Nelson is poised for an investment injection unlike anything it has ever seen and on a scale that will see the region’s growth skyrocket, says a local expert.
By the middle of 2013 local iwi should start to see Treaty of Waitangi settlements from the Government transferred to it, to the tune of an estimated $300-400 million.
Nelson City Council Maori liaison officer Geoff Mullen says most of that money will be invested in the top of the south and will see growth in the region on a scale never seen before.
It comes at a time when Nelson businesses are already experiencing growth with the region’s Economic Development Agency chief executive Bill Findlater saying Nelson is in for a “bloody exciting” future on the back of the iwi investment and Nelson’s current business expertise, especially in primary production, like growing and producing food.
Local iwi and businesses are already engaging in how that money will be invested with a conference to be held in just over a week at Nelson’s Rutherford Hotel.
Geoff says the investment will most likely be in horticulture, aquaculture, viticulture and forestry, areas Nelson already does really well in.
He says local iwi are unlikely to “blow” their settlement like Taranaki iwi Ngati Tama did earlier this year, investing their entire settlement into a failed IT company. “There are two reasons that is very unlikely to happen here, one iwi have big brother down the road in Ngai Tahu who has been there and done that and they are very willing to lend their help and expertise. Secondly, and they’ll hate me saying this, but Maori are very conservative investors. They will scrutinise any business before investing.”
The investment will “inevitably” see more people moving to the region on the back of the settlement and more Maori-owned companies in Nelson and Tasman says Geoff. “The whole community will benefit from this because Maori see themselves as guardians of this area. They have been here for hundreds of years and will be here hundreds of years from now so their goals are in sync with the rest of the community, clean water, sustainable practices and ensuring future generations have opportunities.”
Bill Findlater says Nelson is on the cusp of a “very bright future” on the back of the food the region produces and the likely investment from iwi.
“I have a firm belief that Nelson will be one of the leading regions in New Zealand, it’s bloody exciting. The strength of our region is our primary sector and I would expect iwi to look to our primary sector in different forms to invest in and that will create opportunities not only for iwi but for the rest of the region.”
Nelson mayor Aldo Miccio says the council already has a strong relationship with Maori and the settlement is great news for the region.
“It’s the biggest economic development gain in the region and it’s probably one of the biggest cash injections that Nelson has ever seen. They want to keep the money in the region and they are long-term players so it’s a very good thing. It can only be extremely positive for Nelson.”
Four years ago iwi received an aquaculture settlement from the government and Geoff says that experience will help iwi plan and move forward with its latest settlement. “They’ve already started working on collaboration and they’ve started working with a lot of businesses around town discreetly. I think people would be quite amazed where they have got money invested if they knew.”
Geoff says most Nelsonians have little idea about the scale of the investment and it will flow to the whole community. “What’s good for Maori is good for the whole community. This isn’t a takeover or a ‘you’ll do it my way now’, it’s actually ‘let’s work in partnership and make a better region’.”
The conference for local iwi and businesses is to be held on October 18 and 19 at the Rutherford Hotel.
