increase font size
DairyNZ chairman and former cabinet minister, John Luxton, is chairing a high-powered group overseeing the development of a Waikato regional economic strategy.
The strategy is an initiative of the Waikato Mayoral Forum made up of Waikato mayors and the regional council chair. It is one of four streams of work underway by the forum to boost the regional economy and deliver millions in cost savings across local government.
Luxton held a number of National Party ministerial positions between 1990 and 1999 including Minister of Industry and Minister of Agriculture. He is currently co-chair of the Waikato River Authority.
The governance group includes Waikato District Health Board chair Graeme Milne, Stainless Design Ltd managing director John Cook, University of Waikato economics professor Frank Scrimgeour, chair of the Federation of Maori Authorities Traci Haupapa, and Parekawhia McLean, chief executive Waikato-Tainui.
Waipa Mayor Alan Livingston, Hamilton Mayor Julie Hardaker, Hauraki Mayor John Tregida and Waikato Regional Council chair Peter Buckley represent the Mayoral Forum on the group.
A contract to develop the economic strategy has been let to a partnership between consulting firms MartinJenkins and Beca. A draft will be ready in September this year with a final strategy expected by early in 2014.
Luxton said that while the Waikato had a range of strengths, particularly in agriculture and manufacturing, it needed a more collaborative and integrated approach to further stimulate regional economic development and jobs.
"Developing a regional strategy, like other regions have, will help move the Waikato economy forward and facilitate more effective partnerships between business and industry, local government and central government."
Luxton said the governance group would encourage the regional business community to be involved in strategy development. The governance group met for the first time last month.
Last season was a mixed bag for Waikato contractors, with early planted forage maize, planted on the dry soils around Cambridge, doing badly after germination and failing to meet potential, says Jeremy Rothery, Jackson Contracting.
For those rural women who feel menopause might be getting the best of them, a series of events is heading to the Waikato that could help.
The 2023-24 season has been a roller coaster ride for Waikato dairy farmers, according to Federated Farmers dairy section chair, Mathew Zonderop.
A Waikato dairy farm which began its first riparian planting project 20 years ago now stands as an exemplar for rural land users, backed by science and clever long-term planning.
ASB is rolling out more community bankers across New Zealand, providing targeted coaching and seminars to help customers with their personal finance needs.
Among the regular exhibitors at last month’s South Island Agricultural Field Days, the one that arguably takes the most intensive preparation every time is the PGG Wrightson Seeds site.
Two high producing Canterbury dairy farmers are moving to blended stockfeed supplements fed in-shed for a number of reasons, not the least of which is to boost protein levels, which they can’t achieve through pasture under the region’s nitrogen limit of 190kg/ha.
Buoyed by strong forecasts for milk prices and a renewed demand for dairy assets, the South Island rural real estate market has begun the year with positive momentum, according to Colliers.
The six young cattle breeders participating in the inaugural Holstein Friesian NZ young breeder development programme have completed their first event of the year.
New Zealand feed producers are being encouraged to boost staff training to maintain efficiency and product quality.
OPINION: The world is bracing for a trade war between the two biggest economies.
OPINION: Should Greenpeace be stripped of their charitable status? Farmers say yes.
OPINION: After years of financial turmoil, Canterbury milk processor Synlait is now back in business.
