Marsden City could be a 'jewel in North's crown'

The proposed Marsden City development could drive the North and is "a fantastic opportunity just sitting there", say two high-profile consultants for New Zealand-China acquisitions and commercial transactions.

Wellington-based Lily Shi and Matt Hanna of Lewis Lawyers/Consultants were speaking to a group of Whangarei district, regional and business leaders yesterday at an event organised by Whangarei Economic Development Group and Ruakaka Economic Development Group.

WEDG and REDG had asked them to discuss how to go about doing business with China and the possibility of attracting investment in the planned Marsden City development in Bream Bay around the the port.

Mr Hanna said Marsden City could be "a jewel in the crown for the region", but cautioned that this could only happen with the right planning, co-operative effort and trust-building with prospective investors.

"The area has to be promoted as 'one big piece' and all businesses will have to be working together in support of each other to produce a credible plan."

He also said the idea that Chinese investors viewed New Zealand as "up for buying" and were out to dominate the world was a complete misconception.

Chinese businesspeople did their homework, he said.

"We have to be very respectful of that and thinking you might be able to pull the wool over their eyes is a complete mistake."

Northlanders would need to work out their competitive advantages and had plenty to offer investors if the right packages were presented.

Whangarei's marine capabilities was one strong niche opportunity, for example, with a 16 million-strong Chinese city in Southern China wanting to invest in marine technology.

"Identify your competitive advantage, develop an investment proposal, work on relationship building and engage a trusted 'bridge' who will find a match for you. If you want to contract people with money you have to make it easy for them.

"But the idea that if you let too many wealthy Chinese people into New Zealand we will all be speaking Chinese within a few years is absolute nonsense."

Millionaire Bream Bay investor/developer Oliver Scott asked: "How do Chinese perceive Marsden?" Mr Hanna replied: "The same as you would if you didn't know anything about it."The Chinese Government recently named Lily Shi, who was educated in New Zealand, Hong Kong and China, as an outstanding young achiever for New Zealand in Chinese-New Zealand relations.