One of my ambitions is to grow Nelson’s links with the sea. We have always been a maritime community, from early Māori settling here by waka to Europeans who chose our sheltered port for their sailing ships, naming it after the great British naval commander Admiral Horatio Lord Nelson. New Zealand has the fourth largest ocean area in the world and it’s 25 times larger than our land. The opportunity today is for Nelson to be its centre for industry, science and sustainability.
I want us growing more jobs and wealth from our fishing, aquaculture and marine industries. I want Nelson leading in marine technology through our renown Cawthron Institute, Plant & Food Research, initiatives such as Moananui and private companies such as SnapIT.
I want to grow the opportunities for Nelsonians to enjoy the sea through boating, yachting, fishing, kite surfing, waka ama and kayaking, and organisations that connect young people with the sea such as our sea cadets, sea scouts and surf lifesaving club. I also want us to better connect our city with the port, marina and waterfront.
There are many exciting developments under way towards this goal. Our largest company, Sealord, last month acquired Independent Fisheries in Christchurch, growing the business by 40%. King Salmon last week gained consent for its Blue Endeavour project for NZ’s first open ocean fish farm in Cook Strait, which will double its production.
The Council and Port Nelson are investing millions in developing new boat lifts at the port and marina to grow our marine engineering industries. We are proposing a new surf club facility at Tāhunanui Beach and seasports facility at the end of Akersten Street. Council is upgrading the walkway-cycleway between the city and marina and exploring options for developing the Haven Road precinct.
This weekend we have Seafood Saturday and on Sunday the NBS Boulder Bank Walk organised by Nelson West Rotary. The following Sunday, 17 March, Port Nelson hosts its open day. These are opportunities to connect with the sea, celebrate the thousands of people who work in our marine sectors and look to the future of Nelson as NZ’s ocean capital.
