BUSINESS ADVOCATE COLUMN JULY 2013

If our regional economy is to grow then existing businesses must develop and grow and new businesses must enter the market. Today’s businesses operate in an environment that requires disciplined financial management skills and a high level of business capability. Observations by many business commentators have identified that one of the key factors in businesses that have continued to grow during the Global Financial Crisis has been a focus of the owners and managers of these businesses on the development and training of themselves and their staff. In general terms there are two parts to a business with one being what your business does and the other being how you do it. The “how you do it” part would fall within business excellence models such as those used measure business performance such as used in the Westpac Northland Business excellence Awards. The “what you do” part is the business capability. The business capability encompasses what a business must know and be able to do so that the organisations goals can be achieved. What matters are that good processes and efficient use of resources accompanied by an increased ability and knowledge, leads to a more effective organisation. These capabilities could include among other things, marketing strategies, finance, business systems or governance. The good news is that New Zealand Trade and Enterprise (NZTE) through its Regional Business Partner Programmes that it has in place throughout New Zealand can help businesses to grow their capability. In Northland this role is undertaken by the NZ Chambers of Commerce Northland and Northland Inc.’s Innovation and Growth Team. At no cost to a business they will assess your business and its capability needs and then prepare a development plan for you and provide advice, information and business assistance. Having done this they can then direct you to relevant resources and services to help fulfil this need and you grow your business. Finally through government support for this programme in many cases they can partially subsidise training and coaching services which can be accessed through a voucher system. With their support many Northland businesses are now better placed to achieve their strategic objectives through increased capability.

ADVOCATE COLUMN 4th WEEK JUNE 2013

The recent closure of a well-established, highly thought-of inner-city retail outlet gives cause to reflect on the difficult business environment faced by independent operators in this particular sector over the least three years. Like all businesses they have had to deal with the tight economic conditions created by the GFC. However as well as the GFC they have had to face the challenge of increased compliance costs, falling foot traffic, changing consumer behaviour, new technology and proliferation of large format retail. Changes in consumer behaviour as a result of online technology and increased connectivity are often cited as one of the biggest challenges facing this sector. There is no denying that the proliferation of online marketing has increased competition and in some cases this competition has not been operating on a level playing field due to the fact that some of this competition is off-shore and can avoid compliance costs. However the reality is that e-commerce is now a normal part of the marketplace. It cannot be ignored and it can provide an opportunity for traditional retailers to boost sales and increase their share of the market if they were to adopt an integrated approach to their marketing. For the small independent operators e-commerce allows them a sense of scale that may not have previously existed. There is overseas evidence that suggests that while more and more people are researching online, they will still go to a physical location to purchase the goods they have been researching. At the very least it will provide an additional door to their business and extend their market reach beyond those people walking past their premises. It does however require an investment in a website that is easy to use –no matter the device – fast and secure. This is not intended as a criticism of traditional retailer behaviour but rather as recognition that the environment in which retailers now operate has changed. The traditional retailer should also understand what their point of difference is and play to their strengths. Product knowledge, level of service and long-term relationships will always be important. Much of what is needed for the retailers change of behaviour is relatively easy to implement and requires a low level of investment. At the end of the day, as long as the consumer purchasers your product is does not really matter how they buy it.

