Great plan

I have just finished reading ‘‘Tapuae Roa: Make Way For Taranaki Strategy’’ (a regional economic development strategy 2017).

The 56 page document is upbeat and predicated an extraordinary range of facts and demographic trends. In my opinion, it’s an honest document and devoid of spin.

It doesn’t make unrealistic assumptions and predictions. It’s greatest strength is it’s collaborative approach. It involves the region’s four councils, the eight iwi, Venture Taranaki, captains of industry-and in a sense, all of us.

The 14 member team driving the strategy, chaired by Peter Tennent, is a veritable who’s who of Taranaki.

Given that seven out of eight Taranaki iwi have now settled with the Crown with assets totalling well over $300 million, it’s great to see that Wharehoka Wano is the deputy chair and that Liana Poutu (the chair for Te Kotahitanga o Te Atiawa Trust) is also part of the team.

And as an aside, now that the ‘‘Taranaki Like No Other’’ brand dispute has been amicably settled with Sarah Lee relinquishing the brand (it now returns to Venture Taranaki) it would be a nice gesture if the NPDC showed reciprocal aroha and screened Sarah Lee’s StepUp video in the Puke Ariki theatre.

It’s an awesome dance video involving 4000 people dancing to the Maori pop tune Poi E. In a sense, it encapsulates what Tapuae Roa is all about-empowering and celebrating Taranaki’s people.

Bryan Vickery

New Plymouth