Agriculture and horticulture are the main economic drivers of the Western Bay of Plenty District and the greater Tauranga and Western Bay sub-region.
These two primary sectors fuel a multitude of professional businesses and service industries, creating an extremely diverse labour force.
Manufacturing, commerce and trades are also vital to the sub-region's economic growth.
Our District is three times more reliant on horticulture and agriculture for its economic output than New Zealand as a whole. This dependence presents challenges for the District, as well as opportunities.
Our environment, soils and climate are not only attractive for agricultural production but are a magnet for people wanting a relaxed outdoor lifestyle.
We are close to the amenities of Tauranga, yet we retain a rural and small town atmosphere.
Between 1996 and 2006 the District’s population growth rate was almost three times that of the national growth rate. The population of Tauranga District grew at more than five times the national average rate.
With so many people attracted to the Western Bay - the challenge lies in ensuring employment and business opportunities grow at a similar rate, that the environment is not adversely affected and that lifestyle values are not compromised.
Smart Economy
In recent years the Western Bay of Plenty has been one of fastest growing regions in New Zealand in terms of economic activity, which has included a significant emphasis on land development and residential construction, growth in the retirement sector such as retirement villages, revival of the horticulture and agriculture sectors, and major growth and expansion of the Port of Tauranga. Concerns arising in existing business activity and the projections are an emphasis on low wage and low skill activities.
The Smart Economy strategy and implementation plan aims to address these issues together with the need to provide additional business land and have sufficient infrastructure in place (eg roading, skilled workers) to cater for the region’s rapid growth.
The Smart Economy project was commissioned by the partnership of Tauranga City Council, Western Bay of Plenty District Council and Priority One, with significant funding provided by New Zealand Trade & Enterprise. It has also involved Environment Bay of Plenty, key industry sectors, iwi businesses and business agencies (eg Chamber of Commerce).
There is a significant relationship between the Smart Economy strategy and SmartGrowth.
While SmartGrowth deals with growth management in a comprehensive manner, Smart Economy provides a focus on the sub-regional economy, which is an integral part of successful growth management for the Western Bay of Plenty sub-region. The two strategies go hand in hand and there are several linkages, particularly in the strategies and actions relating to lifestyle and business environment themes.
Smartgrowth Development Trends Technical Report 2009 - (2.2MB PDF)