Introduction
The Bay of Connections is the Bay of Plenty’s Regional Economic Strategy. It sets out the goals and priorities for sustainable economic growth in the Bay of Plenty region.
The strategy was developed after extensive stakeholder consultation – including a regional forum attending by more than 80 regional business, industry, iwi, local and central government leaders; the consideration of new and existing research and data relating to economic opportunities in the region, and existing local economic development programmes.
The strategy is based around four themes: 
- More globally competitive firms in the Bay of Plenty
- World class infrastructure and skills to catalyse economic development
- Environmentally sustainable
- Innovative productive industry sectors
Within these four key themes, 13 key areas of focus have been allocated for specific action plans and implementation in order to deliver economic growth within each sector and across the Bay of Plenty. These include:
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The focus of the over-arching regional economic strategy is over a period of at least 10 years. This is supported by an Action Plan which covers a three year period, with different targets and focuses for each of the four key themes.
Each of the 13 areas of focus is supported by a specific strategy and action plan. To date, strategies have been completed for Aquaculture, Food and Beverage and Marine. Energy, Forestry and Infrastructure strategies are currently in development and will be complete by the end of 2011.
You can view and download different sections of the over-arching Bay of Connections document here:
Three Year Action Plan
The Bay of Connections Action Plan covers a three year period, and is updated and revised every year.
Theme: Innovative & productive industry sectors
Marine:
- Develop the Harbour Central Marine Precinct.
Information and Communication Technology:
- Link ICT businesses throughout the region to maximise collaborative opportunities and stimulate business growth.
- Opportunities for businesses to share resources and collaborate on tenders for national and international projects.
- Attract ICT research providers.
Aquaculture:
- Establish a significant Aquaculture industry in the Eastern Bay of Plenty, and investigate options for a Harbour Entrance in Opotiki.
Theme: Environmentally sustainable
Tourism:
- Build on the brand being developed by Rotorua International Airport and surrounding regional tourism organisations to develop an integrated strategy.
Maori Economic Development and Land Use:
- Support the development of structures and skills to maximise economic growth and development for Maori, including initiatives for efficient land utilisation and energy development.
Theme: World class infrastructure & skills to catalyse economic development
Transport and Logistics:
- Support the establishment of appropriate infrastructure to ensure that economic development is not constrained (ie roading, broadband, industrial land, energy, Port of Tauranga and Rotorua International Airport).
Broadband and Communications:
- Support the implementation of the regional broadband project to meet the needs of business, research institutions, education providers and others.
Tertiary Education and Research:
- Progress the development of regional partnerships with targeted tertiary and research institutions that support and accelerate innovation and entrepreneurship and assist to internationalise the region’s businesses.
Labour and Skills:
- Attract and develop the required skill resource to meet industry needs.
- Representatives from government and the economic development agencies to set up a Bay of Plenty Skills working group and agree on a terms of reference for how we will work together on regional skills issues, agree on priority areas, and integrate the regional development work with the New Zealand Skills Strategy.
Energy:
- Alignment between the sub-regions, and investigate sustainable energy options for the future.
Theme: More globally competitive firms in the Bay of Plenty
Forestry:
- Alignment with Rotorua and Bay of Plenty\Biomaterials – natural materials innovation.
Food and Cultivation Processing:
- Alignment across the region.
- Innovation Centre (Food, Horticulture & Nutraceuticals, and Innovation Park).
Niche Manufacturing:
- Become the centre of excellence for metallurgy.
- Establish an applied powder metallurgy centre with associated training facilities – likely to be at the Bay of Plenty Polytechnic. ]
Regional Governance Group
Sandra Kai Fong - McKechnie Quirke and Lewis
Tony Hawken - Eastpack Ltd
Frank Aldridge - Craigs Investment Partners
Anthony Olsen -Toi-EDA
Murray Davies - Priority One
Bryce Heard – Lockwood
John Cronin - Governance Group Chair, and Environment Bay of Plenty Chair
The Management Group consists of the Bay of Plenty Regional Council’s Group Manager Strategic Development and an officer from each of the three Economic Development Agencies. This team implements the decisions and actions resolved by the Regional Governance Group.
Regional Management Group
Andrew Coker - Priority One
Grant Kilby - Rotorua Economic Development
Mary Hermanson -Toi-EDA
Miles Conway – Environment Bay of Plenty
ADVISOR
Cheryl MacGregor – Environment Bay of Plenty
