Media Release

15 December 2015

Focus on migrants’ contribution to economy

Successfully attracting and retaining skilled migrants to the Western Bay of Plenty sub-region is a focus of a new partnership between Tauranga City Council (TCC), Western Bay of Plenty District Council (WBoP), Priority One1, and Immigration New Zealand (INZ).

The four organisations have developed the Western Bay of Plenty Regional Partnership Agreement (RPA), a three-year plan to work collaboratively on shared priorities.

“Skilled migrants, investors, and international students have a critical role to play in the continued economic growth of the Western Bay of Plenty” says Mayor of Tauranga Stuart Crosby. Ross Paterson, Mayor of Western Bay of Plenty District, agrees that strong relationships between local Councils and government agencies are immensely important.

“This RPA provides a framework from which we can work together to connect the Western Bay of Plenty with the rest of the world,” he says.

Priority One’s Greg Simmonds says the attraction and retention of skilled migrants is necessary to sustain and stimulate economic growth. “Migrants play an important role in the transfer of knowledge and skills supporting innovation and growth, as well as addressing the skills gaps we have in a number of our key sectors” he says.

1 Priority One is the Western Bay of Plenty region's economic development organisation Steve McGill, General Manager of INZ’s Settlement, Protection and Attraction Unit, says the new collaboration identifies opportunities where INZ can support migration priorities for Tauranga City and the Western Bay of Plenty District.

“A critical ingredient in the RPA approach is the active engagement with partner agencies, so they are thinking about the role Immigration can play in their economic development strategy – the Western Bay of Plenty has been an exemplar in this respect.”

The organisations will share research, information and best attraction and retention practices across regional, national and international settings.

In the new partnership, Immigration New Zealand will also support the Western Bay of Plenty International Strategy, recently considered by the Joint Governance Committee meeting of TCC and WBoPDC on 9 December and recommended for approval.

Priority One and Immigration New Zealand will focus on the attraction and retention of skilled migrants, including international students and migrant investors. Both Councils will focus on migrant retention and community-building.

Ends

© Scoop Media