Category: New Zealand Government

Source: New Zealand Government

Headline: Putting the focus on the Forgotten World Highway

The Provincial Growth Fund (PGF) will invest up to $400,000 to determine the value of State Highway 43 to Taranaki’s economy, particularly in the tourism sector, Regional Economic Development Minister Shane Jones says.
The investment into SH43 – better known as the Forgotten World Highway – will occur ahead of a possible multi-million dollar upgrade to the road.
“Connecting Stratford with Taumarunui for about 149km, SH43 is an increasingly popular road trip for visitors,” Shane Jones said.
“It is also an important freight route for beef, lamb and dairy products, a burgeoning local Mānuka honey industry and a number of radiata pine forests, which are due to be harvested in coming years.
“A 12km section of the highway through the Tangarakau Gorge remains unsealed. Sealing this area would boost its value as a link between Taranaki and the central North Island, and could play a role in bringing more visitors to the region.
“With funding committed to upgrading the Taranaki Crossing, an improved SH43 would provide a direct link between that walk and the Tongariro Crossing, and make it easier for more visitors to access a relatively remote part of New Zealand.
“SH43 takes you through some wild and beautiful parts of Taranaki, but it’s not an easy drive, especially for overseas motorists who aren’t used to driving on unsealed roads.
“This preliminary work will identify the likely economic benefits of an improved SH43, and the costs, and assess how upgrading it can ensure SH43 preserves its character as one of New Zealand’s most unique state highways,” Shane Jones said.
While earlier studies have investigated sealing the final 12km, this work will also look into improving resilience and safety on SH43, as well as improving signage, road markings and looking at speed management along the route.

Source: New Zealand Government

Headline: Support for Taranaki Crossing experience

An ambitious plan to enable more people to enjoy the beauty of Mt Taranaki and strengthen connections to its natural and cultural heritage has been announced by Regional Economic Development Minister Shane Jones and Conservation Minister Eugenie Sage.
The Provincial Growth Fund (PGF) will commit up to $13.3 million to investigate and support the Mounga ki Moana Taranaki Crossing project, a major new investment for the region, including the National Park.
A proposed series of track upgrades under the crossing project would create a variety of short walks to help increase the length of visitors’ stays in the region.
“The proposed Crossing concept would create a 41-kilometre “Mounga to Moana” walking experience offering a range of one-day walks from Dawson Falls via the North Egmont Visitor’s Centre, Pouakai Range and Pukeiti Gardens to Oakura Beach.
“It will help to unlock Taranaki’s tourism potential by creating a range of outstanding visitor experiences, just a short drive from New Plymouth or Stratford.
“The first phase of today’s commitment will be a comprehensive investigation of the best ways to promote tourism in the Taranaki region and enhance biodiversity on Taranaki Mounga, and how the proposed Crossing tracks fit into that,” Shane Jones said.
The project has been developed in consultation with Taranaki’s eight iwi and aligns with their aspirations.
“The project will mean iwi have opportunities to invest in tourism-related businesses and express their kaitiakitanga of the mountain by sharing their stories, history and cultural values with visitors,” Shane Jones said.
A potential upgrade of the North Egmont Visitor’s Centre to create a conservation and cultural education facility will be considered, as will possible development of transport options such as shuttle buses to manage and reduce traffic within the National Park.
“DOC has already committed $3.4m towards upgrading the section of track from North Egmont to the Pouakai Range as part of its Budget 2017 investment in visitor infrastructure,” Eugenie Sage said.
“DOC’s experience with this will help inform the best use of PGF investment to provide a quality visitor experience and enhance biodiversity on the mounga.
“Mt Taranaki is not an easy place to build or maintain tracks – it’s prone to erosion and weather events which mean construction and ongoing costs can be higher than expected. There needs to be due diligence about visitor number projections before decisions are made.
“Moreover, we must be certain this work enhances the natural environment and people’s connection to it rather than causing degradation of natural values. I have absolute confidence in DOC’s expertise to ensure this,” Eugenie Sage said.
The Mounga ki Moana Taranaki Crossing Experience was developed by Venture Taranaki through the ‘Tapuae Roa – Make Way for Taranaki’ Regional Economic Action Plan, which identified the Crossing as a priority project for the region.
The project has a total cost of $23 million, with additional funding from central and local agencies including the Taranaki Regional Council, which owns the Pukeiti Gardens, Department of Conservation, the New Plymouth District Council and NZTA.

