A key function of Nelson's newly created economic development agency will be attracting businesses and families to relocate to the region, the mayor says.
Rachel Reese said the agency combined the former regional economic development body and Nelson's former tourism promotion agency.
She said one of its aims would be to turn the area from a favoured holiday destination into a place where people wanted to live.
"What we will be doing is moving tourism into what I consider to be the position that it needs to be in New Zealand which is recognised as one of our key economic drivers and creating in many ways the regional identity that allows us to leverage other job opportunities."
Rachel Reese said the new agency, chaired by former Air New Zealand and Solid Energy chair John Palmer, will start operating from July this year.
