Northland Inc delivers 180 percent return on shareholder investment

Northland Inc has delivered a 180 percent return on shareholder investment over the past decade, according to a new regional impact report released this week.

The report, Delivering for Taitokerau: Shareholder Impact 2011–2026, shows that Northland Inc has used $16.5 million of shareholder investment to leverage $46 million in total investment into the Northland economy over a ten-year period from 2013 to 2023.

Presented to the Joint Regional Economic Development Committee on Friday 6 March, the report highlights the broader regional impact of Northland Inc’s work, including support for thousands of Northland businesses, catalytic investment in major projects, and coordinated advocacy to secure additional government funding during major disruption events.

Chair of the Joint Regional Economic Development Committee Geoff Crawford said the report demonstrates the value of coordinated regional economic development on behalf of Northland’s four shareholder councils.

“This report shows how targeted investment through Northland Inc can deliver significant returns for the region,” he said.

“By working across councils, government, iwi and industry, Northland Inc is helping unlock investment, progress major regional projects and support businesses across Te Tai Tokerau.”

The report outlines the role of the Investment and Growth Reserve as a catalytic fund, designed to reduce early-stage risk and help unlock further public and private investment into the region.

Over the lifetime of the reserve, 61 projects have been supported through Project Development Funding, helping attract more than $400 million in subsequent investment into Northland.

A further 13 enabling investment projects have been supported, with modelling indicating these projects have contributed to an estimated 1,657 jobs and more than $514 million in economic impact over time.

Suzanne Duncan, Northland Inc Chair

Northland Inc Chair Suzanne Duncan said the report reflects both the scale of the organisation’s work and its impact across the Northland economy.

“Northland Inc works across a wide range of activity - from supporting Northland businesses and strengthening our primary sector to attracting investment, developing major projects, and growing Northland’s visitor economy,” she said.

“What this report demonstrates is how Northland Inc has used relatively modest public investment to deliver significant results for Northland through disciplined, regionally coordinated investment.”

The report also highlights Northland Inc’s role in helping the region respond to disruption and secure additional support for Northland businesses and communities.

In recent years, Northland Inc has secured or jointly advocated for approximately $14 million in additional central government and agency funding following events including COVID-19, Cyclone Gabrielle, the State Highway 1 Brynderwyns disruptions and the Transpower tower failure.

Alongside its investment activity, the report highlights Northland Inc’s broader contribution across the regional economy, including:

• more than 4,000 Northland businesses supported over the last decade
• nearly $8 million in capability and innovation funding facilitated
• 26 percent of Cyclone Gabrielle business recovery funding distributed to Māori-owned enterprises
• 384 Northland farmers supported through Northland Inc’s Extension 350 programme
• $113 million in equivalent advertising value generated through destination marketing activity over a five-year period
• Air New Zealand partnership campaigns generating a 61 percent uplift in passenger ticket sales into the region

Mr Crawford said the report provides shareholders with confidence in the organisation’s direction and performance.

“Economic development is long-term work, and this report demonstrates the important role Northland Inc plays in helping position our region for future growth and opportunity.”

Read The Impact Report