On the front page of Saturday's Chronicle, Shamubeel Eaqub suggested that some regional towns in New Zealand were "zombie towns".
"And some of them have to close," he added, hinting that parts of Wanganui and Rangitikei were suffering from zombie-fication. "It will be better if we target our resources inplaces that have some hope of growing and creating prosperity."
Ranking our regions in terms of international economics, he said that Wanganui-Manawatu was the equivalent of gone-bust Greece.
When Mr Eaqub speaks, we should listen. As principal economist at the NZ Institute of Economic Research, he advocates a number of sensible policies - for example, raising the age of retirement. In short, he is one of the country's top financial brains ... why, the man has developed pie charts that you can actually eat!
His analysis is a cold, hard, logical one - but, of course, he is measuring everything in dollars and cents. What the steely-hearted economist cannot measure is the "prosperity" provided by the wonderful sense of community and togetherness that flows through the regions - with Wanganui and Rangitikei at the forefront.
He cannot quantify the many small, local activities that give such a feeling of unity, wellbeing and purpose to people's lives. You can't put a price on them.
Mr Eaqub needs to take a break from his graphs and get out more. The Chronicle is happy to invite him to Wanganui to show him the "assets" that keep the region's heart pumping.
And we promise - no one will try to eat his flesh!
