Mayors endorsing Bay's growth spurt

Wairoa mayor Craig Little, Hastings mayor Lawrence Yule, Central Hawke's Bay mayor Alex Walker and Napier mayor Bill Dalton united under the Great Things Grow Here platform last night.

Hawke's Bay mayors shared their wares for business development last night, offering their vision to more than 100 local businesspeople registered as Brand Champions.

The Masonic Hotel presentation was the second Great Things Grow Here networking event since its relaunch last year.

The economic-development marketing platform had a false start when first offered to the region by Hastings District Council, some suspecting it was a Trojan horse for local-government amalgamation.

Last night Napier mayor Bill Dalton said the way forward for the region was council collaboration "and the excellent economic development platform that is Great Things Grow Here".

He said the recently-launched Regional Economic Development Strategy was the first in his lifetime that included all demographics, with the emerging Maori economy a powerhouse.

Napier's economy was diversifying, attracting innovative firms and talented people "realising they can start businesses here easily and cheaply".

Central Hawke's Bay mayor Alex Walker said her district was "central by name, central by nature".

"We may be less than 10 per cent of the population in Hawke's Bay but we contribute 27 per cent of Hawke's Bay exports through Napier Port," she said.

The district was "pumping" water, lamb and "number-8-wire rural innovation to the world", with future growth reliant on diversification and sustainability.

Hastings mayor Lawrence Yule said rezoned industrial zones were "timed perfectly" for "massive" demand, with hundreds of jobs coming at Irongate.

"We live in an amazing place and I have never seen the level of confidence or economic activity like I am seeing at the moment," he said.

Wairoa mayor Craig Little said land-based industries were the mainstay of its economy but new developments were adding vigour. Treaty Settlements were empowering the Maori community and Rocket Lab's satellite launching a welcome boost.

"Who would have thought that Wairoa would be the gateway to the galaxy?" he said.