Hauraki District Council Economic Development Strategy

toward 2025

H A U R A K I D I S T R I C T C O U N C I L Message from the Mayor

Having lived in the for On the tourism front, the popularity of the 35 years, I’ve seen many changes, continues to exceed particularly in business and economic expectations and boost local business. development. The addition of the to Kopu, The recent establishment of a Chinese- and Waihi to legs of the owned food production company in Trail in 2016/17 will make the ride a true Hauraki, signifi cant investment in aged multi-day experience, providing further care, and substantial growth in the opportunities for investment in hospitality building and hospitality industries, are and other tourist attractions. all a refl ection of the growing reputation In today’s global business environment, of Hauraki as a great place to live, work, fast, reliable broadband is as essential as visit and do business. roads were 100 years ago. In 2015 we applied for a share of government funding In alignment with central government’s to facilitate the delivery of ultrafast Business Growth Agenda this Council broadband into our communities. This is supports the attraction of new foreign an ongoing process and will continue to investment into . We’ve be a focus for the Council as technology developed excellent relationships with a and innovation continue to develop, and number of key government departments more entrepreneurs and business owners including New Zealand Trade and look to live, work and do business outside Enterprise and Immigration New Zealand, of the major cities. giving us access to resources to help local businesses explore and potentially The next ten years promise to be an gain access to overseas markets. We’ve exciting time for Hauraki and we look also established a great relationship with forward to continuing to work with the Innovation Park, whose Business business community to ensure strong, Growth Advisors work directly with local sustainable economic growth. business owners interested in growth and John Tregidga, JP, MNZM expansion. Hauraki District Mayor

1 Economic Development - What is it?

From a Council perspective, economic This Economic Development Strategy development can be defi ned as actions that identifi es the fi ve areas or ‘pillars’ where positively infl uence economic growth and we can best infl uence economic growth improve the economic and social well being over the next fi ve years. The Strategy sets of a community by providing jobs, suffi cient out our goals under each of the fi ve pillars. income levels, and the resources required The expectation is that if these goals are to achieve a healthy standard of living and met, there will be an increase in the number quality of life. of businesses operating in the District, an While there are a number of international, increase in the number of jobs available, and national and regional variables at play that population growth. will infl uence how much effect a council can realistically have on economic development, we contribute to the economic development of the Hauraki District in several ways. This contribution includes, providing good-quality infrastructure and regulatory services, actively promoting business and industry development, and attracting people to the District by providing attractive well-designed public spaces.

2 a bit about us The Hauraki District

Located in the Waikato Region of New Some of the major advantages of living and Zealand’s , the Hauraki District doing business in the Hauraki District: is economically well-positioned within the • We are making it easier for business to ‘golden triangle’ between the major cities of invest and operate. Auckland, and Hamilton. Its three most populated towns are , and • Hauraki can offer businesses a more cost- Waihi. There are also several smaller townships effective operating environment than larger and abundant open spaces. The District is urban centres. geographically diverse with rich dairy farming • We are within one hour’s drive of Auckland land, the rugged beauty of the Karangahake International Airport. Gorge, wetlands of international signifi cance • Hauraki is a major transport route between and beautiful coastlines and beaches. the major ports of Auckland, Hamilton and For the year ended 30 June 2015 the population Tauranga. of Hauraki grew by 350 people, or 1.8%, to • We have built relationships with central 19,100.1 This has predominantly been attributed government agencies in both New Zealand to an increase in net migration (more people and abroad and have connections to moving into the District than leaving) and to a international markets. lesser extent natural increase (more births than deaths). The District population is projected • Our natural taonga (treasures) including to continue to grow gradually over the next 20 our coastal environment, world renowned years. wetlands, the pristine , temperate climate and fertile soils. There are several major economic drivers in Hauraki including pastoral farming, mineral • An increasing number of tourists that visit extraction, horticulture, tourism and ancillary the District and the wider Coromandel to service industries. There is a manufacturing enjoy the Hauraki Rail Trail, historic mining base that has steadily grown over the last fi ve attractions, stunning walkways and beaches, years and is projected to continue to grow. and nationally recognised annual events. There has also been increased investment in • The price of land and housing is inexpensive the retirement sector and food production, and relative to neighbouring metropolitan areas. there is potential to tap into the future growth in • Our caring communities and excellent aquaculture. schooling. 1 Statistics New Zealand, estimated population 2015