ADVOCATE COLUMN 2nd WEEK JUNE 2013

Four months out from the upcoming local body elections and prospective councillors and mayoral candidates are beginning to signal their intentions to their electorates. Or rather they are communicating with that portion of the electorate with whom they come in contact with through their spheres of influence. Over the last few electoral cycles, the voter turnout for local body elections throughout New Zealand has been in decline. In many cases less than half the eligible voters actually bother to turn up at the polls. Of more concern than the low numbers is the fact that at the last elections it was estimated that over half those who did vote were over 55 years of age. There may be many reasons for low participation in local body politics, but since local councils play an important role in shaping our communities it is unfortunate that a large proportion of our communities decide not to have a say in how these councils are formed. Young voters may not participate as they could feel it lacks any relevance to their day-to-day lives. This lack of relevancy may arise from the fact that we have an extended education phase in New Zealand, that they may not be participating in the labour market or that they do not own their own homes. All these things imply that local government is less likely to directly impact on the individual. However, whatever the reason for a section of our community not participating this in part could be remedied by better communication. There is evidence to suggest that increased information leads to increased participation. To make an informed voting decision requires adequate political knowledge. As well this knowledge there is the systemic issue of the individual’s belief in the efficacy of governance or the ability to influence the political decision making process. Without an effective manner to deliver sufficient information in the relevant format to inform our communities; accompanied by a belief that they can influence decisions, I would imagine the declining participation is likely to continue. Herein lays the challenge to our civic leaders. It is too easy to say that everyone has the opportunity to participate but they are not interested. Leading into this year’s elections what needs to be asked is how our local politicians intend to meaningfully engage with their constituents and in particular those younger members of the community who may at present see no relevance in the process.

BUSINESS ADVOCATE MARCH 2012

The Westpac Northland Business Excellence Awards provides an opportunity to celebrate business excellence and the role it plays in our community. Through business, countless individuals can apply their talents to achieve their own aspirations and provide service for others. If we can celebrate and respect these people, and foster a better understanding of the contribution business makes to the wider community, then this will go a long way to inspiring more young people pursue their own aspirations. Business is a competition between various enterprises vying with each other to give the customer better a service or product for their money. It should be a continuing pursuit of improvement and excellence. Their main function is to be efficient producers of goods and services responding to market demands. In the process of doing this there are often other benefits to society and the community. Business assists in the provision of an economic environment that allows us to live and work where we chose. Many businesses support a wide range of community and not for profit initiatives. Preparation for this year’s Westpac Northland Business Excellence Awards is now well underway and Northland businesses can register their expressions of interest to be part of this event. Many of Northland’s prominent business people past and present have played an active role in shaping the region through both their commercial enterprises and through their civic activities. These awards provide a great opportunity for Northlanders to celebrate those amongst us who have made significant contributions to making our region a better place. Unlike in the marketplace, in the awards businesses are not so much competing against other entrants but against a set of performance indicators. An entrant’s performance will be rigorously tested against a number of key criteria and that business’s vision and strategic plan. Success cannot be measured without a business first having set clear goals. In many cases these are closely aligned to the personal aspirations of the people and families who own these businesses. Entrants in the Westpac Northland Business Excellence Awards are categorised based on their number of fulltime employees as we believe businesses of similar scale should be doing similar things no matter the nature of their products or services. As well as being considered for the category based on their size, businesses will also be eligible for the More FM customer Choice Award, the ACC Health and Safety in the Workplace, the NRC Sustainable Business Award and the Top Energy Not for Profit Organisation Award. We are committed to making the process as easy as possible for entrants through individual support and group workshops. If anyone wishes to know more about the awards or the changes we are making this year please feel free to contact our office at info@northchamber.co.nz or visit the Awards website http://northlandbusinessawards.co.nz/

ADVOCATE COLUMN 4th WEEK MAY 2013

Two key elements of urban design are connectivity and permeability. They relate to the ability to move people or vehicles in different directions; they allow ease of movement between different parts of a town and prevent severing neighbourhoods or precincts. They also encourage movement on foot and can negate the requirement for long car journeys. So what happens when a small town with a central business district that is relatively spatially confined is bisected by a barrier that separates its predominantly retail precinct from its primary public open space of high amenity? Such a barrier prevents the integration of these two spaces and creates issues that have long-term consequences to the viability of our central urban area. I would suggest this is the situation that has existed in Whangarei for some time with Dent Street and its four lanes of traffic negatively impacting on both the permeability and connectivity between the Town Basin and Cameron Street Mall. If these physical components of our CBD are to be complementary and if we want our inner city built environment to function to its full potential, this is a matter that at some stage in the future will need to be addressed. Not only does it need to be resolved, but the manner of the resolution should not only be functional but express a level of elegance and maturity worthy of a districts most important public open space. During a recent Whangarei District Council presentation on the future redevelopment of the Central Business District, the Council’s urban design specialist showed a video clip relating to a traffic calming project that took place in the English town of Poynton that faced similar problems where high traffic flows across multiple lanes through an important part of their town negatively impacted on the amenity and functionality of that space. They narrowed the road, removed traffic signals and reintroduced a human scale to their town centre. Their response was bold, challenged many perceptions of how to manage vehicular traffic in an urban environment and it worked. Perhaps this is how we should be thinking when considering a response to our own urban design issues. While the Council did not at the time suggest this as a response to Dent Street, it would certainly transform an area where layer upon layer of traditional traffic management solutions have managed the movement of traffic but not the functioning of the space. I have added the web-link for anyone interested to see more. http://www.theatlanticcities.com/commute/2013/04/lots-cars-and-trucks-no-traffic-signs-or-lights-chaos-or-calm/5152/

