May 2008

Workshops shed light on new tax credit initiative

Auckland businesses are getting the message about a possible 15% tax credit available to them as a result of new legislation.

From 1 April this year, legislation focused on increasing research and development, particularly within private businesses, came into effect. The initiative means that businesses investing in research and development may be eligible to earn a 15% tax credit, allowing for even further investment in innovation, research and development, either internally within a business or to commission external expertise.

In response to the legislation, local economic development agencies Waitakere Enterprise, Enterprise North Shore and Enterprising Manukau have this month been hosting breakfast workshops to provide local businesses with the detailed information about how the tax credits work, eligibility, and the benefits of research and development.

More than 120 people have participated in the workshops which included presentations from tax experts, research and development specialists, and representatives from the Foundation for Research, Science and Technology and the Ministry of Research, Science and Technology (MoRST). Some workshops also included guest presentations from businesses who are already investing considerable time and money into research and development and achieving great success.

Tony Brenton-Rule, Business Director for MoRST has been impressed with the level of participation in Auckland.

"The three workshops held thus far have been excellent. They have been well organised, well attended and have included high quality, detailed information about the new legislation and what businesses need to do to meet its requirements. They have also allowed both the Foundation for Research, Science and Technology and us to answer questions and provide information directly to businesses, which has been extremely valuable," he says.

"Following the success of the Auckland workshops, we will now be working with other economic development agencies to hold similar workshops throughout the country."

The workshops have been supported by MoRST and AucklandPlus. Additional events in Manukau and Waitakere and one in Auckland city are also planned over the coming months.

For more information about how the tax credit legislation applies, visit www.ird.govt.nz

Economic development at the forefront of Rugby World Cup planning

A team of Auckland’s economic development leaders have put together a programme of five platforms to ensure Auckland can capitalise on Rugby World Cup 2011.

Auckland will be the focal point of the tournament with the semi finals and final already confirmed for Eden Park. More than 70,000 visitors are expected in New Zealand for the tournament and at least 40,000 of those will be in Auckland for the final. Approximately 2500 overseas media are expected.

As part of the Auckland region’s preparation for Rugby World Cup 2011, an economic development workstream, led by AucklandPlus, has been tasked with identifying the most effective way to leverage regional benefits from the event.

The workstream includes representatives from Auckland councils, local economic development agencies, Tourism Auckland, the Chamber of Commerce, Employers and Manufacturer Association, Committee for Auckland, PacificBiz and the Government Urban and Economic Development Office.

AucklandPlus group manager Clyde Rogers says the programme proposed for 2011 is based on learnings from recent international mega events including the Sydney 2000 Olympics, Rugby World Cup 2003 and 2007, FIFA World Cup 2006 and the 2006 Commonwealth Games.

The five platforms are:

Business Ready Programme
Development of a toolkit and roadshows to inform Auckland businesses about the impacts of the event and help them prepare and to maximise their own returns.

International Partnerships and Investment Opportunities
Leveraging networks such as Kiwi Expats Association (KEA), international Chambers of Commerce and sister cities to promote the Auckland region. This would be aligned with the central government-led programme to attract potential investors.

Supply Chain Opportunities / Local Procurement
Developing and promoting opportunities for regional businesses to participate in the event’s supply chain.

Ancillary Event Programme
Establishing an innovation network to showcase capability and technology. Aligning existing business networking events with Rugby World Cup 2011 and national business club activity.

Skills and Training
Encouraging education providers to develop and promote training opportunities in areas of skills shortages such as civil engineering and construction, hospitality and retail. This programme would also include a focus on international recruitment.

The economic development workstream is part of a region wide collaboration to prepare for Rugby World Cup 2011. Find out more about how Auckland is preparing for Rugby World Cup 2011.

Big summer for screen production in Auckland

It's been a bumper summer of feature film production in Auckland with three major projects on the go.

Action epic film Laundry Warrior started shooting at Henderson Valley Studios, Auckland, on 12 November. Starring Jang Dong-Gun, Kate Bosworth and Geoffrey Rush, directed by Sngmoo Lee, Laundry Warrior tells the story of a great Asian warrior who seeks refuge as a laundryman in a wild west town. When he is forced to unsheathe his sword to defend those he has grown to love, the ensuing battle rises to an epic crescendo.

