EDNZ Annual Report 2021

ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT NZ

ANNUAL
REPORT 2021

Year in Review

With the ever-present threat of Covid 19 contagion, ‘Zooming’ became the default
communication model in 2020 with EDNZ being an early adopter. Thanks to that early
adoption EDNZ was able to reach out regularly to practitioners and identify ways in which
EDNZ could support their vital work both as first responders to struggling businesses and in
the subsequent strategic review work undertaken in many of the economic development
agencies.

EDNZ Congress
Between 7 and 11 September EDNZ delivered a five-day online congress. Titled “From
Response to Revitalisation”. The event featured over 25 presentations and panel discussions
from practitioners across the regions of New Zealand.

The Congress attracted almost 1000 viewings throughout the five days. All presentations
and discussions were recorded and subsequently offered for free via the EDNZ website. A
huge thanks to our master of ceremonies, Patrick McVeigh from MartinJenkins, to our
sponsors, our presenters and to those who participated in the Congress.

The Congress model was such a success that EDNZ has resolved to duplicate it in late 2021.
Topics covered in 2021 will be Climate Change, Skills Shortages, Demographic changes,
Technological shifts, Immigration and Supply Chain issues. Stay tuned.

MartinJenkins has once again generously stepped up as major sponsor of the 2001
Congress.

Highlights

Hybrid CPD events

Our Continuing Professional Development programme progressed in 2020 despite Covid 19.

The first half of the year saw our CPD programme delivered largely online via zoom, with the second
half of the year being delivered via a hybrid model of both face to face and online methods.

Covid 19 most certainly dampened the appetite for training as all practitioners struggled with an
unprecedented heavy workload and under-resourcing.

Nevertheless, the year under report saw the delivery of 25 one day events, with student attendance
numbers sitting at 304.

In the latter half of the year membership of our learning management system, “The World of Learning’
shot up to 455. That increase in registrations is in part a response to the ever-growing library of free
resources available to all who register.

2021 Conference

In May EDNZ braved delivery of a face to face Conference in Palmerston North. In recognition of the
pressures on practitioners and local government, EDNZ chose to establish a very low fee for the event,
designed to encourage numbers. That strategy proved successful with over 200 delegates attending
the Conference and still more taking advantage of the equally low- cost video package of the
conference post- event.

Themed, ‘Resilience, Reimagination and Recovery’ presenters included, the Minister for Economic
Development, the Hon Stuart Nash, the CEO of Tourism Industry Aotearoa, Chris Roberts, Dr Jason
Mika, Justine Gilliland, CEO Venture Taranaki, internationally acclaimed Neil McInroy, CEO of Cities and
Local Economic Strategies (UK) and Dr Fred Olayele, Chief Economist of New York’s Economic
Development Agency. For a full list of speakers and their presentations please go to
www.economicdevelopment.org.nz

Workshops

The conference also included two practitioner- based workshops that were aimed at supporting
practitioners in collaborating with government and also identifying the most pressing issues of the day
across the network.

PREMIER AWARD INCLUSIVE DEVELOPMENT COLLABORATION

MartinJenkins Premier Award: Venture Taranaki for Best Practice Award for Inclusive Development: Far Best Practice Award for Collaboration Nelson
its "Professional Services Grants Programme" and North Holdings Ltd, Northland Inc, Tinakori Regional Development Agency for "Project Kōkiri"
Category Winner of "Business Support Recovery". Enterprise and Ngāti Rangi





CELEBRATING SUCCESS - ANNUAL AWARDS




THE AWARDS PANEL STRUGGLED AGAIN IN 2021 AS IT CONSIDERED A STRONG AND COMPETITIVE NUMBER OF AWARD SUBMISSIONS. FOLLOWING A SECOND MEETING OF THE
PANEL, THE DECISIONS PROVED TO BE CLEAR AND UNANIMOUS.

INNOVATION AWARD INTEGRATED PLANNING INWARD INVESTMENT

Best Practice Award for Innovation: Auckland Best Practice Award for Integrated Planning: And Best Practice Award for Inward Investment:
Unlimited and Circularity for "XLabs" the winner of the Integrated Planning Category: Auckland Unlimited for ‘Invest Auckland’



Christchurch NZ for its “Innovation and
entrepreneurship ecosystem”



CELEBRATING SUCCESS - ANNUAL AWARDS




THE AWARDS PANEL STRUGGLED AGAIN IN 2021 AS IT CONSIDERED A STRONG AND COMPETITIVE NUMBER OF AWARD SUBMISSIONS. FOLLOWING A SECOND MEETING OF THE
PANEL, THE DECISIONS PROVED TO BE CLEAR AND UNANIMOUS.

COMMENDATION COMMENDATION COMMENDATION

Commendation for Integrated Planning:The Commendation for Business Recovery Support: Commendation for Innovation: Central Economic
Economic Action Marlborough (TEAM) Enterprise North Canterbury for its response to Development Agency for "Sort it Online

Group/Marlborough District Council for its response Covid 19
to Covid 19.








