By DANIEL RIORDAN
The new chairman of Jim Anderton's "jobs machine," Industry New Zealand, believes the country needs to overcome its aversion to offering incentives to foreign as well as domestic businesses if it wants to lift economic performance.
Craig Boyce, who also chairs Christchurch-based retailer Smiths City Group, says the Government's failure to attract multinational Motorola - which recently chose to set up a new research and development plant in Australia ahead of Christchurch - says much about the philosophical approach of Government to business.
"We tried as hard as we could - but in the New Zealand way.
"Our problem is we're too worried about our manhood. It's just not staunch to go out and offer incentives and get Government involved in business."
It is a failing which Industry New Zealand is determined to overcome, at least domestically.
The crown entity has $330 million to spend over the next three years on a raft of regional development and industry assistance packages, most of which have already been announced.
Mr Boyce said only a small part of the money would be spent in the first year, to next June, as much of the organisation's early work would be focused on getting its governance structure right.
Industry NZ formally comes into existence on October 6.
But many of its programmes are already operating under the temporary stewardship of the Ministry of Economic Development.
Mr Boyce, one of eight board members announced yesterday by Deputy Prime Minister Anderton, will serve as interim chairman until a permanent appointment is made early next year.
Mr Boyce said Mr Anderton had someone in mind for that job who was not yet available.
The other board members are Waitangi Fisheries Commission chairman Shane Jones; Opotiki Mayor Don Riesterer; Great New Zealand Business Venture chief executive Bridget Wickham; the executive director of biotechnology company ICP, Maxine Simmons, who is also a Foundation for Research, Science and Technology board member; AXA Corporate Superannuation Services managing director Gregory Fortuin; Manufacturers' Federation president David Maloney; and former Engineers Union secretary Rex Jones.
Mr Boyce, Mr Jones and Ms Simmons were members of Industry NZ's establishment board.
Making his announcement, Mr Anderton emphasised the directors' experience at linking business and regional development.
And Mr Boyce said it was paramount that the board had members with business experience.
"For the past decade we've had this approach that there's no place for central or local government in business," he said.
That had now changed.
"But it won't be easy. We're really starting from a standing start because there's been no infrastructure for industry and regional development at all, apart from grants schemes like the Biz programme."
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