Auckland Hamilton Tauranga Auckland

2 Hauraki District 1 2 Tauranga

Hamilton

3 “cost-effective operating environment”

“central location”

“caring communities”

4 What are our District’s challenges?

In preparing this Strategy Hauraki and the wider development is not adopted. we have been mindful of the Waikato Region derive a lot There are pockets of current economic and social of economic advantage from increasing social deprivation challenges facing the District land and water resources. in the District, focused and those it could face in the The ability to understand how predominantly in the larger future. environmental constraints towns. This means an The New Zealand North may limit growth and how increasing number of people Island population grew to manage these resource do not have the same level of by 69,100 (2.0%) in the demands will be critical for income and qualifi cations, or June 2015 year, to reach our overall success in the access to goods and services 3.52 million. The total future. (such as communications New Zealand estimated The ever-increasing need and private vehicles) as other resident population at 30 to balance population people. Whilst for the majority June 2015 was 4.6 million. and business growth with of people living in the District Population growth in the environmental constraints the greatest proportion of North Island has largely been and the need to plan for their income comes from concentrated within the four climate change will provide wages or salary, overall, the largest territorial authorities challenges for councils and District’s communities have (Auckland, Hamilton, the business community. In a higher number of people Tauranga, and Wellington).1 particular there are increasing deriving their income from The Hauraki District is standards required for the superannuation and means within a one hour drive of quality of discharge permitted tested benefi ts than the New Auckland, Hamilton and to enter waterways which Zealand average. This is Tauranga. This concentrated may require technology consistent with the social 2 population growth and upgrades or new ways of deprivation index rating. increasing demand for addressing industrial and That said, we continue to housing has resulted in an residential discharge. perform well in our key infl ated Auckland property While the District population sectors and there remains market and ever-increasing is currently growing, opportunities to strengthen house prices in Hamilton and projected minimal population our local economy. We are Tauranga. growth in the younger age focused on how we can help These trends have likely groups, together with an the District keep moving contributed to the Hauraki increase in the population forward and where possible, District experiencing higher over 65 years of age, could improve the socio-economic than projected population see the District population situation for our community. growth from net migration start to slowly decline after as people look to districts, 2035. This means that the such as Hauraki, for more population (and therefore the affordable housing options ratepayer base) would no and an improved lifestyle. longer be expanding which could have a negative effect This ‘Auckland effect’ could on our ability to provide result in higher population services. This could also growth over the next twenty have a negative effective on years than previously business growth if a strategic projected. approach to economic

1 Statistics New Zealand, estimated population 2015 2 NZDep2013 Index of Deprivation 5 Average (mean) annual household income for 2015 Hauraki New Zealand $66,838 $91,198

Gross Domestic Product (GDP) per capita for the year to March 2015 Hauraki New Zealand $29,945 $52,953

Tourism spend for the year to $42.9 March 2015 in Hauraki Domestic visitor expenditure million in Hauraki has increased $26 million in the last fi ve years, of which $18 million is Increase on the tourism spend from the last two years 32% year ended March 2012 which was $29.4 million

Dairying in Hauraki 2014/15 Estimated average (mean) weekly rent for the year to June 2016 116,743 estimated number of cows Hauraki New Zealand 408 dairy herds $263 $403 6 cows for every person

6 Our Vision “Hauraki District is a place where business locates, talent lives and people visit because of our vibrant communities, great lifestyle options and enabling business environment”

7 Achieving our Vision

After speaking with various We’ve also aligned this Strategy sector representatives, with the Regional Economic business owners, and Development Strategy: individuals from the community Waikato Means Business in 2013 we focused on fi ve so we are complimenting priority areas that would best regional initiatives rather than allow us to infl uence economic duplicating work already being development in a positive undertaken. The fi ve strategic way. During the 2016 review priorities of Waikato Means of the Economic Development Business include; making Strategy we were mindful business easier, growing global of key regional and national industries, telling the Waikato strategic directions found in story, maintaining and building various documents including on our location advantage, the Waikato Regional Economic and building, attracting and Development Strategy retaining skills and talent. Waikato Means Business, the This regional work includes New Zealand Government’s developing a regional labour Business Growth Agenda: market strategy to improve Towards 2025 and the New regional workforce gaps and Zealand Investment Attraction skills issues, and maximising Strategy. value from primary production We have aligned our Strategy through further processing and with relevant parts of the innovation. The latter initiative Government’s Business Growth involves better connecting Agenda, which focuses on key research and education six key inputs which will help institutes and the manufacturing businesses succeed and grow. sector with the forestry, meat, These inputs are; investment, dairy, aquaculture and materials export markets, innovation, sectors. skilled and safe workplaces, natural resources, and infrastructure.

