Hon Shane Jones
Minister for Regional Economic Development
23 February 2018
MEDIA STATEMENT
The Provincial Growth Fund (PGF) will invest $9.2 million in Gisborne and Hawke’s Bay to immediately boost tourism and
forestry opportunities, Regional Economic Development Minister Shane Jones says.
“Gisborne and the Hawke’s Bay have been very active in drumming up proposals since the Government agreed to establish a
$1 billion per annum Provincial Growth Fund and we’ll continue to work in partnership with the regions to further
develop these ideas,” Mr Jones says.
“I’m pleased to be in Gisborne today announcing the first tranche of projects for a region that has huge potential to
grow its economy while creating high-value jobs and lifting its overall productivity potential.
“The PGF will provide support for a broad tourism package, including $2.3 million to redevelop Gisborne Inner Harbour
and $1 million toward a programme to commemorate the first encounters between Māori and Europeans.
“We’re contributing $200,000 to kick-start the creation of a $20 million Wood Processing Centre of Excellence in
Gisborne, which would create 167 jobs.
“We’re also providing up to $5 million to KiwiRail to reopen the Wairoa-Napier line for logging trains, taking more than
5,700 trucks off the road each year.
“We’ll be investing in planting Mānuka trees to support a recirculating wetland to filter water on 80 hectares of land
next to the Whakaki Lake in the Wairoa district and contributing toward the Makauri Managed Aquifer Recharge trial to
combat declining water levels.
“About 49 per cent of the population of Tairāwhiti is Māori and there are opportunities to increase employment and
enhance Māori development and social inclusion in the region.
“There’s more to come for these regions and officials are working to identify where further Government funding could be
applied. I look forward to making many more announcements in the East Coast over the life-time of the PGF,” Mr Jones
says.
Attachments