Rotorua's mayor says a New Zealand First plan to shift government departments into regional centres isn't new, but is "spot on".
Steve Chadwick said the plan announced by New Zealand First leader Winston Peters was a great idea, and something she had been saying for some time.
Mr Peters claimed the plan would bring new life into regional New Zealand and help to boost local economies. He said it would see service industries and shops flourish and help ease the overload in the cities.
Mrs Chadwick said when the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment opened an office in Tauranga, she started to think about the opportunities available for Rotorua.
For example, she said with the forestry assets here, basing some of the forestry division of the Ministry of Primary Industries in Rotorua made sense.