The district's unemployment was at 5.7 per cent, he said. It had reduced from 7 per cent and was one of the lowest in the country. Unemployment in Auckland was at 6.3 per cent.
"There's an emerging story about strength in employment in the regions."
Whatever its strengths, he said Wanganui had to compete for development and investment like any other provincial region.
Local and regional government had more influence on whether it got those things than central government.
Local Government New Zealand had just published advice for councils on how to be business friendly.
It helped to explore all possible opportunities, including oil and gas exploration, Mr Joyce said.
Wanganui's chances would be helped by having ultrafast broadband. Government was working toward a better road from Levin to Wellington, which would also help.
The district also needed to embrace innovation. He praised Tasman Tanning, which is to receive a government grant, for developing a unique product that ensured continued demand at a time when the high New Zealand dollar was limiting demand for other New Zealand manufactured goods.
Tasman Tanning is one of the wet industries whose waste is treated in Wanganui's wastewater treatment system. Mr Joyce said the company wanted to play its part in solving the system's problems, and that could be done.
"As Minister for Economic Development I've been involved in the freshwater issue. The science exists to do a far better job. We can improve both industry and freshwater, and we will want the least cost option."
Pacific region economies were about to experience a massive economic boom, with Asian consumer spending growing to six times that of Europe or North America. That was going to create a massive numbers of jobs, Mr Joyce said.
"It's a question of where those jobs end up. It could be Wanganui, Auckland, Perth, Brisbane, Jakarta or Singapore."
