No doubt you are aware that Hamilton/Waikato is a key player in the ‘Golden Triangle’. What you may not have been aware of was that our Mayor Julie Hardaker, Tauranga’s Mayor, Stuart Crosby and Auckland’s Mayor Len Brown were discussing the future of the ‘Golden Traingle’. I thought it only right that I should be in the audience.
When I came to writing about this event I found myself asking the question, what and why – The Golden Triangle? Especially in the light of some dubious comments about the title. So here goes – my attempt to explain the event starting with some definitions.
Golden Triangle – a concept that for those who have travelled in India and Thailand conjures up opium harvests, for those with a mathematical mind an isosceles triangle and for those of us who live, work and play in Auckland, Hamilton and Tauranga it is considered the key to prosperity or is it?
‘The triangle between Auckland, Hamilton and Tauranga is experiencing high population growth, has substantial economic opportunities and is home to the country’s largest airport and the two largest ports. The infrastructure demand in this triangle is huge and optimizing connectivity between the three cities is vital. For the nation’s economy to grow, the upper North Island’s role in driving growth will become increasingly important.’ From Scoop Regional – http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/AK1105/S00241/unique-golden-triangle-mayors-event-in-tauranga.htm
And from http://www.stuff.co.nz/waikato-times/business/3611532/Future-of-golden-triangle-up-for-grabs ‘A government study into harnessing economic links between Waikato, Tauranga and Auckland is being undertaken in a bid to boost the “golden triangle’s” productivity.
The Ministry of Trade and Economic Development has put out a tender for the $100,000 study, aimed at investigating the main economic connections between the cities, which already produce a third of the country’s GDP.
The cities are ranked first, fourth and fifth by population, but studies to date have focused on freight and transport.
By 2031, the Golden Triangle, as it is known, is expected to have grown by 34 per cent.’
Despite my research and email to MED I have not been able to come up with that report so will have to leave this for a later update.
The presentation talked about inter-regional infrastructure plans like transport, road, rail and air to connect with sea. The impact of planning on land use and the impact of development plans that may affect other regions were highlighted. All three city leaders acknowledged a desire to work more closely together on plans that impact the Golden Triangle.
Knowing that the Golden Triangle is made up by the majority of New Zealand’s population and figures like 34 percent growth by 2031 – it sounds like the right place to be and the right place to be strengthening our perception. I know we are the power house for export – 20 percent of New Zealand’s export comes from Waikato and much of our industry is derived from the Agricultural sector.
hat I also know is that we have some significant other businesses that are also adding to the diversity of our commercial sector. In addition I know that we have a significant number of businesses that are on the edge of adding to this strength.
What we need, is to have these businesses enter the Westpac Waikato Business Excellence Awards 2011, so we can spotlight the business magic in Hamilton and Waikato leading to an increase in the National and International perception of how great we are!
Happy for you to email your thoughts, comments to: wayne@waikatochamber.co.nz