Source: New Zealand Government

Headline: Funding for stocktake of Māori enterprise

The Provincial Growth Fund (PGF) will invest $100,000 in work to better understand the current state of Māori enterprise and education in Taranaki and develop a future pathway.
The announcement was made today at the launch of the Tapuae Roa: Make Way for Taranaki Action Plan in New Plymouth today.
The Māori Enterprise and Education Stocktake will focus on science, technology, engineering, arts/design, mathematics, innovation, and digital to identify the next steps to progress long-term economic benefits for Māori.
“This project will help in the creation of a plan to help us realise the incredible potential of Māori in Taranaki and drive economic growth for the whole region. Its results will also provide a useful roadmap for the rest of the country,” Fletcher Tabuteau said.
Tapuae Roa is focused on developing four future areas: Māori economy futures, energy futures, food futures and visitor sector futures.
“All of these goals can significantly benefit from uplifting Māori expertise.
“The stocktake is a critical first stage in the implementation of the Māori economy futures,” Fletcher Tabuteau said.
Te Puni Kokiri will contribute a further $50,000 to the project.

Source: New Zealand Government

Headline: Investing in a clean energy future for Taranaki

The Provincial Growth Fund (PGF) will invest $150,000 to investigate establishing Taranaki as an internationally recognised leader in clean energy technology, Regional Economic Development Minister Shane Jones says.
The PGF funding will provide $100,000 towards a feasibility investigation of establishing a New Energy Development Centre, and $50,000 towards helping advance the take-up of hydrogen technologies in the region.
“Taranaki has a well-established energy sector dating back more than 70 years,” Shane Jones said.
“It is currently based on conventional oil and gas extraction with the addition of value-added products, such as methanol and ammonia-urea. With the impending shift to renewables, Taranaki is faced with either the gradual demise of this industry or a refocus on the renewable energy market.
“Taranaki companies are well placed to develop a number of clean technologies, taking them out of the lab and into the real world.
“The vision for the future is to have strong, secure and sustainable energy and petrochemical industries, but also to be an exporter of renewable energy, clean energy ideas, solutions and technologies. Ideally Taranaki would be the location of choice for new energy companies and energy technology developers, looking to retain the region’s status as the nation’s energy leader.
“Taranaki has a long history in the energy sector and these investments are designed to find ways of future proofing the industry.
“Change is coming and we need to start getting ready for it,” Shane Jones said.

Source: New Zealand Government

Headline: Tool for tree planting potential on Taranaki farms

The Provincial Growth Fund (PGF) will provide $250,000 for the development of a digital tool for farmers to assess the viability of planting trees on Taranaki hill country farms, Regional Economic Development and Forestry Minister Shane Jones has announced.
“Landowners will be able to use the simple digital tool to identify the return on investment and benefits of planting trees on their hill country farms,” Shane Jones said.
“It could help accelerate tree planting in the hill country from current rates leading to jobs, and environmental and social benefits. The tool could include decision-making help on the Emissions Trading Scheme and utilising tools such as SEDNET, which is used to predict land management effects on erosion and sediment yield.
“It also supports the One Billion Trees programme and has positive benefits through an increased contribution to climate change mitigation, enhanced water quality, soil protection and biodiversity.
“Taranaki has about 80,000 hectares of hill country in low-producing pastoral grassland that would be better suited, in terms of sustainable land use, to some form of forestry or vegetative cover. Yet there has been a gap of practical information to help farmers with their decision making.
“For more marginal farm land, there’s clear evidence that supports higher returns for forestry per hectare compared to drystock over the rotation of a forest,” Shane Jones said.
The Taranaki Regional Council will lead the work as it has well-established relationships with hill country farmers to help diversify their land use where needed.
The development of the tool will take about 12 months and will serve as a pilot project which could be replicated in other regions. The $440,000 initiative is being co-funded by the Taranaki Regional Council, which will play a major role promoting the tool.

Source: New Zealand Government

Headline: Improving pension portability to the Cook Islands, Niue and Tokelau

Minister for Social Development Carmel Sepuloni says the Government’s intent to improve access to New Zealand Superannuation or Veteran’s Pension for those looking to retire to the Cook Islands, Niue and Tokelau moved one step closer today.
Today, the Bill to amend the The Social Assistance (Residency Qualification) Legislation, introduced into Parliament on 28 March this year, had its First Reading.
“The changes will allow people applying for New Zealand Superannuation or Veteran’s Pension in New Zealand, the Cook Islands, Niue or Tokelau, to be able to use residence in any of those places to count towards the requirement for five years residence over the age of 50,” Ms Sepuloni said.
Currently, the criteria for New Zealand Superannuation or Veteran’s Pension is that a person must have been resident and present in New Zealand for 10 years after the age of 20, and for five years after the age of 50.
Ms Sepuloni says the changes will mean people who are eligible for New Zealand Superannuation and Veteran’s Pension will be able to remain in these countries and contribute to the local economy without having to return to New Zealand just to qualify for their pension. 
“This Bill responds to concerns that the current five years over 50 requirement is a disincentive for Cook Islanders, Niueans and Tokelauans to remain in their employment and to participate in their home communities after having lived in New Zealand when younger.
“It is expected that removing the five years residence in New Zealand over the age of 50 requirement will help boost economic development and human resource capacity by allowing highly skilled people to continue contributing to their communities in these Pacific islands. 
 “This change will not be restricted to citizens of the Cook Islands, Niue and Tokelau. All New Zealanders who qualify for New Zealand Superannuation and Veteran’s Pension will be able to make use of the provision should they choose and be eligible to live in the Cook Islands, Niue, or Tokelau.
“This Government wants to ensure  New Zealanders have as many options as possible as to where they spend their retirement. We also want to ensure that those countries and territories that have close constitutional ties with New Zealand are recognised and that their ongoing economic and social viability is supported.”
The Bill will be referred to the Social Services and Community Select Committee and the new policy is expected to apply from January 2019.

