Kia Ora and Welcome to Te Waka: Anga whakamua Waikato
Te Waka is the Waikato region’s economic development agency. Established in 2018, we’re a business-led and governed organisation dedicated to driving economic growth in the Waikato.
Our purpose is to support and drive economic performance across the Waikato region, which we do by facilitating industry growth and attracting investment.
We partner with iwi, business, government and community organisations to unearth and progress opportunities that will lead to jobs, prosperity and sustainable economic growth for the benefit of all.
Te Waka is a limited liability company and is owned by the Waikato Regional Economic Development Trust. This means we can be nimble, act independently and move with pace.
Te Waka has a skills-based Board of Directors, none of whom are elected representatives
He aha te mea nui o te ao. He tāngata, he tāngata, he tāngata.
What is the most important thing in the world? It is the people, it is the people, it is the people.
Our approach
Economic growth underpins the Waikato region’s progress and contributes to prosperity and social outcomes.
Te Waka takes a holistic, long-term and region-wide approach to economic development that’s focused on the region’s priority sectors: agriculture, construction, education, energy, freight and logistics, manufacturing, technology and tourism.
As the only organisation focused on delivering a cohesive, region-wide vision for economic growth in the Waikato, Te Waka presents a collective, coordinated regional voice in advocating for business priorities and growth enablers at local and central government levels.
By collecting and providing region-specific data and intelligence, Te Waka empowers others to make informed investment and prioritisation decisions related to the Waikato region.