Framework for our future
Aotearoa — New Zealand is a magical place. A country of authenticity, cultural richness, and in many places a back yard like no other. We live in a time, however, where our future is uncertain. Our current path, our legacy, is questionable, and without intervention and a clear vision for where we wish to go, we are destined to follow the path of a world currently on a tipping point.
On returning from Beijing last November, I shared the idea that we needed to get smarter in our approach to attracting and managing inwards investments. Over the last few months I have developed concept that I have shared with a number of influential people. The idea is around developing local policy and partnerships that not only celebrate and care for our people and our place, but create a legacy that ensures we leave our backyard in a better condition for our kaitiaki.
Simply put, we really do need to get smart. We need to develop a way forward that identifies and enables sustainable and innovative methods that support an environment (people and place) of respect, authenticity and prosperity. The motivation behind this is that, currently, foreign inward investment is managed by the Overseas Investment Office (and other government agencies). Local government has little, if any, influence on these decisions. I believe that we in local government can better manage this by recognising that any investment relationship needs to be mutually beneficial.
The framework I have in mind would provide clarity and support potential investors. It would help them understand the opportunities, the support networks and the terms under which these can be taken advantage of. It would also identify those areas not open for investment.
This approach will have five key areas of concern: it will address land ownership models and focus on partnership, lease and other relationships, rather than foreign ownership; it will promote robust investment opportunities that focus on the industries we wish to encourage (eg. tourism, aquaculture, horticulture, forestry, marine farming, energy and manufacturing); it identifies and legislates areas within the district plan that promote and enable these industries to develop; it identifies and strengthens key relationships that benefit our communities and district, investors and government (perhaps investigating Public/Private Partnerships); and it develops processes that support efficiency and costeffectiveness for industry development. This framework is currently sitting with two ministers. I plan to continue to advocate and work towards progressing this into a business case.
"We need to develop a way forward that identifies and enables sustainable and innovative methods that support an environment (people and place) of respect, authenticity and prosperity."