Business support for FNDC investment website

Far North businesses are showing keen interest in the Far North District Council’s fledgling “Buy Far North” website, with more than 140 local listings since the beginning of this month.

In all there have been around 900 visits to the www.buyfarnorthnz.com site so far, demonstrating the need for the free listing service offered by the council as part of its drive to promote the Far North as a great place to do business.

District facilities Manager Alastair Wells says the initial response is very encouraging and he has no doubt the site will flourish as the council gets deeper into a promotional and marketing campaign to promote the Far North’s business opportunities.

“We are fully aware that we have to build on the foundations we have established in order to keep the momentum going,” he said. “At this stage the focus is still on getting businesses to submit their details to us so that we can go live fully.

“The intention is to develop a categorised database of businesses within the Buy Far North site, which will be a key link from the Live Work Invest site www.farnorthnz.com we launched last year.”

Mr Wells said the Live Work Invest site had attracted 1837 visits from 41 countries since December.

Both promotional initiatives had stemmed from an economic development summit several years ago. The ideas had been incorporated into the council’s economic development strategy and were now coming to fruition, he added.

“We are very much looking forward to stepping-up our promotion of the Far North’s business, investment and lifestyle opportunities.”

In a complementary initiative, the council is seeking to promote the district through its ambassadors, heroes, or success stories; not just in terms of business achievement but in all walks of life.

“An effective way to let people know about the great things happening in the Far North is to profile some of the people that are doing the great things,” Mr Wells said. “They are our best ambassadors and we want people to tell us who they think these people are.”

To nominate an outstanding achiever in any walk of life, or to find out more about the council’s promotional activities, please contact the council’s community development team on 0800 920 029 or e mail liveworkinvest@fndc.govt.nz.