Up until July 2007, New Zealand Trade and Enterprise’s Regional Partnerships Programme funded activities that built the economic capability of New Zealand regions. This included funding for the following Major Regional Initiatives, some of which are still in the process of completing their three-year funding cycle. Please note that new funding under this scheme is no longer available.
Northland’s wealth of natural attributes formed the basis of a Tourism MRI in the region.
The Activate Northland project aimed to increase the capability and lift the performance of Northland’s tourism industry in order to increase visitor numbers, length of stay and visitor spend within the region.
The MRI investment from NZTE involved developing tailored, specialist professional development programmes for middle and senior management, an e-technology programme aligned with Tourism New Zealand, and strategies to develop sustainable tourism products and attract investment.
Product development included a focus on art, heritage and culture, providing opportunities to further leverage the Northland Naturally brand, and strategies to attract visitors in the shoulder and off-peak periods, such as the education and conference markets.
The project was the result of collaboration between local authorities in the Northland region, local iwi, business and community representatives. Enterprise Northland implemented the project.
It was expected that developing Northland’s people resource, as well as developing the region’s physical resources, would accelerate tourism growth in the region.
Read the Northland Major Regional Initiative Activate Northland - Final Report
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MRI investment is going towards building up Auckland’s screen production industry infrastructure and increasing awareness of its capabilities offshore.
The initiative involves securing private sector funding to develop a 20,000 sq ft world-class sound-stage, sustained regional marketing campaign and a significant training programme.
Screen production (film & television) has been identified as one of the key industries earmarked for regional growth and led to local authorities providing foundation funding to support industry-led Film Auckland.
A detailed economic impact report estimates the MRI could see the region generating additional GDP of between $32 - $34.7 million between 2005 and 2010, as well as the addition of more than 250 jobs each year.
Screen production in Auckland accounts for around two-thirds of all industry activity in New Zealand. The region has a strong history of producing local dramas, television commercials, post and visual effects, as well as international TV and film projects – such as the Hercules and Xena series and The Chronicles of Narnia – The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe.
The Waikato Innovation Park in Hamilton was the first ever MRI. It is a partnership between business, local government, crown research institutes, Iwi, economic development agencies and community groups, and is designed to convert intellectual property into commercial enterprises.The Park facilitates commercialisation of public/private sector technology and contributes to sustainable economic development in the Waikato and New Zealand.
The initiative builds on the natural advantages of the area - including concentration of some the country's top scientists around Waikato University and the Crown Research Institutes based at Ruakara. Long-term, the Park will stimulate growth in the Waikato by 4% and provide up to 2500 new jobs.
Aviation Waikato, owned by Waikato's lead economic development agency, The Katolyst Group, received MRI investment from NZTE to establish an Aviation Park at Hamilton International Airport. Participants will manufacture light aircraft and train pilots for the global market.
The initiative aims to increase aviation exports and help secure future training, research and investment in New Zealand's burgeoning aviation industry.
An associated Aviation Centre will develop and manage a cluster of companies that aim to sell replacement parts for fleets of light aircraft around the world.
Aviation Waikato will also work with training providers, Waikato University, Wintec and others to develop programmes to support engineering and manufacturing skills training for the aviation industry.
An economic impact report prepared for NZTE estimates that the Waikato aviation industry currently generates $50 million a year in revenues. The establishment of Aviation Waikato is expected to increase yearly revenues by $7 million- $15 million a year.
New Zealand’s international competitiveness is closely linked to its ability to source appropriate skills that can add value to what New Zealand produces.
The National Centre of Maintenance Engineering Excellence (Maintain NZ) aims to lift skill levels and address the major shortage of maintenance staff in the country.
The centre aims to play a key role in future economic growth by helping to lift manufacturing productivity levels and filling skills gaps in the region's processing industries, by establishing a training and education centre for manufacturing and reliability.
Forestry and dairy processing are the biggest employers and export earners for the region and contribute nearly two-thirds of New Zealand’s gross domestic product.
It is estimated that the centre has the potential to add $14 million in economic growth to the regional economy.
The Kawerau Education and Training Trust (KETT), which includes founding partner Kawerau College, will work with Auckland University of Technology (AUT) to develop the initiative, backed by Norske Skog and Fonterra. The National Engineering, Printing and Manufacturing Union (EPMU) is also a founding trustee.
