Cities focus on investors

Four cities in Greater Auckland are being invited to form a regional front to target potential foreign investors.

Auckland, North Shore, Waitakere and Manukau will be the first four to explore this concept, which is already well-tested in Canterbury and Wellington.

The Trade Development Board is responsible for marketing New Zealand as an investment destination, and its director (investment), Gary Langford, says representatives from each of the four cities have been invited to find common ground to market themselves.

The focus could expand later to the three other councils in the region (Franklin, Papakura and Rodney).

Mr Langford said the Canterbury Development Corporation handled regional economic development in a cohesive and integrated manner.

In Wellington, each of the cities involved invested funds in the Invest in Wellington agency, which on their behalf promoted interest in the region.

"I would still see, even if we have such a model in Auckland, it quickly coming down to what each city has to offer," Mr Langford said.

"If you are looking for a particular set of factors, that would determine whether you go to the North Shore or to Manukau or to Auckland or Waitakere.

"Each one has its comparative advantage. It is a question of getting the regional voice first, getting them interested in the region and then zeroing it down to the area that they handle at the local body level."