NEWS RELEASE
Wednesday, 9 June 2004

Nelson Seafood Centre of Excellence

The location of a new Seafood Centre of Excellence in Nelson was announced tonight by Economic Development Minister Jim Anderton.

The Nelson-Marlborough seafood cluster announced the centre today.

Jim Anderton told a function marking the establishment of the new Nelson Economic Development Agency the centre would be located on Nelson Port Company land at the north end of Akersten Street.

“It is an excellent location with sea frontages and sufficient space to permit the construction of a central complex. It will house the museum, offices and auditorium along with the New Zealand School of Fisheries and the Cawthron Institute.”

Jim Anderton said considerable effort has gone into finding the site.

“I am very pleased the government has also been able to provide $1.5m for the Nelson Marlborough Seafood Centre of Excellence. It will be the main national centre for all aspects of training education and research for the seafood industry. It will significantly increase our potential to deepen and expand our links to the global opportunities for our seafood industry.

“It will combine education, research and industry in a single site. The future of high value seafood production lies in our ability add knowledge and creativity to the industry. It will be very positive for the region.

“The centre of excellence is an example of the difference the government can make to unlocking the potential of our region. Nelson has natural resources, character and a creative, talented population.

We are unleashing the power of these advantages,” Jim Anderton said.

SPEECH ATTACHED

Hon Jim Anderton
09 June 2004

Launch of Nelson economic development agency
SPEECH NOTES

I’m delighted to be here to welcome the new Nelson economic development agency.

This is an important step in Nelson’s economic development.

I know it hasn’t been easy to come to a point where the new agency was ready to be established.

But I commend everyone who has made the agency a reality.

Nelson is taking control of its own economic destiny, and I wish the new agency every success in maximising the potential of the region.

The new economic development agency will be a focal point.

It will bring leadership and co-ordination to the many strands of the region’s economic development.

I am encouraged to think that the Tasman District Council will work with the new agency on key projects.

There is a lot for the region to achieve.

I am very confident about the future of Nelson.

One of the most important issues businesspeople talk to me about these days is staff and skill shortages.

I know there is a research project underway - in partnership with Marlborough -- to investigate that issue and how it affects the development of this region.

And while it’s urgent that we investigate such issues - it’s also important to take stock of how far we have come.

When I became the Minister for economic development, everywhere I went people asked, ‘where are the jobs?’

Today, the major complaint is that there are not enough skills.

I know which problem I would rather have.

Jobs have come because there is a renewed sense of confidence about Nelson.

It has successfully built on its strengths.

The buzz word in economic development today is creativity.

It is the creativity of designers, scientists, entrepreneurs, artists and others who provide true value.

That’s great for Nelson because it is rich in creativity.

Nelson’s most famous scholar, Lord Rutherford once explained why New Zealand is home to so many clever people.

The answer, he said is, ‘We don’t have much money so we have to think’.

Creativity is valuable because it can’t be copied and it can’t be taken away.

Today, Nelson is experiencing an economic renaissance because you have unleashed the region’s creativity and talent, in a range of economic activities.

A few years ago, in the eighties and nineties, governments were prepared to abandon the regions of New Zealand.

At best, government would stand on the sidelines and wish you luck.

Today, the Labour Progressive coalition government is a partner for the regions of New Zealand.

This government doesn’t come to regions and tell you what is best for you.

Nor will a government I am part of consign the region’s economy to the dustbin.

Instead, the coalition government is committed to working alongside regions to build on the strengths of each.

Every region has a distinctive identity and potential, which differs from region to region.

Building on the potential of the region requires everyone to take a strategic view.

It seems axiomatic to me regions can't maximise their potential unless they are thinking about their best and most competitive economic development opportunities.

If you plan for nothing, you are likely to get nothing. If you do not invest in economic development it should come as no surprise that you don't get any!

Development has to involve everyone with a stake in the development of the regional economy to talk to each other.

One of the most important things the new economic development agency can do is to improve networks in the community.

If there is one network, however, which is crucial to be part of, it is our links to the rest of the world.

Linking the regions strengths to global opportunities is the hardest and most important part of regional development.

The development of the fishing industry here is an excellent example of significant development that starts from a region and expands worldwide.

As you know, Nelson has one of the largest fishing ports in Australia or New Zealand.

It serves more than a hundred fishing vessels, from small local inshore boats to large factory trawlers.

The deepwater fishing fleets of three of New Zealand’s largest fishing companies are based at Port Nelson: Amaltal, Sealord and Sanfords.

Talleys has a processing factory at Port Motueka, and other smaller ports in Tasman district host small fleets of inshore boats.

Commercial fishing and the seafood production sector contribute about $380 million a year to the local economy.

They provide more than 2400 full time jobs.

The success of the industry is the result of hard work by many people and businesses in the region.

As they look for new opportunities, I am delighted the government has been able to support and extend their efforts.

The government has been able to contribute to the seafood cluster working to increase the value of seafood as a commodity.

I am very pleased that the government has also been able to provide $1.5m for the Nelson Marlborough Seafood Centre of Excellence.

The centre was announced by the Nelson-Marlborough seafood cluster today.

It will be the main national centre for all aspects of training education and research for the seafood industry.

It will significantly increase our potential to deepen and expand our links to the global opportunities available to our seafood industry.

Tonight I am able to announce that the site for the Seafood Centre of Excellence will be on Nelson Port Company land at the north end of Akersten Street.

It is an excellent location with sea frontages and sufficient space to permit the construction of a central complex.

It will house the museum, offices and auditorium along with the New Zealand School of Fisheries and the Cawthron Institute.

Considerable effort has gone into finding the site.

What it will do is combine education, research and industry on a single site.

The future of high value seafood production lies in our ability to add knowledge and creativity to the industry.

The centre for excellence will have that potential.

It will be very positive for the region, because it will focus not just on a valuable industry here - but on the higher value development of that industry.

The centre of excellence is an example of the difference the government can make to unlocking the potential of our regions.

Nelson has natural resources, character and a creative, talented population.

We are unleashing the power of these advantages.

The new economic development agency is going to play an important role in the ongoing development of the region.

It is a crucial job.
It is an exciting one.
And it’s one that is overdue.

I congratulate all involved in bringing the new agency to this point and I look forward to hearing of your successes in the future.

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