Business time for brains trust

A team of high-profile brainstormers is choosing its targets in the next big quest to bring greater prosperity to Wairarapa.
The Wairarapa Development Group is looking at areas likely to give "the biggest bang for our buck", chairman Shane McManaway said yesterday.
Mr McManaway, chief executive of a farming product company, chairs a dozen others with backgrounds in business and community leadership.
Under the slogan "Working For The Greater Good of Wairarapa", the team has identified transport and irrigation as being key for improving the district's economic performance.
Since its founding in April last year the group has run a service award as part of a campaign to boost perceived low standards in the service industries and provide a better experience for tourists.
Now transport issues - namely trains, planes, and ports - have attracted the group's attention.
Mr McManaway said opportunities exist to attract more tourists into Wairarapa, such as through a day-trip train from Wellington.
"And Hood Aerodrome; are we using that to our full potential?
"Could we have a second aircraft in, a 50-seater with a tourist focus whereas the other one is more business?"
A long-awaited irrigation scheme is also a "classic" area to focus on, Mr McManaway said.
Three interest groups have acknowledged the efforts of the Wairarapa Development Group:
Kiwirail chief executive Jim Quinn said it was good to have an "early start with the Wairarapa Development Group" as part of planned discussions with "community and industry groups" on the future of the Wairarapa route.
"There are also immediate opportunities to work with our passenger tourism business Tranz Scenic to attract more people to visit the area by rail."
A Centreport spokesperson said the company supported development of a "hinterland" for its port, in reference to plans for what has been described as an "inland port" for rail at Waingawa.
"The combined efforts of interested parties can only lead to greater outcomes, so we welcome discussions with groups like WDG," the spokesperson said.
Grow Wellington chief executive Nigel Kirkpatrick said the group was "continuing to move forward" with an irrigation scheme, and also working with food and beverage producers on an export project for the region.
He said working with the Wairarapa Development Group was "a critical part of development of both these projects" and the groups both wanted a strong economy "that supports innovative businesses".
The Wairarapa Development Group's members are: Shane MacManaway, Mavis Mullins, Peter Munn, Robin Dunlop, Wendy Morrison, Alastair Scott, Nick Rogers, Bob Francis, John Cameron, Kaye McAulay, Anders Crofoot, Paora Ammunson and Donovan Wearing.