Here’s the first in a series of posts that looks outside the main immigration centres of Auckland, Wellington and Christchurch. This is highly relevant for anyone considering New Zealand, because going out of Auckland can add a lot to your migration points.

First stop: Tauranga: a little boom town in a warm, sunny, coastal region with wonderful beaches, suitable named Bay of Plenty.

Bay of Plenty is on the sunny east coast of the North Island. As a horticultural power-house, it was one of the first parts of New Zealand to commercialise kiwifruit. Avocados are also big here, both in size and number. And – like most of the rural North Island – Bay of Plenty has also taken enthusiastically to dairy.

But there is a lot more to the region than farming. In fact, it’s true to say that this busy little town is going gangbusters. Its economy has grown by 3.5% in the last 12 months, ahead of all other regions, including the cities.

And, to fuel this growth, employment in the region has grown by a staggering 44% over the same time frame, as measured by advertised positions. Despite the region’s strength in agriculture, farming actually accounts for the least part of this growth.

The sectors that are really looking for new people are:

• Trades and services
• Construction and roading
• Manufacturing
• Transport and logistics
• Healthcare
• Administration

In other words, all the things you’d expect of a city a thriving. What’s driving this?

Firstly, Tauranga has the largest and busiest seaport in New Zealand, from where much of the North Island’s farming output is exported, including everything from timber to wool to meat to dairy to fruit and more.

Secondly, the business culture in Bay of Plenty has a long tradition in innovation. Way back in the 70s, the fruit growers pioneered new propagation techniques for the fruit now known by the world as kiwifruit. This involved a heady mix of science and business. Biologists reinvented planting and grafting techniques. Some farmers provided extensive investments in land and resource. And new trade organisations were developed to build marketing infrastructure such as trade and consumer brands and distribution infrastructure.

And the spirit of innovation continues. While the port still motivates new developments in freight and logistics, there is also a burgeoning hi-tech industry taking advantage of the ultra fast broad band currently being rolled out, nationwide.

The other great gem of Bay of Plenty is the wondrous city of Rotorua which has grown apace with the region. Rotorua is also a favourite destination for kiwis and tourists alike, with stunning geothermal parks (endless hot baths) and a rich, vibrant Maori culture. It’s also got abundant recreational opportunities, from boating to fishing to mountain biking and more.

To view jobs in this region, go to our job board, and enter “Bay of Plenty”, “Tauranga” or “Rotorua” into the search engine.