Hon Steven Joyce
Minister for Economic Development
Hon Nathan Guy
Minister for Primary Industries
10 April 2014
Media Statement
Govt to undertake Northland growth study
Economic Development Minister Steven Joyce and Primary Industries Minister Nathan Guy today announced a new programme of
work commencing in the Northland region to evaluate opportunities to further increase investment, employment and incomes
in the region.
The Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment and the Ministry for Primary Industries will work alongside regional
stakeholders such as the local and regional councils and the economic development agency to deliver a broad study of the
region’s economic potential.
“Regions across New Zealand have been leading our recovery out of the GFC. The Government is committed to helping all
our regions to attract investment and create more and higher-paying jobs. This work will help encourage more investment
to build stronger and more innovative regional economies,” Mr Joyce says.
“The findings will also inform work by New Zealand Trade and Enterprise to attract investment into the region to support
development and ultimately to provide employment.”
Mr Guy says the first report will build on work already started by MPI to unlock the potential for growth in Northland’s
primary sector.
“We know that forestry and farming are a large part of the Northland economy, but there is significant scope to add more
value to these and other resource-based industries in the region. We also want to evaluate what opportunities there are
to develop other avenues of economic growth, like manufacturing and tourism,” Mr Guy says.
“The opportunities will be identified through bringing together knowledge held by local business people, iwi/Maori and
stakeholders, with official data, and independent economic analysis.”
The first study, for the Gisborne/Hawke’s Bay region, arose out of discussions with their Regional Councils and local
authorities last year and is nearly complete. Additional studies will be commissioned in partnership with other regions.
The request for proposal on the Northland Regional Growth Report can be viewed at:http://www.gets.govt.nz
Northland: Potential for Primary Industry Growth is available at: http://www.mpi.govt.nz/Default.aspx?TabId=126=2053
ENDS