CELEBRATING SUCCESS - ANNUAL AWARDS




THE AWARDS PANEL STRUGGLED AGAIN IN 2021 AS IT CONSIDERED A STRONG AND COMPETITIVE NUMBER OF AWARD SUBMISSIONS. FOLLOWING A SECOND MEETING OF THE
PANEL, THE DECISIONS PROVED TO BE CLEAR AND UNANIMOUS.

COMMENDATION DISTINGUISHED SERVICE
AWARD
Commendation for Business Recovery Support:
Queenstown Lakes District Council Recovery Team Former CEO of Nelson Regional Development
Agency and EDNZ Board Member, Mr Mark Rawson






CELEBR
ATING A HEARTFELT
SUCCESS - ANNUAL CONGRATULATIONS TO ALL

AWARDS


And the warmest of thanks to all who contributed


to the success of the conference including our
major sponsor;MartinJenkins and the host EDA,
CEDA. Other sponsors included:Trust Tairawhiti,

Venture Taranaki, HenleyHutchings, Venture
Timaru, Far North Holdings Ltd and Polis
Consulting.

Membership

Despite the impact of Covid 19 membership numbers remained constant with 100
individuals and organisations renewing membership or joining EDNZ in the year
under report. Whilst there was some loss of individual members there was an
increase from previous years in the number of associate members joining EDNZ.

Most individuals that allowed their membership to lapse indicated their intention to
rejoin as soon as things normalised.

A huge thanks to all those members who continued to see value in EDNZ over what
has been a very trying period for all.

DRAFT AGM MINUTES

Present: Pam Ford, Mark Rawson, David Wilson, Justine Gilliland, Linda Stewart, John Hutchings, Nigel
Davenport, Kylie Hawker– Green, Matt Carrere, Richard Liew, Sarah Beaman,Wendy Gatley, Alan Simpson, David

Cunliffe, Heather Warwick, Ifor Ffowcs Williams, Patrick McVeigh, Susan Houston



Apology: Paul Swallow



Previous AGM minutes Endorsed as accurate.



The Chair, Pam Ford provided an overview of the annual report and thanked Susan Houston for her rapid
response to Covid 19.



Financial Report: The Chair indicated that whilst revenue had increased, expenses had also increased due to
Covid 19 ie. over 40 free webinars and the ‘Guide to Recovery’ that EDNZ had commissioned in a bid to support

the network in their strategic review following Covid.



The Chair advised that the Board had done a lot of work on the finances and that it is confident that EDNZ is
financially sustainable.



New Government – The board is looking forward to working with the Government to support the wonderful
work that is happening across the regions. It is the Board’s intentions to meet with the relevant Ministers in the

near future. It was pleasing to note that the new Minister for ED, RegionalED and Tourism, Minister Nash, had
indicated his wish to engage with the EDA network and to put in place some smart thinking to build a better

future.



The Chair thanked the Board for all of their efforts throughout the year, especially the Chairs of the standing
committees and the Deputy Chair for all of his efforts.



The annual report was adopted. Moved: Kylie Hawker-Green Seconded: Linda Stewart
The AGM closed.

AGM AGENDA

To be held by Zoom on 26 November at 12 pm - all members welcome
1. Welcome
2. Draft AGM notes
3. Annual Report- Chair, Pam Ford
4. Financial Report- Nigel Davenport, Chair of Audit and Risk
5. Thank you to outgoing Board Members, Mark Rawson, Linda Stewart and Dr David
Wilson
6.Welcome to incoming Board Members, Fiona Wilson and Dean Howie
7.Auditor and Accountants
8. Conference location 2022 - October in Christchurch
9. Conference location 2023 - Invitation for North Island EDAs to nominate in 2022
10. Any other business
.

The EDNZ Team

Board Members:

Pam Ford, Chair, Member of all Committees

Patrick McVeigh - Deputy Chair, Member of CPD and Conference Committee
Nigel Davenport- Board Member and Chair of Audit and Risk Committee
Justine Gilliland - Board Member and Member of Conference Committee
Paul Swallow - Board Member and Member of Audit and Risk Committee
John Hutchings - Board Member and Member of Conference Committee
Resigned Dr David Wilson- Board Member and Member of CPD Committee
Resigned Linda Stewart - Board Member and Member of CPD Committee
Resigned Mark Rawson - Board Member and previous Deputy of EDNZ

David, Linda and Mark's positions on the Board will be filled in the coming year by:

Dean Howie - New BoardMember - representing the Associate Category of membership
Fiona Wilson - New Board Member representing South Island EDA
Yet to be determined - New Board Member representing North Island EDA

Officers:

Susan Houston- Chief Executive Officer

A huge thanks to David Wilson, Linda Stewart and Mark Rawson for their outstanding support
of EDNZ during a very challenging, albeit rewarding, time in its history.

Financial
Report

The 2020/21 Financial year saw EDNZ record a small surplus of $46,000 which is
considered a pleasing result in light of the challenges associated with operating
in the ongoing COVID environment.

The year saw a consolidation and small growth in membership, whilst we
continued to offer a wider variety of Continued Personal Development Courses
(CPD) with the support of MBIE. The last of this support will be utilised across
the 2021/22 year and has been an integral part in enabling us to establish a
great foundation to continue this valued service to our members in the years
ahead.