Auckland economic development projects rewarded for making positive impact

Auckland has been recognised for its impactful economic development projects, winning New Zealand accolades for its Tripartite Business Programme and Māori Innovation Challenge, DIGMYIDEA.

Auckland Tourism, Events and Economic Development (ATEED) received three awards at Economic Development New Zealand’s (EDNZ) gala dinner in Waitangi last night (Thursday, 18 October).

The Tripartite Business Programme, established by ATEED and Auckland Council, and designed to help Kiwi exporters trade in Chinese and American markets, won the ‘Best Practice Integrated Strategic Planning’ Award and was also selected from all finalists to win the ‘2018 MBIE Premier Award’.

The DIGMYIDEA Māori innovation Challenge, which aims to entice more Māori into the thriving technology sector, won the Best Practice Award for Innovation.

Both initiatives received international recognition recently, winning bronze awards for ‘Excellence in Economic Development’ at the 2018 International Economic

Development Council (IEDC) awards, announced in Atlanta, Georgia, USA last month.

ATEED’s General Manager Economic Development, Pam Ford says she’s thrilled that these initiatives have been recognised both at home and abroad for the real difference they have made on the ground.

“The Tripartite Business Programme forms part of an economic alliance that’s been four years in the making and is an excellent example of leveraging Auckland’s sister city relationship with Los Angeles and Guangzhou,” she says.

The three-way alliance is the first of its kind in the world and remains New Zealand’s largest local government-led offshore delegation.

The business group led by Auckland Mayor Phil Goff for last year’s Tripartite Economic Summit in Guangzhou – which this award recognises – comprised 97 delegates from 70 Kiwi businesses

“Of the businesses attending the summit, on average six business leads per delegate were made, resulting in predicted average business growth of $4.37 million over the next three years, and an estimated increase of five staff per delegate needed to work on China-related projects,” says Pam Ford.

The DIGMYIDEA Māori Innovation Challenge is a nationwide competition which aims to excite and inspire more Māori people to engage in the fast-growing digital sector and to build digital businesses which have export potential.

“DIGMYIDEA is unique as it targets an untapped part of the New Zealand economy – namely Māori innovation. It is the only competition that connects with Māori who have an idea and has the potential to become a successful business,” says Pam Ford.

“It’s great that initiatives like these are getting real traction and setting the benchmark for both domestic and international economic development best practise.”

Pam Ford adds: “ATEED is really looking forward to pursuing our new inclusive economic growth agenda for Auckland, focusing on our purpose of ‘creating quality jobs for all Aucklanders’ and delivering more great campaigns like these.”

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