Bremworth launches $6M expansion of cyclone-damaged Napier plant
Listed carpet manufacturer, Bremworth is undertaking a $6 million expansion at its Napier plant more than two years after the site was heavily damaged by Cyclone Gabrielle.
Emergency Management and Recovery Minister Mark Mitchell has announced $16.8 million in Budget 2024 funding to support councils in accelerating recovery efforts following the severe weather events of 2023.
The funding comes from the Cyclone Recovery Capability Fund announced in Budget 2024.
“Councils have said they require additional expertise to speed up their priority recovery projects, and this funding enables exactly that,” Mitchell says.
He says the money will be distributed to 12 councils, for 50 separate initiatives which councils identified to help get faster outcomes for their communities.
“This includes additional geotechnical expertise to speed up decision-making on landslide-affected properties, as well as resources to accelerate roading recovery, bridge repairs and flood protection projects in affected regions,” Mitchell says.
“Recovery is an ongoing process, and we recognise councils are working hard to implement the necessary measures to support recovery in their communities,” he adds.
“We are committed to supporting our councils and communities as they continue to rebuild and recover from the devastating impacts of last year’s severe weather events.”
The announcement was welcomed by Hawke’s Bay Regional Council, which allocated $2.18 million.
Regional Council chair Hinewai Ormbsy says the additional support will help speed up progress on the flood mitigation work already underway in partnership with Government.
“We know how important it is to our communities to have these flood mitigation projects completed as quickly as possible, and this additional funding should help us achieve that for them,” says Ormsby.
“We appreciate people in the affected communities of Wairoa, Whirinaki, Waiohiki, Omahu, Pākowhai and Pōrangahau who are waiting for these projects to be finished so they can have more certainty about the way forward. We hope this will help reassure them that we are doing everything we can to complete the projects as soon as possible.”
Alliance has announced a series of capital raise roadshow event, starting on 29 September in Tuatapere, Southland.
State farmer Pāmu (Landcorp) has announced a new equity partnership in an effort to support pathways to farm ownership for livestock farm operators.
Following a recent overweight incursion that saw a Mid-Canterbury contractor cop a $12,150 fine, the rural contracting industry is calling time on what they consider to be outdated and unworkable regulations regarding weight and dimensions that they say are impeding their businesses.
Trade Minister Todd McClay says his officials plan to meet their US counterparts every month from now on to better understand how the 15% tariff issue there will play out, and try and get some certainty there for our exporters about the future.
Brett Wotton, an Eastern Bay of Plenty kiwifruit grower and harvest contractor, has won the 2025 Kiwifruit Innovation Award for his work to support lifting fruit quality across the industry.
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