Priority One
Priority One is the Western Bay of Plenty region's economic development agency, founded in 2001 and operated as a business-led partnership spanning business, iwi, and local authorities. It serves over 300 member businesses through tiered memberships and coordinated programmes spanning talent, innovation, infrastructure, sustainability, and city centre regeneration.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2001
- HeadquartersTauranga, New Zealand
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
What Priority One does
Priority One is the Western Bay of Plenty region's economic development agency, founded in 2001 as the first such organization in New Zealand initiated by the business community and run along business principles. Operating as a private membership-based partnership spanning business, communities, Iwi/Māori, and local authorities, it executes work plans across talent and investment attraction, innovation, sustainability, Māori economic development, city centre rejuvenation, and infrastructure advocacy. Its core mandate is to grow a sustainable regional economy, with flagship programmes including the Western Bay of Plenty Regional Deal (targets of 40,000 homes, 35,000 jobs, 4.6% annual real GDP growth), the CBD Blueprint (NZD $1.5 billion in committed investment across 20 catalyst developments through 2030), DayBreak Festival of Innovation, Young Innovator Awards, the Decarbonisation Programme, and a 30-year Regional Energy Strategy.
The organization serves more than 300 business members across tiered subscriptions (Platinum bespoke, Gold at NZD $10,000 per annum, Silver at NZD $2,500 medium / NZD $1,000 small), supplemented by funding from Tauranga City Council, Western Bay of Plenty District Council, Bay of Plenty Regional Council, and strategic partners including Port of Tauranga, Mercury Energy, Zespri, the University of Waikato, and Craigs Investment Partners. Headcount is approximately 12 staff led by Chief Executive Dave Courtney, with General Managers covering Communications & Engagement, Business Partnerships, workforce and policy, plus specialised roles in innovation, youth pathways, and project management. Distribution is direct: Key Account Managers for Platinum members, youth and education programmes (Instep, Ara Rau, Canvas Careers Expo, Cultivate Your Career) delivered into schools and employers, and government engagement via the Regional Deal framework.
There is no proprietary technology platform. Priority One's 'product' is a portfolio of coordinated regional development programmes and convening services rather than software. Revenue mechanics are subscription recurring membership fees at the core, with event sponsorship, programme-specific grants, and government co-funding as supplementary streams. Pricing is partially publicly disclosed (Gold and Silver tiers) while Platinum remains bespoke; the GTM motion is sales-led, anchored on direct relationships, networking events, and partnerships with local councils and Iwi.
Priority One firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Priority One
- Legal name
- Priority One
- Website
- https://priorityone.co.nz
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2001
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- Priority One is the Western Bay of Plenty region's economic development agency, founded in 2001 and operated as a business-led partnership spanning business, iwi, and local authorities. It serves over 300 member businesses through tiered memberships and coordinated programmes spanning talent, innovation, infrastructure, sustainability, and city centre regeneration.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Where Priority One is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Tauranga
- HQ country
- New Zealand
- HQ region
- Oceania
Offices1 record
Markets served
Priority One business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others
Revenue model
- Membership Fees: Priority One generates revenue primarily through tiered membership fees from businesses in the Western Bay of Plenty region. Membership tiers include Platinum (bespoke arrangements), Gold ($10,000 per annum), and Silver (Medium business $2,500 per annum, Small business $1,000 per annum). The organization also receives support from local government partners.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Subscription | Annual | Platinum Membership - Bespoke strategic partnership |
| Subscription | Annual | Gold Membership - Strategic business membership |
| Subscription | Annual | Silver Membership - Standard business membership |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels3 records
Marketing channels6 records
Priority One product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Priority One is the Western Bay of Plenty region's economic development organization, reflecting a partnership between business, communities, Iwi/Māori, and local authorities. It executes work plans across strategic areas including Talent and Investment, Innovation, Sustainability, Māori Economic Development, City Centre Rejuvenation, and Infrastructure. The core commercial offering is a tiered business membership programme (Platinum, Gold, Silver) that delivers economic insights, networking events, advocacy, and strategic connections to 300+ member businesses across the region.
Product overview
Priority One is the Western Bay of Plenty's regional economic development organization offering a portfolio of programmes and services rather than a unified software product. The core offerings span regional development (Regional Deal, CBD Blueprint, Infrastructure advocacy), talent and investment attraction (Investment Attraction Services, Priority One Membership, Work Life Tauranga), innovation (DayBreak Festival of Innovation, Young Innovator Awards), youth development (Instep, Ara Rau, Canvas Careers Expo, Cultivate Your Career), and sustainability (Decarbonisation Programme, Circular Construction, Partnering for Nature, Mount Industry Environmental Accord, Regional Energy Strategy). These initiatives are delivered through partnerships with government, iwi, local authorities, and business members to drive economic growth and prosperity.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- Instep: Youth career and leadership program inspiring young people about career and training opportunities
- DayBreak Festival of Innovation
- Young Innovator Awards (yia!)
