Key  findings:  

•  significant  differences  between  regions  •  Gisborne/Tairāwhi9  and  Northland  rank  poorly  on  most  indicators  compared  to  the  rest  of  the  country  

•  inequali9es  between  regions  are  growing  not  shrinking  •  central  government  economic  policy  since  mid-­‐1980s  is  largely  responsible  for  these  growing  dispari9es    

•  current  policies  will  con9nue  the  trend  and  may  threaten  na9onal  unity  and  na9onhood  

•  posi9ve  change  is  possible    

REPORT OVERVIEW � Considers social & economic outcomes across four themes - People & Population - Children & Youth - Work & Income - Social Hazards & Safety �  Rankings & league tables used - Limitations are around unlike comparisons and amplifying small differences - Advantages are around highlighting extremes and links �  Critiques government’s growth model & underlying economic theory �  Considers structural changes in population & local government �  Offers some suggested starting points for change  

KEY FEATURES OF GISBORNE’S POPULATION �  Young with high fertility rate �  Not aging quickly but hardly growing at all �  Lowest life expectancy �  Probably become majority Maori by 2020

KEY FEATURES OF GISBORNE’S CHILD & YOUTH WELLBEING �  Appears to be systemic problems around engagement &

retention in education �  Encouraging progress around National Standards �  However this isn’t translating into more qualified school

leavers �  High rates youth unemployment although this might be more

related to local economic conditions rather poor qualifications

�  Child safety outcomes close to NZ averages

KEY FEATURES OF GISBORNE’S WORK & INCOME �  High rates of unemployment & low rate of job growth �  Low levels of workforce participation �  Low household income but OK for those in work �  Situation shared with most North Island regions outside of Auckland, Taranaki and Wellington

KEY FEATURES OF GISBORNE’S SOCIAL HAZARDS & SAFETY �  Average results around pokies

�  High rates of drug related crime might be due to isolation & local climate making Gisborne a centre of production

�  Accident rates worst in country �  Home safety worst in country but may be due to

reporting and recording patterns

CHRISTCHURCH REBUILD DAIRY INDUSTRY IMMIGRATION INTO

AUCKLAND

THREE ACT CIRCUS

KEY FEATURES OF GROWTH MODEL �  Extending property rights – especially into water � Correcting market failure through subsidies

– especially in R&D � Reducing regulation & compliance costs �  Providing ‘public goods’ – especially infrastructure � Minimal concern for distributional issues – relying on

trickle down (note: IMF report, June 2015)

URBAN AGGLOMERATION •  Big get bigger due to increasing

returns to scale •  Economy more productive

leads to higher wages •  Higher wages attracts more

skilled workers, etc.

DIVERGENCE •  Congestion & high living costs

make large cities less appealing •  People shift elsewhere for

better lifestyle •  Wages rise with more economic

activity outside of large cities

CONCLUSIONS: �  QUESTION OF BLAME – regional inequality is not the fault of individual regions but of the growth model being pursued �  DISTRIBUTION – any growth model should be concerned with distributional questions and with geography �  A PLAN – a long term plan or strategy is required perhaps along the lines of the UN’s sustainable development goals �  USE CHANGE – some historical societal change is on us and we could use this as the basis of upfront investment rather than catch-up responses to crisis

RECOMMENDATIONS: •  goals - have national [and regional]

development goals to direct our efforts •  plans – plan for the social and

environmental changes we already face

•  technological change and institutional reforms – use technology better and improve our decision-making processes

LOCAL  RESPONSE  SO  FAR:              5th  June  –  Public  Mee:ng  with  presenta9ons  from  authors  and  local  leaders,  then  small  group  delibera9on  on  priority  issues      

LOCAL  RESPONSE  SO  FAR:              19th  June  –  working  groups  focused  on  top  4  issues:  1.  Influencing  central  government  2.  Improving  local  services  3.  Amplifying  marginalised  voices  4.  Communica9on  &  community  engagement      

LOCAL  RESPONSE  SO  FAR:              30th  June  –  updates  from  Ac9on  Groups:  1.  Influencing  central  government  2.  Improving  local  services  3.  Amplifying  marginalised  voices  4.  Communica9on  &  community  engagement      

OTHER  INITIATIVES:  -­‐  Homeless  Coali:on  

NEXT  MEETING:  -­‐  21  July,  12pm  at  Salva:on  Army