Transport Minister Gerry Brownlee says forecast low economic growth in Hawke's Bay and the wider East Coast region over the next two decades is alarming but the Government is looking at ways to address the problem.
The East Coast Regional Economic Potential study predicts GDP growth in the region to average between 0.73 and 1.81 per cent per annum over the next 20 years.
Growth could rise to 2.51 per cent per annum if the discovery of significant resources led to large-scale oil and gas production in the area, although the report says the possibility of that remains "largely speculative".
Speaking at the launch of the report this week, Mr Brownlee said the Government was committed to boosting regional economic growth.
"One of the things that I think is a little alarming in the study is the relatively low levels of projected growth," he said.