Launch of "Partnership for Growth" Programmes
[ Last Updated 11 February 2006 ]
Please note that the information in this document was correct as of 4 July 2000. For current information on the schemes, please go to the New Zealand Trade and Enterprise website.
Speech Given by Hon Jim Anderton, Minister of Economic Development, at Cloud 9, 1 Fairway Drive, Lower Hutt on 4 July 2000
Less than a year ago, I went to Te Papa to launch the most ambitious policy document that I've been associated with.
It was called Partnership 2000: A Springboard for Growth.
That document set out the urgent case for the transformation of New Zealand's industrial base.
It said we need more jobs and higher incomes for New Zealanders.
It said that to achieve that outcome, we had to take a partnership approach to economic development.
We had to invest in innovative industries and in our regions.
It argued that you couldn't have a strong national economy if you had weak regions.
Above all, it argued for investment in sustainable economic development through a regionally-based development process.
At about the same time our coalition Labour colleagues released a strikingly similar policy.
It coined the name "Industry New Zealand."
From today, Industry New Zealand opens for business.
We are launching the Government's first three partnership initiatives.
They are the first examples of sustainable economic development.
They're designed to achieve higher levels of growth and boost the regions.
These first three programmes mean that the Government is back.
We're back in partnership with regions, with communities and with industry.
There is more to come.
This is just a start.
I've been out in the regions virtually every week this year.
I am amazed at the positive attitude of people who are committed to provincial New Zealand.
It is the people who have stayed in the regions that have helped to build the flavour and the spirit of their areas.
That is what glues society together
It is not just the captains of industry talking about hundreds of millions of dollars of investment that is important.
It is the people on the ground.
That is what New Zealand communities are about.
That is what gives me great optimism.
From one end of New Zealand to the other there are people who are passionate about what they are doing and what they want to do for themselves, their businesses and communities.
That is the solid foundation from which we can build.
People live in the regions because they want to be there.
They want to be able to continue to live there, get a job there, bring up their kids there and allow their children to get jobs there.
It has been 25 years since we had a dimension in politics at government level that talked about developmental economics.
That talked about regional and industrial development.
For the last decade, regions and businesses have been working on strategies and plans for development.
Central Government has been the missing player.
Well now we're not missing any more.
Today is the beginning of our partnership with communities and industry to transform the economy.
To develop new jobs and higher incomes for New Zealanders by investing in industries and regions.
We're taking a ground-up approach.
It is designed to unlock the potential of regions.
In the Tairawhiti region we have created a Development Taskforce which I am chairing.
It has called for submissions from the people, organisations and businesses.
Central Government and local leaders are working together to bring those ideas together into a set of common goals supported by action teams.
We are focusing on Tairawhiti first.
We will develop a focus on all regions and industries to unlock their potential and to achieve sustainable development.
The three initiatives we are launching today were foreshadowed in the budget.
I would like to pay tribute my Cabinet colleagues and to the MED officials involved for getting this package ready so quickly.
A few months ago, there was no capacity in Government at all to deliver partnerships with regions and the private sector.
Now we have set up the Ministry of Economic Development and these three Industry New Zealand programmes are being offered from today.
That urgency is a reflection of the priority this Government has placed on sustainable economic and regional development.
We couldn’t have made such quick progress without the excellent and committed support of the economic development agencies and the BIZ provider network.
We will deliver these programmes using their networks, knowledge and support.
The Ministry of Economic Development will deliver the programmes on behalf of Industry New Zealand until it is incorporated in September.
The three programmes are:
- The Enterprise Awards Scheme
- The Regional Partnerships Programme, and
- The Investment Ready Scheme
Regional Partnerships
The Regional Partnerships Programme is design to strengthen regional economies.
We want to work with local communities to help them make the most of their unique strengths and competitive advantages.
The programme provides up to $100,000 per region for early stage planning; up to $100,000 each year for building capability to implement strategic plans; and up to $2 million for major regional initiatives.
We expect the regions that put forward proposals to address issues such as building local support from local government, iwi, community and business.
We don’t want regions competing against each other. We want to promote cooperation.
Enterprise Awards
The Enterprise Awards Scheme delivers financial support to innovative entrepreneurs and businesspeople.
It will help them test and develop concepts with strong growth potential.
They can apply for up to $10,000 per year. In the next six months a minimum of 250 awards will be made by this Awards scheme.
This is early stage financing through a competitive process. That means that the best ideas and the strongest proposals will receive awards.
The Investment Ready Scheme
Innovative small businesses and entrepreneurs will have a better chance of raising finance in the early stages of development through the Investment Ready Scheme.
It helps to increase skills and assist them to secure private investment.
There are two components to the scheme.
The first is about training and information for small business and entrepreneurs.
The second component is small business deal brokering to help raise up to $5 million of capital.
It is about building a bridge between ideas and the people who provide finance for growth.
More to Come
These three programmes are just the beginning.
There will be more.
I am pleased to be here today at Cloud 9 to launch these three initiatives.
Cloud 9 and the Wellington film and video industry are a success story.
Previous Governments haven't taken much of an interest in the film and video industry.
Local authorities have and have been working with these film companies as partners.
I am here to say that successful companies like Cloud 9 are important to New Zealand.
Central Government must be available as a capable partner, looking for ways to support your growth and the growth of your industry.
Industry New Zealand, together with the Ministry of Economic Development, are going to be the face of Government in the partnerships of the future.
The programmes we are launching today are the beginning.
They are the springboard.
From today, it's all underway.
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