Podcasts about provincial growth fund

The drive through one section of Northland is notable for the kilometres of concrete sleepers stacked up by the rail lines, but no work is going on and there are no trains

There's another $1.2 billion for the Regional Infrastructure Fund - to support regional economies.  It's also allocating $2.7-billion package for roads, rail and public transport. The package includes a billion-dollars to speed up Roads of National Significance construction, 940-million to repair weather-damaged roads and an investment in rail networks.  Regional Development Minister Shane Jones told Heather du Plessis-Allan this will be different from the Provincial Growth Fund.  Jones says “We're driven by common sense.”  LISTEN ABOVE.     See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Provincial Growth Fund money has been used to create a permanent forest walkway exhibit at Matakohe's Kauri Museum. Museum director Jason Smith joins Kathryn. 

So here's the low-down on the Public Interest Journalism Fund.  55 million bucks dished out over a series of funding rounds, and all gone now. The fund's been wound up.  The company that owns this station won nearly $7 million in round one, another $3 million in round two, and a couple of top-ups after that.  In fact, all the major players, including the already publicly funded broadcasters, everyone, every outfit including some you've never heard was in the trough.  Let's remember the context —Covid— and the wave of redundancies that caused right through the commercial media.  Advertising revenue evaporated and some media companies were on the brink of failure.  Now, to get your hands on the money you had to agree to this:  "A clear and obvious commitment or intent for commitment to Te Tiriti o Waitangi, including a commitment to te reo Māori."  On top of that, we had to commit to public interest journalism, data provision, New Zealand content, freely available online distribution, media standards and so on.  Overall, it funded 219 jobs and 22 development projects.  NZME used it on Journalism Cadetships for Māori and Pasifika, covering court proceedings and community journalists in provincial papers.  Jobs that most likely wouldn't have been there without the money.  But was it a bribe?  Well... I'd ask you how any media company could function in New Zealand without a commitment to the Treaty. It's a part of our lives, like it or not.  A commitment to te reo... well I think we've been involved in Māori Language Week since it began back in the 1970s. Is it enough? I think it's enough for our audience.  And was there ever any public money to cover it? Actually no.  And while we're at it, there's never been public funding to my knowledge for coverage of Waitangi Day, the Tribunal, or other matters Māori.  On the subject of, let's not say bribery, let's say incentive, what was the billion-dollar Provincial Growth Fund?  And what's the unwinding of smokefree changes or more money for the racing industry? Obviously, most definitely, not a bribe. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

New Zealand First says the new Regional Infrastructure Fund won't be a slush fund. National was critical of the similar Provincial Growth Fund under the previous government, with Deputy Leader Nicola Willis saying it was like spraying a money hose around. New Zealand First MP Shane Jones told Mike Hosking the new 1.2 billion dollar fund will be controlled. He says it will have specific criteria to improve resilience in the regions. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

National's finance spokesperson says she's shocked by Government's inability to confirm if the Provincial Growth Fund is getting bang for buck. Parliament has been told the paper trail tracking the Government's handling of the $640 million fund is so poor, auditors had to ask officials to recall what happened in their meetings. National's Nicola Willis told Mike Hosking she can't believe they didn't check the applications against the original criteria. She says it gives the impression the Government is spraying around a big money hose full of taxpayer cash. LISTEN ABOVE  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

National's finance spokesperson says she's shocked by Government's inability to confirm if the Provincial Growth Fund is getting bang for buck. Parliament has been told the paper trail tracking the Government's handling of the $640 million fund is so poor, auditors had to ask officials to recall what happened in their meetings. National's Nicola Willis told Mike Hosking she can't believe they didn't check the applications against the original criteria. She says it gives the impression the Government is spraying around a big money hose full of taxpayer cash. LISTEN ABOVE  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

At the end of each week, Mike Hosking takes you through the big-ticket items and lets you know what he makes of it all.   Recession: 3/10 Welcome to it. This is the tangible outworking of a Government that printed, and spent, and wasted money they never had.   The Auditor General's report into the Provincial Growth Fund reset: 8/10 A valuable piece of work that laid bare the fundamental incompetence, mixed with dishonesty, that in it's own way explains why we are in recession.   The Police: 4/10 Their display and their defence of their actions in Opotiki this week shows you all that is wrong with the social fabric and moral compass of this country.   Josh Emmett: 6/10 Hanging out with and being spruiked by Gwyneth Paltrow and Goop is not a bad life.   Housing: 6/10 The general consensus is we have reached the bottom and in some parts of the country we are on the way back up.   Food: 2/10 It's over 12% more expensive. You've got to ask those who think inflation has peaked, just what is it they are seeing that we aren't.   The Warriors: 8/10 Another superb win, if not the win of the season. Man this is enjoyable. It's so enjoyable, I reckon this could be our year.   IAG: 3/10 20-30% increases in insurance will turn into one of the major social talking points going forward. You have to be able to afford to insure yourself, otherwise you look like America.   1800 frontline police: 2/10 What a con. "1800 front line, 1800 on the beat". Until, of course, it turned out not to be true   LISTEN ABOVE FOR MIKE HOSKING'S FULL WEEK IN REVIEWSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

As the economy sinks, the Government sinks with it. What a shocking week. We have officially been in recession. Don't let them con you into the “technical recession" line. A recession is a recession and going backwards is going backwards. I have no reason to believe that in the past three months of April, May and now June things have changed. And I have no reason to believe the Reserve Bank is wrong when they forecast a recession, which, in this case, might prove to be a double dip recession in the latter part of this year. If that didn't smack you in the face with a dose of fiscal reality, about the Auditor General's report into the Covid reset of the Provincial Growth Fund, a programme devoid of any rigour and any checks as to where the money was going, what sort of jobs it was creating and whether or not it was a massive waste of money. Or you could look at the International Monetary Fund's advice to the Government over our current account deficit, which is in dangerous territory. "We are living beyond our means". That's their words, not mine. The expansionary budget, which is flash talk for spending money when you don't have it, is to blame. Our dealings with the world are in shocking shape. We owe a fortune and, if they call it in, we can't pay it. That brings us to the ratings agencies, who are ringing the same alarm bells. Our debt is too high and the cost of the debt is growing. Banks are badly exposed to housing and, if things turn pear-shaped, our rating will be downgraded, which means we pay even more on our debt servicing. And we can't pay it now. These are all real, tangible, indisputable things that are a direct result of economic ineptitude. When the Finance Minister says we are well placed to deal with them, he is wrong and I suspect, deep down, he knows he is wrong. But in election year, what else can you say? When history shows you governments lose elections as a result of calamitous economic management, what else can you say? Some of us have been warning of what's unfolded this week for quite a while now. Some will just be becoming aware of how dangerous the territory is that we are now in. Some, the Government will pray, haven't quite joined the dots yet. But when the whole world, whether through the IMF or ratings agencies, are all yelling fire - it might just be time we all finally paid attention.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

