Finance minister says Southland set up to capitalise on aquaculture industry

Tuesday, 1 October 2019

Minister Grant Robertson speaking about the Wellbeing Budget at a luncheon organised by the Otago Southland Employers Association at the Kelvin Hotel on Tuesday.

Finance minister Grant Robertson is excited by Southland's aquaculture potential saying it provides a prime opportunity to diversify Southland's economy.

Robertson spent the day in Invercargill on Tuesday where he met with various business leaders, including those at Southland's regional development agency, Great South.

Aquaculture was identified as an ideal economic opportunity as part of the Southland Regional Development Strategy produced in 2015.

Robertson is confident Great South is making good progress in trying to further tap into the aquaculture industry.

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'There is some really good work being done to look at the expansion of that industry here [in Southland]. Real opportunities at every stage of it.

'We were looking particularly at salmon hatcheries [with Great South] and how that would work. There has been some support there from the Provincial Growth Fund.'

'I think one of the really important bits is what it means for the diversification of the Southland economy, this is an area with a large coast line, there is huge opportunity.

'We know there is a lot of interest from the current players in terms of Sanfords and also Ngai Tahu.'

Mark O'Connor - who heads the Southland Aquaculture Working Group - says there has been plenty of work happening in the aquaculture space.

'We haven't been sitting on our hands,' O'Connor says.

He says they have identified a potential aquaculture opportunity for Southland and hopes in the coming months they would be in a position to make an announcement on it.

O'Connor says they have been working with the Government's Provincial Development Unit, which administers the Provincial Growth Fund, on the particular project they have identified for Southland.

The Government released an aquaculture strategy last week which highlighted a push for New Zealand to be world-leading in sustainable and innovative aquaculture.

Robertson says Southland can play a key role in that.

'What really struck me about the proposal we heard about [on Tuesday at Great South] was the alignment with the [aquaculture strategy].'

Robertson acknowledges the Tiwai Point Aluminium Smelter and the dairy industry has been strong drivers for the Southland economy, but he adds there is plenty of room for growth in other sectors.

Like aquaculture, tourism provides further growth opportunities for Southland, Robertson says.

'It's really important for any region to diversify, and as I said, with such a large coast [aquaculture] is a real opportunity to grow.'

During Robertson's visit to Invercargill he spoke at luncheon organised by the Otago Southland Employers Association and was provided an update on the CBD development plans for Invercargill.

Robertson also spent some time with Southern Institute of Technology chief executive Penny Simmonds to talk about the reform of vocational education.