Waikato regional economic profile - Waikato Regional Council

The Business Facilitation Service of Te Puni Kōkiri helps new and existing businesseswith advice and guidance. The service is available to any Māori entrepreneur orbusiness. The Business Facilitation Service does not provide funding or finance butcan help with:mentoringcoachingproblem-solvingnetworkingidentify funding sources, andaccessing resources and referrals to other business services.11.4.2 Membership-based business organisationsA chamber of commerce is a local organisation of businesses whose goal is to furtherthe interests of businesses. There are six chambers in the region: Cambridge, Raglan,Rotorua, Taupō, Te Awamutu and Waikato. In addition to networking and advocacy,the chambers offer information, education and training services to member firms.The Employers’ and Manufacturers’ Association is under the umbrella of Business NewZealand. Its four divisions include advocacy (participating in central and localgovernment processes and media relations), advice (from legal and employmentspecialists), learning (short courses and certificate programmes) and networks(networking services and events).Export New Zealand is a division of Business New Zealand that promotes exportingthrough networking, information, facilitated delegation visits and partnerships with theMinistry of Foreign Affairs and Trade and New Zealand Trade and Enterprise. Thereare approximately 250 members in the Waikato region.11.4.3 Science and technology parksIn its broadest sense a science and technology park is a managed environmentestablished to leverage existing resources for the purposes of enhancing a region’seconomic base. 402 Although there is no uniformly accepted definition of a science andtechnology park in the literature, the essential features of a science and technologypark are distilled into three main elements:1. Initiatives for the establishment and growth of technology enterprises.2. Formally and operationally linked to a centre of technical expertise.3. A unique environment which provides management support and businessincubation services for science and technology intensive companies. 403The objective of Waikato Innovation Park when it was established on 17 hectares ofland next to the Ruakura Research Centre in 2003 was to facilitate the developmentand implementation of the latest research with a view to leveraging productivity andprofitability in NZ’s primary industries such as farming and agricultural servicesgenerally.Wintec, the University of Waikato and AgResearch are strategic partners with WaikatoInnovation Park, which is currently home to over 50 companies. The relationship givespark tenants ready access to specialist resources such as laboratories, IT systems,development capabilities, student support and tertiary programmes.402Allen Consulting Group (2007, p. 1).403Allen Consulting Group (2007, p. 2).Doc # 2069885 Page 141