Businesses voters too

Jeremy Tauri.

It's hard to miss the fact that there is a local body election going on. It seems any street you drive down is adorned with billboards and signs, offering everything from cheaper rubbish disposal to better housing.

It's clear that in many cases the candidates are going for the household vote. They want to appeal to people who are thinking less about the big picture and more about the effect of council actions on their everyday lives.

But what a lot of would-be councillors seem to forget is that businesspeople are ratepayers too. And the fortunes of business are intrinsically linked to the outlook for any area. While talking about economic development might not tug at the heart strings in the same way as a promise of a new park, this is where council can really make a difference to the future.

We know that the attitudes and actions of local governments have a dramatic influence on how a region develops, and its ability to attract jobs and skills that create vibrant communities.

I'm president of the Northland Chamber of Commerce and we are asking our local candidates for more collaboration to attract investment into the area to focus on business growth and leverage strategies that can build on the region's strength.

It's not only large projects we're interested in. Imagine if we could drop a business with 30 employees into CBD areas. My plea to candidates in this year's local elections is this: Sit down with your local business representatives and hear them out.

What's the biggest hurdle to their growth at the moment?

What would help them succeed, and in turn, employ more people and upskill local young workers?

We're not asking for special treatment. We're just asking for council and those who want to take a seat there to think about working alongside us, with the shared goal of a brighter future for the region.

- Jeremy Tauri is an associate at Plus Chartered Accountants.