Waikato regional economic profile - Waikato Regional Council

2004 was consumed as fossil fuels. The transport and dairy sectors areparticularly vulnerable to both short-term price spikes and a long-term gradualdecline in oil supply.Climate change due to greenhouse gas emissions and other influences meanswe need to think about how we are going to plan for and manage the projectedimpacts of climate change in Waikato and New Zealand.The Waikato region is not achieving its potential in a number of indicators, all ofwhich affect the economic and social wellbeing of communities in the region: Estimated Waikato gross regional product per capita in 2011 was $40,000,which is approximately 9 per cent lower than gross domestic product per capitanationally ($44,000). Waikato’s median weekly household income is higher than only three otherregions. Median weekly household income increased from 1998 to 2011 at alower rate annually (3.4 per cent) than New Zealand (3.8 per cent). The distribution of incomes is narrower in Waikato than New Zealand as awhole. There are more middle income households and fewer households withannual incomes greater than $150,000 per year. The educational attainment of Waikato school leavers is below average, withonly 66 per cent attaining a formal qualification (such as New ZealandQualifications Authority level one or school certificate) compared with a nationalaverage of 75 per cent.The level of social deprivation is slightly worse than New Zealand as a whole.There are variations among sub-regional communities that pose a challenge for thesustainability of some communities:Median annual household income in Hauraki ($38,000) is approximately 41 percent lower than the small portion of Rotorua within our region ($64,000). Population growth is static or negative in the southern part of the region(Ōtorohanga, South Waikato, Waitomo), moderate in the northeast (Hauraki,Matamata-Piako, Thames-Coromandel and Waipa) and high in the centre andnorth (Hamilton and Waikato). The population is ageing, but not as much as many other parts of the country.Hauraki and Thames-Coromandel districts are projected to have among theoldest median age in New Zealand by 2026, while Hamilton and Ōtorohangaare expected to be among the youngest. Educational attainment is poorer in the smaller and more remote parts of theregion (Waitomo, South Waikato and Hauraki districts).The level of social deprivation varies among territorial authority areas but thereare many communities with high levels of social deprivation.Urban infrastructure such as water supply, stormwater and wastewater is of ahigher standard in larger urban areas, which may reflect economies of scale. Hamilton has the highest international exports and its population is relativelymore educated than other parts of the region, but its performance is not alwaysthe highest in the region – and still behind nationally – in the economicindicators.Doc # 2069885 Page 145