| This is a question I get asked regularly, usually followed by, “And what does the Business Association in Warkworth actually do for me?” Both fair questions. BID stands for Business Improvement District. Auckland has around 57 of them, from very large operations in the Heart of the City, East Tamaki, and Manukau, right through to smaller districts like Warkworth. A BID is a defined business area where local businesses and property owners work together to support and improve their town or commercial area. Auckland Council collects funding on behalf of each BID and passes it back to the local Business Association, with clear rules to make sure it is spent on things that benefit the business community and the area it represents. In plain English, it means One Mahurangi exists to be an organised, professional voice for Warkworth business. It gives us the ability to advocate, to be in the room when big decisions are being made, and to make sure our town does not get forgotten while plans are drawn up somewhere else. Over the years, that has made a real difference, from major infrastructure and transport issues through to ongoing industrial and traffic challenges. It is much easier to be heard as a group than as individual businesses, and experience tells me councils and agencies tend to listen more carefully when a whole town is speaking. We are also lucky to have good working relationships with Auckland Council, Auckland Transport, our local board, and a councillor who understands Warkworth and backs the area. And speaking of challenges, the last couple of days of heavy rain have been a timely reminder that nature can still throw a few curveballs. With flooding and road damage across the North Island, our thoughts are with everyone who has been affected. It also reinforces why having strong local advocacy and good relationships matters when our community needs support. What’s coming up in this newsletter There’s plenty of practical and useful content in this edition. You’ll find details on an upcoming Social Media Workshop with Dynamic Digital, helpful resources and links around AI, eInvoicing guides, and yes, some very important news that the Warkworth Information Centre now stocks Tip Top ice creams, which may prove just as essential as any business resource on a hot, summer’s day! |
 — Murray Chapman Manager, One Mahurangi, Warkworth Business Association murray@onemahurangi.co.nz | 0274 966 550 |
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