Following a successful Pathways to Prosperity event, Kawerau District Council is looking for industry and community representatives to partner with to develop a locally focused economic development strategy and action plan.

Sixty-plus people attended the Pathways to Prosperity event at Firmin Lodge this month, representing industry, businesses, education and the social sector.

A mihi whakatau by council iwi liaison and cultural adviser Te Haukakawa Te Rire opened the event, followed by addresses from Deputy Mayor Sela Kingi, Councillor Berice Julian and chief executive Morgan Godfery.    

Guest speakers from Ngāti Tuwharetoa mai Kawerau ki te Tai Robbie Watt and New Zealand Trade and Enterprise chief executive Peter Chrisp provided local, national and global insights and inspiration that the district has all the attributes for a prosperous future.  

Mr Watt, Ngāti Tuwharetoa Geothermal Assets chief executive, said Kawerau had the perfect environment for major investment and pledged the iwi-owned organisation would support and enable development.  

“We’re trying to become brand ambassadors for Kawerau. If you look around New Zealand at what you need for investment to come in, you’ll see that it requires energy, connection to export markets, enabling councils and people who understand industry. Kawerau has all those things.  

“For Tuwharetoa Geothermal, we see ourselves as the backbone or spine of Kawerau – represented by what we do, which is drill wells, build pipelines and utilise the geothermal resource.

“Part of the flesh on all those things is the Putauaki Industrial Estate, which will hopefully be built out over time. Trying to find better ways of utilising the Norske Skog assets, now owned by Oji Fibre Solutions, and looking for potentially other things, like data centres, to utilise that area.

“Some people may look at a data centre and say it is a great consumer of energy, and doesn’t bring many jobs, but it does bring people to Kawerau with billions of dollars of investment. For Tuwharetoa, we are taking the view of how we enable. We are happy to see others prosper.  

“Many will have seen the visual changes coming into Kawerau as we’ve taken over the Spencer Avenue land block off Tamarangi Drive which has been subdivided, working with council, and will be a new set of allotments going in there, small, close to town and available.

“Another example of what we’ve been doing is working with Essity to convert their machines from gas to geothermal which keeps their industry in Kawerau.”  

Mr Chrisp lived in Kawerau from 1992 to 2006 during his tenure with the former Tasman Pulp and Paper, and as Norske Skog Tasman manager.

He said Kawerau was a great place for investment and one that had, for many years, shown resilience to change and the geographic location and attributes, and the people resources to prosper.

Mr Chrisp applauded the Regional Economic Development Strategy as a great pathway to prosperity for the district, noting that “having a plan means you’re already halfway there to completion”.

His ties and enthusiasm for the district and the people was evident, as he recalled his role as the former Norske Skog mill manager being one of encouraging growth and opportunity, similar to this role now for New Zealand Trade and Enterprise.

He said the key strands included investing in the workforce, increasing productivity and utilising the opportunities of green economy.

He also delivered an overview of the trends, challenges and opportunities in New Zealand.

The event was organised by the council’s economic development steering group.

Deputy Mayor Sela Kingi encouraged attendees to be part of the next steps saying, “A local economic development strategy is something we all hope you will be part of … the council is nothing without the community, and the community cannot exist without sustainable jobs and wages that make everything else possible.

“With that whānau, looking to your left and right, and behind, remember that offer to come together to develop a localised economic strategic plan.”  

Those interested can contact the council on 07 306 9009 or via [email protected] with their contact details.