Strategic approach needed

Darrin Walsh, Rotorua Chamber of Commerce chief executive

Rotorua business leaders have identified a need for developing strategies to attract outside investment as key to the city's growth.

Members of Rotorua's business community gathered at the Energy Events Centre yesterday for presentations and workshops focused on growing the city's economy.

The morning's final presentation came from Andrew Coker, chief executive of Western Bay of Plenty's economic development organisation Priority One, who spoke on how a business attraction strategy had driven impressive growth and investment in Tauranga.

Mr Coker said he felt like "Daniel in the lion's den" speaking in Rotorua, and his talk gave the assembled business leaders some food for thought.

He cited factors such as ultra-fast broadband, promotion and highly-developed infrastructure as keys to attracting business investment.

Following the presentation, a workshop on business attraction was facilitated by Francis Pauwels, chief executive of Grow Rotorua.

He told the Rotorua Daily Post it had been a well-attended and productive session, which included a commitment to set up a new business leaders' steering group for economic development.

Mr Pauwels said this new group would make "business attraction the number one priority". "As far as Rotorua is concerned, we have got to focus on the areas which we have competitive advantage - the tourism, the forestry, the geothermal."

Darrin Walsh, Rotorua Chamber of Commerce chief executive, had been pleased with the outcomes of the day's sessions.

"I was very positive with the views of the people in the room and there was a very common theme about upskilling and promoting Rotorua."

Mr Walsh thought that Mr Coker had brought some interesting ideas from his experience in Tauranga, but warned against making too many direct comparisons.

"I think anything they have done in Tauranga can be done here, although you have got to recognise that they are completely different places.

"But for business attraction, there's a lot of thing he [Mr Coker] said you could explore."

Aimee McGregor, strategy manager at Rotorua Lakes Council, said Mr Coker's presentation had given Rotorua's business community "a lot to think about".

Earlier in the morning, deputy mayor Dave Donaldson told the forum Rotorua "needs to be nimble, and respond rapidly to opportunities".

"It's about fostering partnerships and seizing opportunities."

Mr Donaldson said the council would be prepared to assist businesses when navigating regulation and restrictions, such as liquor licensing issues on Eat Streat, in a bid to accelerate growth.

He also highlighted the potential impact of securing the tender for Maori Television.

"If we do secure it, it would mean jobs and other follow on benefits to the local economy."