Evolution of new regional development interventions in New Zealand: An analysis of the first year of the Provincial Growth Fund

Regional development has evolved in response to shifting local and global priorities. These shifts have transformed both the way we think about regions, their role and how that shapes the outcomes and benefits that might occur from engaging in regional development. Key debates centre around the ability (or desirability) of regional development interventions to unsettle path dependence and “lock‐in” created by past approaches and to create opportunities for alternative development futures and to provide choices between sectoral‐based investments to support economic activity in contrast to a more place‐based approach to regional development. This paper overviews the dynamic nature of regional development to offer reasons for its recent resurgence by highlighting the key debates about the purpose and function of regions and what regional development can or should do. We then discuss the New Zealand context specifically and use the first year of Provincial Growth Fund investments to reflect on how the processes, objectives and goals reflect particular interpretations of the meaning and purpose of regional development. We conclude that a strong adherence to a growth imperative has the potential to reinforce path dependencies at the expense of alternative development pathways.     

Revitalising Local Economic Development-New Zealand Policy and Practice

In common with many other advanced capitalist nations, the rolling back of the state in New Zealand has seen a decline in direct state intervention in heal and regional economies. Yet since 2000 the current Labour Coalition Government has sought to promote a renaissance in economic development at local and regional scales. A survey of New Zealand territorial local authorities indicates involvement in heal economic development (LED) is a recent phenomenon involving facilitation of outside agencies which is orientated toward tourist, advisory and promotional activities. The implications of these findings for future research in an environment of ‘revitalised’ policy and practice in the New Zealand context is explored.     

A new look at population change and regional development in Aotearoa New Zealand

In New Zealand, population change is interlinked with regional development. Places growing in population attract regional investment, while regional investment—or lack thereof—can change migration patterns. However, to determine the appropriate response to population change for a community, it is important to understand that population change involves much more than “just” migration. Specifically, it involves interactions between the three components of population change: natural change (births minus deaths), net migration (international and internal) and population ageing (changing cohort size). For example, migration can be negative, but growth can be positive due to underlying natural increase or growth in cohort size. Responses need to differ, depending on these drivers. The goal of this article is to provide new insights into these interactions using data for 275 cities, towns and rural centres (hereafter “urban places”) in New Zealand for the period 1976 to 2013. The results show that natural change has been consistently positive for most urban places up to the present, although projections indicate that in the future this component will become negative across much of the country. At the same time, net migration shows considerable spatial variation, not only in terms of volume, but also direction (negative or positive), which differs markedly by age. A net gain of people of retirement age can offset a net loss of young adults to deliver overall growth, and vice‐versa, but the two have very different implications for longer term growth. An analysis of the drivers of net migration using GIS and machine learning techniques provides an indication of the importance of economic conditions (land‐use and access to markets), lifestyle, access to essential services (hospitals and education) and their interaction with age in regional change. The results show that population age is the best predictor of migration. Younger people are moving to cities for tertiary education and work and older people near or in retirement are moving to smaller lifestyle towns but also want to be close to amenities such as hospitals and international airports. The research also shows that natural lifestyle characteristics (landscape and climate), in combination with age are just as important as economic conditions for understanding migration. Regional development, such as infrastructure that helps business (ports and services) is important for the working age population but not necessarily the retirement age group. When regional development, age/life‐cycle stage and lifestyle come together, such as in Queenstown and Tauranga, net migration gain is high.     

Shaken, Not Stirred

In a remarkable and yet largely unheralded piece off legislation, the New Zealand government has reshaped national provisions for earthquake insurance. Three major sets off issues emerge from the 1993 Earthquake Commission Act and warrant detailed investigation. The A ct will encourage significant changes in patterns of regional development in New Zealand, it heralds a simultaneous globalisation and localisation of earthquake risk through the mechanism of insurance and it gives new regulatory powers to insurers in New Zealand society.     

地方出口产品结构及制度环境与企业出口相关多样化

产品相关多样化是企业发展的重要战略.经济学研究认为企业内部因素会影响企业的产品多样化策略,而一些地理学研究则发现企业外部的地方因素也会影响企业发展.为了弥补当前研究中关于企业微观发展战略外部影响因素的空白,本文基于2012-2016年中国出口产品贸易数据研究地方出口产品结构对企业出口产品相关多样化的影响,并进一步探究地...     

Moved by the Company - International Migrants and Transnational Organisations

Labour markets are generally thought to have become more integrated across international boundaries. Employees that move between branches of transnational organisations are a potential contributor to this integration. Interviews with human resources managers in 33 New Zealand‐based organisations indicate that the number of employees transferred is small and likely to decrease as corporate functions are transferred from New Zealand to regional offices.     

'There is a tide': An examination of the evolution of New Zealand Coastal Policy Statements

Abstract:   In this paper the proposed New Zealand Coastal Policy Statement is set within the context of its Resource Management Act legislative framework and in terms of the evolution of the fundamental influence of policy statements on coastal management in New Zealand. This discussion is coupled with an examination of the development of strong policy directions in the proposed statement and the potential impact of giving effect to these policies on the regional and unitary authorities tasked with this responsibility.     

