
About the Karori BID
The Karori Business Association (KBA) is a local business organisation focused on developing and enhancing the success of Karori business network for the benefit of the wider community.
By uniting the efforts of local businesses, fostering a spirit of collaboration and coordinating local initiatives, the organisation can help ensure Karori thrives into the future.
The Association is funded by way of a targeted rate. It is important to note that only buildings currently paying commercial rates within the Karori BID contribute. The building owner pays the targeted rate and may then choose to on-charge it to their tenants.
KBA also receives membership fees from Associate members.
We also partner with community organisations that provide mutual benefit for the wellbeing of our community.
Our Vision
- Karori is a vibrant, entertaining and activated hub for the Western Suburbs.
- We support our local businesses to be prosperous.
- Karori’s unique natural environment is a drawcard for outdoor activity attracting people from across the region and beyond.
- We are an inclusive place where generations and cultures mix seamlessly together.
Membership
KBA welcomes membership applications from businesses and community organisations that contribute to the success of Karori. Whether you're based in the village, provide services to the local community, or have a wider interest in supporting Karori, membership connects you with a network committed to building a vibrant, thriving and inclusive local economy.
A growing membership strengthens our collective voice. It enables KBA to advocate effectively on behalf of local businesses with local government and other decision-makers, while creating opportunities to promote, connect and grow our business community.
The Karori Business Association Board


Karori Community Centre
Heather Baldwin
Manager
Heather Baldwin has contributed to the Karori community for 30 years. She was instrumental in establishing Karori Kindergarten and served as Karori Plunket Creche Licensee. She’s completed three terms on the Karori Normal School Board of Trustees, including a stint as Chair, and has sat on the Karori Community Centre Board since 2005, chairing it since 2015. She currently chairs the Karori Community Hall Trust and the Karori Business Association, and sits on the Marsden and Chelsea Daycare Trusts.


Ray White
Will Calder
Real Estate Specialist
Will has been a member of the Karori Business Association since 2020 and currently serves as Treasurer. A lifelong Karori local, he was born and raised in the suburb and now lives here with his own family. As Sales Manager at Ray White Karori and a top-rated Elite Agent, Will has spent 26 years helping people buy and sell homes across the community. He believes great real estate is built on trusted partnerships, giving clients the knowledge and confidence to make informed decisions about what is often their most valuable asset. Will is passionate about Karori’s future and wants to see the suburb continue to evolve as a destination where families, businesses and visitors all have good reasons to spend time.


Bill McDonald
Bill is a native Wellingtonian, chartered accountant, commercial advisor and business owner. He lives in Kilbirnie and cares deeply about the city, its people and the role local business plays in creating great places to live and work. A master of juggling many balls, Bill is involved in several family businesses, including a preschool, commercial kitchen and honey operation, as well as Free For All, a zero-waste not-for-profit. He became KBA General Manager in July 2025, bringing experience working with business improvement districts across Wellington. Bill’s focus is on supporting local businesses, advocating on issues that matter and helping create opportunities for businesses to collaborate, contribute and have their voices heard.


Mary Potter Hospice Shop
Gill Burns
Manager
If you’re a keen op-shopper, you may already have met Gill, manager of the Mary Potter Hospice Shop on Karori Road. An architect who graduated from Victoria University, Gill is passionate about affordable housing and has spent much of her working life with community housing NGOs. That experience provides a strong foundation for her role at Mary Potter, where she connects daily with volunteers, shoppers and the wider community. Gill has lived in Karori since 1990 and raised her family here. She brings a practical, community-minded perspective to the KBA Board, with a particular interest in finding ways to support local businesses and make the most of what Karori has to offer.


Karori Baptist Ltd
Sue Dobbie
Sue has worked in community-based economic development, including in disadvantaged rural communities in Northland. She is currently a director of Karori Baptist Ltd, owners of the commercial property at 157–159 Karori Road. Sue is passionate about creating a safer, caring and prosperous community where everyone has a sense of belonging. In Karori, she sees real potential in the growing relationships between businesses, residents, young people, schools and community groups. She is particularly committed to building stronger links between local businesses and youth, creating opportunities for young people to participate, learn and see a future in their own community.

The Executive Committee of the Karori Business Association meets monthly on the first Monday of each month.