As the economy sinks, the Government sinks with it. What a shocking week. We have officially been in recession. Don't let them con you into the “technical recession" line. A recession is a recession and going backwards is going backwards. I have no reason to believe that in the past three months of April, May and now June things have changed. And I have no reason to believe the Reserve Bank is wrong when they forecast a recession, which, in this case, might prove to be a double dip recession in the latter part of this year. If that didn't smack you in the face with a dose of fiscal reality, about the Auditor General's report into the Covid reset of the Provincial Growth Fund, a programme devoid of any rigour and any checks as to where the money was going, what sort of jobs it was creating and whether or not it was a massive waste of money. Or you could look at the International Monetary Fund's advice to the Government over our current account deficit, which is in dangerous territory. "We are living beyond our means". That's their words, not mine. The expansionary budget, which is flash talk for spending money when you don't have it, is to blame. Our dealings with the world are in shocking shape. We owe a fortune and, if they call it in, we can't pay it. That brings us to the ratings agencies, who are ringing the same alarm bells. Our debt is too high and the cost of the debt is growing. Banks are badly exposed to housing and, if things turn pear-shaped, our rating will be downgraded, which means we pay even more on our debt servicing. And we can't pay it now. These are all real, tangible, indisputable things that are a direct result of economic ineptitude. When the Finance Minister says we are well placed to deal with them, he is wrong and I suspect, deep down, he knows he is wrong. But in election year, what else can you say? When history shows you governments lose elections as a result of calamitous economic management, what else can you say? Some of us have been warning of what's unfolded this week for quite a while now. Some will just be becoming aware of how dangerous the territory is that we are now in. Some, the Government will pray, haven't quite joined the dots yet. But when the whole world, whether through the IMF or ratings agencies, are all yelling fire - it might just be time we all finally paid attention.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Is the NZ First leader still dining out on past glories, namely the Provincial Growth Fund? Was it a good idea? Was the billion trees programme a good idea? Was putting Jacinda in a good idea? And is his War on Woke a good idea?See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

An open letter to the public and the politicians of Aotearoa New Zealand has called for people to pay more tax, specifically people who are financially comfortable should pay more tax. The signatories to the letter point out that the cost of the Cyclone Gabrielle clean up and the need to future proof our infrastructure against more climate change events, the children living in poverty and misery, the need to fund the social services and payments that assist our communities, if we paid more we would get more. We would get a better result. They've called upon New Zealanders who live and work in this country to back a tax system that asks more from those who can most afford it - and they have signed their names. They're being very transparent and open about who they are and what they stand for, and good on them. Many of them are not in the IRD's top 300 families, so we're not necessarily talking about the billionaires. We're talking about, people who, as they describe, are financially comfortable. They can pay the bills, pay the mortgage.   I've said before, and I mean it, that I take enormous pride in being able to pay a good whack of my salary and taxes. I love feeling like I'm contributing to a community I love and I have a stake in. But I bloody resent it when I feel like my money is being squandered and that is how I felt pretty much since they announced the Provincial Growth Fund, which was basically a thank you very much to New Zealand First for putting Labour into Government.   There has got to be a sensible accounting of our money and what I fear is that this Government has been so wasteful, so ideologically blinkered, so cavalier about the way they've thrown money around, that I don't trust them. I know that there are a million things my taxpayer dollars could be spent on that would materially improve the lot of many New Zealanders, and I would be happy to contribute. Provided you show me how the money is spent and what results have been achieved as a result of that money being spent. And I don't think that that is being unreasonable. So all well and good, this open letter has gone out, we're happy to pay more taxes. I would add a caveat. I want to see a letter back from the Government accounting for what they've spent and showing the results of that investment and then I'll think about adding my name.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

An open letter to the public and the politicians of Aotearoa New Zealand has called for people to pay more tax, specifically people who are financially comfortable should pay more tax. The signatories to the letter point out that the cost of the Cyclone Gabrielle clean up and the need to future proof our infrastructure against more climate change events, the children living in poverty and misery, the need to fund the social services and payments that assist our communities, if we paid more we would get more. We would get a better result. They've called upon New Zealanders who live and work in this country to back a tax system that asks more from those who can most afford it - and they have signed their names. They're being very transparent and open about who they are and what they stand for, and good on them. Many of them are not in the IRD's top 300 families, so we're not necessarily talking about the billionaires. We're talking about, people who, as they describe, are financially comfortable. They can pay the bills, pay the mortgage.   I've said before, and I mean it, that I take enormous pride in being able to pay a good whack of my salary and taxes. I love feeling like I'm contributing to a community I love and I have a stake in. But I bloody resent it when I feel like my money is being squandered and that is how I felt pretty much since they announced the Provincial Growth Fund, which was basically a thank you very much to New Zealand First for putting Labour into Government.   There has got to be a sensible accounting of our money and what I fear is that this Government has been so wasteful, so ideologically blinkered, so cavalier about the way they've thrown money around, that I don't trust them. I know that there are a million things my taxpayer dollars could be spent on that would materially improve the lot of many New Zealanders, and I would be happy to contribute. Provided you show me how the money is spent and what results have been achieved as a result of that money being spent. And I don't think that that is being unreasonable. So all well and good, this open letter has gone out, we're happy to pay more taxes. I would add a caveat. I want to see a letter back from the Government accounting for what they've spent and showing the results of that investment and then I'll think about adding my name.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The government has come to the rescue for Ruapheu Alpine Lifts, giving it another $6 million to make sure the chair lift can fire up next winter. The company appointed voluntary administrators earlier this year to help dig it out of a financial hole to the tune of $45 million. The government's already paid out $2 million to help the company avoid going to the wall. That's on top of $15 million in Provincial Growth Fund money in 2018. Economic and Regional Development Minister Stuart Nash says this latest cash injection is a loan and he expects it to be repaid. He says more time is needed to explore options to avoid liquidation, and the money will help. Sam Clarkson is a local business owner and Life Pass Holder who was on the RAL Creditors Committee. He talks to Lisa Owen.

More than $240 million have been returned to the Provincial Growth Fund from projects that got canned. Some couldn't comply with the funding conditions or criteria. But in most cases the applicants had to cancel plans or put them on hold, despite the millions in government loans and grants from the $3 billion fund set up in 2018. Sam Olley reports

A forgotten part of the Rotorua mess are the tourism operators. They have this week, quite rightly, charged the Government with wrecking their town and its reputation. The Government will try and tell you that Rotorua and its mess is really just confined to Fenton Street. But as anyone who knows anything about brand reputation will tell you, a reputation is hard won and easily lost. What's so sad and tragic about the Rotorua story is all of this has been beyond the operators' control. Grant Robertson was asked about it and he gave the usual dismissive puffery around how they had put money into housing. That is true but has nothing to do with tourism. They had also given money to tourism, which is also true. How much of that is Rotorua specific I don't know, but tourism generally didn't get treated well during Covid and the likes of Franz Josef, glacier country, and Central Otago, screamed for fairly minimal response. Robertson also talked of the Provincial Growth Fund. When you are harking back to last Government funding you are clutching at straws. The simple truth is this Government and their social housing programme is a disaster. It's 27,000 people long and growing. State housing isn't anywhere close to being enough nor will it ever be. There's been no proper expansionary use of private providers. We've got houses for life and no one getting evicted no matter how bad they are. And the Rotorua version of it poisoning the town to the point that everyone knows about Rotorua for all the wrong reasons. How do you run a business against that backdrop? Do the borders being open really mean a lot to you if your reputation is shot? Does our overall reputation get damaged if, God forbid, some unsuspecting foreigner stays at the wrong motel and doesn't know what's hit them? Rotorua until recently has been the Government's great hidden secret. Yes, we had heard, but it was out of sight and out of mind. The council and its mayor were a bunch of apologists. The Government told us nothing to see here. Meantime, the grafters and the small business operators were bleeding. No one seems to care, far less those in Wellington that parked the misery at their doorstep. At last, the operators are calling the Government out and good on them. They want them to fix the damage, don't we all.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Questions to Ministers BARBARA EDMONDS to the Minister of Finance: What recent reports has he seen on the New Zealand economy? JAN LOGIE to the Minister of Internal Affairs: Does she have confidence in the current state of our fire and emergency services, when the NZ Professional Firefighters' Union is reporting that FENZ management is failing to keep career fire stations open 24/7 and there are dangerously low staffing levels; if so, why? CHRISTOPHER LUXON to the Acting Prime Minister: Does he stand by the Prime Minister's statement that "we are well placed to recover, with one of the best economies in the world"; if so, is he confident that New Zealand's economy will grow faster than Australia's over the next four years? Dr EMILY HENDERSON to the Minister of Police: What recent reports has he seen on the changing nature of the Police workforce in New Zealand? RAWIRI WAITITI to the Minister of Housing: Does she stand by all the Government's statements and actions on housing? NICOLA WILLIS to the Minister of Finance: Does he stand by his statement on the economy that "the recovery is gaining momentum"; if so, is he concerned that, according to Westpac, "household budgets are being squeezed in a way that they haven't been for decades"? GLEN BENNETT to the Minister for Economic and Regional Development: What reports has he seen on the evaluation of the Provincial Growth Fund? DAVID SEYMOUR to the Acting Prime Minister: Does he stand by all his Government's statements and policies? CAMILLA BELICH to the Associate Minister of Education (School Operations): What milestones, if any, have recently been met in the Government's barrier-free access to education work programme? Dr SHANE RETI to the Minister of Health: Does he stand by his statement that the health system as a whole is "coping"? SHANAN HALBERT to the Minister for COVID-19 Response: What recent announcements has she made about boosting the health of New Zealanders through winter? Hon LOUISE UPSTON to the Minister for Social Development and Employment: What is the percentage increase, if any, of people in receipt of jobseeker support for two to three consecutive years in duration in the March 2022 quarter compared to the September 2017 quarter?

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Whangarei is at risk of losing a huge government grant for a conference and events centre, plaza, bridge and ferry terminal. Last year the Provincial Growth Fund committed 60-million-dollars to Oruku Landing on the city's waterfront. But the council needs to pledge 57-million-dollars by the end of the month, or the project collapses. Te Tai Tokerau reporter Sam Olley explains.

Whangarei is at risk of losing a huge government grant for a conference and events centre, plaza, bridge and ferry terminal. Last year the Provincial Growth Fund committed 60-million-dollars to Oruku Landing on the city's waterfront. But the council needs to pledge 57-million-dollars by the end of the month, or the project collapses. Te Tai Tokerau reporter Sam Olley explains.

The Eastern Bay of Plenty is experiencing an economic development boom, with leaders hailing projects backed by the Provincial Growth Fund for the boost. The region's economic development agency is aiming to create 7000 new jobs in the region by 2030. Reporter Jean Bell visited the area to find out more.

Workers say new hope has been breathed into Dunedin's Hillside railway workshop after a major redevelopment was unveiled today. The government announced $85 million to build a new wagon assembly facility in last week's Budget. It follows nearly $20 million already earmarked from the Provincial Growth Fund in 2019 to upgrade two main rail workshops. Reporter Tess Brunton was at the unveiling in Dunedin and filed this report.

Work has finally started to restore an old wharf at Tokomaru Bay on the East Cape. A committed band of locals has been working for years to raise money for the rebuild which they hope will reinvigorate the town.

In response to COVID19, the Provincial Growth Fund released funds for the Renovations of the Pacific churches and Marae’s across the regions. The purpose behind the funds was to create much needed employment for displaced peoples, to support Maori, Pacific and local businesses in the regions and to give back to our communities.  On the 8th July 2020, Alignz Recruitment submitted an application on behalf of four Pacific Churches in Hamilton. This was the first time in many years different Pacific congregations came together and truly collaborated for a meaningful project. Bringing together Samoans, Tongans, Cook Islanders, Niuean’s, Fijians, Vanuatuan’s, Maori and more.  Originally a cluster of five churches, came down to four - the Hamilton Samoan Methodist Church, the Congregational Christian Church of Samoa, the Westside Presbyterian Church, and the Wesleyan Church of Tonga. Tuesday 1st December marked the official opening and blessing for the Pacific Church Renovation Project, to start on the Hamilton Samoan Methodist Church on Wednesday 2nd December. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In response to COVID19, the Provincial Growth Fund released funds for the Renovations of the Pacific churches and Marae’s across the regions. The purpose behind the funds was to create much needed employment for displaced peoples, to support Maori, Pacific and local businesses in the regions and to give back to our communities.  On the 8th July 2020, Alignz Recruitment submitted an application on behalf of four Pacific Churches in Hamilton. This was the first time in many years different Pacific congregations came together and truly collaborated for a meaningful project. Bringing together Samoans, Tongans, Cook Islanders, Niuean’s, Fijians, Vanuatuan’s, Maori and more.  Originally a cluster of five churches, came down to four - the Hamilton Samoan Methodist Church, the Congregational Christian Church of Samoa, the Westside Presbyterian Church, and the Wesleyan Church of Tonga. Tuesday 1st December marked the official opening and blessing for the Pacific Church Renovation Project, to start on the Hamilton Samoan Methodist Church on Wednesday 2nd December. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In response to COVID19, the Provincial Growth Fund released funds for the Renovations of the Pacific churches and Marae’s across the regions. The purpose behind the funds was to create much needed employment for displaced peoples, to support Maori, Pacific and local businesses in the regions and to give back to our communities.  On the 8th July 2020, Alignz Recruitment submitted an application on behalf of four Pacific Churches in Hamilton. This was the first time in many years different Pacific congregations came together and truly collaborated for a meaningful project. Bringing together Samoans, Tongans, Cook Islanders, Niuean’s, Fijians, Vanuatuan’s, Maori and more.  Originally a cluster of five churches, came down to four - the Hamilton Samoan Methodist Church, the Congregational Christian Church of Samoa, the Westside Presbyterian Church, and the Wesleyan Church of Tonga. Tuesday 1st December marked the official opening and blessing for the Pacific Church Renovation Project, to start on the Hamilton Samoan Methodist Church on Wednesday 2nd December. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Miriana Stephens (Ngāti Rārua, Ngāi Te Rangi, Ngāti Ranginui) was born in Motueka and her qualifications include a Bachelor of Arts (NZ History) and a Law Degree. She currently resides in Motueka and has four children. She was awarded the 2016 Aotearoa NZ Māori Woman Business Leader award in recognition of outstanding success and excellence in business.  Miriana is a director for Wakatū Incorporation (Wakatū), its subsidiaries and various committees and they are guided by their intergenerational 500 year vision, Te Pae Tawhiti. Wakatū is currently convening the Te Tauihu Intergenerational Strategy which is a business led approach to regional development in Tasman, Nelson and Marlborough. This initiative is in partnership with all three councils, whānau, hapū and Iwi, the business community and NMIT and has been supported by investment from the Provincial Growth Fund.   Miriana is currently leading AuOra™ which is an associated business of Wakatū that invests in a portfolio of nutrition and ingredient applications which are sourced from the natural biomatter of Aotearoa. The focus is to provide health and wellness solutions that improve the quality of life in the areas of digestive, brain, inflammatory and metabolic health as well as the health of our natural world.  Miriana is also trustee on AGMARDT, Te Āwhina Marae in Motueka and Te Rūnanga o Ngāti Rārua. She is a member of Nuku ki te Puku™ (a national Māori Food and Beverage cluster), the Strategic Coordination Group for the Ministry of Primary Industries and the Interim Regional Skills Leadership Group for Nelson / Tasman.  "You don't have to know everything. We're always learning and if you don't know something, just ask."

Labour's Grant Robertson and National's Paul Goldsmith have squared off yet again - this time in last night's Stuff finance debate. Fiscal holes, the cost of housing and the Provincial Growth Fund were all in play as the pair traded barbs on how best to balance the government's books. And while both contenders agreed the country faces significant economic strife because of Covid-19 - they were poles apart on how to best handle it. Sarah Robson reports.

Judith Collins says she will end her "no alcohol while campaigning" streak after the election this weekend.On Chris Lynch's Newstalk ZB show this morning in Christchurch, the National leader said she will probably have to have a drink on Sunday night as she will be busy on Saturday with the election."On Saturday night I'm going to be with my people from Papakura, all my supporters and volunteers, and then we will move into the national party's event afterward."When asked if she writes both a winning and concession speech, Collins said she does not prepare anything."I haven't written anything, most of my speeches I just say what I think and I expect I'll do exactly the same on Saturday night. That saves me the trouble of thinking, winning or losing. I'm only playing to win."I'm going to do the very best job I can to get that National party vote up. It's been 'party vote National' every single moment of my waking life."Collins also slammed the latest announcement from the Provincial Growth Fund, saying she is '"most offended."She said it was "verging on corruption of the system" because it was made so close to the election."Dishing out $100 million while voting is going on ... I've never heard anything like it."Last week Jones earmarked $100 million to be spent on hundreds of marae across the county.The announcement means the vast majority of the $3 billion fund has now been allocated.Collins will visit two local Christchurch businesses later today, following her visit to several businesses in Auckland yesterday.She fuelled up on oysters bought at a farmers' market in the North Shore, before meeting supporters in New Lynn.There are five days until the election and National remains well behind Labour in the polls.Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern told Mike Hosking on Newstalk ZB this morning that Collins was a "very different" opponent to 2017 leader Bill English.She and New Zealand voters knew English better than Collins, she said. And the National Party was very different under Collins.Ardern said she respected anyone who took an Opposition party into an election campaign."It is not an easy job, particular when you've got a bit of transition and rebuilding." 

John Hayes catches up with Horowhenua Mayor, Bernie Wanden on meeting Central government, as they are coming through Horowhenua, Provincial Growth Fund money coming into the district for Pasifika churches and the growth and diversity of Pasifika ni the Horowhenua, and also talk on horticultural work

The government has announced $10 million of funding from the Provincial Growth Fund for the renovation and improvement of Pasifika churches in the regions.Regional Economic Development Minister Shane Jones says 27 churches will benefit, as part of the Covid-19 response and recovery plan.The money would allow much needed renovations and improvements on many provincial Pasifika churches while providing up to 400 temporary construction jobs, Jones said.Former Massey University religious historian Dr Peter Lineham told Chris Lynch he's never seen anything like it."I've never before seen government money directly used for renovations to church buildings."Lineham says these churches do provide a lot of social care."They tend to be strongly connected to particular Pacific nations - effectively becoming a New Zealand-based village."But Lineham says the fact the money's been invested in fixing up buildings is very strange.LISTEN ABOVE

Famously labelled zombie towns, regional centres are bearing up well through the Covid-19 crisis off the back of the rural economy and extremely low case numbers. They are also having new life breathed into them via the hundreds of millions of dollars being dolled out by the government through both the Provincial Growth Fund and Shovel-Ready investments. Taranaki Whanganui reporter Robin Martin has been to visit some local examples.

Famously labelled zombie towns, regional centres are bearing up well through the Covid-19 crisis off the back of the strong rural economy and extremely low case numbers. They are also having new life breathed into them via the hundreds of millions of dollars being dolled out by the Government through both the Provincial Growth Fund and Shovel-Ready investments. Even economist Shamubeel Eaqub, who coined the term, concedes the pandemic is proving how resilient regional towns are. He spoke to RNZ reporter Robin Martin who began by asking him where he stood on zombie town now.

Another person tries to break into a isolation hotel, this time in Auckland, no chance of an electoral deal in Auckland Central, but Green candidate Chloe Swarbrick says she is still in with a shot, The Provincial Growth Fund has been used to bankroll a city racetrack.

The Provincial Growth Fund is bankrolling a horse-racing track in Christchurch to the tune of $10.5 million despite officials saying the project is ineligible because it is in a city not a province. The track is one of two new synthetic, all weather horse racing tracks, championed by New Zealand First, which have got more than $20 million in PGF funding. But documents obtained by RNZ show officials said the projects did not meet the PGF's criteria and they had doubts about whether they would create permanent jobs. Investigative Journalist Guyon Espiner has the story.

A wake up call.That's how the Auditor-General's report into the management of the Provincial Growth Fund is being described.It recommends MBIE  evaluates its effectiveness - to make sure what's planned and what's achieved,  match up.Maxim Institute senior researcher Julian Wood told Kate Hawkesby regional policy is not bad policy, but it needs to be done well - and at the moment, it isn't."It says we don't know what the PGF money is being spent on, and whether it's going to make a difference."Wood says it's a loss for the regions, in what the project could've been."Every dollar wasted on the PGF is a dollar we could've spent on education or health in the regions."LISTEN ABOVE 

The Government and Opposition are at odds over just how many jobs the Provincial Growth Fund has created. Thousands of shops, factories and offices across Melbourne will close this week as Victoria struggles to contain Covid 19. The Heart Foundation is calling for a cross-party approach to tackle preventable deaths from heart disease. China is suspending Hong Kong's extradition agreement with New Zealand.

Shane Jones says more than 13,000 people have been employed because of investments from the Provincial Growth Fund. He says a detailed stocktake shows the government has cracked the target of creating more than 10,000 jobs through the fund's investments. The opposition is accusing the Regional Economic Development Minister of being disingenuous over the number of jobs created. National Party spokesperson Michael Woodhouse told RNZ reporter Yvette McCullough the figures only show how many people have worked on a project - not how many jobs have actually been created.

Shane Jones is crowing over cracking the target of creating more than 10,000 jobs through the Provincial Growth Fund. The Regional Economic Development Minister says a detailed stocktake has found just over 13,200 people have been employed so far thanks to PGF investments. But the National Party says the Minister is being disingenuous, as these figures only show how many people have worked on a project - not how many jobs have actually been created. Political reporter Yvette McCullough has the story.

Shane Jones is hailing the success of the Provincial Growth Fund, saying it's provided more than 13,000 jobs. The National Party says the figures only show how many people have worked on a project - not how many jobs have been created. Gyles Beckford speaks to to the Regional Economic Development Minister.

Work is underway to build Wairarapa's first ever carving school, and the man leading the project can't wait to revive the art of whakairo among the region's young people. The Pukaha National Wildlife Centre will use some of the $2.5 million it received from the Provincial Growth Fund in May to build the carving studio, which will later become a training centre. The project began four years ago, when a local farmer Richard White donated a 900-year-old Totara Tree, which had fallen down on his property. Project lead Wayne Pitau told RNZ reporter Te Aniwa Hurihanganui it was the beginning of a life-long dream of his.

Around $60 million is being allocated from the Provincial Growth Fund to create jobs throughout the country. Almost half the funding will support local roading projects, while $26 million is going to rail. The government says it will create at least 800 jobs for those most in need of work due to the coronavirus pandemic. Regional Economic Development Minister Shane Jones speaks to Corin Dann.

The government is attempting to jump-start economic activity in the regions by bringing forward more than $600 million in spending from its Provincial Growth Fund. Millions have been promised for water management projects and transport upgrades, as well as $70 million to maintain marae, community halls, Pasifika churches and war memorials. Spending the money sooner will mean that some projects earmarked for funding later on will miss out. Minister of Regional Economic Development Shane Jones speaks to Corin Dann.  

Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern has announced drought relief measures totalling $10 million during a visit to Kaitaia yesterday afternoon.Around $3 million of the funding will be spent in Northland.The new measures are aimed at drought-hit communities right across the North Island, all of which was this morning declared as being in the grip of a ''large scale adverse event'' by Agriculture Minister Damien O'Connor.The Northland drought was officially declared on February 12.Last week's rain made little impression on Northland pastures. Photo / John StoneArdern arrived at Kaitaia airport about 1.15pm for a whistle-stop tour of the Far North's big dry.Accompanied by MPs, Far North District Council and Civil Defence officials, the Prime Minister visited a dairy farm at Awanui, emergency water tanks at Te Ahu, and a council pumping station at Bonnett Rd in Kaitaia.They then proceeded to a council water treatment plant on Okahu Rd west of town.A pipeline is currently being built from a bore on farmland owned by Te Hiku iwi Te Rarawa and Ngāi Takoto to the Okahu Rd plant.Ardern said the rural sector across the North Island was currently ''doing it tough''.''Water is running low across the board – for drinking supplies, the primary sector and firefighting storage – and we will help our communities to get through it," she said.The funding package includes:■ $10m to respond to immediate needs such as delivering water for consumption, sanitation, wastewater systems, stock welfare and horticulture.■ $421,000 to extend Rural Assistance Payments, which can be used to buy water.■ $2m to support farmers and growers across the North Island, parts of the South Island and the Chathams.The government had previously given $2m from the Provincial Growth Fund to set up temporary water supplies for Kaitaia and Kaikohe.Two emergency supplies in Kaitaia are thought to be days away from completion. A temporary pipeline and pumps from iwi-owned Lake Ōmāpere to Wairoro Stream, which provides Kaikohe's water supply, is awaiting district health board sign-off.While parts of Northland have had rain in the past week it was not enough to break the drought or end the total fire ban.Rain on the scale required is not forecast until May.Civil Defence Minister Peeni Henare, who hails from the Mid North and is also visiting Kaitaia today, said the longer extreme drought conditions continued, the greater the threat to water supplies."Northland is particularly vulnerable with severe water restrictions already in place, a high number of people on water tanks, and significant areas of deprivation. We must act now to have the systems and support in place to assist communities already stressed by drought conditions and the associated water shortages,'' he said.Level 4 restrictions, which allow water to be used for essential purposes only, are currently in place in Kaitaia, Kaikohe, Paihia-Waitangi-Ōpua, Kawakawa-Moerewa, Rawene-Omanaia, and all of the Kaipara.Local Government Minister Nanaia Mahuta said providing water for human consumption and sanitation was the highest priority."I'd like to acknowledge the efforts of councils to support their communities to date. With this initiative we envisage working with local councils and suppliers in Northland and other affected areas to deliver targeted solutions as required."While the funding announced today is intended to address immediate water-supply issues, it also provides a timely opportunity to advance our conversations with councils about developing sustainable, resilient water service delivery models,'' Mahuta said.

There is gratitude in the Far North for government support to help residents get water to their homes and businesses.The area is in the middle of a serious drought.$2 million from the Provincial Growth Fund will go into setting up temporary water supplies in Kaikohe and Kaitaia.The Far North Council is putting $400,000 towards it.Mayor John Carter told Kate Hawkesby good progress is being made on short-term solutions."The council is working with local government and officials on longer term solutions."LISTEN TO THE AUDIO ABOVE

