Growth strategy work to start

PRESS RELEASE - The Northern Advocate - Tuesday 31st July 2012

The newly formed Northland Economic Advisory Group (NEAG) will convene its first meeting tomorrow to start developing a detailed strategy to move the region forward.

The group was set up after the second of two Northland economic summits organised by Northland MP Mike Sabin.

NEAG aims to give the economic growth sectors of Northland an opportunity to develop a cohesive plan to get the region's economy operating to its full potential.

"It is exciting to see this group of leaders taking the action plan to the next stage where they will develop a more detailed strategy centred on the nine core priorities determined by participants at the two summits," Mr Sabin said.

The summits received heavyweight support with Cabinet ministers attending - Finance Minister Bill English and Energy and Resources Minister Phil Heatley at Waitangi in June and Minister of Economic Development Steven Joyce.

NEAG will be working alongside the newly integrated regional economic development and tourism body, which replaces and combines the functions of the old Enterprise and Destination Northland. The new economic development agency is yet to be formally named - for the time being operating as Destination Northland - but will focus on annual growth in key areas across employment, business, Northland's GDP and visitor numbers.

Chairman Colin Mitten said they were in the process of electing a board and appointing a CEO, but would immediately start working with the NEAG.