Our Economy has traditionally relied on Farming and Forestry The current Forestry industry downturn has already had a significant negative impact on jobs Farming is cyclical with an ongoing downward pressure on jobs as the industry continues to try and reduce costs Results - we have been losing population e.g. Tokoroa lost 6.7% of population between 1996 and 2001  We therefore have to diversify - if we keep on doing what we’ve always done, we will get the same results, i.e. we HAVE to transform our Economy Best-practice modern economies use “New Economy” concepts In the New Economy it is not the biggest or the strongest that survive – it is those that adapt the fastest (Darwinism)

The clock is ticking ...