Talk of zombie towns rejected

Wanganui City PHOTO/FILE

Struggling rural towns in Wanganui and Rangitikei will not be abandoned, regional leaders say.

A recent New Zealand Institute of Economic Research report written by principal economist Shamubeel Eaqub warned that different parts of the country had different economies and the gap between the prosperous and the struggling was widening.

Speaking on TV3's The Nation, he said some parts of regional New Zealand were falling behind the rest of the country in many economic factors and suggested some might be near their end.

"It's horrible to say but, yes, we have zombie towns and some of them do have to close, and you know it's going to be devastating for those communities, but it will be better for New Zealand if we target our resources in places that have some hope of growing and creating prosperity," Mr Eaqub told The Nation.

He would not name which towns he thought were on death's door, but hinted at parts of Wanganui and Rangitikei. "I think about some of those small towns in the central North Island where populations are declining and they've got this massive infrastructure deficit that they're going to have to replace and you're like, 'Would you really invest hundreds of millions of dollars for a declining population?' The answer might be no."

But Labour candidate for Rangitikei Deborah Russell said rather than giving up, such towns needed a helping hand.

"I thought that was so negative talking about zombie towns, because actually small towns are a great place to live and it's not a matter of writing off towns, it's a matter of saying how we can help these towns to survive and thrive and that's a matter of getting industries in there."

Rangitikei MP Ian McKelvie also rubbished the "ghost town" claim.

"I'd like Shamubeel Eaqub to spend a day in Taumarunui and see what a ghost town it is," he said.

Small rural towns had been lagging behind for about 30 years, but he did not think that meant the end.

He pointed to Feilding, which had turned around and was now growing and said there was no reason others couldn't. Tourism and the primary sector provided growth opportunities in the central North Island. "I think we've got to make sure that our young people have got something to aspire to in these rural towns."

Rangitikei Mayor Andy Watson said some rationalisation might need to happen in small towns, but they were here to stay.

"We can't just close our minds to this sort of report," he said.

The recent Bulls town plan and pending plans for Hunterville, Marton and Taihape would help set those historic towns up for future needs.