Latest news with #BizFest2025:Kōpūitepae
Scoop
23-06-2025
- Business
- Scoop
Business Is Buzzing In Porirua
Porirua's commitment to business has meant a busy schedule of activities and events this year. While the sold-out BizFest 2025: Kōpū i te pae - Light up the Horizon will be a great opportunity to learn, network and connect, there are a number of other events in Porirua to help boost businesses. BizFest is at Te Rauparaha Arena on 1 July, with double Olympic gold winner, Dame Valerie Adams, and Black Grace founder and director Neil Ieremia among the speakers. With an awesome lineup of sessions and kōrero, Porirua Mayor Anita Baker says it will be a fantastic day for the city's business sector. "Porirua is a great place to do business and with the events we have on the calendar now, it means our city is humming. We're always looking to keep moving forward," she says. A new pop-up initiative - BizHub - will kick off at Kai Tahi from 1 August. BizHub aims to keep the momentum from BizFest going and bring the business community together every second Friday, as a hub for advice, connections and support. "BizFest and BizHub are both collaborations between Porirua City Council and Te Rūnanga o Toa Rangatira and it's a partnership approach that's focusing on uplifting and connecting Porirua businesses," Mayor Baker says. Earlier this month the Love Local Expo showcased the best of our local products, services, crafts and community services - with more than 130 stalls and thousands of people coming through the Arena on 7 June. Other events coming up on the calendar are Visa Wellington on a Plate and the ever-popular ChoctoberFest. Visa WOAP will be held from 1-31 August in Porirua and there'll be outstanding burger creations to tempt your tastebuds from businesses across Porirua. It's not to be missed. ChoctoberFest is always a sweet spot with Porirua locals, visitors and businesses. In 2024, the third year of the festival, 20 cafes, eateries and bars took part. More than 13,000 baked treats and drinks were consumed in October, pumping $131,000 into the Porirua economy. "What I love about the events that we host now for businesses is that they're not just for residents, but they attract visitors to our city," Mayor Baker says. Also coming up is a three-day Bizezi Spark Programme on 30 and 31 July and 1 August. It's a hands-on business incubator programme, for those thinking about starting a business or wanting to build stronger foundations. You'll work with experts over three days to shape your business plan and set yourself up for success. Later in the month, on 20 August, there's a subsidised half-day workshop Business Growth and Resilience through the Circular Economy, where you can learn how the circular economy can unlock new revenue streams, reduce costs, and future-proof your business.
Scoop
04-06-2025
- Business
- Scoop
Porirua's BizFest Announces Two Outstanding Speakers
Press Release – Porirua City Council Topics of discussion on the day will include whats on the economic horizon, how business leaders are navigating uncertain times in the business world, and what are the key ingredients for innovation and success now and into the future. One of New Zealand's most iconic athletes will be speaking at Porirua's BizFest on 1 July, joining the founder of an international dance company who grew up in Cannons Creek. BizFest 2025: Kōpū i te pae – Light up the Horizon will take place on 1 July, a day that aims to inspire and connect business people in our city. Topics of discussion on the day will include what's on the economic horizon, how business leaders are navigating uncertain times in the business world, and what are the key ingredients for innovation and success now and into the future. Dame Valerie Adams is recognised worldwide for her feats in shot put and is a leader and role model in the Pacific community for her work outside athletics. From 2006 to 2016, Dame Valerie was unbeaten in major championships and won Olympic gold at Beijing 2008 and London 2012. A seven-time Halberg sportswoman of the year, her story is one that inspires – post her shot put career, she works in the community to support a number of causes and with commercial partners, while also being chair of the World Athletics Athletes' Commission, a World Athletics Council member and on the board of High Performance Sport New Zealand. Porirua Mayor Anita Baker says having Dame Valerie speak in Porirua is a coup, bringing value to the event by being able to share her experiences as an athlete at the very highest level, her commitment to her community and health and wellbeing, and her advocacy for athletes, especially among women in sport. 'Someone like Dame Valerie will add immense value to BizFest – she is someone who has demonstrated perseverance, discipline and an amazing work ethic, prioritising health and wellbeing, and commitment to helping others. I can't wait to hear what she has to say about pushing through challenges and building resilience,' Mayor Baker says. Black Grace's Neil Ieremia, meanwhile, will add a homegrown flavour to BizFest, with his journey one of inspiration and perspiration. Born in Cannons Creek and of Samoan heritage, Ieremia left home and his banking job at 19 and enrolled in a fulltime dance programme. Founding dance company Black Grace in 1995, he has enjoyed sell-out performances in the US, Mexico and Canada and won numerous accolades at home and abroad for what Black Grace has achieved across the world. Appointed an Officer of the New Zealand Order of Merit in 2016, Ieremia received the inaugural Moana Creative Enterprise Award at the 2022 Pacific Business Trust Awards and is an honorary member of Dance ICONS, the international organisation of choreographers, along with numerous other honours. Mayor Baker says Ieremia's talk at BizFest should not be missed. 'Neil was rightly inducted into our Hall of Fame at Te Rauparaha Arena in 2022 – he is a local who has gone on to impressive heights around the world and will have a beautiful and authentic story to tell about seizing opportunities and taking our stories from Porirua to the global stage.'
