Editorial: Jobs boost means Bay is buzzing

It has not yet been disclosed where the site will be, but from October Hastings will have a new Kiwibank site handling back office functions. Photo / APN

The region has been buzzing this week with thousands of people in the Bay for the Horse of the Year.

Today we have more fantastic news for our economy.

Kiwibank is to open an office in Hastings CBD and will employ 100 people while in Ahuriri a new waterfront hotel is expected to create an extra 15 positions.

Work has already begun on the 21-room waterfront hotel and conference centre at East Pier. This will put another notch in Ahuriri's belt as the suburb goes from strength to strength.

Whenever there is a big event in Hawke's Bay its damn near impossible to get accommodation so the extra 21-room waterfront hotel will be welcomed by tourists and visitors to our region.

Readers may also have noticed the increase in employment advertising in Hawke's Bay Today. There are more jobs and although I understand some of this is seasonal the new enterprises mentioned are a huge boost for us.

It has not yet been disclosed where the site will be, but from October Hastings will have a new Kiwibank site handling back office functions. Some of the company's current Wellington-based employees may well take up relocation for the positions here, but there are bound a significant number of positions available for locals.

Although these numbers are yet to be determined, an extra 100 people working in the CBD, buying homes or renting and sending their kids to local schools has obvious spin-offs.

It's great to see companies choosing to start up business in Hawke's Bay, the more the merrier.