The government's being urged to treat the regions more like Auckland.

A report by right wing think tank the Maxim Institute looks at how other countries have approached regional development to figure out how we can best spend the $3 billion Provincial Growth Fund.

Maxim Institute chief executive Alex Penk told Mike Hosking the best combination is when local government solutions are backed up by central government support.

"Auckland's regional fuel tax is a good example of this. We think it is a really good example of how this can work and it's the kind of thing we would like to see rolled out to other regions as well not just Auckland."

LISTEN ABOVE AS ALEX PENK SPEAKS WITH MIKE HOSKING