Taranaki’s engineering sector has taken a step towards securing work under the Government’s $12 billion Defence Capability Plan, with the Taranaki Alliance signing a memorandum of understanding with British military vehicle manufacturer Supacat.
Te Puna Umanga Venture Taranaki signed the MoU on behalf of the Taranaki Alliance, a regional industry cooperative formed to allow local engineering, manufacturing and specialist service firms to collectively compete for large-scale industrial contracts in New Zealand and offshore markets.
Regional Development Minister Shane Jones attended the signing and acknowledged the work undertaken to organise regional capability and secure the agreement with Supacat.
Supacat, headquartered in Devon, England, designs and manufactures high-mobility off-road and military vehicles and provides bespoke engineering services. The company also has established operations in Australia and is positioning itself to support the New Zealand Defence Force under the Government’s defence upgrade programme.
The MoU establishes a framework for cooperation between Supacat and the Taranaki Alliance and creates a pathway for potential local delivery of specialist engineering services including fabrication, machining, assembly, systems integration and logistics support.
If the relationship progresses to a formal contract, a range of Taranaki businesses could be engaged, embedding local firms into global supply chains while retaining skilled workers in the region.
Te Puna Umanga Venture Taranaki chief executive Kelvin Wright says the agreement signals early momentum for the Alliance following the allocation of $500,000 in seed funding by New Plymouth District Council in December.
“Supacat is a significant player in the Defence sector and this MoU signals clear confidence in the capability and high standards that exist in Taranaki,” Wright says.
“The Alliance gives global partners a credible, coordinated, single point of entry into a region with deep industrial experience. It strengthens our workforce, diversifies our markets, and positions Taranaki as a competitive industrial hub on a larger stage.”
Supacat Asia Pacific managing director Bruce Tait says the engagement reflects the company’s long-term commitment to strengthening sovereign defence capability in New Zealand.
“Supacat’s engagement with the Taranaki Alliance is an important evolution of our commitment to New Zealand and a key pillar of our strategy to expand Supacat’s existing capability in-country,” Tait says.
“This partnership allows us to blend our proven, high-end military vehicle design with the region’s specialised skills and technical depth in heavy industry, along with strengthening our global supply chain to ensure greater resilience against international disruptions.”
New Plymouth District mayor Max Brough says the council welcomes the economic growth potential of the Alliance, while Taranaki Alliance chair and Symons Group managing director Dean Eggers says the cooperative model provides customers with “a single point of accountability” and enables local firms to collectively pursue contracts that would otherwise be out of reach.
“Our companies already operate in demanding industrial environments where precision, compliance and reliability matter,” Eggers says.
“The impact of securing work of this scale will ultimately flow on to all industry, and most importantly, our community
