Venture Taranaki is the Regional Development Agency for Taranaki, responsible for delivering regional development services and projects, strategic initiatives, sector support, regional marketing, destination development and promotion, and the management of New Plymouth District Council’s (NPDC) major event fund.
As a Council Controlled Organisation, owned by New Plymouth District Council (NPDC), Venture Taranaki is incorporated as a charitable trust, and operates a leveraged funding model with NPDC funding at its core. Venture Taranaki also partners with South Taranaki District Council and Stratford District Council to deliver regional development services around the Maunga.
The guiding strategic document for Venture Taranaki is the Impact Strategy which sets the long, medium and short-term outcomes the Taranaki community wishes Venture Taranaki to work towards. At the centre of the Impact Strategy is the core long-term outcome of a Taranaki economy that supports the wellbeing of the region’s people and environment. This vision will be achieved through growing resilient communities, enterprises and economies.
Taranaki offers an impressively diverse range of event options. New Plymouth in particular is proving increasingly popular with small- and medium-sized events seeking a different destination, well-appointed facilities and a memorable experience to support the main event. From a contemporary art gallery, a classically inspired theatre or a beautiful natural amphitheatre, the city has a range of unique locations, supported by proven event experts. Intimate or corporate, grass between your toes, a surf lesson or a stately location, cultural icon or lush gardens – Taranaki has you covered.
Taranaki boasts a surprisingly sophisticated accommodation offering, right around the maunga, with properties ranging from large well-appointed hotels to more grass-roots options, all well-located and more than likely with mountain and/or coastal views. A handful of modern, 4-star plus hotels offer single-site accommodation, dining and conference facilities, while a wide range of motels and serviced apartments offer additional flexibility. For a unique experience, try beachfront glamping, a heritage hotel, or back-country lodge.
With plenty of wide-open spaces and long, sun-filled days, Taranaki is an adventure wonderland. Among the many options of tourism offerings, two in particular stand out as being just as accessible to conference and event delegates.
The first is the Pouākai Crossing, a spectacular one-day walk across the slopes of Taranaki Maunga that spans goblin forests, alpine environments and mirror lakes offering postcard-perfect reflections of the summit. The crossing or many smaller walks on the maunga can be incorporated into a conference programme, but there are countless more accessible outdoor adventures on offer to balance out the time spent in a conference room, from the lush Pukekura Park to New Plymouth’s award-winning Coastal Walkway.
New Plymouth’s architecturally amazing Govett-Brewster Art Gallery/Len Lye Centre is sure to capture any visitor’s attention, as much for its stainless-steel façade as the dynamic contemporary art within. This too is the tip of the proverbial iceberg, with public sculptures, vibrant street art, eclectic museums and much more offering a uniquely cultural component to any visit to the region.