NZTE keen to help grow businesses in Tauranga

New Zealand Trade and Enterprise's new chief executive Peter Chrisp - who worked in Tauranga for three years - made a return visit last week to check out the Bay's exporting exploits.
"We want to connect with companies wanting to grow and see how we can help them," said Mr Chrisp, who has been chief executive for two months, replacing Tim Gibson.
Mr Chrisp worked in Tauranga between 1999-2001 as the logistics and distribution manager for Norwegian pulp and paper company, Norske Skog.
He moved up from Kawerau where he was the operations wood manager at the pulp and paper mill, then owned by Fletcher Challenge.
During his time in Tauranga, the mill's ownership was broken up between Norske Skog and Carter Holt Harvey, and Mr Chrisp was involved in selling Fletcher Challenge's two break bulk vessels, Tasman Venture and Tasman Enterprise.
Instead, the exports of newsprint and other paper products through Port of Tauranga went out in containers.
Mr Chrisp returned to the paper mill in 2001 as general manager, overseeing a $15 million modernisation which included using two machines instead of three.
Five years later he moved to Norske Skog's headquarters in Oslo, taking up a global role as senior vice-president business improvement covering South America, Asia, Middle East and Europe.
He became involved in leading the design and implementation of lean manufacturing systems in those regions. In 2009 Mr Chrisp transferred to Sydney and became Norske Skog's regional president Australasia - and he returned to New Zealand in August to take up the top NZTE position.
He started out working as an advocate for the New Zealand Engineers Union, he has a master of social sciences from Massey University, and was a director for New Zealand Qualifications Authority and Australian Pulp and Paper Innovation Council.
Mr Chrisp said since the 1970s New Zealand has slipped from seventh to 22nd on the OECD ladder in terms of GDP per capita.
"We have to expand the size of our tradeable sector.
"If we don't increase international business, then we will get left behind and that's a huge challenge," he said.
"Times are tough but a lot of company leaders are up for growth and the country needs that level of aspiration."
Mr Chrisp wanted to see more companies using the lean manufacturing system, and NZTE could help by leading the design and bringing companies together to learn from each other.
NZTE also had a strong offshore network to help exporters make contacts and grow their business.
During his visit to Tauranga, Mr Chrisp called on global kiwifruit marketer Zespri International, and other ambitious local exporters - Trimax Mowing Systems, agricultural products company FIL and Ziwipeak, which sells a natural range of premium pet food products.
He said they were prime examples of passionate companies wanting to grow.
Mr Chrisp was also impressed with the Bay of Connections programme where companies can collaborate and share resources and knowledge, particularly in training/mentoring.
"Here in New Zealand we talk about the disadvantages of scale, and companies have to gear up to survive internationally," he said. "Bay of Connections is a great regional development model where businesses can connect and help each other grow."