The training centre is located at the Kawerau Norske Skog mill.
Drawing the food-processing industry, education and research together and coupling them with the Hawke's Bays traditional strengths in agriculture and the manufacturing sector is the basis of this MRI.
With the assistance of MRI investment, Food Hawke's Bay has developed food industry clusters and a Centre of Innovation based at Eastern Institute of Technology (EIT).
The clusters focus on the transfer of production capacity from existing companies to local small to medium businesses, adding value and growing export volumes in the food industry throughout the region, stimulating new product development and improving food industry training and education.
The Centre of Innovation aims to spark innovation in product development and will be accessible to students and industry. The Centre also provides sensory and testing services, and small batch capability for food processing and wine-making.
New Zealand’s pipfruit industry has a chance to lead the world in the area of growing fruit with no detectable pesticide residues thanks to a groundbreaking new project being rolled out in three regions.
The Apple Futures project has received $2 million from New Zealand Trade and Enterprise (NZTE) to employ a national project manager and three technical staff to roll out a programme of refined orchard management techniques in Hawkes Bay, Nelson and Otago. These include more intensive plantings to make it easier to grow fruit that complies with international pest and disease regulations, wider use of biological controls and education about how to reduce pesticide use.
The project builds on work by Pipfruit New Zealand to produce fruit with low environmental impacts through its integrated fruit production programme that began in 1996. At the end of the project, Apple Futures will become the dominant part of this programme.
Apple Futures is a partnership between the Hawkes Bay, Nelson and Otago regions, Pipfruit New Zealand Inc and NZTE. NZTE’s funding of $2 million over three years will be supplemented by $667,000 from the pipfruit industry.
The project is expected to stop a decline in the industry’s exports and instead lead to a $152 million increase in the value of exports nationally after five years to $391 million. It reflects the pipfruit industry’s strategy to become a leading niche player by being smarter, faster and better than its competitor and gives it a chance to enhance its premium position in world markets.
The development of the Apple Futures project has also resulted in strong links between the industry and horticultural research and development, meaning the techniques developed for pipfruit may one day be transferable to other horticultural crops.
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The MRI for the Tairawhiti region sees Mâori landowners partner with food businesses to grow exports.
The initiative facilitates ventures between landowners, food marketing and processing businesses. Projects being set up involve lamb finishing, sustainable farm management, natural foods and development of kiwifruit orchards.
The projected economic benefit of this initiative stands at $320 million (over the next ten years), with more than 100,000 hectares across the region expected to directly benefit from being more aligned with export markets.
The Maori economy makes an important contribution to the national economy, delivering $700 million, or approximately 7.4% of New Zealand’s agricultural output.
On the most recent data available (2001), Maori commercial assets were valued at an estimated $9 billion. Of this, $4.5 billion was invested in these primary industries.
New Zealand food products – lamb, kiwifruit, natural foods – all have a positive image globally, backed up by world-class technology and innovation. The initiative aims to tap into that high-growth potential and deliver tangible benefits to the Tairawhiti region.
New Zealand has a "wall of wood" to be harvested and plantation wood volumes are expected to double over the next 20 years. The challenge New Zealand faces is to develop skills and knowledge to create higher-value wood products - such as mouldings, laminates and composites - which attract bigger margins in export markets.
The National Centre of Excellence in Wood Processing Education and Training in Rotorua aims to meet industry demands for skilled workers, engineers, technologists and researchers.
The Centre is an initiative of the Forest Industries Training and Education Council, Waiariki Institute of Technology and the University of Auckland.
It is a superb example of ways to accelerate wood processing in line with government strategy. Higher-value returns flowing from the new skills and technology are projected to run into billions of dollars.
Combining Taranaki’s significant capability in engineering with a skills strategy, an export office and a branding campaign, places the region as a leading centre of excellence in applied engineering.
The Taranaki Centre of Applied Engineering was established to offer a range of business services to the region’s engineering sector.
The project is driven by Venture Taranaki working with the Western Institute of Technology Taranaki (WITT) and the Engineering Taranaki Consortium (ETC), made up of 11 of the region’s leading engineering companies.