ADVOCATE COLUMN 2nd WEEK MAY 2013

ADVOCATE COLUMN 2nd WEEK MAY 2013 Towards the end of April, the Department of Conservation launched their Te Ao Pakihi initiative in Northland with two public events, one in Kerikeri and one in Whangarei. This is an ambitious project that is focussed on supporting Maori to take the next step in establishing their own businesses. Why this is ambitious and what makes this initiative so worthy is that the benefits of this to Northland could be considerable. The events were well attended and had a range of speakers that had something interesting to offer on the relationship between communities of interest, conservation, business and what our aspirations should be if Northland is to fulfil its true potential. While these two events provided information relating to the business support available to Maori or in fact anyone who wishes to start up a business, the real inspiration that came from them, was hearing the success stories of some of our region’s business people. The conversation around the productivity disparity between Maori and non-Maori owned pastoral land was just one example of the difficulties facing Maori business. Part of the discussion was around the difference between business owners being able to act unfettered on their own behalf as opposed a business with a wide range of shareholders whose interests must be protected and observed. This was highlighted by the challenges of multiple-landownership, the complexity that this brings to governance and the limits this imposes on using such land as security. While the challenge is enormous so are the benefits. In a report prepared for the Ministry of Primary Industries by PWC entitled Growing the Productive Base of Maori Freehold Land, the writers modelled the outcome of investing in this land and raising its level of production to the national average. They used case study models based in Northland and indentified potential growth in employment and GDP. As these are common objectives for most territorial authorities and central government it would make sense for those agencies and various private sector institutions to consider how they can work with this sector of the economy to enable this potential to be realised. Improved business and governance capability of a significant portion of our regional population accompanied by a more enabled business environment can result in economic growth. This is one area where the existing productivity base level is not particularly high. This growth would create employment opportunities across Northland.

ADVOCATE COLUMN 4th WEEK APRIL 2013

If you have a business operating almost anywhere within the urban area of Whangarei, then by the end of this year you should have ultrafast broadband going past your premises. This presents an opportunity for businesses to examine some of the ways they deliver their product and services and also to look at how they manage their staff and their workloads. Given that most Northland businesses are very small, that their workforces are also small and that recent times have made it difficult to reward their workforces in a financial way, perhaps it is time to consider how technology could be used to benefit a business’s employees. If business owners value and strive for a work-life balance then it is natural to assume that their workforce will also place a benefit on it, and with younger work forces in particular they may actually demand it. Technology through ultrafast broadband, remote access and a proliferation of smart devices enables more flexible working arrangements than have ever existed before. Obviously it requires some clear guidelines and performance levels still needs to be monitored and adhered to but there are some big advantages to be had. Working remotely will require that staff have been given the appropriate training and information to give the business owner the confidence that productivity will at the very least remain constant if not improve. This in itself would make the whole process add value to a business. It would also make the business owner examine how they manage, store and safeguard their information and ensure they have processes in place to meet the demand of out-of-hours emergencies. It may take some time for individual businesses to establish the right mix of time spent in the office and working remotely given their own unique circumstances. I imagine purely from the element of social interaction there will always be a need for people to be present in a workplace for some period of their working week, both to keep informed of what is going on and to stay connected with other members of their team. Because the objective is to improve everyone’s work-life balance, the real challenge may be to ensure that a balance is actually maintained and the workplace does not dominate the owner’s or worker’s home life. In many cases this will require some real discipline in managing the use of their smart devices and knowing when to turn them off.

