Vision for manufacturing

Manufacturers, government departments, academics and unions plan progressing a national manufacturing strategy this month.

A group of invitees will attend a one-day workshop in Auckland on November 30, says New Zealand Trade and Enterprise (NZTE) sector director for specialised manufacturing, David Penny, based in Auckland.

The Manufacturing Vision group, which is facilitating the workshop, is chaired by Waikato University management school professor Dr Mike Pratt.

Members are Pratt, Nigel Bamford (Escea Gas Fires, Dunedin), Martin Simpson (Fraser Engineering Ltd, Wellington), Steve Tucker (Gallagher Group, Hamilton), Ian Deveraux (Rocklabs, Auckland), Peter Conway (NZ Council of Trade Unions), Phil O’Reilly (Business NZ), Mike Sweeney (Engineering, Printing and Manufacturing Union), David Johns (Foundation for Research, Science and Technology - FRST), Michael Bird (Economic Development Ministry), Penny and Neil Maxwell (NZTE) and strategy project manager, Grant Wells (Nextant Ltd, Christchurch).

The team won’t produce a final strategy, says Penny, but it’s moving to cover a wide range of industries.

Penny says, “It will be a discussion forum rather than [resulting in] announcements. The grand plan will come later, as will events, where appropriate, to involve more people.”

The team has been compiling a discussion document for about four months.

“There will be a lot of work into the New Year as sectors refine what they are doing and conclude the way forward.

“The group’s role is to establish leadership and cohesiveness and the overall content of the industry sector strategies — what is manufacturing to New Zealand? Where is New Zealand’s focus?”

The work will produce documents for industries to input into policy for education, training, trade and trade development and could lead to infrastructure and a greater focus on individual sectors.

“I suspect, given the enthusiasm, this is a serious step forward in the recognition New Zealand relies on manufacturing for future wealth.

“[New Zealand] sometimes choose sexy things and forgets where you make your money.”

The strategy is not driven by the China-New Zealand free trade agreement negotiations but for its own sake and to define where the country is in the global economy, Penny says.