Scoop
04-06-2025
- Business
- Scoop
Porirua's BizFest Announces Two Outstanding Speakers
Press Release – Porirua City Council Topics of discussion on the day will include whats on the economic horizon, how business leaders are navigating uncertain times in the business world, and what are the key ingredients for innovation and success now and into the future. One of New Zealand's most iconic athletes will be speaking at Porirua's BizFest on 1 July, joining the founder of an international dance company who grew up in Cannons Creek. BizFest 2025: Kōpū i te pae – Light up the Horizon will take place on 1 July, a day that aims to inspire and connect business people in our city. Topics of discussion on the day will include what's on the economic horizon, how business leaders are navigating uncertain times in the business world, and what are the key ingredients for innovation and success now and into the future. Dame Valerie Adams is recognised worldwide for her feats in shot put and is a leader and role model in the Pacific community for her work outside athletics. From 2006 to 2016, Dame Valerie was unbeaten in major championships and won Olympic gold at Beijing 2008 and London 2012. A seven-time Halberg sportswoman of the year, her story is one that inspires – post her shot put career, she works in the community to support a number of causes and with commercial partners, while also being chair of the World Athletics Athletes' Commission, a World Athletics Council member and on the board of High Performance Sport New Zealand. Porirua Mayor Anita Baker says having Dame Valerie speak in Porirua is a coup, bringing value to the event by being able to share her experiences as an athlete at the very highest level, her commitment to her community and health and wellbeing, and her advocacy for athletes, especially among women in sport. 'Someone like Dame Valerie will add immense value to BizFest – she is someone who has demonstrated perseverance, discipline and an amazing work ethic, prioritising health and wellbeing, and commitment to helping others. I can't wait to hear what she has to say about pushing through challenges and building resilience,' Mayor Baker says. Black Grace's Neil Ieremia, meanwhile, will add a homegrown flavour to BizFest, with his journey one of inspiration and perspiration. Born in Cannons Creek and of Samoan heritage, Ieremia left home and his banking job at 19 and enrolled in a fulltime dance programme. Founding dance company Black Grace in 1995, he has enjoyed sell-out performances in the US, Mexico and Canada and won numerous accolades at home and abroad for what Black Grace has achieved across the world. Appointed an Officer of the New Zealand Order of Merit in 2016, Ieremia received the inaugural Moana Creative Enterprise Award at the 2022 Pacific Business Trust Awards and is an honorary member of Dance ICONS, the international organisation of choreographers, along with numerous other honours. Mayor Baker says Ieremia's talk at BizFest should not be missed. 'Neil was rightly inducted into our Hall of Fame at Te Rauparaha Arena in 2022 – he is a local who has gone on to impressive heights around the world and will have a beautiful and authentic story to tell about seizing opportunities and taking our stories from Porirua to the global stage.'
Scoop
12-05-2025
- Business
- Scoop
Stellar Lineup Of Speakers For Porirua's BizFest
Press Release – Porirua City Council Run jointly by Te Rnanga o Toa Rangatira and Porirua City Council, BizFest 2025: Kp i te pae – Light up the Horizon celebrates the courage of those who seek new business opportunities, the wisdom of those who navigate uncertain times, and the … BizFest in Porirua will take place on 1 July – a day that aims to inspire, connect and share business knowledge. Run jointly by Te Rūnanga o Toa Rangatira and Porirua City Council, BizFest 2025: Kōpū i te pae – Light up the Horizon celebrates the courage of those who seek new business opportunities, the wisdom of those who navigate uncertain times, and the collective resilience and strength of our people. 1 July will provide opportunities to engage in three key areas over the course of the day, with speakers, panel discussions and other kōrero: – What's on the economic horizon for our region and city – How business leaders are navigating uncertain economic conditions – Seizing opportunities during times of change and the key ingredients for innovation and success. Key speakers include Animation Research Ltd's Ben Taylor, Infometrics chief executive and principal economist Brad Olsen, and software engineer, director of Fibre Fale, Young New Zealander of the year and Porirua's own Eteroa Lafaele. More will be announced soon. Te Rūnanga o Toa Rangatira Pou Ohanga Boyd Scirkovich will open BizFest with an overview of the first Economic Development and Investment Strategy for the Rūnanga. 'We are excited to partner with the Council to bring BizFest to our whānau and community,' he says. 'The event is an opportunity to shine a light on local businesses doing amazing things. We are surrounded by abundant potential here in Porirua and have unique talents within our diverse communities that thrive on the global stage. We hope Bizfest provides the opportunity for people to come together to support each other and explore new areas of collaboration.' Porirua Mayor Anita Baker, who has a background in business, says the event offers plenty to Porirua employers, business owners, aspiring entrepreneurs, new and established businesspeople, and anyone wanting to be inspired. 'This will be an amazing day – what a fantastic opportunity for the business sector, which has experienced challenging times of late, to listen, share and connect,' she says. 'Porirua is a place to do business and that's highlighted by large and medium-sized businesses establishing themselves here recently, along with our small traders that keep our city humming. Our city is always moving forward and I'm excited about BizFest showing off what we have now, what's coming, and the innovation we're seeing.'
