• New Zealand Regions
      • Hawke's Bay
      • Bay of Plenty
      • Waikato
      • Whanganui
      • Manawatu
      • Northland
      • Auckland
      • Gisborne
      • Taranaki
      • Wellington
      • West Coast
      • Nelson
      • Canterbury
      • Otago
      • Marlborough
      • Southland
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      Hawke's Bay

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      Beaches, wineries and Art Deco. The Hawke's Bay has a diverse economy, including business services that support its sectors to be the second largest contributor to regional GDP in the country. A popular tourist destination, the region has some of the countries best restaurants as well as stunning scenery, markets and festivals.

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      Bay of Plenty

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      The Bay of Plenty is officially New Zealand's sunniest destination, enjoying short-lived winters and long summer days. The Region offers some of the country's most spectacular views and many ways to enjoy the pristine scenery and natural wonders. Visitors also enjoy exploring the Bay's Māori heritage and pre-European roots.

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      OpotikiOpotiki iSiteKawerauWhakatane

      Waikato

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      The Waikato is known for its rolling plains, fertile land and the mighty Waikato River. The region is the fourth largest regional economy in New Zealand, with a strong focus on primary production and associated manufacturing.

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      South WaikatoWaikato District

      Whanganui

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      Welcome to Whanganui. This is our place; where history is full of stories, legends and rich legacy. Where a thriving arts scene, creativity and evolving culture inspire our modern lives. Where breath-taking natural landscapes capture imaginations at every turn.

      Manawatu

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      Located in the lower North Island, Manawatu is heartland New Zealand, offering an authentic Kiwi experience.

      The main in the region are Palmerston North, most notable for Massey University. Palmerston has a vibrant, arts and culture scene.

      The region's economy is based on food production and processing, research and education. The region is also home for the New Zealand defence force.

      Northland

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      Northland was originally home to some of our country's first human inhabitants. Today, it is one of the fastest growing regions in New Zealand and home to nearly 189,000 people. Rich in culture and history, the region boasts a stunning natural environment.

      Auckland

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      Auckland Region stretches from the the beaches of the Pacific Ocean in the east to the expansive beaches of the rugged west coast of the Tasman Sea. Auckland City, the largest urban area in New Zealand is considered the main economic center of New Zealand and a popular destination for international students and travellers.

      Gisborne

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      Gisborne is a Region on the east coast of New Zealand's North Island. It's known for wineries and surf beaches such as Makorori. The region has maintained a strong Maori heritage. The region's economy is made up mainly of agriculture, horticulture and forestry.

      Taranaki

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      Taranaki is a coastal and mountainous region on the western side of New Zealand's North Island. Its landscape is dominated by Mount Taranaki, its namesake volcano, which lies within the rainforested Egmont National Park.

      The port city of New Plymouth is the area's cultural and commercial hub. Taranaki's economy is diverse and includes dairy, oil and gas. The region is the highest contributor or national GDP per capita. 

      Wellington

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      The Wellington Region covers Wellington city in the south, Upper and Lower Hutt valleys to the north-east, and Porirua to the north-west. The region takes its name from Wellington, New Zealand's capital city.

      Wellington is famous for its arts and culture scene and is also the centre of New Zealand's film industry.

      West Coast

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      The West Coast, or as some locals call it, the "Wild West", is a long thin region that runs down the South Island's west coast.

      The region has the lowest population in all of New Zealand. It is famous for its rugged natural scenery such as the Pancake Rocks, the Blue Pools of Haast, and the glaciers.

      The main industries in the region are dairy farming and mining. Tourism also plays an important role.

      Nelson – Tasman

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      Nelson Tasman is an extraordinary, vibrant region where art and businesses thrive together among a stunning natural landscape. With one in five people internationally born, Nelson Tasman has 48 different cultures living in its environs.

      The region prides its self on being New Zealand’s leading Research and Development areas, with the highest proportion of people working in the research, science and tech sectors out of anywhere in New Zealand.

      Canterbury

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      Canterbury is a region on New Zealand’s South Island marked by grassy plains, clear lakes and snow-capped mountains. Its largest city, Christchurch, is famed for its art scene and green spaces.

