For the first time in many decades, our city is showing sustained economic development.
Nearly 5000 jobs have been added to the local economy since 2013. That growth is largely the result of efforts by our innovators, entrepreneurs and investors (start-ups and small to medium-sized businesses).
However, it is also worth recognising the importance of the role our economic development strategy partners play. They are Ngai Tahu, the Otago Chamber of Commerce, Otago Southland Employers' Association, University of Otago and Otago Polytechnic.
Especially pertinent at the moment is the role the polytechnic plays in providing learners, talent and innovators of the future to support and grow our industries.
But it's not just about the high-quality talent produced by Otago Polytechnic.
The polytechnic's strength springs from the freedom with which it operates and functions. It has developed a culture of collaboration and agility that gives it the ability to recognise and respond quickly to commercial and economic opportunities created by innovative businesses. This has been a key strength over the past decade.
Understandably, this approach has taken time to develop - and if governance of the polytechnic is drastically changed, it will be difficult to rebuild.
The polytechnic's approach has helped cultivate a flourishing local economic development ecosystem. The current model has delivered innovative and responsive initiatives and partnerships which deliver real economic benefits, jobs, businesses and hence improved quality of life for our community.
Here's just a few of the polytechnic's contributions:
- The development of future leaders and professionals to support the growth of medicine, business, creative industries, sports, building and hospitality businesses.
- Support for business start-ups, international education, global connections and student pathways such as JobDun and Work Ready.
- Responding to future demand for skills and talent provided by the software developers, creative designers and storytellers required for the proposed Centre of Digital Excellence (CODE).
- Growing genuine collaboration between other partners such as the council. This has led to highly profitable initiatives with Chinese cities, educational agencies and institutions in areas such as fashion and professional development.
If the polytechnic sector is saddled with a decision-making model centred in and directed from Wellington, we will be trading quality, agility, local knowledge and responsiveness, for intolerance of risk, lack of innovation and creativity and, ultimately, lower standards - dumbing down and the lowest common denominator. Otago Polytechnic would simply not have the ability to contribute so creatively to Dunedin's wellbeing.
I had the privilege of opening the New Zealand Film Festival in Shanghai last week. That event is the result of Dunedin's ability to initiate significant international collaboration. It's the result of the combined efforts of several of our city partners and an international celebration of our creative businesses.
The theme of the film festival is ''Waiho i te toipoto - Let us stand together''. This whakatauki well represents our attitude towards our sister city, Shanghai, in so many areas of endeavour.
It is critically important that Otago Polytechnic continues to stand as a strong, independent community leader with the other Dunedin partners it has supported so well.
