Paul Paynter

[As published in May/June 2026 BayBuzz magazine.] The Hawke’s Bay economy has a confidence problem. This has recently been made worse by McCain and Watties shuffling towards the exit door. From a multinational’s perspective we have expensive labour, land and shipping to export markets and sometimes volatile weather. The straw that finally broke them is probably high energy costs.

[As published in March/April BayBuzz magazine.] I often tell young people to travel the world, but then to come back to Hawke’s Bay and raise a family here. Too often they say, “I’d like to, but there aren’t enough high paying jobs”. Let’s fix that. The big opportunity for Hawke’s Bay is to grow high quality, high value food for the most discerning of billions of mouths in the emerging markets. There are many empty paddocks in Pakōwhai awaiting an enterprising spirit with access to capital.

I’m sitting in Eindhoven airport after a week in the Netherlands. Being exposed to the world makes me quickly forget about local body politics, cyclone recovery or keeping your fruit bowl full. My eyes are confronted by a new world that seems much bigger. The Netherlands is squeezed between the might of its neighbours and, from Napolean to Hitler, armies have rolled across the low countries. This small nation know they must innovate and work hard if their people are to prosper.