Simon Bridges National MP simonbridges.co.nz

Regional New Zealand has led our country out of the global financial crisis with almost every region showing strong growth, and most with a lower unemployment rate than Auckland.

Bay of Plenty, Gisborne, Hawke's Bay, Nelson-Tasman, Canterbury, Otago and Southland all experienced growth above the national average in the five years from 2008. The unemployment rate in the South Island is just 3.9 per cent.

For New Zealand to build a more productive and competitive economy, we need all our regions to achieve their potential.

That's precisely what the Government's Business Growth Agenda is all about. It focuses on the six key drivers businesses need to thrive – capital markets, infrastructure, skills, export markets, innovation, and natural resources.

That's why we're working throughout the country doing things like building the Roads of National Significance and accelerating regional roading projects, putting in ultra-fast and rural broadband, and encouraging water storage and new irrigation projects.

National cycle trails around the country are helping boost our tourism industry.

Locally, the rollout of broadband and fibre to homes is due to be completed by the end of next year, and the Tauranga Eastern Link is ahead of schedule and on track to be complete by late-2015.

A skilled workforce is key to future prosperity, so we're supporting development of skills with the likes of the youth guarantee, apprenticeships, and encouraging the study of science and technology subjects.

Callaghan Innovation, our high-tech HQ, is helping businesses turn ideas into internationally-marketable products and services more quickly and successfully.

Just last week Economic Development Minister Steven Joyce announced Tauranga-based WNT Ventures, a business incubator focused on growing and developing new companies in the high-tech sector, has been selected for Callaghan's pilot repayable grant programme.

This will provide a fantastic chance for local start-ups to get access to the expertise and resources they need to expand and access markets.

In the Bay of Plenty, a Regional Growth Study announced by the Government last month will help improve the outcomes of growth initiatives already underway and also look for new opportunities to attract investment and jobs to the area.

National is committed to supporting economic growth in the regions and ensuring people don't have to move to the major centres for high-paying jobs.