Hi Listers<br><br>If you recall, my associate, Kim Prichard, facilitated a high profile event on the North Island in New Zealand last month.<br><br>Here is his report on the followup implementation summit where 200 people worked on creating action plans around the priorities that emerged from the first session.<br>
<br>Please recall this was Kim's first event and he was guided remotely by my Manual for large group facilitators and email/skype advice.<br><br>Cheers<br><br>Kerry<br>Edinburgh<br><div><span><br>Hi Kerry,</span></div>
<div><span><br></span></div><div><span>The
second Summit went off yesterday - relatively well. A bit chaotic in
places and a bit of infighting within the Maori group which I'm told is
normal as a number of different tribes (or <span>Iwi</span>) are
involved. A number of Maori protesters outside with police / security in
attendance. Of course, the MP claims all the credit for himself ("he
has facilitated") in the press release below, but what does one expect
from politicos. <br><br>A few pictures of the event attached for you (mainly of
Mike Sabin MP and Steven Joyce the cabinet Economic Development Minister
- but one of me too), there were around 200 people at this event - just
like the first. <br><br>The action plans were shallow - wish & want lists
mostly - nine of them,
which I've been asked to amalgamate and turn into something meaningful.
We were able to get a Steering Group assembled during the course of
the day (one of the goals) with a leader from each of the 14 industry
sectors to move the Action Plan forward. A real win. </span><br></div><div><br></div><div>Hope you & Angela are well!</div><div>Kim</div><div><br></div> <div dir="ltr"><font face="Arial">----- Forwarded Message -----<br>
<b><span style="font-weight:bold">From:</span></b> Joanna Overall
<<a href="mailto:joanna.overall@parliament.govt.nz" target="_blank">joanna.overall@parliament.govt.nz</a>><br> <b><span style="font-weight:bold">To:</span></b> Mike Sabin <<a href="mailto:Mike.Sabin@parliament.govt.nz" target="_blank">Mike.Sabin@parliament.govt.nz</a>> <br>
<b><span style="font-weight:bold">Sent:</span></b> Wednesday, 11 July 2012, 11:45<br> <b><span style="font-weight:bold">Subject:</span></b> Media Statement: Action plan for <span>Northland</span> economy established<br> </font> </div>
<br>
<div><b><span style="font-size:18.0pt">Mike Sabin</span></b></div>
<div><b><span style="font-size:18.0pt">National MP</span></b></div>
<div> </div>
<div><b><span style="font-size:16.0pt">Media Statement</span></b></div>
<div><b><span style="font-size:16.0pt"> </span></b></div>
<div><b><span style="font-size:12.0pt">11 July 2012</span></b></div>
<div> </div>
<div><b><span style="font-size:16.0pt">Action plan for <span>Northland</span> economy established</span></b></div>
<div><b><span style="font-size:16.0pt"> </span></b></div>
<div>Mike Sabin, MP for <span>Northland</span> was extremely heartened by the outcomes achieved at the second of the two whole-of-<span>Northland</span> economic summits he has facilitated over June and July.
