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Economic Development

Associated Ministers

30 July, 2008

O- I New Zealand expansion reflects confidence

Economic Development Minister Pete Hodgson today welcomed United States-based glass manufacturer Owens-Illinois Inc (O-I) announcement today to invest NZ$80 million to expand its Penrose, Auckland, plant and create more jobs.

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30 July, 2008

Organics industry funding announced

Organics industry umbrella body Organics Aotearoa New Zealand is to receive $1.04 million in government funding over the next three years to help it become self-funding

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29 July, 2008

Free tool supports businesses to self assess

A new free tool that helps business people assess their business’s capabilities in areas such as leadership and planning will be launched by Economic Development Minister Pete Hodgson tonight.

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24 July, 2008

New members for GIAB announced

Twelve new members representing some of New Zealand’s leading businesses and research organisations have been appointed to the government’s Growth and Innovation Advisory Board, Economic Development Minister Pete Hodgson announced today.

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9 July, 2008

Local scooter business speeds towards growth

Eco-friendly scooter and skateboard company X-Rides Ltd is ramping up its growth prospects

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9 July, 2008

Local scooter business speed towards growth

Eco-friendly scooter and skateboard company X-Rides Ltd is ramping up its growth prospects.

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9 July, 2008

$25m new centre boosts Whitireia’s trades training

Whitireia Community Polytechnic is now even better placed to contribute to trades training with a brand new Industry Training Centre.

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27 June, 2008

Energy, Transport and Sustainability Symposium

Speech to the National Energy Research Institute Symposium, Rutherford House, Wellington

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19 June, 2008

Trans-Tasman support to commercialise research

New firms based on innovative research at The University of Auckland will get a kick start from a new AUD$30 million fund - the first trans-Tasman commercialisation fund , announced Economic Development Minister Pete Hodgson today.

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19 June, 2008

Launch of Trans-Tasman Commercialisation Fund

It gives me great pleasure to be here this evening to launch the Trans Tasman Commercialisation Fund. This is a fund which will take more great University of Auckland research across the ‘Valley of Death’ and out into the commercial world.

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4 June, 2008

World Environment Day Business Breakfast

In the last few years, we have seen a clear and unmistakable shift in business attitudes towards sustainability. Whereas previously sustainability was seen by some as a threat best avoided or contained, today, smart, progressive firms see sustainability as a necessary condition of doing business and as an opportunity for differentiating their goods and services from those of others.

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4 June, 2008

The Importance of Management and Leadership Skills

I would first like to acknowledge the work of the Business Capability Partnership in launching Management Focus and the efforts of Export Year 2007 participants for bringing PLATO to New Zealand. The power of both these initiatives comes from a collaborative approach employed by participating public and private sector organisations. From inception to implementation, these partners work together to provide innovative solutions to real business issues.

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4 June, 2008

More World Class Managers

Three awards to create “more world class managers” were announced today by Economic Development Minister Pete Hodgson at the launch of a campaign to raise business awareness of the opportunities available to improve their management skills.

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30 May, 2008

Digital Experts Work with Local Industry

Bringing local companies together with experts from Google, Virgin Comics & Animation and Intel is an opportunity to drive growth for New Zealand’s digital content industry, Economic Development Minister Pete Hodgson said today.

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21 May, 2008

Design Driving Business Success

Ci Munro, a division of Tourism Holdings Ltd (THL), has become the 100th business accepted into New Zealand Trade and Enterprise’s Better by Design programme, Economic Development Minister Pete Hodgson said today.

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8 May, 2008

Explorer Graphics Limited Conference

We know that New Zealand has a great deal of knowledge and experience in the use of geospatial data.

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7 May, 2008

Waikato Innovation Park to get government funding

The government has agreed in principle to provide up to $4 million to the Waikato Innovation Park, Economic Development Minister Pete Hodgson announced today.

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30 April, 2008

Speech to EMA Manufacturing Forum

You have asked me to talk about economic development, and to place emphasis on skills, exports and Manufacturing +. I am delighted to have the chance.

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23 April, 2008

Otago Design Centre to get government funding

The government has ‘agreed in principle’ to provide up to $1.9 million to the Otago Institute of Design to establish an Applied Design Research Centre in Dunedin, Economic Development Minister Pete Hodgson announced today.

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10 April, 2008

Exporting gets that little bit easier

Address to Export New Zealand Grand Hall, Parliament Buildings The government is committed to partnering businesses to help them grow and become globally competitive. And we listen to exporters’ priorities and concerns. There are four programmes or changes that can help exporters become more internationally competitive. I’ll refer to these during my talk today and provide you with some detail on them.

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3 April, 2008

Modern Apprentices crack 15,000 mark

More than 15,000 Modern Apprentices are either in training or have completed their apprenticeships

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3 April, 2008

Strong R&D gives Gisborne company an advantage

World-class technology and research capability is helping a Gisborne company build up an international reputation in the field of composite materials, Economic Development Minister Pete Hodgson said today during a visit to the company.

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2 April, 2008

Trans-tasman biotech projects receive $3.8 million

Three trans-Tasman biotechnology projects will receive a total of $3.8 million in grants under the Australia New Zealand Biotechnology Partnership Fund, Economic Development Minister Pete Hodgson announced today.

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2 April, 2008

NZBio Conference Awards Dinner

Speaking at the fourth NZBio annual conference in Auckland Pete Hodgson announces the winners of two distinguished biotechnology awards.

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2 April, 2008

Celebrating 100 years of Buy Kiwi Made

For 100 years Kiwis have been encouraging other Kiwis to buy New Zealand made goods. In 1908 domestic manufacturers recognised the need to appeal solely to the domestic market.

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1 April, 2008

Northland company eyes global opportunities

Whangarei electrical engineering company McKay is making the most of opportunities to grow its business internationally – and a range of government services are helping it realise gains even faster, Economic Development Minister Pete Hodgson said during a visit to the company today.

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1 April, 2008

Launch of the Whangarei Marine Engineering Initiative

Speaking to members of the Whangarei business community and the marine engineering and ship building sector Hon Pete Hodgson announces a new initiative that will help Whangarei build on its marine expertise.

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1 April, 2008

$2m for Northland marine engineering initiative

A $2 million government investment will enable luxury megayachts and specialised steel-hulled ships to be constructed and fitted out in Whangarei

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1 April, 2008

Launch of Whangarei Marine Engineering Initiative

A new initiative in Whangarei aims to develop a major shipbuilding export industry focused on megayachts and large steel-hulled vessels

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31 March, 2008

Kiwis go Buy Kiwi Mad

Centenary celebrations for the Buy Kiwi Made campaign kick-off at Parliament on Wednesday with the official start of April’s ‘Buy Kiwi Mad’ month.

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