Investment Export For more information on Markets Waikato Means Business The six key areas in please visit www.mpdc. govt.nz/pdf/MayoralForum/ the Government’s WaikatoEconomicStrategy.pdf Business Growth Infrastructure Innovation And visit the Ministry of Agenda: Business, Innovation & Employment website www.mbie.govt.nz for more Natural information about the Resources Government’s strategies. Skilled and Safe Workplaces

8 Five Pillars of Economic Development

As part of the 2016 review of our The fi ve pillars are: Economic Development Strategy we • Business Friendly Hauraki have updated the fi ve priority areas • Connected Hauraki or ‘pillars’ of economic development • Destination Hauraki to better refl ect the areas where we believe we can best contribute to the • Hauraki Inc development of more vibrant and • Built for Business Hauraki economically viable communities.

Business Friendly Connected Destination Hauraki Hauraki Hauraki

9 Under each Pillar there are specifi c goals we aim to achieve over the next fi ve years and a set of high level actions. Where these actions have fi nancial implications for the Council, they will be subject to more detailed business case development and the planning processes that we undertake when developing the 2018-28 and 2021-31 Long Term Plans.

Hauraki Inc Built for Business Hauraki

10 Business friendly Hauraki

Business Friendly Hauraki refers Our goals to the creation of a quality regulatory environment that makes it easier for • Aim to roll out the red carpet, not business to grow, invest and create the red tape jobs in the District. While councils • Treat the business community as cannot compromise their legal a customer responsibilities, we aim to be more customer-focused and have more user-friendly processes in place. This Our plan to achieve this... includes introducing new technology • Ensure our policies continue and communication practices and to support local business and having staff available to assist in the community well-being. consenting process. • When District Plan rules are The New Zealand Government has reviewed we will focus on introduced a number of measures facilitating housing and business to reduce the cost of building new growth. homes in New Zealand, including a review of the Resource Management • Ensure our consenting Act 2002, and increasing land-supply. processes are streamlined for We aim to make building new homes effi cient service. This will include and establishing business easier and the provision of more online more cost-effective by ensuring a services in the future. Online business and customer-friendly focus building consents are the fi rst is at the forefront of decision-making step in this process. when reviewing our policies and • Introduce customer-focused District Plan rules. We recognise we communications through have a key role to play in ensuring our traditional communication rules and land zoning are facilitating channels and expanding social growth. media presence. • Promote business facilitation among regulatory services, planning teams and asset managers. • Provide a Council case manager for potential business developers in order to create a clear pathway for business development in the District. • Establish cross-departmental project teams for developments of scale. • Collect and make available key District information for investors.

11 Hauraki Park “Best choice business wise”

After outgrowing their Kopu- residential and commercial Early concerns around based site, Pohutukawa buildings, the company now implications for the Frame and Truss Ltd directors exclusively supplies Bunnings company’s staff should the Jeremy and Leanne Cryer, stores in the , business relocate, have and Martin and Fiona White, Whakatane, Waikato and proved groundless with those spent two years weighing Southern Waikato. living in Thames happy to up their options before “It () was the ideal make the 15 minute commute choosing the nearby Hauraki site. We considered Thames, out to Kerepehi. Two staff Park Industrial Subdivision Hamilton and Tauranga but members have even bought and Food Technology Hub because of the large area we houses on the Plains. developed by Hauraki District cover we have to transport “For a country area there Council at Kerepehi. our products wherever we’re are lots of opportunities and Originally supplying the based, so being on State options,” says Jeremy, “the Highway 2 between three schools are great, there’s with pre-cut frames and major cities is perfect for us” no traffi c jams and there’s trusses for a wide variety of says Martin. always plenty to do.”

