South Taranaki Business Park

Confidence in the South Taranaki economy has been boosted as the South Taranaki Business Park progresses and Fonterra expands.

The business park is moving ahead, with fresh infrastructure fuelling new ventures, says Scott Willson, Business Development Manager at South Taranaki District Council (STDC).

From March until now, upgrades to Little Waihi Road (a paper road), Kerry Lane, and Fitzgerald Lane have continued. Finishing an intersection to the latter has opened up the first number of lots for the West End Precinct, CJ Mahony’s development in the business park.

The upgrades have paved the way for several companies – UNO Windows and Doors, DIALOG Fitzroy, White Electrical, Taranaki Bulk and OPS Plumbing and Pipeline – to become established in the park.

Feedback from the businesses has been positive, says Scott. “It’s given them the space to operate efficiently and to grow and to access new markets wherever they may be,” he says. “And they have acknowledged the proactive approach that council has been taking with active developers to make it happen.”

Scott says that by the end of the year, two more businesses are expected to have joined the park. “With council being prepared to put in the enabling infrastructure for a development like that, it sends a signal out that we’re a district that supports business growth as well,” he says.

If and when the park was fully developed it would be able to support more than 80 businesses. “It will take a number of years to fill up, but we are encouraged by the amount of demand that’s come in already,” he says. “We’re also aware of a number of emerging business initiatives that are quite likely to really get under way once the infrastructure is in place, so that’s exciting as well.”

Scott says STDC will continue to do its part alongside developers to help them get under way and to promote what they’re offering. “We get alongside them with our marketing campaign.”

One of those was UNO Windows and Doors, the first to move into the West End Precinct in 2022, relocating from an 800sqm site at Normanby to a 3000sqm facility. In the council’s winter issue of Southlink Extra, UNO co-managing director Jonathan Thomas says the small size of the original factory site meant they were filling up the yard rapidly with materials.

“We needed to grow and get some decent-sized facilities to bring it all back inside and function efficiently. It was also about future-proofing for our future – we needed the ability to put more machinery in so we can expand our services into new markets and regions,” says Jonathan, in the newsletter.

“It gives us the opportunity to grow, but not only that, we’ve got a professional image to showcase to the rest of the country – this opens up opportunities.”

Scott says the council is also helping with the consenting and regulatory side of projects.

Another positive sign for the economy in South Taranaki, is Fonterra’s announcement of a $150 million cool store project to be built at its Whareroa plant in Hāwera. “To have that level of investment and confidence from a major employer at a time when some of the other districts are having major employers closing down, is hugely important for South Taranaki.”

The project will run for several years, offering employment opportunities during construction and sending a clear signal of confidence in the district’s future.

Meanwhile, Scott says the town revitalisation work is progressing well. Plans for a new green space on Napier St in Ōpunakē have been consulted on and approved, with co-design teams along with council staff leading the way.

The same is happening in Pātea, Waverley and Eltham. In Manaia, the Council is looking at the viability of developing a shared Iwi/community multi-purpose space with Te Korowai o Ngā Ruahine.

“These projects will be an awesome catalyst for improving the lifestyle, but also economic uplift as well.”

In Hāwera, Te W’anake The Foundry, a co-working space and enterprise hub is 22 months old and thriving.

“We’ve got more than 150 customers and are running a wide range of business workshops and events,” says Scott. “We have about 15 permanent tenants. And then there’s a whole range of people that use the place casually or for meetings or staff days, strategy days and things.”

In addition to business, the district’s events are adding excitement to the calendar, with the Centuria Taranaki Garden Festival, Taranaki Arts Trail, Taranaki Fringe Garden Festival and Taranaki Sustainable Backyards Trail all running in spring.

AmeriCARna, Te Matatini (the Kapa Haka nationals) and WOMAD will attract thousands of visitors to Taranaki this February and March. “These add vibrancy to the district with things to do and they attract visitors who in turn enjoy all of the unique things that South Taranaki has to offer.”

Contact: Scott Willson scott.willson@stdc.govt.nz