Boosting niche business in Eastern Bay

What will it take to create an inviting environment for boutique businesses in the Eastern Bay of Plenty?

That's the question The Big Company's Gerard Casey is putting out to the local business community, ex-pats living outside the region and New Zealand's top business leaders.

"Our goal for the Eastern Bay of Plenty is to be the best province in New Zealand. We are not trying to be the biggest, we just want to be the best at what we do."

But the challenge he is throwing out to locals, top New Zealand business leaders and entrepreneurs is to figure out what it is the region should be aiming to be best at.

"I'm taking this to some of the bigger businesses that have great resources to come down here and tell us what their ideas are."

Although the push for a more vibrant business environment and better employment options will not start in earnest until the new year, Casey said he wanted to get the idea out there for people to mull over between now and then.

He was inspired by the Icehouse Ideas Conference in July, coming away with a vision to bring new businesses and investment into the Eastern Bay of Plenty.

"It's all very well having a focus on the cities, such as Auckland, Wellington and Christchurch, but there has to be a point when you get fast internet connections and people start asking why they need to be in a city to do business."

Casey said there had been no timelines given for ultra-fast broadband roll out in the Eastern Bay of Plenty, but he would be asking what it would take to bring that forward, with the goal of then being able to lobby groups such as the local and regional councils to create the environment to make that happen. He is also promoting provincial areas where connectivity is more efficient, such as the Eastern Bay, with its faster transport away from the heavy traffic in places such as Auckland.

"We are also only a 35-minute flight from Auckland and have direct flights to Wellington."

One of the initiatives includes finding innovative partners in Auckland and Wellington who are looking for a challenge. Casey is also looking for people originally from Eastern Bay of Plenty and other entrepreneurs to consider investing in the region, financially or with ideas.

"An enterprising community is one that is informed, engaged and future-orientated. It converts information and learning into knowledge and capitalises on the strengths of the area, turning these into competitive advantages and employment opportunities. It requires leadership, empowerment, creativity and innovation."