Zombie Towns: Everything I Missed

In this final episode, Shamubeel brings together all the things he learned about how struggling towns can get their mojo back. That involves 'playing to your strengths' - often the things a small town has that big cities lack - but also something that economists don't normally measure: community, self-reliance and a can-do attitude.In this episode, Shamubeel talks to:Eva Hakansson - business innovator who relocated to Tokoroa from Auckland because costs were cheaperBill - husband of Eva, as aboveGary Petley - mayor of South WaikatoRaymond Lincoln - founder of logistics businessWarwick Batley - engineering business owner and innovatorMaria Te Kanawa - deputy mayor of South Waikato and CEO of Raukawa iwi businessBryan Cadogan - former three-term mayor of South OtagoBill de la Mare - business executive who chooses to live in a small townEvan Dick - Kaitangata farmer and community leaderApii Solomon - Tokoroa school teacher and proud member of the Cook Islands communityJulius Daniels - Tokoroa YMCAJoyce Beck - Kaitangata community stalwartGo to this episode on rnz.co.nz for more details

One factor more than any other has stopped Balclutha being a 'zombie town': immigration. In the 30 years following Rogernomics, the town lost thousands of people (mostly the young), but in the last 10 years something has changed. New people have arrived - from Auckland but also from much further afield. The second most common language in Balclutha is now Samoan. The influx of new people and cultures has fundamentally changed the economic future of South Otago.In this episode, Shamubeel talks to:Jamie [*didn’t want his surname used] - relocated to Balclutha from Auckland looking for a better life for his young familyBryan Cadogan - former mayor of South OtagoSalu Tūia-Taaville - Samoan migrantSetivi Tūia-Taaville - Samoan migrantMichelle de Castro-Morado - Philippines migrant and business ownerRaj and Lata Chandel - migrants from India and restaurant ownersRebecca Coote - manager at Finegand freezing worksGo to this episode on rnz.co.nz for more details

The Tokoroa story is the jobs story. Shamubeel meets a number of young people who are not in employment or training to try to find out why the town's unemployment rate is twice as high as neighbouring Hamilton. And he discovers that, during difficult times with mill closures, the local council has been instrumental in helping people find jobs.In this episode, Shamubeel talks to:Gary Petley - mayor of South WaikatoMark O’Leary - Tokoroa business ownerMemphis Rangiwhakawa - school dropout and unemployed’Paniora Daniels - ‘Project Phoenix’Liam Goodwin - unemployedEileen Hauraki - young mother who recently got a building apprenticeshipMaria Te Kanawa - head of the local iwi organisation RaukawaJulius Daniels - head of the Tokoroa YMCANewa Winikerei - renter facing evictionGo to this episode on rnz.co.nz for more details

40 years ago, the reforms of Rogernomics blindsided many businesses in South Otago as the New Zealand economy transitioned from one where local businesses were protected to one where 'the free market' decided who were the winners and the losers. Shamubeel finds that sometimes the losers and the winners in Balclutha are exactly the same people - but he also discovers a growing conflict between local government and central government.In this episode, Shamubeel talks to:Steve Hill - CEO of South Otago District CouncilDr Branko Sijnja - Balclutha general practitionerRebecca Coote - manager at Finegand freezing worksBill Keith - survivor of Rogernomics and engineering business ownerHamish Keith - engineering company ownerMike Hurring - Balclutha entrepreneurJock Martin - mayor of Clutha DistrictGo to this episode on rnz.co.nz for more details

Shamubeel is back in Balclutha, trying to understand why some of the financial statistics seem to be tracking in the right direction, finally. And what he discovers is that 10 years ago, some locals - determined their town wasn't going to die - created a unique model to build new houses. But more than that, they set about trying to make sure their towns got 'younger.'In this episode, Shamubeel talks to:Bryan Cadogan - former mayor of South OtagoJoyce Beck - community volunteerEvan Dick - farmer and community ‘mover and shaker’Amber Mowat - home ownerKobe Thomson - home ownerMark van Asperen - Balclutha Otago District CouncilSteve Hill - CED of South Otago District CouncilShannon Burt - builderAnnaliesse Bissett - school leaverElri Geldenhuys - school leaverMike Wright - principal of South Otago High SchoolGo to this episode on rnz.co.nz for more details

Tokoroa is a new town which sprung up because South Waikato is able to produce some of the fastest growing pine trees in the world. Forestry meant that South Waikato was once one of the wealthiest regions of New Zealand. But today it is one of the poorest as globalisation forced the loss of jobs. Just as Balclutha struggled 40 years ago, Tokoroa is struggling now.In this episode, Shamubeel talks to:Andrew Dobbs - redundant mill workerGary Petley - mayor of South WaikatoAlan Blair - former millworkerApii Solomon - Tokoroa teacher and member of the Tokoroa Cook Islands communityRed Middlemiss - unionistLisa Karauma - former millworker, now works in retailLarry Sullivan - retailer and Tokoroa stalwartNancy Chhur - Cambodian immigrant and business ownerThelma Popata - Tokoroa gym ownerGo to this episode on rnz.co.nz for more details

Economist Shamubeel Eaqub recounts how the term 'zombie towns' created an outcry in rural New Zealand. Now, a decade on, he wants to understand if anything has changed in the provinces. Did he miss something back then? Why have the economic statistics started to change - albeit slowly? What's going on in New Zealand's economic heartland? He chooses to focus on two towns: Balclutha and Tokoroa. He travels first to South Otago, where he quickly discovers locals determined to show him they are not the walking dead.In this episode, Shamubeel talks to:Nigel Stirling - South Otago farmer and former RNZ economics correspondentRuth Baldwin - manu whenuaBryan Cadogan - three-term mayor of South OtagoOlive Glover - lost two farms as a result of Rogernomics reformsDr Branko Sijnja - Balclutha general practitionerYou can read more about the series on the RNZ website hereGo to this episode on rnz.co.nz for more details

Economist Shamubeel ‘zombie towns’ Eaqub travels to Balclutha and Tokoroa to find out what’s really going on in heartland New Zealand, analysing how struggling communities regain their financial mojo.Go to this episode on rnz.co.nz for more details