Welcome to our Economic Development Newsletter - March 2026
Published on 14 October 2025
Exciting opportunities ahead
As we kick off 2026, we're excited by the opportunities ahead. We have some awesome projects in the pipeline and key events to save in your diaries. To help us get it all done, we are thrilled to welcome two new team members on board.
Joanna Lambert (left) brings a unique blend of legal expertise and hands-on business experience. After practicing law, Joanna followed her dream into the building industry, where she built her own studio from the ground up (how cool is that!). Her combination of strategic thinking and practical know-how will be a huge help to the team. If you're ever in Whangamatā on the weekend, you might spot her attempting to windsurf (with the emphasis on attempting, she says).
Ally Davey (right) brings a track record of delivering community-led projects across the Coromandel. Working with the team two days a week in a permanent role, she has been focused on developing tracks, trails, and initiatives that support local wellbeing, tourism, and economic development. Ally played a key role in the creation of the Ride Coromandel Bike Park, project-managing the facility as a volunteer and helping establish it as a valued recreation asset for the district, and designing and creating the Tracks and Trails Guide. Her work centers on turning ideas into practical outcomes through partnerships with community groups and local stakeholders.
Get in touch with one of our team:
Infometrics Quarterly Economic Monitor - December 2025
The Thames-Coromandel economy is showing early signs of a recovery in the latest quarterly report from Infometrics:
- Infometrics provisionally estimates 1.5% pa Gross Domestic Product (GDP) growth in the December quarter bringing year-end growth to 0.4% over the year to December 2025.
- Growth hasn’t taken place across the board yet, with the Healthcare sector making the biggest contribution to GDP growth.
- The construction, retail and manufacturing sectors continue to contract.
Read the full report here
Mayoral Disaster Relief Fund update
Following January's severe weather event, the Mayoral Disaster Relief Fund has been supporting Thames-Coromandel residents, ratepayers, small businesses and not-for-profit organisations facing extraordinary financial hardship.
Fund Status:
- Applications closed 6 March
- 243 applications were received
- The total fund has grown to $400,000 (including $100,000 from NEMA)
- $100,000 already distributed to those most in need
Next steps
Given the large volume of applications, the fund has prioritised individuals and families most in need. Our independent assessment panel is working through applications.
Each application requires careful verification to ensure funds reach those genuinely impacted. We know waiting is difficult and truly appreciate your patience as we work through this process.
Relief for local businesses
For business owners that have been severely impacted by recent weather events, we encourage you to apply to the business disaster relief fund established by DoorDash. Applications for this close on 6 April so check below to see if you qualify.
Find out about DoorDash business disaster relief fund
Online Coromandel Tracks and Trails Guide proves popular
Since launching in November 2025, our Coromandel Tracks & Trails digital guide has had more than 6000 views. The guide has quickly become a go-to resource for our information centers and people planning time outdoors in our district, with live information on track types (walking, biking, horse riding, dog friendly), difficulty levels, and mapped features — helping people to confidently find experiences that suit them.
For local businesses, this means:
- A stronger platform driving people to stay longer and explore more of what the Coromandel has to offer
- Shared visibility with media stories that put our outdoor experiences on the map
- A trusted, modern tool that complements destination marketing efforts and encourages business-friendly activity around tracks and trails
Visit Coromandel Tracks & Trails online
An artist's impression of the Waikato Community Clinical Learning Centre
Local partnership plans Waikato clinical centre for Thames
Our Economic Development team is part of an exciting working group that could bring medical students to Thames through the University of Waikato's new Graduate School of Medicine, opening in 2028.
We're working alongside Hauraki PHO, Ngāti Maru, Pinnacle, National Hauora Coalition, Te Whatu Ora (Thames Hospital) to develop a proposal for a Community Clinical Learning Centre (CCLC) right here in Thames. This is an incredible opportunity for our district, bringing future doctors to train in our community, with many hopefully choosing to stay and practice here after graduation.
The CCLC would host medical students throughout their four-year programme, focusing on primary care, emergency medicine and psychiatry.
“We have all the pieces we need in Thames to deliver what the University of Waikato is looking for. We have the health care providers, the space and a caring community that will welcome and appreciate the students,” says Thames-Coromandel Mayor Peter Revell.
Pinnacle CEO Justin Butcher said it is a privilege to co-sponsor the Partnership Proposal for Pare Hauraki: “The region has long faced workforce gaps, especially in general practice and rural health services. This Waikato model is community-based from day one, allowing students to train here, build relationships with communities here and stay here.”
