Northland Inc Well-Placed To Deliver In 2013

PRESS RELEASE

13 December, 2012. (No of pages: 2)

Northland Inc Well-Placed To Deliver In 2013: Executive Chairman
Five months after its creation, new regional economic development and tourism body Northland Inc has been making steady progress and is well-placed to deliver on a number of initiatives in 2013, Executive Chairman Colin Mitten says.

Under changes which took effect on 01 July, ownership of both Enterprise Northland and Destination Northland transferred to a new Northland Regional Council ‘Council Controlled Organisation’ (CCO) called Northland Inc to improve governance and introduce more private sector experience.

At the same time businessman and Northland Port Corporation Chairman Colin Mitten was appointed as Executive Chairman to both chair the Northland Inc board for two years and act as Northland Inc’s CEO pending the appointment of a board and new chief executive.

Mr Mitten says the past several months have been spent laying the foundations for Northland Inc’s future work including:

• Recruiting and appointing a new four-member board (including the chairman) with recruitment of a fifth, final member underway
• Restructuring and merging what had been Enterprise Northland and Destination Northland into Northland Inc with offices in both Whangarei and Paihia
• Analysing the Northland economy and determining the opportunities that exist for a number of sectors
• Engaging with the Northland Economic Advisory Group, the Northland Tourism Development Group and various tangata whenua representatives
• Launching the ‘Northland Aquaculture Development Strategy’‘ which aims to see aquaculture in Northland developed into a $300 million industry employing more than 700 extra workers in less than two decades
• Launching a rebranded Northland Inc website: www.northlandinc.co.nz

Mr Mitten – who has more than 30 years’ management experience in both the public and private sectors in New Zealand, the United Kingdom, Europe and the United States – says it has been incredibly important for Northland Inc to do the necessary preparation.

“Far from being a ‘talk-fest’, the past few months have been absolutely critical to us to ensure we’re well-positioned and engaging proactively with the right groups and people.”

“We need to ensure we’re as well placed as possible to deliver economic development in Northland, particularly in those key economic sectors where we have a real competitive advantage including land-based primary industries, aquaculture, added value manufacturing, and tourism.”

He says Northland Inc is also keen to ensure a good understanding of the issues and opportunities for Northland, foster a strong Northland economic development focus and remove blocks to facilitate sector growth.

Key initiatives for 2013 will likely include:

• Removing barriers to the success of Northland’s key industries
• Further work with the aquaculture industry
• Ensuring a sustainable water supply for the horticultural industry
• Producing a marine engineering strategy
• Working with Maori and the education sector to align local training with sector needs.

Meanwhile, another key component of the Northland Inc role will be for its board to recommend potential investments to benefit the regional economy and create jobs.

“We’ll do this by recommending eligible projects to the regional council for funding via the council’s Investment and Growth Reserve Fund.”

Mr Mitten says at this stage Northland Inc expects to be in a position to start making recommendations early in the New Year. Meanwhile, he says the hunt for a permanent CEO will also begin the New Year.

Further information:

Northland Inc is the economic development agency and regional tourism organisation for Northland.
Visit: www.northlandinc.co.nz

ENDS

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