Editorial: Growth needs must be met

Tauranga Mayor Stuart Crosby

I wasn't surprised to learn Tauranga was New Zealand's fastest growing town over an 80-year period.

An enviable climate, stunning beaches and a relaxed lifestyle make the Bay a magnet for people looking for a better quality of life.

Interestingly, the region's sunshine hours have been identified as a major drawcard as Kiwis follow the sun to the country's sunniest places.

A long-term analysis by economists from the Motu consulting group and Auckland University has found that sunshine hours were one of four main factors driving the growth and decline of 56 New Zealand towns between 1926 and 2006, along with the quality of the local agricultural land, local educational levels and proximity to the country's biggest city, Auckland.

Niwa listed Tauranga as the fifth sunniest place in New Zealand, with 2345 sunshine hours a year from 1981 and 2010, coming in behind the sunshine capital Whakatane, with 2704 sunshine hours.

Motu economist Eyal Apatov says the differential growth rate is due to a mix of productivity-related and lifestyle factors.

The challenge for city leaders is ensuring the region has the infrastructure to deal with the population growth, which is predicted to continue at a rapid rate.

Tauranga Mayor Stuart Crosby says the council and other agencies are planning for more growth and expected Tauranga's population to reach almost a quarter of million by 2065. The current population is 117,600.

Traditionally known as New Zealand's retiree capital, measures are now being put in place to keep the population in Tauranga balanced. The new university campus on Durham St will help that, Mr Crosby says.

There are other factors to consider: catering for an ageing population, increasing the supply of housing to address affordability and lifting wage rates.

These all present major issues that will need to be addressed to ensure the city maintains its reputation as a great place to live.