Tokoroa is moving into big city business mode with a new co-working space designed to support emerging local businesses and established companies, while providing off-site meeting rooms for large scale organisations and regional businesses needing a South Waikato base.

Dubbed Level 1, the co-working space in the new Pūkenga Rau building is owned and operated by South Waikato Investment Fund Trust (SWIFT).

SWIFT Chief Executive Amanda Hema says the intention is that Level 1 will be more than simply serviced office space.

“We want Pūkenga Rau Level 1 to build the local business community by encouraging social and professional engagement that will continue to raise the capability and capacity of businesses operating in South Waikato.”

SWIFT has already secured its first tenant, early learning provider Central Kids, which won the For Purpose and People’s Choice awards at the Waikato Chamber of Commerce Business Awards presented in November 2023. SWIFT won the Community Contribution award at the same event.

“We’re delighted to have Central Kids, an excellent, award-winning South Waikato business that operates 52 early learning services around the central North Island, as our anchor tenant. There is clearly a synergy between their work in education and SWIFT’s focus on workforce development and capability building in the community.”

Central Kids Chief Executive Christine Hall said she was looking forward to moving her head office team to the brand new Pūkenga Rau Level 1 office and working alongside SWIFT and other Pūkenga Rau Level 1 tenant companies.

“For many years our head office has been based in Putāruru and we’ve really enjoyed being part of that community. However, with a distributed leadership team and the flexibility of remote working, we no longer need such a large building and conference centre. Our new space at Pūkenga Rau Level 1 gives us the office and meeting space we need, the location is convenient to many of our early learning services, and being in a shared space also helps us build stronger relationships with other organisations like SWIFT.”

Ms Hema said SWIFT’s coworking approach will provide all-inclusive memberships with tenants receiving a dedicated fully serviced desks, consumables and office facilities with access to a hi-tech boardroom, meeting rooms, free tenant and visitor parking.

“We see the shared office space being ideal for a start-up business that has outgrown the spare bedroom, or a local company who needs off-site space for visiting contactors or who have an overflow of staff. Regional organisations needing to find a base in the district will also be well serviced by Level 1.

She said tenants in Pūkenga Rau Level 1 would benefit from the collegiality of fellow tenants including Central Kids and support from SWIFT’s education and mentoring programmes.

Each desk membership is priced at $500 per month with preference given to tenants committing to three months initially. Interested businesses should contact Kiani Tuhua, kiani.tuhua@swift.org.nz

The launch of Pūkenga Rau Level 1 follows hot on the heels of the Waikato Chamber of Commerce launching in South Waikato to help local businesses make connections through the 14,000 chambers around the world that represent 45 million businesses.

Ms Hema said SWIFT and the Waikato Chamber of Commerce are complementary with SWIFT focusing on local capability development and the Chamber being able to provide regional, national and international connections.