IntroductionThank you Beth and thank you to our wonderful ACT Party volunteers and President. Did you know our online donations averaged a thousand dollars per day for the hundred days before the election was called? ACT has its best momentum and support in a decade.I want to thank Sang Cho and the team at Eden Bistro for opening up especially in Waitangi. Eden Bistro is a new business, and I think it’s going to be a big success. Here in the north of Mt Eden is one of the Epsom Electorate’s most exciting up-and-coming neighbourhoods.Many people here are from the Epsom Electorate. I’m proud to represent you as your local MP. This month marks six years since I started my campaign to represent Epsom in 2014. This year I will be campaigning anew for my neighbours to send me to Wellington for a third time.The state of Our Nation is strong. We are a democracy with a diversified free market economy. We have a rich civil society with voluntary organisations of every kind.We saw in the aftermath of our nation’s tragedy in Christchurch that we may be the warmest people on earth. We are lively, entrepreneurial people who moved further than anyone for a better tomorrow.We live on the greatest piece of physical real estate on earth.The State of our Nation is strong. Our strength has been built up by generations. The question we need to ask ourselves is: Are we adding to or subtracting from the legacy we inherited up until today?I want to talk about some issues we face as a country.Erosion of Rights and FreedomsFree SpeechThe number one political issue is the erosion of freedom under this Government. The foundational freedom of any free society if freedom of speech. It is a good place to start.The ACT Party says it’s a sacred right to think our thoughts and share our views. Freedom of speech allowed Galileo to say the Earth goes around the Sun. It allowed Kate Shephard to say Women have equal rights. Every chance of a better tomorrow depends on people thinking and speaking freely.The current Government thinks free speech is dangerous. It doesn’t want you involved in planning tomorrow. If you are allowed to just think whatever you want, you might think the wrong thing!That’s why they want so called hate speech laws. Someone, somewhere, will be employed by you to decide what you can say. If that sounds nuts, it is. But don’t blame me, I’m just describing their proposal honestly.Normally when the state comes after you, you’re allowed to defend yourself with facts. You can’t be convicted of theft if you didn’t actually take something. When charged with hate speech, no fact can come to your defence. The question is simply whether you said something unpopular, it is mob rule at its worst.It gets worse. Imagine a job that lets you punish the unpopular. Who would apply? Bad people, of course. The worst. We already have a guy called Paul Hunt in charge of the Human Rights Commission who thinks Jeremy Corbyn’s anti-Semitism is okay. That’s the sort of person we’re talking about giving the power to persecute.The ACT Party says hate speech laws are wrong. A government dependent on ACT will never pass laws that restrict your speech. We will expect National to join with us in repealing any hate speech laws introduced in the dying days of this Government.Firearm LawsFree speech allowed ACT to point out that the Government’s firearm laws wouldn’t work, couldn’t work, and haven’t worked. Make no mistake, we are now less safe from gun violence than we were on the 14 March. For three reasons.One. The buy-back failed. It didn’t just fail to get three quarters of the prohibited firearms; it got the least powerful firearms from the most honest people. Incidentally, they took the money and spent it on more firearms. Firearm retailers just had their best Christmas period since Jesus was a boy.Two. Good policing relies on trust. The police are the public and the public are the police. Trust in the law and Police is at an all-time low amongst licensed firearm owners because of the rushed legislation. Most people follow laws they disagree with because they trust the process. They believe in parliamentary democracy. It’s difficult to describe how much our Parliament’s rushed gun laws have damaged the dignity of our democracy.Three. They missed the real problem. How did an Australian weirdo on the wrong side of the Tasman get off a plane and buy an AR-15 with 3,000 rounds of ammo? A single male. Living alone. In another country. Who’d travelled to North Korea and Saudi Arabia. Where were the alarm bells going ding ding ding?Now you understand why the Government and National rushed through their crazy laws. They’d done nothing about the woeful state of New Zealand’s firearm laws for a generation. They knew the public would soon turn on them if they didn’t act immediately, so they practiced collective punishment for the worst crime in our nation’s history on a group of people who’d done nothing wrong.This election will decide whether we fix it, or things get worse. The Government can legislate a register before the election but they cannot implement one. ACT in Government would insist on reversing the second tranche of firearm laws, reintroducing the E-category, and getting the woeful Police out of firearm licensing and administration.That’s the only way to solve the real problems that the Royal Commission will unveil, after the Government’s legislation.The assault on firearm owners and free speech got attention because they made up the Government’s response to the Christchurch terror attacks.Zero Carbon ActThe Zero Carbon Bill give more power to Government Ministers than any legislation since Muldoon. What’s worse, it will do nothing about its stated goal of reducing climate emissions. The legislation is so filled with escape hatches that it will never actually reduce emissions. How do I know this? The British have had the same law for over a decade. Their emission reductions per dollar of GDP have been no better than ours.But it’s given a Minister the undemocratic ability to set plans for whole industries. A Government Minister setting carbon budgets will have the power to effectively decide whether steel, or aluminium is profitable or even if it survives.ACT put up amendments that would remove those Ministerial Powers, making them come to Parliament before setting any kind of industrial plan. We also put up amendments saying New Zealanders should be able to use foreign carbon credits if they’re cheaper.The Parliament, including National, voted against our proposed changes, so we didn’t support the bill.Oil and Gas ExplorationSpeech, firearms, and climate change are issues that get attention, but the erosion of freedom has happened in almost every policy area.New Zealand is already a hostile environment for energy and mineral investment. This is crazy. There are probably more New Zealanders working in Australian mines than New Zealand ones.The ban on oil and gas exploration is nuts. Announcing that the Government will allow no more exploration permits without Cabinet papers or consultation is a sure way to scare away the investment we need to raise worker productivity and wages.The Environmental Protection Agency was supposed to make scientifically robust decisions about who could mine. They’ve been disastrous, preventing environmentally sound projects that could bring investment jobs and growth.This is why we can’t have nice things.The next Government will have to start taking an objective approach to the benefits of the energy and mineral sectors.LandlordsSecond only to licenced firearm owners, landlords are the most persecuted group under this Government.The Government is so opposed to anyone who’s worked, saved and invested, that they have actually hurt tenants in their rush to attack landlords.Landlords perform an incredible service. If you don’t want to save, purchase, do maintenance, pay rates and insurance, and generally be responsible for a property, guess what? Landlords will do it for you. Often they charge rent that doesn’t even cover the mortgage interest rate on the property they’re renting out.You might think that landlords are the greatest benefactors in our society. As a renter myself I’m thrilled that someone is kind enough to do all the work and take all the risk for me. The weekly fee amounts to barely 2 per cent return on equity but hey, that’s their problem.Yet, somehow, landlords have become the whipping boys and girls of this Government. Letting fees are banned, tenants are given even more rights to occupy their property against their will, constant regulatory upgrades add to their cost.The result is predictable enough. If you make it harder to be a landlord, you get fewer landlords. If you raise their costs, they put up rents.Because the Government doesn’t understand the relationship between landlords and tenants, because they see the world through a hundred-year-old lens of class warfare, they’ve kneecapped the very people they’re trying to help.Employment LawEmployment is another relationship this Government fundamentally doesn’t understand. You can either take the risk of putting together capital, ideas, and customers for the privilege of giving other people jobs, or you can just work for someone else made enough to do it.Like landlords, this Government thinks employers are a cash cow, there to be milked for better pay and conditions. That’s why we see the highest minimum wage in the world going up a dollar at a time. That’s why we see the threat of national awards, where wages get negotiated for whole industries from Wellington.What this Government doesn’t understand is that people respond to incentives. If you make it less attractive to employ people, guess what? Less people get employed.We are starting to see the evidence. New Zealand’s terms of trade have never been better, and some industries are desperate for workers, but somehow welfare rolls continue to increase. Since this Government took office, the number of people on welfare has gone up by 25,000. There are over 300,000 working aged New Zealanders on a benefit.ACT stands for the simple idea that employers need workers as much as workers need employers, and bureaucracy is ultimately bad for both of them.The Rural SectorNot so long ago, the farmers were proud to be the backbone of the economy, today the whole of rural New Zealand is under constant assault by Government.Once again the problem is a misunderstanding of the people being governed. Just like firearm owners, landlords, and employers, rural folk are the Government’s ‘bad people.’Bad people, they think farmers are, who want to make money by damaging the environment. They don’t know how to think win-win. It doesn’t occur to them that people who make a living off the land might be the country’s most motivated environmentalists.So they pile on regulations that will drive up costs for little environmental benefit. The one-size-fits-all freshwater regulations will impose costs much larger than the environmental benefits. They will impose standards that urban councils do not meet, and you start to understand why rural New Zealand is angry with this Government.Every Party except ACT supported the Zero Carbon Bill. It may be unavoidable that one day there will be a charge for carbon produced by agriculture. But it remains debatable how a short-lived gas such as methane should be compared with an inert gas such as carbon dioxide. The problem is our Government isn’t debating it. At the very least, our Government should be making the case internationally that methane is not a permanent greenhouse gas and should not be compared with them.None of that is to mention the unending compliance burden placed on farmers, or the Government’s support of a Reserve Bank Governor who has just put up capital costs for no good reason whatsoever.So, the biggest political issue we face right now is a slow erosion of your basic rights and freedoms. We have shown that we are prepared to fight for them.Sleaze in WellingtonIt’s a point of pride that we are the least corrupt country in the world. It’s something we should jealously guard.We should be a country where the rules are the same no matter who you are, and the real process is the same as the advertised one. That’s a fundamental building block of a free and prosperous society.We need to take stock of the sleaze in Wellington. Right now:• Two political parties are under investigation for irregular donations• Two lobbyists have been employed as Ministerial staffers with full access to Cabinet papers while remaining directors of their lobbying firms• The Speaker is being sued over allegations he wrongly slandered a parliamentary staffer as being a criminal• The Deputy Prime Minister can’t competently fill out his Superannuation forms, and there’s the uncomfortable mystery of how this fact -as secret as your tax records- became public• The Provincial Growth Fund is practically an invitation to corruption. There is no real public purpose for taxing some businesses and giving money to others. Shane Jones openly says people must vote for him to get the money, and conveniently forgets he met close associates who applied for the money.In March last year, ACT broke the story about Shane Jones helping to get $4.6 million through the Provincial Growth Fund for an organisation he once chaired. Of course, Jacinda Ardern looked the other way. But what NZ First’s slush fund really means is that you don’t get rich by creating products people want to buy at prices they can afford. No. Instead, you either need connections in the Beehive, or they need to come to Wellington and beg for largesse. These are not the values of a free and prosperous society.This is not a picture of the world’s least corrupt country. The problems lie almost exclusively with the three Governing parties. One reason we need to change the Government is to restore the standards of the world’s least corrupt country in Wellington. And by the way, if it’s legal for two companies controlled by one person to donate more than the declaration limit on the same day, then our electoral laws need to change.Spin Over SubstanceUnder Jacinda Ardern we live in the age of gesture politics. One well-meaning policy after another is marketed brilliantly, but does not work.You just have to ask how the Prime Minister got to be the Prime Minister. Marketing. She has a degree in marketing. She became Prime Minister by selling the same policies that David Shearer, David Cunliffe, and Andrew Little couldn’t sell.The lesson she took is that good marketing can cover off bad policy. Jacinda Ardern has invented the politics of gesture.Banning Plastic bags will not reduce the amount of plastic going into the ocean. Plastic bag litter from New Zealand is not the source of ocean plastic – but it is a fantastic gesture.Doing a market study into petrol companies will not reduce the price of petrol -the petrol companies’ slice is tiny compared with the price of oil and government taxes – but bashing big business is a great gesture.Having the Government build houses will not solve the shortage of housing -the real problem is a shortage of land to build houses on – but it is a great gesture.Buying the least powerful firearms off the most law abiding New Zealanders will not stop the next terrorist, but it is a great gesture.Reporting income statistics, as required by the Child Poverty Reduction Bill, will not reduce child poverty. The real problem is child neglect, but passing a Child Poverty Reduction Bill is a great gesture.I’m sure there’s a phrase used to describe people who are content with simply signalling their virtues.Taken together, the Prime Minister is tackling the housing crisis, saving the oceans from plastic waste, making petrol more affordable, protecting us from terrorism, and fighting child poverty. That’s why she has fans.The only problem is that every initiative is an empty gesture. None of it will actually make New Zealanders’ live better.But we shouldn’t place the blame entirely on the Prime Minister. We’re unable to have a serious discussion about policy in New Zealand. The standard of political debate is woeful. There is no substance. We are focussed on personalities rather than policies. At Waitangi, Winston Peters won’t stand next to Simon Bridges, so he got James Shaw to stand between them. Jacinda Ardern and Marama Davidson giggled during Simon Bridges speech. This is the level of debate. We could instead be talking about how Jacinda Ardern ended charter schools and sent Maori students back to the state school system that had failed them. But it is easier not to address the difficult issues. If we didn’t cheekily adopt Donald Trump’s slogan for today’s event, we wouldn’t have the company of our friends from the media!The other political parties prioritise spin over substance. We at ACT have a core set of beliefs and we’re prepared to put them into action. We are principled and we’re effective.This year the whole country will vote on the End of Life Choice Act. If a majority make it into a law, it will be a great triumph for human compassion and human freedom. It will mean that a person suffering at the end of their life need not suffer to fit in with someone else’s reality. It will be your life, your choice. That’s what a single ACT MP can achieve. That achievement is why we need more ACT MPs in Parliament.Confronting our Long Term ChallengesBeing unable to have serious discussions about which policies are best for New Zealand means we’re less able to solve our long-term challenges.ProductivityIt seems like nearly every week another group of patients and their families petition Parliament for new pharmaceuticals. Of course people are upset that their loved ones are dying, but what has made it a political issue? If I was dying Parliament’s the last place I’d spend my time, believe me.It’s a political issue for one very simple reason. The Australians get the good drugs. Maybe they pay higher taxes and give up other stuff to get the drugs? Nope, they pay lower taxes. They just have more money.This issue is one of productivity. So is keeping the next generation in New Zealand. So is inequality, because when people get left behind in a more and more competitive world we’re really saying they are suffering low productivity.Unfortunately we’re in the lower left corner of the productivity charts. Left because we started low. Lower because we’ve made little progress in productivity growth this century.Some countries started high and cruised along. Others started low and grew quickly. We have the worst of all worlds. Low productivity growth from a low starting point.When you look at the priorities of this Government, and the previous one, low productivity growth is no surprise because productivity growth has not been a priority.Successive governments have ignored policies that harm our productivity and favoured policies that do nothing for it.Having a wellbeing budget. Does nothing for productivity.Government building homes in competition with the private sector?Paying people more to stay home? Doesn’t help productivity.Being the highest taxed country in the Asia pacific region? Doesn’t make people want to work, save and invest.Having the fourth highest company tax rate in the developed world? Doesn’t help productivity.Cancelling basic infrastructure projects for two years then admitting they’re a good idea after all because there’s an election? Doesn’t help productivity.Building regulations where getting permission to build something often takes longer than actually building it? Does not help productivity.Cancelling charter schools that were working because other schools didn’t like losing their students? Doesn’t help productivity.Giving taxpayer money to kids from high decile schools wo were going to high school anyway? Doesn’t help productivity.Banning oil and gas exploration with no consultation or even a Cabinet paper? Scares the living daylights out of investors and doesn’t help productivity.This is insane. We have a Government that does everything but help raise productivity, and lots of things that will actively harm it.ACT in government will make productivity growth a priority. We need to stop taxing and regulating for the sake of it. We need to create the environment for investment, jobs and growth. If we fail, the consequences will be more and more serious over time.We will struggle to keep the promise of New Zealand Superannuation. Younger taxpayers will seek greener pastures. Those without skills will be left stranded, competing with those who lack skills in poor countries around the world. It is a recipe for division and conflict in our society.HousingNot far behind weak productivity is housing. Quite simply it is the biggest public policy failure of the last thirty years.I try not to fill my speeches with numbers but here are three. Since the early nineties, inflation has gone up 60 per cent. The cost of building per square metre has gone up 240 per cent. The price of the median Auckland section has gone up 900 per cent.Let me put that in context, that’s almost as much as shares in Apple. Apple in that time revolutionised the music industry, the personal computer, and the cell phone. Auckland sections were just made scarce by red tape and regulation.Anyone who doesn’t think there’s a problem needs to ponder those numbers. They need to ponder how a country that’s practically uninhabited can run out of sections because of bureaucracy.The consequences are many and dire. Overall home ownership rates are falling, but taking the overall rate masks the much greater declines that are occurring amongst younger, poorer, browner New Zealanders. If we wanted to set up a divided society of haves and have nots, our RMA, Local Government Act, and Building Act are the right way to go about it.It’s also a problem for productivity. It’s hard to attract global talent to your firm if they can’t afford to live here. Every New Zealand firm is paying a hidden tax. That’s the extra wage bill going to its employees’ mortgages.Unless we change our land use planning, our infrastructure funding, and our building consents, we will become a poorer and more divided society.ACT has the answers. People in the building industry quietly tell me they’re the only answers that will get more houses built.First we need to replace the Resource Management Act in urban areas. The Productivity Commission has already produced an excellent report ‘Better Urban Planning’ that lays out how planning could be done in urban areas if we wanted to actually build homes.Second we need to give councils a cut of the central Government’s taxes on new builds. If councils have to give consent and build the infrastructure for new developments, then they need money and they need incentives. ACT’s policy of giving the consenting council half the GST on new builds in their territory would not only give them money, it would dramatically change their incentives.Third, we need to get councils out of the building consent business. They should have been sacked from this role after leaky buildings. Instead, ACT would implement a regime of mandatory private sector insurance on new builds.Our goal should be that anyone who does the right things, works hard and saves their money, can own their own stake in New Zealand. It’s in all our interests to live in such a country.EducationThe final big issue facing this country is education.We spend $15 billion dollars on education, and we have some of the best schools in the world. But overall our education outcomes are highly unequal and slowly declining.The PISA study, which compares the reading, maths and science abilities of 15-year-olds across the world, shows our test scores are falling. A 2014 government report found 40 per cent of Year 12 students failed to meet literacy and numeracy standards even though they had NCEA Level 2.Large numbers of our children are leaving school unprepared for work and life. This is a disaster for our society and our economy. When it comes to the students who leave school without basic skills, our education system is – to borrow a phrase – a moral and fiscal failure.ACT wants to break up the government’s monopoly on education by giving educators freedom, and by giving parents choice.A one-size-fits-all education system doesn’t work and cannot work. The needs of students are diverse and our schools must also be diverse. All children - not just the well-off - should have a choice in education.Partnership Schools were an example of this philosophy in action. Schools had the freedom to innovate and families could vote with their feet by taking their children to a school that better met their needs.Any future government that ACT is part of will bring back Partnership Schools in even greater numbers.But freedom in the classroom is just the start. We also need to put power in the hands of parents.The issue of who should control education funding comes down to this: Do we trust the bureaucrats or the parents?Taxpayers will spend $250,000 on education over the life of every baby born this year, but parents have little control over how it is spent. We could get much better value for that money for all children - but especially disadvantaged children - if it was used to empower families to choose their school, public or private.ACT says that taxpayer education funding should be placed into student education accounts to be controlled by parents. Those who want to continue at their current school will be able to do so, however those who don't will have greater choice.ACTThe good news is ACT is in place to push back the incursions on our freedoms, push out the sleaze, and replace the politics of gesture with the politics of real policy that actually solves real problems.Every poll in the last three months has shown that, if an election were held tomorrow, Beth would be an MP. She’d make a great MP. She is an award-winning businesswoman. A former sheep and beef farmer. A mother of two. A three times elected member of the Rodney Local Board and elected Chair of that Board. Beth would be a better MP than 90 per cent of them on her first day.But there are other polls that haven’t been widely reported. When I tell you what they say you’ll understand why. Multiple sources have told me that Labour’s poll at the end of last year, Labour’s poll had ACT on 3.5 per cent. That’s five ACT MPs.Why is this happening? Because ACT is the only party working hard for a better New Zealand. If that sounds simple, it is.ACT is constructive. We worked with every party to pass the End of Life Choice Act.ACT is also principled. When it matters, we stand alone against every other party.The common theme is that ACT alone works issue by issue for a better New Zealand. Every other party is operating on the politics of gesture.The ACT Party stands to hold the balance of power after this election. How would we use that position?Again, very simple. We stand for people who want to make a difference in their own lives and the lives of those they care about. We stand against politicians with grand Government schemes to buy us a better tomorrow, with our own money.Let me put it his way. The ACT Party stands for those who do. We believe that the world is made a better place by human action. We oppose the marketing led gesture politics that makes us feel good but leaves us all the poorer.We are campaigning to roll back government incursions on our freedom and deliver practical policies that solve real long-term problems with productivity growth, homebuilding, and educational inequality.I hope you will join us in this fight for a Free New Zealand.Free SpeechACT New ZealandPolitics in Full Sentences - Podcasts NZSchool of Practical Politics