The initiative includes training graduates for the industry and investing in new technology to provide sophisticated plant and equipment for student training.
ETC concentrates on several areas: new product development, pursuing new business opportunities, and enhancing the industry’s competitiveness and efficiency. Additionally, a procurement and export office within the new Centre co-ordinates the collective purchasing power of the engineering sector and links companies to offshore export opportunities.
The drive to strengthen infrastructure for the industry will include a national and international campaign to position Taranaki as a specialist centre of applied engineering.
MRI funding is helping to upgrade Taupo’s motor sport race track to a standard that will allow it to host large international race events like the A1 Grand Prix.
The initiative is focusing on building pit lane, media and corporate facilities at the Taupo Motorsport Park. Additional track safety features will also be included to comply with Federation Internationale De L’Automobile (FIA) Class 2 standards.
NZTE's support for the initiative has given the organisators of the A1GP, also known as the World Cup of Motorsport, the confidence to hold a round of the event at the upgraded Taupo track in January, 2007.
Neighbouring regions Rotorua and South Waikato have supported the establishment of the Taupo park. Racing events like the A1GP fit in with moves by Tourism New Zealand to establish the country’s reputation as a world-class events destination.
International media coverage of races could provide huge returns to New Zealand’s tourism sector and – through the park's nearby business area – also highlight its technological and manufacturing prowess.
The business park aims to encourage the development of a cluster of high-technology companies that will be able to leverage business from motor sport activity at the track.
The MRI funding is conditional on the motor sport park securing an international event. The $13 million development also has significant funding from local government and private investors.
Building up the regional tourism attractions forms the basis for the Wanganui/Rangitikei/Ruapehu MRI.
The region has vast tourism potential with mountains, rivers and national parks, a rich Maori and European cultural heritage and was the location for many scenes in The Lord of The Rings trilogy, seen by millions around the world.
The initiative builds on these natural strengths and aims to attract more international tourists to the region, to encourage them to stay longer and to spend more. It is estimated that the growth generated will result in an increase of $10.2 million on tourism spend and nearly 160 new full time jobs.
The MRI investment aims to help the region develop an international marketing programme, which will publicise a touring route through the region, and also to develop new products to assist existing tourist operators.
The touring route is designed to divert traffic through Taumarunui, Ohakune, Waiouru, Taihape, Bulls and Wanganui, acting as the mechanism to deliver visitors to the region.
Another key feature is the implementation of a marketing strategy utilising both internet and print based initiatives designed to attract tourists to the region.
The Bio Commerce Centre in Manawatu creates opportunities for scientific research to be commercialised and generate significant growth in the local economy.
The Centre, which is based at the Fitzherbert Science Campus, includes incubation, marketing and brokerage services and provides a focus for the interaction of business and science. MRI investment was used to establish the Centre’s offices and Incubator premises, staffing costs for business development managers and an incubator co-ordinator, and the appointment of a CEO with expertise in commercialisation.
The Manawatu region has the largest plant-based research capability in New Zealand with a high concentration of biological research scientists and specialised technicians. The regional initiative will ensure that research carried out locally can also be commercialised locally with the returns staying in the region.
The project is a partnership between regional businesses, Massey University, the Crown Research Institutes, Palmerston North City Council, Vision Manawatu and NZTE. As well as boosting the Manawatu regional economy, the Bio Commerce Centre strengthens New Zealand’s reputation as a centre of excellence for bio sciences.
MRI funding is helping to strengthen Kapiti-Horowhenua's textile industry and make it more globally competitive. The DesignTex initiative aims to link textile businesses in the lower North Island and New Zealand and help to build up their business expertise, improve production and stimulate investment in their industry. DesignTex will offer training to lift the industry’s business knowledge, foster leadership abilities, link designers with manufacturers, up-skill workers, and promote collaboration within the sector. A DesignTex Business Centre will also be established in the region as a focal point for the industry. The initiative is a partnership between textile, clothing, footwear, and carpet businesses in the Kapiti-Horowhenua region, as well as the Kapiti and Horowhenua district councils, Nature Coast Economic Development Agency and New Zealand Trade and Enterprise (NZTE). DesignTex will help the industry form strategic relationships with a range of textile organisations, education institutions and other agencies in New Zealand to help companies become more market-led and design-led.
