Editorial: Uni can help shake off $10 Tauranga tag

The need for a Tauranga tertiary campus was highlighted again this week with the release of figures showing average pay rates in the Western Bay of Plenty are the worst in the country.

As reported in the Bay of Plenty Times on Wednesday, Trade Me Jobs listed the average pay for those in fulltime employment in the Western Bay during the first quarter of the year at $47,313 per year - $910 a week.

Its lowly position was blamed on the high number of jobs in the horticultural industries and the subsequent prevalence of lower-paying jobs, such as fruit-picking.

Tauranga was ranked 33rd of the 56 districts with an average pay rate of $52,940 per year. A Statistics New Zealand report from last year paints an even bleaker picture. It ranks the Bay of Plenty fourth lowest in the country with median weekly earnings of $788.

On the back if this information, it's easy to see why family budgets are being stretched as the cost of housing and rental properties continues to rise.

Earlier this year the Demographia International Housing Affordability Survey showed Tauranga houses were more unaffordable than houses in Tokyo, New York and Perth.

In order to address affordability the region needs to focus on wage growth.

Raising the level of education is the first step, which is why the new downtown university campus is so important.

A partnership between University of Waikato and University of California could be the catalyst to rejuvenate Tauranga city and retain young people in the area.

This is the view of University of Waikato council member Paul Adams who says the agreement between the University of Waikato and the University of California would see research and resources shared, and continued student exchanges and possible lecturer exchanges.

In his view, the tertiary campus would help lower the age demographic, develop a new tier of local young professionals, attract new business to the city and increase the average wage.

It would also help address the drift of young people who leave to study outside the region.

The most promising aspect of the campus is that it appears it will be aligned to industry and community needs.

Initial research suggests that areas such as automation, applied technology for the primary sector, coastal marine, environmental and restoration management, agri-chemical and pharmaceutical development, alongside freight logistics and supply freight management will be the focus.

If future graduates of the university can walk into well-paying jobs that reflect the region's needs then we may finally shake off the "$10 Tauranga" tag once and for all.