
group driving the Regional
Housing Initiative, which is
charged with finding solutions
to address the issue.
Housing solutions, like that
proposed at Te Awa Lakes,
will play a significant role
in helping Hamilton address
its housing needs, in terms
of both supply and affordability.
Te Waka helps ensure
these solutions are sustainable
DRIVING DEVELOPMENT
> BY MICHAEL BASSETT-FOSS
Chief executive, Te Waka: Waikato’s economic development agency
and contribute to improving
the well-being of our
communities.
A thriving economy also
relies on strong and consistent
energy, fibre and telecommunications
networks. This is where
the Digital 2025 Waikato Strategy
comes into play because
it’s all about creating a digitally
well-connected region.
Te Waka funds Waikato’s tech
sector lead, CultivateIT, to
deliver on this strategy.
To this end, we’re talking
with councils and key players
in our local electricity and
telecommunications industries
to make sure we have the infrastructure
and capacity to support
our region’s growth.
The nature of Te Waka’s
business means we do a lot of
talking, relationship building
and planning. Our job is to
lead, connect and enable. Rest
assured, we are taking action
and we are getting results. I
am committed to keeping you
up-to-date on our progress.
Waikato
AgriBusiness News
Book your
spot in the
March
issue
Fieldays
a focus for
international
trade
Delegations from nearly 20 countries are
coming to June’s National Agricultural
Fieldays as the Southern Hemisphere’s
largest agricultural event underlines its
reputation as an essential tool in the
country’s trade relationships.
T
By GEOFF TAYLOR
he 49th Fieldays at
Mystery Creek is gearing
up to be another
massive event following on
from last year when despite
very tough economic conditions
for dairying, Fieldays
attracted its second highest
attendance ever.
Many of the 1100 exhibitors
have begun the often significant
job of erecting sites and
New Zealand National Fieldays
Society chief executive Peter
Nation says staff have inducted
more than 7000 tradespeople
to work on the 114 hectare
property. Meanwhile volunteer
numbers have been expanded
this year to nearly 300 for the
June 14 event.
Fieldays’ theme this year
is “Leading Change” and one
AgriBusiness News
Waikato
M A Y 2 0 1 7 W W W . W B N . C O . N Z F A C E B O O K . C O M / W A I K AT O B U S I N E S S N E W S
vital element of that is leveraging
off Fieldays’ international
United Kingdom delegation
which has extra significance
in the post-Brexit era, while
the many other delegations
include teams from Mexican
and Vietnam.
“Meanwhile China is bringing
out two or three large trade
missions and the Koreans are
putting two entries into the
Innovation Centre.”
“Trade missions are looking
at either distribution in or distribution
out so the platform of
Fieldays enables willing buyers
and sellers to come together
and form trade relationships.
That is why we have the
International Business Centre.”
The theme “Leading
Change” relates to Fieldays’
two underling goals which are
growing agriculture through
innovation, internationalisation
and education and bringing
town and country closer
together.
representation, says Peter.
“We have nearly 20 countries
coming to exhibit or
visit.”
and education are represented
at the event through the
Call the team
on 07 838 1333 or email
info@wbn.co.nz
Peter Nation.