Auckland silicon valley

Press, 3 May 1984, Page 22

Auckland silicon valley

PA Auckland The public may be asked to invest about $3 million in a corporation aiming to turn Auckland’s North Shore into a new “Silicon Valley.” The proposed North Shore Development Corporation will use the money to buy land at Albany and to invest in hightechnology companies wanting to expand or establish themselves on the Shore.

A meeting of the North Shore Chamber of Commerce on Tuesday night appointed the

former chairman of the Auckland Harbour Bridge Authority, Mr Wilf Marley, to chair a steering committee for the project The chamber has also organised a public seminar on new technology next week, which will be addressed by the Deputy Prime Minister, Mr McLay, and the Minister of National Development, Mr Birch.

The move comes just as the Housing Corporation is preparing to either sell or seek .development partners for land it owns in Albany, which is seen as the key to the “technology park" plan. Mr Marley said the proposed development corporation would be a fully commercial entity obliged to earn a return on its shareholders’ investments.