Two U.S. features began filming in early 2008. Josephson Entertainment and Twentieth Century-Fox are in Auckland for their family feature They Came From Upstairs. Executive Producer is Marc Fischer, who was also Executive Producer on the Farrelly brothers’ recent releases The Heartbreak Kid, Fever Pitch and Stuck On You. The director is John Schultz whose most recent project was The Honeymooners.

Lakeshore Entertainment have also been in Auckland recently with Underworld 3: The Rise Of The Lycans. Michael Sheen and Bill Nighy reprise their roles as Lycan master Lucian and ruling vampire elder Viktor. Rhona Mitra will play Viktor's daughter Sonja. Underworld creator Len Wiseman relinquished his role as director and instead served as a producer, with Patrick Tatopoulos, taking the director’s chair.

Film Auckland Executive manager Michael Brook says all three of these productions have been of huge benefit to the region.

"Like all productions that come to Auckland, they have created jobs for local crew, business for scores of local companies and suppliers, as well as international profile for the region."

In other news the eagerly anticipated local release of The Chronicles of Narnia: Prince Caspian is scheduled for June 19. Auckland was a key location for this film - the follow up to the extremely successful The Lion, The Witch and the Wardrobe.

Pictured : The Chronicles of Narnia: Prince Caspian (Photo: Murray Close © Disney Enterprises, Inc. and Walden Media LLC)

Look out for the new Film Auckland website - www.filmauckland.com - which will be going live in mid May. This completely new site is designed to enable clients to be more sector specific in their enquiries and features the capability to stream video.

AucklandPlus works in partnership with Film Auckland to deliver the screen production Major Regional Initiative. Under this initiative New Zealand Trade and Enterprise has contributed $2m of funding to help build up Auckland’s screen production infrastructure and increasing awareness of its capability offshore.

Business mentoring programme takes shape

Auckland’s newest business mentoring and peer support programme, PLATO™ New Zealand , is on track to begin in June.

PLATO™ is being piloted in Auckland by the Ministry of Economic Development and is managed by AucklandPlus. WHK Gosling Chapman will deliver the programme which is based on a successful international model. PLATO™ offers owners and managers of small and medium sized businesses (SMEs) a unique opportunity to receive peer support and mentoring alongside like-minded companies.

The Auckland pilot will include two groups, one made up of business owners/managers from the ICT sector, the other from a general mix of Auckland industries. Two facilitators from larger more experienced companies will provide mentoring and expert advice, with the overall direction of each group being shaped by the needs of participants.

Wayne Hudson, a partner of one of Auckland’s newest law firms Hudson Garvin Martin, specialists in technology and intellectual property law; and Mike Engle, General Manager of Software of Excellence, a New Zealand based business which provides software solutions to dental professionals, have been appointed as group facilitators for the ICT-focused PLATO™ group.

Wayne has practised law in the technology business sector for over 25 years and has advised many business owners and entrepreneurs on the commercialisation of their technology, the sale and acquisition of technology businesses, capital raising, research and development, protection of intellectual property, establishment of joint ventures and corporate restructuring. He is a founding partner of Hudson Garvin Martin.

Mike has 20 years experience in international sales and marketing and has worked extensively in New Zealand and the US. In his current role he has led Software of Excellence’s revival in the Asia Pacific region over the past three years, which has seen them acquire a key Australian competitor, rejuvenate its sales channel and achieve strong year-on-year growth. Prior to this Mike was the International Marketing Manager at Zeacom which specialises in SME contact centre and unified communications software.

In addition to appointment of facilitators for the two groups, WHK Gosling Chapman is also recruiting participants for the two-year programme. PLATO™ is open to all owner/managers of businesses that have been trading for at least three years and have less than 19 full-time employees.

The PLATO™ programme offers SME owner/managers an opportunity to share their business experiences with like-minded companies and to work collectively to overcome barriers to growth. Participants will be part of network group with 10-12 other SME business owners and two group facilitators from larger businesses or corporate organisations who will provide training, mentoring and expert advice. Guest speakers will also be brought in to address specific issues identified by the group.

The programme costs $2000 and includes 20 monthly training sessions over two years, one-on-one mentoring with facilitators, access to high-calibre guest speakers, three seminars each year, and networking opportunities and events. Application forms for the programme are available on the WHK Gosling Chapman website