One Warkworth – From strength to strength

Being the end of our financial year, it’s a fitting time to do a round-up of our achievements over the last 12 months. Any business owner will know how much work goes on behind the scenes and One Warkworth is no different. We have a wonderful team behind us, including our 12 committee members who volunteer their time providing strategic leadership and making sure this association meets the needs of the business community while staying financially viable.

They are instrumental in the advocacy work we do, meeting with politicians, CEOs and senior managers to get Warkworth’s voice heard on anything from roads and the Warkworth Structure Plan, to crossings, footpaths and the weir. I would hate to calculate just how many collective hours go into this, but it’s lots. That is why Warkworth proudly has the reputation, at least within Council, of being one of the most ‘engaged’ communities in Auckland – I think they mean vocal!

I also have a team to help me get the doing done. Until last month, Charlene Heyns has been our bookkeeper and admin extraordinaire – it has been a pleasure working with her, and I would like to say a huge thanks for all her work. Claire Blair is now taking over this role and, along with Rachel Callender (marketing and communications) and Ayla Walker (membership support and social media), our team is back to its full complement. Like any business, it is this team that keeps the wheels moving – the mechanics of the organisation that you don’t necessarily get to see. Without them, everything would simply stop.

With this team, we have delivered some great initiatives for the business community over the last 12 months. Our networking events have gone from strength to strength with new members joining up on the spot. We’ve launched new member offers, including in-store discounts at Warkworth’s Noel Leeming and launched our new search-optimized website with a focus on member listings. This has been a highlight, with businesses reporting a number of new referrals via onewarkworth.co.nz and our Facebook page.

I’m particularly proud of our events that connect local businesses with the people who live in our community. While the weather thwarted the Santa Parade last year, the work that went into it means we’re raring to go this year, and of course the Mahurangi Winter Festival of Lights will soon be here and promises to be a spectacular spectacle. It really has been an amazing year. One Warkworth has made steady progress and built some real strength around the local business community. Thank you to everyone who has contributed to our success. We’re looking forward to maintaining momentum in 2019/20.

Murray Chapman, Manager, One Warkworth
www.onewarkworth.co.nz