Positively Wellington Business Completes Its Work Today

Positively Wellington Business, the region's current economic development agency, completes its work today.

PWB was established in 2001 by Wellington City Council, to be a catalyst for region-wide economic development through collaboration between the private and public sectors.

Wellington, Hutt City, Porirua, Upper Hutt and Kapiti have been PWB's principal funders, alongside Government agencies such as NZTE and FRST.

Since inception in 2001 PWB has succeeded in helping the region's businesses to generate more than $430 million worth of activity.  Objective KPI measures for this work were established, and these have been consistently applied.

Milestones and highlights have included realisation of the Camperdown Studios Sound Stage in Miramar, the world-class AnimfxNZ symposium, and the Greater Wellington Industry Development Centre in the Hutt Valley. PWB's business incubator Creative HQ has been rated among the best-performing in New Zealand.

With delivery of the Wellington Regional Strategy starting next month, PWB's work will be built on by a new region-wide economic development agency, with a clearer mandate than was previously possible.

PWB Chair Ken Douglas said this afternoon:  "I would like to acknowledge PWB's staff, trustees and stakeholders as we reach this new beginning.

Our Chief Executive Philip Lewin and his team are to be congratulated for their achievements this year, in reaching all business plan targets and winning the 2007 national Vero business support award for "Best Local Government Initiative".     Philip Lewin will continue as Interim CEO of the successor agency Regional EDA Ltd before pursuing other directions later in the year.

"There is every reason to anticipate strong continuity of the good things PWB has been doing over the past five and a half years; and that we will see an even stronger organisation delivering for regional business going forward" said Ken Douglas.      

ENDS

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