Back in September, I wrote with skepticism (REDA or not) about the lumbering process of setting up a Regional Economic Development Agency (REDA) for Hawke’s Bay.

This week a Board for our new REDA was announced. I wish I could get excited.

What does give me a modicum of hope is that the chair will be Alasdair MacLeod, just departing his outstanding run as chair of Napier Port … someone who has actually run businesses. BayBuzz recently profiled Alasdair here.

The rest of the Board – Shayne Walker, Erin Simpson, Rawinia Kamau and Caren Rangi (BayBuzz wrote of Caren here) are nice enough ‘governance’ and project management folks, but what remains strikingly absent on Alasdair’s team is a real businessperson, a proven job creator – the likes of a Hamish White (NOW ceo) or Hamish Whyte (founder of Furnware fame).

Back to Alasdair … BayBuzz plans to interview him soon enough about his vision and immediate priorities for REDA. We’ll let him get his post-retirement shoes on first.

In the media release on these appointments, he said: “REDA, as Hawke’s Bay’s most influential new economic enabler, will amplify what others in the region are already doing and, alongside other business support agencies, act as a front door for business in the region.” 

“Enabler” is the key word here, as only businesses, not REDAs, create jobs.

Perhaps the biggest (and futuristic) economic play in the region at the moment is the potential $60m film studio in Te Awanga. Proponents Slade estimate the studio would bring in between US$4 million and $5m (NZ$6.3m-$8m) a week. Approximately 70 staff would work at the studio permanently. During the filming of a production there could be over 350 additional people (actors and support crew) on site.

The project is currently twisting in the wind in the Hastings Council’s consenting process. Its fate will be determined by an independent Hearings Commissioner.

Doesn’t seem like much of a role for an “enabler” like REDA here to “amplify” what HDC is doing.

I beg to be converted.