Ruapehu District Business Council.

Mon 7 May 18.

Ruapehu District Business Council indicator of growing confidence and ambition.

Ruapehu business leaders have committed to forming a Ruapehu District Business Council to help support and inspire local business vitality and success.

Ruapehu Mayor Don Cameron welcomed the establishment of the Business Council and said that it was envisaged that it would help play a key role in helping established businesses to grow and new businesses to set-up and succeed.

Council's efforts to increase jobs, incomes and opportunities for Ruapehu communities has highlighted the critical importance of having the right advice, support and connections.

The Business Council will help facilitate and provide these types of benefits for members.

We see the Ruapehu District Business Council as providing another strong collective voice in support of Ruapehu issues and thinking to both Council and government, he said.

Mayor Cameron added that while the District Council was happy to support and encourage the discussion that has led to the establishment of the Business Council we will not have a role to play in its on-going operation.

The Ruapehu District Business Council will be a completely separate organisation from Ruapehu District Council and will be independently run.

It will be aligned with the NZ Chamber of Commerce network and members will be able to take advantage of all of the benefits associated with this.

The establishment of the Business Council would was made possible with the support of Michael Barnett, Chief Executive of the Auckland Regional Chamber of Commerce and Industry.

Council would like to thank Mr Barnett who, who lent his time, knowledge and expertise to a number of workshops that led to the final decision.

Mr Barnett said that he was pleased that Ruapehu business leaders had decided to proceed with establishment of the Business Council.

Over a number workshops starting late last year (2017) we had a good look at what a business interests group could deliver for the Ruapehu business community and what sort of arrangements would best suit local needs.

The outcome of this is the Ruapehu District Business Council.

The workshop discussions highlighted the growing momentum Ruapehu is experiencing and the growing belief businesses have in themselves and their possibilities for the future.

In many ways the establishment of the Business Council is an indicator of this growing confidence and the ambition of Ruapehu businesses, said Mr Barnett.

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