ADVOCATE COLUMN 2nd WEEK APRIL 2013

ADVOCATE COLUMN 2nd WEEK APRIL 2013 In March, Radio Live organised a presentation by their business commentator Andrew Paterson and New Zealand Institute of Economic Research economist Shamubeel Eaqub. What could have easily turned out to be a quick once over of New Zealand’s economic landscape was in fact a valuable insight into what is currently influencing Northland businesses and what lessons can be learnt from those businesses that have continued to grow during the Global Financial Crisis. Along with outlining Northland’s current performance when compared to the national average, the presenters highlighted Whangarei’s favourable geographic proximity to Auckland and the opportunities that this will present in the future as pressure for growth within Auckland continues to impact on the quality of life of its residents. Our competitive advantage within some sectors-agriculture in particular- was also identified as a potential positive. The main lessons to be taken from the presentation were about what growing businesses were doing to continue their growth and competitive advantage. Much of what these successful businesses are doing should not in itself be a surprise, what is interesting is that this behaviour is seen as differentiating them from their competitors. It was hard to leave this presentation without thinking that surely all businesses should have been doing these things regardless of the economic environment that they operate in. One thing these business builders were doing was being incredibly focussed on customer acquisition and retention. No surprises here you would think. How they have gone about this however may cause some of us to re-think what we offer to the market. These companies are ensuring that their product or service offers an authentic, tangible value rather than perceived, intangible value. For this to happen this value must be sustainable, meaningful and is a net benefit to society. Often lack of demand is a key concern to businesses responding to our business confidence survey. What these findings have shown is that it is essential that businesses understand their market and critically examine what value they are offering to their customers. Investing in technology makes it easier to understand your market and to create communities of shared values. Conversely improved technology also means business needs to be responsive to customer expectations and ensure that they are met or exceeded. Finally for all this to come together requires investment in staff as they will ultimately be the people who ensure the success of a customer focussed business.

ADVOCATE COLUMN 4th WEEK MARCH 2013

I find the whole concept of what is a Central Business District, very interesting. I am sure that there are those experts in the field of urban design who are better qualified than me to define what elements or functions are present, that contribute to a space within an urban settlement that allow it to be described as a CBD. I also wonder how much these qualities have changed over time as behaviour of urban dwellers and businesses have changed and new technology has developed. Many long-term residents of Whangarei will have witnessed a spatial change in what is considered the geographical limits of our CBD over a long period of time. They will also have noticed a change in the way this land and its premises are used. Work habits and planning rules have allowed for many traditional occupiers of this space move elsewhere within the urban extent of the District. This in part has resulted in an over-supply of central city commercial property. I imagine one constant element that has always been present is people. There are those who come into the space for a specific product, service or activity and there are those who live or work in the space and it is convenient for them to avail themselves of the product, services and activities that are there. If there are less people working or living within the geographic confines of a CBD then this will directly impact on the businesses that rely on their patronage. So the recent news item outlining the possible relocation of all council staff and activities to under a single roof was encouraging news. Depending on the final location this offers the potential not only to have one of Whangarei’s biggest employers located in the heart of the CBD as opposed to on the edge of it, but also the opportunity to be attractant for people who to come into the heart of the CBD for council services to also use other central city businesses. A further by-product may be, to what use the vacated commercial space within Forum North is then put to. If occupied by Northtec then that would also add to the vibrancy and activity taking place on the edge of the CBD. While all this purely speculation at this time it does allow for the possibility of an interesting and positive change in the dynamics of our city. Imagine if inner city living was also be thrown into this mix.

