Taranaki is positioning itself as a nationally significant and globally competitive industrial partner as Te Puna Umanga Venture Taranaki signs a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU), on behalf of the Taranaki Alliance, with British engineering and defence vehicle company, Supacat. 

The Taranaki Alliance, initiated by Te Puna Umanga Venture Taranaki and co-designed by industry, unites local engineering, manufacturing, and specialist service firms to compete collectively for large-scale, complex industrial contracts at a global scale. By aligning the region’s highly skilled capability under a single coordinated model, the Taranaki Alliance enables local businesses to access high-value opportunities in New Zealand and international markets.  

Minister for Regional Development, Shane Jones, who was present at the signing, acknowledged the proactive work that the Taranaki Alliance has done in organising regional expertise and in securing the MoU with Supacat. 

Supacat specialises in the design and manufacture of high-mobility off-road and military vehicles, alongside bespoke engineering services. Headquartered in Devon, England, with established operations in Australia, the company is well positioned to support the New Zealand Defence Force under the Government’s $12 billion Defence Capability Plan. 

The MoU establishes a framework for cooperation between Supacat and the Taranaki Alliance, creating a pathway for potential local delivery of specialist engineering services including fabrication, machining, assembly, systems integration and logistics support. 

Should the relationship progress to a formal contract, a range of Taranaki businesses could be engaged, strengthening regional capability while retaining highly skilled talent in-region and embedding local firms into global supply chains. 

Kelvin Wright, Chief Executive of Te Puna Umanga Venture Taranaki, said the agreement demonstrates early momentum for the Taranaki Alliance following the allocation of $500,000 in seed funding by New Plymouth District Council in December. 

“Supacat is a significant player in the Defence sector and this MOU signals clear confidence in the capability and high standards that exist in Taranaki.”  

 “The Alliance gives global partners a credible, coordinated, single point of entry into a region with deep industrial experience. It strengthens our workforce, diversifies our markets, and positions Taranaki as a competitive industrial hub on a larger stage.” 

“Internationally, there is strong appetite to partner with stable, well-governed regions that combine technical excellence with regulatory certainty. New Zealand’s trade relationships across Asia and Europe create real commercial advantages, and the Alliance positions Taranaki to convert those advantages into long-term industrial partnerships.” 

Bruce Tait, Managing Director of Supacat Asia Pacific, said the engagement reflects the company’s long-term commitment to strengthening sovereign defence capability in New Zealand and aligning with the NZ Defence Industry Strategy 2025. 

"Supacat’s engagement with the Taranaki Alliance is an important evolution of our commitment to New Zealand and a key pillar of our strategy to expand Supacat’s existing capability in-country. This partnership allows us to blend our proven, high-end military vehicle design with the region's specialised skills and technical depth in heavy industry, along with strengthening our global supply chain to ensure greater resilience against international disruptions.” 

New Plymouth District Mayor Max Brough says, “NPDC welcomes the value the Taranaki Alliance offers in restoring economic growth to Taranaki, and we're confident the partnership with Supacat and this Government’s commitment to our region will achieve a marked turnaround for both Taranaki and New Zealand.” 

Dean Eggers, Managing Director of Symons Group and Chair of the Taranaki Alliance, says the long-term benefits the Taranaki Alliance will provide the region are significant. 

“Our companies already operate in demanding industrial environments where precision, compliance and reliability matter. The Taranaki Alliance gives customers like Supacat confidence that those standards can be delivered with a single point of accountability, while enabling local businesses to collectively access contracts that would otherwise be out of reach.” 

“The impact of securing work of this scale will ultimately flow on to all industry, and most importantly, our community, and we look forward to seeing what's possible.”