Economic development priority

Press, 11 December 1989, Page 3

Economic development priority

The New Labour Party believed that the West Coast should be declared an Economic Development Zone, the member of Parliament for Sydenham and leader of the party, Mr Jim Anderton, said yesterday. Announcing a regional policy for.the West Coast in Reefton yesterday, Mr Anderton said central and local government needed to work with the private sector to plan for and invest in its development. The conservation areas in the north and south of the region

would be retained and would define the economic zone. A New Labour Party government would commit itself to work with the West Coast Regional Council to identify development opportunities which would generate income, jobs and long-term regional enterprises, Mr Anderton said. The possiblity of the West Coast Region acting as a custodian of State-owned land, overseeing its use as part of a development strategy on behalf of the region and the nation would also be explored.

“We would fund an economic development programme for the West Coast by direct Government financial investment,” Mr Anderton said. The Ministry of Development established would be instructed to assist the development and management of that programme. Regional development bonds which would encourage the use of regional savings to be invested in the region, would be guaranteed by the Government. Joint ventures with the private sector would be actively encouraged, Mr Anderton said.