New Chair for Northland Inc Board

New Chair for Northland Inc Board

On 1 August Karleen Everitt was elected Chair of Northland Inc as part of an internal board rotation process. Karleen is the organisation’s first woman and Māori Chair, following the previous chair, Warren Moyes, stepping down. Warren will stay on as one of five Directors.

On behalf of the board and the entire Northland Inc team I wish to acknowledge Warren’s huge contribution and leadership over the last three years. Northland Inc has gone from strength to strength and we are so grateful for his contribution, and very pleased and privileged that he is staying on as a Director.

Karleen is an exciting choice for the role and brings considerable governance experience through Directorships with the NorthTec Council and the Kaikohe Education Trust. Karleen’s business leadership, passion for Tai Tokerau, strong knowledge of economic development, and extensive networks both nationally and regionally in Māori economic development, will be invaluable at a pivotal time for Northland’s growth and development.

In other changes, Jereon Jongejans has taken up the new post of Deputy Chair, Irene Durham will Chair the Remuneration Committee and Sarah Petersen continues as Chair of the Audit and Risk Committee.
It is healthy that the board reviews the various roles that each performs and is committed to supporting Northland Inc in this way. Change can bring fresh perspectives and innovation, which we welcome.

Vaughan Cooper
Acting Chief Executive Officer
Northland Inc

The Orchard commended for strategic plan and collaboration

Northland Inc’s collaborative business and event hub The Orchard has received a 'best practise commendation' for integrated strategic planning at the 2017 Economic Development Agencies of New Zealand (EDANZ) inaugural awards in Wellington.
Northland Inc led the implementation of the new initiative, which they funded along with the Northland Regional Council (NRC) and Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment (MBIE), and opened in November 2016.

The Orchard is the first collaborative working space in New Zealand to accommodate both economic development and business agencies with its colocation of Northland Inc, the NZ Chamber of Commerce Northland, start-ups, SMEs and business professionals. This framework supports innovation and entrepreneurship in a regional context outside of a major city, with business development support and programmes offered by Northland Inc in partnership with the Chamber of Commerce Northland.

Northland Inc acting CEO Vaughan Cooper said the award was recognition that Northland Inc had created an effective business hub which was delivering real value to Northland’s business community, and it was gratifying to receive this national level recognition.

“Being awarded this commendation by our peers around the country who work in the regional economic development field is something special," says Vaughan.

"Joseph Stuart and the Business Innovation and Growth team here at Northland Inc have worked very hard to set-up and get The Orchard collaborative workspace humming at full pace. They have achieved something significant."

Vaughan said the businesses that work out of the Orchard were a big part of the success of the programme of work, and also deserved recognition for their willingness to try something new by operating out of a collaborative working space.

Read more >>

Connecting Northland - Whangārei to Te Hana

The New Zealand Transport Agency, on behalf of the New Zealand government, is undertaking a long-term programme of investment in State Highway 1 between Whangārei and Auckland. This investment aims to improve the safety, reliability and resilience of the state highway between Whangārei and Auckland for local communities, visitors and freight, and enhance the economic opportunities for Northland. NZTA’s project newsletter Whangārei to Te Hana provides an overview of the corridor project, and seeks public feedback on options under development. These FAQs also give answers to common questions.

$800,000K for 3-D data to help business decision making

Funding from the Regional Growth Programme of up to $800,000 for 3-D aerial mapping of Northland will provide the region's primary industries with highly accurate, free data to make better informed business decisions.

LiDAR is a remote sensing tool which uses laser pulses to generate large amounts of highly accurate geographical terrain data. The LiDAR survey is part of the Tai Tokerau Northland Economic Action Plan which contains key projects aimed at increasing jobs, incomes and investment in regional New Zealand.

"The new data will give Northland an edge by which better informed decisions, in a wide range of areas across public and commercial businesses, can be made. Uses for the data include infrastructure design and investment, urban planning, flood plan mapping and numerous uses across the primary sector in agriculture, forestry and horticulture," says Ben Dalton, the government's Senior Regional Official for Northland. Read more >>

Trade show helps grow Indian market for Northland

Northland Inc’s trade marketing manager, Karly Bent, represented Northland at Tourism New Zealand’s annual trade event, Kiwi Link India, recently in the country’s national capital New Delhi.

A record number of New Zealand operators, industry and travel trade attended the event, including four airlines, 35 tourism operators, Immigration New Zealand and Indian delegates from 42 companies took part in the three-day trade show. Several of the attendees are pictured below. Read more >>

US actress Bryce Dallas Howard new face of NZ tourism

Northland is being featured in the United States in a six-part video series that follows American actress Bryce Dallas Howard across the country.

Earlier this year the Pete’s Dragon and Jurassic World star teamed up with National Geographic Travel, directing a trip across New Zealand and exploring spectacular parts of the country including the Bay of Islands, Waipoua Forest, Wellington and Queenstown. Segments of a promotional video were filmed in Northland in April. Bryce will also star in Tourism New Zealand’s digital ad campaigns in the US and Canada and promote New Zealand in media appearances in the US. Read more >>
Northland a winner on social media

In March Northland Inc launched the first three Northland Journeys ('byways') to encourage visitors to spread out and spend more time discovering Northland, through a series of themed routes which offer in-depth experiences of the region.

