True North

• #4: Too many plans!

  Is Northland tourism choking on its own planning? Is anyone driving execution and delivery? Whose responsibility is this? Why is it always the same people?In this episode of the True North podcast we speak with Northland tourism champion Riki Kinnaird about what the sector needs to do to get its mojo back. We’re at risk of talking and planning ourselves to death, he says. Northland tourism is drowning in destination management plans, resource libraries, industry blueprints, tourism white papers and the like – but who is distilling all of this and actually putting it into action?For the full picture, and Riki’s views on the knotty challenges facing our regional tourism sector, take a listen to this episode.

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• #3: Choppy Waters

  How will Northland fix its water infrastructure? How will we be able to afford to? What alliances and partnerships are being formed? Will deadlines be met?In our third episode of True North we speak with Far North mayor Moko Tepania about our region’s crumbling water infrastructure. With the demise of the Three Waters initiative that would have seen central government investing in the upgrade and modernisation of regional water infrastructure, where does that leave Northland’s Councils? And, more importantly, its ratepayers and businesses?What are our Councils’ options in this post-Three Waters environment? What’s next for our water infrastructure, how will this be upgraded and how will these upgrades be paid for? How much government funding, if any, is available to subsidise the massive amount of expansion and modification that is required for the region’s water infrastructure?Links to items referred to in the show:BusinessDesk article: Central government churn worsens council credit ratings (paywalled)https://businessdesk.co.nz/article/finance/central-government-policy-churn-drags-down-local-government-credit-ratingsBusinessDesk article: Growing infrastructure pipeline 'not translating into projects coming to market’https://businessdesk.co.nz/article/infrastructure/growing-infrastructure-pipeline-not-translating-into-projects-coming-to-marketElectricity Authority news release: power retailers’ Consumer Care Obligationshttps://www.ea.govt.nz/news/press-release/new-zealanders-have-new-rights-as-power-consumers/

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• #2: Skimming the Surface

  Is the promised 40-minute sea glider service between Whangārei and Auckland still on track? Why select Northport as the terminal instead of the Town Basin?In our second episode of True North we speak with Ocean Flyer CEO Shah Aslam about his company’s plans and how they’re progressing.Two years ago he told us this would be happening next year. Is that still the plan? How does he expect Air New Zealand to react? How is Ocean Flyer dealing with consumer nervousness around the safety of this new mode of transportation? And is there a cost to our region to establish the charging infrastructure required for these innovative, electric-powered… what are they? Vessels? Aircraft? For the inside track on these and other questions take a listen to this episode.Links to items referred to in the show:Northland Regional Deal application:https://www.northlandnz.com/northland-inc/what-we-do/regional-infrastructure-and-investment/northland-regional-dealNew Zealand Transport Agency – Northland Corridor project - Registration of Interest: https://www.gets.govt.nz/NZTAHNO/ExternalTenderDetails.htm?id=31264550New Zealand Transport Agency – Northland Corridor project - more information:https://www.nzta.govt.nz/projects/northland-corridorOcean Flyer: https://www.oceanflyer.co.nz/

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• #1: Too Good to be True?

  What industries will a Special Economic Zone at Marsden Point cover? Exactly how will it streamline investment and establishment? What incentives will be on offer?For our maiden episode of True North we were lucky enough to speak with Regional Development Minister Shane Jones, to see if we could squeeze out of him some additional detail about his thinking around a Special Economic Zone at Marsden Point.It was a revealing discussion. We also covered the requirement for minimum employment and investment thresholds, the degree of focus on both foreign and domestic investment, the option of stimulating investment by sector rather than by location, and the extent of local government involvement or oversight (spoiler alert: “Nothing. Nothing!”)For the inside track on these and many other matters, including the role an SEZ at Marsden Point could play in the next election, take a listen to our very first episode.Links to items referred to in the show:Cameron Bagrie bylined article at BusinessDesk (paywalled): https://businessdesk.co.nz/article/economy/big-corporates-lump-too-much-blame-on-the-economy‘The Pick’: https://www.northlandnz.com/business/get-business-support/start-your-business/thepick/Government news release - Special EconomicZones:https://www.beehive.govt.nz/release/government-consider-special-economic-zones

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• TRAILER: "Who, What, Why and When?"

  Thanks for checking us out! True North is a podcast for business and community leaders in New Zealand's Northland region. Follow us for regional business news and views, and for entertaining stories from some of the amazing and lesser-known high flyers who have chosen to make Northland home.New episodes will be posted here every second Wednesday, kicking off on Wednesday 2 April 2025.We rely on your support to continue doing what we do. Please do take that small extra step and subscribe, like and comment as it helps others find the show. Please also share it with those who may not yet be aware that we exist. Please let us know what you think about the podcast, ask questions or make suggestions about topics and people we should feature by emailing us at [email protected]. Thank you!

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