24/09/2026
🎉 Tawa Business Group is 10! 🎉
This September marks a very special milestone for the Tawa Business Group - 10 years of supporting, connecting and championing the Tawa business community.
Established in September 2016, the Tawa Business Group was created to provide projects and services that promote and strengthen businesses within our local community. Ten years on, that original purpose remains at the heart of everything we do.
Today, the Tawa Business Improvement District (BID) stretches from Tawa Junction all the way up to Takapū Rise Business Park, representing 122 properties and nearly 200 businesses. From retail and hospitality to professional services, trades and everything in between, our business community is diverse, hardworking and full of people who care about making Tawa a great place to work, shop, eat, visit and do business.
Behind the BID is Bernadette, our BID Manager, who works on behalf of the local business community. She is supported by an Executive Team that provides strategic direction, innovative ideas, advice and guidance - helping ensure the BID continues to respond to the needs and opportunities of our ever-changing business community.
💙 So, what have we achieved over the past 10 years?
There has been a lot happening! From advocacy and practical projects to events, promotions and partnerships, here are just some of the initiatives we have been proud to be involved with:
🚩 Flags throughout the town centre, including Christmas, ANZAC and Matariki flags. We have helped establish and maintain these displays so that Tawa can recognise important occasions and celebrate our community throughout the year.
🏳️ Main Road banners, established and maintained along Main Road from the Takapū roundabout through to Gee Street, helping create a stronger and more consistent identity for the town centre.
🌺 Hanging baskets, contributing to the beautiful hanging baskets that help brighten Tawa's streets. This is a fantastic example of local organisations working together, with the Tawa Residents’ Association organising the baskets and Tawa Rotary helping with the changeover. A great team effort!
📹 CCTV coverage has been established along the town centre, helping support a safer environment for businesses, workers and visitors.
🅿️ Advocating on parking, including working with Wellington City Council to oppose the introduction of paid parking in suburban areas and undertaking a parking review to better understand parking needs in Tawa.
💼 Supporting local employment through updating the local job board and helping connect local people with local employment opportunities.
🎨 Supporting local murals, including contributing towards the murals along the alleyway near Gorgeous Goose Cakes - adding colour, character and creativity to our town centre.
🗺️ Creating a parking map to help businesses, staff and visitors better understand the parking options available around the town centre.
☕ Business breakfasts bringing local businesses together with politicians and key public figures. Over the years we have welcomed guests including Mayor Andrew Little, Nicola Willis MP, Dr Ashley Bloomfield, Greg O’Connor MP and Nick Leggett, among many others. These events have provided opportunities to hear directly from decision-makers, ask questions and have meaningful conversations about issues affecting our community.
🎄 Christmas window display competitions, running for four years and giving local businesses the opportunity to get creative, spread some festive cheer and bring a little extra colour to Tawa.
🎟️ Discount vouchers, providing opportunities for local businesses to promote themselves while encouraging people to shop, eat and spend locally.
🏆 Pride in Work Awards, in partnership with Tawa Rotary, recognising the people who make a difference in our local workplaces and celebrating the contribution of employees within our community.
🅿️ Introducing P120 parking along Main Road, helping create greater parking turnover and supporting accessibility for customers and visitors to local businesses.
🤝 Working with other BIDs to share ideas, knowledge and experience, and to learn from what is happening in the other five business communities across Wellington.
📊 Try Tawa surveys, giving us valuable insight into where people shop, eat and do business — and helping us better understand what our community wants and needs from its local business district.
🌏 The First Taste of Tawa International Food Festival, celebrating the incredible diversity of food, culture and businesses in our community and showcasing some of the wonderful flavours available right here in Tawa.
And that’s just a snapshot of the work undertaken over the past decade.
None of this happens in isolation. A successful business community depends on businesses, residents, community groups, volunteers, organisations and local government working together. We are incredibly grateful to everyone who has contributed ideas, time, energy, expertise and support over the past 10 years.
Most importantly, the Tawa Business Group exists because of the businesses we represent. Nearly 200 businesses make up our BID area, and each one contributes to the character, vibrancy and strength of our community.
As we celebrate 10 years, we’re not just looking back at what has been achieved - we’re looking forward to what comes next. There are always new challenges, new opportunities and new ways we can work together to make Tawa an even better place to do business.
🥂 Here’s to 10 years of Tawa Business Group - and to the next 10!
Thank you to everyone who has been part of the journey so far 💙
