Summary
- Auckland’s Future, Now 2022 is a one-day event on Tuesday, 24 May to advance Auckland’s economic recovery from the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic, and explore how the private and public sectors can collaborate to harness the region’s potential to build a better future.
- This year’s event builds on Auckland’s Future, Now 2020 and 2021, bringing together Auckland’s leading business and economic thinkers to focus on the region’s economic recovery and how to collectively support Auckland’s communities, businesses and industries through challenges such as COVID-19, climate change and uncertainty.
- The event is an opportunity for an open and honest discussion about the challenges facing Tāmaki Makaurau Auckland and practical steps Auckland can work on and advocate for – to signal to decision-makers, international and local business that Auckland is leading the way to a transformed, knowledge-intensive and future-ready regional economy.
- Auckland’s Future, Now is held by Tātaki Auckland Unlimited, the region’s economic and cultural agency.
“Never let a good crisis go to waste,” Winston Churchill reportedly said in the final stages of World War II. How could Tāmaki Makaurau Auckland use the COVID-19 crisis as a trigger to reimagine the region’s future and harness its potential?
Auckland’s Future, Now 2022 is a one-day event on Tuesday, 24 May hosted by Tātaki Auckland Unlimited – the region’s economic and cultural development agency – that will bring together leading business and economic thinkers to address that question.
Nearly 40 speakers and panellists will explore how the private and public sectors can collaborate and how the region can collectively support its communities, businesses and industries to recover from the impacts of COVID-19.
Tātaki Auckland Unlimited Chief Executive Nick Hill says:
Auckland’s Future, Now is an opportunity for an open and honest discussion about the challenges facing Auckland and the practical steps we can work on and advocate for.
"We want to signal to decision-makers, international and local business that we are leading the way to a transformed, knowledge-intensive and future-ready regional economy.," says Nick Hill.
Auckland Mayor Phil Goff says as the engine room of New Zealand’s economy and its gateway to the world, Auckland needs a considered and collaborative approach to support communities, trade, investment and businesses, and to create jobs, foster learning and re-engage with the world.
"Auckland’s Future, Now recognises that Auckland is ‘Auckland, New Zealand’ – not in competition with the rest of New Zealand,” says Goff. “The Auckland region has close economic ties to our surrounding regions and Auckland’s recovery and regeneration from COVID-19 is essential to spurring the national recovery."
This is the third time Auckland’s Future, Now has been held, following on from events in 2020 and 2021, which brought together Auckland’s most influential business leaders, economic thinkers and other key regional partners to create a shared set of priorities and actions to drive Auckland’s economic recovery.
Nick Hill says:
Auckland’s economy and communities face ongoing challenges in a COVID-19 world, as well as the challenges of climate change
“The two previous events showed the private sector’s strong desire to collaborate with the public sector on the challenges and opportunities Auckland faces. This year’s event will build on their legacy," adds Nick Hill.
The scene for the day will be set by an opening panel discussion unpacking the Reimagining Tāmaki Makaurau Auckland report commissioned by Tātaki Auckland Unlimited from Koi Tū: The Centre for Informed Futures, to stimulate thinking, conversation and reflection on Auckland’s future over the next two generations and to generate desired outcomes.
Report co-authors Sir Peter Gluckman and Dr Anne Bardsley will be joined by Tātaki Auckland Unlimited Director Investment and Industry Pam Ford, EMA CEO Brett O’Riley, Eke Panuku Development Auckland Chair Paul Majurey and Koi Tu Rangatahi Co-Chair Izzy Fenwick to discuss the nine future scenarios for Auckland presented in the report – and the barriers and enablers to these being realised.
The panel discussion will be followed by presentations by HSBC Group Advisor on Future Cities and New Industries Greg Clark, and Toyota New Zealand CEO Neeraj Lala – who will stretch attendees’ imaginations by presenting advanced lifestyle technologies being tested and implemented in cities around the world.
Other sessions will cover topics including facing the big challenges; a creative, innovative city; our youth, our leaders; climate change; reconnecting to the world; Tāmaki Makaurau Auckland’s Māori economy; prosperity through a regenerative economy; and revitalising the city centre.
About 180 people will attend the in-person event with up to 1500 more expected to watch the livestream. Invited panellists and participants include chief executives and company directors from Auckland’s tradeable sectors, innovators and entrepreneurs, industry associations, investors, financial institutions, and unions.