Operating Environment

operating environment content

Operating Environment

Economic development is not a short-term activity; it is about facilitating projects and infrastructure that will provide for the future of the region long term and to ensure the region is adequately resourced. The operating environment changes rapidly, and keeping abreast of these changes and providing that information to stakeholders is a key part of the Agency’s work.

While the EDA is tasked to focus on economic development, it understands that developing the economy must not come at the expense of the social, cultural and environmental values that are important to the region’s communities. The EDA must also adhere to stakeholder’s requirements and the economic climate. These include:

Nelson City Council Community Outcomes

(a) Healthy land, sea, air and water – We protect the natural environment

(b) People friendly places – We build healthy, accessible and attractive place and live in a sustainable region

(d) Kind, healthy people – We are part of a welcoming, safe, inclusive and healthy community

(e) A fun, creative culture – We are proud of our creative local culture and regional identity

(f) Good leadership – Our leaders are proactive, innovative and inclusive.

Link to Nelson City Council – www.ncc.govt.nz

Tasman District Council Community Outcomes

(a) Our unique and special natural environment is bountiful, healthy, clean and protected

(b) Our built urban and rural environments are functional, pleasant, safe and sustainably managed

(d) Our vibrant community is safe, well, enjoys an excellent quality of life and supports those with special needs

(e) Our community understands regional history, heritage and culture

(f) Our diverse community enjoys access to a range of spiritual, cultural, social, educational and recreational services

(g) Our participatory community contributes to district decision making and development

(h) Our growing and sustainable economy provides opportunities for us all.

Link to Tasman District Council – www.tdc.govt.nz

Ministry of Economic Development Statement of Intent 2008/2011

The Ministry of Economic Development (MED) wants economic transformation and has an overall aim; to help develop an internationally-competitive and sustainable economy. They have stated six outcomes in their Statement of Intent 2008/2011. These are:

(a) Enterprising and innovative businesses

(b) International linkages

(d) Ease of doing business

(e) Efficient, reliable and responsive infrastructure services

(f) Auckland, a world-class city.

Link to the Ministry of Economic Development - www.med.govt.nz

Enterprising Partnerships Fund

The goal of the contestable fund is to enhance regions’ ability to improve the quality of the regional business environment, and lead to economic benefits and opportunities for the region(s), through encouraging collaborative projects between key industries and other stakeholders within the region(s). The Fund will part-fund significant commercially based projects that would not happen without government intervention and which enhance the competitiveness of the industries and regions involved.

It is designed to support projects that promote knowledge sharing, facilitate innovation processes and grow international connections through regionally based collaborative partnerships and networks, and other key regional institutions. The projects will contribute to the implementation of a region’s or regions’ economic development strategy but also contribute to the Government’s overall objectives for economic transformation and sustainable development. The Government's Enterprising Partnerships Fund is administered by the Ministry of Economic Development.

Link to NZTE - www.nzte.govt.nz

New Zealand Trade & Enterprise

For the purposes of NZ Trade & Enterprise (NZTE) economic development funding the three top of the south regions, Nelson, Tasman and Marlborough (as defined by Council boundaries) are seen as one region. The top of the south must have an economic development strategy that covers the total region. The region must have a regional governance group (RGG) and any funding applications for the regional strategy fund must come through this group, and must meet the following criteria:

"The Regional Strategy Fund will support the implementaton of actions from a region's Regional Economic Development Strategy directly focused on enterprise and innovation. It was also improve the quality of the regional business environment to support the development, attraction and retention of globally competitive firms". (NZTE, 2007)

Nelson-Tasman Regional Economic Development Strategy

The Nelson Tasman Regional Economic Development Strategy was released in December 2007 after considerable consultation with the region’s Councils, business agencies, key industries and support sectors. Much of the work carried out by the EDA is initiated through this document and a key purpose in the Trust Deed is to coordinate and promote strategy projects described in the Nelson Tasman Regional Economic Development Strategy. This strategy has also fed into the Te Tau Ihu Linking Strategy that links the Nelson, Tasman and Marlborough Economic Development Strategies. This is the document in which development projects that can attract New Zealand Trade & Enterprise funding are described.

Click here to link to the Regional Economic Development Strategy (REDS)