Priority Sectors
Our key sectors that are central to reaching our desired outcomes and retaining our values.
Together they reflect the unique makeup of the Manawatu economy. These sectors are likely to generate the majority of employment growth, investment and wealth in the next 10 years.
Manufacturing
Local manufacturing is still a significant employer in the Manawatu, especially in food processing, metal fabrication for the agriculture and transport sectors and agricultural equipment.
Existing businesses such as Baker No-Tillage are manufacturing equipment as a result of local research innovation, equipment that is seen by the Food and Agriculture Organisation of the United Nations as offering promise to increase productivity worldwide.
Specialist food processors such as Ovation in Feilding have doubled their workforce to supply high end fresh lamb cuts to the world.
Retail
The Manawatu is a regional retail trade centre that attracts shoppers from all over the lower North Island.
Confidence in the City has been reflected by the substantial recent investment by Westfield in the expansion of the Plaza inner city shopping mall. The high proportion of students and professional residents, coupled with the many visitors, means that the City has a level of retail sales greater than its population would indicate
Feilding is the regional rural servicing centre and offers a thriving rural town centre with an Edwardian theme. Agricultural supply stores, a farmers market and the regional saleyards all add to the rural vibrancy of Feilding.
Agriculture
The agriculture sector underpins the economy of the wider region and generates events such as the Central Districts Field Days, as well as supplying the food processing industry in the wider Region.
Manawatu is an important part of the New Zealand dairy industry while quality soils and a benign climate allow a wide range of horticulture to flourish.
The land generates farm system innovations with local farmers providing practical partnerships to research centres.
Visitor and Tourism
The city has a significant share of national conference activity as a result of the education, research and science expertise based here.
Large numbers of students and staff attract friends and family throughout the year. A major area of strength for the region is in trade show and exhibition activity. The City also attracts a large number of sporting tournaments and club based conventions that are attracted by our central location, superb recreational facilities and ease of transport access.
Over 1.8 million visitor nights were recorded in the year to June 2010, an 11 percent increase from 2009. The Manawatu region was the fifth largest for delegate days, closely following Rotorua.
Distribution and Logistics
Our central location and access to highly efficient and reliable transport systems makes the Manawatu the most efficient centre in New Zealand for distribution.
Notable national and international brands such as Toyota, New Zealand Defence Force and Ezibuy know this and have operated here for many years. Specialist logistic support services are located here and the large numbers of students provide a ready well educated labour force.
For these reasons the Manawatu is a significant regional centre for road freight transport, storage, distribution, rail and airfreight businesses.
Science and Research
Manawatu is a centre of excellence for Food Innovation and Agribusiness Research.
This is based on the quality of our land and produce, a history of innovation and research in agricultural and agribusiness, and the location of key world class organisations here already.
The City boasts significant research centres run by Fonterra, Massey University, Crop and Food (CRI), AgResearch (CRI), Landcare (CRI) and the Riddet Institute.
These centres generate partnership opportunities in new products and systems, as well as ongoing support for manufacturers such as NZ Pharmaceuticals.
Health Care and Social Assistance
The healthcare sector has been the largest generator of new jobs in the region in the last decade and this is expected to continue.
Concentration of specialist and tertiary health services in the City now sees MidCentral Health servicing a wide area stretching across the lower North Island from Taranaki to Hawkes Bay. This concentration of specialist health services is reflected in private hospitals, aged care facilities and a wide range of private health care specialists locating in the City.
Continued technology advances and partnerships will result in many opportunities for growth in the future.
Government Administration and Defence
Our central location, transport efficiencies and educated labour force have resulted in the City being the home of many government department operations that cover a number of regions.
The Manawatu is also the defence centre of New Zealand with major bases at Linton (Palmerston North City) and Ohakea (Manawatu District). Centralisation of government agencies has resulted in a stronger base of operations in the City.
The government defence strategy is increasing our defence force numbers and will provide many other opportunities in the supply chain and support industries.
Education and Training
The City is a centre for tertiary education with Massey University, UCOL and the private International Pacific College.
Tertiary students make up a significant part of our population and this generates a vibrant student culture. Tertiary institutes have helped create a culture of learning and excellence across the Manawatu. This is reflected in many high quality primary and secondary schools, pre-schools, private education providers and training businesses.
The Manawatu education and training sector provides higher income professional jobs that provide a range of downstream support services, a diverse social environment, conference activity and an international profile.
