FARM EXPANSION: The study showed the potential for increasing primary production in the region
A unified study on the economic potential across the Wanganui-Manawatu region is being hailed as a game-changer.
The regional growth study is aimed at detailing for both local stakeholders and Government where the region's most significant future economic opportunities lie, identify what actions would encourage further economic development and increase incomes and jobs in the region.
Economic Development Minister Steven Joyce and Primary Industries Minister Nathan Guy announced the Government-funded study in Levin last week.
Civic leaders from seven district councils, including Wanganui Mayor Annette Main, were at the meeting and all have made a commitment to the study.
Craig Nash, who represents Spearhead Manawatu, an agribusiness working group from across the Manawatu-Wanganui region, said essentially the study was aimed at selling the Wanganui-Manawatu region offshore.
Mr Nash said the goal was simple - to double the region's agri-business exports from $1.9 billion to $3.8 billion by 2025.
"It's an aspirational goal for us but we've got some ideas of where that success is going to come from."
He said those ideas were being kept under wraps at this stage.
He said it was the first time he was aware of that businesses and local authorities had managed to take a collaborative approach for the good of the region.
"This is a game-changer for Wanganui and other districts," he said.
Mr Nash said the study had started about 12 months ago and the Government involvement came because the group was showing a willingness to want to do something to instigate change.
"We had put through the numbers and they clearly showed there is huge potential for agri-business in the wider region. We've got 18 per cent of the class 1 soils and 14 per cent of the class 2 soils in the country yet we're only contributing 6 per cent of the country's primary exports.
"But what these numbers are showing us is that the region has enormous latent potential."
Mr Nash said the Government's funding was "hugely important".
"But the key thing is once that study is done then it's up to this region to own the strategy and make it happen."
He said the study would not have happened if councils and businesses in the region had not shown a "collaborative willingness".
"Regions can't sit on their hands and wait to be bailed out by successive governments. We said we wanted to unlock our potential, said to the Government 'Will you help us' and the Government said yes."
Ms Main said the idea got traction because all the mayors across the region had agreed "it was an excellent way to grow our contribution to the country's economy".
"We've got some great land in our region but what's coming off it doesn't match that potential," she said.
She said the strategy was never going to have a sole Wanganui focus but this district would play a major role.
"For example, we've got plenty of water and it can be used without impacting on the environment, unlike some other parts of the country.
"Tourism will have its place but it is not a high priority. The obviously more important areas include primary production, horticulture and manufacturing and these are all things we have in place here.
"But it's about concentrating on what our strengths are and how we can grow those."
Ms Main said talking to both Government and Opposition parties recently it was apparent there was recognition that the regions would be playing a major role in the country's future economic growth.
The ministers said the study will bring together knowledge held by central and local government, local business people, Maori, and other stakeholders, as well as official economic data and independent economic analysis.
Mr Joyce said Government was committed to helping the regions attract investment and create more and higher-paying jobs.
He said this study would help both regions secure more investment and more job opportunities.
"Actions such as the recently-announced new Whirokino bridge north of Foxton, the rollout of ultra-fast and rural broadband, and the four-laning of the Wellington northern corridor will all benefit the region."
He said the area was already identified as an innovation hub, with its agricultural strengths driving research and development specialities in areas such as biotechnology, agricultural technology, animal health and food technology.
"This study will look at how the region can build on these strengths and identify further opportunities to promote economic growth."
Mr Joyce said there was a huge emerging market in Asia that regional New Zealand could take advantage of, saying it represented "a massive opportunity".
The only question was who would benefit from that growth and the study would work out how to make sure Wanganui-Manawatu got a slice of the pie.