Board think tank at Chateau

Waimarino Bulletin, Volume 4, Issue 48, 19 May 1987, Page 1

Board think tank at Chateau

Minister of tourism Mike Moore and other members of the New Zealand Market Development Board recently 'went bush' for three days of "think-tanking" - and ended up at the THC Chateau Tongariro. The party 'roughed it', sleeping on the floor in sleeping bags (according to Mr Moore), in a bid to come up with some creative ideas for further fostering and encouraging New Zealand's foreign exchange earnings. The market development board was set up by the Labour Government in March 1986, as a trade promotion body with a base fund of $5 million per year. The board is presently managing a $20 million export promotion fund for two years. There are 14 board members and 7 executives, with chairman Peter Shirtcliffe and deputy chairman Sir Earl Richardson. The board has been in operation since August of 1986 and according to Mr Moore has already made substantial progress. They meet every month and have developed a wide ranging work programme involving assistance to a large number of companies and sectors geared to export. What they decide upon at their annual get-togethers sets the scene for the following year. The market development board look at what

progress has been made, what can be improved and what measures ought to be taken next. Chairman Peter Shirtcliffe said the market development board operate on a very limited budget and so want to ensure the very best value for money by coming up with some creative ideas. "We want to come up with some thoughts and establish a work programme that has priorities," he said. "There is a dangerous lack of long term strategic

marketing thinking by companies and there is an appalling lack of real market professionalism. We demand very high standards of academic study of doctors, lawyers and other professionals but don't put that sort of effort into establishing marketing drive." Mr Shirtcliffe said New Zealand has a large resource base but doesn't have very much drive towards developing exclusivity in each of its market sectors, such as fish and forestry. "A lot of New Zealanders