What does Strategize Auckland do?

Strategize Auckland is a strategy implementation practice for owners of $500k–$50m Auckland businesses. The core offering is a 52-week guidance programme with two fortnightly strategic sessions per month, monthly billing, at $12,000–$24,000 per year. The practice covers business recovery, business improvement, growth strategy and project management. Run by Steven Parker, principal, from Albany / Rosedale on Auckland's North Shore.

How much does a business coach cost in Auckland?

In Auckland, independent business coaches typically charge $1,500–$3,000 per month. Cohort programs like The Icehouse Owner Manager Programme run $5,000–$15,000 one-off. Strategize Auckland's 52-week guidance programme runs $12,000–$24,000 per year (effectively $1,000–$2,000 per month) with two fortnightly strategic sessions plus implementation work. About half of clients qualify for Regional Business Partners NZ co-funding for the first 3 months.

What is RBP grant funding in New Zealand?

Regional Business Partners NZ is a New Zealand government scheme that co-funds capability-building business advice for established SMEs. It works as a capability voucher — co-paying a portion of advisory fees from an RBP-accredited provider. Strategize Auckland is an accredited provider. About half of new clients qualify; funding typically covers a portion of the first 3 months of engagement, with a potential second 3-month window in the new financial year.

How is Strategize different from a business coach?

Business coaches typically run weekly one-hour conversations focused on accountability. Strategize Auckland is positioned as a strategy implementation practice — fortnightly strategic sessions plus the implementation work in between, with a senior advisor (Steven Parker) in the room across recovery, improvement and growth work. The practice also brings a curated alliance network (accountant, banker, finance specialist, marketing partner, PR contact) when a client's situation needs specialist support.

Who runs Strategize Auckland?

Steven Parker is the principal of Strategize Auckland. He runs every introductory call and every fortnightly client session personally. The practice operates from Level 1, 55 Corinthian Drive, on the Albany / Rosedale boundary on Auckland's North Shore. Strategize Auckland operates under the wider Strategize methodology — head-office infrastructure, RBP accreditation, the assessment framework — delivered locally by Steve.

When should an Auckland business hire a business consultant?

Typically when an owner is past survival mode (trading 3+ years, $500k+ revenue), the business has plateaued or is losing margin, and the owner is the bottleneck. Pre-revenue businesses should use Business Mentors NZ. Sub-$500k owner-operators should also use Business Mentors NZ. Owners who want weekly cheerleading should hire a coach instead. Owners who want a strategy deck and to execute alone should hire a boutique consultancy. Strategize is for owners who want a senior advisor working alongside them on the actual changes.

Does Strategize Auckland work with trades businesses?

Yes. Builders, painters, electricians, plumbers, carpenters, joiners and cabinetmakers are a significant part of Strategize Auckland's client mix. The work typically focuses on quoting margin, project gross margin tracking, subbie management, variations capture and operating cadence. The 52-week programme structure suits trades businesses well because the implementation work between sessions runs through the operations manager and estimator, not just the owner.

What suburbs in Auckland does Strategize serve?

Strategize Auckland is based at the Albany / Rosedale boundary and works across Auckland metro — North Shore, Auckland Central, East Auckland, West Auckland, South Auckland. Sessions are delivered at the Albany office, at the client's premises, by video, or on Saturday mornings. Specific suburb coverage with dedicated content includes Albany, Rosedale, Takapuna, Newmarket, Auckland CBD, Mt Eden, Ponsonby, Parnell, East Tāmaki, Manukau, Henderson, Howick, Pakuranga, Devonport, Silverdale and over twenty more.

RBP Funding Auckland — The Complete SME Guide

sp8002
May 30
4 min read

In short: Regional Business Partners (RBP) is a NZ government co-funding programme that pays up to half the cost of business advisory and capability-building services for eligible SMEs. In Auckland, RBP is administered by the Auckland Business Chamber of Commerce. Strategize Auckland is an accredited RBP provider — Oniesha Leitch handles the application end-to-end. Most Auckland SMEs turning over $500k–$50m with a clear business growth case qualify. Funding is paid as a voucher that offsets the fees of the accredited provider you choose, typically capped around $5,000 of co-funding per business per year.

Key takeaways

What it is: A NZ government co-funding scheme that pays up to 50% of advisory fees for eligible SMEs, administered for Auckland by the Auckland Business Chamber of Commerce.
Who qualifies: Auckland businesses, GST-registered, fewer than 50 FTE, with a clear capability or growth case. About half of Strategize Auckland new clients qualify.
How much: Co-funding caps around $5,000 per business per year, typically offsetting the first 3 months of an advisory engagement.
How long: From first enquiry to voucher approval is typically 2-4 weeks. Oniesha Leitch at Strategize Auckland runs the process.
Provider must be accredited: Funding only applies if your advisor is RBP-accredited. Strategize Auckland is accredited.