The working group operates under guiding principles that prioritise long-term regional benefit, cultural alignment and decisive action to meet tight deadlines.
Date set for Waikato Regional Aquaculture Forum
Waikato Regional Council is hosting an Aquaculture forum on behalf of the Waikato Regional Aquaculture Group (WRAG). The group - made up of local and central government, iwi and industry partners - was established after the 2024 forum highlighted the need for better collaboration.
The Waikato is a key region for meeting the Government’s goal for aquaculture growth. In 2024, the WRAG partners endorsed the Waikato Regional Aquaculture Strategy Growing Together - Whakatupu Ngātahi, which aims to double the value of aquaculture exports by 2044.
This forum is set to be held in Thames, 8 May 2026.
Read the Growing Together Strategy
Save the Date: Claymark Hauraki-Coromandel Business Awards
We are thrilled to announce Claymark as the naming sponsor for the Claymark Hauraki Coromandel Business Awards set for 15 October 2026 at the Thames Civic Centre.
This biennial event brings together about 150 local business people from across Hauraki, Coromandel and the wider Waikato region for an evening of celebration and networking.
We're also delighted to give a warm welcome to our media sponsor CFM.
These locally embedded businesses are excited to help us showcase our local talent and celebrate the incredible local businesses that make our towns thrive.
Why sponsor?
Celebrating excellence requires backing from equally brilliant businesses. Sponsorship is an excellent way to:
- Gain exposure for your business
- Enjoy a night out with industry leaders
- Support and celebrate fellow businesses in our community
Would you like to be a sponsor?
- Your support makes this event possible and positions your brand at the heart of business excellence.
- Talk to us now - limited opportunities are available.
- Get in touch with our Economic Development Advisor Lisa Church to secure your sponsorship or discuss any questions.
Email Lisa
Summer events help boost economy
The district’s busy summer events calendar continues to show the vital role events play in supporting the local economy and community vibrancy, helping to establish Thames-Coromandel as a premier district for large-scale events that can deliver significant economic benefits.
Highlights of the peak summer season have included:
- The Coro Classic music event in Matarangi that attracted approximately 7,000 attendees
- Five hugely popular music events at the Coroglen Tavern that averaged about 1,500 people at each event
- The Waitangi Festival at Whitianga where 1,500 people gathered to enjoy beautiful weather and a lively programme of entertainment
The district’s regular galas, market days and fairs have continued to perform strongly, each typically attracting between 2,000 and 3,000 attendees, providing valuable economic opportunities for local businesses, artisans and hospitality operators.
March update
March is proving to be the busiest month in the district’s events calendar so far this year, with several major events drawing national and international attention including:
- In Whitianga, the world’s largest game fishing competition - The Kubota Billfish Classic - was held on 11-14 March, followed by the NZ Offshore Powerboat races on 21 March, bringing anglers, teams and spectators from across the country and beyond, and helping to fill accommodation and restaurants
- In Whangamatā, the Kickdown Festival drew motorbike enthusiasts for two days of riding and live music from 20-21 March
- Coming up later this month, the iconic Repco Beach Hop is expected to draw tens of thousands of visitors to Whangamatā from 25-29 March, with its popular mix of classic cars, retro fashion and rock ‘n’ roll. This year’s programme also includes the Pāuanui Power Cruise on Thursday 27 March and the Thunder Cruise to Onemana on Friday 28 March
First Business Break a success
Tairua Business Association ran its first Business Break working session at Manaia Kitchen & Bar in Tairua on 17 March. This was the first of a series, co-sponsored by TCDC.
The subject was the 90-Day Visibility Challenge with local entrepreneur and marketing strategist Jacqui Gage-Brown from LifeWOD | Working on Dreams.
The fun, interactive session was fully subscribed and Jacqui helped participants create a simple 13-week visibility plan to build momentum for their business heading into the quieter months.
Next session: Friday 17 April
The next session on Friday 17 April will be run by Professor Grant Schofield, a leading public health academic and researcher who specialises in preventive health and lifestyle. He’ll be addressing how to balance your well-being when running a business.
Our local Business Associations
We have a fabulous network of business associations across the district. Business associations play a vital role in creating a stronger business community through networking, advocacy, events, promotion, information sharing and capability building.
We recommend joining a business association or making contact with one to help you get a good understanding of the district, and to establish valuable business networks.
Find your local association today: