Wednesday, 17 July 2024 16:25

Regional Development Minister to host summits

Written by  Staff Reporters
Regional Development Minister Shane Jones. Regional Development Minister Shane Jones.

Regional Development Minister Shane Jones is set to hold a series of nationwide summits to discuss regional priorities, aspirations and opportunities.

The first of the 15 summits will kick off in Nelson on 12 August.

The summits are designed to facilitate conversations about progressing regional economic growth and opportunities to drive productivity, prosperity and resilience through the Coalition Government’s recently launched Regional Infrastructure Fund (RIF).

Jones says the Government is focused on strengthening and growing the economy.

“Supporting the regions to prosper is key to achieving this,” Jones says. “Through the RIF, we are looking to invest and co-invest in resilience infrastructure that improves regions’ ability to absorb, adapt and respond to stresses and shocks.”

He says the Government will also invest in projects that support growth through well-connected and productive regions.

“We are looking to the regions to identify their priorities themselves, to leverage existing opportunities, investment and strategies, and bolster the ambitions of local communities,” Jones says.

“This starts with conversations about central government and regional priorities and where they align, how we maximise the impacts of strategic investment and where we can work together,” he adds.

“The summits are an opportunity for discussions with iwi representatives, local government, business leaders and sector organisations,” Jones says.

Organised by Kānoa, the Regional Economic Development and Investment Unit, the summits will take place over the next six to eight months.

Regional summits in Canterbury, Wairarapa, Kāpiti and Chatham Islands are still being finalised with dates in early 2025 to be confirmed.

More information about the RIF, including details about eligibility criteria and the application process, can also be found on the Grow Regions website.

Dates

  • Top of the South/Te Tauihu (Nelson), Monday August 12
  • West Coast (Greymouth), Thursday August 15
  • Waikato (Hamilton), Tuesday 3 September
  • Tai Tokeru (Kaikohe), Friday 13 September
  • Bay of Plenty (Whakatane), Friday 20 September
  • Manawatu-Whanganui (Marton), Friday 27 September
  • Otago (location TBC), Friday 4 October
  • Tairawhiti (Gisborne), Thursday 17 October
  • Southland/Murihiku (location TBC), Thursday 14 or Friday 15 November
  • Taranaki (location TBC), Friday 22 November
  • Hawke’s Bay (Hastings), Friday 6 December

More like this

Banks on notice

OPINION: Shane 'Matua' Jones, crusader against all things woke, including "woke banks", couldn't have scripted it better when his NZ First colleague Andy Foster had his Members' Bill drawn from the ballot recently.

All hot air?

OPINION: While The Hound reckons it's great to see Shane 'I'm-a-red-blooded-male' Jones boiling over about the energy crisis - so much so that he's dropping f-bombs in the daily rags - your old mate hopes we'll see more than his usual bluster and get real action on this critical issue.

Not a fund for wish lists

Regional Development Minister Shane Jones delivered a speech this month at the inaugural Regional Growth Summit where he spoke about the Regional Infrastructure Fund, or RIF. Here's part of his speech...

Featured

Farmers urged to prepare as heavy rain looms

With adverse weather set to rain down on the Top of the South, the Bay of Plenty and parts of Northland, Agriculture Minister Todd McClay says farmers, foresters, and growers need to prepare for possible challenges.

National

Machinery & Products

» Latest Print Issues Online

The Hound

Stop the rot!

OPINION: Bayer Crop Science closing its Hastings research site could be the tip of the iceberg.

Not so cuddly

OPINION: The image of regenerative farmers as kind, cuddly progressive types took a hit when one of their own took…

» Connect with Rural News

» eNewsletter

Subscribe to our weekly newsletter