New Plymouth District Council (NPDC) has approved $500,000 in seed funding from the Economic Development Reserve to progress the establishment of a new, collaborative regional platform named the Taranaki Alliance, which will enable Taranaki firms to collectively secure large-scale, complex industrial contracts.

Led by Te Puna Umanga Venture Taranaki and industry, the initiative will provide a trusted front door for major national and international customers seeking high-quality heavy industrial capability. A number of local firms are expected to combine their capability into a single, coordinated regional platform, capable of chasing billions in infrastructure, defence, and commercial contracts.

Kelvin Wright, Chief Executive of Te Puna Umanga Venture Taranaki, the regional development agency, says that local industry has considered a shared platform like this for some time.

"Taranaki has deep-seated engineering and manufacturing capability that is unique in both scale and breadth. For decades our capability has largely supported the oil and gas sector, but to maintain, retain, and grow that capacity in the Taranaki region, we need to attract and service other markets. The Taranaki Alliance provides a vehicle to do that at scale."

"Ultimately, this is about keeping skilled jobs in region, helping local firms win more work, and planning for life beyond traditional oil and gas," says Wright.

The funding will support Venture Taranaki’s role in coordinating the industry, opening doors, and reducing friction so businesses can pursue larger opportunities together.

To date, Venture Taranaki has led market validation and developed an operating model for the collective. Following the initial establishment supported by the funding, and potential partnership with Government, the Alliance intends to become self-sustaining.

Initial modelling suggests the region could compete for $100-$200m in contract value within the first three years, generating approximately $77 million in direct GDP for the region. These contracts drive revenue uplift, increase productivity, and stimulate new capital investment in plant, people, and technology.

Dean Eggers, Managing Director of Symons Group, says the Taranaki Alliance provides an entity to access markets and contracts that are traditionally difficult to pursue as individual companies. He says the Alliance will offer exactly what potential clients are asking for.

"By bringing together our unique strengths in the region, our people, skills, and deeply connected supply chain, we can grow and scale, attract new opportunities into the region, and secure higher-value work that individual firms cannot access alone."

"We look forward to working with Venture Taranaki and local industry to progress the initiative," concludes Eggers.

At a glance:

• What: Establishment of the Taranaki Alliance, an industry-led regional platform for large-scale industrial contracting.

• Who: Coordinated by Te Puna Umanga Venture Taranaki, supported by New Plymouth District Council, and driven by local engineering and manufacturing firms.

• Funding: $500,000 seed funding from the Economic Development Reserve approved by New Plymouth District Council, as well as investment from Industry, Venture Taranaki, and potential of support from Government - with a view for the Taranaki Alliance to become self-sustaining.

• Purpose: Help Taranaki firms jointly secure complex national and international contracts.

• Markets: Infrastructure, Defence (such as engineering, fabrication, logistics, digital systems, civil works, marine and asset maintenance) and broader offshore opportunities.

• Economic impact: In the first three years Taranaki could compete for $100-$200 million in contract value, generating approximately $77 million in direct GDP for the region and support the equivalent of around 1,260 direct jobs.

• Why it matters: Retains skilled jobs, lifts productivity, attracts new investment, and supports transition beyond oil and gas.