Waimakariri District Council

Encourage businesses of all sizes as they are part of a thriving and vibrant community and provide local employment opportunities.

Give local businesses a real opportunity to work on council projects and wherever possible give some weighting to local suppliers.

Streamline processes to allow potential businesses to easily access information needed to decide to go ahead and get established.

Cut unnecessary red tape so local businesses can start, expand and hire without council roadblocks.

Keep rates affordable and predictable so firms can invest locally and support jobs for residents.

Scrap council economic development schemes and redirect funds to lower rates and improve services.

Ensure delivery of the council's economic development strategy and plan to respond to the impact of digital connectivity and AI issues.

Ensure rural challenges of youth unemployment remain supported by programmes such as the Mayoral Taskforce for Jobs.

Seek local procurement options where practical and compliant for any products and services needed by the council.

Invest in outcomes when it comes to promotions and events to make the district vibrant and an attractive location to live or visit.

Support implementation of a youth action plan to assess what council is doing well and what can be improved, with results coming out shortly.

Support processes that make it easier to set up businesses and events by removing unnecessary red tape.

Drive economic growth and invest in core infrastructure.

Improve council processes to simplify and make more efficient for developers and businesses.

Promote shopping areas to encourage visitors and minimise restrictions that would deter them from visiting.

Ensure Waimakariri District Council becomes an accredited Living Wage employer committed to pay equity, diversity and inclusion.

Support the Mayors Taskforce for Jobs to ensure all young people have a sustainable employment pathway in the region.

Support the not-for-profit sector and its volunteer army preventing isolation across the region and caring for the most vulnerable members.

Support the not-for-profit sector and its volunteer army preventing isolation across the region, caring for the most vulnerable members.

Commit to expanding a local trades panel to ensure local trades receive work and change weighting of contract terms to benefit local contractors.

Commit to reviewing contractors' agreements and levels of service with increased auditing of outcomes in roading, drainage and greenspace.

Commit to supporting Enterprise North Canterbury (ENC) to attract new businesses and assist existing businesses in difficult economic times.