If Northland has been locked in an economic cave waiting for the dawn of business growth, the sunrise sectors that feature in the upcoming Regional Growth Study could set the region aglow. Christine Allen speaks to chief executive of Northland Inc David Wilson about Northland's regional development big picture and the agency tasked with drawing it up.
It's been just over a year since the Takapuna man took the helm of the embattled ship Northland Inc but David Wilson has forged business battle strategies with the newest sharpened weapons being digital and aquaculture industries.
With the Regional Growth Study due for release in the new year, Wilson says these "sunrise sectors" are seeing growth.
The study will reveal a unified focus, with stakeholders - business people, local government and Maori - agreeing on where economic development energy and funds will be spent.
It will feed into the agency's 10-year action plan called Northland 2025.
Wilson had worked as director of the Institute of Public Policy at Auckland University of Technology (AUT) before the super city, and focused on uniting business associations in the fragmented region.
He says this region also suffers fragmentation and Wilson is tasked with gluing it together.
"This is the one thing that Northland lacks - one plan and one voice."
A five-point digital plan will form part of Northland 2025.
The first step involves the continuation of ultra fast broadband (UFB) rollout across the region, while the second is about adding value to Northland's primary industries with technology.
WORKFORCE
The most important point, says Wilson, involves creating a digitally savvy workforce through supporting education schemes from primary school level.
Growing Northland technology business comes after that, with companies being encouraged to make the most of digital infrastructure.
He said the final step would see the region embrace larger tech companies.
The digital strategy will also look at how the 14,000km Hawaiki Cable can work with two proposed data centres at Marsden Pt.
"The data centres won't bring in the jobs but the companies that would could move here to be located beside the cable."
Details about tenders for the Northland construction were expected soon.
However, the focus was not just on digital growth.
"In Northland, we need to look at our key economic drivers - milk and wood - making these commodities resilient."
The agency had also been exploring the region's forestry industry, encouraging wood processing "so we're not just exporting logs".
It has just completed a market demand study for a $60 million-a-year Yellow Tail Kingfish farm at Bream Bay too, headed by National Institute of Water and Atmospheric Research (Niwa).
The study has found there is a demand and Wilson is confident Northland Inc can proceed to a business case for aquaculture and put the idea before Northland Regional Council.
STABLE
Wilson landed when the infant organisation based at Cameron St in Whangarei was in a state of turmoil.
He set about a "bedding down" process and says he is now confident the agency is stable. Northland Inc was formed in 2012 when Destination Northland and Enterprise Northland were merged.
"The two organisations had just been thrust together. There were growing pains," he says.
Directors Russell Shaw, David Caselli and James Parsons all resigned in 2013 over a difference of opinions on the organisation's management.
Warren Moyes has since replaced Colin Mitten as chairman.
The swinging doors of the agency opened for directors Irene Durham and Jeroen Jongejans.
Leaders added to the Northland Inc team this year were Vaughan Cooper (GM Investment and Infrastructure), Joseph Stuart (GM Business Growth), Paul Davis, (GM Regional Promotions) and former Ngapuhi Runanga chief executive George Riley (GM Maori Development).
"We needed some strong leadership and skill at the top level."
With a new board in place, Wilson has identified five focus areas - business development and growth, sector development, investment and infrastructure, Maori economic and regional promotions.
When the Northland Inc role opened up, Wilson says he jumped at the chance to not just talk about economic development. "It was just time to get out and do it."
