Region rues lack of Budget help

Hawke's Bay Regional Council chairman Fenton Wilson says the Budget's lack of local development initiatives is a missed opportunity for the province. Photo / File

Hawke's Bay leaders have generally welcomed the Budget's focus on addressing child poverty and assisting struggling families, but some say the Government has missed an opportunity to help boost the regional economy.

While poorer local families are set to benefit from measures to reduce hardship, and the region would see its share of targeted increases in health, education and training spending, there was little in yesterday's Budget directed specifically at Hawke's Bay.

"The Government is pouring millions of dollars into building houses on government land in Auckland. Surely some of those millions of dollars could be applied to encouraging firms to locate or relocate to the regions," Napier Mayor Bill Dalton said.

"The regions need jobs and we're working extremely hard to try to bring firms to Hawke's Bay to create jobs for our people, and it appears to me that this Budget gives us no assistance whatsoever."

Mr Dalton last week joined his fellow mayors in Hastings, Wairoa and Central Hawke's Bay in calling for the Government to do more to promote regional economic development.

Hastings Mayor Lawrence Yule said yesterday he had not expected any significant regional development initiatives to be announced in the Budget, and improving the economy of the provinces was an "ongoing conversation and people are starting to listen".

"What's happening in regional New Zealand is not going to be solved alone, it's going to have to be a joint solution between local and central government. That's something for the future," Mr Yule said.

Hawke's Bay Regional Council chairman Fenton Wilson said the lack of regional economic development initiatives in the Budget was "a missed opportunity" in terms of potential growth partnerships between local and central government.

Wairoa Mayor Craig Little said more regional assistance was required to get people working on economic rejuvenation initiatives, rather than through benefits.

Hawke's Bay Chamber of Commerce chief executive Wayne Walford, who stood as National's Napier candidate at last year's election, said additional tertiary education funding in the Budget - including $8.4 million to grow Maori and Pasifika trades training - presented an opportunity for getting more Bay people into work.

"I think there's a good balance in the Budget and the overall message is about supporting people, from an early age through to education, and increasing the opportunities and hours people will be able to work," he said. "We'll end up with more people working and more productive lifestyles for a lot of people."

Napier Grey Power spokeswoman and city councillor Maxine Boag said the Government's decision to axe the $1000 kickstart payment for people joining KiwiSaver would mean many New Zealanders would be much poorer when they retired.

"It removes a vital incentive for workers to join up."