March 2008

Queens Wharf idea is deliverable

Tourism Auckland Chairman Rodney Walshe has added his voice to those calling for Queens Wharf to be opened up and developed.

Mr Walshe, who is also a member of AucklandPlus’ Advisory Board, says the widespread support for the transformation of Queens Wharf should lead to it becoming a reality.

Enthusiasm for opening up Queens Wharf to provide cruise ship facilities and a gateway for Aucklanders and visitors has been growing since ARC Chairman Mike Lee and AucklandPlus Chairman Michael Barnett floated the idea earlier this month.

The catalysts are the need to provide infrastructure for the booming cruise ship industry and the news that Ports of Auckland could vacate the wharf earlier than expected (possibly as soon as 2009).

The Auckland public, Auckland leaders and central government have all responded positively to the idea. More than 80% of respondents to a New Zealand Herald opinion poll favoured the idea of opening up Queens Wharf to provide cruise ship infrastructure. Auckland Mayor John Banks has publicly voiced his support to Lee and Barnett’s call, as have representatives from the cruise industry. Central government have also made positive noises and discussions with Auckland leaders are continuing.

Mr Walshe says this rare show of unity is a marked contrast to the waterfront stadium debate, which divided Auckland in 2006, and has the potential to make the transformation of Queens Wharf a reality.

"The fact that it is doable from a Ports of Auckland perspective and there is almost universal support means there is no good reason why the key players involved cannot work together to make this happen," he says.

"It’s a classic example of what we need if Auckland is to transform itself into a world-class visitor destination. The development of our waterfront is pivotal for that and it is an opportunity that other cities around the world can only dream of."

International networking programme arrives in Auckland

Auckland small business owners will have the chance to hone their business skills by working with large organisations in an internationally successful training and business networking programme being piloted by the government.

Economic Development Minister Pete Hodgson announced this week that two PLATO™ pilot networks will be run in Auckland over the next two years, and will be delivered by AucklandPlus.

"PLATO™ is an innovative business peer support and mentoring programme that has been very successful in many European countries. The project arose as an Export Year initiative," Mr Hodgson says.

PLATO™ is a unique addition to the New Zealand market, and is designed to complement some of the existing training and mentoring programmes already available. One of the unique aspects of PLATO™ is that while the programme covers all the key elements of running a successful business, the overall direction of each network is determined by the participants involved.

"As a group, participants will directly shape the actual content of the programme and together with their group leader will identify the areas of business they want training and mentoring to focus on," says chair of the newly appointed steering group, Paul Gordon of consulting firm Catalyze. "The result is a programme that is truly tailored to the needs and challenges of participants."

Paul has first hand experience of PLATO™, having participated in a network in the UK.

"As managing director of a small business with high growth plans, I found the supporting, trusting environment of my PLATO™ group extremely valuable. The collective knowledge and experience of my fellow group members was very powerful in helping me move my business forward," he says.

AucklandPlus has been charged with the overall delivery of the pilot programme and is working closely with accounting and business advisory firm WHK Gosling Chapman who will provide training and facilitation.

"This is an exciting opportunity for small and medium sized businesses throughout the Auckland region to have access to an international standard of training and mentoring and to participate in a programme that has considerable credibility around the world," says Susan Milner, Manager Business Capability and International Connections for AucklandPlus.

"While PLATO™ is an initiative following Export Year it also links well with the wider objectives of the Auckland Metro Project Action Plan in particular those around skills and labour issues. Workplace productivity, skills and talent are critical to organisational performance and are critical if the region is to deliver on the government’s economic transformation agenda. The training provided through PLATO™ will equip participants with the knowledge and skills needed to improve business capability and performance."

PLATO™ was first introduced in Belgium in 1988 and is now underway in a number of countries including the UK and Ireland. The two-year Auckland pilot is expected to begin in June and will include two groups, each with 10-12 participants. One group will be comprised of people from the ICT sector. Each group will have two group leaders from corporate organisations who will provide comprehensive training, mentoring and expert advice.

A steering group with representatives from the private and public sector has been appointed to oversee the pilot and will provide direction and leadership.

Tourism Minister endorses Bringing the World to Auckland

Tourism Minister Damien O’Connor has welcomed Bringing the World to Auckland which was released by AucklandPlus in December to outline the case for investment in Auckland’s visitor economy.

Bringing the World to Auckland highlights the need for the city to maximise on its opportunity to increase visitor expenditure in the region by transforming itself from a gateway into a world-class tourist destination.

"The goals in the plan align with those of the New Zealand Tourism Strategy 2015, particularly in ensuring New Zealand is a world-class destination. We need to continue to offer consistently high quality services, value for money, and world-class visitor experiences. It is great to see Auckland has shown leadership in implementing a regional strategy aligning to the national strategy," said Mr O’Connor.

"With 70 percent of all arrivals to New Zealand coming through Auckland it is vital that the first impression we make is a good one. Auckland has the potential to be much more than just a gateway. Ensuring it has excellent infrastructure, easy transport to attractions, and vision and coordination which extends beyond just marketing are vital to delivering on the goals of this plan and the New Zealand Tourism Strategy 2015.

"The plan also aligns with the government’s goal for Auckland to be an internationally competitive, world-class city. For New Zealand to be prosperous our largest city must lead the way and this plan signals a bold and effective change which is necessary not only to increase visitor numbers, but also for large events to be hosted by the city in the future such as the Rugby World Cup 2011.

"I congratulate Auckland on taking leadership in this area and encourage other regions to follow in aligning with the New Zealand Tourism Strategy 2015," said Mr O’Connor.

Making the connections

A series of expos that connects senior secondary school students with futures in trades and industries has the backing of a number of agencies throughout the region, including AucklandPlus.

The Pathways to Employment expos are run four times each year, and bring together students and prospective employers in an informative and structured environment.

"The Pathways to Employment initiative is an Auckland-wide youth transition project connecting senior schools students with employers in trades and industry," says project lead Stewart Thompson. "For businesses, it is a chance to connect with a pool of future employees who, based on the subjects they are already taking, have already shown as interest in the trades, sciences or technology areas."

Stewart says that each expo concentrates on specific sectors and industries, with the first one for 2008 focusing on engineering, automotive, transport and logistics and marine and construction trades. A wide range of employers will be exhibiting at the expo, which will be held at Mt Smart Stadium in Penrose on 26 and 27 March. Approximately 1500 students from 60 schools are expected to attend over the two days.

"The demand from employers and businesses determines the overall theme and focus of each expo, and is relative to the skills shortages most felt across the Auckland region," says member of the Metro Skills project leadership group, Mike Burgess of the EMA.

The Pathways to Employment expos were first initiated by Howick College in the late 1998 as a way of better aligning what students were being taught with major skills shortages in industry and trades, and to better ensure that students were leaving school with the skills and knowledge of the opportunities available to them in these sectors.

The expos have grown considerably and in 2004 organisers expanded the event to cover two days four times each year. The support of the Auckland Regional Council has resulted in the use of Mt Smart Stadium as a venue.

More recently, the expos have come under the umbrella of the Employers and Manufacturers Association. Overall direction is provided by a strategic steering group which has representatives from 21 agencies from throughout Auckland.

"The expos have very strong links with the strategic objectives of the Metro Project Action Plan skills project of ensuring career advice is better aligned with sectors key to the region’s future growth needs; decreasing youth unemployment in the region; and increasing the proportion of people of working age that have tertiary qualifications," says AucklandPlus group manager Clyde Rogers. "We are proud to be a sponsor for 2008."