Central Economic Development Agency, alongside Palmerston North City Council and Manawatū District Council are pleased to announce their new venture to host E Tipu: The Boma Agri Summit, in partnership with Ōtautahi Christchurch and ChristchurchNZ in 2024.
Manawatū has a long-established standing as a leader of agrifood innovation in New Zealand, making Manawatū the natural choice to host E Tipu in the lower North Island.
Manawatū was the first region in New Zealand to develop and implement an AgriTech Strategy and are in the thick of developing a Food Strategy in partnership with industry, iwi, local and central government and key national stakeholders.
Hosting this globally recognised, national event is the next logical step in this important journey.
Formed in 2019, E Tipu: The Boma Agri Summit, has quickly become a critical platform for informed, thoughtful, future-focused dialogue around the issues that really matter for Oceania’s primary industries.
Held in Christchurch since inception, CEDA partnered with our counterparts at ChristchurchNZ to develop a joint bid to the Boma team to bring this annual event into the North Island, with a year-about hosting partnership between Manawatū and Christchurch now firmly in play.
Manawatū will host the event in 2024 and will support the 2023 event coming up shortly in Christchurch. Building on the momentum of previous years, the summit is set to be bigger and bolder — with more reach, virtual integration, participation and partnership opportunities than ever before thanks to this North-South partnership between two significant agri hubs in New Zealand.
Attendees have the option of experiencing up to five days of ground-breaking insights, each tackling the conference’s central theme of Transforming the Global Food & Fibre System.
Manawatū mayor Helen Worboys says the key strength of the Manawatū district’s economy is the primary sector.
“This makes our region the ideal place to hold this event, close to grassroots and the supporting agritech and agrifood sector. We also have some of the most highly productive soil in the country. Our rural communities are innovative and resilient and are well supported by the city’s science, education and tech organisations,” she says
Palmerston North mayor Grant Smith says both the city and the region are intricately linked to the agribusiness and agrifood sectors, with Massey University, three Crown Research Institutes, and several research and development businesses at the heart.
“Collectively we host several agri events such as CD Field Days and events like the NZ Food Awards and NZ Rural Games. E Tipu: The Boma Agri Summit will be a fantastic addition and a great fit for the region.”
“E Tipu’s purpose from the beginning has been to support Aotearoa’s food and fibre sectors to be more innovative, collaborative, sustainable and profitable, now and into the future,” says Boma founder and CEO, Kaila Colbin.
“The partnership with CEDA and the relationship with the Manawatū reinforces the fact that this is an event for the entire country.”