ADVOCATE COLUMN 2nd WEEK MARCH 2013

This year will prove an interesting time from a local government perspective. Not only is this a local body election year but with pending consultation in relation to local government reform, this is possibly to be the last time Northland ratepayers get to elect their representatives under the current structure. General consensus seems to be that the existing entities are unlikely to exist in their current form by the end of the next election cycle. Unlike the consultation process undertaken at the time of the Trapski Brash review, there now seems to a more widespread desire for change on how we are governed. Ideally local government reform should result in building a more productive and competitive economy and delivering better public services to Northlanders. The tension between democracy and providing sustainable and affordable governance means there are many demands from many different sectors of our communities. We have a unique opportunity to look at our aspirations – how we wish to live, grow, create employment, attract investment and interact with other regions inside NZ and internationally. There may be value in working with our neighboring councils or joining within the region to create scale in order to achieve their aspirations at a higher level or become more efficient. It doesn’t automatically follow that amalgamation will be the best response. For example voluntary collaboration could be one way that councils could provide services across a region without resorting to amalgamation. Councils could retain their autonomy with respect to identity and expenditure and rate/ revenue raising decisions but, at the same time, achieve economies of scale in service delivery and address externalities associated with service provision. Unfortunately we are all aware the difficulty that has existed in the past between our region’s councils when it comes to adopting a collaborative approach. Perhaps some other governance framework other than amalgamation might also emerge from having a conversation to identify what best suits Northland’s communities. The point is we should not start with amalgamation or some other preconceived format as the answer and attempt to make it fit – it is important to have the conversation about why we are reviewing our governance before we determine what our response will be. Finally if organisational or territorial change does take place it should be remembered that that any new organisation that emerges from this process will be just that. It will be a new organisation to meet our future aspirations not one of our existing councils in a new form.

ADVOCATE COLUMN 4th WEEK FEBRUARY 2013

New Zealand Chambers of Commerce Northland has a wide range of resources available to assist start up businesses avoid many common pitfalls and is also a partner in the Regional Business Partnership whose objective is improved business capability for Northland businesses. There will always be entrepreneurs who have an aspiration and the energy to take on new challenges and according to a 2011 World Bank survey, New Zealand is ranked as the easiest place in the world to start a business and ranked only to Singapore and Hong Kong for ease of doing business. There are few restrictions on establishing, owning and operating a business in New Zealand. The process of starting a business can take as little as three days. Having said this, since 2003 the numbers of start-ups have been declining at an average of 1200 per annum. Much of this decline has occurred in service industries such as financial and insurance, real estate and professional, scientific and technical services. While there are currently more businesses exiting the market than entering, there will always be those who wish to start a new business. In some cases, difficult economic times and a tight labour market put people in a position where they feel that starting their own business may be the best way of providing them some financial security. This is supported by the fact that a large majority of New Zealand businesses are owner operators and most of start-ups do not have a significant number of employees. Obviously it is in everyone’s best interest if these businesses are long-lived and eventually grow their capacity to a level where they can become employers of local labour. Their sustainability will be dependent on a number of factors not the least of which is the degree of planning and research that they undertake prior to commencing their enterprise. Do you really know that the venture will be financially viable or how much money they will need to cover their overheads? Does the product or service have a compelling point of difference that will persuade the market to buy from them rather than a competitor? Does the aspiring entrepreneur have the skills, knowledge and personal attributes to run their own business successfully? There are many other questions they will also have to resolve but if they are unable to truthfully answer the above then perhaps further work is required before they place their personal assets at risk on an uninformed action.

