Councillor Brady Dyer Calls For Urgent Action To Secure Future Of Gracefield Innovation Quarter
GIQ is home to world-class laboratories, researchers, and high-tech businesses that contribute around $1 billion annually to the local economy.
Lower Hutt City Councillor Brady Dyer is launching a video campaign urging the Government to commit to the future of the Gracefield Innovation Quarter (GIQ) and save one of New Zealand's most valuable scientific assets.
GIQ is home to world-class laboratories, researchers, and high-tech businesses that contribute around $1 billion annually to the local economy.
Dyer says the opportunities of the site are massive.
'It's a place where breakthrough science and innovation happens, as researchers and industry work side-by-side.
'It's also a space where technology-rich businesses that have a huge economic impact can grow.
'But uncertainty over future investment means new businesses can't move in, empty buildings can't be used, and companies who want to stay there are being forced to look elsewhere.
'I've been working closely with the Hutt Valley Chamber of Commerce and the organisations and people fighting hard to secure the future of this site.
'Keeping and expanding GIQ isn't just important to the Hutt – it's vital for all New Zealand if we're going to keep being a science-driven, innovative nation.
'GIQ isn't just a collection of buildings – it's an ecosystem and a powerhouse of science, research, and innovation for the whole region.
'Losing it would mean stranded investment, lost jobs, and another missed opportunity for New Zealand's economic future.
'We're on the edge of losing something incredible and if we let it slip away we won't get it back.
'So I'm calling on the Government to provide some certainty – before it's too late,' Dyer says.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
NZ Herald
41 minutes ago
- NZ Herald
Poor information sharing between government agencies means NZ not keeping pace with organised crime
'The public reasonably expects government agencies to use information that it has collected to lawfully target organised crime, both domestically and internationally. That requires the information to be proactively shared. That is not happening,' the panel wrote. 'There also appears to be a deeply rooted culture of a risk-averse approach towards proactive sharing of information.' The Privacy Act was regularly cited by government agencies as a reason to not proactively share information, often on the advice of lawyers, especially after high-profile cases that had led to public criticism. This approach was not shared by the Privacy Commissioner Michael Webster, who is quoted in the report as saying: 'Nine times out of 10, it's organisational culture or systems issues that stop effective and needed information sharing from taking place – not the law.' In a section of the report titled 'Organised crime is organised – we are not', the expert panel said that while there are legal avenues for information to be shared among government departments, such as memoranda of understanding, they are not applied consistently. In particular, Inland Revenue (IR), which holds tax records that can be crucial to investigations into organised crime, was singled out for mention. 'IR has told us that it recognises the approach it has traditionally taken to information sharing may have been too conservative, and there is scope to be more pragmatic,' the expert panel wrote. 'This mirrors feedback we received from a number of other Government agencies.' The ministerial advisory group said the same lack of information sharing flowed into the private sector, which held a wealth of useful information and should be a key partner in the fight against organised crime 'Many businesses want to help. Information that would assist businesses in high-risk industries such as ports and airports to disrupt and prevent organised crime, such as key trends, emerging threats and features of organised crime, are not being provided,' the panel wrote. 'Businesses want this information. Sector leaders that we spoke to told us that they want a seat at the table. They want to help to design the solution. But they are being overlooked.' A group of experts advising the Government says more information needs to be shared with private businesses, such as the Port of Tauranga, to help combat organised crime syndicates bringing drugs through the border. Photo / George Novak The advisory panel recommended the establishment of a national plan, rather than separate ones for individual government departments, to clearly set out what information can be shared. This national framework should be accompanied by a 'data lake' – a platform, or centralised repository, to make the data easy to search. In time, AI could also interrogate the data to identify trends or other leads for further investigation. To move away from a risk-averse culture, the panel also recommended that information-sharing benchmarks be set as performance measures for the chief executives of government departments. 'Senior leaders steer the direction of their agencies – if they are motivated to improve the culture, that motivation should filter down through the organisation.' The advisory group has made recommendations to Costello on a different organised crime topic each month since March, such as corruption and money laundering, with a final report to be published in September. But it has already warned the coalition Government that bold changes are needed urgently as New Zealand was 'losing the fight' against transnational organised crime, illustrated by how the country was flooded with methamphetamine. Despite more drugs being seized than before, the consumption of methamphetamine more than doubled in 2024 to the highest levels recorded in national wastewater testing. Jared Savage covers crime and justice issues, with a particular interest in organised crime. He joined the Herald in 2006 and has won a dozen journalism awards in that time, including twice being named Reporter of the Year. He is also the author of Gangland, Gangster's Paradise and Underworld.
Scoop
5 hours ago
- Scoop
New RMA Amendment To Speed Up Consenting Of Much-Needed New Generation
Energy Resources Aotearoa is celebrating a significant win for New Zealand's energy sector, with Parliament today passing the Resource Management (Consenting and Other System Changes) Amendment Bill at its third reading. The new Act amends the RMA to open up a consenting pathway for specified energy activities, which is intended to reduce costs for operators and unlock much-needed investment in renewable energy infrastructure. Energy Resources Aotearoa is pleased the Act adopts its key recommendation to extend the same streamlined settings to thermal electricity generation. Projects such as gas-fired peaking plants - essential for meeting demand when wind generation is low, hydro storage is depleted, and solar output is unavailable - will now benefit from faster consenting, with decisions required within 12 months. Chief Executive of Energy Resources Aotearoa, John Carnegie, says this change is a big win for the energy sector and New Zealand households and businesses. "Renewables will power more and more of New Zealand's future energy needs, but we need firming capacity to step in when the weather doesn't co-operate. This decision means we can plan and build the backup generation that keeps the grid stable and the country's economy and industrial base humming." Carnegie says that in adopting this change, the Government has agreed with Energy Resources Aotearoa's call for a broader, fuel-agnostic consenting framework that includes all activities improving New Zealand's energy security. "We've long argued for a fuel-agnostic approach where projects are judged on their merits, not their fuel or technology type. Parliament has recognised that reality today, and it's a vital step toward a more secure system that provides the energy abundance New Zealand needs to thrive." Energy Resources Aotearoa commends the Government for taking a whole-of-system approach to resource management reform that recognises the interdependence of renewable and thermal generation in maintaining a secure and reliable electricity supply for New Zealand's future.
NZ Herald
13 hours ago
- NZ Herald
Rotorua: David Seymour speaks about changing sector regulations at Early Childhood Council conference
An Early Childhood Education (ECE) centre owner is 'delighted' the Government is changing sector regulations that tell teachers to 'tick off whether the fridge is at the right temperature' or what type of milk to buy. Other sector professionals have spoken of a 'massive shortfall' in Government funding as parents
