A report launched today sets out the case for a close look at our region’s future with Asia, and highlights the surprising amount of involvement Taranaki already has with the world’s most populous region.

The report Asia and Taranaki: Why the World’s largest region matters to a person growing up in Taranaki is being released to support the Taranaki Asia Aware Principals’ Forum.

The Forum is the first in a series around the country giving school principals the opportunity to discuss how they can prepare their students for an Asian-influenced global future.

Key findings from the report include:

• Asia is New Zealand’s most important export region with $12.5 billion worth of goods sent to Asian countries annually.
• About $1.8 billion of goods were exported through Port Taranaki during 2006. The port’s main export destination (by dollar value) was Australia. The next most important destinations were all in Asia – Japan, Korea, China, Taiwan and the Philippines.
• In the year to June 2006, New Zealand’s top five export markets (by dollar value) for dairy products were the US, Japan, China, Australia and the Philippines. China is New Zealand’s biggest market for milk and cream, Japan the biggest market for cheese.
• In 2006, a total of 765 fee-paying international students studied at Taranaki schools and other education providers. A majority were from Asian countries: 28 percent from Japan, 17 percent from China, 5 percent from Thailand, 4 percent each from Korea and Hong Kong, and 2 percent each from India and Vietnam.
• Altogether, international students brought an estimated $25.4 million into the Taranaki region, which in turn created 238 full time jobs.
• More than 2000 people in Taranaki identified as Asian in the 2006 census - including Chinese, Indian, Filipino, Korean, Japanese, Sri Lankan and Cambodian.

Janine Chin, Schools Coordinator at the Asia New Zealand Foundation says that the report shows the urgency of equipping young people in Taranaki with the awareness and skills to make the most of the opportunities offered by Asia at home and abroad.

“Principals play a key role in preparing young people for their future.  The Taranaki Asia Aware Principals’ Forum will give Taranaki principals the latest Asia-related information and resources, and a chance to talk together about how to bring an Asian dimension into their students’ learning experience,” says Ms Chin.

The report will be launched at the Asia Aware Principals’ Forum in New Plymouth on Thursday, April 3 by Secretary of Foreign Affairs and Trade, Simon Murdoch.

For a hardcopy of the report, or more information about the Taranaki Asia Aware Principals’ Forum contact Janine Chin, Asia New Zealand Foundation Schools Coordinator by email or 021 479 678.

 An electronic copy is available here.