Latest news with #OfficeoftheMayorofAuckland
Scoop
20-05-2025
- Business
- Scoop
Auckland Mayor Takes Tech And Innovation To The Next Level
Press Release – Office of the Mayor of Auckland Auckland Mayor Wayne Brown is establishing a new Innovation & Technology Alliance, bringing together the public and private sectors to attract capital and boost productivity. The Auckland Innovation & Technology Alliance ('the … Auckland Mayor Wayne Brown is establishing a new Innovation & Technology Alliance, bringing together the public and private sectors to attract capital and boost productivity. The Auckland Innovation & Technology Alliance ('the Alliance') will provide strategic leadership, encourage coordination, and drive deal-making and investment to strengthen Auckland's position as a globally competitive tech and innovation hub. It builds on the work championed by the Committee for Auckland, the Tech Council, and the council group. In a first for New Zealand, the mayor will bring together leaders from business, investment, research, and central and local government into a formal Alliance to align efforts and accelerate innovation outcomes. The alliance will collaborate to develop a Regional Innovation Strategy for Auckland in partnership with central government. The focus will be on growing Auckland's technology sector and on growing the national economy. The Mayor is also calling on the government to establish the new Advanced Technology Institute in Auckland. The institute could play a crucial role in guiding new start-ups through the system, so ideas don't 'die on the vine'. Mayor Brown made the announcement at the Auckland Innovation Forum he has led as part of TechWeek'25. The announcement follows the release of his new manifesto for growth, of which innovation and technology is a central focus. The Mayor says today was about providing leadership to take the sector to the next level. 'Silicon Valley has concentrated huge technological skills to produce mostly trivia and entertainment. I've told industry leaders today that I want our tech brains to produce meaningful, profitable applications that lift our city and country's already great advantages in food tech, medtech, biotech, and fintech. I will be working alongside these people to bring the public and private sectors together.' GROWTH He says growth opportunities from a healthy ecosystem of innovation can no longer be ignored. 'Auckland's stagnant growth here will not be easy to change; productivity has been persistently low for a long time, and I'm aware others have tried and failed to fix this. But our recent recession and opportunities in waiting in this sector mean there's too much to lose to leave it as is.' 'I believe uniting the tech sector in Auckland into a cohesive machine of production for tomorrow's ideas will open our national economy to a substantial amount of capital.' NEW LEADERSHIP Mayor Brown says the alliance will bring a joined-up approach from industry to provide leadership and inform a regional strategy, while the institute will guide new start-ups through the system. 'The structure will put industry expertise closer to decision-making and better support startups on a pathway from idea to market. 'I want us to be early adopters of new technology. I want to set up an ecology of innovation here to shape our future Auckland, and New Zealand.' WHY AUCKLAND? He reiterates that Auckland is best placed to be New Zealand's premier tech city. 'Right now, growth is more city to city than country to country. Auckland— being New Zealand's tech city and economic powerhouse of the country— is the key to unlocking nationwide growth. There is great opportunity for central government in this.' 'Kiwis make good deals, and we've done well overseas. Let's open Auckland up so our kids don't have to leave New Zealand to take advantage of growth elsewhere.'
Scoop
30-04-2025
- Business
- Scoop
Mayor Urges Govt To Approve Bed Night Visitor Levy Following Public Support
Press Release – Office of the Mayor of Auckland The public consultation for Auckland Council's Annual Plan 2025/2026 shows most Aucklanders want Government to enact legislative change to enable a bed night visitor levy. The consultation summary shows a clear majority of individuals, organisations, and Māori entities support a bed night visitor levy. Many of those who supported the proposal indicated a desire for public event funding, for visitor contribution to infrastructure, and for reducing local resident costs, and the view that it's common overseas. The public feedback is consistent with the findings of a poll commissioned by the mayor's office in August last year which found that 64% of Aucklanders support a bed night levy of 2.5%. The poll was conducted by Curia Market Research between 25-29 August 2024 and has a sample size of 2,000 Aucklanders. The results are weighted to reflect the regional population in terms of gender, age, and ward. 'Despite the Government's sheepishness towards a bed night levy, a clear majority of Aucklanders want it. They want visitors to contribute to the funding of the activities and services they use. It shouldn't impact hoteliers' profit margins but rather add to their bottom line. I think that's fair, and common in many world-class destinations.' 'Equally if the industry wants more events here, they need to do their bit to support these events happening. Ratepayers climbing out of a recession should not be burdened with these costs,' says Mayor Brown. He says Government would be wise to listen to the feedback. 'Aucklanders are enjoying a better relationship with Wellington because I'm making sure they realise the powerhouse that we are. I'm telling the government to be wise and do the obvious and easy thing here.' Submissions also showed a majority support from individuals, organisations, and Māori entities for the overall direction of the council's annual plan. 'This tells me that we're on track with delivering what we said we would in the LTP. We are investing in every area we said we would while keeping rates as low as possible. In fact, the lowest for any metropolitan city in NZ.' Mayor Brown says the annual plan is a small but crucial step in moving Auckland in a progressive direction. 'My vision is for Auckland to lead New Zealand on a path to prosperity. That means lifting productivity and real incomes so that every New Zealander – not just Aucklanders – can enjoy a higher standard of living. 'As the powerhouse of our national economy, and our gateway to the world, Auckland is New Zealand's biggest asset. But the council is just one player and that's why it is important for all Aucklanders to participate in this conversation,' Mayor Brown says. I'm pleased to see we had the second largest number of submissions for an Annual Plan, we have high engagement and that's good.' The final Mayor's Proposal for the Annual Plan 2025/2026 will be available in the coming weeks. The council's Budget Committee and Governing Body will then make final decisions at the end of May.
