Auckland May Well Be the World’s Edgiest City

Innovation happens on the edge and “you cannot get more on the edge than New Zealand,” according to the CEO of Auckland’s economic development group Brett O’Riley.

Auckland may be New Zealand’s biggest city but it retains a happy, village vibe, locals say. It’s a chilled-out city surrounded by hills and incredible coastline. It’s also fast becoming a commercial hub for global business, in part, driven by huge interest from China.

And while New Zealand may be a small economy its lack of red tape and corruption, greater personal freedom and investor protection are proving a big draw for entrepreneurs. This, plus a transparent and stable business climate make it mighty appealing.

This surge in Asian interest has been reflected in visitor numbers in the past year; a 5 per cent increase in international visitors at conferences and events in Auckland, according to Statistics NZ. The numbers from the Ministry of Business, Innovation, and Employment also show a rise in conferences and meetings.

Kiwis are sports fanatics and the 2015 event calendar is packed. And it’s not all rugby. Kicking off the year with the ICC Cricket World Cup, then the Volvo Ocean Race the city will also host the FIFA U20 World Cup at the end of May. All are expected to draw more international business and cachet.

Original article by Ramsey Qubein, BBC, April 14, 2015.