ADVOCATE COLUMN 2nd WEEK FEBRUARY 2013

ADVOCATE COLUMN 2nd WEEK FEBRUARY 2013 Given the economic difficulties of the last three years it is hard not to notice the impact that a downturn in business growth has on the wider community. Or more specifically the interconnected nature of Northland’s various communities. It is very easy consider these various communities in isolation, for instance an arts community separated from and sports community separated from a business community and so on. The reality is that many Northlanders belong to many or more than one specific group. They share a common need for Northland to prosper so they participate in the activities they wish to be involved in. Depending on one’s political leanings there will be a diverse range of views on the benefits businesses provide the communities in which they operate. Obviously businesses need members of the wider community to purchase their products or services if they are to prosper and provide income for their owners and employees. But what does the community get in return? I would suggest that in general, the support given to businesses by their communities is more than reciprocated. For this reason when businesses experience difficult times this impacts negatively on the various communities to which they have connections or relationships. Many Northland businesses are very small and their management or at least those within the business who are responsible for decision making are very accessible. This accessibility leads to stronger connections with their customers and often a desire to contribute to the communities that they see themselves part of. It is often these local businesses –and not the large corporates- that are the first port of call for community groups seeking financial support or support in kind. We are now seeing the impact on these various community groups as a result of local businesses having experienced difficult times. Groups such as the Old Library and Northland Youth Theatre – and many others -do much to create a sense of place and quality of life and rely heavily on local support for their continued existence and over the years have experienced a wide range of public and private sector support. As business confidence improves and conditions ease, hopefully this support will also improve. On that note I would like to congratulate local businessman Mark Cromie for his generous financial support to Whangarei’s Salvation Army food bank which provided some much needed relief to a valuable community organisation in a time of need.

ADVOCATE COLUMN 4th WEEK JANUARY 2013

In December PWC released their report commissioned by Auckland City and the Upper North Island Strategic Alliance – UNISA - entitled “How can we meet the increasing demand for ports in the Upper North Island?” The report examined future freight demand and infrastructure demand for the ports of the upper North Island over the next 30 years. It provides an interesting contextual framework for future discussions as to what opportunities exist for regional ports and also what challenges may need to be first overcome. Possibly one of the more significant issues arising from the report – at least from a Northland perspective – is the large cost of domestic freight relative to sea freight costs. Often much of the supply chain costs incurred by businesses are incurred domestically rather than sea freight. The report highlighted that the transport costs from Whangarei to Auckland and to other parts of the upper North Island could well be a barrier to developing Northport as a container terminal unless there was significant investment in other parts of the land transport supply chain. Rail and inland ports are considered as two integral elements of this supply chain. The report also commented that “...significant efficiencies and cost reductions would be needed across the board before a container port at Whangarei would make economic sense”. Both rail and inland ports enable the consolidation of freight volumes and result in reduction in domestic freight costs. A by-product of this is inland ports act as an attractant for manufacturing enterprises. Apart from operational efficiencies at the Port of Tauranga, the inland port Metroport was identified by the writers as being critical in allowing Port of Tauranga to compete with Port of Auckland for a share of international trade. It appears the advice PWC are giving to UNISA – of which our councils are part of – is that in the immediate future is that the port’s of the upper North Island only need incremental change in capacity to meet growth in demand and that Northport is best suited to continue handling bulk freight only. There is much detail in this report which makes interesting reading on the nature of freight handled by the various ports and framework within which the authors have drawn their conclusion and why they confined their projections to relatively short time of 30 years. This report is available for reading online at the Auckland Council website http://www.aucklandcouncil.govt.nz/SiteCollectionDocuments/aboutcouncil/committees/regionaldevelopmentoperationscommittee/meetings/rdocomadag20121206item101of3.pdf

