19 February 2004 Media release

High value innovation in the Waikato

The Waikato Innovation Park represents a major investment in high value research and economic development, Minister for Economic Development, Jim Anderton, said at the official opening of the Park today.

"We need far more high value industries in New Zealand if we are to strengthen our economy and raise living standards. The Waikato Innovation Park will help us develop the high value, high technology exports we need to do this," the Progressive leader said.

"Effective collaboration on technology development, resource and knowledge sharing will enable the Waikato and the country to make the most of our innovative and creative talents. I hope also that this initiative will result in spin off industries for the dairy, agriculture and biotechnology sectors," Jim Anderton said.

"The Waikato Innovation Park is an exciting development. By bringing science, research, technology and business together, we greatly improve our potential to increase economic growth for both the Waikato region and New Zealand.

"Waikato University informs me that the first new company to be developed at the park will be launched today. Ectus is a high tech electronic education company, a good example of the benefits of this approach," Jim Anderton said.

ENDS

© Scoop Media

Gordon Campbell: On the Sony cyber attack

Given the layers of meta-irony involved, the saga of the Sony cyber attack seemed at the outset more like a snarky European art film than a popcorn entry at the multiplex.

Yet now with (a) President Barack Obama weighing in on the side of artistic freedom and calling for the US to make a ‘proportionate response’quickly followed by (b) North Korea’s entire Internet service going down, and with both these events being followed by (c) Sony deciding to backtrack and release The Interview film that had made it a target for the dastardly North Koreans in the first place, then ay caramba…the whole world will now be watching how this affair pans out. More>>