Growing Strong Communities Through Local Business Success
Funding and Support to Kick-Start Your Business Idea
The North King Country Development Trust is here to help local people turn great ideas into thriving businesses. By supporting new ventures, creating jobs, and attracting more people to the region, we’re building a stronger, more resilient North King Country.
We provide funding and support for:
Business mentoring and expert advice
Product development and commercialisation
Start-up funding (seed funding)
Equity support for new businesses
Whether you’re just exploring an idea or ready to grow, we’re here to support you every step of the way.
Empowering local growth across the North King Country
The North King Country Development Trust (NKCDT) supports the heart of our region, helping local businesses, community organisations, and innovators turn great ideas into reality. Since 1993, we’ve been investing in the economic and social wellbeing of the North King Country, offering funding, mentoring, and connections that make a lasting difference.
Our success stories reflect the spirit of our people - from small business owners creating new jobs, to community leaders driving change in education, tourism, sustainability, and technology. Each project we back strengthens our shared vision of a thriving, self-sustaining North King Country economy.
We’re proud to partner with a network of expert service providers and mentors across the region, people who understand rural enterprise, local governance, and the power of collaboration. Together, we help build stronger businesses, confident communities, and a resilient future for everyone who calls this region home.
Explore our stories, meet our partners, and discover how the North King Country Development Trust can help your idea grow.
OUR SUCCESSFUL BUSINESSES
Backridge Fencing Ltd
Building Strength from the Ground Up
Born and raised in Ōparure, Teira (Terra) Gill turned his passion for working the land into a thriving business — Backridge Fencing Ltd. With support from the North King Country Development Trust, Teira and his partner Chalet Bidois received business mentoring, along with Xero and Health & Safety training, helping them build strong systems, manage finances confidently, and work safely.
Today, Backridge Fencing delivers top-quality conventional, electric, and residential fencing across the Waitomo District, combining craftsmanship, integrity, and local pride. What began as one man’s dream has grown into a trusted local business — a great example of how NKCDT support helps North King Country people build strong futures, one fence at a time.
LPR Collective
Innovation with Heart and Whānau
When a back injury changed his path, Kane Wharepouri of LPR Collective turned challenge into opportunity - blending creativity, technology, and whānau. With support from the North King Country Development Trust, Kane attended the Floating Rock Pitchfest in Wellington and completed Xero training, opening new doors for his family-run creative business.
Today, LPR works with AI, VR, and app development, creating tools that share New Zealand’s stories, support small businesses, and connect Māori with their whakapapa. From global collaborations to local innovation, Kane’s journey shows how NKCDT funding helps bold ideas grow - right here in the North King Country.
OUR TRUSTED PARTNERS
Guiding ideas into reality
For more than 20 years, Aotahi Limited has been helping people across the King Country turn great ideas into thriving businesses. Based in Te Kūiti, Managing Director Naomi Hughes and her team work alongside the North King Country Development Trust to support locals through one-on-one business mentoring, education, and start-up guidance.
Aotahi helps aspiring entrepreneurs understand the practical steps of business ownership — from planning and pricing to marketing and financial know-how — while keeping dreams alive. With a focus on community, education, and opportunity, Aotahi’s partnership with NKCDT empowers people to grow their skills, build sustainable businesses, and strengthen the North King Country, one idea at a time.
Who can apply for funding from the North King Country Development Trust?
If you’re based in the North King Country and have a business or community project that supports local growth, you may be eligible for funding. (Check our boundary map to confirm your location.)
To apply, you’ll need to show us where you’re heading — this may include a business plan, financial statements, or accountant-prepared reports, depending on your stage of business.
We support applicants who are helping strengthen our region by:
Growing the local economy
Creating or supporting new jobs
Increasing business activity and capability
Showcasing the North King Country as a great place to live, work, and do business
If your idea contributes to a thriving, vibrant North King Country, we’d love to hear from you.
Email: admin@nkcdt.co.nz
North King Country Development Trust supports local people and businesses through funding, mentoring, and capability-building programmes that strengthen our region’s economic wellbeing.
Our catchment area for business funding
Arohena | Aria | Awakino | Benneydale | Hangatiki | Kiokio | Kinohaku | Kopaki | Mahoenui | Maihiihi | Mangakino | Mangaorongo | Mangaotaki | Mangatutu | Mapiu | Marokopa | Mokau | Mokauiti | Ngaroma | Oparure | Otewa | Otorohanga | PioPio | Piripiri | Panetapu | Pureora | Rangitoto | Taharoa | Te Kuiti | Te Mapara | Tongaporutu | Waimahora | Waimiha | Waipa Valley | Waitomo | Whakamaru | Wharepuhanga