Huhu grubs,bull semen shots and koki: Visceral geographies of regional food festivals in Aotearoa

This article draws attention to the visceral geographies of two unique Aotearoa New Zealand regional food festivals – Kāwhia KaiFest and Wildfoods Hokitika. We address the question: how do organisers and attendees sensually experience place through food festivals? Interviews, participant ‘sensing’, the researchers’ own bodies and ‘gut feelings’ were used as research instruments. The affective work of visceral pleasure and disgust highlight food that is deemed (in)edible. We argue that the visceral is crucial to understanding place for wild Hokitika or calm Kāwhia. The two food festivals provide insights and paradoxes into the embodied experiences of regional and culturally diverse tourism geographies.     

Globalising New Zealand : Fonterra Co-operative Group, and shaping the future

New Zealanders have little collective vision of their position and future in a globalising world. Recent developments in New Zealand's primary sector show potential pathways to the future. We explore two claims: thinking about New Zealand is to think about the emergence of Fonterra Co-operative Group in New Zealand's globalising economy. Thinking about Fonterra is to think about New Zealand and the implications that spring from globalising activities. Fonterra is a lens to understand better the possibilities and development options and the challenges that are arising as New Zealand forges its place in a globalising world.     

劳动力视角下 跨国公司地方嵌入与区域发展战略耦合机制——以富士康郑州投资为例

全球生产网络（GPNs）非常重视跨国公司地方嵌入与区域发展的战略耦合模式及影响机制,然而以往研究相对聚焦于资本密集型或技术密集型企业,着重探讨产业联系、技术外溢、社会网络等要素的影响,而对以富士康为代表的劳动密集型跨国企业并未给予足够关注。本研究以郑州富士康为案例,融合劳工地理学和新经济地理学的理论视角,基于2017—2021年对郑州富士康的追踪调研,研究发现：① 在全球网络动力与本土地域动力相互联动的作用下,地方区位优势和企业空间粘性虽然发生了显著变化,并初步呈现出互惠式耦合特征,但郑州富士康地方嵌入与区域发展的战略耦合模式仍以依附式为主。② 劳动力视角下跨国公司地方嵌入与区域发展的战略耦合形成机制主要受制于公司属性特征与员工雇佣方式（包括企业性质、用工模式、工资福利等）、区域人口红利与劳动力供应格局、政府中介政策与劳动力行为选择等因素。③ 促进劳动密集型跨国公司地方嵌入与区域发展的战略耦合,维持劳动力市场弹性和激励跨国公司扩大投资并促进生产网络区域化应作为国家和地方政府战略制定和政策实施的两个基本维度。研究成果不仅可以有效弥补跨国公司地方嵌入与区域发展战略耦合对劳动力作用的忽视,而且通过典型案例可以为劳动密集型跨国公司与区域发展的战略耦合关系提供实证经验支持。     

上海计算机产业转移及其对区域经济影响

自2008年全球金融危机之后,全球生产网络重组对中国区域经济的影响日益浮现。上海计算机制造业持续向重庆等地转移,重构了该行业全球生产网络的基本格局。利用上海市投入-产出表以及中国工业企业数据库、企业年报等,采用结构分解等方法分析上海计算机制造业产业变化,结合制造业多样性指数等指标,评估产业转移对区域经济的影响。研究发现：① 上海计算机产业被锁定在全球价值链低端的组装制造环节,2007—2012年,增加值率（增加值与总产出的比值）从7.38%下降为4.29%;劳动者报酬占增加值比例从22.06%上涨为67.97%,推动产业对外迁移。② 受上海市产业转移和国际市场低迷等因素影响,2007—2012年,上海计算机制造业总产出减少了483.9亿元。③ 制造业多样性指数较高的浦东新区受到计算机产业转移的影响较小,制造业多样性指数相对较低且计算机制造业占制造业总产值比例较高的闵行区、松江区在一定时期内仍然面临着计算机产业转移的负面影响。为了降低全球生产网络“去耦合”的冲击,提高区域经济的韧性,上海需要从全球生产网络的成熟产品生产平台转型为新产品研发创新枢纽,提高劳动生产率和产业增加值率,推动产业结构多样化。     

Out of the Rat Race

After the social policy reforms of 1991 important changes in internal migration in New Zealand occurred. These resulted in changing housing costs and falling incomes which led to the movement of low income households, particularly beneficiaries and state house tenants, from urban to rural areas and small towns. A survey of 404 people who moved to the Southern Wairarapa towns of Carterton, Martinborough and Featherston from New Zealand urban areas since 1985 shows that a proportional increase in beneficiary movement occurred after 1991. Housing costs, relative to income, are important factors in the decision to move for a range of migrants. This pattern of migration has important regional development ramifications.     

