What is the succession plan for Hawke's Bay?
My interactions with people on the street and in their homes is giving me great insights into the challenges for people and the region.
Yes, we need more jobs in Hawke's Bay and we need to give our young a sense of hope. How can we do that?
If we were to consider Hawke's Bay as a human body, it is certainly strong and toned in many areas, horticulture, agriculture and viticulture. Manufacturing to support these industries is also strong. Is the skeleton strong enough to continue to support these growing muscles? What are we doing to connect all the parts so they can work simultaneously with each other so we don't become a region of strong isolated sectors only connected by the lifestyle we enjoy? Will this lifestyle continue if we don't nourish it as a whole?
I keep thinking of Kaitiakitanga - the ethic of stewardship. To me this is about the value of positive management for a long and sustainable future. Yes this is about the environment but it is more than that, we need to nurture our people and our economy for our region to flourish. Without a strong economy we have little choice.
I have had young people say to me, "what is the point of living here, there is no hope". I hear parents telling me their children are all overseas or in Auckland. If we want to see our grandchildren we are considering moving to Auckland or overseas even though we love living here.
Yes, it's great that they get to experience different cultures overseas, but the sad bit for me is that we cannot offer the types of professional opportunities that will enable them to work in Hawke's Bay. People who come back to Hawke's Bay tell me they have had to compromise salary and in many cases are working in roles they are only partially keen on. Not the best marketing proposition.
How are we marketing Hawke's Bay? Yes some compromises have to be made to come here as we are currently a lower income region, but the positives are that houses here are half the price of Auckland, rates are half the price. Insurance by default is less, so is food. In balance, living in Hawke's Bay is better for your health and your pocket - is this a message we are spreading and do companies know this when they choose to set up in Auckland?
Our port is very efficient but there are some pressures due to being predominantly export based. I look at Big Save - they have come here to maximise the efficiency of the port and the opportunity to back-fill containers that become the ones we need to export our produce.
The infrastructure to move goods from Napier is also efficient and faster than some of the other regions' networks. Number One Shoe Warehouse manages its New Zealand distribution from Whakatu - where are all the other distribution-based businesses? If we increase our imports to Napier then we need less empty containers in storage and travelling on the roads.
These are the sorts of questions that we need to be addressing to maximise the commercial opportunity.
The challenge I see is the marketing, and I am not suggesting we employ a super hero to develop this. Each of us has a responsibility to talk this region, its opportunity and its strengths, up.
We all have friends who come here and say, "what a great place to live, you are so lucky".
The other part of the marketing is a joint vision for the region. When did we come together as a region and discuss our strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats. Our neighbours are not a threat to us; our attitude towards them is a threat to our own well-being. It's time to get together and listen to each of the communities and come up with ONE Vision and ONE plan for the region so we can go to market with a clear succinct message that we all support and are proud of.
This is a great place to live work and play but we are not the runt of the litter, we are not the black sheep, we are the preferred option, one of the jewels in the New Zealand crown we just don't believe we are, or if we do we don't talk like we do.
When I look at some young people I see how powerful "permission to achieve" is. I have seen the results of parents who share their belief of success in their youth with them. We all respond positively to someone having faith in us, that we can achieve our goals.
In my mind the same goes for Hawkes Bay, let's all create the one vision that gives the region permission to shake off the provincial, lower salary, parochial stigma we self-impose. Let's get together and map out a vision that awakens the sleeping giant.
# Wayne Walford is the National Party candidate for Napier in the elections. Candidates will be given equal opportunity to contribute opinion pieces in the run-up to the elections.
#Business and civic leaders, organisers, experts in their field and interest groups can contribute opinions. Email: editor@hbtoday.co.nz.
# Correction: This is the correct version of the Talking Point opinion piece supplied by Wayne Walford. The version in today's newspaper is incorrect as the first two paragraphs were not supplied by him. Hawke's Bay Today apologises to Mr Walford.