- Shift Hub
- Canvas Careers Expo
- Cultivate Your Career
- Work Life Tauranga
- Ara Rau
Products and services
- Priority One Membership (Platinum, Gold, Silver tiers) Tiered business membership programme (Platinum bespoke, Gold NZD$10,000/year, Silver NZD$2,500 or NZD$1,000/year) providing connections, strategic economic insights, advocacy, and networking opportunities for businesses in the Western Bay of Plenty region.
- Regional Deal A long-term partnership programme between central government, local councils, iwi partners and delivery agencies delivering infrastructure, housing, transport, and investment for the Western Bay of Plenty region.
- Investment Attraction Services Services positioning Tauranga Moana as a destination of choice for investors, businesses, and talent, including connecting investors to opportunities, networks, and support for relocation and expansion.
- DayBreak Festival of Innovation Annual one-day innovation event in Tauranga featuring world-class professional development, expert speakers, interactive workshops, and networking opportunities for the regional innovation ecosystem.
- Young Innovator Awards (yia!) Annual innovation programme for intermediate and secondary school-aged rangatahi (youth), offering design thinking, mentorship, and real-world problem-solving experience to grow the next generation of innovators.
- Instep Programme bridging the gap between business and education through the Instep Young Leaders' Forum for secondary students and THRIVE for vocational exploration, supporting future talent pipelines.
- Ara Rau Skills and Employment Hub Skills and employment hub connecting rangatahi (youth) to training, upskilling, and employment opportunities, providing an inclusive space for job seekers to connect with local employers.
- Canvas Careers Expo Comprehensive careers expo in Tauranga connecting students with universities, training providers, and industry professionals to explore career pathways.
- Cultivate Your Career Horticulture industry careers event offering hands-on experiences and industry expert engagement for students and job seekers in the Bay of Plenty.
- CBD Blueprint Programme showcasing major committed developments in Tauranga's CBD, highlighting catalyst projects and NZD$1.5 billion in investment expected by 2030 across 20 major catalyst developments.
- Shift Hub Alternative transport initiative showcasing sustainable commuting options including e-bikes, e-motorbikes, public transport, car-sharing, and micro-mobility solutions to reduce reliance on single-occupancy vehicles.
- Circular Construction Regenerative building approach programme reducing, reusing, and recycling construction materials, developed in partnership with 25 local construction businesses through design thinking workshops.
- Partnering for Nature Biodiversity initiative connecting businesses to conservation work, in partnership with Bay Conservation Alliance and Manaaki Kaimai Mamaku Trust.
- Mount Industry Environmental Accord Environmental accord signed by 33 businesses in the Mount Maunganui industrial zone committing to improve environmental footprint, with a supplemental Blueprint document outlining action plans.
- Decarbonisation Programme Regional programme supporting businesses in reducing carbon emissions and waste toward net zero by 2050, including tailored decarbonisation support for member businesses.
- Regional Energy Strategy 30-year regional energy strategy addressing GDP growth, industrial energy demand, and decarbonisation through a business-led Energy Leadership Group.
- Work Life Tauranga Talent attraction initiative positioning Tauranga Moana as a destination to live and work, supporting the region to attract and retain skilled workers.
Companies that use Priority One
Customer profileNamed customers4 records
Segments5 records
Ideal customer profiles4 records
Priority One technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Priority One partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
16 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- Element IMFcoreStrategic partner listed on Priority One website, representing property/land development interests in Tauranga.
- University of WaikatocoreKey education partner with campus in Tauranga CBD. Collaboration on talent development, research, and innovation initiatives.
- Mercury Energy NZcoreEnergy partner supporting regional energy strategy and sustainability initiatives.
- Port of TaurangacoreCritical infrastructure partner handling nearly 40% of New Zealand's exports. Key to positioning Tauranga as trade gateway.
- ZespricoreMajor horticulture company and anchor employer in the kiwifruit industry, driving export revenue.
- Tauranga City CouncilcoreLocal government partner in economic development initiatives, city centre rejuvenation, and infrastructure advocacy.
- Western Bay of Plenty District CouncilcoreDistrict council partner for regional development planning and implementation.
- Craigs Investment PartnersminorInvestment partner supporting investment attraction activities in the region.
