Getting Further Assistance

The following outlines a number of organisations that can help you. Alternatively, the Ministry of Tourism lists those agencies that provide advice or funding assistance to tourism businesses at various stages of their development.

business.govt.nz

Business Mentoring

New Zealand Trade & Enterprise (NZTE) also supports the Business Mentors New Zealand programme, delivered by Business in the Community and Company Rebuilders. This programme provides, free of charge, the skills and experience of people who have proven themselves successful in business.

If you have been in business for more than six months and have fewer than 25 employees then you are eligible to be matched with a Business in the Community mentor.

To find out more information visit www.businessmentor.org.nz or call (0800) 103 400 or (0508) 103 400.

A Company Rebuilders mentor can assist a business person, including those who are looking to start a business, or business facing difficulties. For example, if you have a completed business plan and would like an independent opinion and discussion of its potential viability then you may wish to seek a mentor’s assistance.

To seek referral to a Company Rebuilders mentor, call (0800) 424 946.

Māori Business Facilitation Service

The Māori Business Facilitation Service is a business mentoring agency set up by Te Puni Kokiri (the Ministry of Māori Development) which provides advice, guidance and facilitation services essential to developing a new or existing business. The Facilitation Service matches people with an Accredited Business Mentor who acts as an adviser, and helps them develop their business or business idea.

You can reach them on toll free (0800) 94 99 97.

Exporter Education

For businesses that are ready to export but need to upskill in particular aspects of exporting, NZTE offers the Exporter Education programme.

Details about the courses offered, timetabling and costs are available from www.exported.co.nz

Tourism Research

Tourism New Zealand’s current research is freely available on this site.

The Statistics New Zealand website www.stats.govt.nz , Ministry of Tourism website www.tourism.govt.nz and the Ministry's Research website www.tourismreseach.govt.nz are also valuable sources of New Zealand tourism research.

The Tourism Research website is your one-stop shop for the latest research on visitor arrivals, international and domestic visitors, commercial accommodation, economic contribution and tourism forecasts.

Tourism New Zealand’s current research into international visitor satisfaction and market demand is freely available on this website in our Market Research section.

International tourism research is published on several sites including those of the World Tourism Organisation www.world-tourism.org , the Pacific Asia Travel Association www.pata.org and the World Travel and Tourism Council www.wttc.org . You can get an overview of global trends from the press releases and research summaries freely available there. There is often a cost to access major research reports from these sites.

Training & Funding Sources

Tourism New Zealand’s main role is to market our country internationally as a visitor destination. We have no grant, loan or sponsorship programmes.

The Grants and Financial Assistance area of www.biz.org.nz is a good place to go for an overview of government programmes that new businesses can apply to for assistance. Looking there will be quicker than ringing around a range of organisations to see what they can offer.

Some of the funding options that are available include:

• The Ministry of Social Development offers the Business Training and Advice Grant to help with the costs of training and advice you may need to run your business, such as management, marketing or business skills training. You could also use this programme to get help with writing your business plan.

Training for people interested in starting a business is also available.

• Work and Income www.workandincome.govt.nz offers Enterprise Allowances to help people who have been unemployed for at least six months start their own business.

• Work and Income also offers Business Training and Advice Grants to people who have been unemployed for at least six months to train in management, marketing or any relevant business skills. It could also be used if you need the services of a business adviser.

NZTE Enterprise Training start-up workshops

These fully funded, three-hour workshops will assist you to assess whether going into business is right for you, and analyses the issues with starting up a business.

The Enterprise Training Programme is delivered by specialist training providers throughout New Zealand.
Visit www.nzte.govt.nz (Business Developement). There is no cost.

NZTE Investment Ready Training

Investment Ready Training workshops provide generic training and information about raising capital. These workshops aim to help business people and entrepreneurs learn about the types of finance they may consider to expand, diversify or commercialise a new concept and how they can access funding from investors. Visit www.nzte.govt.nz (Business Development/Investment Ready). Or contact your local Enterprise Training Provider. There is no cost.

