Hon Jim Anderton Minister for Economic Development

Opening of new plant for NZ Petfoods Ltd, Timaru

Friday 6 May 2005

SPEECH NOTES

Acknowledgements:

Murray Cleverley, Chief Executive of Aoraki Development Trust, Russell and Karen Gawn, and invited guests.

It's good to be here to celebrate the opening of this new plant with you.

New Zealand Petfoods has come a long way and you have clearly worked hard, but more importantly, you have worked intelligently and innovatively, to build up this business.

When NZ Petfoods shifted from Oamaru to Timaru some key decisions were made: Firstly to find new partners who could provide capital. And then to find people who could provide the expertise needed to reach the next level of growth. Those are decisions that I encourage businesses to make every day.

We need companies all over New Zealand to approach the challenge of growth in the same way.

We need more kiwi businesses to invest in capital and utilise the expertise available in their communities.

In NZ Petfoods case, it was the Aoraki Development Trust that came on board to help.

The result is that the company has grown 150 per cent for every year over the last four years.

That's great news for the business, and good news for Timaru too.

With growth like that, it's not surprising that this business is supplying pet food to supermarkets around the South Island, that staff numbers have tripled and a manufacturing plant has been built.

This sets the scene for further growth and success, with the continued support of the Aoraki Development Trust.

I look forward to hearing more about the plans for export in particular.

Two of the biggest challenges we face in New Zealand is to lift the number of companies who export, and to increase the value of those exports.

By doing this, we expand the opportunities for growth, and with economic growth comes better living standards for all New Zealanders.

The success we are celebrating today proves how valuable it is to make the most of your opportunities

To work together with experts and fully utilise the resources available both internally and externally.

Many small companies are unaware of the need to go outside their circle and draw in new capital and knowledge.

When they do, they can make major leaps forward.

The Labour Progressive government’s business support programmes, delivered in Aoraki by the Aoraki Development Trust and through New Zealand Trade and Enterprise can provide the catalyst and the hand-up that small and medium enterprises need to develop their businesses.

I intend to ensure they continue so that we can celebrate more occasions like this across the country.

I heartily congratulate you.

[time to cut the ribbon to open New Zealand Petfoods' new plant]

ENDS

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