Members Area
Welcome to the members area for Towncentre Taupo Inc.
On this page, you will find a wide range of information and documents that may be of interest to you as a member of Towncentre Taupo Inc.
AGM
The Towncentre Taupo Annual General Meeting is being held at 5:30pm on Thursday, 20 September 2012 at the Waterside Bar & Restaurant (upstairs function room), 3 Tongariro St., Taupo. Written nominations for the 2012/2013 Executive accompanied by the written consent of the nominee must be lodged at the offices of Towncentre Taupō Inc not later than 14 clear days before the Annual General Meeting.
Click here for a nomination form.
Membership
All businesses that operate with the Taupo CBD area (as defined by Taupo District Council) are by default members of Towncentre Taupo Inc (TCT).
All such businesses pay a membership levy through rates paid to Taupo District Council. This levy is established each year at the TCT Annual General Meeting, and is currently $259 + GST per annum. This equates to a fee of $62.50 (+ GST) that you pay as part of your rates each quarter. In many instances, you will not see this levy directly specified as your landlord may chose to lump all rates charges together on your invoice.
Towncentre Taupo maintains a database of all members, which is updated regularly and audited twice per year. The database is also reviewed once a year to ensure it correctly reflects Taupo District Council’s rating database. If you need to update your details on the TCT database, please click here to email us.
If your business moves outside the CBD area, and you wish to maintain your membership, you can do so by becoming an Associate Member. This gives you most of them same membership benefits, but you are not able to vote on any TCT business. Click here for more information on Associate Membership Benefits
TCT undertake a huge array of activities to benefit our members. Some are direct and involve members participation, while others are indirect and are undertaken to improve the overall CBD.
* Some of the direct benefits include:
Information: Regular newsletters and email updates about what is happening around town and the district, plus an annual calendar of key events happening in the district.
Support: Advice and guidance on business related issues and topics.
Training: Opportunity to access free or discounted training on customer service, marketing, accounting, taxation and more.
Events: Opportunity to participate in events that promote and enhance the CBD and your business.
Liaison: Liaison between Council and your business, on issues such as signage, parking, development and compliance.
Networking: Opportunity to attend regular networking events with other business people in Taupo.
* Some of the indirect benefits inlude:
Advocacy: TCT works tirelessly to ensure the Taupo CBD is protected, enhanced, promoted and a safe place to live, work and play.
Marketing: TCT partner with Destination Great Lake Taupo and other agencies to ensure Taupo continues to grow as a visitor destination. Plus we undertake a wide range of marketing activities to ensure we are a preferred business destination.
Events: TCT run major events throughout the year, as well as supporting key national and international events that come to Taupo.
Planning
TCT have developed a 5 year strategy and action plan for the 2010 – 2015 period.
This plan, called ‘Ready to Shine’ focuses on six key objectives:
1. Promote growth and vibrancy in the Taupo Central Business District
2. Be the voice of our members
3. Encourage and support the continued beautification of the CBD
4. Partner to promote and market the Taupo CBD as a must-visit destination
5. Champion customer service excellence in Taupo
6. Towncentre Taupo operates under a best practice culture
To view the full plan, and the many actions for each of these objectives, click here.
Accountability
Each year, TCT prepares an annual report and presents this to our members at the AGM. The accounts are prepared by an accountant, and the report also includes our plan and budgets for the coming two financial years.
To view the Annual Report for 2010/11 please click here. To view the Annual Report for 2011/12 please click here. To view the Financial Accounts for 2011/12 please click here.
We frequently ask our members for feedback on what we are doing, and what you would like us to be doing. Plus we also undertake an annual survey of all members, whereby we ask you what you think of the activities we undertake, what we should and shouldn’t be doing, and what new things you would like us to do.
Additionally, we formally present our Annual Report and Plan/Budget to Taupo District Council Councillors once a year.
Governance
TCT is lead by an elected Board of members and we have a constitution that provides the framework under which we operate – click here to view the constitution.
The Executive Board for 2012/13 are:
Derek Newton – Chairman
Mike Riordan – Deputy Chairman
Geri Fallon – Treasurer
Julie McLeod – Secretary
Executive Members:
Andy Scrivener, Darren Edge, Kelvin Clark, Penny Lyons, Shona Cribb, Tracey Lidington
Co-opted Member: Gareth Green
If you would like to download a directory for the Board, please click here.
The Executive Board have a number of duties and obligations they must adhere to, as well as observing the conflict of interest policy.
To view the Duties and Obligations Statement for the Board, please click here.
To view the Conflict of Interest Protocol for the Board, please click here.
The Board meet on a monthly basis, and TCT members are always welcome to attend and observe at the Board meetings. To check the meeting schedule, please click here.
If you would like to present anything or add an agenda item onto a meeting, please contact TCT Chairman, Derek Newton.
To read the minutes from previous Board Meetings click here --- BOARD MEETING MINUTES.
Management
Whilst the Executive Board undertake the governance duties for TCT, most of the day to day work is undertaken by the staff. Julie McLeod is employed as the full time General Manager for TCT. Additionally, a number of casual staff are contracted throughout the year to undertake specific projects (Christmas Santa Cave staff for example).
Julie is charged with delivering on the plan that is set each year by the Board, and she reports back monthly with a comprehensive update on where the many projects and activities are at. Whilst she has the authority to deliver on the plan, there is a set Purchasing Policy in place to ensure transparency of our financial transactions. To view this policy, please click here.
TCT has a permanent office at The White House, 66 Paora Hapi Street, Taupo – sharing facilities with Destination Great Lake Taupo, Events Capital, Erupt Events and Enterprise Great Lake Taupo. This dynamic hub concept means all the key agencies are working together for the greater good of Taupo every day.
Julie love's to catch up with the members whenever possible, and is always keen for a coffee and a chat. Feel free to pop in to see her, or give her a call/email and she can come to you.
Office: Phone 377 0104
Julie: julie@towncentretaupo.co.nz or phone 021 415 231
Additionally, each of the Executive Board has a specific area of town that they pay extra attention to. They undertake to visit all the businesses in their area at least 4 times a year – but are always available for a chat at any time. These visits are generally informal, and a chance to hear what is happening in your world, and let you know what TCT has on the go. If you would like to arrange a more formal meeting with them at any stage, just let them know. Your Board Rep should have been in to visit you and leave their business card with you. If you don’t know who your Board Rep is, please contact Julie at the office and she can let you know.