IAN MCKELVIE: Study identifies road to potential growth

LAST week, Economic Development Minister Steven Joyce, Primary Industries Minister Nathan Guy and Minister for Maori Development Te Ururoa Flavell released the Manawatu-Whanganui Growth Study.

The report highlights the region's strong growth potential, as well as emerging opportunities in fields as diverse as tourism, aged care and business process outsourcing (think call centres).

The launch, in Palmerston North, was attended by about 150 invited guests.

The report identified this region as being full of promise, which is clearly nothing new for those of us who live here. It also highlighted significant scope to build on our existing strengths in the primary sector, and to further increase prosperity by attracting new investment.

We are already identified as an innovation hub, and our agricultural strengths drive strong research and development specialties in areas such as biotechnology, agricultural technology, animal health and food technology.

We are the number one region in New Zealand for sheep and cattle farming, too.

Tourism and visitor services are seen as the most immediate opportunity, closely followed by a range of agri-based development opportunities.

Maori play an important part in the region's economy and communities and will, most certainly, be a key to unlocking its potential future.

It is clear, though, that despite the Manawatu-Whanganui having strong foundations for growth, there needs to be a focus on a range of "enablers", like investment attraction, transport, distribution hubs and increased access to ultra-fast broadband, in order to realise our significant economic potential.

Strong local leadership and collaboration will also be needed to take these opportunities forward and we are particularly fortunate in this respect with our mayors - Annette Main (Wanganui), Andy Watson (Rangitikei) and Margaret Kouvelis (Manawatu).

There are some great things happening in the region, ranging from Maori agribusiness to successful poultry and horticultural production. There is scope to get more out of the rich and extensive hill country resource, which is now the number one region in the country for sheep and beef in New Zealand.

Lifting on-farm performance offers major benefits, because we know the top 20 per cent of red meat farmers in New Zealand achieve returns four times more than the average farmer. So there is significant potential to lift the productivity and profitability of the land, and add further value to the primary products the region produces.

The independent report was commissioned to help increase investment, employment and incomes in the Manawatu-Whanganui region and I know there is real consensus to ensure that we make the most of any funding opportunities available.

The report proposes a package of opportunities that, together, could increase jobs, incomes and investment which is, no doubt, why it was so well received last week and why it will be great for economic development across the region.