NORTH SHORE CITY 20-YEAR DIRECTION REVEALED TO CITY HEADS

One of North Shore City’s most important economic briefings in decades will take place next month, when projections for the city’s future landscape will be unveiled to high growth sector players.

The March 13 event at the North Harbour Stadium – the first of its kind to be held in the city – will be attended by invited industry heads and decision-makers, including the North Shore City Council, city investors, government departments and key stakeholders.

Facilitated by the city’s economic development agency Enterprise North Shore, the event will also publicly launch a new North Shore City prospectus expected to promote the city both internally and overseas as a destination to live, work, learn and play.

And a crucial economic futures model developed by Takapuna-based Market Economics Ltd will be revealed that shows the sustainable economic future – being sensitive to the environmental, social and cultural impacts - of three scenarios for the city: continuing down the same path; choosing a range of interventions to manage change; or not managing the change that is occurring.

“To say that this briefing is crucial to those who have a part in steering North Shore City’s economy through the next 20 years is understating its importance,” Enterprise North Shore chief executive Terry Hoskins says.

“The city has a lot of decisions to make and directions to map out, and this event will provide a call to action for those passionate about the North Shore economy and its path into the coming decades.”

As well as an address by city mayor Andrew Williams, those attending the invitation-only presentation will hear about the North Shore’s new Business Attraction and Retention Programme, as well as a skills and employment programme facilitated by Enterprise North Shore.

Westpac chief economist Brendan O’Donovan will also offer a macro economic overview, pinpointing North Shore City as a powerhouse within the national economy and outlining how current conditions could impact on the city’s future.

“One of the most important objectives of the briefing is to explore the way forward for the local economy, and the initiatives we need to undertake from now on to achieve sustainable economic growth in the future,” Mr Hoskins says.

“The event will also act as a networking opportunity, offering the chance for the hand-picked invite list of city stakeholders to input their preferences into the model to more precisely steer and influence the city’s future economy.”

It is expected that scores of North Shore businesspeople and stakeholders will turn out for the hour-long presentation.