Escalator Service:

It is aimed at assisting business growth by providing innovative small to medium sized enterprises (SMEs) and entrepreneurial New Zealanders who need capital to expand, diversify or commercialise a new concept with skills and assistance to pursue investment opportunities. Visit www.escalator.co.nz Phone (0800) 822 748. There is no cost.

Enterprise Training Programme:

The New Zealand Trade and Enterprise (NZTE) Enterprise Training Programme (ETP) is aimed at upskilling the owners and operators of small and medium enterprises to help them develop and grow their businesses. Group training includes workshops, seminars and courses aimed at transferring skills and knowledge in a range of areas of business management.

All are designed so you leave with ideas, knowledge and tips you can actually implement in your business. This service includes one-on-one follow-up coaching. An eligibility criteria applies. Cost: Free. Visit www.nzte.govt.nz (Business Development).

E-Business Guide:

Growing your business using information technology and the internet takes careful planning and many businesses are unsure about how to proceed. New Zealand Trade and Enterprise (NZTE) offers assistance to businesses through the E-business Guide - a personalised road map to guide you towards e-business success.

The first step is a conversation with an adviser. You will then be provided with personalised information appropriate to your level of e-business experience at no cost.

The information provided will show you how to move from your present stage to the next using a ‘learn-as-you-go approach’. There is no cost. Visit www.biz.org.nz , or phone (0800) 324 948.

Work with Tourism New Zealand

There are a number of ways you can work with us:

• Create a profile on www.newzealand.com

• Subscribe to our publications to keep up to date with tourism news and trends. Visit our Publications section to find out more.

• Attend the next industry seminar workshop series in your region. Tourism New Zealand staff visit regions annually, facilitating a series of workshops designed to help tourism businesses develop their product for international visitors. Contact your local RTO for more information.

• Attend a Kiwi Link event. Ask your RTO if this is appropriate.

Work with your RTO

Your local RTO should be your main point of contact with the rest of the tourism industry.

Keeping your RTO up to date with your product, story angles and new developments is a must. They will pass this information on to Tourism New Zealand and other organisations.

RTOs can also help you get involved in international media or trade familiarisations, and will run updates and training days to keep you up to date with what is going on.

Join the Tourism Industry Association New Zealand

The Tourism Industry Association New Zealand (TIA) www.tianz.org.nz is a membership-based and funded organisation representing the interests of over 2000 businesses throughout the tourism industry. It is the largest organisation representing tourism operators in New Zealand.

Through TIA you may become involved in:

• the New Zealand Tourism Awards www.nztourismawards.co.nz

• the New Zealand Tourism Conference www.nztourismconference.co.nz

• Tourism Rendezvous New Zealand (TRENZ), which is the annual inbound travel trade show in New Zealand www.trenz.co.nz

Consider joining ITOC

The Inbound Tour Operators Council of New Zealand (ITOC) is a trade association representing the New Zealand inbound tourism industry and tourism industry operators.

It is made up of New Zealand-based inbound tour operators (Full Members) and their New Zealand tourism product suppliers (Allied Members).

The ITOC focus is commercial and is designed to build long-term business relationships with distribution networks and it offers opportunities for networking and to expand local tourism operators’ business horizons in order to boost their business growth.

For more information on the role of ITOC visit www.itoc.org.nz

Join another Tourism Organisation

There are over 40 other organisations representing sectors of the tourism industry. They can help you market your products, advocate on your behalf, and keep you up to date with issues. You can find more information at www.tianz.org.nz

Engage a Business Consultant

If you are making a major investment in tourism that will, for example, involve taking out a large loan, developing a property over a number of years or employing other staff, it is more likely that you will consider seeking professional assistance in assessing the feasibility of your project. Accountancy and legal firms are possible sources of such advice. There are also specialist tourism consultants in some regions.

Even if you are deciding the feasibility of
a new business yourself, a bank or other financial institution will expect your loan application to be based on a comprehensive business plan.

Most banks and several accounting firms produce good guides on how to prepare a business plan. Your biz centre www.biz.org.nz , Economic Development Agency www.edanz.org.nz , or Māori Business Facilitation Service www.tpk.govt.nz/business/facilitation may also be able to provide assistance.