New superstars of Manukau business revealed.

Find out who the finalists are in the 2010 Westpac Manukau Business Excellence Awards.

SH20-1 Manukau Extension Motorway

The opening of the Manukau Extension will be in three stages, and will involve some significant changes for traffic around Manukau. Keep up to date here.

News & Reports

Rugby World Cup 2011

Rugby World Cup 2011 Auckland Speaker Series

85,000 Rugby fans are coming to Auckland – one of them could be your investor.

If you’re looking to grow your business via investment you’re about to have an audience. In just over 12 months up to 85,000 Rugby fans will be visiting New Zealand. Most of them are likely to come to Auckland and some will be looking to invest in New Zealand businesses. If there was ever a time to be getting investment ready – it’s now.

Attracting investment is a matter of presenting the right information to the right people. Speakers will present simple practical ways to do both for small to medium-sized businesses.

Clyde Rogers from Auckland’s economic development agency, AucklandPlus, will tell you how the 2011 Business Club may assist you in identifying, then getting in front of, your potential investor among the throngs visiting Auckland during RWC 2011.

Kim Crawford Wines have grown from humble beginnings in 1996 to a staple on tables all over the world. Co-founder, Erica Crawford will share how the company shaped itself to attract investment from Canadian giant Vincor International.

Don’t miss this practical session that may really open doors for your business. Seats are limited so register now to avoid disappointment.

Date:	Tuesday 31 August 2010
Registration:	2.45pm (parking available under building)
Time:	3.00pm - 5.00pm
Venue:	University of Auckland Business School, Owen Glenn Building - Decima Glenn Room
Tickets:	RWC 2011 Auckland Business Opportunities members: $37 + GST, General admission: $47 +GST

To find out more and register for this event please click here.

Sustainable Procurement and the Rugby World Cup 2011

Learn about Auckland’s Sustainable Procurement Toolkit.

The direct economic benefit for Auckland during the Rugby World Cup 2011 Tournament is estimated at $267 million. The indirect benefit resulting from the opportunity to link Auckland businesses with the rest of the world will be far greater.

'Sustainable' or 'Green' Procurement is fast gaining wider acceptance within the private and public sectors of New Zealand, but also internationally, offering significant opportunities to those organisations that are ahead of the game.

Learn about Auckland’s Sustainable Procurement Toolkit - now compulsory for all Auckland councils in the procurement of Rugby World Cup 2011 (RWC2011) tenders - and how to position your business to take advantage of this opportunity.

Although the toolkit has been developed as part of Auckland’s regional environmental sustainability programme for the RWC 2011, it represents a leading standard for sustainable procurement within New Zealand, being adopted by many local government and private organisations.

Unfortunately, this workshop is no longer being offered, click here to download a copy of the presentation.

For more information on how to connect your business with RWC 2011 action, visit A uckland 2011 or A uckland Plus.

Rugby World Cup 2011 Newsletter

Get the latest news on Auckland's preparations for Rugby World Cup 2011.

Click here to view the full e-newsletter.

Rugby World Cup 2011 - A Guide to the Major Events Management Act

A guide to the Major Events Management Act is now available.

This publication ‘Rugby World Cup 2011 in New Zealand - A Guide to the Major Events Management Act 2007’ was a joint project between Rugby World Cup Limited - a subsidiary of the International Rugby Board which owns the event - and the Ministry of Economic Development.

The document provides general guidance on how the Major Events Management Act will work to both ensure the smooth running of RWC 2011 and protect it from commercial exploitation. It also includes information on protected RWC emblems and words.

Protect your business by making sure you are up with the play on what you can and cannot do surrounding RWC 2011 by downloading the guide from here.

To view the Major Event Management Act, click here >>

Business Opportunities

A guide to Business Opportunities.

The teams of twenty nations, their fans, media and dignitaries, will converge on New Zealand’s largest city as the gateway to Rugby World Cup 2011.

The tournament offers a great opportunity for regional businesses. A “Guide to Business Opportunities” that provides an introductory look at how to make the most of this event is available, click here>> and a PDF version of the Guide can be downloaded.

For the link to all RWC 2011 related business opportunities and activities in Auckland, click here>>

Tender Opportunities

Information on Rugby World Cup 2011 tender opportunities from across New Zealand.

Rugby World Cup 2011 will not only create openings for big, well-known companies and opportunities are not confined to supplying the materials and services for staging the competition. Every size of company, in a huge variety of industries, can benefit from the Cup.

For information on RWC 2011 tender opportunities from across New Zealand, or to register your business now for free, click here>>

Latest media releases

New Zealand 2011 Business Club launched

Economic Development Minister Gerry Brownlee recently launched the New Zealand 2011 Business Club, an online platform to connect overseas business people coming here for the Rugby World Cup in 2011 with their Kiwi counterparts.

Mr Brownlee, who is also Associate Rugby World Cup Minister, says the club will enable regions and businesses throughout the country to get information on the visitors coming to their area, including their business and social interests, so they can offer to host them at events and as a result learn more about how each operates in their own market.

"The local rugby club has always been a centre of the community where business alliances are forged. That’s the flavour of what we’re launching. The internet gives us the capacity to replicate that club ethos online.

“Many of the international visitors will be business people. This will provide them opportunities to make business connections as well as social connections,” Mr Brownlee said.

The recently named New Zealand 2011 Government Ambassadors – John Kirwan, Sean Fitzpatrick, David Kirk, Jonah Lomu, Andy Haden and Andrew Mehrtens - have been recruiting overseas business people to join the business club, and now local business people need to do their part in signing up to host them during the Rugby World Cup.

"The government is committed to increasing New Zealand’s export base, and the Rugby World Cup is a great platform from which to better connect with potential international customers and distributors."

The New Zealand 2011 Office has been working closely with Business New Zealand and regional economic development agencies and chambers of commerce to develop its Business Engagement Programme. New Zealand Trade and Enterprise has developed a guide to the opportunities in 2011, as well as a website to make procurement opportunities easily accessible to local businesses.

"I am encouraging all New Zealand businesses to explore the opportunities to make the most of the Rugby World Cup. Joining the NZ 2011 Business Club is a good first step,” Mr Brownlee said.

Latest News

Rugby World Cup 2011