18 February 2004

Press release

New marketing taskforce to tackle economic growth head-on

A new Mayoral Business Marketing Taskforce has been established to capitalise on Waitakere’s reputation as a place of business opportunity.

The group will act as an umbrella for economic development initiatives to deliver on Waitakere City Council’s Draft Economic Development Strategy, adopted in October last year.

The Strategy recognises the importance of marketing, branding and building positive messages about Waitakere City as a credible business location.

Taskforce members include Mayor Bob Harvey, Massey Ward Councillor Gary Russell (who suggested the taskforce), Henderson Ward Councillor Annette Fenton, New Lynn Ward Councillor Derek Battersby and a Council director. Enterprise Waitakere has also been invited to nominate representatives and other business stakeholders in Waitakere will be approached for their input.

The Taskforce will set up a City-wide business-orientated marketing strategy (possibly including the role an industry and trade show could play), coordinate and further promote the potential of ongoing, high profile economic development projects, develop an effective business attraction and incentives package and strengthen relationships with key partners in the City, such as Maori business and economic development interests.

“The taskforce needs to develop an `image update' for the City to meet the marketing demands of its new business investors, “ Cr Russell says.

“This means a marketing strategy to further encourage business clusters to establish themselves in the region. The next step is to market the commercially zoned land available in the City.

Councillor Russell pointed to the fact that at the recent international `Working at the Coal Face' economic conference in Auckland, Waitakere City was held up as a place of business opportunity, sustainable growth and quality of lifestyle, with a growing youth labour market.

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