Submission
9 year plan feedback
Should we remove 231 Stuart Street (formerly the Fortune Theatre) from the list of strategic assets in the DCC Significance and Engagement policy?
Do you have any comments about 231 Stuart Street?
Should we charge an entry fee of $20 (incl. GST) for international visitors aged 16 and over, at Toitū and Dunedin Public Art Gallery?
Do you have any comments about the entry fee for international visitors?
Is there anything else you would like to tell us?
Dear Dunedin City Council,
I am writing as the founder of Coralcone Ltd, a proud Dunedin-based startup, to express my strong support for continued—and increased—investment into Startup Dunedin as part of the 9-Year Plan.
Startup Dunedin has been a cornerstone of our city's entrepreneurial ecosystem. However, despite their critical contribution, their funding has remained unchanged for six years. Without an increase, their ability to deliver vital programs and support to new businesses is now at real risk. As a founder who has directly benefited from their services, I can confidently say that Startup Dunedin played an instrumental role in getting Coralcone Ltd off the ground.
Through Startup Dunedin’s incubator program, I gained access to expert mentorship, industry connections, media exposure, and an incredible community of support. Most significantly, they helped build my confidence as a first-time founder. Without their support, it is unlikely Coralcone would have moved beyond the idea stage. Today, we are not only trading but actively contributing to Dunedin’s economy and community.
Investment into Startup Dunedin is not just an investment in individual startups—it is an investment in the city's future. The entrepreneurial sector is already severely underfunded across New Zealand, and this shortfall is even more acute on the South Island. Startup Dunedin fills a vital gap by equipping early-stage entrepreneurs with the tools, resources, and networks they need to succeed locally rather than relocating to bigger centres.
Through Coralcone, I have been able to employ members of our community who often face barriers to traditional employment—such as career-break mothers and retired professional women—offering them meaningful, impact-driven work. This is the real-world impact of nurturing startups: creating employment opportunities, fostering economic inclusion, and embedding social good into our city’s business landscape.
As Dunedin looks to the next decade, we must ensure we are backing the organisations that will drive sustainable growth, create jobs, and build resilience into our economy. Startup Dunedin has proven its impact time and again. However, to keep pace with the needs of the growing entrepreneurial sector and to retain talent here in Dunedin, increased investment is imperative.
Failing to properly resource Startup Dunedin now would mean losing the momentum we have fought hard to build. Startups are the seeds of future industries, future employment, and future innovation. I urge the Council to recognise the significant return on investment that Startup Dunedin delivers, and to ensure it is positioned for continued success.
Thank you for your consideration, and for your ongoing commitment to supporting the future of Dunedin.
Yours sincerely,
Yvette Shum
Founder, Coralcone Ltd
Local Water Done Well feedback
Which water services delivery model do you support?
Why did you choose this option?
Do you have any other feedback related to the proposed water services delivery models?
Supporting information
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Submitter
Submission id number: 1132209
Submitter name:
Yvette Shum
Organisation