Policy set to boost regions

NEW CITIZENS: Immigrants, like these with deputy mayor Hamish McDouall, will bring skills, investment and hybrid vigour, writes Whanganui MP Chester Borrows. PHOTO/SUPPLIED 30062015WCSUPNEWCITIZENS

THE RELEASE of the Manawatu-Whanganui Regional Growth Strategy today is another step in a collaboration of central government, business and local government working to lift productivity, growth, jobs and GDP in regional New Zealand.

The announcement on the weekend that prospective immigrants will be allocated more points if they choose to move to the provinces and not metro centres in New Zealand is also good news.

In central and South Taranaki, we can see the advantage of having migration into our region historically. The contribution made to our farming sector particularly, but also retail and manufacturing, from those families emigrating to New Zealand last century is tangible.

The work ethic, drive and determination to succeed has been the hallmark of those coming to this country since immigration began with tangata whenua, who had huge entrepreneurial skills, with hundreds of acres under cultivation and trading savvy - not only among themselves, but also new migrants.

Currently, a prospective migrant requires 100 points to be allowed to come to New Zealand. Points are also allocated on skills, age and other attributes.

Ten points are given if that person will be living in the provinces and that will now be 30 points, creating a larger incentive to move out of the metro centres. Migrants wishing to come to New Zealand in the entrepreneurial class will get double points - 40 instead of the current 20 - to locate provincially. The time required to stay regionally is now a year instead of three months.

Attracting people into the regions is difficult - many can't see past the big smoke and getting them here in the first place is the biggest challenge.

Once here, though, there is little difficulty in keeping people, as they realise the benefits of not commuting for an hour each morning and night at 35km/h on a congested motorway or arterial route. Purchasing a home for half or less of the values in the Auckland property market is another.

Being five minutes from everything, free access to top-class education for their children and the ability to walk the beach alone, tramp in national parks within half an hour's drive, catch a wave or a fish at the drop of a hat, are all big attractions for people coming south of the Bombay Hills to live. This new policy will bring population, skills, investment and hybrid vigour to our vibrant communities.