Tokoroa is a new town which sprung up because South Waikato is able to produce some of the fastest growing pine trees in the world. Forestry meant that South Waikato was once one of the wealthiest regions of New Zealand. But today it is one of the poorest as globalisation forced the loss of jobs. Just as Balclutha struggled 40 years ago, Tokoroa is struggling now.

In this episode, Shamubeel talks to:

• Andrew Dobbs - redundant mill worker
• Gary Petley - mayor of South Waikato
• Alan Blair - former millworker
• Apii Solomon - Tokoroa teacher and member of the Tokoroa Cook Islands community
• Red Middlemiss - unionist
• Lisa Karauma - former millworker, now works in retail
• Larry Sullivan - retailer and Tokoroa stalwart
• Nancy Chhur - Cambodian immigrant and business owner
• Thelma Popata - Tokoroa gym owner

Go to this episode on rnz.co.nz for more details

Economist Shamubeel Eaqub recounts how the term 'zombie towns' created an outcry in rural New Zealand. Now, a decade on, he wants to understand if anything has changed in the provinces. Did he miss something back then? Why have the economic statistics started to change - albeit slowly? What's going on in New Zealand's economic heartland? He chooses to focus on two towns: Balclutha and Tokoroa. He travels first to South Otago, where he quickly discovers locals determined to show him they are not the walking dead.

In this episode, Shamubeel talks to:

• Nigel Stirling - South Otago farmer and former RNZ economics correspondent
• Ruth Baldwin - manu whenua
• Bryan Cadogan - three-term mayor of South Otago
• Olive Glover - lost two farms as a result of Rogernomics reforms
• Dr Branko Sijnja - Balclutha general practitioner

You can read more about the series on the RNZ website here

Go to this episode on rnz.co.nz for more details

Economist Shamubeel ‘zombie towns’ Eaqub travels to Balclutha and Tokoroa to find out what’s really going on in heartland New Zealand, analysing how struggling communities regain their financial mojo.

Go to this episode on rnz.co.nz for more details