It will also build relationships with textile industry leaders in the United Kingdom to develop a marketing gateway into Europe.
DesignTex aims to double the turnover of participating companies within five years, which in turn will boost regional growth and the national economy.
A Major Regional Initiative in Wairarapa aims to strengthen the region’s food and wine reputation internationally.
Cuisine and Fine Wine consists of two separate, but complementary projects. One will focus on building up the Wairarapa wine industry’s global competitiveness, while the other will result in an International School of Cuisine being set up in the region.
Cuisine and Fine Wine brings together several partners from different industries in the region, such as food services and production, wine, tourism, and education, as well as New Zealand Trade and Enterprise.
The International School of Cuisine will be established by Universal College of Learning (UCOL), which has formed a partnership with world-renowned culinary education provider Le Cordon Bleu to deliver a range of culinary programmes.
New Zealand Trade and Enterprise is providing MRI funding which is being supplemented by the other partners, while substantial investment from the private sector will contribute to the development of the school in the future.
A world-class sound stage and movie production facility forms the first MRI for the Wellington region, with the support of Positively Wellington Business and NZTE.
The facility is being mostly financed by Camperdown Studios in Miramar which is owned by film-makers Peter Jackson, Richard Taylor and Jamie Selkirk.
Screen production is a key driver in Wellington's regional economy and the availability of a state-of-the art production facility will attract more international productions.
The new sound stage provides two key advantages; a fully soundproofed studio in which filming can take place uninterrupted by weather and noise, particularly from the airport, and the ability to attract more than one movie at a time with two large sound stages adjacent to each other.
An economic assessment prepared for Positively Wellington Business by NZIER estimates the impact on the regional economy if the new facility is able to attract one mid-budget film every two years would be an injection of $250 million over ten years. If the facility attracts a high budget film every two years, the injection is estimated at $650 million over ten years.
The Wine Research Centre of Excellence in Blenheim is an initiative of the Marlborough Economic Development Trust and the Marlborough District Council.
The project is a collaborative partnership between the Marlborough wine industry, Nelson Marlborough Institute of Technology, Lincoln University and HortResearch with support from the Marlborough District Council and Marlborough Regional Development Trust. It is endorsed on a national level by the Wine Institute of New Zealand, Auckland University and Eastern Institute of Technology.The Centre opens up opportunities to pursue graduate studies and post-graduate research. The knowledge gained goes back into the region's wine industry.
MRI investment has been used for constructing and equipping the facility, with operational costs met by the wine industry.
The partnership between industry, research and education gives a substantial economic and social boost to the Marlborough region. Wakatu Incorporation and Ngai Tahu have significant investments in the Marlborough wine industry. Training and employment benefits will undoubtedly further enhance Maori economic development in the region.
With 50% of the value of New Zealand wine exports coming from the region it is anticipated greater knowledge and innovation will translate directly into higher export earnings.
In addition to its thriving wine and aquaculture industries, Marlborough is positioning itself as an international centre for aviation, including aviation engineering and tourism.The latest venture is an Aviation Heritage Centre and Park to house and display working heritage aircraft, including warbirds, and to provide a business park and aeronautical training. The Heritage Park is a working “hospital” for old planes, restoring them to their former glory. Each restoration injects between $2 - $5 million into the local economy.
The development of the Aviation Heritage Centre and Park builds on Marlborough’s long aviation history and wealth of aviation knowledge and skills. Kingsford Smith took off and landed from Omaka, site of Woodbourne airfield which has been used as a base for the RNZAF since World War Two and is also home to Marlborough’s airport. The US airforce also had a base there for many decades.
Safe Air operated its Bristol Freighters from Woodbourne until the early 90’s and now has a burgeoning aviation engineering business, servicing aircraft from as far as Chile and the Philippines. It is the largest overhauler of propellers in the Southern Hemisphere.
MRI funding is helping the West Coast build a sustainable, world-class tourism industry.
The West Coast has experienced high growth in tourism over recent years and the West Coast highway from Haast to Nelson was recently rated one of the world's top drives by international travel authority Lonely Planet.
