Don’t ignore the economic disparity in regional New Zealand, the NZ Institute of Economic Research warned last week.
Once-prosperous New Zealand provinces are falling into the economic doldrums as politics and policies focus on the urban powerhouses of Auckland and Wellington. “Regional considerations need greater prominence in the political and economic debate,” said NZIER's principal economist Shamubeel Eaqub.
“As the country heads towards a general election, Auckland’s and Wellington’s views and needs are well-heard. But what about Taranaki, which has the highest GDP per capita in the country? What about Northland and Gisborne-Hawke’s Bay, which rank near the bottom on many economic measures?”
To read more: http://nzier.org.nz/media/regional-economies-shape-performance-and-drivers-nzier-working-paper-20143