Northland's rail network is being revitalised with a $109 million government injection seeing a mothballed line reopened, tunnels altered to allow hi-cube containers for the first time and a container terminal at the Otiria rail yard, in Moerewa.Land will also be bought along the designated path of the proposed Oakleigh to Port Marsden rail spur.Just a day after the Government announced more than $700M in infrastructure funding for Northland - including four-laning State Highway One from Whangārei to Port Marsden Highway, more cash was being dished out today in Whangārei.The Government's latest investment in Northland will enable hi-cube container freight to be transported by rail in the region for the first time ever, KiwiRail Group Chief Executive Greg Miller says.State Owned Enterprises Minister Winston Peters and Regional Economic Development Minister Shane Jones announced a further $109.7m rail investment through the Provincial Growth Fund in Whangārei today.A total of $69.7 million will be spent on lowering tracks in the 13 tunnels between Swanson and Whangārei; reopening the currently mothballed rail line north of Whangārei, between Kauri and Otiria; and building a container terminal at the Otiria rail yard, in Moerewa.As part of today's announcement, $40 million will be used by KiwiRail to buy land along the designated rail route between Oakleigh and Northport/Marsden Point."I'm really impressed by the ingenuity of KiwiRail's engineering staff to be able to lower the tracks in the tunnels – which is a lot less expensive than boring bigger tunnels,'' Miller said."The tunnel work will have a huge impact on how freight is moved in and out of Northland. Currently 18 million tonnes of cargo is moved in and out of the region every year. Of that, around 30,000 containers leave Northland by road. Most aren't able to fit through the tunnels, but this investment will change that - opening up a whole new market to rail."Miller said that not only does rail have 66 per cent fewer emissions than road freight and help reduce congestion by taking trucks off the roads, it also offers road maintenance cost savings.He said reopening the line to Otiria and building the container terminal there will catalyse the growth of agriculture, horticulture, dairy and support forestry in the far North."This part of Northland is what the Bay of Plenty was like 40 years ago. Connecting the Bay to rail resulted in phenomenal growth and helped create the prosperity it experiences today. Rail access has the same ability to transform Northland, as a critical infrastructure that will unlock value in the region,'' he said."Rail will help build a bright future for Northland and we want to maximise benefits for the region now. Around 200 contracted staff will be working on 10 fronts across Northland simultaneously, and KiwiRail is taking on 12 more local staff for ongoing maintenance of the Northland Line."We will also be looking at where we can take on new apprentices to get more young people into our industry and will support our contract partners with their recruitment as well. We're trying to use Northland-based contractors for our rebuild project where possible, so that this investment flows straight back into Northland's economy."This is the second PGF investment in Northland rail, following the $94.8 million provided to make significant improvements to the Northland Line between Swanson and Whangārei, announced last year.Northland firm United Civil Construction has been awarded a contract to replace two bridges on the line near Whangārei.