12 Connected Hauraki

Connected Hauraki accepts that Our goals while local government should set, support and drive a vision for • Connect with local businesses, economic growth, we also need to schools and communities foster partnerships with multiple • Liaise proactively with Iwi and stakeholders in order to achieve Māori positive economic results for our • Advocate for the District at a District. regional and national level This Pillar involves advocating for the District at a regional or central government level and participating Our plan to achieve this... in inter-regional initiatives with • Fund the District’s Town neighbouring councils. To advocate Promoters to enable them to on behalf of the District and provide connect the local business good-quality infrastructure, we need community and wider to understand the needs and potential community. of our communities. To do this, we need to maintain quality connections • Connect Waikato Innovation with local businesses and the wider Park and other organisations community. that provide business services with our local businesses. We also aim to facilitate local business networks and promote • Liaise with Iwi and Māori to learning and growth opportunities by identify opportunities for joint connecting our businesses with each ventures or areas where the other, and with organisations that Council can provide support. provide business services. • Encourage social initiatives that Now the treaty settlement process assist new residents to feel at is nearly fi nalised for Iwi and Hapu home in the District. of Hauraki there is potential to liaise • Link to the Waikato Regional with Iwi and Māori and assist with Economic Development Strategy economic initiatives where needed. and the Waikato Plan for the benefi t of the District and the Region. • Build on key central government relationships to secure support and funding for District initiatives.

13 Have a great lifestyle and grow your business

Moving the family business supported our growth,” says “We’ve got everything we from Auckland to Paeroa was Tane. need to grow our business and one of the smartest decisions Employing 30 staff and raise our family, right here,” Agrisea NZ ever made says contracting many others, says Tane, who has three General Manager Tane the company now has three primary school aged children Bradley. Paeroa’s 100 year manufacturing plants and an with wife Clare. old former butter factory has offi ce showroom in Paeroa, “If we ever need to go to the proven the perfect base for the and a plant in Gisborne. It city, Auckland, Hamilton and company to brew its seaweed supplies 64 percent of New Tauranga are all close by, but nutrition and health products, Zealand’s grape growing we don’t have to live there, while the town’s central market, and ships its products or pay exorbitant commercial location allows easy access to to farmers all over the country. leases and property prices. In the company’s main clients in Working with Waikato Hauraki, you can have a great the agriculture, viticulture, and Innovation Park Business lifestyle and grow a successful horticulture sectors. Growth Advisors, the company business too.” “We started our business in a is now looking at global residential garage in Auckland markets. and the move to Hauraki really

Good partners fundamental to project success

A few years ago, the Waihi Waihi Gold Discovery Centre’s Community was asked to interactive and innovative come up with a list of options visitor experience has since for projects in the area that become one of the region’s would support economic growth major tourist attractions. The beyond mining. One idea was to Centre continues to develop create a modern and interactive a strong reputation within the Gold Discovery Centre that tourism sector as a high quality would tell the story of the town’s visitor attraction and has won a and a very strong indicator of long association with mining in number of national awards. project success. a way it had never been told The town’s i-SITE (now co- before. “Having good partners, located in the Gold Discovery both private and public, was Waihi Vision Trust was formed Centre) has experienced fundamental to the project’s to drive the project and funding excellent growth in visitor development, implementation was secured via a partnership numbers with approximately and ultimately its long term between Hauraki District 77,500 customers in 2015. sustainability. A willingness Council, Newmont Waihi Waihi Gold Discovery General to collaborate, communicate Gold, New Zealand Trade and manager Eddie Morrow says effectively and deliver great Enterprise, and Vision Waihi this is a 58 percent increase community outcomes has been Trust. over the previous record of a key factor for this project Opening in late 2014, the approximately 49,000 per year partnership.” 14 Destination Hauraki

Destination Hauraki identifi es there Our goals are economic benefi ts to creating places where people want to live, work • Create a District where business and play. Councils play a key role in will locate and people want to live creating environments that attract, • Encourage business growth that retain, and grow economic activity. We attracts domestic and international aim to retain the District’s high quality tourists natural environment and provide quality pedestrian-focused urban spaces to make our communities Our plan to achieve this... desirable places to live. • Actively support tourism and other It is important our communities have business ventures that make the access to key services, such as health District an attractive place to live services, government agencies and in and visit. food retailers. Where needed, we will • Facilitate business development attempt to attract businesses and along the Hauraki Rail Trail. public sector organisations to establish or remain in the District which will allow • Continue to jointly fund people to access key services in their Destination Coromandel so it can own communities. continue to promote the Hauraki District and wider Coromandel as This pillar also involves facilitating a key tourist destination. business growth along the Hauraki Rail Trail and supporting the tourism • Continue to market the District as industry by jointly funding our Regional a great place to live, visit and do Tourism Organisation, Destination business on the Council’s website Coromandel. Tourism is playing an and social media platforms. ever increasing role in our economy • Create public spaces that attract and funding Destination Coromandel people to visit and live in the aligns with the New Zealand District, such as pedestrian Government’s Business Growth focused urban spaces. Agenda which focuses on tourism as a • Develop affordable subdivisions major export earner for New Zealand. to attract new people to move to Hauraki. • Retain and attract key service providers, such as health sector businesses and central government agencies or food retailers, to develop more sustainable communities. • Support the development of retirement villages so our communities can age in place.

