Whakatāne in the eastern Bay of Plenty Photo: Unsplash / Jackson Currie The subregion's economic development agency, Toi EDA was aiming to create 7000 new full-time jobs, adding an extra $690m to GDP in the region, by 2030. He believed the jobs created as a result would draw people home and revitalise the region. "A lot of people have left these communities, especially those that have gone to university. They've never had the roles to come back to." The region would benefit greatly from economic development that created jobs, but also saw the area's social deprivation and housing issues addressed, he said.