Te Puna Umanga Venture Taranaki is focused on and working towards a prosperous and sustainable future in Taranaki for generations to come.

As the regional development agency for Taranaki, Te Puna Umanga is the sole regional entity focussed on driving economic outcomes region-wide.

The agency’s strategic focus areas are like interconnected threads weaving together the fabric of their work. They encompass energy and food and fibre transition, catalysing hi-tech innovation, and visitor futures and destination development. These areas are not only diverse, but they also tie back to the guiding strategic documents for our region: Tapuae Roa and Taranaki 2050, which were co-created with the people of Taranaki.

Energy
The next decade is crucial for Taranaki’s energy future. Venture Taranaki sees a tremendous opportunity for our region as the world shifts towards renewables and seeks low-emission solutions for climate change. Taranaki is already rich in energy resources, including onshore wind, gas, solar power, and a growing interest in bioenergy. Moreover, the region holds immense potential with the significant offshore wind resource. The regional development agency believes we can lead the charge in shaping a sustainable energy future with the region’s green hydrogen prospects showcased in the H2 Taranaki Roadmap and the possibilities of manufacturing green products and services outlined in Venture Taranaki’s Power to X investigations. Additionally, Ara Ake, New Zealand’s energy centre, located in Taranaki, supports the commercialisation of new energy technologies, while WITT Te Pukenga serves as an excellent energy training hub for the future energy workforce. Collaboration plays a vital role, and Te Puna Umanga actively engages with industry and partners to identify opportunities and advocate for essential infrastructure, investment, policies, and workforce development required to support industry growth.

Food and Fibre
Branching Out, an initiative facilitated by Venture Taranaki, aims to unlock untapped potential in the food and fibre sector. Branching Out leverages our regional strengths that include suitable climate and whenua, as well as the skills and expertise, appetite, and interest of our engaged community to grow, process and manufacture complementary high- value food and fibre products in Taranaki. The project has progressed to its exciting second phase, and growing trials for a proposed sustainable four-year crop rotation kicked off in June, with the planting of the first crop, garlic. Branching Out will run until 2025 and its goal is clear: broaden sustainable land use to increase resilience, add value and diversification opportunities for farming businesses, develop new related enterprises, create new jobs, and attract new revenue and investment to our region.

Catalysing Hi-Tech Innovation
Technology is growing exponentially, Te Puna Umanga is here to ensure that Taranaki doesn’t just keep up but leads the way. From Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Virtual Reality to Renewable Energy Technologies, we want our region to be at the forefront of technological advancement. That’s why the agency is working closely with our education sector and industry to equip our current and future workforce with the necessary skills to meet the demands of emerging technologies. The PowerUp programme, by Venture Taranaki, promotes entrepreneurship and supports startups and existing enterprises on their journey to success. The agency also facilitates mentorship, investment clinics, and connections to research institutions and funding sources. By nurturing a vibrant hi-tech innovation ecosystem, we can drive economic growth, create high-value jobs, and position Taranaki as a hub of technological excellence.

Visitor Futures and Destination Development
As the regional tourism office, Venture Taranaki has a multifaceted role in promoting the region and developing the visitor sector. They operate the regional film office and Convention Bureau. Their sustainable destination development approach involves strategic planning, regional marketing, product development, industry support, and collaboration with businesses and events to drive economic impact through increased visitation. Recently, Venture Taranaki partnered with Port Taranaki to develop a Taranaki Cruise Strategy and Action Plan, aiming to leverage cruise ship visitation and support existing tourism operators while encouraging new businesses and experiences. Te Puna Umanga, strives to position the region as an attractive destination for investment, living, working, playing, creating, learning, and visiting. They achieve this through planned promotions, media engagements, and communications initiatives that generate significant regional exposure domestically and internationally.

Helping Enterprises Thrive

Te Puna Umanga Venture Taranaki supports local entrepreneurship and enterprises to grow. Whether you’re looking to start, grow, innovate or export, the Venture Taranaki Enterprise Advisory Team can help. Don’t take our word for it though, hear from Taranaki businesses who have benefitted from connecting with Venture Taranaki.

Acres Orchard
Andrea and Gerard Rowe paired their 8-acre plot with a passion and talent for working the land and founded 8 Acres Orchard. The early-stage citrus fruit enterprise grows high quality juicy limes from 200 trees on their heritage lifestyle property in Hāwera.

Through Venture Taranaki’s enterprise advisory support, 8 Acres Orchard connected with a local brand expert to help develop their brand. The Rowe’s startup was also accepted into the recent PowerUp Business Ready programme. The six-week programme, by Venture Taranaki, gave Andrea tools and frameworks to build their business capability and to power up the launch of their business.

“VT’s support has been EPIC! They put us in touch with some incredible people, enabling us to grow our capacity to show up and make our dream more of a reality, much quicker than we had anticipated,” Andrea Rowe, 8 Acres Orchard

Rewild
Nick Jones is the founder of Rewild, a company dedicated to advancing predator control methods for the protection of our native species. Rewild’s flagship product, the F-Bomb is a trapping device that can accurately target specific predators while minimising unintended harm to nontarget species. This year Rewild has further developed the product to be a multi-species trap covering the widest range of predator types on the market.

While Rewild is set to dominate the market, Nick has ensured locality is at his startup’s core by supporting local conservationists such as the Taranaki Kiwi Trust and establishing their manufacturing factory in Taranaki to help create jobs and allow students to gain hands-on experience. Rewild’s story is a testament to not giving up as their innovative product is the result of thousands of hours of work over many years.

"Through Venture Taranaki, I was able to access research and development grants from Callaghan Innovation which allowed me to test and develop hundreds of prototypes,” Nick Jones, Rewild.

Q Golf
Simon Moore knows a thing or two about manufacturing and marketing a quality product through his successful Flexiroof business. His experience with Flexiroof was the perfect platform to develop a single adjustable golf club to be used for the entire round of golf. The single golf club is targeted at travel and social golfers, championing a lighter way to golf. To date Q Golf has made sales in more than 35 countries and Simon says, “the future looks very good”.

Venture Taranaki assisted Simon Moore with information and access to funding to progress his pioneering golf club.

“Specifically, via VT we received a Booster voucher and with this we engaged a professional engineer who is a key part of our team now,” Simon Moore, Q Golf

NRG Plus
NRG Plus is a 100% New Zealand Owned Pet Food company based in New Plymouth. Since 2013 NRG Plus has been creating
a large range of natural pet food, treats and supplements and exports their products to five territories across Asia from New Plymouth, alongside having nationwide stockists.

“Venture Taranaki continues to support our business through the Regional Business Partners network. This has helped to guide our growth both locally through NZ and our export channels worldwide,” Rachelle Tapara, NRG Plus

To find out more and to enquire about business support visit venture.org.nz and complete the support enquiry form.