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Developing jobs, transport and business together
Rt Hon Jacinda Ardern
Prime Minister
MP for Mt
Albert
7 September 2018Developing jobs, transport and business together in Tairawhiti
The Government is partnering with the Tairāwhiti region on opportunities to develop jobs, transport and businesses with a $152.7 million investment package, Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern announced today.
The Prime Minister is in Tairāwhiti today alongside Regional Economic Development Minister Shane Jones to announce funding from the Provincial Growth Fund.
“I’m delighted to be in Tairāwhiti today to announce a package of funding that will help boost Tairāwhiti’s economy, create jobs and enhance tourism opportunities,” Jacinda Arden says.
“Tairāwhiti offers a unique quality of life combined with genuine business and economic opportunities. However, it faces significant infrastructure challenges, high unemployment and lower productivity.
“That’s why the Government is investing $152.7 million through the Provincial Growth Fund to ensure that Tairāwhiti reaches its potential.”
Projects that
will be announced today include investments of:
• $137
million to unlock Tairāwhiti’s economic potential through
stronger, safer and more resilient transport
connections
• $13.3 million for tourism projects to
attract more visitors to the region
• $1.3 million for
forestry projects, including skills training for young
people
• over $1 million for projects in the food and
beverage sector.
“The projects funded through today’s announcement reflect the priorities of the Tairāwhiti Economic Action Plan which emphasise the need to connect people and markets and support businesses to thrive.
“This is a significant boost for Tairāwhiti and is evidence of this government partnering with the region to invest in projects that will help contribute to a better future for rangitahi and everyone here,” said Jacinda Ardern.
The full list of projects included in today’s announcement is provided below.
| Project | Description | PGF Funding |
| Tairāwhiti Roading Package | Package of upgrades to the roading network across the Gisborne region | Up to $137m |
| Mt Titirangi - Puhi Kai Iti Connection | To build ‘Titirangi - Puhi Kai iti’ landscape and facilities, including a new wananga, and a bridge other facilities at the Cooks Landing Site | Up to $6.1m |
| Gisborne Airport | Redevelopment of the Gisborne Airport terminal building and supporting infrastructure | $5.5m |
| Cooks Landing Restoration | Restoration of the Cook Landing Site (CLS) National Historic Reserve | $1.6m |
| New Zealand Macadamia Industry Development Project | Growing macadamia on Maori land for export | $995,000 |
| Tairāwhiti Rail Feasibility Study | Feasibility study for a rail tourism venture, including an extended Gisborne-Napier rail cycleway, and use of the Wairoa to Gisborne line for freight purposes (joint study) | Up to $600,000 |
| Far East Sawmill | To recommission and improve a Gisborne mill site | $500,000 |
| Manaia Forestry Skills Training (Priority) | Feasibility study to establish a ManaiaSAFE Forestry School | $301,000 |
| Regional Action Plan Programme Manager | The Programme Manager role has been both valuable and crucial to coordination and reporting on project progress, and coordinating effort in order to accelerate the region’s growth. | $90,000 |
| Tairāwhiti Honey Strategy | Development of a Tairāwhiti Manuka Honey strategy | $40,000 |
| Water and Waste Management | Application for a feasibility study on a water recycling plant and waste management initiative | $30,000 |
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