Crunching Numbers for Selwyn - meet Benje Patterson, regional economist

Meet Benje Patterson a regional economist who supports Selwyn through work with the Council and our business community.

Benje Patterson’s fascination with numbers started early. As an enthusiastic young runner, he’d time his laps around the block, meticulously calculating his pace.

“I used to run around the block with a wristwatch on,” he says, “learning what was a kilometer, what was two kilometres, and working out splits and how long it was going to take to do my run”.

Little did he know that this early interest in figures was laying the groundwork for a later career as a leading New Zealand regional economist, and using his insight to help councils and other organisations to make better decisions.

From Otago to the Black Forest

After studying economics, finance, and German at the University of Otago, Benje’s academic journey took him to the University of Freiburg in Germany’s picturesque Black Forest where he would earn his master’s degree. This mix of local and international experience would prove invaluable in his future work.

“I've always been interested in how society and economies work," Benje explains. “How people do business, how they earn their income, what happens when people get together and towns form, how people move between places and explore and trade globally. It’s fascinating to me.”

A Regional Focus

Now, as a regional economist, Benje works across New Zealand, diving deep into the economic intricacies of specific locales.

“Instead of looking at New Zealand in broad brush strokes, I focus on what’s happening in specific regions, whether that be Selwyn, Christchurch, or Gore, or somewhere else,” he says. “It's about understanding the economic issues that exist in that regional geographical context.”

Those issues are, of course, highly diverse. One day Benje might be assessing the potential demand for cycle trails, the next he could be calculating the economic impact of a local cultural organisation’s performance and beyond. To date, he’s worked with virtually every local authority and economic development agency in New Zealand.

Selwyn: A Unique Economic Landscape

For the past five years, Benje has been working closely with Selwyn District Council on various economic and community development initiatives.

The area is unique he says, economically, geographically and in its unique approach to the future.

“Selwyn businesses have what I call an ‘optimism bias’,” says Benje. “Even when things might be a bit flat, Selwyn businesses are always looking forward to the next thing; they always say that doing business in Selwyn is at least as good as doing it anywhere else.”

But maybe they’re right. After all, that positivity seems to translate into a readiness for local investment and a drive to see things positively progress in the long term. The district is certainly experiencing a profound economic evolution, spurred on by rapid urban growth spurred by an influx of residents from Christchurch. (Selwyn is New Zealand’s fastest-growing district, experiencing a 29% population increase from 2018 to 2023).

“You've got this traditional, productive rural economy alongside a rapidly growing, predominantly urbanised one,” explains Benje. “As a Council, it's a delicate balance, and you need to support and enable growth while also nurturing what you’ve already got.”

“One of Selwyn's strengths has been strong social and community cohesion,” he says, “but rapid growth can sometimes undermine some of that.”

“People come from Christchurch, buy a house, but might maintain their employment, friends, family, even education or sports clubs in Christchurch, so often it’s about finding ways to integrate those new people into the local community so they can put down roots and create their own networks locally.”

The Selwyn Business Survey: Taking the Economic Pulse

One of Benje’s key initiatives has been the implementation of the Selwyn Business Survey. Conducted at least twice a year, this survey serves as a vital tool for understanding the local economic climate.

“We ask businesses about things like current revenue, costs, profit margins, hiring intentions—all the basics,” says Benje. “But we also delve into particular issues and ask evolving questions that come in and out each survey.”

The survey typically includes around ten simple questions, covering both standard business confidence metrics and evolving topics of interest.

The results are then compiled into a report and presented at a business breakfast event—something which has become increasingly popular over the years.

“These breakfasts are very well subscribed in Selwyn,” he says. “In my career, I’ve done a lot of these about the country and I've never so consistently seen a packed house—they are always full. It’s been growing over time and every time we do one, we have to go into bigger and bigger spaces. Which is fantastic. It shows that businesses want to be a part of it, they want to be heard, and they understand the value of what we’re doing.”

The fact is, these surveys are incredibly valuable, helping businesses benchmark themselves against others in the area and providing the Council with solid evidence to inform its decision-making and advocacy efforts.

“These surveys enable the Council to take a really evidence-based approach to decision-making, so they can direct resources appropriately, and, if they need to put the spotlight on something they have evidence to support that.”

“They’re not just a collection of anecdotes and quotes; they’re real numbers from real businesses in the area.”

Shaping Selwyn’s Economic Future

Most recently, Benje has been helping the Council develop its Economic Development Strategy. This complex, multifaceted project brings together Council departments, external experts, and local business stakeholders to create a vision for Selwyn’s economic future.

“It’s been a massive team sport,” says Benje. “Not only with the Council utilising the services of external experts like myself, but also internally, there’s been a lot of collaboration among departments and leadership as they consider how best to shape a business-friendly Council”.

There’s also been a focus on bringing together various economic stakeholders—businesses, industry associations, both large corporations and small businesses.

“We need to understand their concerns, their expectations, and their vision for the local economy’s future. It’s crucial to integrate these perspectives because economics isn’t just about catering to a certain type of demand. It needs to reconcile with what people actually want and value.”

To support the work there’s been a series of targeted workshops and events with business owners donating significant amounts of their time and effort.

Again, this level of community engagement is impressive, says Benje.

“There’s a real appetite for participation among businesses in the Selwyn area. They see the opportunities that come with Selwyn’s strong growth, but they also recognise the need to be intentional about the type of growth we encourage. They want to ensure we’re not at the mercy of economic cycles and that growth is cognisant of making sure all people are brought along for the ride, not just the top end of town. They also want to make sure that environmental concerns are part and parcel of Selwyn’s economic development.”

Looking to the Future

As Selwyn continues to evolve, Benje emphasises the importance of not becoming complacent about the district’s recent growth.

“We’ve had ten years of strong growth, and that might continue for the next year or two,” he says, “but we need to think about what it actually looks like on the ground. What sort of business and entrepreneurial ecosystems are we building? What kind of communities and networks are we creating that will endure over the long term?”

Benje points to Rolleston as an example of forward-thinking development. “A lot of people might see Rolleston as just a massive suburb that sprung up overnight, but look at the incredible town centre that’s developed there over the past couple of years. There’s an entirely new main street, a beautiful new library that’s a meeting place for business and pleasure. You’ve got cafés, shops, offices, sports facilities, and a secondary school. That’s the result of careful planning, and it will help Rolleston in the long term.”

As for untapped potential, Benje sees opportunities in Selwyn’s spectacular inland areas.

“People who ski or tramp know about these areas, but I think over the years, we’ll see a greater focus on attracting visitors to stop and spend time in Selwyn on their way to other places like the West Coast or Queenstown,” he predicts.

With its unique blend of rural beauty and urban development, coupled with spectacular natural scenery,  Selwyn District is well-positioned to become a model for balanced, sustainable growth in New Zealand. Informed by data analysis, enthusiastic local business participation, and smart strategic planning, the district is working hard to make this resilient and diverse economic environment a reality.

Last modified: 10 Oct 2024 11:41am