Local business leaders joined Waimakarri MP Matt Doocey on Friday to launch the Waimakariri Job Summit with a focus on saving jobs and creating new ones during the Covid-19 economic downturn.

“This is an exciting initiative that brings together a wide range of stakeholders, including local government, community and business, so that we can identify and take advantage of our strengths and build business confidence to not only keep on existing jobs for locals but to also create new jobs,” Doocey said.

“As local MP, I’m committed to working with our business and community leaders to find solutions to address the impacts of Covid-19 and the upcoming economic challenges for Waimakariri and the region as a whole,” Doocey said.

Guest speakers included economist Cameron Bagrie, via a recorded weblink; National’s Economic Development Spokesperson Andrew Bayly; and Enterprise North Canterbury Business Support Manager Miles Dalton.

“One of the areas we explored was ways in which our region is insulated from some of the effects of the pandemic. There are a lot strengths we have as a region that we could be optimising,” Doocey said.

“Over the next few weeks telephone interviews will be carried out with all those who attended the launch to harness the ideas of our business leaders around ways we can drive the local economy forward.”