Fruitbowl - Fresh Ideas from Hawke's Bay

Over at Bay Buzz Tom has good things to say about the latest Venture Hawkes Bay report.

Venture Hawke’s Bay steps up

Venture Hawke’s Bay, as Rodney Dangerfield would have said, gets no respect. Including, historically, from other Councils. But that should change.

As our region’s tourism and economic development agency, VHB has new leadership over the last year in Neil Kirton (chair, representing the Regional Council) and Janet Takarangi (general manager), as well as quality senior staff.

The new, higher calibre of effort was reflected in a comprehensive presentation delivered by VHB to the Regional Council on Tuesday.

Some VHB materials have been a bit “theoretical” for my taste, but the presentations yesterday were crisp and concrete … here are the projects and deliverables we’re working on right now (and the list is impressive), and here are some of the things we’re not doing, because it would be non-strategic and dumb to do them (said more politely).

In the short time I've been around I've certainly picked up the sentiments Tom mentions above, but I'm pleased to say the experience I've had working with VHB over the past few months has been simply excellent. They have a new team that is passionate about the Bay, high energy, have been very useful making connections and are doing a good job tapping into national programs.

So I was delighted to see Tom's positive pat on the back. I think it's important that us in the business sector get alongside the public sector to work together. If we can get that relationship in harmony great things can happen.

Now if we can just get them to engage online.

Come on in, the waters fine!