The Irish Business Network has launched a branch in the Bay of Plenty to create a sense of community for Irish businesses around the region.

The Irish Business Network of New Zealand (IBNNZ) is a voluntary membership organisation which aims to help connect Irish businesspeople, or people with an affiliation or interest in Ireland, to network, collaborate and potentially create new commercial opportunities.

The first branch of IBNNZ started in Auckland in 2015. Today there are six branches around New Zealand in Auckland, Wellington, Christchurch, Taranaki, Waikato and now Bay of Plenty.

Tauranga businesswoman and committee member Laura McCabe saw an opportunity to set up a Bay of Plenty branch of IBNNZ earlier this year.

“The Bay of Plenty has a growing population and thriving economy, and I had come across quite a few Irish through my own work and community.”

McCabe said there are a number of cultural, business, sport and family ties that connect Irish nationals or second/third generation Irish together.

Fellow committee members Brian Staunton, Paul Manning and Charlotte Byrne also attended the launch event on April 4.

“Between the four of us, we represent a range of sectors including international commerce, finance and physiotherapy and human resources,” McCabe said.

“At our launch event, we were delighted to meet others who work across construction, communications, law and technology.”

The network’s priority is creating a welcoming professional networking experience through events and face-to-face opportunities.

“Good business is about knowing people, having relationships with relevant contacts and helping to open doors in a supportive way,” said the committee.

“We look to collaborate and share information to help upskill our members wherever possible.

“It’s about creating a sense of community for Irish in business in New Zealand and collaborating with the likes of the Tauranga Chamber of Commerce, et cetera.”

McCabe said the branch is looking to hold four events a year to provide an opportunity for those who are interested to catch-up and hear from engaging speakers. “The upcoming national Fieldays in Waikato is an opportunity to showcase Irish innovation in agritech and there are strong links between New Zealand and Ireland in the agriculture sector.”

McCabe said the Irish Department of Foreign Affairs has a strategic focus on diaspora, as it fosters goodwill and generates economic development.

“The Irish diaspora cherishes and showcases the country’s diverse and dynamic culture and its people, spread across the globe, bring pride to Ireland.”

For more information about The Irish Business Network of New Zealand, visit: www.ibnnz.com or email: info@ibnnz.com.