A strong sustainable economy
The vision
The western Bay of Plenty sub-region is the business location of choice based on sun, sea, soil and people skills resulting in a highly productive, competitive, export-based economy.
Value added and export orientated innovation and entrepreneurship
- Priority One is working on the development of business and innovation park concepts to strengthen our competitive advantages, e.g. Harbour Central marine precinct, which would include sophisticated haul-out and marine refit operations, with the potential to create over 500 new jobs and $100 million in revenue. Also working on agri-foods and technology park concepts.
- The University of Waikato is investigating the potential for establishing a marine research institute in Tauranga in partnership with internationally recognised scientists such as the University of Bremen in Germany.
- An Export NZ development programme provides practical support and information to the region’s emerging exporters and those intending to move new products to market businesses with export potential. Over 40 businesses joined this programme in the first year.
- The Bay of Plenty District Health Board and University of Waikato are partnering to establish a clinical school in the Bay of Plenty, which will be crucial in attracting high quality health processionals.
- Export NZ BOP partners with Council to leverage business opportunities from the sister city relationships between Yantai in China and Hitachi in Japan.
Sun, sea, soil and people delivering a high quality of life
- The Tauranga City Centre Strategy aims to create a city centre that will flourish, cater for the rapid population growth forecast and become the sub-region’s principal commercial and cultural centre. The vision is to create an, energetic city centre, reflecting Tauranga’s relationship with the harbour and involving lots of activity along the waterfront.
- International research points to the importance skilled people place on arts, cultural and leisure amenities when making a decision about where to live. In order to attract these people and stimulate further investment, the sub-region is investing in facilities such as the Tauranga Art Gallery, the Baywave TECT Aquatic & Leisure Centre, the indoor sport & exhibition centre, the TECT All Terrain Park and the all weather athletics track.
High quality, competitive business environment
- Priority One ensured Tauranga’s Smart Transport Corridors project was included in a study that measured the economic benefits of investing in four
roading projects, including others in Auckland and Wellington. The study found that the completion of Tauranga’s roading projects would deliver the greatest net benefit (than any other national roading projects) to New Zealand as a whole. These findings highlighted to central government the importance of our roading network and contributed to increased investment in the region.
- Over 600 hectares of industrial land will be coming onto the market in the next few years. This will be a huge boost for economic development in the sub-region.
- Bay Broadband is a project being driven by the seven councils in the Bay to ensure there is a bright future for Broadband in the region.
Skilled enterprising and flexible education
- Bay of Plenty Polytechnic and the University of Waikato are committed to the establishment of a full institutional partnership to provide integrated comprehensive tertiary education in the Western Bay of Plenty.
- Established in 2002, the INSTEP programme provides valuable links between business and education, and exposes students to examples of successful business practice.
- Each year Priority One offers scholarship for the University of Waikato’s two year Diploma in Management Studies, which is a precursor to an MBA and has a strong practical focus.
- Avonmore Corporate Training Solutions offers a practically focused workplace computing programme where trainees are able to gain a National Certificate in Computing Level 3 qualification while working.
Highly connected networked economy
The Western Bay of Plenty information and communications technology (ICT) Cluster was established to bring together businesses that are keen to create commercial opportunities and contribute their experience and expertise to the development of an IT rich region.
- Food Bay of Plenty represents the interests of the local food processing sector, providing members with opportunities to share information, collaborate on projects and access technical expertise and information. This sector is the largest export sector in the region and Food Bay of Plenty has over 50 member companies.
- The annual Technology for Smarter Business expo showcases innovative technology solutions available right here in the Bay.
Indicators - how we measure - Strong sustainable economy