LEADER COLUMN JUNE 2013

Northland and Whangarei are fortunate to have an outstanding natural environment. These provide many fantastic cultural, recreational and commercial opportunities. Our physical environment has also provided us with the setting for a deep water commercial port facility that is the closest port to the majority of New Zealand’s international markets. This facility has continued to grow since its inception ten years ago and has allowed the efficient export of much of Northland’s log harvest in recent years. As well as the ability to be highly productive component of an integrated northern land and marine transport network that is essential to creating a resilient supply chain that New Zealand’s economy needs if it is to be competitive and productive, the port also presents Whangarei with another opportunity. That is the long-term participation in New Zealand’s cruise ship industry by becoming part of the network of ports currently visited by these boats throughout the summer months. Tourism already plays a key role to our regional economy and much of that is focussed on our natural environment. Yet while many of these natural attractions such as the Bay of Islands and the Tutukaka Coast have an international reputation, other areas of Northland do not fare as well. In recent times we have found it difficult to articulate what it is that Whangarei has to offer to both the international and the domestic market. However there is work being done to remedy this. For example the Whangarei District Council’s work with the sense of place projects and the “Love It Here!” campaign are helping change external perceptions. Realistically for Whangarei to be part of the cruise industry’s network requires a relatively low level of operational infrastructure – which already exists – and sufficient attractions to be sold to international tourists within one hour’s travel of Marsden Point. This second element may also possibly exist already. The challenge to the industry if this is the case is to identify these activities, engage with the operators, encourage a collaborative approach from them and then communicate to those outside the region why they should visit Whangarei. This is not an easy task but the long-term economic benefits, not only for Whangarei but also the wider region should not be overlooked. Each of these ships would bring a minimum of 2000 visitors to our district. Tauranga had in excess of 80 ships visit this summer. If the experience is positive they all become international ambassadors for Northland

LEADER COLUMN MAY 2013

Preparation for this year’s Westpac Northland Business Excellence Awards is now well underway and businesses can register their expressions of interest to be part of this event. It is free to enter and is open to any Northland businesses not just those who belong to the Chamber of Commerce. Many of Northland’s prominent business people past and present have played an active role in shaping the region through both their commercial enterprises and through their civic activities. The Awards provides an opportunity to celebrate their achievements and business excellence and the role it plays in our community. Through business, countless individuals can apply their talents to achieve their own aspirations and provide service for others. If we can celebrate and respect these people, and foster a better understanding of the contribution business makes to the wider community, then this will go a long way to inspiring more young people pursue their own aspirations. Success cannot be measured without a business first having set clear goals. In many cases these are closely aligned to the personal aspirations of the people and families who own these businesses. Unlike in the marketplace, the Awards businesses are not so much about competing against other entrants but measuring yourself against a business excellence framework. An entrant’s performance is evaluated against a number of key criteria, the business’s vision and its strategic plan. To assist potential entrants understand the evaluation process we will run a series of workshops on what is required from businesses when completing their entry form. Following these workshops, the Chamber along with their sponsor Business Coaching NZ will also be in a position to provide additional tutoring to entrants if required. All entrants receive feedback from the judging panel focused on identifying areas of their business that may benefit from being revisited and improved. The Awards are important business development opportunity which compels business owners to examine how their business works. In completing the process a business owner will have critically reviewed how they plan and lead their business, how they respond to their market and their workforce and how they record and modify their responses to an ever-changing environment. New Zealand Chambers of Commerce Northland will everything it can to assist businesses in the entry process. If anyone wishes to know more about the Awards or the changes we are making this year please feel free to contact our office at info@northchamber.co.nz.

LEADER COLUMN APRIL 2013

Business is a competition between various enterprises vying with each other to give the customer better a service or product for their money. Their main function is to be efficient producers of goods and services responding to market demands. In the process of doing this there are often other benefits to society and the community. Business assists in the provision of an economic environment that allows us to live and work where we chose. Many businesses support a wide range of community and not for profit initiatives. Northland businesses face many obstacles that make their tasks possibly more difficult than it should be. These are often as a result of additional compliance costs placed upon them by central government and territorial authorities, external economic conditions beyond their control and the challenges of finding a workforce with the skills they desire. Councils rely on their local business sector to generate jobs, invest in the local economy and support the industries that benefit their whole community. New Zealand Chambers of Commerce Northland strongly believe local government can make an important contribution in providing a ‘business friendly’ environment – responsive regulatory and consent regimes, low competitive rates - efficient infrastructure, positive promotion of the local area, attracting tourists and events. While the obstacles mentioned above are often beyond the direct influence of business owners, they do have control over how their businesses respond to their environment they operate in and deliver their product or service. When a business owner has made an investment –often underwritten by their personal assets- to pursue a commercial activity it would be prudent to reduce the risk or ensure that the enterprise has the highest possible chance of success by controlling the controllable. The 2013 Westpac Northland Business Excellence Awards can be part of this process. It is an important business development opportunity which compels business owners to examine how their business works. By completing the process a business owner must critically review how they plan and lead their business, how the respond to their market and their workforce and how the record and modify their responses to an ever-changing environment. New Zealand Chambers of Commerce Northland urges all Northland businesses to seriously consider entering and we are willing to do all we can to assist businesses in the process. It is free to enter and is open to any Northland businesses not just those who belong to the Chamber of Commerce.

