Waikato Business News | April 1, 2024

12 APRIL 2024
OUR ENVIRONMENT
Industry in danger
Consultation
season By PHIL MACKAY
We’re very fortunate in New Zealand to
live in a fairly stable democracy. The flipside
of this is that we’re generally becoming
more apathetic, and often only engage with
political issues after decisions have been
made that affect us negatively.
We then typically ask why there wasn’t
more consultation.
Well right now, in local government at
least, there’s more consultation than you can
shake a stick at. Local councils are facing
a perfect storm of cost inflation, increased
interest rates, and a drop in revenue, leaving
a significant hole in their finances. They
are therefore in the unenviable position
of proposing double-digit rates increases,
and seeking public feedback on a range
of initiatives to reduce costs and increase
revenue.
Hamilton City Council is consulting on its
2024-2034 Long Term Plan, closing on April
21. Alongside the LTP, the council is asking
for feedback on their revenue and financing
policy, rates remissions and postponements
policy, development contributions policy and
growth funding policy.
Some key points of interest from Hamilton
City’s consultation include feedback on the
proposed walking and cycling bridge, part of a
contract with the Infrastructure Acceleration
Fund which delivers $150 million of central
government funding for HCC.
There is also a proposal to remove two
hours free parking in the central city area
and introduce ‘demand responsive pricing’
with new technology. Proposed Development
Contributions are a significant increase,
particularly in the Peacocke growth area and
some infill areas.
Matamata Piako District Council is also
consulting on their Long Term Plan until
April 21. It includes a range of proposals to
limit new spending, while highlighting a few
key projects that they view as priorities.
Waikato Regional Council is about to
begin consultation (April 2 – May 2) on
their Long Term Plan, which covers a host of
environmental issues, Public Transport, flood
protection and natural hazard infrastructure.
In Waipā District, council have opted for
an “enhanced annual plan” process, which
enables them to defer the Long Term Plan
decision-making until next year.
Waipā is consulting to April 26 on proposed
fees and charges and Cambridge Connections
Of particular note is the Cambridge
Connections transport plan.
Waipā is seeking feedback on options, which
include potential locations for an additional
bridge in Cambridge and the proposal to limit
the existing Victoria (high-level) Bridge to
pedestrian and cycle traffic only.
Likewise, Waikato District Council is
presenting an enhanced annual plan which is
also open for feedback until April 26.
Whether you’re concerned about increased
rates or rent, or worried about service cuts or
key projects, I strongly suggest you take the
opportunity to have your say on the decisions
that are being made by our local councils
right now.
They can be easily found on most council
websites, and while I’ve covered a few of the
councils around the Hamilton Metro area
here, other councils in the Waikato are also
consulting.
• Phil Mackay is Business Development
Manager for Paua Architects
The Cancer Society
would like to thank the business
community for supporting
Relay For Life
With your help, we can
continue to support people
with cancer and their
whānau across the Waikato,
giving them an easier
path through their cancer
journey.
Your support helps provide
free accommodation
at the Cancer Society’s
Lions Lodge, transport to
treatment, advice from an
experienced nurse, access
to counselling and more.
To find out more about what we do,
please visit cancer.org.nz
CONTINUED FROM PAGE 8
Our share of the market sees the Waikato
ranked fifth highest when it comes to visitor
spend and we host 9.7 per cent of all New
Zealand business events, attracting 94,400
delegates last year.
So, some may say that tourism is already
doing well and therefore continued sustained
investment in regional tourism organisations
(RTO) isn’t required. However, we know that
the compounded investment to date in the
RTO from our council partners has enabled
and assisted these great results, and any
significant funding cuts have the potential
to have a devastating impact on the many
Waikato businesses and residents that directly
and indirectly rely on the visitor sector for
their livelihoods.
National and international figures
clearly show that reductions or cessation in
investment creates a loss of momentum, and
the growth trajectory and market share of
visitators is detrimentally impacted.