      Otago

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      There are few places in the world which will leave you with a lasting sense of difference. Central Otago is undoubtedly one of them from its landscapes, its seasons, its people, its products and experiences.

      Marlborough

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      Marlborough Region is on the north-eastern corner of the South Island. The region is well known for its winemaking industry, and the Marlborough Sounds, an extensive network of coastal waterways, peninsulas and islands.

      Apart from the wine industry, aquaculture, agriculture and tourism play an important role in the local economy.

      Southland

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      Southland is New Zealand’s most southerly region and includes the World Heritage ranked Fiordland National Park.

      The region's only city Invercargill offers a relaxed pace of life with wide streets, little traffic, spacious parks and gardens, striking Victorian and Edwardian architecture and impressive sporting facilities including New Zealand’s first indoor velodrome. Southland's location is such that views of Aurora Australis or the Southern Lights are common.

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Concern over cheap imported labour

Attention: This article was automatically translated and is still waiting on one of our editors to approve the translated content. 
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New Zealand’s migration policies might be contributing to the current poor state of national productivity, according to an economic report.

A report prepared for the Productivity Commission by the Institute of Economic Research (NZIER) said the area of greatest concern was the extent of relatively cheap imported labour available to undertake low-wage, low-capital intensity jobs in the hospitality, tourism and agricultural sectors.

“Migration policy needs to be more targeted, with far less emphasis on allowing large numbers of entrants who aren’t directly connected to actual or potential frontier firms,” it said, describing frontier firms as those who are entrepreneurial and leaders in productivity and innovation.

It suggested the issue could be addressed by closing the door to people whose contribution to New Zealand’s productivity was the same, or lower, than that of people already here.

The report features case studies to indicate there was little evidence to suggest migration had helped New Zealand move away from a low-wage, low-skill, low-growth economy.

It also said migration was unlikely to be a primary route to increased productivity for many existing large New Zealand firms, and general migration had tended to do little to improve the overall skill set of the population.

“To date there is no evidence that attempts to attract highly entrepreneurial migrants to New Zealand have been successful.

“Although New Zealand’s current policy settings would allow them to enter, relatively few top-tier skilled migrants and entrepreneurs with global ambitions are looking to move to a small country a long way from the centres of the international economy,” it said, adding it was not surprising that New Zealand had no entries in Forbes Global 2000 list, with a relatively narrow range of industries with potential to match the scope of global powerhouses.

Drawing on research from bank economist Paul Conway, the report said farmer-owned co-operatives and partly-privatised state-owned enterprises, with turnover greater than a billion dollars, were a particular problem in New Zealand because they tended to be risk adverse and reluctant to expand into overseas markets.

“And firms that are unlikely to be looking overseas for new ideas and opportunities will probably not be looking to hire foreign experts to assist in business transformations.”

While the report knocks current migration policy, it sees opportunity to build on the current settings forced on New Zealand by the pandemic.

It suggests the government maintain the current provisions for top-end skilled and entrepreneurial migrants, when the border re-opens, and continue to substantially reduce flows of people with skills that are the same or lower than the average local population.

That would include eliminating generous employment rights for fee-paying students, while aiming to reduce the current number of working holidaymaker visas.

It also suggests a review of the Recognised Seasonal Employer scheme with a view to better balancing productivity and humanitarian objectives.

At the same time, the report recommends New Zealand work with migrants here and New Zealanders located overseas to improve the productivity of frontier firms, by helping to develop growth markets for New Zealand’s goods and services.

NZIER principal economist Peter Wilson told Morning Report there was concern over the large number of temporary or seasonal workers who were competing against locals.

Relying on offshore labour didn’t give a chance for employers to innovate and implement new technologies that would enhance productivity and then be profitable to the country, Wilson said.

With Covid-19 giving a rare chance to review settings, Wilson said sectors should be looking at boosting productivity in areas that were traditionally serviced by low-wage employees brought in from overseas.

“I don’t think [it’s a] numbers game, that’s too crude. But certainly you should be thinking very, very hard before you turn the tap back on again, and certainly shouldn’t be going back to the pre-Covid settings.”

He said migration policy was tough to create and adjust but it needed to be addressed “carefully and quickly”.

Source: RNZ News – www.rnz.co.nz

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