Marlborough Regional Development Trust

MRDT Profile

The Marlborough Regional Development Trust was created in 1999 as the Marlborough Economic Development Trust, changing Economic to Regional in 2003 to signal its broad focus on community issues. The MRDT is a community based charitable Trust that aims, in simple terms to

Enhance the individual and collective health and wealth of Marlburians.

Having been formed around the time that unemployment began its dramatic decline and labour and skills shortages began to emerge (being identified in Marlborough ahead of any other region), the MRDT has had the benefit of being able to focus from the outset on economic transition, with a strong emphasis on value and values, and yield enhancement. It is only by understanding value and values that we can properly plan the development of a region in line with the community’s ideals and based around core competencies – those competitive advantages that cannot be easily duplicated elsewhere. As a consequence, the strategy avoids zero sum games – the transference of value creation from one region to another – that has dogged economic development over the years. The strategy (Progress Marlborough – capturing our future together) has a very strong focus on quality of life issues and states that “the quality of life is non-negotiable.”

The MRDT optimises the use of resources through building collaborative partnerships that have come to be referred to outside of the region as “The Marlborough Model”. It has planned building networks and developed the relationships clusters model that has been written up in the economic development literature. The MRDT’s strategy is contained in the Progress Marlborough – capturing our future together document. This document identifies Marlborough as both the Centre of Opportunity and the Centre of Progress – playing on Marlborough’s central location, diversity, and ability to identify and realise opportunities very quickly.

The MRDT is part funded by the Marlborough District Council (about 45%) and derives the rest of its funds from a broad variety of sources. It was the first development agency in New Zealand to receive strategic planning funding under the New Zealand Trade and Enterprise (then Industry NZ) Regional Partnerships Programme, the first to receive capability building funding, amongst the first two to receive a Major Regional Initiative grant ($2,000,000), and the first (and one of only two) to receive a second MRI grant.

The Marlborough Regional Development Trust normally has seven board members of whom four are selected by an Appointments Committee comprised of representatives of a variety of local organisations, and three by the Marlborough District Council. A distinguishing feature of this Board is that the terms of the Trust Deed make it clear that members do not represent other organisations, and that the appointing bodies do not have the right to direct their appointees. This has proven to be a powerful factor in the MRDT’s success.

The Current Board Members are:

Graham Lindsay - Chairman. MNZM, JP. Graham and his wife Bev shifted permanently to Marlborough in January 2001. Some five years previously Graham had, through his company Axis Group Limited, initiated the development of Toptown Cinema 3 multiplex cinema in Kinross Street, Blenheim.

The Axis Group of Companies was founded by Graham in 1984 and has subsequently developed in excess of $115m worth of property and business developments in provincial New Zealand. The shift to Marlborough was to enjoy more leisure time and Graham relinquished responsibility for a significant amount of their business as a result.

Since arriving in Marlborough Graham has initiated the Vintners Retreat Resort development at 55 Rapaura Road and remains Managing Director of Vintners Retreat Management Limited. Last year Graham initiated the acquisition of the Gillan Winery which for a short period also traded as Grovenor Estate. VR Holdings Limited, of which Graham is Managing Director, has attracted significant investment support to redevelop the property as a restaurant, conference and events centre, supported by luxury 5 star suite accommodation.

He is Past President of the Marlborough Chamber of Commerce and for the past two years has been a Trustee of the Marlborough Regional Development Trust. Recently Graham was appointed Chairman of the Trust succeeding former Mayor, Leo McKendry. Graham was a Director of Palmerston North Airport Limited for ten years and was establishment Chairman of Vision Manawatu, a regional economic development agency. He was appointed a Justice of the Peace in 1976 and created a Member of the New Zealand Order of Merit for services to economic development in 2001.

Vern Harris – Vice Chairman. Registered Forestry Consultant working locally, nationally and internationally. Vern has lived with his family in Marlborough for over 30 years, and comes to the Trust from a background of community involvement. Was chairman of the Renwick Residents Association for 7 years to 2002.

Mike Veal - Has a background in Public Relations, Marketing, Corporate Consulting, PR & Risk Management Consulting & Tourism since 1969. Previous owner/publisher of two of Wellington's community newspapers (Western Suburbs News and Southern News).

Has been in Marlborough for seventeen years. Developed from bare land a sixteen hectare vineyard, wine label and export markets for Hawkesbridge Wines and Estate Ltd. Sold to Foster of Australia in 2002. Currently owner of a twelve hectare block trading as a contract grower.

At various times, Member of Marlborough Grape Growers, Chairman of Marlborough Winemakers and Chairman of Wine Marlborough. Organiser of the inaugural Bragato Conference in Blenheim. Chairman of Wine and Food Festival for two years.

Karen Walshe - Has lived in Marlborough for just under four years. She shifted from Auckland for a position as Grove Mill wineries Marketing Manager. After helping Grove Mill establish their brand positioning around sustainability she left and spent 6 months being a walking and sea kayak guide in the Marlborough sounds and on the Queen Charlotte track. She has since established her own marketing consultancy business and works across a wide range of businesses in the region.
Karen spends as many spare hours as possible in the outdoors and appreciates the range of fantastic outdoor experiences that the region offers. Karen's area of interest within the Marlborough Regional Development Trusts portfolio is sustainability.

Hamish Macfarlane - He and his family have been in Marlborough for 15 years and Hamish comes with a diverse business background. For a number of years he was part owner and Director of Marlborough Olives, Modern Olives Australia, Blumenfeld Olive Oil, and Celsias. To date he is a part owner and Director of Marlborough Olive Mill, Sounds Boat Painting and Marine, Epic Animal Salts and Carbonscape. Hamish is also on the board for ‘Hearing Services Marlborough’.

John Cuddon - To be updated shortly.