Media Release

PROGRAMME OUT FOR INNOVATE 2002

For Immediate Release
29 January 2002

The programme for Innovate, an event which will celebrate and showcase New Zealand innovation in March this year, was released today - promising to arm New Zealanders with a toolkit to create successful business from great ideas.

Innovate, put together by the Ministry of Economic Development, with the support of Industry New Zealand and Te Puni Kokiri, with a principal sponsor to be announced later this week, will see some of New Zealand's most well known innovators, entrepreneurs and business people share their experiences from March 5-7 in Christchurch.

Ministry of Economic Development principal advisor Roger Wigglesworth says Innovate's programme is full of stories of New Zealand innovation across a wide range of industries and sectors.

"We're delighted with the calibre of speakers and workshop topics in the programme and interest from businesses and individuals around the country has been very strong," he says.

A series of interactive 'showcase sessions' throughout the programme will present New Zealand's best innovation case studies including creator/director of the World of Wearable Arts Suzie Moncrieff, John Tagg from BLIS Technologies and Greg Thompson from Pulse Data International.

A public lunchtime forum with Richard Taylor, director of Weta Workshop will reveal the innovation and great ideas behind the success of the international blockbuster - Lord of the Rings.

Other programme highlights are Jeremy Moon who as a feature presenter will tell the Icebreaker story, Bill Lloyd (Sovereign Yachts) and Allan Jones (New Zealand Yachts), who will talk about New Zealand's success at building big boats, and Sir Angus Tait of Tait Electronics.

Prime Minister Helen Clark will attend - providing the event's closing address on the state of innovation in New Zealand. Innovate will be co-chaired by Hon Jim Anderton, Minister for Economic Development and a representative from the principal sponsor to be announced on Friday.

Registrations open next Friday 1 February 2001 and registration packs can be obtained by calling 0800 INNOVATE or visiting www.innovate.org.nz.

A copy of the programme is attached. More details available at www.innovate.org.nz.

ENDS

For further information contact please contact:
Wendy Pannett
021 440 898
04 917 0380
wpannett@nbpr.co.nz