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Wairoa District Council holds the potential to develop further its economic opportunity.  The oil exploration within the District may provide economic opportunity.  With the prospective resurgence for some industries and the possible growth of new industries, the township has the ability to develop cluster industries to support these.  There are opportunities to develop appropriate education and training infrastructures also.  There is a possibility of shared local ownership of the power generation in the area.


There is also the potential to develop a profitable, sustainable horticultural industry in Wairoa.  In doing so it is important that local people capture the benefits of this development in terms of employment, career pathways, business growth and income, careful planning and independent advice should be obtained prior to embarking on any horticultural development.


Recent petroleum exploration has resulted in findings of natural gas in the northern Wairoa area, and may also result in findings elsewhere.  Further exploration is taking place to appraise the nature and extent of the resource.  The discovereies offer potential to distribute natural gas regionally and to link with national networks, to provide reticulation to Wairoa environs, and for other forms of energy development.  Hydrocarbon resources provide potential to assist diversification of the District's economic base, particularly if end users of the resource are developed locally or regionally.

Primary Production and Land Use
The economy of the District is based on the rural sector.  Approximately 60% of the total land is in productive use, of which some 48% is in pasture.


Pastoral farming has been the basis of the economy since the first European settlement.  Forestry is of growing importance and there is the potential for the future development of horticulture and cropping. 


The Wairoa District forest resource totals approximately 35 000ha with 57% less than 16 years old.  Production forestry is dominated by the major growers, investment partnerships and companies and by a small number of large private growers. 


Other prominent industries and employment groups include:

• Hunting
• Fishing
• Construction
• Social and Personal Services
• Manufacturing, and
• Distribution

Energy Resources

• Electricity
  A five-megawatt hydro station located at Waihi produces around 20 percent of Wairoa Districts electricity.  The balance is source via the National Grid, primarily from the Waikaremoana power stations.

• Gas
  Significant finds of gas in Wairoa District could be reticulated for local domestic and industrial use.  The source of energy could save present and potential industrial users in Wairoa up to 15 percent in energy costs.

• Water Resources
  High Quality water is available (Wairoa Township) from the water production plant at Frasertown.  The plant presently supplies the local AFFCO freezing works and Wairoa township and has further supply potential to meet forest-processing operations.