We’re a collaborative forum dedicated to sourcing investment for innovative, future-focused projects that enhance the quality of life and appeal of Ngāmotu-New Plymouth and wider Taranaki region.
NP Partners is entrepreneurs, business leaders and Council working closely together. We’re led by a specialist internal-external team, with extra support provided by an Advisory Group made up of Partners and community leaders.
Founding vision
NP Partners grew from a desire to attract more public sector investment in Ngāmotu-New Plymouth’s community and city assets, and the need for an innovative investment and infrastructure model to attract then channel the necessary funds.
New Plymouth Mayor Neil Holdom had recognised that Taranaki, like all provincial regions, faced the challenge of attracting the talent and enterprise to fuel the changes needed to build and sustain a modern, high-value economy that generated an admired level of holistic liveability.
In 2019, Taranaki and New Plymouth were experiencing economic and employment uncertainty in the usually stable oil and gas sector, rapid growth in tourism, and population growth that was stretching the region’s ability to provide sufficient housing and support an ageing population.
The vision was agreed as:
“To generate and attract investment to transform New Plymouth into a nationally desirable, internationally admired, socially and economically prosperous lifestyle capital within a great region”.
Three core principles were agreed to support this vision:
Focus on strengthening relationships between New Plymouth District Council and local businesses, corporates and tangata whenua.
Implementation of an efficient, highly effective programme that provides strategic opportunities for partners to participate in city and district growth.
Maintain a collaborative forum where companies, organisations, trusts, families and individuals can contribute to the community through ideas, funding and in-kind services.
Developing the idea
A small NPDC project team was tasked with reviewing partnership models from comparable districts including Tauranga and Christchurch. They also tested local appetite for a more strategic and managed approach to partnering with Council to enable city and district growth.
The response revealed a strong desire for a closer working relationship with Council, and more opportunities among local businesses to engage with Council’s senior leadership.
Encouraged by this consultation, the project created a blueprint for an innovative community partnership model based on these principles:
- Focus on holistic community outcomes
- Targeting added value initiatives for the district
- Managed by Council but led by investors / partners
- With a broad base involving the public and private sector, companies, organisations, tangata whenua, trusts, families and individuals
- With Council acting as forum convenor, broker / facilitator, enabler and co-investor
- Strategically aligned to both partners’ and Council’s values and priorities
- With its own distinct brand identity and online presence
The launch
NP Partners launched in late 2021 with 30 companies, local organisations and visionary individuals.
To gather these partners, the project team deliberately approached a diverse cross-section of the local business community. This included both local and international brands, philanthropic organisations and entrepreneurial families and individuals. All were attracted to the clear vision and uniquely collaborative nature of the forum, and how this was reflected in a strong brand identity and promise:
“Building the best of New Zealand, here in Ngāmotu-New Plymouth”.
Having a separate brand and website supports NP Partners’ one-step removed relationship with Council, and underpins its Partner-led nature.
New Plymouth Partners gives us the opportunity to give back to our community, building something real – seeing the impact firsthand.
Frances Boyce
Whitaker Civil Engineering Ltd