SPARKING THE FUTURE OF FRANCHISING

The Franchise Association of New Zealand (FANZ) National Franchise Conference returned to Wellington in June, bringing together franchise leaders, business owners, suppliers, advisors and sector experts from across the country for three days of learning, connection and plenty of fun. 

Held at Tākina Wellington Convention and Exhibition Centre, the Conference delivered a packed programme including an outstanding keynote from demographer Dr Paul Spoonley on the future make-up of New Zealand and implications for franchising, plus a heartfelt keynote from global franchising leader Rocco Fiorentino from Benetrends Financial.

Australian FANZ members Joel Kleber, CMO of Jim’s Group, and Greg Nathan from Franchise Relationships Institute also provided insightful presentations. The Conference offered a range of workshop and roundtable opportunities that inspired and informed lively discussions.

The Hon. Cameron Brewer, Minister for Small Business, and the Hon. Matt Doocey, Minister for Mental Health, joined the Conference opening dinner and spoke to delegates about the Government’s initiatives for small business and business owner wellbeing. The final evening event was a 90s-themed gala dinner to celebrate FANZ’s 30th birthday, with plenty of games, dancing and fun for all - including a surprise musical performance!

From insightful keynote presentations and workshops to many networking opportunities, celebrations and new friendships, delegates left Wellington energised, informed and optimistic about the future of franchising in New Zealand.

Recognising the best

Finalists for the 2026 New Zealand Franchise Awards will be announced 23 September this year, with tickets also available from that day onwards for the Awards gala dinner to be held 14 November at the Grand Millennium Hotel in Auckland.

Everyone in the New Zealand franchise sector is welcome to attend, whether you are up for an award or not. It’s also a great opportunity for non-members to experience the FANZ community – come along to recognise another fantastic year in franchising, connect with others across the sector, and celebrate success.

Visit https://franchiseassociation.org.nz/new-zealand-franchise-awards for more details on how to purchase tickets. 

This year’s Awards gala dinner will be an especially important celebration for the New Zealand franchising community. Due to a reshuffle in the dates of two flagship FANZ events in 2028, the new timing means there will be no New Zealand Franchise Awards held in 2027. 

Franchisee tenure recognition

With average franchisee tenure typically sitting around 7-9 years, FANZ have decided to recognise those who continue to build on that milestone and reach 10 years and beyond.

The long tenure recognition awards have been extended to include 10-14 years, as well as 15+ years, acknowledging the significant commitment and contribution of franchisees who build long-standing relationships within their franchise systems.

Franchise systems can nominate any number of qualifying franchisees. This is not a performance-based award, so you can nominate all franchisees who meet the relevant tenure thresholds or simply your longest-serving franchisees. Nominate your franchisees at https://franchiseassociation.org.nz/franchisee-tenure-recognition. 

Welcome to the 2026/27 FANZ Board

Members of the Franchise Association of New Zealand gathered at Waipuna Hotel and Conference Centre for the 2026 AGM on 24 August. The AGM included updates on the Association’s activities, future priorities and governance matters.

Following the annual election, the FANZ Board for the coming year was announced. Congratulations to the new Board:

• Stacey Bree - Pit Stop
• Dr Callum Floyd, CFE - Franchize Consultants
• Jason Hill, CFE - Green Acres & Hire A Hubby
• Brad Jacobs - The Coffee Club
• Greg Paget, CFE
• Sam Pollock - Cookie Time
• Khushbu Sundarji - SGL

New members and dates for your diary

Welcome to new FANZ members - The Induction App, Gong Cha, Pacific Franchise Group, Franchise Matcha, Andersen New Zealand.

The FANZ event calendar is regularly updated, so for the latest details of what’s on around the country, please visit the Franchise Association website at www.franchiseassociation.org.nz, email contact@franchise.org.nz or phone 09 274 2901.

See this advertorial on page 48 of Franchise New Zealand magazine Year 35 Issue 03

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