Elite discourses of regional identity in a new regionalism development scheme: The case of the ‘Mountain Region’ in Norway

Norway's regional structure is under debate as questions about territorial boundaries, scale, scope of tasks and responsibilities, and decision-making structures have become an issue in Norwegian politics. This tendency of changing the scale of public action with regard to governmental structures, economic politics, welfare, and civic society has been termed ‘new regionalism’. New regionalism often comes under criticism of being too neo-liberalistic or too economically orientated, leaving in its wake debates of democratic accountability and the neglect of ‘soft factors’ (i.e. socio-culture, identity, consciousness, and participation). In this article the authors investigate whether new democratic or semi-democratic regional organisations as advocated by new regionalist schemes require identification amongst the local population in order to be successful and enduring governmental structures. Further, it is shown how too simplistic understandings of the social processes, and their inherent power aspects, involved in the implementation of the new regionalist development scheme ‘Mountain Region’ distort the undertaking. The authors find that a more complex relational and contextual understanding is in demand, one in which regionalisation is not only recognised as a process which diffuses across time-space, but also takes an asymmetrical place across society's social fabric, and one where ‘soft factors’ such as ‘regional identity’ are not sidestepped.     

In Pursuit of Moving Targets: New Zealand Population Geography in the South Pacific

New Zealand population geographers in the South Pacific islands early focused on resource issues, especially in Fiji and the smaller island states politically linked to New Zealand. This later extended into analysis of the structure of village level economic and social development, notably in Kiribati, Solomon Islands and Fiji. These analyses contributed to a clearer understanding of the substance of development at a key turning point in the region's history - the transition to independence. Migration, or mobility, and urbanisation attracted enormous interest throughout the region, with lengthy debates ranging over migration models, urban permanence, the ideology of return and metaphors of mobility, establishing the most distinctive thrust of New Zealand research in the region. Practical research, involving censuses and consultancies, has directly contributed to development. Despite the valuable historical legacy the extent and significance of New Zealand work on the population geography of the Island Pacific has now dwindled.     

Using open‐ended geographic information system assessments to allow students to construct relevant geographies given the internationalisation of tertiary education in New Zealand

The geospatial skills shortage in New Zealand requires the development of more undergraduate geographic information system (GIS) courses. However, the internationalisation of New Zealand's tertiary education system has resulted in an increasingly diverse tertiary student population, which makes it challenging to teach GIS in a way that maximises relevance to all tertiary students. One approach to this challenge is to make use of the recent proliferation of openly available GIS data, and to internationalise GIS curricula by using open‐ended assessments that provide students with the opportunity to learn GIS by constructing their own geographies of relevance.     

中国区域发展的新因素与新格局

本文阐述了国民经济战略性结构调整在区域层面上的反应,分析了影响我国区域发展的新因素及所形成的新格局。自20世纪90年代初期起,影响我国区域发展的矿产资源、水资源、交通等传统因素的作用就逐渐下降。经济国际化在促进我国经济持续快速发展的同时,也在明显改变着我国的区域发展格局。信息、科技、生态环境、体制创新等都成为影响我国区域发展的新因素。在上述因素的综合作用下,近年来,我国地区间的经济发展差距全面扩大,工业化水平的地区性和地带性差异更为明显。几十年在计划经济体制下形成的我国产业布局特别是工业布局,近年来发生了较大尺度的空间转移。在区域发展新格局形成过程中,我国区域发展也出现了值得注意的严重倾向:大多数地区应该重视基础产业的发展及其现代化,一些地区不适宜大规模发展高新技术产业,部分高速增长地区的环境状况严重恶化     

John Turnbull Thomson,Fellow of the Royal Geographical Society: An early New Zealand geographer

John Turnbull Thomson is more known in New Zealand for his work as Chief Surveyor of Otago Province (1856–1876) and first Surveyor General of New Zealand (1877–1879). He was also a Fellow of the Royal Geographical Society of London from 1848 until his death in 1884. Thomson was an important and early self‐declared ‘does’ of geographer in New Zealand, prior to the establishment of university geography in 1937. Thomson's contribution included survey and mapping but he also gave public lectures on geography and contributed to debates about glaciation.     

发展地理学视角下中国区域均衡发展

区域差异大、发展不平衡是中国的基本国情,研究区域均衡发展问题是发展地理学领域的重大课题.本文首先回顾了中国的区域均衡发展历程,总结了各时期区域均衡发展的特征,研究指出,中国区域间发展呈现出均衡发展与非均衡发展演替的状态,每次演进使得社会的发展质量迈进新的台阶,逐渐走向高质量发展与区域均衡发展的状态.其次,本文探讨了当前...     

Splitting a northern account of New Zealand's neoliberalism

This review responds to Richard Peet's ‘policy regimes’ account of New Zealand's neoliberal experiment published in this volume of the New Zealand Geographer. It welcomes Peet's intervention, especially its comparative approach and its political economy focus, but suggests further insight may have been gained from closer engagement with the work of New Zealand geographers. The review argues that Peet misses opportunities to learn from the New Zealand case. The review subjects a ‘northern’ account of southern experience to a critique by ‘splitting’, a characteristically southern approach to analysing social change from the Antipodes that pays close attention to the situatedness of knowledge production.