Business leaders and National party politicians at the Regional economic development strategy and action plan launch. Photo / Warren Buckland
Business leaders and National party politicians at the Regional economic development strategy and action plan launch. Photo / Warren Buckland
For the past couple of years, I have called for our political leaders to unite behind a single regional economic development plan.
Unfortunately the ugly scrap that was last year's amalgamation referendum ensured that local government leaders were prepared to only pay lip service to a combined strategic vision forour future.
Well, as we all know, the proposal to amalgamate our five local councils was consigned to the dustbin of history. Weirdly, it allowed regional initiatives to flourish with a case in point being the enthusiastic launch of the Great Things Grow Here website recently. When this scheme was first launched in the midst of the merger squabble, Hastings Council was accused of amalgamation by stealth.
So, it was with interest that I awaited the launch of Matariki - the Regional Economic Development Strategy (Reds) for Hawke's Bay which was held in Napier yesterday. A bevy of Cabinet Ministers flew in for the occasion and our local mayors and MPs pledged support.
I think the strategy is a good start. National government has come to the party, announcing new (or re-announced) money to kick-start our economy.
The Project 1000 jobs is ambitious, but at least it is a tangible plan to get more of our beneficiaries and unemployed back into the workforce. The $25 million pledge to upgrade road access to the Napier port is fantastic, but it should have included a ban on trucks going along Marine Parade.
The announcement of $50,000 to scope out the feasibility of expanding the National Aquarium of NZ to include a Marine Research Centre is brilliant.
So, well done to our local leaders for driving this. Now, it is up to local business to take the ball and run with it.