A recent digital campaign by Northland Inc and co-funded by Whangarei District Council promoted the first three byways and attracted around 18,000 entries – most of those from Aucklanders keen for a weekend getaway.

The travel packages, each valued at more than $1,000, take people off the beaten track with specially designed downloadable and printable maps that provide visitors with a unique set of richer routes telling more stories of Northland and revealing some of the local favourite places. Since the competition ended two more Journeys have been developed, with more to come.

Here we talk to two of the three winners – retired Ironwoman and triathlete Anna Cleaver and Auckland paramedic Ryan Lemmens, to find out why they entered the competition to win a Northland Journey travel package …. Read more >>

Northland operators in NZ Tourism Awards

The Waitangi Treaty Grounds and Dive! Tutukaka are the Northland finalists in this year’s New Zealand Tourism Awards. Waitangi Treaty Grounds is a finalist in the Visitor Experience Award category, while Dive! Tutukaka is contesting the Westpac Business Excellence Award (less than $6million annual turnover).

Tourism in New Zealand is a $35 billion industry and the New Zealand Tourism Awards are the industry’s most prestigious celebration, said Chris Roberts, Chief Executive of Tourism Industry Aotearoa.

Waitangi Treaty Grounds

Waitangi Treaty Grounds CEO Greg McManus says making the finals of the NZ Tourism Awards is another recognition of the hard work the entire team has put in towards their goal to be a leading New Zealand tourism destination.

"We strive to offer a world class culture and heritage experience at the Treaty Grounds so making the finals of the New Zealand Tourism Awards again shows we are on the right track," says Greg.

Dive! Tutukaka

Dive! Tutukaka co-owner Kate Malcolm says the acknowledgement is a celebration for Tutukaka and Northland. “Our team is passionate about being the best we can be.

"We deliver a world class experience and raise the bar in all aspects of our business, and we continually look to innovate. The leadership from (owner and director) Jeroen inspires us all and drives us forward."

Voter accolades for Kauri Cliffs

The Lodge at Kauri Cliffs has been voted the best resort hotel in Australia & New Zealand by readers of US-based Travel + Leisure in the publication’s World’s Best Awards 2017.

Euan Taylor, Kauri Cliffs Chief Operating Officer says: “the lodge offers a very personal, warm and tailored style of hospitality where guests really do come first, and it is a heartfelt honour to the entire team to be recognised as Number One across Australia and New Zealand.”

“To be named the number one resort, particularly in a country like New Zealand where the ‘luxury lodge’ phenomenon was born and the accommodation bar is set high, says a lot about the experience at Kauri Cliffs.”

Kauri Cliffs is the flagship and first in what is now a trio of leading New Zealand lodges owned by New York-based financier and philanthropist Julian H. Robertson and family, who also own luxury properties in Hawke’s Bay and Queenstown

Mango and manuka find their market

Kaitaia owner-operated Due North Foods has wowed judges in the Farmers Market New Zealand 2017 Winter Food Awards, winning the Preserves category with their mango and manuka hot sauce.

Due North Foods owner Pam Mearns is a member of the Bay of Islands Farmers Market and says the Northland climate is favourable for producing the fresh, quality produce that form the basis of her products.

Pam’s business has grown from a home-based commercial kitchen providing wares for local farmers’ markets, to a thriving small business which remains true to Pam’s original personal philosophy of crafting the best quality products, from the freshest local produce, using “natural, tried and trusted methods with a touch of adventure and innovation”.

Northland Inc business growth manager David Templeton has worked closely with Pam since August 2013, acting as a sounding board for the sole trader, providing support for training on the development of a food control plan, and linking into opportunities to market the products.

“If you don’t try this sauce, you’re doing your taste buds a disservice,” says David.

The Farmers Market New Zealand Awards are open to members of 25 independently owned and operated farmers' markets around the country.

Northland International education strategy launched

Tripling the economic value of Northland’s international education from $10.1m to $30m over the next 10 years is one of the strategic goals of the Tai Tokerau Northland International Education Strategy, which was launched in Waitangi on 11 August by Minister for Tertiary Education, Skills and Employment Paul Goldsmith.

Northland Inc led development of the strategy, supported by Education New Zealand (ENZ) through the Regional Partnership Programme. The strategy will be integrated into the Tai Tokerau Northland Economic Action Plan.

Northland Inc GM Business Innovation and Growth Joseph Stuart said the recommendations outlined in the strategy are designed to build on the long-standing efforts of education providers who have been successfully attracting students to Northland for many years, such as NorthTec.

The Education Strategy snapshot is on the Northland Inc website. For information about the full Strategy Report, email Joseph Stuart.

He Tautoko I ngā Pakihi Māori – Support for Māori Businesses Resource

Whether you have a business idea or are well established in the international markets, there is support for Māori Business (He Tautoko I ngā Pakihi Māori) available through government agencies and non-governmental organisations. The Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment has developed a booklet of information and support available from government and some non-government organisations to help you grow your business. Whether you are starting out or growing internationally, there is support to meet a range of needs. There are also inspiring stories of Māori who are forging a path in business – from young tech entrepreneurs to multi-million dollar global businesses. A quick reference table at the back outlines the support available

ENDS

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