Marlborough businesses should form a Christchurch rebuild cluster to capitalise on opportunities from the rebuild.

That was the suggestion of former Christchurch Central MP Brendon Burns who, together with the Marlborough District Council and the Marlborough Chamber of Commerce, organised a two-day visit to Christchurch for representatives of nearly 20 Marlborough businesses.

Speaking to the business group at the Westpac Hub in Addington this morning, Burns suggested they consider forming a cluster and holding monthly meetings to discuss who was doing what around the rebuild, roadblocks and opportunities.

The response from several of the delegates was that they needed to work together as a region to gain a foothold in the rebuild programme.

Rodger Cullen of Placemakers Blenheim said Marlborough businesses needed to collaborate, not compete, with one another to make the most of opportunities presented by the Christchurch rebuild.

Kaituna Sawmill general manager Matt Bond agreed, saying there were opportunities for his business to collaborate with others in terms of transport and logistics.

Today is the second day of a two-day visit for the representatives of nearly 20 Marlborough businesses.

They have met managers and executives from Fletcher EQR, the Canterbury Employers' Chamber of Commerce and the Canterbury Earthquake Recovery Authority (Cera).

The group also visited the University of Canterbury and CPIT Trades Campus.

Today the group was touring the Pacific Tower where much of the steel work on the structure after the earthquakes has been done by Blenheim engineering firm Cuddon.

- © Fairfax NZ News

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