29/03/2026
TARANAKI REPOSITIONING
If you think that the local economy crawls, last week’s Positioning for the Future panel discussion, organised by Venture Taranaki, proved otherwise. Taranaki is shifting from an oil and gas focus into renewable energy, manufacturing and export-ready food and fiber.
- Stats NZ shows a mixed recovery for New Zealand. Taranaki’s GDP slipped slightly and jobs are down in construction and professional services. Still job ads are up and consumer spending is holding steady. Thanks Anne Probert fora comprehensive economic presentation.
- Offshore wind, green hydrogen and a $200 million gas security fund are all in play. Projects like the Kapuni green hydrogen scheme could make Taranaki a player in the new energy mix.
- New industries taking shape. Think h**p processing for building materials, botanical crop drying for health products, and upgrades to tourism and cultural sites. These are real projects, not just ideas.
- CEOs panel ( Gemma Adams, Vizlink; Natalie Innes,Marcel’s Pancakes; Craig Hattle, Independent Board Chair) keep saying the same thing: plan long term, stay flexible.
-Josh Wineera, Head of Global Partnership and Strategic Relations at Latent, is confident that Taranaki businesses have to join forces to bid for big national and international contracts. His idea is simple: “Together you’re more investable and less exposed to a single sector collapsing”.
- The second panel of CEOs (Josh Wineera, Latent; Kerry Williamson, Dialog Fitzroy; Sonia Kiser, Carac Manufacturing; NZ Corrosion Services ) brought forward the idea that Taranaki is the most “engineering” region.
Our region already has dense engineering, fabrication and specialist services. Those skills can be redirected into renewables, defense supply chains and higher value food exports. Taranaki could sell its capability at scale.
My take: Taranaki isn’t just weathering a rough patch. It’s repositioning. The next wins will go to the businesses that read the signals, back their people and choose cooperation over isolation. I’m watching and I’m rooting for this place.
