These findings bear out my own experience: I’ve been running to keep up with the number of businesses and agencies engaging Activate Tairawhiti’s support for their development activities. There is a clear demand from businesses for a single point of contact focused on making the local economy grow.
The early results are promising. The Eastland Community Trust’s decision to invest in the Prime sawmill site is the first significant action taken in converting the region’s wood processing potential into a reality, and into jobs. There’s a lot of work still to be done to realise this potential, and Activate has been busy engaging the wood sector to support the employment of local people into these roles. It will require a co-ordinated and collaborative effort to secure the maximum returns possible back to our local community.
One of the strengths of our region is this strong collaborative approach between businesses, community, the council, education providers and organisations that support business.
The Air New Zealand-Tairawhiti initiative is another example. It highlights what a compelling destination our region is when we get together to share and tell our stories. It also highlights the importance of communicating the wider strengths of our region as a place to live, work and enjoy.
A Regional Research InstituteOur strong collaborative approach is further evident in our efforts to attract a Regional Research Institute here as part of a central government-funded initiative. It’s a competitive process but one we’re committed to.
Activate has been lobbying central government to support our regional economic development work plan, and this is starting to bear fruit with government officers seeking alignment of their efforts with ours.
Activate outcomes from the Gigatown competition are threefold:
We’ve launched the Co.Starters business start-up initiative with the Chamber of Commerce. The first Gisborne nine-week programme was fully booked, and the second programme is already over-subscribed.We’ve seen so much interest in our one-stop-shop for businesses, the Tairawhiti Business Hub, that we’re hoping to expand it to include an incubator space for digital and new technology business. This would use the gigabyte of fibre access offered by Chorus, and provide high-definition conference facilities, administrative resources, an active calendar of activities, guest speakers, reference material, networking and conference facilities.Activate is also developing targeted digital training programmes for Gisborne businesses, and a wider Digital Enablement Plan that captures the business development actions contained within the “Gisborne Plan for Gig Success”. The intention is that this plan will complement and support the wider Regional Digital Strategy being developed by Gisborne District Council.The information and communications technology sector offers a high-value opportunity to grow the local economy. It has been identified by central government as a key sector because of its ability to lift productivity and create high-value revenue opportunities.
The High Performance Work Initiative is another focus for Activate, through Callaghan Innovation and our Regional Business Partner Jo Emerre. The local businesses involved are experiencing real gains. Additional jobs are often created, however the initiative’s real strength is in its ability to improve the engagement, contribution and performance the existing team makes to a business.
Rocket Lab’s confirmation that the tip of Mahia will be its primary launch site to send its world-leading rockets and their payloads into space is a great outcome, and shows once again what can be achieved when we all work together. Activate is currently pitching to seven other potential new businesses for the region. The opportunities are there if we go out and look for them.
Steve Breen is chief executive of economic development agency Activate Tairawhiti.
