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Attracting new complementary businesses to Hawke’s Bay is one of the key aims of Business Hawke’s Bay. So why come here? Why not?

When comparing Hawke’s Bay to the main centres, companies relocating here have the chance to improve their bottom line, by reducing expenditure on fixed and variable costs, and releasing capital through reduced land and building costs.

The list of benefits starts with the range of quality, inexpensive commercial land offerings and office space, together with reduced delivery times from the Port to a distribution centre. A stable workforce with world class training facilities complements the region’s large production and processing industry base. Top this off with the extensive logistics, distribution and storage capability and the case for business attraction becomes an extremely viable proposition.

Hawke’s Bay offers massive competitive advantages, for both wet and dry industry. Take Whakatu as an example. The area is one of five sub- regions to be earmarked as a Hawke’s Bay business park and has the potential to be a key food distribution centre for the North Island, with connections to the rail network and Port.

Wet industries such as food processors have a clear advantage at Whakatu, with some of the cheapest waste water charges, and cleanest water, anywhere in the country. The large capacity, purpose built wastewater system provides services that are hard to find elsewhere says Business Hawke’s Bay business development manager Michaela Vodanovich.

“We have large industry already tapping into the services in Whakatu but the scope is huge for more industry to move in – it’s exciting stuff.

 “Businesses generating large amounts of wastewater would struggle to find services of the calibre that are available in Whakatu, in other regions.”

Other proposed parks include Irongate, south of Hastings and Prebensen Drive in Napier. The Airport Business Park is well underway and the privately owned Ahuriri Business Park is humming with activity.

Owned and managed by the McKimm family, the Ahuriri Park is close to services and amenities,  and tenancy is high.

Marketing these regional business parks to companies outside of Hawke’s Bay is the next step of a progressive and sustainable plan to increase uptake across the areas.

A Hawke’s Bay Business Parks website will provide information on location and services, together with up to date real estate offerings.

“We’re competing with the big centres for new business so it’s vital we are marketing the parks in an articulate and attractive way,” Michaela says.

Both Napier City Council and Hastings District Council are helping to drive the projects forward.

Hastings District Council economic development manager Steve Breen says the long term vision for the parks includes attracting a balanced mix of industries that provide a range of employment opportunities.

“We’re aiming to take advantage of our natural resources to produce more value added food and manufactured goods for export and to broaden our industry base to develop new industries in logistics, high end engineering, knowledge-based digital enterprises and research based centres of excellence.”

As development progresses, the opportunities for services in and around the parks are tipped to boom.

“We’re likely to see demand for services like coffee and food outlets, childcare and banking all increase,” Michaela says.