Fortnight in Review: 25 March - 5 April

* Meeting between GWRC, Iwi and Federated Farmers to discuss ways the WEDS Governance team can support their current projects to encourage greater uptake of riparian planting funding in the region.

* All four councils, iwi and the Water Users Group met and agreed to undertake a stock take of all projects and work in the water sector, across the region.   This stocktake will list projects and what they're required to deliver - in order to identify overlaps and gaps. The group agreed to reconvene for discussion on the stocktake once complete, to confirm recommendations and make action plans.

* Funding was confirmed for a three month fixed term Project Administrator to join the WEDS team in the Wairarapa to start asap, this was advertised via Seek.

* The first meeting of the Knowledge Intensive Industries Action Group was held, made up of representatives from knowledge intensive businesses and Iwi across the region and chaired by Mayor Lyn Patterson. This group will meet regularly to surface complimentary projects that may be happening across the Wairarapa so they can be linked up, and will also work on funding applications and partnerships to ensure the actions in the WEDS document can be achieved. The group discussed a project to urgently create an accelerator and incubator and will make their recommendations to the Steering Group on what should be included in the scope. There was more discussion on other opportunities to build entrepreneurial and business capability in the region.

Current members are:

Andy Kerr, CocaCola Amatil

Nikki King, Fuzzbox Design

Dan Broughton, Wairarapa Web Design

Graham Hingagaroa Smith, Massey University (for Ngati Kahungunu)

Yvette Grace (for Rangitane)

Millie Blackwell, ShowCase Workshop

Minty Hunter, Nectarine

Phillip Percy, Perception Planning

John Hart, Fab Lab

* The Governance Group met on Monday 1st April. The meeting included a presentation on a proposed primary sector skills strategy.  New members were also welcomed representing Iwi, farming and business stakeholders. It was also agreed that WEDS should make a submission on the proposed reform of Vocational Education.

Programme Management team: Regional Engagement activities:

*Workshop with the 5 Towns Trail Trust to assist with project planning and funding applications

*Meeting with Connecting Communities and Masterton Council Policy team re Housing research underway.

*Discussion with MPI senior official from the Provincial Development Unit re MPI funding sources, and one emerging project in the alternative protein space.

*Meeting and advice to local community leaders/entrepreneurs re creation of a hub in Gladstone.

* Meeting with entrepreneur to discuss emerging projects in the Tourism sector

* Meeting with entrepreneur to discuss potential of creating one Wairarapa Market

* Meeting with business owner re the further development of a tourism operation to capitalize on the Dark Skies status.

* Call with REAP Wairarapa re potential project in the early skills development space

* Day hosting our representative at the Provincial Development Unit reviewing projects in progress and receiving updates on various funds available.