Rolling red carpet out the

For beleaguered businesses across Auckland, handicapped by rising costs, ‘catch-up’ infrastructure and unhappy workers shut out of the housing market, the regions have in recent times looked increasingly attractive.

Once considered backwaters and mere service centres for surrounding rural districts, over the past decade regional centres have morphed into lively, lifestyle-friendly and progressive places that are welcoming businesses with open arms. Local economic development agencies in the larger centres are laying on the incentives and facilities to convince Auckland businesses of the merits of relocating.

NZBusiness chose Northland, Tauranga/Bay of Plenty and the Waikato as regional examples for this story – although many other regions are also experiencing success in attracting businesses.

In Northland, Marsden Maritime Holdings (MMH), formerly Northland Port Corporation, is a publicly-listed company based at Marsden Point whose shareholders include the Northland Regional Council (53.61 percent) and Ports of