Nelson Regional Development Agency

Centre of New Zealand, Nelson

Driving smart growth and shared wellbeing for Nelson Tasman

NRDA is the Regional Economic Agency and Regional Tourism Organisation for Nelson Tasman in Te Tauihu o Te Waka-a-Māui. We deliver on our purpose by supporting collaboration, building capability, and attracting resources, with a focus on increasing regional productivity.

Built for regional impact, driven by partnership

Established on 1 July 2016, Nelson Regional Development Agency (NRDA) was formed through the merger of Nelson Regional Economic Development Agency and Nelson Tasman Tourism. As a Council-Controlled Organisation (CCO), we are fully owned by Nelson City Council. Thanks to partnership funding from Tasman District Council, we’re able to deliver services with a unified focus across Nelson Tasman—supporting regional growth, connection and prosperity.

Driving smart, sustainable growth for our region

Zappekin is a co-op of creatives formed to create a space for local Nelson area artists to create, exhibit, and collaborate.

Nelson Tasman is an inspired choice for business events of every kind.

The Nelson Tasman Regeneration Plan: thriving today, ready for tomorrow

NRDA’s strategy delivery programme is set within the context of the ten-year Nelson Tasman Regeneration Plan 2021–2031 and the Te Tauihu Intergenerational Strategy.

The plan focuses the region on the following targeted outcomes:

Regenerative

The region just transitions towards a low-emissions economy in a way that mitigates climate change, reverses existing environmental damage, and protects natural resources (land, forests, freshwater, marine environmental and Indigenous biodiversity) now and in the future.

Productive

A shift from volume production to high-value products unlocks businesses' potential to thrive, invests in R&D, technology, and innovation to achieve productivity improvements, and supports small and medium enterprise growth.

Inclusive

A more even distribution of economic benefits (recognising that some in the community fare worse on wellbeing indicators), improvements in skills level and productivity, higher incomes, and the right skills available for the future workforce.

Resilient

The region is able to respond to and bounce back from disruptions and shocks in a way that reduces harm and overall costs. Sectors are diversified to reduce risk, many of the goods and services required are provided locally, and supply chains are robust.

Creative

Our region's creative talents are recognised and rewarded, with opportunities to showcase and leverage our clever businesses, diversity, arts and artisans, and innovation.

The Nelson Tasman Local Ambassador Workshop was a fun, hands-on experience for anyone in visitor-facing roles.

We back bold local businesses, because when they thrive, so do our communities.

Attracting resources and activity

Nāu te rourou, nāku te rourou ka ora ai te iwi.

With your basket and my basket, the people will thrive.

Through investment, events, skills and resources, by identifying the attention required, our key activities include:

Investment into region

Maintaining, promoting, advocating and tracking our regional economic investment priorities supported by a suite of NRDA tools, including the regional investment priority briefing (Briefing for Ministers), investment proposition and prospectus.
Advocating to Government, partners and investors on regional economic priorities
Regional investment business case development
Continuing to work with Marlborough to promote and support film industry and investment opportunities in the region. (Related: Visitor destination marketing)

Destination marketing

Showcasing our regional offering to encourage visitation and consumption of experiences and products, and to attract business, investment and talent. This includes targeted seasonal campaigns, ongoing content creation and storytelling, regional coverage through targeted media pitches, and increasing our online engagement by growing our social media presence and (consumer) database.
Providing in-region support to visitors, including website content, visitor guides, and digital promotion.
Leveraging partnerships with larger organisations such as Tourism NZ and Air New Zealand, to showcase the region and host tour operators.
Positioning the region as a key destination for locals, visitors, businesses, and workers by delivering our regional positioning story applied across NRDA programmes and through partner engagement.

Events and conferences support and attraction

Managing Nelson City Council’s Economic Events Fund and regional events calendar to achieve optimum economic outcomes
Managing and delivering the MBIE Regional Events Fund (REF), including regional business events attraction and programmes to build capacity and capability within our local events sector

Capability building

Poipoia te kākano, kia puāwai ai.

Nurture the seed so that it will blossom.

In order to develop the skills, mindsets and capability required in the region, our key activities include:

Business capability

Includes leadership and delivery of the Regional Business Partner Programme (RBPP) for Te Tauihu
Providing direct support, advice, and connections for local businesses (early-stage entrepreneurs and SMEs) on funding, upskilling and supporting management capability and investment readiness.
Facilitating R&D and other funding through the RBPP.
Innovation and tech-focused initiatives are delivered under RBPP and through targeted sector support (refer to innovation support).

Workforce and skills

Delivering the Critical Skills Pipeline project: identifying, tracking, and initiating critical skills development activities to inform future workforce planning, skills training, and attraction, supporting significant infrastructure developments.
Delivering the Education to Employment programme: supporting young people’s awareness of career opportunities through connecting industry and training agencies to schools.
Delivering (ad hoc) targeted industry-specific workforce campaigns as determined by emerging industry needs and targeted external funding.

Innovation support

Supporting the regional innovation eco-system in partnership with Mahitahi Colab, a collaboration between NRDA, Nelson Tasman Chamber of Commerce and NMIT, delivering targeted innovation and tech initiatives, co-working, business events space, and early-stage business support.

Collaborating to compete

Mā pango, mā whero ka oti te mahi.

Leadership in working with others for a common purpose.

With an aim to be more nationally and globally competitive by getting more done together, our key activities include:

Connecting and supporting economic sectors

Marketing and connecting initiatives to support and attract investment, resources and growth opportunities for key sectors.

Visitor economy
Through our Destination Partner Programme, we promote our region as a must-visit destination. We run targeted campaigns that help stretch the season, support local visitor businesses to boost their resilience and skills, and champion investment in the infrastructure and experiences that make this place special. We also support events and help make the case for funding to keep things moving. All of this supports the vision laid out in our Destination Management Plan.
Blue economy
As a founding partner of Moananui, we're helping steer the future of Aotearoa’s blue economy right from our backyard. We’re backing this fast-growing cluster with initiatives that spark growth, attract investment, and put Nelson Tasman on the map as the home of the Blue Economy in New Zealand.
Digital technology
With momentum building over the next three years, we’re deepening our work in the digital tech space, delivered in partnership with the Mahitahi Colab, to grow our region’s strengths and support innovation that connects us to the world.

Port Nelson Nelson Regional Development Agency by Tim Cuff

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