Destination Coromandel’s strategic plan; The Coromandel: beyond 2025 can be viewed online at www.thecoromandel.com.

15 Ngatea move “adds up”

When BNZ commercial Struck by the inclusive of Coromandel and Waihi, partner, John Lloyd sat down and welcoming school the rivers and walks of the and did the maths, moving community, it didn’t take Karangahake Gorge, not his family from Thames to them long to start looking for to mention the increasingly Ngatea added up. Originally a home in the area. popular Hauraki Rail Trail. from Liverpool in the UK, he “The fi rst concern of most Putting on his banker’s and wife Kelly came to New women (when choosing a suit, John sees property in Zealand fi ve years ago where place to live) is schooling the town as good value for he took up an opportunity and that was defi nitely money with plenty of growth with BNZ Business Partners Kelly’s biggest box to tick,” potential. in Thames. Following says John, “but the town “It’s (Ngatea) a really the advice of friends and ticks plenty of other boxes colleagues in the area, the attractive place to live, work too; social and sporting and do business. From a couple sent their children, opportunities, nearby leisure Chloe and Warren, to logistical point of view – activities, boutique shopping, where else can you pay half College in medical facilities, police Ngatea. or one third of the lease station, petrol station – all you’d pay in bigger centres “Everyone assumes you the things you would fi nd in a and still be on a major have to send your kids to a little English village.” thoroughfare?” says John. private school for them to If it sounds idyllic, it’s have a good education, but because it is. A world away we found that just wasn’t from Auckland, but just an necessary. Our experience of hour in reality, the town is Hauraki Plains College has also close to the beaches been fantastic,” says John.

16 Hauraki Inc

This pillar recognises the importance of Our goals international business investment, as well as local business investment, in providing • Attract international business to sustainable, high-paying jobs which establish in the District contribute to increasing the standard of • Encourage investment that living for people in our local community. provides jobs for people living in Hauraki Inc. is about our focus on making the District international connections to attract foreign direct investment into the District. This economic development approach supports Our plan to achieve this... the New Zealand Government’s Business • Support the New Zealand Growth Agenda which highlights the Business Growth Agenda and importance of New Zealand attracting ‘New Zealand Inc.’ by attracting international investors into opportunities international business of scale to that grow new industries, increase capital invest in the District. for existing industries, and create job • Liaise proactively with growth.1 Actively seeking new foreign international markets to secure investment into the Hauraki District new investment in the District. supports ‘New Zealand Inc’ because we are not targeting industry from other • Explore potential export areas of New Zealand, but attracting opportunities for local new investment into New Zealand. This businesses established in the will involve maintaining and growing District. our positive relationships with central • Encourage the establishment government agencies both in New Zealand of sustainable industries and and off-shore. industrial clusters that utilise A goal of the Business Growth Agenda is existing by-products. to lift export contribution to 40 percent of • Facilitate the growth of sectors New Zealand’s Gross Domestic Product such as aquaculture and food (GDP) by 2025. Located within the ‘golden production and processing. triangle’, Hauraki is perfectly positioned • Investigate the benefi ts of export to capitalise on foreign direct investment education with local secondary and a growth in exports. While we will schools. continue to facilitate opportunities with the international community it is also important each sector realises the opportunities linked to foreign investment and works proactively to develop them. These opportunities might include attracting foreign investment to build upon existing sectors or opening new markets and sales channels by leveraging off our relationships across East Asia. Working alongside Government agencies, we are committed to ensure businesses who can contribute to exporting and increasing GDP for the District can access support to be successful.

