Regions need more say and funding to boost their economies, an economic development specialist says. Wilson, a director of Economic Development NZ and founder of consultancy Cities and Regions, said the approach to regional development was too centralised, and there has been a lack of trust between central and local governments. Colin McDiarmid Economic Development consultant David Wilson. Wilson pointed to his experience of six years heading Northland's regional development agency to highlight the difficulties. Wilson said Auckland, Wellington and Christchurch had quite well resourced economic development agencies, but even the largest of them, Auckland Tourism, Events and Economic Development (ATEED), did not have the financial clout it needed.

Source: Stuff February 12, 2020 03:00 UTC