Business Associations and Support

Business Associations on the Coromandel Peninsula

We recommend joining a business association or making contact with one to help you with advice, to get a good understanding of the district and to establish valuable business networks.

Soda: Waikato Region’s Regional Business Partner Provider

Soda helps businesses grow. We have the right people, experience, tools, resources and connections to make a tangible impact for you and your business. As the Waikato region’s RBP provider, we have specialist Business Growth Advisors available to help business owners and key managers identify needs and opportunities to grow their business. We can provide advice, information, referrals and connections to businesses seeking support for their growth journey.

If you need business advice and support book an appointment with a Business Growth Advisor hello@sodainc.com or register online here and they will contact you.

Phone: +64 7 974 9111
Website: https://www.sodainc.com/

Tools and Resources for Business

If you’re looking to strengthen your organisation, you might benefit from accessing tools and resources that are readily available to New Zealand businesses. Some are free and some have a small fee.  

Our Economic Development team is always happy to connect you with the right people, opportunities, and resources to support your business. Please reach out if you would like to discuss any of these tools and resources. 

General business advice, tools, and resources 

Includes finance and legal resources 

Business.govt.nz - tools and expert advice from government and industry, designed to help Kiwi businesses save time and succeed. 

Connected – a central platform showing financial options and initiatives available to support your business and staff, particularly related to hiring and training employees. 

Start Ups support  

Startup NZ Entrepreneurs Programme (thinkific.com) – a 'first step' programme (online) to prepare new business owners mentally and emotionally for the business building journey - first three courses are free. 

Ministry of Awesome - a force for high-growth startups and innovators in Aotearoa. They drive startup ambition, build capability, and support success for early-stage NZ founders and startups with global ambitions. 

Startup Aotearoa – provides one-to-one support to startup founders, including free coaching sessions, tailored to the needs of the founder, but typically focuses on product-market fit, idea validation, pitch preparation, business planning and funding avenues. 

See also for innovators and entrepreneurs – CreativeHQ, The Factory, and Soda Inc.  

Training and mentoring support  

Business Mentors New Zealand – an independent not-for-profit mentoring service committed to supporting the success of small business owners, start-up entrepreneurs and social enterprise decision-makers. 

Soda Inc - helps businesses to grow, offering a range of services: 1-1 business capability training, group workshops, and speaker series.  

Export and product support  

NZTE export support – business advisors, export and capital-raising resources, research tools and guides for overseas markets, short courses, events.  

Destination Hauraki Coromandel – tourism product development, marketing, sustainability credentials, industry connections.  

Digital skills  

Digital Boost – free learning hub with short videos, live events, and expert advice that you can implement straight away.  

Workforce and employment support 

Mayors Taskforce for Jobs – helping 15-24-year-olds in and into employment. Get in touch with workforce@tcdc.govt.nz if you would like assistance gaining subsidies for new young recruits, training opportunities for supervisors and employers of young people, or would like help sourcing work-ready candidates to interview. 

Ministry of Social Development, Work and Income – has a range of services for employers and can help you recruit great people. Supports include recruitment services, support for new employees and redundancy support for employers.

Connected – a central place for information from the New Zealand Government, relating to Employment, Education and Training. 

Recruitment agencies (ideally who are members of the RCSA) – these agencies can provide recruitment advice and staffing solutions. 

Data and planning  

Key statistics on our district: Regional Economic Profile | Overview (infometrics.co.nz)

Tourism Statistics: Tourism Evidence and Insights Centre – here you'll find insights, data and information about tourism in New Zealand, including guest night figures, visitor spending data, international travel movements and international visitor trends.

Succession/selling your business

Talk to a business broker – Link is worth a look.

Council Business Support

If you have a business idea, new venture or expansion plans, our Economic Development Team can meet with you to discuss them and work on a pathway forward with you. 

Mitch King - Economic Development Lead

Ph: 027 227 5743
Email: mitchell.king@tcdc.govt.nz

Jessica Black - Economic Development Adviser

Ph: 027 328 0092
E-mail: jessica.black@tcdc.govt.nz

Lisa Church - Economic Development Adviser
Currently on maternity leave

Ph: 021 064 8414
Email: lisa.church@tcdc.govt.nz