The challenges faced by Tauranga and the Western Bay of Plenty are largely good ones on how to accommodate growth, says Massey University demographics expert, distinguished professor Paul Spoonley.
"But there are some big questions - what does an age-friendly Tauranga look like, especially given it is a major destination for retirees. And how does Tauranga fit into a new knowledge economy?"
He will next month kick off the first in a new series of presentations organised by Smart Growth in partnership with Priority One and the Tauranga Chamber of Commerce, around the theme "Smart Talk, Future Thinking". The series aims to foster informed debate on delivering on the potential of the sub-region's businesses and communities.
His talk will focus on the need to consider the demographics of regions and how they might work to build to their economies. He will also discuss the trends in the Western Bay and what these mean for its future, including that of the business community.
Professor Spoonley said New Zealand was going through huge economic and demographic change with various elements that could be expected to impact Tauranga and the wider Bay of Plenty region. These included the ageing population - with the 65-plus age group expected to double over this decade - and an expected shortage of skilled labour.
Another key challenge was the disruption expected as a result of new technology.