Grow your business in Whangārei

Whangārei has a thriving business climate, with over 10,000 registered businesses. This strong business growth was reflected in the city’s GDP which increased 4.9% in the year to March 2022.

Whangārei is well known for strong marine, tourism, construction and digital technologies and the creative sector.

Longstanding primary industries - agriculture, horticulture, forestry and aquaculture are also thriving in Whangārei.

Nearly one in five workers are self-employed, reflective of the entrepreneurial spirit of locals, the plentiful work available, and the robust connectivity in the region that also supports remote workers.

As Whangārei grows and develops, the need for housing and services has increased.

As an example, this saw the construction industry adding 491 jobs to the economy between 2021 and 2022, the largest contribution to employment growth in the region in this time period.

There are a range of support options available for businesses from entrepreneurs to larger companies.

Northland Inc provide services to help people start a business, or to talk through challenges faced by existing businesses.

Join the Northland Chambers of Commerce for networking events, business support and discounts at local stores.

You can register with the Regional Business Partnership Network (RBP) to get a free Discovery Session with a Growth Advisor at Northland Inc.

The wānanga-based business development programme called Te Kōrau is also available in Whangārei to equip entrepreneurs with everything they need to turn their idea into a sustainable business.

Whāriki are committed to developing the Māori economy by helping businesses grow and build employment opportunities for others.

The local Business Network International chapter, BNI Whangārei, holds regular chapter meetings and supports businesses with networking, education and referrals.

Māori Women’s Development Inc supports wāhine Māori and their whānau in business by providing micro-loans, business coaching and financial capability programmes.

The Pacific Business Trust (PBT) focuses on helping Pacific businesses through customised programmes and services, their workshops and community events provide an opportunity to network and collaborate entrepreneurs and businesses.

Getting around Whangārei is easy, and it is well-connected in terms of transport and logistics for businesses.

Transport services include a:

• domestic airport
• deep-water port
• robust inner-city public bus network with ever-improving roads.

For businesses in the city centre, parking is ample and affordable, and many commercial properties include car parks with their leases, and many commuters drive to work for the convenience.

Parking areas are divided into 3 zones:

• Zone 1 is $1 per hour
• Zone 2 is $2 per hour
• Zone 3 is $2 per day.

Thanks to ongoing upgrades along SH1, including the Pūhoi to Warkworth motorway that opened in 2023, the two-hour journey between Whangārei and Auckland has become safer and faster.

Northport, a deep-water commercial port and New Zealand's northernmost port is 30 minutes from the Whangārei city centre.

Whangārei Airport is located only 10 minutes’ drive from the city centre and is a 35 minutes flight to Auckland Airport.

All of this ensures that Whangārei is well supported as a business hub.

Many trips in Whangārei can be made by walking or riding a bike, with over 40 kilometres of shared pathways through the city and these continue to expand.

This downloadable, printable map shows the status of the Urban Shared Path network.

The Orchard Business and Event Hub is home to Northland Inc's Business, Innovation and Growth Team, offering events, advice and mentorship for local businesses. They can partner you with a business Growth Advisor or educate you on networking events.

The local Business Network International chapter, BNI Whangārei, holds regular chapter meetings and supports businesses with networking, education and referrals.

The Northland Chamber of Commerce offer many networking events, advice and professional development.

For women in business, there is the Whangārei Women's Business Network, run by a local business owner.

Regular events are run for Whangārei businesswomen to connect and network.

Whangārei District has a good variety of professional, modern spaces available with options to hire workspaces by the day, meeting rooms and events spaces.

There are several organisations offering professional and well-equipped shared office or co-working spaces across Whangārei District. As our population increases and the popularity of shared spaces grows, we can expect this number to continue to grow!

The Orchard Business and Events Centre - based in the centre of Whangārei. The Orchard is a dedicated hub for our growing community of entrepreneurs, start-ups and professionals who want to start, grow, and strengthen their business.

T9 Shared Workspace - T9 is a quiet, secure, open plan shared workspace in the heart of Kensington, central Whangārei. Perfect for those in the medical industry (part of the Health Hub), those who travel for work and for casual workers who just need to get out of the house.

Silverfox Spaces - located in central Whangārei. Silverfox spaces are both quiet and private; ideal for the introverted worker looking for a productive working environment.

Pivot - with three meeting room spaces and an array of hot-desking. Pivot based in the heart of Whangārei, is a great location for your business. Flexible leases, from the hour or day through to monthly leases ensure your business is set up for success.

Workspace Whangārei - if you are looking for a range of meeting room spaces within Whangārei, our Workspace Whangārei site has four meeting rooms with a range of services, suitable for small groups through to larger participants.

Whangārei is home to a thriving business community, with a range of support options available for businesses from entrepreneurs to larger companies.

Northland Inc provide services to help people start a business, or to talk through challenges faced by existing businesses.

Join the Northland Chambers of Commerce for networking events, business support and discounts at local stores.

The Regional Business Partner Network and Northland Inc can assist you with investing in growing your businesses and they can match you with a Business Growth Advisor to step you through this process.

A wānanga-based business development programme called Te Kōrau is also available in Whangārei to equip entrepreneurs with everything they need to turn their idea into a sustainable business.

For women in business, there is the Whangārei Women's Business Network, run by a local business owner. They run events for Whangārei businesswomen to connect and network.