Zespri chairman Peter McBride with Prime Minister John Key, Zespri CEO Lain Jager and Bay of Plenty MP Todd Muller last week. Photo: FILE
Last week was quite a tumultuous week for the Bay.
Following the tornado which damaged dozens of homes, as well as Mount Maunganui Intermediate, there have been local firemen, church groups and numerous other volunteers helping to clean up the areas worst affected. It was great to see such community
spirit in action.
Only the day before we welcomed the Prime Minister to our wonderful, sunny electorate where we visited Oropi Primary School and officially opened our new electorate office in Papamoa.
After facing the kids' grilling questions at the school, which included to the PM "Are you going bald?", we visited Zespri which is celebrating a full-scale comeback after the devastating set back from the Psa virus, which was discovered in 2010.
Another report on the Bay released last week by Minister for Economic Development, Steven Joyce, also showed the region and its industries could grow substantially thanks to its resource, population, location and climate advantages.
