New Zealand's specialised manufacturing companies are flexible and innovative problem solvers, creating unique, cost-effective solutions to customer needs. Innovation has established many New Zealand companies as world-leaders in their specialist areas.
Many companies supply high value niche export markets. Technological advances and the emergence of global value chains, mean New Zealand's distance from markets is becoming less important.
Manufacturing is already an important contributor to the New Zealand economy. The sector comprises 15,000 companies from the automotive, aviation, electronics, engineering, marine and plastics industries. Together they contribute more than 15% of GDP and over 44% of export receipts. Companies within the sector are critical to the performance of the economy’s primary industry and, with 37% of private sector investment in research and development, they contribute significantly to innovation in wider sectors of the economy.
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The NZTE sector engagement strategy covers a wide range of manufacturing industries. It excludes food and beverage, textile, clothing, footwear and leather, wood and paper products and also printing, publishing and recorded media, which are included within other New Zealand Trade and Enterprise sector groups.
The Specialised Manufacturing sector is an aggregation of the following 12 sub-sectors:
Within each of the sub-sectors there are numerous groupings, and NZTE also engages in cross-sector initiatives.
NZTE is assisting specialised manufacturers to achieve sustainable global competitive advantages.
To read more about the sector and key organisations, visit MarketNewZealand.com
Manufacturing+: A vision for world leading New Zealand manufacturers (Nov 2006)
Manufacturing+: A Vision for World Leading New Zealand Manufacturers identifies issues, challenges, and opportunities for the sector, which is a critical part of New Zealand's economy in its own right and also an important enabler to other industries.
Plastics led growth: Growth opportunities in the New Zealand plastics industry (April 2005)This research was commissioned to assist in the development of the plastic industry’s long term strategic plan.
The HTS opportunity for New Zealand (May 2004)This report provides an overview of HTS developments in New Zealand and the international opportunities HTS offers New Zealand manufacturers.
Once upon a leader: Leadership pathways to wealth creation in science and technology (March 2004) A Royal Society study, funded by NZTE, initiated to determine how to develop more successful leaders to commercialise and export the nation’s science and technology.
The New Zealand automotive components manufacturing industry (July 2003)This scoping report was commissioned by NZTE to profile the scale and capabilities of the industry with a view to identifying future potential growth opportunities.
For other publications see the Publications section.
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