partnerships

Toi EDA takes the approach of leveraging and amplifying existing regional activities and identifying gaps in the networks that could be bridged or filled. The objective is not to ‘recreate the wheel’ or create competition, but to complement other partners in the region. Toi supports entire sectors so all parties benefit – while partners, such as the Chamber of Commerce, support individual businesses. 

The extensive network and connections our team brings to the table allows businesses and partners to quickly engage and leverage the diverse resources available across the region.    

A great example is how the Toi EDA team, by participating in the BOP Freight and Logistics Action Group, identified the gap in capable drivers and training environment. In the absence of local training facilities Toi EDA established the Driver and Operator Training Centre in Kawerau to service the needs of the Eastern Bay of Plenty employers and youth. This filled the training gap and leveraged the capabilities of 5 different providers in one central location. As a result, over 180 graduates passed through the doors before the Kawerau model was adapted to provide mobile training services for other, more remote, communities.

The Civil Construction sector and major project owners across the Eastern Bay of Plenty meet regularly to identify future projects, common challenges and opportunities and to ensure the level of confidence exists that allows businesses to invest with certainty. This informal environment has created greater communication and enabled local businesses to take an active leadership role in some major projects that would otherwise have been outsourced to major providers. A similar approach has been applied to the hospitality and tourism sectors. 

Another area where we have recently been able to provide support is in the broader forestry and fibre processing sectors. In the face of mill closures, creating a single communications voice to market upcoming industrial developments has been greatly beneficial. Most recently, we have been working on linking up and accelerating digital connectivity aspirations across various remote communities to bring affordable internet access to rural communities.