By YOKE HAR LEE
The New Zealand Trade Development Board (Trade NZ) is trying to persuade multi-billion dollar US technology company Raytheon to keep its latest purchase in New Zealand.
A division of Raytheon, Raytheon Marine, has bought the intellectual property developed by Kiwitech, an Albany-based software developer.
The Raytheon group has a global turnover of some $US20 billion ($39.2 billion) and provides a diverse range of technology services from software for the US military and marine products to infrastructure and engineering services.
Raytheon Marine suppliers electronic equipment for recreational, commercial and naval vessels.
Two senior officials from Raytheon Marine, chief technical officer Terry Startsman and chief engineering officer Kieran Breheney, are in Auckland this week. On Monday they were shown Auckland's marine capabilities and given a tour of University of Auckland's school of engineering.
Guy Tapley, Trade NZ's manager for investment services (Asia Pacific) told the Business Herald that Raytheon was in the process of integrating its New Zealand team with that of its US staff at Fort Lauderdale, Florida.
"Investment New Zealand [Trade NZ's investment promotion arm] had been in discussions with Raytheon to see if we could persuade them to use the acquisition of Kiwitech to expand their operations in New Zealand. They have made a decision, really, to relocate the staff and integrate them into the operation of Fort Lauderdale.
"We have been lobbying quite hard - we had a letter from Dr Lockwood Smith addressed to senior management at Raytheon. We also had Ambassador [Jim] Bolger make a call, to discuss New Zealand's advantages and what Raytheon's plans might be.
"We don't know what the outcome is although we feel they will probably go ahead with their plans to relocate the staff because they are going through a consolidation phase at the moment with their development work."
Trade NZ is also trying to persuade Raytheon to consider New Zealand as a possible site for future research work.
Unlike Motorola, which is actively looking for a third research site in Australasia, Raytheon has no such stated plans.
"With Raytheon here, we thought it was an opportunity to get them acquainted with the strengths of New Zealand. We just feel it is worth having a long-term relationship with them. There could well be some opportunities in the future that could be explored," said Mr Tapley.
Neither Raytheon officials nor Kiwitech's managing director Matthew Thompson could be reached for comment.
Kiwitech's software, since built into a Raytheon product called RayTech Navigator, is a PC-based software system which integrates all functions of a boat on a single control. Data built based on global positioning systems can be fed onto a PC to help chart courses for boats or plan routes.
According to Raytheon's web site, the RayTech system has been onboard more Whitbread and America's Cup yachts than all other software systems combined.
US giant urged to keep Kiwitech local
AdvertisementAdvertise with NZME.