Posts by Melissa Mae
Opinion piece from Downtown Tauranga: rise in city centre revenue
By Genevieve WhitsonManager Mainstreet Tauranga The increase in revenue we have been seeing, and tracking over the past 12 months from March 2025 to February 2026 compared with March 2024…
Read MoreFrom orchard to global stage: the thinking behind Robotics Plus
What does it take to build a globally relevant technology company from a regional base? For Robotics Plus co-founder Steve Saunders, the answer is not a single breakthrough moment or…
Read MoreOur take on council: Instep Young Leaders step into local government
By Keana Rolleston, Te Puke High School, and Indy Rhodes, Tauranga Girls’ College Last Thursday we attended the first official business breakfast for this year’s Instep Young Leaders’ Forum 2026,…
Read MoreCould geothermal be the next big opportunity for Western Bay business?
$50m on the table: Is there a geothermal opportunity for your business? The Government has recently released a national geothermal strategy, alongside $50m of new funding to help get projects off the ground. If your business…
Read MoreStudent growth affirms property expansion at University of Waikato
The University of Waikato’s Tauranga campus continues to grow, reflecting increasing student demand and the strengthening role of the University within the Bay of Plenty. Recent developments across enrolments, accommodation…
Read MoreEnergy in transition: How the Western Bay is planning its next 30 years
Priority One is currently undertaking a programme of work that seeks to ultimately develop a regional energy strategy to drive our economic transition over the next 30 years. We want…
Read MoreWhen was the last time you came into town?
There’s something quietly shifting in Tauranga’s city centre. Not in a big, flashy way, but in the steady arrival of people choosing to back the city with their time, their…
Read MoreMarshmallows, marae and making connections: inside our Instep noho
By Instep Young Leader Indy Rhodes Last week the Instep Young Leaders’ Forum had a noho at Paparoa Marae, and it turned out to be a pretty awesome way to…
Read MoreWestern Bay business confidence stays strong amid ongoing uncertainty
Western Bay of Plenty businesses are entering 2026 with rebounding confidence levels, according to the latest Priority One Business Outlook Survey. The survey of businesses across the Western Bay of…
Read MoreCompeting Tauranga law firms unite to tackle legal talent shortage
Three leading firms join with Priority One’s Work Life Tauranga to position the region as a serious legal career destination Competing law firms rarely collaborate on recruitment. In Tauranga, three…
Read MoreWelcoming the Instep Young Leaders’ Forum cohort for 2026
Priority One is pleased to welcome the 2026 cohort of the Instep Young Leaders’ Forum, a group of Year 12 and 13 students from across the Western Bay of Plenty…
Read MoreFutureproofing the kiwifruit workforce with NZKGI
The Western Bay of Plenty’s kiwifruit industry is a major driver of regional jobs, export value and economic resilience. Its continued success depends on having the right people, with the…
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