Bay action plan focuses on jobs and investment

UNDERWAY: Economic Development Minister Steven Joyce (centre) was part of the Toi Moana Bay of Plenty Economic Action Plan launch in Rotorua. PHOTO/BEN FRASER

Attracting investors and creating a surge in jobs in Tauranga is part of a new economic action plan for the Bay of Plenty.

Launched by Economic Development Minister Steven Joyce and Maori Development Minister Te Ururoa Flavell yesterday in Rotorua, the action plan followed the release of an independent Regional Growth Study in May.

That plan identified nine priority industries across the region seen as the biggest opportunities for investment and growth to create jobs. These were education and skills, geothermal, water, agriculture, aquaculture, forestry and related products, horticulture, specialised manufacturing and visitor economy.

Mr Joyce said while other regions were part of the Regional Growth Study, the Bay of Plenty was first with a set plan.

"Bay of Plenty has roared to the front in the execution stake because there are some other regions that are still coming along," he said.

"If you look at the last year, there's been a pretty strong recovery in many parts of the Bay.

"You take the kiwifruit industry recovery ... but also the tourism industry which has particular resonance in this city and other areas have been developing as well. But there is still more to do."

Expanding the kiwifruit and Manuka honey industries and unlocking Maori land for horticultural use were among many focus areas in Tauranga.

However, Tauranga MP Simon Bridges said even growth in out-of-town industries like forestry, geothermal energy and commercial trout farming would produce spin-off business that would directly benefit the city.

"Tauranga and the Western Bay of Plenty can only benefit. Growth anywhere in the Bay of Plenty is going to be to the direct benefit of Tauranga as the biggest city that can provide the services and logistics to make the region hum."

Tauranga Mayor Stuart Crosby agreed. "What's good for the Bay of Plenty is good for Tauranga. If we grow our economy a large majority will go through Port of Tauranga."

Instead of district by district planning, the strength of this action plan lay in the region-wide approach and the collaboration between parties, he said.

However, Mr Crosby said key areas included education, with the plan for the tertiary campus; utilisation of Maori land, which the region had a large proportion of; more strategic use of water as an essential but finite resource; and kiwifruit growth on land yet to be developed.

Feeding into that needed to be a skilled workforce and Bay of Plenty MP Todd Muller said it was great to see a focus on education in the plan.

He said there needed to be a link between school leavers and the horticultural industry so students were aware of the career opportunities.

Mr Muller also said it was great to see a regional approach to tourism.

"When people land in Auckland you want them to think Bay of Plenty as a destination, not just going to Rotorua."

Western Bay of Plenty Deputy Mayor Gwenda Merriman said it was "absolutely critical" for local industry to be at the forefront of the discussions, alongside central and local government and iwi.

Priority One chief executive Andrew Coker said there was no doubt the plan would speed up growth and result in more jobs.

Additional reporting by Dana Kinita