Invermay Summit Update

Dunedin (Tuesday, 27 August 2013) – Former Dunedin MPs Pete Hodgson and Katherine Rich have now joined a working party putting the finishing touches on an alternative proposal for AgResearch and the Minister of Economic Development Steven Joyce to consider.

Since the Summit on 14 August, Southern leaders have been discussing the announced downsizing of Invermay with AgResearch Chief Executive Tom Richardson and its Chairman Sam Robinson.

The Invermay Summit meeting was triggered by the announcement of 85 job losses at Invermay AgResearch Centre by 2016. Many see Invermay as integral to Dunedin’s Economic Development Strategy, and its loss would have a major impact on the wider regional economy.

Mayor of Dunedin Dave Cull says since the Summit a lot of work has been going on behind the scenes.

“The Summit created a great deal of positive thinking on the future. From that we have been putting together a brief showing that AgResearch’s proposal is strategically damaging both to the region and the national economy.

“We plan to have a discussion with the AgResearch board in late September and a meeting with the Minister after that.”

Mr Cull says Mr Hodgson and Mrs Rich bring valuable experience to the working party.

At the Summit, leaders from Otago and Southland expressed concern the decision to close Invermay was short-sighted given the presence and obvious co-research interests of the University of Otago, and its primary research links with agriculture south of the Waitaki River.

“If they take away the sort of infrastructure and services offered by Invermay, they erode our research and economic base and we have nothing to build on.''
The new proposal focuses on opportunities to enhance Invermay rather than downsize it, Mr Cull says.
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