A new plan to invigorate Northlands economy will prioritise infrastructure improvements relating to transport, digital infrastructure, skills and capability, and water says two government ministers.
Economic Development Minister Steven Joyce and Primary Industries Minister Nathan Guy announced the Tai Tokerau Northland Economic Action Plan yesterday.
It is part of the Government’s Regional Growth Programme, which is increasing jobs, income and investment in regional New Zealand.
Joyce says the plan identifies 58 tangible actions that will contribute millions of dollars to the Northland economy.
“Northland had shown real progress in recent quarters, with its unemployment rate dropping from around 8.1% before we commenced this programme in April 2014 to 6.2% in the latest labour force survey released yesterday,” says Joyce.
“However, there is a lot of work to do if we are to realise the potential of this resource-laden region of New Zealand,” he says.
“The most important part of this plan is that Northland’s principal leaders are behind it and we are all pulling in the same direction,” says Joyce.
Guy says the plan sets the stage for business growth by prioritising infrastructure improvements relating to transport, digital infrastructure, skills and capability, and water.
“With those improvements under way, Northland can focus on turning its natural riches into economic gains. Manuka trees, honey, forestry and wood processing, aquaculture, horticulture and farming collectives are all headliners,” says Guy.
“One example is in Te Hiku where the Ministry of Primary Industries is working with Maori trusts and incorporations to explore forming a Te Hiku sheep and beef farming collective,” he says.
“The findings so far show the collective could have the potential to double their meat production within three to five years of operation,” says Guy.
The draught of the plan was the oversight by an advisory group, supported by Northland Inc with input from business and local iwi, along with local and central government agencies.
Some of the projects in the action plan involve iwi/Maori and support the outcomes of He Tangata, He Whenua, He Oranga – the Maori Economic Development Strategy for Northland published by the Te Tai Tokerau Iwi Chief Executive’s Consortium in February 2015.
