Toi-EDA Annual Report
Ōpōtiki Harbour Development Project Update
This Aquaculture development aims to create one of NZ’s largest offshore marine farms. It will be supported by a large-scale infrastructure project to improve the navigability of the Opotiki Harbour entrance, which is critical to the success of the project. For more information visit http://www.odc.govt.nz/harbour-project.aspx
ODC and Toi-EDA commissioned an assessment of the economic impact of the project, including description of how the impacts are likely to be distributed through the district, region and nation. The report from Sapere Research Group can be viewed on the Opotiki District Council website.
The Bay of Connections Aquaculture Strategy, which identifies potential for an aquaculture industry in the region providing export sales of NZ$250 million and employing over 3,000 people. The strategy depends on a viable commercial harbour in the Eastern Bay.
The Request for Proposal for Harbour Construction was issued in September 2016. Tenders closed in March 2017 and negotiations are underway. The expected start date for construction is mid 2018, with the anticipated new Harbour being operational by late 2020.
Kawerau Industrial Symbiosis – including recently announced developments
Industrial Symbiosis Kawerau (ISK) is a grouping of major businesses, iwi, local council, the College, and Scion focused on finding new ways of utilising resources such as ‘waste’ streams and geothermal energy to cut costs, improve sustainability and environmental performance and/or open up new business opportunities.
One example of a new business looking to establish in Kawerau and utilise local timber processing residues is a particle board plant to be owned and run by the Fenglin Group.
For more information: www.fenglingroup.com
A further example is the new Container Terminal Freight and Logistics. This project is building momentum and moving to securing contractors to build and operate the terminal. It will handle between 20,000 and 30,000 TEU’s per annum and provide a key enabling infrastructure for the Eastern Bay for both current and predicted growth.
Significantly, the Terminal will improve the cost and service structure of logistics from regional businesses to the major ports of Tauranga and Auckland principally by rail. The land is owned by the Putauaki Trust and represents and fantastic partnership for the local communities.
Māori Economic Development including Omaio Kiwifruit and Land Use Change
The Bay of Plenty, particularly in the eastern parts hold huge potential for economic and employment growth. As you travel east up the Bay towards the cape much of the land is Maori owned and there are limited current employment opportunities. Two areas that hold substantial prospects are in Aquaculture and Kiwifruit as well as other horticultural crops, forestry and Manuka Honey.
In the kiwifruit space there are initiatives underway being led by Quayside Holdings / Te Tumu Paeroa and also through Te Rau Aroha at Omaio. The eastern bay is proving to be highly productive with superior yields and returns for kiwifruit especially the new gold varieties. This makes further development and investment attractive.
For more information: https://www.nbr.co.nz/article/te-tumu-paeroa-quayside-holdings-plan-30m-kiwifruit-orchard-investment-b-202074
Tourism
The major tourist destinations in the Bay of Plenty are Rotorua, Taupo and Tauranga. In the Eastern Bay the major promoted attraction is tours to White island by helicopter or boat. The coastal areas, particularly Ohope Beach and Ōpōtiki are very popular with domestic tourists. Various initiatives are underway including a Bay of Plenty branding strategy (primarily the coastal strip), White Island promotion, infrastructure needs and the cycle trails in the region especially the Motu Trails.
In the Eastern Bay we realise we will need to do things differently than the mainstream destinations and come up with great products that are authentic, sustainable and special to the sub-region. We don’t have to do big numbers we just need to focus on special experiences that are highly valued and on trend. We want to build a reputation for what we stand for and care about.
To this end we have fantastic support from overseas specialists (e.g. UK and Copenhagen) as well as really innovative and strategic thinkers right here in the Bay. Our objective is to help facilitate new thinking, new approaches and build on really successful models that we can borrow from.
For more information about international specialists:
http://localhood.wonderfulcopenhagen.dk/wonderful-copenhagen-strategy-2020.pdf
http://www.stevensassoc.co.uk/home.asp
For enquiries:
Roslyn.Barlow@whakatane.govt.nz
francis.pauwels@karunz.com
International Education
Update to come
Eastern BoP Regional Growth Study (RGS)
This program is part of Central Government’s aim to grow the economic performance and employment opportunities of the regions. The Bay of Plenty RGS is making strong progress in several action areas including all of the projects listed above.
Workforce Development and Pathways to Work
Toi-EDA provides a backbone role for a range of effort in workforce development. Commencing in 2014 with a focus on employment for local people in two key growth industries in the Eastern Bay- (kiwifruit and aquaculture), the focus now embraces all industries, and includes supporting focussed Pathways to Work effort for specific subregional developments.
Key thrusts of activity are:
- Information to inform collective effort and action at local and subregional levels
- New systems and programmes to connect education and training with industry
- Initiatives to grow rangatahi and youth aspirations and readiness for employment, and encourage more youth-ready employers
- Supporting effort to address common barriers to participation in education, training and employment – eg driver licensing
For an overview of Toi EDA’s approach, see Workforce Development - Building Block for Eastern Bay of PLenty Growth
Reports:
Initiatives:
Contact:
Barbara MacLennan - Project Manager, Workforce Development and Pathways to Work, Toi EDA
Email barbarajmaclennan@gmail.com