Stephen Knuckey

Lead - Economic Development | Ārahi - Whakawhanake Ōhanga
Auckland Office

Stephen has a reputation for going the extra mile to ensure that his clients have the highest quality of economic advice and to provide fit-for-purpose solutions. 

Stephen is one of the most experienced industry and economic development policy experts in the country. He has advised on economic growth strategies and business assistance programmes, both at national and regional level, for two decades. 

Before joining MartinJenkins in 2011, Stephen had a 17-year career in central government in a variety of economic and industry policy advisory and management positions. This included Director of Economic Development Policy for the Ministry of Economic Development and Economic Advisor to the Deputy Prime Minister. He played a lead role in designing the policy and programmes that established New Zealand Trade and Enterprise and Industry New Zealand. He also co-authored two national studies on New Zealand business practices and performance.

Examples of Stephen’s work for MartinJenkins include:

  • leading the development of economic strategies for Dunedin, New Plymouth, Waikato and Queenstown

  • leading an assessment of economic opportunities and the implications for skills and transport demands on the East Coast

  • developing an economic monitoring report for Dunedin

  • developing a foreign direct investment strategy, innovation review and sector engagement approach for Auckland Tourism, Events and Economic Development Ltd

  • supporting a review of government expenditure on innovation, industry and internationalisation programmes. 

  • reviewing the effectiveness and efficiency of economic development services and activities for Councils in Northland, Waikato, Taranaki and Nelson-Tasman. This has included recommending and advising on the establishment of improved economic development arrangements in several regions.

  • overseeing the development of the Regional Growth Studies in Northland, the Bay of Plenty and the West Coast and the identification of commercial and industry development opportunities to increase incomes and jobs in key sectors in those regions.

Project Examples