1 New Zealand’s Investment Attraction Strategy 17 “First NZ footprint” for Chinese company

Hauraki was one of four fi rst footprint outside of the Council’s Economic New Zealand locations mainland China. Development Department on Chinese ice cream Allied Faxi NZ general has worked hard to help us.” manufacturing company, manager Arthur Yan said Converting the old Kerepehi Allied Faxi New Zealand the availability of local dairy Cheese Factory into a Food Company’s shopping products was another reason modern state-of-the-art list in July 2013. The for choosing Hauraki. production facility, the District’s location on State company plans to employ Highway 2 between the Ports “Chinese people understand how clean and green New up to 50 local people and of Auckland, Tauranga and produces 10 tonnes of Hamilton, and its business Zealand dairy products are, which is one of the frozen cream and 10 tonnes friendly council, helped seal of icecream per day for the deal on Kerepehi as the reasons the factory is being built here,” he said. “Also exporting to the Chinese best site for the company’s domestic market.

“The Hauraki District Council is a leader among New Zealand local governments with its international business friendly focus. The willingness of the Council to communicate, engage and support international partners has caught the attention of other councils, central government agencies and international parties who want to set up in the district. This willingness has proven rewarding with the successful attraction of a Chinese ice-cream manufacturer and additional foreign investment from other international investors currently in the planning stage” Simon Appleton General Manager Eastern Bridge

18 Built for Business Hauraki

Built for Business Hauraki acknowledges councils have a Our goals signifi cant role to play in ensuring • Ensure there is good-quality the physical and built environment is infrastructure in place for projected conducive to economic growth. We population and business growth are the core provider of infrastructure • Where required current in the District, providing roading, infrastructure can be upgraded to water and wastewater services, land meet new business needs drainage and stormwater services, and various community infrastructure such as public toilets and swimming Our plan to achieve this... pools. • Facilitate the introduction of ultra We want to ensure infrastructure fast broadband into the District. remains capable of meeting business needs, and that suffi cient land is • Fund various initiatives in the available at competitive prices for both Digital Enablement Plan, including business and residential growth. It is digital hubs. also important we provide community • In collaboration with private infrastructure that allows people to business, facilitate the use community facilities and move development of infrastructure for around their towns regardless of their the expansion of Hauraki Park and age or mobility. Food Hub at Kerepehi. The Government’s Business Growth • Complete the build of the Agenda has a focus on building Hauraki Rail Trial and support the innovation infrastructure and development of other cycleways encouraging business innovation. that link to the District. In 2015 we applied for central • Ensure the District Plan provides government funding to support the for suffi cient serviced land for delivery of ultrafast broadband into population and business growth. our communities. This is an on-going process, but as part of this process a • Upgrade community infrastructure Digital Enablement Plan was prepared to improve accessibility for our which outlines some key community community members. initiatives we will consider funding. The Digital Enablement Plan can be viewed on the Council’s website www.hauraki-dc.govt.nz. The provision of ultrafast broadband and the funding of certain projects in the Digital Enablement Plan, such as the establishment of digital hubs, will deliver even more jobs for the district as entrepreneurs and business owners look to service clients from more affordable lifestyle locations outside of New Zealand’s major cities.

19 $105 the approx. average spend per cyclist. University of Waikato, 2013

of visitors Hauraki Rail Trail 78% to the The Hauraki Rail Trail Kaiaua to Kopu leg of the Hauraki Rail Trail are not only enhances the Hauraki Rail Trail by the from outside of ‘The health and well being of end of 2016 the Trail will Coromandel’ area. our local communities be a multi-day ride trail University of Waikato, 2013 through participation in and the District will see physical activity, it creates another growth pattern economic development by develop, which will give Between March 2012 and March 2014 the attracting more visitors to yet another boost to the spend via electronic card transaction in the the District, providing an local economy. Hauraki Disrict increased by economic fl ow-on effect for Some businesses along local businesses. $18million the Trail are experiencing MBIE, Regional Tourism Estimates Since the opening of the increases in turnover Trail in May 2012 there not experienced before has been a large increase and new businesses are in visitor numbers utilising opening to take advantage existing accommodation, of this welcomed services, and businesses increase in domestic in the Hauraki District. and international tourism The District has seen a numbers. Businesses huge increase in domestic in the District can be visitor spend since 2012 confi dent this sustainable and the international visitor industry will provide spend is slowly increasing. continued growth well into In 2015 the Karangahake the future. Gorge section of the Trail drew 10,000 cyclists in the month of January alone, making it the most For more information popular section of cycle on the Hauraki Rail trail in the Waikato. With Trail please visit the completion of the www.haurakirailtrail.co.nz What the cyclist ordered After completing the “For us nothing beats a Hauraki Rail Trail, Katie good cup of tea or coffee in Sinnott and Will Kent an attractive setting”. decided to return to Waihi Purchasing a character and explore the town cottage alongside the Trail further. on Waihi’s Parry Palm “The town had real Avenue, the couple is now character along with a bringing its landscaped friendly feel to it,” says Will, garden back to life and “we thought it could be a transforming it into their great place to live.” very own English tearoom. The Trail was also the “Our vision is to provide inspiration behind their new classic and quality business. refreshments in a laid back “When we got off our bikes setting,” says Katie. we really felt like a cup of We think that sounds like tea” explains Katie, who exactly what the cyclist is originally from England, ordered! 20 Some of our achievements over the last fi ve years

