Initiative launched to drive economic growth, develop tourism in Tolaga Bay

Today Tolaga Bay Charitable Trust is launching four new businesses, with another four in the near future, and 10 in total identified that will bring this vision to life.

An initiative to drive an economic revival in the Tolaga Bay area by fostering the success of the grass-roots business, and to develop Tolaga Bay as a tourist destination was launched today by Minister of Employment, Willie Jackson.

Today Tolaga Bay Charitable Trust is launching four new businesses, with another four in the near future, and 10 in total identified that will bring this vision to life.

This initiative is being launched in a geographically remote regional settlement where few traditional job or training opportunities otherwise exist.

"It's great to see the people of Tolaga Bay taking the lead on the regeneration of their community through self-employment, and in doing so driving economic growth in Tolaga Bay," Willie Jackson said.

Working in partnership with the Ministry of Social Development, this will be achieved by creating a locally-led wrap-around support structure that will support people from business design and financial management through to marketing the end product.

"Tolaga Bay Inn Charitable Trust's mission is to stimulate economic activity and bring money into the region by harnessing the existing skills, cultural capital, and natural assets that exist in the community and surrounds. I congratulate the work that has been done by local people to bring this initiative to fruition."

"This could be a model that other communities with similar challenges could adopt; helping our people to live and work where they choose while promoting and showcasing their goods and services to a national and global audience," Willie Jackson said.

(With Inputs from New Zealand Government Press Release)