The Opotiki Development Project Don Reisterer, Mayor of Opotiki District Council Opotiki District consists of 3,077,000 hectares in the eastern Bay of Plenty and has a 160 km coastline of outstanding natural values. A significant area remains in native forest in either Maori or public ownership. Harvesting of forest plantations has begun with all obvious transport issues arising . Tourism has potential for development.
Unemployment is high although seasonal horticultural opportunities are helping.
The Opotiki Development Project is a community-government joint development partnership, a pilot project which, if successful, could be applied to improve the wellbeing of other socially and economically deprived communities. The project has the following structure. The project has been on the ground for four months. Project control rests with local groups that support the Project Manager.