Source: New Zealand Government

Headline: Helping hand for hospital redevelopment

The Government has today given a small community-run hospital a boost to help with a long-awaited rebuild.
Confirming a $1 million grant for the redevelopment of Maniototo Hospital Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern said investing in basic services like health was a priority for the Government.
“We only have to look at the issues currently playing out at Middlemore Hospital to see the impact of years of underinvestment in the sector.
“Maniototo Hospital is an example of the best community-led health providers. It plays a vital role in the region with its integrated services providing primary care, medical beds, aged care and community services,” Jacinda Ardern said.
“It is run by a not for profit registered charity and is the only significant health facility in the area. The resident GP is also the chief medical officer and the nearest hospital is over an hour’s drive away.”
The $7 million redevelopment will see the existing rest home facilities converted to a medical centre and community services facility while two new wings will house administration, emergency services and 29 new bed for use across acute medical, hospital level and rest home level care.
“Funding for the hospital was a promise we made before the election. We have now delivered on it.
“However it is testament to the hard work of Maniototo Health Services Ltd and the dedication and passion of locals that the project is finally coming to fruition,” Jacinda Ardern said.

Source: New Zealand Government

Headline: ‘Young, thriving Māori workforce’ key to boosting future economy

The Minister of Employment Willie Jackson has welcomed the release of a report finding that removing the inequalities faced by Māori would boost the economy by $2.6 billion each year.
The Change Agenda: Income Equity for Māori report, developed by Tokona Te Raki: Māori Futures Collective, Te Rūnanga o Ngāi Tahu and Business and Economic Research Ltd (BERL), considers how inequalities experienced by Māori will impact on New Zealand’s skills and labour markets in the future.
“This country’s prosperity in the future will depend on a young, thriving Māori workforce, particularly given that Māori will make up one-sixth of the New Zealand workforce by 2038,” says Willie Jackson.
“The latest employment figures still show that Māori are over-represented in negative employment statistics when compared to national rates.
“We have a real opportunity as Government to utilise this potential – for the benefit of all New Zealanders – and reduce a number of the barriers Kiwis face in gaining dignified work with a decent wage.
“This will require us to work in new ways and come together to create new and bold solutions. This Government is committed to improving the coordination of employment-related support, including ongoing monitoring of the effectiveness of the skills systems and labour market.
“We cannot achieve this on our own and I challenge Iwi, communities, businesses and education providers to work with us to maximise our impact,” Willie Jackson said.
A copy of the report can be found here: maorifutures.co.nz 

Source: New Zealand Government

Headline: Government to wind down irrigation funding while honouring existing commitments

