Economic Development

Driving Resilient Economic Growth

Sapere has a deep understanding of all aspects of economic development. Our team has vast experience in the development of complex plans, strategies and analytical pieces.

We are recognised as a respected and trusted authority in the field, known for providing actionable intelligence that stands up to scrutiny.

What we do

As part of our service delivery, we prepare all types of economic development materials for every level of government.

Our team also prepares business cases and cost-benefit analyses for regionally significant projects and supporting analyses, such as trend and scenario reports of industry sectors.

Examples of our work in economic development

Assistance in identifying industry sectors where a local authority has a comparative advantage and providing advice on how to further develop specialisations
Significant input into major pieces of work in Māori economic development for the Māori Economic Taskforce, iwi and other agencies
Assessment of the regional economic impacts of transport projects, events, tourism initiatives, and other government policies across a range of sectors including justice, education and social assistance
Assistance with the preparation of economic development plans in Auckland, Bay of Plenty, and Wellington
Industry strategies to promote economic development in primary industries such as the seafood, wool, and aquaculture sectors.

Our experts are highly regarded for their important contributions to the theory and practice of economic development in both Australasia and Asia.

Key contacts

Preston Davies

Director
AUCKLAND
pdavies@thinkSapere.com

David Graham

Managing Director
MELBOURNE
dgraham@thinkSapere.com

David Moore

Managing Director
WELLINGTON
dmoore@thinkSapere.com

Sally Carrick

Director
MELBOURNE
scarrick@thinkSapere.com

William Li

Senior Managing Economist
MELBOURNE
wli@thinkSapere.com

Some of our recent articles of interest

The economic benefits of a circular economy in Auckland

Client: Sustainable Business Network

This report provides a view on the potential economic benefits of a more circular economy for Auckland. It has been commissioned by the Sustainable Business Network to inform its report on the circular economy opportunity for Auckland.

The emissions footprint of broadband in New Zealand

Client: Chorus

This paper provides a first assessment of the emissions footprint of the current New Zealand fibre network, with a focus on internet provision to households and small to medium-sized businesses.

Making New Zealand safer: regulating the engineering profession

Client: Ministry of Business, Innovation, and Employment

Sapere prepared a Regulatory Impact Statement (RIS) and cost-benefit analysis (CBA) to support MBIE’s proposal for an occupational regulatory regime for engineers.

Infrastructure consenting for climate targets

Client: Te Waihanga / New Zealand Infrastructure Commission

This research models the impact on New Zealand’s emissions reduction targets if the current resource consenting system continues to delay decisions on infrastructure project consenting.

Māori Primary Health Care

Client: Wai 2575 Claimants

Sapere were asked by the claimants to respond to the Waitangi Tribunal’s recommendation that a methodology be developed to measure the degree of underfunding of Māori PHOs and providers.

Sizing of the backyard and micro-commercial egg production in Australia

Client: Australian Eggs

Which came first the chicken or the egg? We don’t have the answer to that, but we do know the size of backyard and micro-commercial egg production in Australia.

A chance to make clinical trials sustainable, effective, and equitable in Aotearoa New Zealand

Client: Liggins Institute University of Auckland

Sapere provided extensive analytical support to a consortium of researchers from the University of Auckland and the University of Otago on a Health Research Council (HRC) and Ministry of Health funded research project. The consortium was brought together to review Aotearoa New Zealand’s clinical trials activity and infrastructure.