Public Sector: Economic Development Agencies

  • Central Waikato - Economic Development Strategy

    • Background: We prepared the economic development strategy for Hamilton City and the Central Waikato District. We were instrumental in setting up the economic development agency Business 2 Hamilton (B2H), now named Opportunity Hamilton. We secured the first two years funding and co-opted regional leaders in science, academia and business onto its establishment board.
      This process involved the following key activities:
      • Community liaison and fact finding
      • Analysis of current economic data
      • Definition of the current situation
      • Identification of key wealth generators for the region
      • Formal presentation of the strategy
      • Development and the presentation of the business case for components of the strategy, e.g. the Innovation Park
      • Establishment of an economic development agency to drive the strategy
    • The key focus of this strategy is Life Sciences and the development of Agri-biotechnology incubator and technology park (Innovation Park on Ruakura campus). A similar process was used for the Otorohanga/Te Kuiti District economic development strategy.
  • Northland

    • We are engaged by Enterprise Northland to develop programs and facilitate the development of strategies for regional clusters. Programmes for two clusters comprised reviews of background research, current initiatives and the preparation of strategies and implementation plans.
    • In both cases, the strategies were prepared following workshops facilitated by us.
  • Waikato Region - Economic Development Strategy

    • In 2009 a Waikato wide Economic Development Strategy was prepared involving eight District Councils, Hamilton City Council and Environment Waikato.
    • This collaborative exercise brought together the best points of existing subregional strategies and allowed focus on projects that benefited the broader region.
  • Wellington Region

    • Development of the business innovation strategy component of the Wellington Regional Strategy 2007
    • Directed the pilot Wellington Industrial Develoment Centre 2007 / 8