Media Release
23 January 2007

Mangere Bridge Takes Business Association Honours

The Mangere Bridge Business Association has taken top honours in the inaugural Manukau Business Association of the Year awards, held in December.

The awards, which are set to become an annual event, have been initiated by Manukau City Council to celebrate and acknowledge the work of business associations throughout the city.

Manukau City Council’s Manager Economic Development, Denise Fink says that the business association has been very active since it became one of the city’s business improvement districts 18 months ago, and the award acknowledges all the hard work they have done to promote Mangere Bridge.

“They have done a huge amount of work to promote their town centre and have deservedly won this award - their passion for Mangere Bridge is above and beyond the call of duty.

”These awards are all about recognising the effort that individuals, committees and managers have put in to get good results for business communities in Manukau,” Ms Fink says.

Manukau Mayor Sir Barry Curtis says that business improvement districts are a wonderful asset to the city and are vital part of revitalising and redeveloping the city as a whole.

“Town centres contribute greatly to the vitality and economic development of an area, so they need to be nurtured and developed. Together with business associations we are aiming to transform them into vibrant, clean, safe and smart places that reflect the distinctive character of their local communities.

“It’s been a great year, and it’s great to see people getting strongly behind local business districts. Especially as many of those involved are volunteers, freely giving time and effort to see local business communities thrive.”

Since becoming a business improvement district in 2005, the Mangere Bridge Business Association has undertaken a number of initiatives to promote the area including events such as a wine and food festival, salsa lessons in the town square, a kid’s triathlon, donkey races, jazz festival, and Santa Parade. It has also developed a website, secured additional funding from local trusts, introduced security patrols and worked with the council on consultation for future upgrade work in the area.

As one of eight business improvement districts in Manukau, the Mangere Bridge Business Association receives support from the council to improve the area and attract new business and customers. Under the council's business improvement districts policy, local business associations receive additional funding, generated through targeted rates, for a range of programmes and activities in their area.

All 14 business associations in Manukau were eligible for the awards.

ENDS

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