News & Media Releases

Opportunities for foreign investment from Kiwis uncovered

A recent study completed by Kea New Zealand and sponsored by ATEED has found that our expat community are keen to explore investment opportunities here in Auckland and across the country. Of those surveyed, 82 per cent were motivated to invest which is good news for businesses needing more capital. Around 90,000 Kiwi expats are keen to give them time and help mentor business.

Find out more in the full report and media release. If you’re interested in building your business’ capability to attract investment, contact Darryn Grant, ATEED’s International Connections and Investment Manager on 09 3650530 or email darryn.grant@aucklandnz.com

An interesting article on 'Culture' - ' Culture Eats Strategy for Lunch'

‘The FoodBowl’ launches to support food & beverage export growth targets

A major new government-backed food innovation pilot plant, comprising a purpose-built facility for food and beverage manufacturers to develop and commercialise product to take to national and global markets, was opened in October. The FoodBowl is operated by New Zealand Food Innovation (Auckland) Limited (NZFIA), and is located near Auckland International Airport.

The FoodBowl will be part of a New Zealand-wide open-access network of innovation centres. The New Zealand Food Innovation Network, or NZFIN, will be comprised of food science and technology resources designed to enable New Zealand food and beverage businesses of all sizes to grow, by supporting new product and process development with pre-production pilot facilities and expertise.

The network will have four regional hubs, in Auckland, Waikato, Palmerston North and Canterbury (at Lincoln University);

Auckland: opened October 2011, focusing on processed foods
Waikato: scheduled to open mid-2012, focusing on dairy
Palmerston North: now operational, draws on expertise of 600 scientists and technologists in NZFIN partner facilities, including Massey University, Riddet Institute, AgResearch, Plant and Food Research and Fonterra Innovation
Canterbury: operating now, is aimed at scaling up South Island producers and facilitating the move into overseas markets

Auckland centre includes seven process halls:

Process hall 1: equipment for extrusion and milling/blending, filling equipment to handle bulk bags or retail packs for both extruded product and powdered blends
Process hall 2: UHT / aseptic filling line and other equipment for beverage development and production
Product hall 3: general purpose, for consumer goods including cans, retort pouches, stand-up pouches, pottles and jars; general purpose food processing; and bar extruder for and capacity to bake biscuits, health bars and novelty items
Process hall 4: high-pressure pasteurization
Process hall 5: freeze drying
Process hall 6: microwave thawing
Process hall 7: production kitchen

View the full press release.

Contact New Zealand Food Innovation Auckland Ltd, Ph: 09 254 4730, or email Stuart Walker, Acting CEO, stuart.walker@foodinnovationnetwork.co.nz

Auckland's draft Economic Development Strategy

The Auckland Council's draft Economic Development Strategy seeks greater cooperation between business, government and community organisations. It also sets achievable and measurable economic targets for the region and identifies actions that aim to improve Auckland’s prosperity.

The submission period for feedback was open from Tuesday 20 September until 4pm on Monday 31 October 2011 and has now closed. The Economic Development Strategy will be adopted in early 2012, following the adoption of the Auckland Plan.

For more information >>

New businesses get a helping hand

An Auckland organisation is helping new businesses start off on the right foot. Six months ago Auckland Tourism, Events and Economic Development launched its Starting off Right programme in Auckland south, helping business owners avoid common pitfalls that can hamper the success of new businesses.

The half day seminar, held monthly in either Pukekohe or Manukau, has already helped dozens of businesses to examine their goals and business plans while also analysing the risks and legal requirements of starting a business. The seminar also provides a valuable opportunity to share experiences and knowledge with other local start up businesses.

The Starting off Right seminar is held bi-monthly in Manukau or Pukekohe. For more information or to book for the seminar, phone Yvette on 354 0094.

For more information, click here >>

NZTA Completes Southern Gateway to Auckland

The NZ Transport Agency opened the SH20 Cavendish to Puhinui connecting road and westbound on-ramp in Manukau on Wednesday 5 January, completing the new SH20-1 Manukau motorway - the southern gateway to Auckland.

The opening marked the completion of the final stage of the project which has opened progressively in three stages since August 2010. The $220M Manukau Extension motorway connects the Southwestern (SH20) and Southern Motorways (SH1) in Manukau and has taken four years to construct.

“The connecting road enables seamless travel on the new motorway without stopping, from the Southern Motorway or Cavendish Interchange - all the way to Puhinui Road (SH20B) and Auckland International Airport,” says the NZTA’s Regional Director for Auckland and Northland, Stephen Town.

The connecting road and on-ramp between the Cavendish and Puhinui Interchanges took three months to build since last September. It involved completely demolishing the old Roscommon Road bridge and building a new sewer line and a new westbound on-ramp. The Puhinui Stream was also diverted and hundreds of native fish carefully relocated to the new section of the stream.

The project forms the southern gateway to the Western Ring Route, one of the Government’s seven roads of national significance. When completed in 2020, the ring route will provide a new 48 kilometre motorway around Auckland to ease pressure on SH1 and the Auckland Harbour Bridge.

The 4.5 kilometre long motorway eliminates 12 sets of traffic lights and helps to ease congestion on local roads around the Manukau shopping and business areas. The four-lane motorway features 12 bridges and three major interchanges at SH1, Lambie Drive and Cavendish Drive. Work also included completing earthworks for the new Manukau rail link – a KiwiRail and Auckland Council project to connect central Manukau with Auckland’s rail network which is scheduled to open this year.

For more information visit www.nzta.govt.nz/projects/manukauextension

Latest News

News & Media Releases