Entry received from: Hamilton City Council
Category: Collaborative Government Action
The Diplomatic Study Tour hosted in Hamilton in June 2022 was a project that showcased the city and region to New Zealand and Australian-based diplomats from North and South America, Europe, the Middle East, Asia and Africa. This included delegates representing the United States, Canada, Argentina, Chile, China, India, Japan, Singapore, and South Africa.
Hamilton City Council led a diverse group of government and private sector stakeholders through a year of collaborative planning, project management, and risk mitigation due to COVID-19. The project work reaffirmed the power of collaborative government action, while the tour celebrated our culture and traditions, shaped perceptions of our region, and provided opportunities to strengthen global trade relationships.
The stakeholder group included regional economic development agency Te Waka and nine district councils from across the Waikato. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade (MFAT) provided the expertise, knowledge, and direct relationship with the diplomatic corps.
We believe this framework, our approach, and the project deliverables can serve as a guide for a wide range of local authorities seeking to make common cause across multiple government agencies to promote economic growth, reinforce relationships with existing businesses and development partners, while also proactively working to attract new investment.
Thank you to our category sponsor