</div>
<div> </div>
<div>The summits have received heavyweight support with four Ministers
attending across the two events, including Minister of Finance Hon Bill
English in June and Hon Steven Joyce, Minister of Economic Development
at yesterday’s event held at Toll Stadium, <span>Whangarei</span>. </div>
<div> </div>
<div>Mr Joyce who spoke at the summit and participated in the workshops said “it's good to see a wide cross-section of the <span>Northland</span> business community determined to take advantage of their economic opportunities."</div>
<div> </div>
<div>Both summits attracted around 200 participants from across 14 sectors of <span>Northland</span>’s economy and have followed a prescribed process of identifying, prioritising and developing responses to common enablers and
<span>constrainers</span> of economic development in the <span>Northland</span> region.</div>
<div> </div>
<div>“Stakeholders in the <span>Northland</span> economy have worked
very hard across these two events to develop a cohesive whole-of-region
action plan that reflects economic consensus and provides a very clear
pathway forward
for the newly formed <span>Northland</span> Economic Advisory Group (<span>NEAG</span>) made up from representatives from each of the 14 sectors,” says Mr Sabin.</div>
<div> </div>
<div>Participants at the second summit worked throughout the afternoon
on identifying responses and approaches to address factors across nine
core themes previously identified, which included local government,
infrastructure,
labour skills, energy, minerals, hi-tech development, the Maori
economy, environment and intangibles such as the perception of <span>Northland</span> and the need for leadership.</div>
<div> </div>
<div>“The conclusions from each core theme group were presented back to
the whole summit and this information forms the basis of the action plan
that the <span>NEAG</span> will drive forward to achieve specific outcomes,” says
Mr Sabin.</div>
<div> </div>
<div>The summit participants were advised that the <span>NEAG</span>
will be working alongside the newly-integrated regional economic
development and tourism body (currently operating as Destination <span>Northland</span>, but likely to change
in name) which will focus on annual growth in the key areas across employment, business, <span>Northland's</span> GDP and visitor numbers.</div>
<div> </div>
<div>The newly appointed Chairman of Destination <span>Northland</span>,
Colin Mitten said they were in the process of electing a board and
appointing a CEO, but once in place “the first order of business will be
to work with
the <span>NEAG</span> and the initiatives emerging from the summits and
other interested parties such as the Tourism Development Group for the
rapid development of a new strategic economic plan for <span>Northland</span>”.</div>
<div> </div>
<div>Mr Sabin said this platform will enable the <span>NEAG</span> to feed directly into a delivery mechanism which is key in giving life to the plan and the actions identified.</div>
<div> </div>
<div>“The <span>NEAG</span> have a clear, whole-of-<span>Northland</span> plan, a mandate and a platform from which to work and drive outcomes. I anticipate joining the meetings of the <span>NEAG</span> and taking their lead on priorities from central
government so I can perform my role for <span>Northland</span> in
advancing the policy, infrastructure and resources that are needed to
develop our economy to its potential,” says Mr Sabin.
</div>
<div> </div>
<div>Both Hon Steven Joyce and Mike Sabin met with the newly appointed
advisory group immediately following the conclusion of the summit and
shared some thoughts on the process ahead.</div>
<div> </div>
<div>"The advisory group were very enthusiastic to get started and to make sure that other New <span>Zealanders</span> and investors understood that <span>Northland</span> is very much open for business," says Mr Joyce.</div>
<div> </div>
<div>The advisory group have resolved to meet in early August to
establish operating terms of reference and begin working through the
data from the nine core themes to establish a workable action plan to
move initiatives
forward. </div>
<div> </div>
<div>“Everyone who participated in this process should feel proud of the
leadership and commitment they have demonstrated. I am very confident
that we arrived at a very positive and practical platform to deliver
on what we all know this region is capable of. I now look forward to
supporting the region in getting on with the job and making it clear to
all, that <span>Northland</span> is definitely open for business,” said Mr Sabin.</div>
<div> </div>
<div>ENDS</div>
<div style="text-align:justify"><b> </b></div>
<div style="text-align:justify"><b>MEDIA CONTACT: Mike Sabin 027 705 2707</b></div>
<div style="text-align:justify"><b> </b></div>
<div style="text-align:justify"><b>Photograph Descriptions/Captions:
</b></div>
<div style="text-align:justify"><b> </b></div>
<div style="text-align:justify"><b>Press Conference: </b>Mike Sabin, Hon Steven Joyce and Hon Pita <span>Sharples</span> during the media conference before the summit.</div>
<div style="text-align:justify"><b>Workshop 1: </b>Industry sector breakout workshops</div>
<div style="text-align:justify"><b>Workshop 2:</b> Mike Sabin and Hon Steven Joyce observing the sector workshops</div>
<div> </div>
<div style="text-align:justify"><b><span> </span></b></div>
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