Takitini: Waikato District Economic Development

11/09/2026

Mercer Landing Kitchen and Bar is turning the small riverside town into a destination in its own right.

Sitting on the banks of the Waikato River, they're serving up Asian fusion cuisine and a rotating line-up of craft beers, with a vision to make Mercer a place people gather and connect.

It's a great example of hospitality entrepreneurs backing a small town's potential.

👉 http://mercerlanding.co.nz

07/09/2026

Calling all Waikato producers, emerging and seasoned!

Waikato Screen is bringing you the Practical Producing Series - Share the Knowledge: an expert-led, six-season Zoom workshop series covering the full feature-film production lifecycle. From development and casting through to financing, packaging, production, post, delivery, and release, this is practical, real-world knowledge from people who've done it.

Each session runs 60 minutes and is recorded, so you can catch up even if you can't make it live.

As our local film office, Waikato Screen connects the international screen industry with government and community here in the Mighty Waikato, helping build the skills and networks that keep our region's talent and crew in demand.

👉 More info: https://www.sharetheknowledge.co.nz/producers-series-info

Seasons 6 - 2027 is coming!

03/09/2026

Three farms, 12km of rolling North Waikato countryside, and views stretching from the Waikato to the Hauraki Gulf!

The Matahuru Valley Walk is one of the district's best-kept secrets, a private, self-guided walking experience through working sheep and beef farms just a short drive from Te Kauwhata.

Born from three local farming families deciding to share their slice of rural New Zealand, it now offers everything from a half-day 8km wander to a full 12km trek through native podocarp forest, past the Matahuru Stream, and up to 535m for sweeping views all the way to Mt Ruapehu and the Coromandel.

Walk dates start from October: https://www.matahuruvalleywalk.co.nz/

30/07/2026

Big news for our district.

National Green Steel has received fast-track consent for a $100 million structural steel manufacturing plant at Hampton Downs, near Te Kauwhata, and construction is now underway.

For the first time, New Zealand will be able to recycle and manufacture structural steel right here at home, using scrap steel collected from across the country instead of sending it offshore.

Once operational, the plant will:
- Create around 200 skilled jobs for our region
- Recycle scrap steel into high-quality structural steel, right here in Waikato
- Be powered by its own solar farm

A huge step forward for manufacturing, jobs, and sustainable growth in the Waikato district.

Construction on the fast-tracked steel plant was marked by a sod-turning ceremony, sitar performance, and a time capsule.

29/07/2026

Have you seen ‘Creativity Lives in Waikato?’ This storytelling series, a partnership between Waikato District Council and Creative Waikato, shines a light on ten local organisations using creativity to strengthen their communities.

From the Sculpture Park at Waitakaruru Arboretum to youth centres, community gardens, and cultural societies across the district, each story shows the same thread: people and community wellbeing at the heart of the mahi.

Take a look at the profiles and discover the creative energy shaping our towns 👇
🔗 kotahitangagallery.nz/creativity-lives-in-waikato/organisations

27/07/2026

A few months ago, we showcased a phenomenal young woman from Te Kauwhata, set on solving the problem of plastic sleeves in the floristry industry. Check out her full story on Seven Sharp!

Congratulations Yasmin, what an incredible business you are building.

26/07/2026

Genesis Energy is building a $150 million grid-scale battery at the Huntly Power Station, one of the biggest energy storage projects in the country. Once live, it'll store enough electricity to power around 60,000 homes for two hours during peak winter demand, smoothing out the ups and downs of renewable generation.

And it's just stage one. Genesis has already committed to stage two, with a vision of up to 400MW of battery storage at Huntly by 2035.

Why Huntly? Direct connection to the national grid, prime position between Auckland, Hamilton, and Tauranga, and in Genesis' own words, a fantastic local workforce.

This is exactly the kind of investment that builds intergenerational prosperity in our district.

25/07/2026

We want to do a massive shout out to the mahi of this inspirational Waikato company.

Deep Dive Division is no ordinary dive company. A Māori and Pacific-owned commercial, scientific, and robotic diving crew, they integrate Te Ao Māori, Pacific worldviews, and Mātauranga Māori into every aspect of their operations, keeping sustainability and respect for the environment front and centre.

One of their projects, 'Beyond the Surface' highlights their commitment to the health of the Waikato River, and involves salvaging vehicles and hazardous debris from the river bed.

Read more about their kaupapa here: https://deepdivedivision.co.nz/

24/07/2026

Our district is rich in natural beauty, charm and heaps of hidden gems that make it a pretty neat place to live and visit.

Vivian Falls, at 12 metres high, is one of those gems, tucked away in Harker Reserve, Onewhero.

Perfect for families, as it’s only a short five minute return walk from the end of Miller Road in Onewhero.

Those looking for a longer walk can park at Harker Reserve, off the Onewhero Tuakau Bridge Road and follow an easy wide track for 3km to Vivian Falls (6km return via same track).

Waikato District Council has an extensive list of walking tracks on this page: https://www.waikatodistrict.govt.nz/recreation/trails-and-walks

22/07/2026

Do sales conversations make you want to run for the hills? You're not alone, and you're not bad at selling.

Our partners at SODA Inc and the Waikato Chamber of Commerce are running a hands-on masterclass for self-employed professionals who sell a service. You'll work through real scenarios with your own business in mind and walk away with a simple, clear sales framework you can use straight away, how to ask the right questions, handle objections without pressure, and close with confidence.

🗓️ Thursday 30 July | 10am–12pm
📍 The Long Room, L1 Wintec House
$49 per person
🎟️ Register now: https://events.humanitix.com/business-masterclass-or-how-to-sell