• There has been signifi cant new community driven project which investment in the retirement has provided new jobs and is sector. The physical building increasing tourism numbers. work should begin in the next • The Council has taken a few years. leadership role developing • New businesses have opened in the Ngatea Northern Estate Hauraki Park and Food Hub at subdivision and sections are Kerepehi. selling quickly. • Foreign direct investment into • Destination Coromandel the District has increased due continues to grow its digital to the positive relationships presence and market the District we have established with the to a high standard to both the business communities in these domestic and international countries. An example of this is markets. the establishment of Chinese • A Digital Enablement Plan has owned Allied Faxi New Zealand been developed by the Council Food Co. Ltd at Kerepehi. and a community group has • We have Council staff appointed been established to pursue as case managers to assist broadband initiatives in the developers and new start-up District which will make it easier businesses through Council’s for business to be done online. permits, licences and consents • An upgrade of Mackay Street processes. is underway which will create a • An area of the Hauraki District fresh new look pedestrian and Council website has been cyclist focused space in the town developed to focus on economic centre of Paeroa and encourage development, including greater local retail spend. promoting the District. • Accessibility audits were • The processing of building undertaken in the towns consents is now also being throughout the District resulting undertaken electronically, with in an improvement programme the aim of having the full building of our footpaths and associated consent process on-line in the community infrastructure. This near future. This will make will make it more attractive it easier for developers and for residents to remain in our businesses to obtain consents. communities regardless of their • The construction of the Kaiaua to mobility and to spend locally. Kopu section of the Hauraki Rail • Every student in Paeroa’s Trail will be complete by the end primary schools and college of 2016 providing opportunities has the opportunity to learn for increased investment and Mandarin, supporting our tourism spending in the District. ongoing business relationship • The Waihi Gold Discovery with Asia into the future. Centre opened in 2014. The Council was a partner to this

21 Action Plan and monitoring

We are committed to a collaborative While this Strategy sets out our overarching approach in implementing this Economic economic development goals and strategic Development Strategy. We recognise direction for the next fi ve years, there is a councils must work alongside private separate Economic Development Action business and public sector organisations to Plan that outlines the specifi c actions we will achieve positive economic results for their undertake during this time. districts. In fact, our entire community plays The Action Plan will be reviewed on a an important role in economic development. monthly basis by our economic development In addition to the general community our team and the Economic Development key delivery partners include (but not Committee. The Economic Development exclusively): Committee of Council consists of a • Ministry for Business Innovation and Chairperson and four Councillors and will Employment report back to the Council on a monthly basis on the progress made in relation to • Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade this Strategy. • New Zealand Trade and Enterprise • Ministry of Economic Development • Ministry of Science and Innovation • Immigration New Zealand • Ministry of Social Development • Waikato Chamber of Commerce • Waikato Innovation Park • Callaghan Innovation • Business leaders and industry organisations • Destination Coromandel • Positive Paeroa • Go Waihi • Positively Promoting the Plains • Hauraki iwi and Māori • Local schools

22 H A U R A K I D I S T R I C T C O U N C I L

For further information about economic development and how we can assist you with a new business project please use the contact information below and ask to speak with a member of the economic development team. Hauraki District Council offi ces are open from 8:00am to 4:30pm Monday to Friday, excluding public holidays. Principal Offi ce, Paeroa William Street PO Box 17 Paeroa Phone: 07 862 8609 or 0800 734 834 (from within the District) Email: [email protected] Website: www.hauraki-dc.govt.nz/business-hauraki/

Plains Service Centre 84 Orchard West Road Ngatea

Waihi Service Centre 40 Rosemont Road Waihi

23