Matariki

Organisations from Hawke’s Bay (councils, iwi, businesses and government agencies) developed Matariki – Hawke’s Bay Economic Development Strategy and Action Plan, a strategic plan to help raise theregion’s employment opportunities and incomes. The focus is on working together to grow jobs across the region, increase household incomes and raise Hawke’s Bay economic performance up into the top quarter of New Zealand regions. The vision is ‘Every household and every whānau is actively engaged in, contributing to and benefiting from, a thriving Hawke’s Bay economy.’ To achieve these aims, the strategy sets out the steps needed to help existing businesses who want to grow to do so, attract new business, promote great new ideas, attract skilled migrants to work in the areas in which we need more people and plan major public projects to benefit the whole region. The Matariki – Hawke’s Bay Regional Economic Development Strategy and Action Plan is an ambitious strategy that aims to make Hawke’s Bay the most innovative region in New Zealand, the leading exporter of premium primary produce and a hub for business growth. Named for the Māori new year (in mid-June), ‘Matariki’ is a time of celebration, reflection and planning. For the strategy this means a commitment by all partners to robust annual review and refinement. The strategy is linked with national economic development plans as it is part of the Government’s Regional Growth Programme, which focuses on increasing jobs, income and investment in regional New Zealand. It also aligns with the Government’s Māori Economic Development and Action Plan ‘He kai kei aku ringa’.