Penrose business precinct

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The following content features articles written about activities occurring within the Penrose business precinct.

• Working collaboratively: A business association for Penrose
• Shaping business districts for future growth: Penrose

Working collaboratively: A business association for Penrose

Attendees at the public meeting listen to presentations on the value of a business association for Penrose.

Penrose took its first steps towards establishing a business association with a public meeting held in early March at One Tree Hill College. The evening, jointly hosted by Auckland City Council and the Penrose Rotary Club, was an opportunity for interested businesses to come together and discuss whether a business association was needed in Penrose.

The catalyst for this event was the Penrose Business Forum initiated by the council in October last year, where one action arising from the forum was to explore setting up the Penrose Business Association.

During the public meeting, discussions centred on how a business association could assist Penrose businesses by providing networking and promotion opportunities within the precinct. The meeting also highlighted how by working collectively, Penrose businesses have a greater ability to work with external agencies to advocate for positive outcomes within the area.

Guest speaker, Jack Weir, current President of the Rosebank Business Association, reinforced this message, speaking about the experiences of Rosebank. He emphasised the value of having a business association to promote local businesses through networking events and a local business directory. He also spoke about how the business association had opened doors for the precinct to work with the Auckland City Council in developing the Rosebank 2030 Business Precinct Plan, as well as lobby other agencies on issues such as transport and infrastructure.

Interest in a business association for Penrose is high with over 50 business representatives attending the meeting. Half of those present signed the membership application form available on the night.

"Establishing a Penrose Business Association is a positive move for the business precinct," says Janet Schofield, Business Development Area Manager, who presented at the meeting. "It will provide Penrose businesses with the opportunity to work collaboratively to achieve positive change for one of the city's fastest growing business areas."

Auckland City Council has worked alongside Penrose Rotary Club business members to facilitate the establishment process and is committed to assisting the Penrose business community in formalising a business association within the precinct."

The first meeting of the Penrose Business Association was held on Wednesday 25 March. If you would like further information or are a property owner or business located in Penrose and want to become involved with the business association, contact Janet Schofield.

Shaping business districts for future growth: Penrose

Can the council and businesses help shape business locations to cater to considerable future commercial growth in Auckland?

The council and business organisations say - yes. Fourteen representatives from Penrose set out in a workshop with council in late October to figure out how best to enhance the area they occupy for a strong business future.

The area is Penrose, the location for around 29,000 jobs, and encompassing the main area for Auckland city's manufacturing.

The council initiated the business forum to provide input into the area planning process council is undertaking as a precursor to the district plan review.

Penrose participants told council they considered Penrose was a vital commercial area for Auckland's future economic prosperity.

Participants told council they thought there were four key issues for their area:

• Transport - improvement of access for people and goods and more interconnectivity between road, rail and the airport - with a clear emphasis on rail. The group also highlighted the need for east-west links and not just north-south.
• Regulation - a more flexible regulatory environment which ensures improved policy decisions (especially zoning), and efficient processes encouraging investment.
• Image - a better image for the area through improved up keep by business and access to green spaces and high quality amenities.
• Sustainability - encouraging environmental and social sustainability.

The group also decided to explore reviving the former Penrose Business Association, as part of their interaction with the council.

In March or April 2009, further consultation will be undertaken. This will be an opportunity for the business forum participants to review the Maungakiekie area plan and provide comment on how the area might develop in the future.

"Key transport infrastructure projects underway around Penrose will spur change within the area," says Janet Schofield, Business Development Area manager who helped facilitate the forum. "Auckland City Council wants to work with business to plan for future development in Penrose."

"One of our key priorities will be to help protect manufacturing land, which is in short supply." Anyone interested in becoming involved in planning for the area should contact Janet Schofield.

Just how vital?

How vital is Penrose? Information shows that Auckland's manufacturing employment has diminished slightly over the past few years - yet these areas, along with their support services, are solid contributors to GDP, exports and growth.

• Manufacturing is currently 63 per cent of all New Zealand exports - it employs 30,000 in Auckland city alone.
• Auckland is a national hub for manufacturing - not the least because of the proximity of transport, port and local market.
• Manufacturing represents 10 per cent of the city's employment and four per cent of businesses.
• Key areas of employment growth exist in: food and beverage, publishing, electronic equipment and plastics products.
• Employment decline overall in manufacturing does not equal declining value of manufacturing. In fact, there is a trend to higher value, higher tech, innovation focused manufacturing - sometimes headquartered in Auckland but with plants offshore.

Published March 2009