Kiwifruit Capital of the World

Another Wai Kōkopu event in conjunction with @TP_EDG

Full house tonight in the @capitoltepuke inside of the @experiencetp complex. Award winning artist Duane Forrest, Bob Marley - How Reggae changed the world, part of the Tauranga Arts Festival. Bringing community together is one of the big drivers for the success of the Experience Te Puke project. The Capitol Theatre is coming alive! Entertainment, Events, Business, Cinema, Industry Promotion, Education, Community. #kiwifruitcapitaloftheworld #tepukegoodnessgrowshere - @TP_EDG a strategic partner in the @experiencetp project

Today @TP_EDG presented to the Toi Moana Bay of Plenty Regional Council Transport Committee chaired by Cr Ken Shirley. We highlighted @TePukeNZ roading network issues and the need to prioritise solutions. Te Puke (Pāpāmoa Hills to Otamarakau) is a significant hort/ag/forestry/wood products producing area with very significant service industries aligned to the Kiwifruit Industry. In our view Te Puke specific needs should be considered in the context of the entire Bay of Plenty. Our local economy continues to grow with increasing Kiwifruit volumes, more people, more jobs and more housing. Our transport network is stretched because of business and industry growth and we continue to lobby for elevation of Te Puke needs. Obviously the region has competing demands so always good to make our case. We acknowledge the efforts of Western Bay of Plenty District Council to find solutions and as I have discussed with Mayor James Denyer on previous occasions, many of the issues we raise need significant capital and in our view a regional approach to establish timebound outcomes is important. This committee includes the regions Mayors and having BOPRC Western Ward Cr John Scrimgeour on the committee is valuable for the East as he understands our problems. There are many ideas in play at the moment including slip lanes and by-pass. One significant potential solution is a new link road from Seddon St to the TEL. We continue to lobby for solutions that support our continued economic growth. @localtepuke @easternfrontbop @easternfrontnz #kiwifruitcapitaloftheworld #tepukegoodnessgrowshere

My column today in local newspaper Te Puke Today

Coming soon to @experiencetp

Autumn night sky