I would argue ‘No.’
You often hear it being touted and it was done so in the weekend. That Auckland is booming and the provinces of New Zealand are struggling or dying. Solution? Let’s move the jobs out of Auckland and into those provinces.
Today’s podcast touches on why such a notion does not help Auckland nor the rest of New Zealand:
As for the Radio NZ piece:
Could rural jobs ease Akl housing crisis?
Updated at 3:32 pm on 10 January 2015
Ganesh Nana says allowing Auckland to sprawl further was a costly mistake.
The housing shortage in the country’s biggest city has been exacerbated by swelling numbers of immigrants and returning New Zealanders choosing to live and work there.
Listen to more on Outspoken ( 27 min 54 sec )
But BERL chief economist Ganesh Nana said allowing Auckland to sprawl further was a costly mistake.
While he favours building up rather than out, he has another solution.
Dr Nana said more jobs should be in rural regions, where the economy’s real wealth was created.
“Whether it’s dairy, meat, kiwifruit or wine, that doesn’t come out of Auckland. That comes out of the region. That’s where we need the infrastructure, that’s where we need to get the jobs in place, because the housing is already there,” he said.
The director of social policy and parliamentary unit for the Salvation Army, Major Campbell Roberts, agrees, saying it would rejuvenate struggling provincial towns.
“We have empty houses in cities like Whanganui. And yet we’re putting more and more people into Auckland. Some of the answer to Auckland’s housing crisis has got to be providing jobs elsewhere and moving people from Auckland.”
…
But New Zealand Initiative executive director Oliver Hartwich is wary about the Government stepping in to determine where development is going to take place.
“It’s very difficult to achieve that because in Auckland we are seeing agglomeration effects. We see Auckland survives and thrives as a city because it can provide the asset classes needed to drive growth. So you couldn’t just tell Auckland law firms or a bank to relocate. That simply won’t work,” he said.
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Source and full article: http://www.radionz.co.nz/news/national/263416/could-rural-jobs-ease-akl-housing-crisis
The Sydney Plan I mentioned (page 46 you will need): http://www.strategy.planning.nsw.gov.au/sydney/
That page 46 page I quoted:
Businesses benefit from proximity to other businesses and services when they are clustered in a few, larger centres. This economic density is called ‘agglomeration’ and it is important for productivity because it fosters innovation, improves efficiency and economies of scale and supports faster growth than if economic activity is dispersed across a wider area. Locating jobs in around 30 to 40 large centres will provide greater benefits to the overall productivity of Sydney.
And for Sydney connecting with Rural New South Wales:
Direction 1.8: Enhance linkages to regional NSW
Transport connections between Sydney and regional NSW – including rail, road and air links – are important for the State’s productivity, connecting city with rural businesses. They also connect the rural population with health specialists, entertainment and retail services. Aviation connections are particularly important for connecting Sydney with regional NSW. Many people travelling by aircraft from regional NSW to Sydney travel for business or health appointments in the Sydney CBD. Investment in these connections will support economic growth, development and diversification in regional NSW. Efficient freight connections such as the Northern Sydney Freight Corridor will improve economic links between Sydney and regional NSW.
Many people in the regions neighbouring Sydney travel to Sydney for work and education which adds to the pressure on Sydney’s transport networks. Improving the capacity and the level of service on major inter-urban transport corridors will increase job opportunities for people living on the outskirts of Sydney, and reduce travel times.
The Rebuilding NSW – State Infrastructure Strategy 2014 prioritises major improvements on the road network linking Sydney with regional NSW and other states and territories.26 It also commits to the development of a country rail strategy to target regional rail freight improvements to support primary producers and regional jobs.
ACTION 1.8.1: IMPROVE PRODUCTIVITY AND ACCESS TO SERVICES THROUGH IMPROVED TRANSPORT LINKS TO REGIONAL NSWContinuing to provide strong links between Sydney and regional NSW is important, to both the NSW economy and the quality of life of residents in regional NSW. People in regional NSW need good access to specialist health services and businesses located in the city. Economic growth in regional NSW requires the efficient movement of goods and services from paddock to port and paddock to plate. Improving freight access has high economic benefits for the State, reducing travel times and costs. The Long Term Transport Master Plan proposes a number of improvements to the transport network to deliver stronger connections to regional cities, towns and communities. The Outer Sydney Orbital will be important in the longer term for improving freight connections
to Port Kembla and the Port of Newcastle linked to the Western Sydney Employment Area.
The Government will:
•• develop a new country passenger rail services strategy to deliver better services for people in regional NSW;
•• investigate transport connections from Sydney Airport to health facilities and the CBD; and
•• preserve a corridor for the Outer Sydney Orbital to improve freight connections from Regional NSW to Sydney Airport and Ports.
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Source: https://www.scribd.com/doc/250075465/A-Plan-for-Growing-Sydney-WEB#page=52
Talking Southern Auckland 