Epsom List MP visits hi-tech Tauranga

BOP MP Todd Muller and National List MP Paul Goldsmith with Robotics Plus Ltd’s Autonomous Mobile Modular Platform

List MP for Epsom Paul Goldsmith spent his time in Tauranga visiting some of the hi-tech businesses in the Bay of Plenty.

Hosted by BOP MP Todd Muller on Monday, the Opposition Spokesperson for Economic and Regional Development was very impressed with the progress being made in the region.

'It's been a lovely day in the Bay of Plenty today,” says Paul.

'I started the day talking with the economic development people, and getting a sense of how the region is going and what their plans are. And then I called in to see some businesses.”

Paul and Todd visited Priority One, Craig's Investment Partners, RAM - Rapid Advance Manufacturing, a 3-D printing company, and Robotics Plus.

'I'm just getting a sense of the incredible amount of high-tech work that's going on in this region,” says Paul.

'And looking at ways of adding value to the agricultural base of the economy. What I've seen today is really impressive.”

Robotics Plus CEO Dr Matt Glenn, BOP MP Todd Muller, National Spokesperson for Economic and Regional Development and List MP for Epsom Paul Goldsmith, Robotics Plus CTO Dr Alistair Scarfe.

Paul was the Minister for Science and Innovation during the John Key-led National government. He has also published ten books, focusing on NZ history and economic development.

'A highlight of the day is seeing the innovation that is part of this economy. We invested in a regional research centre in this part of the world – Plant tech – and we're talking about some of the progress that's been made in terms of automation with fruit picking. It's really good to see on-the-ground progress that they're making.”

In October 2017, the annual Technology Investment Network TIN100 Report revealed that New Zealand's leading hi-tech companies achieved a combined annual global revenue of $10 billion for the first time.

The report showed that agritech is one of the fastest growing market sectors.

Robotics Plus Ltd, an agricultural robotics company, based in Te Puna, announced in March that they have secured investment from Yamaha Motor Co., Ltd. to power up agricultural automation.

Robotics Plus develops robotics and automation solutions for highly variable agricultural environments.

The company's technologies include post-harvest robotics for fruit packing, orchard robotics for harvesting and pollination, and autonomous agricultural vehicles.

The investment from Yamaha will accelerate the company's growth.

In May, Robotics Plus announced it has signed an agency and distribution agreement with Global Pac Technologies which will see the company's revolutionary robotic apple packers go global.

'Paul is our spokesperson for economic and regional development,” says Todd, 'and as the local MP, I have a good line on how strong the economy is here, and the huge level of innovation occurring across the Bay. We're also getting a sense of the challenges that some of the businesses are facing.

'It's fairly important that we keep the focus on what the Government needs to do with investment into innovation, particularly for start-up businesses. We need strong investment into roading and infrastructure to enable us to be as productive as we can be.

'That's why I'm so strong on the roading commitments we made that we need to deliver on. That's why we want our innovative community to be as strong as it needs to be.

National Spokesperson for Economic and Regional Development and List MP for Epsom Paul Goldsmith.

'Each of the businesses we visited have their own perspective on what the role of Government should be to strengthen the Bay of Plenty.

'I'm particularly exercised about the roading here,” says Todd.

'I'm hugely disappointed that the roading commitments and budgets signed off on the Tauranga Northern Link and the tender process that was underway has all been canned.

'We're on the cusp for huge growth in the city and we need everything going for us.”

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1 comment

Must have

Posted on 26-06-2018 13:50 | By Merlin

All must have cold hands all hands in pockets.LOL.


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