Waikato Business News June/July 2023

New and improved
Whaaingaroa Wharf
officially opened
Improvements at the Whaaingaroa wharf, including a newly
constructed pontoon, kayak ramp and eastern walkway,
were officially opened recently in a dawn ceremony led by
kaumaatua Atutahi Riki of Ngaati Maahanga and Tainui.
Waikato District Council’s
general manager
of service delivery
Megan May says the ceremony
is a celebration of the collaborative
effort it’s taken to get the
new additions over the line.
“The ceremony marks the
completion of the third of four
projects to transform the wharf
and wider harbour in Whaaingaroa,"
she says.
“It is great to see the hard
mahi pay off, and be another
step closer to the completion
of all four of these
transformational projects.”
The projects are funded
Kānoa Regional Economic
Development and Investment
Unit, and are developed in
partnership with the Raglan
Community Board and Iwi
partners, including Ngaati
Maahanga and Ngāti Hourua,
Tainui o Tainui, Ngaati
Tahinga and Ngāti Tamainupō.
“These improvements
were also made possible by
the overwhelming support we
received when we spoke to the
wider community last year.
We know the community have
been keeping a close eye on our
progress, and we’re so pleased
to hand it over to them,” May
says.
Raglan Community Board
chair Dennis Amoore says the
new additions set a promising
standard for the upcoming
western improvements.
“This is a great start in providing
more room and more
access for people to connect
with the sea. The upcoming
work on the western side of the
wharf with its tidal stairs and
seating will take that next step
in transforming the area into a
hub for the community.”
Central city embracing new wave of office development
Hamilton's central city
is thriving, with a
35% rise in commercial
development during the
past 12 months. Currently
there is 40,994m2 of commercial
development happening
across the central city, up from
30,272m2 only 12 months ago.
An economic engine room
Hamilton’s central city supports
21,400 jobs, has 2650
businesses and generates
$3.2 billion of the city’s GDP
(about 25%). The central city
saw growth across all three of
these areas in 2022, with jobs
increasing 3%, the number of
businesses up 4% and GDP
rising 7%.
It is also home to 76% of
the city’s financial and insurance
service jobs, 52% of information
media and telecommunications
jobs, and 54%
of public administration and
safety jobs.
The second half of 2022
saw a strong increase in foot
traffic in the central city, a
measure that is indicative of
commercial activity. Commercial
development includes
office space, retail stores,
restaurants, business services
and accommodation.
Building excitement
Tainui Group Holdings
recently completed Amohia
Ake, the new regional offices
for ACC located on the corner
of Collingwood and Tristram
streets. The three-pavilion,
8500m2 project is designed
for 800 staff and includes 82
bike parks, end-of-trip facilities
and 12 charging stations
for electric vehicles.
Construction of the
23,000m2 Union Square
mixed-use development is
currently focused on a second
office building with about
5000m2 of office space. It is
90% preleased and set to open
in late 2023.
Completed buildings at
Union Square include a garage
for tenants with 327 carparks,
end-of-trip facilities, and
e-bike storage. A four-storey
office building opened in 2021
and is home to Rabobank,
Craigs Investment Partners,
and AA Insurance.
Full speed ahead for
infrastructure
In November 2022, the Government
confirmed $150.6
million of Infrastructure
Acceleration Fund (IAF) support
for the central city. This
funding will support the
delivery of a new water reservoir
and pump station, a
new pedestrian and cycling
bridge across the Waikato
River, as well as investigations
into other strategic water and
transport infrastructure to service
the central city.
Over the next 10 years,
council predicts about 4000
new homes and more than
300,000m2 of additional
commercial development
in the central city.
Getting down to business
Council’s meetings with
employers to discuss key
enablers for their growth
has repeatedly highlighted a
strong desire for additional
business hotel options. Council’s
Economic Development
Committee has targeted the
end of 2023 for confirming
development plans to bring
a new 4+ star hotel to the
central city.