| 3 REGIONAL DEVELOPMENT Buller District Council Karen Phelps Innovation boosts buoyant Buller The Buller region has plenty to offer visitors and locals alike. 0800 999 333 hello@do.nz www.do.nz Christchurch / Timaru Greymouth / Nelson Land Surveying / Resource Management Environmental Science / Structural Engineering Geotechnical Engineering / Civil Engineering Proud to be carboNZero certified PROUD TO PARTNER WITH THE BULLER DISTRICT COUNCIL It may be New Zealand’s best-kept secret. Buller is increasingly attracting people from all over the country seeking a more affordable and relaxed lifestyle, says Buller’s Mayor Jamie Cleine. The region now boasts many inspiring and upcoming businesses proud to call Buller home. While some are well known names, others are boutique businesses that really reflect the spirit of innovation in Buller and are taking their products to the world. Mayor Jamie says that good examples are Reefton Distillery, a success story from the historic mining town Reefton, using locally sourced ingredients to craft boutique botanical gin that is exported internationally and West Coast chocolate icons crafted by Punakaiki Rocks Café owner Patrick Volke. Volke came up with the idea, while struggling with the Covid-induced economic downturn, to develop a line of chocolates that uniquely celebrate the West Coast. The chocolates are shaped into iconic West Coast features including the pancake rocks, gold nuggets and even a whitebait pattie. Mayor Jamie says that the Buller District had a strong economic performance during the pandemic and continues the trend in its latest economic report. The Buller District’s GDP grew 4.9% in the year to June 2022 and the West Coast region overall led New Zealand in economic growth with a GDP increase of 4.2% for the same period. “Achieving 4.9% growth, compared with an average of 0.9% in New Zealand, is very encouraging,” says Mayor Jamie Cleine. “Our district and the West Coast region continue to perform well above the national trend. However, the sharp decline [in June] shows that we are not immune to the difficult climate that has taken its toll on the economy over the June quarter 2022.” The report states that total tourism expenditure in the Buller District felt by 10.4% in the last year, however the district is still sitting above pre-pandemic levels. to page 4 “This reflects how the district has done well to grow its share of the domestic market, which is now smoothening the impact of the recent slowdown in domestic travel,” says Mayor Cleine. Local businesses such as GJ Gardner, Jennian Homes, South Peak Homes and Martin Mitre10, are helping to support the region’s growth. They in turn are supported by businesses such as InForce, a highly specialised service company providing engineers, construction companies and the concrete industry with high quality design services and supply of fibre reinforcing. Photo: Nomad Audio and Video
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