New Zealand: Regions Should Bolster National Economic Competitiveness

Here is an interesting one to consider: regions should contribute to more globally competitive nations. I would agree, and I would argue the reverse as well.

New Zealand Economic Development Minister Trevor Mallard said the Regional Partnerships Programme set up six years ago was now working in a different environment.

It was the Government’s main regional economic development programme and gave regions guidance and funding to develop and get sustainable economic growth strategies started.

Mallard says: "Fair enough . . . there is always scope for attacking low growth and low employment, even though this has improved in recent years. And there is vision in the objective . . .making New Zealand globally competitive."

"Regional economic development should be seen as a blending of local needs and goals with the national priority to transform the New Zealand economy," Mr Mallard said yesterday.

The Government has proposed consolidating the 26 regions to 14 larger areas.

It will mean a shift from a regional entitlement approach to one where the contributions a region can make to national priorities is a much more important factor.

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