Hauraki District Council Economic Development Strategy
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Hauraki District Council Economic Development Strategy toward 2025 H A U R A K I D I S T R I C T C O U N C I L Message from the Mayor Having lived in the Hauraki District for On the tourism front, the popularity of the 35 years, I’ve seen many changes, Hauraki Rail Trail continues to exceed particularly in business and economic expectations and boost local business. development. The addition of the Kaiaua to Kopu, The recent establishment of a Chinese- and Waihi to Waihi Beach legs of the owned food production company in Trail in 2016/17 will make the ride a true Hauraki, signifi cant investment in aged multi-day experience, providing further care, and substantial growth in the opportunities for investment in hospitality building and hospitality industries, are and other tourist attractions. all a refl ection of the growing reputation In today’s global business environment, of Hauraki as a great place to live, work, fast, reliable broadband is as essential as visit and do business. roads were 100 years ago. In 2015 we applied for a share of government funding In alignment with central government’s to facilitate the delivery of ultrafast Business Growth Agenda this Council broadband into our communities. This is supports the attraction of new foreign an ongoing process and will continue to investment into New Zealand. We’ve be a focus for the Council as technology developed excellent relationships with a and innovation continue to develop, and number of key government departments more entrepreneurs and business owners including New Zealand Trade and look to live, work and do business outside Enterprise and Immigration New Zealand, of the major cities. giving us access to resources to help local businesses explore and potentially The next ten years promise to be an gain access to overseas markets. We’ve exciting time for Hauraki and we look also established a great relationship with forward to continuing to work with the Waikato Innovation Park, whose Business business community to ensure strong, Growth Advisors work directly with local sustainable economic growth. business owners interested in growth and John Tregidga, JP, MNZM expansion. Hauraki District Mayor 1 Economic Development - What is it? From a Council perspective, economic This Economic Development Strategy development can be defi ned as actions that identifi es the fi ve areas or ‘pillars’ where positively infl uence economic growth and we can best infl uence economic growth improve the economic and social well being over the next fi ve years. The Strategy sets of a community by providing jobs, suffi cient out our goals under each of the fi ve pillars. income levels, and the resources required The expectation is that if these goals are to achieve a healthy standard of living and met, there will be an increase in the number quality of life. of businesses operating in the District, an While there are a number of international, increase in the number of jobs available, and national and regional variables at play that population growth. will infl uence how much effect a council can realistically have on economic development, we contribute to the economic development of the Hauraki District in several ways. This contribution includes, providing good-quality infrastructure and regulatory services, actively promoting business and industry development, and attracting people to the District by providing attractive well-designed public spaces. 2 a bit about us The Hauraki District Located in the Waikato Region of New Some of the major advantages of living and Zealand’s North Island, the Hauraki District doing business in the Hauraki District: is economically well-positioned within the • We are making it easier for business to ‘golden triangle’ between the major cities of invest and operate. Auckland, Tauranga and Hamilton. Its three most populated towns are Paeroa, Ngatea and • Hauraki can offer businesses a more cost- Waihi. There are also several smaller townships effective operating environment than larger and abundant open spaces. The District is urban centres. geographically diverse with rich dairy farming • We are within one hour’s drive of Auckland land, the rugged beauty of the Karangahake International Airport. Gorge, wetlands of international signifi cance • Hauraki is a major transport route between and beautiful coastlines and beaches. the major ports of Auckland, Hamilton and For the year ended 30 June 2015 the population Tauranga. of Hauraki grew by 350 people, or 1.8%, to • We have built relationships with central 19,100.1 This has predominantly been attributed government agencies in both New Zealand to an increase in net migration (more people and abroad and have connections to moving into the District than leaving) and to a international markets. lesser extent natural increase (more births than deaths). The District population is projected • Our natural taonga (treasures) including to continue to grow gradually over the next 20 our coastal environment, world renowned years. wetlands, the pristine Karangahake Gorge, temperate climate and fertile soils. There are several major economic drivers in Hauraki including pastoral farming, mineral • An increasing number of tourists that visit extraction, horticulture, tourism and ancillary the District and the wider Coromandel to service industries. There is a manufacturing enjoy the Hauraki Rail Trail, historic mining base that has steadily grown over the last fi ve attractions, stunning walkways and beaches, years and is projected to continue to grow. and nationally recognised annual events. There has also been increased investment in • The price of land and housing is inexpensive the retirement sector and food production, and relative to neighbouring metropolitan areas. there is potential to tap into the future growth in • Our caring communities and excellent aquaculture. schooling. 1 Statistics New Zealand, estimated population 2015 Auckland Hamilton Tauranga Auckland 2 Hauraki District 1 2 Tauranga Hamilton 3 “cost-effective operating environment” “central location” “caring communities” 4 What are our District’s challenges? In preparing this Strategy Hauraki and the wider development is not adopted. we have been mindful of the Waikato Region derive a lot There are pockets of current economic and social of economic advantage from increasing social deprivation challenges facing the District land and water resources. in the District, focused and those it could face in the The ability to understand how predominantly in the larger future. environmental constraints towns. This means an The New Zealand North may limit growth and how increasing number of people Island population grew to manage these resource do not have the same level of by 69,100 (2.0%) in the demands will be critical for income and qualifi cations, or June 2015 year, to reach our overall success in the access to goods and services 3.52 million. The total future. (such as communications New Zealand estimated The ever-increasing need and private vehicles) as other resident population at 30 to balance population people. Whilst for the majority June 2015 was 4.6 million. and business growth with of people living in the District Population growth in the environmental constraints the greatest proportion of North Island has largely been and the need to plan for their income comes from concentrated within the four climate change will provide wages or salary, overall, the largest territorial authorities challenges for councils and District’s communities have (Auckland, Hamilton, the business community. In a higher number of people Tauranga, and Wellington).1 particular there are increasing deriving their income from The Hauraki District is standards required for the superannuation and means within a one hour drive of quality of discharge permitted tested benefi ts than the New Auckland, Hamilton and to enter waterways which Zealand average. This is Tauranga. This concentrated may require technology consistent with the social 2 population growth and upgrades or new ways of deprivation index rating. increasing demand for addressing industrial and That said, we continue to housing has resulted in an residential discharge. perform well in our key infl ated Auckland property While the District population sectors and there remains market and ever-increasing is currently growing, opportunities to strengthen house prices in Hamilton and projected minimal population our local economy. We are Tauranga. growth in the younger age focused on how we can help These trends have likely groups, together with an the District keep moving contributed to the Hauraki increase in the population forward and where possible, District experiencing higher over 65 years of age, could improve the socio-economic than projected population see the District population situation for our community. growth from net migration start to slowly decline after as people look to districts, 2035. This means that the such as Hauraki, for more population (and therefore the affordable housing options ratepayer base) would no and an improved lifestyle. longer be expanding which could have a negative effect This ‘Auckland effect’ could on our ability to provide result in higher population services. This could also growth over the next twenty have a negative effective on years than previously business growth if a strategic projected. approach to economic 1 Statistics New Zealand, estimated population 2015 2 NZDep2013 Index of Deprivation 5 Average (mean) annual household income for 2015 Hauraki New Zealand $66,838 $91,198