The importance of the Bay of Plenty to the New Zealand economy appears to be a well understood notion by Deputy Prime Minister Bill English. In a speech given by Bill, who is also Minister of Finance and Minister of Infrastructure, at a Chamber of Commerce lunch on Wednesday, he touched on the importance of the Eastern Link project and the Port of Tauranga to the national economy.

Chamber ceo Max Mason says, 'We are still in a tight economic situation, but the government has shown it is moving quickly on the seven projects of national significance.”
The chamber organised meeting with Bill was attended by about 70 people and was a great success says Max.
'Business people like to come along and hear first hand. They get a much better feeling for the credibility of a politician by being there.”

Bill English talks to a group of 70 people at Mills Reef Winery on Wednesday.

Getting key politicians to talk in the Bay of Plenty is an objective of the chamber's and is one that has been achieved in 2009.
Local Government Minister Rodney Hide, Transport Minister Steven Joyce and now Bill English, are all top level cabinet ministers hosted by the chamber this year.
'Every time a minister visits we tend to get some media coverage and that is beneficial because it is about the chamber providing the community with opportunities to see and hear first hand from decision makers.”
At the meeting with Bill, Max says there was plenty of time for informal conversation with the minister which was also very valuable for the people who attended.