2. 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
3. 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
4. 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
5. 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
6. 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
7. 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
9. 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)
10. 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
11. 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
12. 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
13. LOCAL
RESPONSE
SO
FAR:
5th
June
–
Public
Mee:ng
with
presenta9ons
from
authors
and
local
leaders,
then
small
group
delibera9on
on
priority
issues
14. 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
15. 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
16. OTHER
INITIATIVES:
-‐ Homeless
Coali:on
NEXT
MEETING:
-‐ 21
July,
12pm
at
Salva:on
Army