The Government has begun winding down public funding for large-scale irrigation through Crown Irrigation Investments Limited (CIIL), in line with the Coalition Agreement and the Confidence & Supply Agreement.
“The decisions announced today are the result of an extensive review of how to wind down funding through CIIL while honouring existing commitments, as provided for in the agreements signed on the formation of the Government. The decisions will provide certainty to the individual schemes which had applied for Government funding alongside private investment,” Finance Minister Grant Robertson says.
“This represents a shift in priorities to the previous government. Large-scale private irrigation schemes should be economically viable on their own, without requiring significant public financing. We must also be mindful of the potential for large-scale irrigation to lead to intensive farming practices which may contribute to adverse environmental outcomes.”
All existing CIIL commitments for development contracts will be honoured to the close of the current phase of each contract. In addition, three schemes will be funded for their construction phases due to their advanced status, subject to meeting the normal requirements of the fund. One is already under construction and the two other schemes have signed term sheets with CIIL.
The three commitments are for:
Completion of Central Plains Water Stage 2: situated on the Canterbury Plains
Construction of the Kurow-Duntroon scheme: situated in Kurow, South Canterbury
Construction of the Waimea Community Dam: situated in Nelson/Tasman
“The funding for these projects can be met within the current appropriations, should Waimea and Kurow Duntroon reach financial close within their allowed timeframes,” Grant Robertson says.
“I recognise that this decision will be disappointing for proponents of projects that won’t be considered or progressed. However, a decision had to be taken on how to put into practice the agreements made on formation of the Government. It is important to remember that schemes may be able to continue, but the Government believes that public subsidies for large-scale private irrigation can instead be better directed to other areas of need.
“We recognise that year-round water availability is important for drier areas of New Zealand. Smaller-scale, locally run and environmentally sustainable water storage projects could be considered on a case-by-case basis through the Provincial Growth Fund, due to the importance water plays in growing our provinces. Smaller local schemes will help more of our vital regions better prepare for increasingly recurring climatic events such as drought.
“Any proposed water storage projects would be expected to meet criteria demonstrating strong alignment with the objectives of the Provincial Growth Fund, and in particular must be environmentally sustainable and deliver benefits across a community.”
Minister of Agriculture Damien O’Connor says access to water is vital to New Zealand’s farmers, growers and rural communities, which provide the grunt for our economy.
“My vision is for a resilient primary sector striving for value over volume and this means large-scale irrigation schemes must be environmentally and economically viable, with vital regional infrastructure supported by the Government. This will provide a good balance to ensure better outcomes for all New Zealanders.”
Notes to editors on the three schemes which will be funded for their construction phase due to their advanced status, subject to meeting the normal requirements of the fund:
Central Plains Water Stage 2:
CIIL currently has one investment, a $65m loan facility to fund construction of Central Plains Water Stage 2 (CPW2), a $200 million project. The construction for this is well underway and due to be completed in August 2018. CIIL is contractually bound to honour its commitment to CPW2.
Kurow Duntroon:
CIIL currently has signed a construction funding term sheet with the Kurow Duntroon scheme in South Canterbury.
The Kurow Duntroon scheme incorporates replacement of existing aged open-canal to piped irrigation infrastructure as well as an expansion to the size of the existing scheme. The infrastructure upgrade should increase resilience in the community against drought. The project will retire water abstraction from small streams which are currently allocated via Mining Rights which expire in 2021.
Without the scheme, abstraction from these streams will need to be significantly reduced from 2021, which will adversely affect current farming outputs. The scheme serves a mix of dairy, sheep and beef, viticulture and other sectors. The Kurow Duntroon scheme is targeting financial close in May 2018.
Waimea:
CIIL currently has signed a construction funding term sheet with the Waimea scheme in the Nelson region.
The Waimea scheme is primarily targeted towards the horticulture and viticulture sectors in the Nelson region and potentially aids the regional council with their local water supply issues by increasing minimum flows in the Waimea River. The Waimea scheme is targeting financial close in June 2018. CIIL’s potential capital funding commitment for Waimea is $35m.

Source: New Zealand Government

Headline: Prime Minister to attend CHOGM, meet leaders of France and Germany

Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern will travel to Europe next week for the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) in London and meetings with counterparts in Paris and Berlin.
“The CHOGM meeting sets the agenda for the Commonwealth for the next two years, and I look forward to discussing a range of issues facing all Commonwealth members,” said Jacinda Ardern.
“The theme this year – ‘Towards a Common Future’ – is very apt as we will be talking about the important areas of sustainable development and climate change, as well as trade and security.”
While in London, Jacinda Ardern will meet with British Prime Minister Theresa May to discuss bilateral and international issues, including the shared goal of a bilateral Free Trade Agreement (FTA) once the UK has left the European Union (EU).
Prior to CHOGM, Jacinda Ardern will meet with French President Emmanuel Macron and Prime Minister Édouard Philippe in Paris.  Climate change and an EU FTA will be on the agenda in bilateral discussions. She will also deliver a keynote speech at the Paris Institute of Political Studies, outlining ways the two countries can cooperate on climate change and environmental issues.
The Prime Minister will then travel to Berlin at the invitation of Chancellor Angela Merkel where she will hold talks with the Chancellor and deliver a speech setting out the Coalition Government’s vision for achieving progressive and inclusive growth.
“I am grateful for the strong support we have received from our EU friends in moving towards the launch of FTA negotiations with the EU, and I look forward to discussing this in further detail with President Macron and Chancellor Merkel.
“France, Germany and the United Kingdom are important partners of New Zealand. They share our values and our commitment to maintaining the multilateral rules-based system. 
“As we all face numerous global challenges, it’s important that we maintain strong relationships with those who share these values,” said Jacinda Ardern.
The Prime Minister will visit Paris, Berlin and London from 16- 23 April. She will also stopover in Brisbane on 14 April to visit New Zealand athletes at the Commonwealth Games.