Executive Director Report
It is hard to believe we are already into the final two months of the year and still there is a great deal of activity left to go before we get to the Christmas break. Our events schedule will have us host Deputy Prime Minister, Hon Bill English for a breakfast dialogue session on Friday, November 28. This event is already near capacity so if you intend to join us, please let us know quickly.
We hope to bring you one more dialogue event prior to Christmas and we are waiting to confirm our guest speaker.
Our 'Auckland as a Creative City' discussion document is due for release in December. This report makes a series of recommendations with the ultimate outcome of developing Auckland's cultural and creative industries so the city can compete internationally for tourists, investment and talent as well as contribute positively to GDP growth by providing education and employment opportunities.
Internationally, investing in the creative sector has proven to have significant economic and social benefits. Our report has examined seven cities throughout the world which have successfully developed their creative and cultural industries to contribute to their growth and prosperity.
I recently returned from a gathering of the Australasian Committees for Cities and Regions held in Cairns. At that meeting we supported the induction of two new members: Committee for Canterbury and Broome Future. The Committee for Canterbury is the first additional New Zealand Committee and I was delighted to support their application.
It is very important for the Canterbury region to have such a group that is seeking long term solutions to the many challenges facing them. There are a number of opportunities for Canterbury and us to work together on issues that impact both regions. I am looking forward to examining how we may collaborate in the future.
In my last report to members I prefaced the development of our new strategic plan. We are currently preparing a document to be sent to all members outlining our new strategic platform and future initiatives to be undertaken by the Committee. This review lets us better align our programmes and projects around a single theme, ensuring we maximise the impact of work and develop effective partnerships with our members and other key stakeholders to positively impact the future of Auckland.
Heather Shotter
Executive Director
Committee for Auckland
Photo: Delegates at the Committees for Cities & Regions Conference hosted by Advance Cairns in Cairns, 19-21 October 2014
News in Brief
Cities of Migration
Committee for Auckland shares a vision with Auckland Council of becoming “the world’s most liveable city” and making our newcomers feel welcomed is a vital part of that notion. That’s why we support the Cities of Migration project. The Cities of Migration website recently highlighted a story we showcased in the previous newsletter, about a successful Good Idea for migrant integration in Auckland. The Safari Multi-cultural Playgroup, in the ethnically diverse suburb of Lynfield helps migrant and refugee mothers and their children feel at home and get school ready. They bond over shared experiences while gaining skills and confidence in English, learning about early childhood education and schooling in New Zealand. Read more...
CFA Achievements to Date - Let's Celebrate our Successes
By belonging to the Committee for Auckland you’re helping us create an economically dynamic region of diverse and connected Aucklanders with broad, visionary leadership and a common sense of purpose.
Together, we’re dedicated to steering the debate to find positive solutions to which influential business and local and central government can respond. Comprehensive research around key issues provide innovative recommendations for change to accelerate practical urban initiatives – so we can become a truly great global city with a vibrant future that attracts talent and diversity. Read more...
CFA in the News
The final article for the Committee for Auckland's congestion series appeared in NBR on September 26. Click here to download and view the article.
Future Auckland Leaders Programme
Energy for World Class Cities
This month the cohort for the Future Auckland Leaders (2014) were treated to an interactive session, focussed on 'Energy for World Class Cities'. The theme was set from the start as we entered the old Quay Street Sub Station, where a clever sense of 'old meets new' surrounds you at Vector's 'Future Home'. Read more...
Economics Session with Vista Group
Vista Group is a world leading New Zealand company comprising six businesses all providing software solutions to the global film industry. On September 30 the FAL team met at Vista Group for a session with Chief Executive, Murray Holdaway and his executive team, followed by Rod Oram. Read more...
Iwi Business Consortium
Two years on we reflect on the Iwi Business Consortium to date and look ahead to 2015…
The Iwi Business Consortium alongside longtime friends Te Puni Kokiri have enjoyed a successful past two years following on from the Consortium’s inception in 2009/10. The past two years has seen the Iwi Business Consortium, under Sir Ron Carter's patronage, achieve success for iwi and Maori and have included:
- Establishing strong and meaningful relationships with 13 Iwi throughout Aotearoa
- Convening over 40 hui to foster and nurture closer ties between iwi and Auckland’s commercial sector.
- These relationships have grown to a point where we have been able to deliver and steer advice on:
- Housing and financial planning for iwi a part of the Consortium, particularly in Auckland,
- Tourism – the development and establishment of an iconic Maori presence on Auckland’s waterfront
- Employment – direct intervention in supplying leased vehicles necessary for Maori to complete on the job training across various industries
- Business – introducing and facilitating negotiations between Committee members and Iwi for the benefit of both parties across mortgages, health insurance and professional service provision
Over the remaining 2014 period the Committee will be completing an analysis of the past two years and will approach Consortium members as well as Committee members for feedback on meeting their needs. For further information, please email Kapu Waretini.
The China Project
In October, the China project moved into the strategic quantification phase. We began with the tourism chapter, where we reviewed outbound tourism from New Zealand to China, and, looking at our incoming visitors, established that Chinese tourists create much more value for Auckland than the value created by the average tourist from elsewhere overseas. Our competitor cities - which include not just Sydney and Melbourne, but Vancouver, Paris and London - are well aware of the potential value that Chinese visitors could bring. They, too, have segmented the visitor market, and they have reached exactly the same conclusions as New Zealand has. As we compete for the global outbound Chinese tourist market, we will need to adopt and elaborate on best practices just to maintain the share we have today. Read more...
Events
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