Time to change 'zombie town' thinking

Shamubeel Eaqub says the same broken models keep being used in terms of regional Photo Bevan Conley

Shamubeel Eaqub's vision for the future and pleas for change were such that he could've been mistaken for being on the campaign trail.

The principal economist at the New Zealand Institute of Economic Research was in Wanganui yesterday speaking about his book, Growing Apart - Regional Prosperity in New Zealand, where he details the decline of regional economies.

He addressed a group of what Wanganui Mayor Annette Main described as "people who have popped up above the parapet in terms of being positive about the possibilities in Wanganui".

His visit was filmed by TV One's current affairs programme Sunday as part of a programme on regional economies due to screen in September.

The basis of Mr Eaqub's talk was a challenge to Wanganui to tackle regional decline and create prosperity. But a new way of thinking was required.

"We keep on trying to use the same broken models in terms of regional development," he said.

The focus needed to be on creating prosperity rather than growth.

Urbanisation was not going to stop, he said. "Over the past hundred years we've had no growth in rural population.

"We shouldn't get hung up on growth for the sake of growth. Prosperity, that has to come first - if it comes with growth, great."

Change needed to be driven from within regions such as Wanganui, he said. At the moment, the economic development discussion tended to be about Auckland issues with a Wellington point of view - but there had to be unique solutions for each region.

"Having one policy that's going to fix everything in every place is not going to work.

"The leadership has to come from local government and from local business and community leaders but, ultimately, you're going to have to have the community fully behind it because otherwise none of this stuff will last."

A lot of policy had been short-sighted - "As you've seen before, you start something and it fizzles, nothing lasts the distance.

"What are we going to do that's sustainable and that's going to create massive opportunities?"

The opportunities he saw in Wanganui included taking advantage of natural resources, the climate, tourism and piggy-backing on the growth in neighbouring regions.

But first things first. "It is having that conversation that celebrates success because the need for inspiration and aspiration is so critical.

"You've got to get across to people that there is hope and that outlook can be really good."

The comments in Wanganui yesterday carried a different tone to an interview he gave on TV3's The Nation earlier this year. Then he predicted some parts of New Zealand could become zombie towns.

"We've got to shock people into talking about these issues because it's uncomfortable," Mr Eaqub said. "We need to create the urgency for action.

"My question is, are we up to it with our leadership ... to ask the hard questions and to follow through?"