Waikato regional economic profile - Waikato Regional Council

The Government aims to create an environment that allows businesses to grow, exportand create high-value jobs through a Business Growth Agenda that includes a focus onsix key inputs to business that the Government directly influences.This profile considers both the fundamentals and drivers for the Waikato regionaleconomy, drawing on secondary material sourced from a wide range of organisations,and primary data from the Economic Futures Model of the regional economy obtainedby WRC. The body is divided into the following chapters:Key indicatorsExport sectorsInfrastructurePeopleNatural resourcesInstitutionsIwiBusiness and industryCapitalInnovation systemWRC intends to make available publicly timely information about aspects of theWaikato regional economy on an ongoing basis.HighlightsThe Waikato region is important to the national economy because of its scale andlocation and its contribution to national export sectors and infrastructure.At a glanceWaikato is the fourth-largest regional economy in New Zealand. It accounts forapproximately 10 per cent of land area and population and 8.5 per cent of grossdomestic product. Several sectors are part of national value chains, such as food, forestry andwood product manufacturing, manufacturing and services. The region is animportant centre of primary production.Waikato’s central location between the Auckland, Bay of Plenty, Hawke’s Bay,Manawatu-Whanganui and Taranaki regions makes it a nationally significantcorridor for infrastructure such as road and rail transport, electricity and naturalgas, telecommunications and data. Waikato is the most important minerals producing region in New Zealand.Within the region there are important mineral exploration and developmentoperations including coal, aggregates, and gold, sand and limestone. Hamilton is the region’s “central business district” with concentrations ofemployment, research, tertiary education and manufacturing. Its industrystrengths are inextricably linked to the primary production of the surroundingregion, on which it also relies for labour and materials. Collaboration is required amongst a broad range of organisations for thecountry to benefit even more from the opportunities present in the Waikatoregion. A shared understanding of the region’s strengths and opportunitiesshould lead to improved coordination of infrastructure development, regulatoryprocesses, innovation and economic development activities. This will increasethe effectiveness and efficiency of these activities and lead to improvedeconomic outcomes.Page x Doc #: 2069885