Regional economic development priorities

Kānoa - RDU has partnered with 15 Regional Economic Development (RED) Partnerships to develop economic development priorities for their regions.

Kānoa is now working in partnership with all 15 regions to identify opportunities that align with these local priorities and wider government strategies for growth.

A national picture of regional economic development is emerging from this work. Below is a snapshot of the current RED priorities across New Zealand.

Northland / Te Tai Tokerau: Te Tai Tokerau Northland Economic Action Plan Advisory Group

  • Kai - grow and improve food processing
  • High value manufacturing
  • Infrastructure and construction
  • Digital and technology
  • Destination management

Waikato: Regional Partnership Group

  • Advanced manufacturing  
  • Logistics and distribution
  • Sustainable food and agriculture
  • Digital technology and ICT
  • Energy and sustainability
  • Tourism

Bay of Plenty / Te Moana-a-Toi: Regional Skills Leadership Group

  • Driving sustainable aquaculture opportunities
  • Accelerate a globally-focused, high-value wood products industry
  • Supporting high-value horticulture products
  • Diversifying the Māori economy
  • Enabling infrastructure investment

East Coast / Tairāwhiti: Tairawhiti Economic Action Plan Steering Group

  • Realising the value of forestry assets
  • Driving sustainable value-added horticultural production
  • Unlocking the potential of Whenua Māori
  • Growing the tourism sector
  • Improving transport connections
  • Maximising technology opportunities
  • Growing our people
  • Becoming a business-enabled region
  • Future-proofing our prosperity

Hawke’s Bay / Te Matau-a-Māui: Matariki Hawke’s Bay Regional Development Strategy Group

  • Water security
  • Higher value food production
  • Labour market shortages
  • Capacity to meet the demand for housing
  • Security of export logistics

Taranaki: Ngā Kaiwhakatere o Taranaki

  • Skills, entrepreneurship, and innovation
  • Industry transformation
  • Progressive communities
  • Te Aranga o Taranaki

Manawatū-Whanganui: Accelerate 25 Lead Team

  • Sustainable food and fibre production, food-tech, and agri-tech
  • Visitors/tourism
  • Māori economy – Te Pae Tawhiti
  • Specialist services – focused on business attraction and clustering to create innovations

Kāpiti: Kāpiti Economic Development Kotahitanga Board

  • Food and beverages – developing a higher-value sector
  • Services economy based on the development and application of new skills, ideas, and technologies

Wairarapa: Wairarapa Economic Development Strategy Governance Group

N.B. These are draft priorities only. Wairarapa is still consulting with councils, expecting to finalise its priorities in September.

  • Iwi enterprise
  • People and skills development
  • Digital/technology enhancement
  • Business development
  • Water resilience
  • Destination management

Top of the South / Te Tau Ihu: Intergenerational Strategic Governance Group

  • Ocean economy 
  • Food and beverage
  • Forestry and wood processing

West Coast / Te Tai Poutini: West Coast Mayors and Chairs

  • Strengthen and diversify our economy 
  • Enhanced regional identity
  • Strengthen our communities

Chatham Islands / Wharekauri: Chatham Islands Regional Leadership Group

  • Infrastructure solutions to support better economic outcomes
  • Increase the value of returns and diversification in the food and services economy
  • Housing

Canterbury / Waitaha: Canterbury Mayoral Forum and Economic Development Agencies

  • Better freight transport options
  • Shared economic prosperity
  • Sustainable environmental management
  • Three Waters services
  • Climate change mitigation and adaption

Otago / Otakou: Otago Regional Economic Development Group

N.B. These are draft priorities, still to be confirmed.

  • Connectivity
  • People
  • Housing
  • Sustainability

Southland / Murihiku: Southland RED Partnership (Murihiku Enduring Oversight Group)

  • Clean energy
  • Land use
  • Aquaculture
  • Business transitions
  • Long-term planning