Te Waka – the Waikato’s new economic development agency – has a role to play in the economic development agenda, says its new CEO, but he also recognises localised aspirations based on the diversity of the region.

“There will be areas in the Waikato that have their own plans and agendas and we will support those where appropriate,” Michael Bassett-Foss told The Waikato Story last week.

Bassett-Foss spoke at length about the region’s diverse geographic and demographic make-up lending itself to there being different economic frameworks, goals and agendas. But also, that there are common priorities where groups could “achieve so much more by working together”.

Collaboration the key

It’s that partnership model that will underpin Te Waka, Bassett-Foss said.

“It makes sense for Te Waka to lead some projects, but it might make sense sometimes to collaborate, partner or support others, or to hand them over and empower another organisation to lead that charge.”

So, just what is Bassett-Foss focusing on initially?

“I’m looking at three priorities right now. The first is supporting our team of five advisors in the Business Growth Services team that now sits within Te Waka. They help businesses by providing capability through the Regional Business Partner Network, they assist with Callaghan Innovation grants, and putting people in touch with business mentors. They really are the touch point into our business community.

“Then there are the Waikato Means Business projects that were underway before Te Waka launched… things like the Southern Waikato Action Plan, for example. We need to finish those and the outputs fed back into the agenda or progress them elsewhere.”

And finally, there are the priority project ideas that came from Te Waka’s economic development summit at the end of August. 

Bassett-Foss’ chief operating officer Harvey Brookes is trawling through all the ideas and data that was collected at the two-day summit that saw 250 business and community leaders from around the region converge at the Don Rowlands Centre at Lake Karapiro.

The priorities that come from all that data will become the foundations of an economic development action plan for the Waikato, which will be presented to the region and the Minister for Regional Economic Development Shane Jones later this year.

It was at the summit that those leaders spoke with passion about their vision for the region and what they could do to help. They also acknowledged some of the barriers to doing business in the Waikato.

“It’s relatively easy to do business here, but there are some constraints due to growth… because of our geographical proximity in the golden triangle. Things like housing, transport, key infrastructure growth, three waters, ensuring we have enough capable people,” said Bassett-Foss.

That’s not to say Te Waka should or will be directly addressing all of those things, but already they are lending support for those who can enable change. For example, Te Waka is supporting several significant applications to the Provincial Growth Fund in locations around the region.

There are large-scale businesses in that area that want to grow and investment from outside the region from other businesses looking to locate there. If the right infrastructure is in place.

“We’ll certainly be helping groups align so they can progress their areas of need. We’ll help them align to the Government’s PGF criteria – and we’re mindful that time is of the essence.”

Coming home

Bassett-Foss is pleased to back where he grew up. He spent his early school years here – at Hukanui Primary, Bankwood Intermediate and a year at Fairfield College before moving to Otaki.

His late teens and early 20s were spent on sporting circuits… four months in Europe and North America each year doing surf lifesaving, triathlons. And, perhaps fittingly given Te Waka’s name, he spent a great deal of time perfecting his kayaking skills, ranking in the top 10.

Before he began paddling for Te Waka, Bassett-Foss spent 17 years in Napier with his wife and three children.

Most recently he was the project director for the multi-million-dollar Water Wairarapa project, is the former chair of Economic Development Associations of New Zealand and was the economic development manager at Hawke’s Bay Regional Council.

So, what does the future look like for the Waikato?

“Well in two, three, five years’ time I’d like to think that we can celebrate our successes together, with the emphasis on together.”