One Mahurangi – BID business

Warkworth businesses have been pretty clear, they want to see more happening. More promotion of Warkworth, advocacy, better communication, practical business support and action on local issues such as security, disruption, parking and transport.

That is encouraging. Businesses want One Mahurangi to be active and effective. But delivering more also means making sure the organisation has the structure and resources to do it.

The current Business Improvement District (BID) funding model has been fixed at $500 per commercial rated unit since 2020. In that time costs have risen, Warkworth has grown and the demands on the organisation have increased. Without change, there is less capacity to promote the town, advocate strongly and provide practical support, with increasing reliance on sponsorship, volunteers and goodwill.

We know times are tough for many businesses. Costs are up, margins are tight and everyone is being careful about where money is spent. That is exactly why this discussion matters. By working together around shared priorities, businesses can have a stronger collective voice, promote Warkworth more effectively and help ensure the town is not overlooked when decisions are made about infrastructure, investment and local services.

The next step is not about assuming what businesses want. It is about putting the right framework in place and then allowing members to decide. We are looking at a two-stage process.

The first stage is to update the constitution so the rules are clear, practical and fit for purpose, while ensuring important future decisions remain transparent and in members’ hands. Importantly, approving these constitutional changes does not change the current BID funding level or increase what businesses pay. It simply puts the framework in place so that any future funding proposal can be considered properly.

If those changes are supported, the second stage will be to work with Auckland Council on a proposed change to the BID funding model. That proposal would then go to a formal ballot of affected members, expected in October.

The proposed future fee is $700 per commercial rated unit, with an annual CPI adjustment thereafter. To put that in context, if the original $500 fee had been adjusted for CPI over the years, it would now be around $700. So this is essentially a catch-up after several years with no adjustment. Applying CPI annually in future will allow the fee to move gradually with costs and help avoid another large catch-up.

This is not change for the sake of change. It is about making sure Warkworth’s business support can keep pace with the town itself.

Our Special General Meeting is on 15 September and this is your chance to have your say. Make sure you are registered to vote and come along. If you cannot attend, you can still vote by proxy. If you are unsure whether you are registered, need a proxy form or simply want to understand more about what is proposed, please contact me at One Mahurangi. We want as many eligible businesses as possible to understand the changes and take part in the decision.