Wellington Economic Report Provides Wake-up Call for Region

1 May 2013

Wellington’s Economic Report Provides Wake-up Call for Region

The government’s recently released Wellington Regional Economic Activity Report shows much work needs to be done to get the region performing the way it should, says Wellington Employers’ Chambers of Commerce CEO Raewyn Bleakley.

“There are positives in the report, particularly around Wellington’s high average incomes, skills and qualification levels; our ICT, education, and science sectors; and the fact that we have the highest proportion of people employed in the knowledge-intensive sectors. Add our fantastic film production industry and we have a huge amount going for us.

“But there is also the negative of employment, where growth of just 1.1 per cent in the past 10 years has put the brakes on our economy.

“The solution is double-barrelled: to retain businesses and the skilled people in them and do more to attract new businesses and their investment.

“To achieve both we have to get even more business-friendly than we already are, and ensure we are pushing the region’s economic and social advantages as hard and as often as we can – such as trading on the ease of doing business here and our compactness.

“We must also continue to explore projects that will attract business, such as extending the airport runway. Attracting long-haul flights from Asia is essential. It will bring in more tourists and make it easier for Wellington businesses to engage with the rest of the world.

“A key in all this is coordination, because the only way all this will work is if the region is working as one. That’s where local body amalgamation comes in. Speaking with one voice is essential if the Wellington region is to reach its full economic potential.”

ENDS

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