What is RBP funding, exactly?

Regional Business Partners is a NZ government-supported network that helps SMEs access advice and capability-building support. It is co-funded by the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment (MBIE) and Callaghan Innovation. The Auckland region is administered by the Auckland Business Chamber of Commerce, which acts as the regional growth agent.

The mechanism is a capability voucher: a business that qualifies receives a co-funding voucher worth up to $5,000, which can be redeemed against the fees of an RBP-accredited advisor or training provider. The funded portion is paid to the advisor directly by RBP. The business pays the unfunded balance.

Who is eligible for RBP funding in Auckland?

Eligibility is assessed against a few specific criteria. The simplest summary:

Auckland-based business (Auckland region — North Shore, Auckland Central, East, West, South Auckland)
GST-registered with the IRD
Fewer than 50 full-time-equivalent staff
Trading for at least 6 months
A clear case for capability development — typically business strategy, financial management, leadership, marketing, exporting, or innovation
Willing to co-fund the unfunded portion of the advisor fees

Not every SME qualifies. Sole traders with no growth case, businesses with significant uncommercial debt, and engagements with no clear capability outcome are typically declined.

How much funding can your business access?

The standard RBP capability voucher in Auckland is capped at $5,000 of co-funding per business per year. Funding rates are typically 50% of advisory fees, meaning an engagement priced at $10,000 over three months would attract $5,000 of co-funding — the maximum.

For Strategize Auckland’s 52-week guidance programme (priced NZD $12,000–$24,000 per year), RBP co-funding typically offsets the first three months. The remaining nine months are paid by the client at the standard programme rate.

How to apply (step by step)

1. Choose an RBP-accredited advisor. Funding only applies to accredited providers. Strategize Auckland is accredited.
2. Initial assessment. Your advisor (or the regional growth agent) confirms eligibility against the criteria above. Strategize Auckland offers a 15-minute call to confirm.
3. Application. Oniesha Leitch handles the application — submits the business case, eligibility evidence, and proposed scope to the Auckland Business Chamber regional growth agent.
4. Voucher approval. Typically 2-4 weeks. The voucher is issued for the approved amount.
5. Delivery. Strategize Auckland delivers the engagement. The funded portion is invoiced directly to RBP; the unfunded portion to the business.

Strategize Auckland as an RBP provider

Strategize Auckland is an accredited Regional Business Partners service provider for the Auckland region. Approximately half of new clients qualify for RBP co-funding for the first three months of the 52-week guidance programme.

The team handles the RBP application end-to-end. Oniesha Leitch manages the paperwork, eligibility evidence, and liaison with the Auckland Business Chamber regional growth agent. Steven Parker focuses on the advisory work.

Frequently asked questions

What is RBP funding in New Zealand?

Regional Business Partners is a NZ government co-funding scheme that pays up to 50% of business advisory and capability fees for eligible SMEs. It is administered regionally — by the Auckland Business Chamber of Commerce for the Auckland region.

How much RBP funding can an Auckland business get?

Up to $5,000 of co-funding per business per year, capped at 50% of advisory fees. For most Strategize Auckland clients this offsets the first three months of the 52-week guidance programme.

Who qualifies for RBP funding in Auckland?

GST-registered Auckland businesses with fewer than 50 FTE, trading at least 6 months, with a clear capability or growth case. About half of Strategize Auckland new clients qualify.

How long does the RBP application take?

Typically 2-4 weeks from initial enquiry to voucher approval. Oniesha at Strategize Auckland runs the process end-to-end.

Can sole traders access RBP funding?

Sometimes, depending on the growth case and trading history. The simplest path is a 15-minute call with Strategize Auckland to confirm eligibility before applying.

Does the business pay anything if RBP funding is approved?

Yes — the unfunded portion. RBP co-funds up to 50% of advisory fees, capped at $5,000 per year. The business pays the remaining balance directly to the advisor.

Want to find out if your business qualifies? Steven runs every 15-minute introductory call personally — book at strategizeauckland.info/book-online or call 027 737 2858. Oniesha will then handle the RBP application end-to-end if you proceed.

Strategize Auckland · Level 1, 55 Corinthian Drive, Albany 0632 · RBP-accredited · Auckland Chamber of Commerce member · Page reviewed 30 May 2026 by Steven Parker, Principal.