- Bay Conservation Alliance (BCA)minorPartner in Partnering for Nature project, connecting businesses to biodiversity work in the region.
- Manaaki Kaimai Mamaku TrustminorPartner in Partnering for Nature project focused on biodiversity and environmental restoration.
- Shift Hub Partners (15 organisations)minor15 partner organisations collaborated on the Shift Hub initiative showcasing alternative transportation options.
- Local Construction Businesses (25 businesses)minor25 local construction businesses collaborated through Construction Sector Workshops to develop the circular construction project.
- Toi Kai RawacoreRegional Māori economic development agency. Priority One works with Toi Kai Rawa to develop education and employment pathways for rangatahi (youth).
- Bay of Plenty Tertiary Education Partnership (BOPTEP)corePartnership including University of Waikato, Toi Ohomai Institute of Technology, and Te Whare Wānanga o Awanuiārangi for tertiary education coordination.
- Tauranga Business ChamberminorLocal business chamber partner for business networking and advocacy.
- Urban Task ForceminorPartner in CBD Blueprint development, representing urban development interests.
Scale indicators6 records
Recent moves7 records
Expansion highlights5 records
Priority One competitors and assessment
Company assessmentBroad incumbents
- Enterprise Singapore: Government agency supporting enterprise development and investment attraction; comparable in role as a public-mandate body fostering business growth and international investment, though at national scale.
- Invest Northern Ireland: Regional economic development agency focused on investment attraction, business growth, and exporting for Northern Ireland; functionally analogous as a public-mandate organization supporting regional economic outcomes.
- Regional Development Australia: Australian federal initiative of regional development committees supporting economic growth, investment attraction, and infrastructure advocacy across defined regions — a broader incumbent with the same regional-development mandate as Priority One.
- New Zealand Trade and Enterprise (NZTE): National government agency supporting NZ exporters and investment attraction; overlaps with Priority One's investment attraction mandate but at national scale rather than regional, providing a broader incumbent reference point.
Direct peers
- Auckland Unlimited (ATEED legacy): Auckland's council-controlled economic and cultural development organisation; broader in scope but functionally the same model of municipal-backed economic development, talent, and investment attraction.
- Toi Kai Rawa: Regional Māori economic development agency for the Bay of Plenty; a core strategic partner of Priority One and a parallel stakeholder-funded organization pursuing economic, education, and employment outcomes in the same region.
- ChristchurchNZ: Christchurch city's economic development and city positioning agency, comparable in mandate to attract talent, investment, and events into a defined New Zealand urban region — closely aligned with Priority One's brief for Western Bay of Plenty.
- WellingtonNZ: Wellington region's economic development and destination agency, operating a similar membership- and stakeholder-funded model that delivers business, talent, and investment attraction services for a defined New Zealand region.
Regional players
- Waikato Regional Council — Economic Development: Adjacent NZ regional council coordinating economic development activities for the Waikato; comparable mandate of regional economic planning but operated as a local authority rather than a business-led membership agency.
Others
- Bay of Plenty Regional Council: Regional council partner and co-funder of Priority One; not a peer in commercial terms but a key stakeholder and comparator for understanding the public-sector context in which Priority One operates.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses4 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
Priority One social profiles
Digital presencePriority One financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Priority One leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles12 records
Priority One funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Priority One M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Priority One
What does Priority One do?
Priority One is the Western Bay of Plenty region's economic development organization, reflecting a partnership between business, communities, Iwi/Māori, and local authorities. It executes work plans across strategic areas including Talent and Investment, Innovation, Sustainability, Māori Economic Development, City Centre Rejuvenation, and Infrastructure. The core commercial offering is a tiered business membership programme (Platinum, Gold, Silver) that delivers economic insights, networking events, advocacy, and strategic connections to 300+ member businesses across the region.
Is Priority One a public or private company?
Priority One is a private company. It is classified as management employee owned and is currently operating.
When was Priority One founded?
Priority One was founded in 2001. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is Priority One based?
Priority One is headquartered in Tauranga, New Zealand, in the Oceania region.
How does Priority One make money?
One revenue line is on record: membership Fees.
Who are Priority One's main competitors?
Broad incumbents on record are Enterprise Singapore, Invest Northern Ireland, Regional Development Australia and New Zealand Trade and Enterprise (NZTE). Direct peers are Auckland Unlimited (ATEED legacy), Toi Kai Rawa, ChristchurchNZ and WellingtonNZ. Waikato Regional Council — Economic Development is listed as a regional player. Bay of Plenty Regional Council is listed as an others.
Does Priority One have an API?
No public API is recorded for Priority One.