LEADER COLUMN MARCH 2013

In February the Mayor’s Taskforce for Jobs held their inaugural Industry Training Graduation in conjunction with Whangarei District Council and the Industry Training Federation. The event was held at Toll Stadium and those receiving qualifications represented a wide range of industries from across Northland. As an aside from the actual event itself, it was interesting to see how many of the businesses involved in this programme and in ensuring their workforce have the opportunity improve their industry skills and knowledge have also been involved in the Westpac Northland Business Excellence Awards at one time or another. The event was well attended not only by friends and family of those receiving awards but also by their employers showing further evidence of their commitment to improve the capability of their workforce. There are a number of reasons why this event was important. Firstly it is great to celebrate success and achievement. Both the graduates and their employers have made a commitment to improving their industries and it is only appropriate that this success is acknowledged. The pride in achievement shown by the participants was obvious and in many cases their achievement may be part of an ongoing process of professional development. Secondly, we need to acknowledge that one of the difficulties experienced in Northland is ensuring our labour market meets the demands of the private sector. The framework within which this training takes place is to some extent a partnership between business and training organisations to ensure the training provided meets industry needs. The engagement of industry trainers and private sector at least allows the opportunity for future needs to be identified and planned for. Economic growth is largely dependent on a capable workforce not only to service existing business but to act as an attractant to new enterprises from outside the region. Finally, there is the likelihood that for some of these graduates this continued industry development may well have an end goal of establishing their own businesses. Creating more businesses leads to more employment and economic growth. It increases the potential rating base from which money can be invested in infrastructure and community projects. Many of today’s business and community leaders within Northland have at some stage in their working life acquired skills and knowledge though industry training that has allowed them to start their own business or serve their communities various needs. Their success and endeavours may hopefully inspire others to do the same.

LEADER COLUMN FEBRUARY 2013

There’s no doubt that event tourism is great for Whangarei and Northland. This month we have seen a number of sporting and cultural events that have added to the vibrancy of the town and provided a positive show case for the region. These events help grow our regional economy and cater to all sectors of our community. They allow our businesses, sports people and artists to showcase themselves on a national or international stage. In a very short time we will know if Whangarei District Council has been successful in their bid to have Whangarei city be one of New Zealand’s host venues for the 2015 Fifa Under-20 World Cup. Being broadcast across 200 countries with a potential audience of 500 million people this is a very significant event. There is stiff competition from 8 other New Zealand towns vying for the honour of being a host city and the opportunities that hosting such an event presents. This is a truly international event that would put Whangarei, its environment, tourism infrastructure and sense of place on the world stage. It is also an affirmation of what was stated leading into the Rugby World Cup 2012 by many commentators that to be truly successful a major event needs to leave a legacy that extends past the short-term gains that evaporate as soon as the visitors leave for home. In hosting games during RWC2011 Whangarei was given the opportunity to show that our district and Northland as a whole are capable and have the capacity to host international events. It also acted as an impetus for the completion of a number of minor civic projects that greatly improved the amenity of many of our local communities. When Whangarei hosts any such event -whether it be national or international- the attending participants and their supporters make a significant contribution to our economy. They discover more about our region, our people and our culture. They see the real New Zealand. These visitors promote us to the wider world and when they return to their hometown or country they can spread the word about travelling here. There is always going to be a slight disconnect between investing in tourism or event infrastructure and the existing demand for it. The legacy of this investment and these events cannot be understated as it creates a reputation local people can be proud of and facilities which benefit future communities.