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Concerned by New Zealand’s sliding economic performance, Pukekohe local Mike Marr helped come up with Innovation Franklin to help foster growth in the area.
Marr began his working life in the electrical sector before switching over to a corporate career and founding the company The TPT Group in 1999 alongside his wife, Terese.
Over 25 years, they have started 10 more successful businesses, acquired a further 17, and now have 20 offices across the country. Despite this success, Marr’s roots are still in Pukekohe, and he and his family still live there.
In 2021, the TPT Group founded Innovation Franklin to foster and inspire innovation and creativity in the Franklin and Pukekohe areas.
“What deeply concerned me was that five years ago, we heard New Zealand had slipped down those global innovation rankings as an economy, and that’s a real concern because New Zealand’s always been a country centred around number eight fence wire mentality, and we must be able to innovate.
“Back in 2012, we were ranked the 13th most innovative economy in the world, and in 2023, we were 27th. So how do we position Franklin for the future, and New Zealand for the future? We need to dream big and have big, bold thinking for this country, and how we ensure we create the jobs for the future in Franklin,” said Marr.
“One of the things that deeply troubles us is that a lot of businesses need to reinvent themselves. Businesses that aren’t online need to be, but how do they adopt AI to be more efficient and competitive? How do we help position them for the future? Businesses can’t be the way they’ve always been; they need to disrupt themselves if that makes sense.”
Among the many initiatives created by Innovation Franklin is Junior Shark Tank, based on the popular American show, designed to inspire children.
“The youth shark tank was another way we try to engage with young people, trying to get them to think about the future, and about different business ideas. We put them before the sharks; they pitch and present their ideas to us.”
Marr said the recent Shark Tank was “hugely successful”, with great submissions and pitches.
It was so good that they decided to offer a version for youth.
“We can’t just be who we’ve been; we must innovate and think about the future. Innovation Franklin is about creating an innovation precinct in Pukekohe. We want young people to go there and see the future, so it inspires them.”
As of 2024, New Zealand ranks 25th in the Global Innovation Index, according to the World Intellectual Property Organisation.
