The message from this week's Toi Moana Bay of Plenty Regional Growth forum at Taneatua was a strong one: The Bay's economic growth opportunities are huge and the region has the natural resources, the people and the will to realise that potential.

'The opportunities for the region could not be greater, and now is the time to grab hold of them,” says Paul Stocks, deputy chief executive of the labour, science and enterprise group of the Ministry of Business Innovation and Employment.

Tuhoe headquarters, Te Uru Taumatua, at Taneatua was the venue for the Toi Moana Bay of Plenty Regional Growth forum attended by 120 people. Photos: Elaine Fisher.

He told the forum at the Tuhoe headquarters that the crown stands ready to be part of that growth, but there is much which regional and local government, Maori and private enterprise can do as well.

Paul was one of several speakers to address the 120 delegates who attended the forum – the last in a series which began in May – to formulate an action plan for regional growth.

The final plan is to be submitted to government next month and will be launched in the region by Ministers in October. The implementation phase of the plan begins in early 2016.

Doug Leeder, chairman of the Bay of Plenty Regional Council, says the growth study is a potential game changer for the region and is a unique economic partnership between government and the region.

Making the plan work is not just a job for central and local government, but a 'job for all of us, all working together, collaborating to make these opportunities a reality”, he explains.

It is important to look at the bigger picture, he says. 'For example, an investment in Taneatua will have a multiplier effect which benefits the wider region.”

The Bay of Plenty is the second region to undertake a regional growth study, led at a national level by the Ministries of Business, Innovation and Employment and Primary Industries and the Bay of Connections at a regional level.

The study has prioritised nine key areas for development. These areas are: Agribusiness, aquaculture, education and skills, forestry and wood processing, geothermal, horticulture, Maori land utilisation, visitor economy and water management.

The report says growth of the Maori economy in the Bay of Plenty is fundamental to achieving region-wide growth.

Tame Iti extended the official welcome to delegates to the Toi Moana Bay of Plenty Regional Growth forum at Tuhoe headquarters, Te Uru Taumatua at Taneatua.

The Maori economy already contributes $1.2 billion, or 11 per cent, of the region's annual GDP, however there is significant room for improvement.

Contribution can be improved by at least 10 to 30 per cent over the next 10 years, releasing an additional $120-to-$320 million to the regional economy.

Toi-Economic Development Agency chairman John Galbraith says there are short and medium term opportunities to improve the region's employment and wealth.

These include aquaculture, expansion of kiwifruit on Maori land and education, skills and workforce development.

'The Opotiki sea farm and harbour developments are well understood and will generate $40-$55 million in additional wealth, and 300-400 jobs,” says John

'What is increasingly apparent is that much of the region's goal of a $250-million-a-year aquaculture industry will be realised in the Eastern Bay once the Opotiki harbour is in place.

'The additional wealth will come from more high-value species and extractives and opening up of further water space. Aquaculture is a job-rich and high–value-per-employee industry.”

Participation and alignment within the region's current and future labour market will be essential to realising the opportunities.

John says Toi-EDA's workforce project, with cornerstone funding from BayTrust, maximises full-time job opportunities for locals in the seasonal kiwifruit and new aquaculture industries, and ensures the local provision of necessary training.

Doug Leeder, chairman of the Bay of Plenty Regional Council, says the growth study is a game changer for region.