The major regional initiative will make sure this continues and translates into improved profitability for regional businesses, while also ensuring future tourism development is sustainable.
The initiative will cover a variety of tourism projects ranging from the development of facilities, to product management and support for small and medium sized enterprises.
It is expected that the benefits will be spread across the West Coast. The initiative has received funding from the West Coast Development Trust and is supported by the Department of Conservation, Ngai Tahu and local government.
New Zealand’s use of geospatial technology will be backed up by a research centre in Canterbury dedicated to furthering developments in the rapidly evolving industry.
Geospatial technology involves the gathering, storage, processing and use of data that is referenced to geographical location and can be applied to areas such as surveying, communications, precision agriculture, and global positioning systems.
Several New Zealand companies have been at the forefront of developing novel uses for the emerging technology.
NZTE has provided MRI funding towards the establishment of the Geospatial Research Centre, which will eventually be based at Canterbury University’s New Zealand ICT Innovation Institute (UCi3).
The centre is a partnership between the University of Canterbury, the University of Nottingham, Canterbury Development Corporation, and researcher David Park.
Dr Park is one of five scientists with geospatial research experience who will relocate to the Canterbury from the University of Nottingham.
The centre provides a unique opportunity for Canterbury and New Zealand to gain a competitive advantage by accessing world-class knowledge in a developing industry.
The benefits of the centre’s research projects for industry, the Canterbury region, and New Zealand are estimated to amount to $63 million over 10 years.
The Wool Industry Network (WIN) is based in Canterbury – home to a large proportion of the wool industry’s commercial base.
The WIN is a consortium of funding agencies, the wool production, supply and processing sectors as well as key service providers.
The WIN brings wool farmers, processors and exporters together to work closely with a wide range of organisations including regulatory authorities, economic development agencies, textile manufacturers and educational institutions.
Under the WIN umbrella, these organisations take a strategic approach with a single focus: the production of high quality, high value products for overseas markets.
The wool industry is a mainstay of the New Zealand economy and while it contributes more than $1 billion annually, it has the potential to generate significantly more export revenue.
The Wool Industry Network (WIN) assists regional businesses to unlock this potential through collaboration, innovation and a focus on developing products that respond to the needs and changing requirements of international consumers.
The Southland Broadband Initiative aims to give the region access to fast, reliable Internet connections, helping to create jobs and boost returns from core industries including farming and tourism.
The initiative delivers a portable broadband telecommunication service to well over 90% of the population. This includes high speed Internet services for all schools in the region, regional toll free voice calling on the network, flat rated national toll calling and additional cellular and wireless data sites.
The project enhances Southland’s ability to participate in the global economy by providing a quality information and communications technology infrastructure. Farm businesses, for example, will be able to be more intensively managed, introduce real time monitoring of weather and receive timely and comprehensive data regarding farm production.
Farmers can supply high-resolution images of their products to prospective markets, while tourism operators can differentiate themselves with rich content in their information and also increase connectivity rates with the growing number of international visitors who seek to make travel bookings via the Internet.
Venture Southland manages the project with financial support from the Ministry of Education and the Community Trust of Southland.
The total Southland broadband investment is in excess of $50 million and expected to return $190 million a year within five years, more than $400 million a year in ten years, and create at least 490 jobs.
Major Regional Initiative funding will be used to help establish the Discover Fiordland International Wilderness Centre in Te Anau.
The centre will be an all-weather, world class tourism experience that highlights Fiordland’s historic, environmental, and wildlife attractions using leading edge, interactive technology.
The project is a partnership between the Discover Fiordland Charitable Trust, tourism operator Real Journeys, the Department of Conservation, NZTE, the Community Trust of Southland, and economic development agency Venture Southland.
Discover Fiordland will encourage further private sector investment in Te Anau, which will benefit from the resulting increase in overnight visitors who spend more money in the town.
It will also help to establish Te Anau as a base for people planning to visit neighbouring Milford Sound, creating a more even spread of visitors into Milford Sound during the day.
The initiative is expected to boost New Zealand’s GDP by $59 million in the centre’s first four years of operation and $170 million in its first decade.
The World Class New Zealand programme is a practical programme that connects high-potential New Zealand sectors with the best talent in the world.
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