Darrin Walsh
Rotorua wants to lure Maori Television to relocate to the city - with the Rotorua Lakes Council offering to work with property owners and developers to help facilitate a move and local businesses being called on to offer one-off incentives to assist with staff relocation.
The television company is considering options for a new location after the lease on its Auckland premises expires in 2017.
Rotorua has been touted as a natural choice because of its central location to many of the big iwi as well as its cultural heritage.
Rotorua Mayor Steve Chadwick said Maori Television Services (MTS) had invited proposals from commercial property owners, developers and land/or land vendors who could provide office and broadcasting accommodation or land to meet its future requirements.
Bay of Plenty had been identified as one of three regions it was interested in, alongside Auckland and Waikato.
Mrs Chadwick said while the council was not making a submission or putting in a bid for Maori Television Services to move to Rotorua, it was collecting information for the company to use if it considered any bids from Rotorua.
"Of course, we would love Rotorua to be in the running - we think our city would be a really great fit for Maori Television."
Mrs Chadwick said it would be fantastic if there were bids from Rotorua, and the council would do whatever it could to assist.
"Rotorua's centrally located, housing is affordable, we offer a fantastic lifestyle and a supportive creative community and we have a very strong Maori profile."
She said part of the council's long-term vision was working with others to attract new businesses to Rotorua to boost the local economy.
"When you get a new business there are a number of spin-offs - there might be new job opportunities, with new people moving into an area there's a boost for existing businesses, and something like MTS would also add to our growing Maori economy and potentially provide educational opportunities by being a feeder for related professions."
She said the council encouraged local commercial property owners, developers or land owners to support that.
"We are very open to working with MTS and with local businesses, land owners or developers to help facilitate a relocation. I know Maori Television would be well supported and made to feel very welcome if they decided to move to Rotorua."
Rotorua Chamber of Commerce chief executive Darrin Walsh said attracting Maori Television to Rotorua would have a massive impact with spin-offs to many other industries.
"They are by no means a small operation and Rotorua would benefit from having such a high-profile and high-volume employer located here."
The service employs about 180 people, plus contractors.
Mr Walsh sent an email on the subject to all chamber members this week, urging those who could offer a discounted product or service to help relocating staff members and their families to get in touch with him. "If Rotorua is to be a top contender, it is important that not only iwi and the council support the move, but that the local business community also gets behind it," the email said.
"As a move like this would ultimately benefit us all, I ask you to consider how you may be able to contribute to making Rotorua the preferred choice."
Mr Walsh has asked any businesses to contact him by Tuesday and he would put a list of offers together.
He said support could include discounts from furniture or appliance shops, or discounts on conveyancing.