CEDA - Central Economic Development Agency

04/06/2026

Thanks to everyone who joined us last week for the Manawatū Regional Economic Update. We had great feedback that the panel offered a well-rounded discussion with fresh, on-the-ground perspectives, exactly what we hoped to deliver in partnership with the Manawatū Business Chamber.

A big thank you to the Chamber for organising, to our panelists James Stewart, Andrew McLean, Mathew Hardie and Stacey Andrews for sharing their insights, to CR Law - Cooper Rapley Lawyers for sponsoring the catering, and to Stefan Speller who MC'd the evening.

Keep an eye out for our next Economic Snapshot report (March quarter), coming out in June.

We’ll see you at the next update in November.

04/06/2026

Are you a local business owner? Have your say on the future of business in Manawatū.

We want to hear directly from local businesses about how things are really going – what’s working, what’s challenging, and where the biggest opportunities lie.

Take 10 minutes to complete the Manawatū Annual Business Sentiment Survey and help shape the priorities that impact your business.

Your insights will:
- Help identify key challenges and opportunities across the region
- Inform advocacy with local and central government
- Support initiatives that enable businesses to grow and thrive

This survey is run in partnership between CEDA and the Manawatū Business Chamber, with responses collected anonymously by an independent provider.

Link here: https://ap1se.voxco.com/S2/21/ceda_survey/

02/06/2026

Last month, we were proud to host other economic development agencies from across New Zealand as part of the AGMARDT EDA Exchange, showcasing the strength of Manawatū’s food and fibre ecosystem.

Representatives from Venture Taranaki, Great South, Northland NZ - Business and Venture Timaru joined us for a regional tour featuring visits to the Fonterra Research Centre, FoodPilot, Massey FEAST, the Robotic Dairy Farm and Primary Connect, alongside insights from Gropak, Biolumic and Sprout Agritech.

The exchange created valuable conversations around innovation, collaboration and the future of agrifood in New Zealand. As the programme wraps up, we’re looking forward to exploring opportunities to work together to further strengthen the food and fibre value chain nationally, including through initiatives like the International Urban and Regional Cooperation (IURC) programme with Venture Taranaki.

28/05/2026

Unlock the power of social media with a Social Media Strategy & Planning Workshop, a practical, in-person session designed to help businesses take a more strategic approach to their social media marketing. Facilitated by the team from Blacksheepdesign .

Delivered by practising marketers, you’ll learn how to strengthen your planning, prioritise content, choose the right platforms for your audience, and measure performance more effectively.

By the end, you’ll walk away with practical tools and knowledge to help you build a more focused and effective social media presence for your business.

🗓 Thursday 11 June 2026
📍 227 Cuba Street, Palmerston North
⏱ 4-hour workshop
💰 $400 + GST per person

This workshop is registered with the Regional Business Partner Programme and your business may be eligible for co-funding. Book a free 30-minute one-on-one session with a CEDA Business Growth Advisor to see if this workshop can help support your business: https://ceda.nz/our-business-support/business-enquiry-form

26/05/2026

A great evening connecting with the next generation of leaders and professionals here in Manawatū.

Thank you to the Manawatū Young Chamber for the conversation about the work we do at CEDA to support people, businesses and the wider region. From attracting investment and enabling business growth, to promoting Manawatū and helping future-proof our economy, it was fantastic to share more about the opportunities shaping our region.

We also loved hearing the questions, ideas and conversations that came out of the networking session. The future of Manawatū is bright, and it’s always inspiring to see so many passionate people invested in our region’s growth.

Thanks again to everyone who came along!

Manawatū Business Chamber

24/05/2026

We're back with another sales workshop facilitated by Mike Clark from Think Right Ltd - Business Training That Works, spaces fill up quickly for this workshop so if you're interested in learning how to sharpen your sales skills, make sure you enquire today.

📅 Date: Tuesday, 23rd June 2026
⏰ Time: 8:30 AM - 12:30 PM
📍 Location: Orlando Country Club
💰 Investment: $400 + GST

This hands-on session will give you practical strategies to:
✅ Understand customer drivers
✅ Engage customers with confidence
✅ Navigate the buying journey
✅ Understand value creation
✅ Learn how to cross-sell and upsell through benefit selling

This workshop is registered with the Regional Business Partner Programme and your business may be eligible for co-funding. Book a free 30-minute one-on-one session with a CEDA Business Growth Advisor to see if this workshop can help support your business: https://ceda.nz/our-business-support/business-enquiry-form/

20/05/2026

Business growth starts with the right support behind you.

The Regional Business Partner (RBP) Programme is a central government initiative designed to help New Zealand businesses grow, innovate and build capability. As the delivery partner for the Manawatū region, CEDA works alongside businesses every day to unlock potential and create pathways for sustainable growth.

Whether you’re starting out or looking to scale, RBP helps you:
• Access trusted business growth advisors
• Identify capability gaps and opportunities
• Connect with training, funding, and specialist support
• Build confidence to take your next step in business

If you’re a new or growing business owner looking for support and networking opportunities, get in touch to see how we can help take your business further 🚀

👉 https://ceda.nz/our-business-support/business-enquiry-form/

https://www.youtube.com/watch?si=0j5ojCL_y3XGCqpT&v=qj1biTl79po&feature=youtu.be

Regional Business Partner Network | Culture meets Innovation: Deep Dive Division

19/05/2026

The CEDA team recently had a look through the new Tryp by Wyndham Hotel in Palmerston North with our role as the Regional Tourism Office for Manawatū front of mind.

The hotel is coming along nicely and the hive of activity across the entire site to get the hotel ready for a late 2026 opening was amazing. The care and effort to maintain the historical features of the old Post Office are very evident, but the room numbering might need a bit of work. We got to look through the retail and hospitality sites and a good cross section of the rooms that will be on offer.

We look forward to working closely with Roger Taitt and the Safari Group NZ Ltd as completion gets ever closer. It will be open before we know it!

17/05/2026

TechWeek 2026 is on this week from 18 to 24 May with events being held across the region. From opportunities to safely ‘e-cycle’ old or excess equipment, to panel discussions on the future of AI, to drop-in sessions where you can talk directly to tech experts in their field – there is something for everyone!

View the full lineup here: https://manawatunz.co.nz/explore/techweek2026/

ManawaTech

13/05/2026

TechWeek 2026 is just around the corner and it’s all kicking off with the infamous TechWeek Pub Quiz at Brew Union! A sell out event last year, the quiz is back by popular demand and this year everyone is welcome to join in. Whether you are a tech head or not, you’ll be able to add value with all teams being mixed and a mixture of tech and non-tech related questions being asked.

Where: Brew Union Brewing Co. Broadway Avenue, Palmerston North
When: Doors open from 5:30pm. Quiz starts at 6:00pm sharp
Food and drinks provided. Prizes on offer

Register now: https://events.humanitix.com/techweek-26-quiz

ManawaTech