Nelson 5 Weekly th
Birthday
Locally Owned and Operated
Tuesday 8 September 2015
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Merchant Navy Day
Lift Out
Tennis season launched
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Economy on the up The Nelson economy is on the up, says a senior economist, and the outlook is even brighter. According to Infometrics’ quarterly economic monitor, economic activity in Nelson is growing at a healthy clip and, with improving returns in the broader region’s primary sector and increasing air connections set to stimulate business and visitor activity, this period of robust economic
growth looks set to continue. Infometrics senior economist, Benje Patterson, says Nelson’s economy grew by 3.1 per cent over the year to June 2015, which was the fifth fastest of New Zealand’s sixteen regions. “Economic growth in neighbouring Tasman is also healthy, with Tasman’s GDP having expanded by 3.2 per cent over the June year.”
Growth in economic activity is broadbased across most indicators of spending and investment, with firms also becoming increasingly confident to take on new staff. Nelson’s unemployment rate has eased to close to 4.5 per cent, compared with a peak of 5.2 per cent in December 2012. “Further evidence of these improving job prospects can be seen in the reduction of people claiming jobseeker benefits, as well
as the soaring level of inbound net migration into Nelson,” says Benje. Infometrics’ report shows that Nelson house prices climbed 3.2 per cent over the year to June. Patterson says that although building consents in Nelson remain soft, rising consent numbers in Tasman are keeping local
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Miracle baby fighting again Kate Russell Nelson’s very own ‘miracle baby’ has just celebrated his first birthday, but is now back in hospital fighting for his life. Jack Frost’s story featured in the Nelson Weekly last December, after his mum, Vicki Frost, went into labour at just 23 weeks, well short of the usual 40 weeks. Her waters broke at 21 weeks and she was told by doctors that her baby would be too young to save. But a call was made to Wellington hospital who took them in, and Vicki was given drugs to suppress the labour. Two days later, on August 26, she gave birth to Jack, weighing just 712 grams. This year, Vicki, her husband Marty and Jack have been enjoying life as a family of three back in Nelson, but after a rough weekend with Jack struggling to breathe, he was flown to Auckland’s Starship Hospital on Sunday for specialist treatment.
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Nelson’s Vicki Frost with her son Jack who turned a year old two weeks ago. Jack was born just five months into Vicki’s pregnancy. Photo: Kate Russell.
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