Northland Region A Great Place To Be.

Robbie Burns, the great Scottish poet, once wrote about having ``the gift to see ourselves as others see us''. And gift it is - bringing the ability to stand back from ourselves, take stock of the good and the bad and work on strengths and weaknesses in a constructive way. The key words here are ``in a constructive way'' - and if only a couple of recent letter writers to the Northern Advocate would work on this concept.

These correspondents were obviously itching to have a go at the Northland Regional Council and the Whangarei District Council, with letters written before the respective councils had been sworn in!

We at the Chamber don't have any problem with groups having an opinion (after all, we are one of them), but expressed so vehemently, before the councillors had put sworn to do their best for the region and the district- puh-leese!

While not wanting to appear as an apologist for our councils, the Northland Chamber of Commerce wants to point out the wisdom of objectively looking at issues and initiatives and exploring ways to work with and support authorities, in order to support our members' interests.

Letter-writer number one was of the opinion that the Northland Regional Council was wasting its time in pro-actively pursuing the rail link to Marsden Point. The author points out eight reasons why this should not happen, citing monetary restraints, physical problems and disbelief at budget amounts. The letter writer then goes on to offer advice to our regional council, asking it to concentrate on the core business of environmental control; and also expressing disapproval that the council supported an application for a venture which will bring another piece of the adding-value-to-wood-processing jigsaw to Northland, the proposed Goldpine mill. The NRC did so after a thorough investigation of any potential effects the Goldpine plant could have on the environment and, as always, considered both the economic and environmental impacts.

Letter-writer number two can only be described as ``one of the usual suspects''. He gave us dire warnings of impending rates rises driving most of us out of the Whangarei district.

Dear letter-writers, take a deep breath and remember, New Zealanders who are not Northlanders have a very different notion of our region than perhaps some who have been born and bred here.

Consider - we have some of the most amazing, beautiful natural assets in the country; a subtropical climate, a friendly, hardworking, conscientious population; thriving businesses and a truly exciting future ahead of us.

And this is generally how others see us.

Consider also, last week the Northern Advocate featured several good news stories relating to the Northland economy. For example Marsden Pt port's comparative advantage as one of the countries ports for the future; the Department of Conservation investing in more camping grounds for the north; Northland-born member of Parliament Shane Jones being promoted to cabinet.

There's the data published in the latest Northland Quarterly Review too the good news including more births than deaths in Northland; a nearly four percent increase in the average hourly rate (to $20.94); non-residential consents up by an incredible 25 percent (to nearly $120m); a nine percent increase in the value of cargo loaded at the Northland port.

The report also included projections of increased population; lower still unemployment; higher participation in the workforce, increased retail sales; increased numbers of businesses; increased tourist `guest nights'.

Not bad for a region that has had more than its fair share of tough times.

So letter-writers, rather than putting the boot in at this early stage, how about expending your energies on constructive suggestions for our local authorities charged with governing this fantastic region.

the Northland Chamber of Commerce is the networking, education, advocacy and marketing group for Northland business, and is part of a nationwide network of 30 and a world-wide movement of 21,000 chambers. Subscription to the free fortnightly chamber e-news can be arranged on info@northchamber.co.nz. Enquiries to 09-4384771 or www.northchamber.co.nz, www.kaiparachamber.co.nz and www.farnorthchamber.co.nz Have your say on www.northchamber.blogspot.com

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