In fact, it happened here before when the
Waikato organisation was closed in 2006.
There was a clear decline in visitor numbers,
spend, bed nights and employment until 2011
when the RTO was re-established, and the
growth trajectories began to return.
This is because it is the conductor of the
visitor sector orchestra – working behind the
scenes to bring the industry together and
to facilitate, drive and enable growth. We
are the delivery arm for Councils to achieve
success across many of LTP outcomes such
as economic benefit, environmental care,
infrastructure development and community
pride. It is a partnership of mutual benefit,
and the Council’s continued investment in the
RTO should be viewed as an investment in the
social, cultural, environmental and economic
wellbeing of the communities we operate in.
Of course we understand, like all businesses,
councils up and down the country are
facing rising costs, tight budgets, and tough
decisions; some of which are needed to reset
the fiscal situation into the future. However,
as a high performing and valuable sector,
their investment and partnership in tourism
and the hundreds of local jobs and millions
of dollars in visitor spending should not be
sacrificed.
Public consultation on the city and districts’
draft Long-Term Plans takes place in March
and April, and we encourage everyone who
directly and indirectly benefits from the visitor
sector to have their say.
Now is the time for people to stand up for
tourism, events and hospitality sectors and
the multitude of flow-on benefits they provide
to Waikato communities - there’s too much at
risk not to.
• Nicola Greenwell is Chief Executive,
Hamilton and Waikato Tourism
Wānanga’s new scholarships
Two new Te Wānanga o Aotearoa
scholarships honour men who were crucial to
its establishment.
The wānanga relaunched scholarships last
year and is adding three news ones in 2024.
Te Tumuaki Rongo H Wetere Scholarship
recognises a tauira Māori who is the first in
their whānau to study at a tertiary level.
Boy Mangu Mātauranga Māori Waharoa
Scholarship recognises a tauira who
Creating strong
foundations to thrive
Nestled in the suburb of
Te Rapa in Hamilton is a
haven for young minds – the
Barnardos Early Learning
Centre. Led by Centre Manager
Paridhi Bohra, this vibrant space
fosters the love of learning for tamariki
in the community.
With over a decade of experience,
Paridhi understands the crucial role
early learning plays. With the team,
they champion tamariki by providing
a supportive environment during their
critical first 1000 days, a period when
80% of a child’s brain development
occurs.
“We believe each child deserves the
best start. Our team nurtures a love of
learning through engaging activities,
ensuring their social, emotional and
learning development thrive so they
are set up for life,” Paridhi says.
The centre provides a space that
tamariki can grow and flourish in.
With light-filled rooms and a spacious
outdoor playground, it provides a
nurturing environment that is also
adventurous. Their focus extends to
healthy development with a revamped
food menu offering free nutritious
meals for the wellbeing of tamariki.
They also provide fee exemptions for
the first three months of enrolment.
demonstrates their commitment to the
advancement of mātauranga Māori by
studying a mātauranga programme.
The third new scholarship is the Te Pou
Postgraduate Diploma Kaitiakitanga L8
Scholarship which is awarded to a registered
health professional who is enrolled in the
Postgraduate Diploma in Kaitiakitanga L8
programme. Applications for the scholarships
run to June 30.
Centre Manager
Paridhi Bohra
ADVERTORIAL
The Te Rapa centre offers a unique
whānau support system within the
centre. As the largest not-for-profit
early learning provider, they prioritise
accessibility with flexible options.
“We’re a family here. We
understand that whānau needs may
vary, so we provide support where
we can to address those needs and
empower whānau to build a solid
beginning for their tamariki.”
The early learning centre is a part
of the wider Barnardos Aotearoa
whānau, New Zealand’s leading
children’s charity.
Enrol your child today
at Barnardos Early Learning Te Rapa.
Visit Barnardosearlylearning.org.nz
or call 0800 227 627