Council Seeks to Improve Its Business Friendliness

Ruapehu District Council (RDC) wants to hear first-hand from local businesses how it can better reduce ‘red tape’ and support their success.

RDC policy planner Rebecca Bell said that that during the consultation on the Long Term Plan and the Growing Ruapehu economic development strategy earlier this year Council received feedback calling for greater efforts to become more business friendly.

“As part of our response to this feedback we have organised public meetings in Taumarunui, National Park and Ohakune where we are inviting local business owners to tell us directly how Council can better support their business,” she said.

“The meetings will be fairly informal as we want to encourage a free flowing discussion around Council’s business support activities, systems and processes and how our local businesses believe these can be improved.”

Ms Bell said that Council has long recognised the need to be more business friendly however doing so while adhering to strict legislative frameworks was often easier said than done.

“Although some people may not think so within our vision of maximising sustainable growth while protecting our environment we are working hard to be as business friendly as possible,” she said.

“The Growing Ruapehu strategy contains three key growth objectives; growing business development, growing visitor numbers and growing economic diversity.”

“Delivering against all three targets will be a lot easier to achieve the more business friendly we can make Council’s systems and processes.”

“This means better understanding how we can facilitate growth and innovation for existing businesses as well as attract new business to our area.”

Ms Bell said that Council sees being more business friendly as a critical part of achieving our economic development targets.

“The meetings are scheduled for 13 October in National Park (The Park Hotel) and 15 and 19 October in Ohakune and Taumarunui respectively (both in Council Chambers) all starting at 7.00pm.”

“We would like people attending to RSVP to rebecca.bell@ruapehudc.govt.nz to assist with planning.”

“Anyone with any queries or who would like more detail on these meetings or Council’s economic development strategy can email or call me here at Council.”

Peter Till

Chief Executive

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