An Interpretation of New Zealand's Regional Employment Change by Means of Classic Shift-Share Analysis 1986-2001

Abstract

Over the last two decades New Zealand has undergone fundamental economic restructuring, and phases of slow and rapid growth, which have resulted in some dramatic changes in the regional economies. This paper focuses on changes in regional employment outcomes in terms of the impact of national trends on regions, sectoral composition within regions, structural change and local conditions. These changes are quantified by means of classic shift-share analysis. Regions are clustered based on the direction and relative importance of national and region-specific effects. The clustering highlights the chasm that has developed in New Zealand between metropolitan and other services-oriented regions vis-a-vis rural and peripheral regions.

Unintended consequences of the earthquake-prone building legislation: An evaluation of two city centre regeneration strategies in New Zealand's provincial areas

“…The city's local economy thrived under its agricultural sector, particularly from dairy and meat production. Whanganui first started experiencing a change in its socio-economic prosperities in the 1 0s, which has been attributed to its failing growth prospects, and shortage of skilled workforce over the years [110]. The city has also experienced a significant rise in its ageing population within the last two decades [111].…”

Earthquake‐strengthening policy for commercial buildings in small‐town New Zealand

“…Whanganui was once New Zealand's fifth-largest town, yet the 1970s ushered in changes in the region's fortunes. Like other secondary centres throughout the country, Whanganui has since gone into decline, beset by slow economic growth, a shrinking, aging population, a lack of skilled labour, and weakening prospects for career growth (Le Heron, 1979;Baxendine et al, 2004; The government's earthquake-related legislation mainly targets older commercial building stock, which is frequently assessed to be below the 34%NBS threshold. In the 1960s and 1970s, urban centres such as Auckland and Wellington demolished older buildings and developed new, bigger ones in pursuit of economic opportunities.…”