R U YO
O T A K I A W
NCIL U O C L A N O I O REG T A K I A W M E FRO T A D P U S W E AL N
N YOUR REGIO
ISSUE #81
MARCH 2014
waikatoregion.govt.nz 0800 800 401
Working together for a greater Waikato THERE’S A LOT TO LOVE ABOUT THE WAIKATO REGION. We live relatively well on the back of a diverse economy built on high quality land, water and mineral resources and our prime location at the heart of the upper North Island. We’re never far from bush, beach or other special natural places that allow us to explore, relax and recharge. And perhaps most of all, we value being part of an involved community with active social and business networks. Yet all that’s good is not shared evenly across the Waikato region. In line with global trends, urban areas grow, while rural populations shrink. The decline is due only in part to the exodus of people from rural areas to the main centres for work, education and social reasons. More significantly, falling birthrates and increasing numbers of elderly people mean there are more old folk than young in some areas and too few babies being born to sustain the population.
The size and structure of a population along with the diversity and performance of industries contribute to the cycle that can cause local economies to wither. In small or greying communities there are too few people to run local businesses, which leads to less investment and so businesses fail to thrive or survive. With less money and employment in the community, services disappear and shops shut, affecting the quality of life for those who stay. On key economic indicators and quality of life measures, some areas in Waikato are doing well, while others lag. There’s opportunity to lift our economic and environmental performance and improve the quality of life for all the people who live in our region. Waikato Regional Council is working with business, education and research organisations, iwi, local and central government to collaborate on policies and actions that ensure we use our resources wisely, harness investment and innovation and make the most of opportunities.
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