By 
It’s interesting that when I have friends from outside of the region come and stay, they without exception, look at the region as a whole in terms of it’s attractions. Needless to say that we generally cover some mileage in indulging them in the region’s offerings.
It struck me last Friday when coming through HB airport arrival lounge, that the way we promote the region’s attractions epitomizes our somewhat fragmented identity – we are literally faced with the Hastings versus Napier pitch!
People from outside the region see us as one, yet we work so hard at developing unique identities.
This has been recognised and whether we agree with the direction or not, the Hawke’s Bay Wine Country branding is testament to a credible attempt at addressing this. We also have the various reincarnations of HB Inc / Venture Hawke’s Bay that have endeavoured to address this, though so long as we have separate governance and rate regimes, so to will we have self-serving initiatives that aren’t always in the best interests of the greater region.
Lawrence Yule has to be applauded for having the courage to put himself out there and take a position on the amalgamation of Napier and Hastings city councils. Politically this is a subject that will polarise constituents and as such could be the making or breaking of his political career – risk all, take all.
I have long believed in the benefits of amalgamation and that it has been the combination of parochial pride and the current fragmented governance structure that have long got in the way of driving the step changes required to make this region unite as one. A region that projects a single identity, has one voice and pursues a focused agenda of driving economic prosperity.
Growth for Hawke’s Bay is contingent on driving outcomes in primary and secondary industry sectors; population growth through quality migrants; and our appeal to domestic & international tourism. Our job, quite simply put, requires us to identify and develop compelling propositions that hold appeal to these stakeholders – we need big ideas that offer us a strong point of difference.
What excites me under consolidated local governance is the more holistic and focused approach and the opportunity Hawke’s Bay would finally have in building a strong unified external brand identity.
What concerns me is the clearly still quite entrenched parochialism that exists between Napier and Hastings. One mayor’s vision will not achieve this unless the greater Hawke’s Bay constituency start to see ourselves and present ourselves as one!
I think we all have a role to actively participate in defining what we want Hawke’s Bay to look like in 10 years time. I also think we all have a role in becoming active ambassadors of driving for Napier and Hastings to be governed by one body.
Closing thought; why can’t Hawke’s Bay be the innovation hub of New Zealand? I’m talking technology, engineering, design, food and beverage.
It’s about making Hawke’s Bay a destination, not it’s parts.
21:24, 15.09.2009
I agree Hamish! The fact that we have two councils separated by a 15 minute drive is ridiculous. It’s a waste of resources, of rate payers money and of no obvious benefit to the greater region of Hawke’s Bay. Lawrence, you have my vote!
09:34, 16.09.2009
Hamish you are spot on. I remember back to the time when the Evers-Swindell twins won their first Olympic gold medals and a street parade was put on for the girls in Hastings and another one in Napier. During a TV interview one of the reporters asked why they were having two parades when the cities were a stones throw away from each other. The girls both laughed and responded with “you don’t know much about Hastings and Napier do you?” Sadly this is the honest truth about the fragmented relationship between the two cities. I agree, we need to see ourselves as one identity and move forward as a team rather than both trying to play off each other.