Ridding New Zealand of single-use plastic items is a "personal priority" says Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern, who this morning revealed the Government's next steps in its fight against plastics."There is more to do," Ardern said.Her comments came after she announced a ban on more single-use plastic items, including meat trays, cups and takeaway food containers.This comes six months after the official plastic bag-ban came into force.This morning Ardern's Chief Science Adviser, Professor Juliet Gerrard, released a report called: Rethinking Plastics in Aotearoa New Zealand.It made a number of recommendations but its overall message to the Government was more needs to be done to get rid of single-use plastic items.Conservation Minister Eugenie Sage says a lot of plastic waste doesn't need to be created in the first place.She says the report will now go to the Ministry for the Environment."Will look at all the recommendations more closely, come back, and I hope within six months we'll have a really serious response to the plan." "Our goal must be to make Aotearoa and economy where plastic rarely becomes waste or pollution," Ardern said.She revealed that through the Provincial Growth Fund, the Government was looking into funding "optical scanners to improve plastic recycling".She said the Government was also eyeing out new projects which would support the conversation of plastic waste into other products."People want to get plastics out of our environment and live up to our image as tidy Kiwis – we just need a plan to get there."Ardern said she gets a lot of letters from people, mainly children, concerned about the amount of plastic in the ocean.She said she reads every letter from a child that is sent to her. One letter contained a checklist of how to save turtles – step one, stop throwing plastic in the ocean."Good tip," Ardern said.Looking ahead, Ardern said any future moves on plastics would require co-ordination not just from the Government, but from business, communities and individuals.Ardern this morning talked up the Government's plastic bag-ban, saying it has already made a significant difference in New Zealand.However, she said New Zealand still had "enormous long-term" challenges when it comes to plastic waste.Act Leader David Seymour called on the Government to explain how strong the evidence supporting these bans actually is. Photo / Mark MitchellBut critics say the Government needs to front up with more evidence that this new ban is actually needed in New Zealand.Act Leader David Seymour called on the Government to explain how strong the evidence supporting these bans actually is."The Government is making the lives of New Zealanders slightly more difficult when there appears to be no real evidence of the scale of the problem."Associate Environment Minister Eugenie Sage said there was no silver bullet when it comes to reducing plastic pollution, but admitted New Zealand needed a "system change".She said she aimed to have a full Government response to the report within six months. 

Ridding New Zealand of single-use plastic items is a "personal priority" says Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern, who this morning revealed the Government's next steps in its fight against plastics."There is more to do," Ardern said.Her comments came after she announced a ban on more single-use plastic items, including meat trays, cups and takeaway food containers.This comes six months after the official plastic bag-ban came into force.This morning Ardern's Chief Science Adviser, Professor Juliet Gerrard, released a report called: Rethinking Plastics in Aotearoa New Zealand.It made a number of recommendations but its overall message to the Government was more needs to be done to get rid of single-use plastic items.Conservation Minister Eugenie Sage says a lot of plastic waste doesn't need to be created in the first place.She says the report will now go to the Ministry for the Environment."Will look at all the recommendations more closely, come back, and I hope within six months we'll have a really serious response to the plan." "Our goal must be to make Aotearoa and economy where plastic rarely becomes waste or pollution," Ardern said.She revealed that through the Provincial Growth Fund, the Government was looking into funding "optical scanners to improve plastic recycling".She said the Government was also eyeing out new projects which would support the conversation of plastic waste into other products."People want to get plastics out of our environment and live up to our image as tidy Kiwis – we just need a plan to get there."Ardern said she gets a lot of letters from people, mainly children, concerned about the amount of plastic in the ocean.She said she reads every letter from a child that is sent to her. One letter contained a checklist of how to save turtles – step one, stop throwing plastic in the ocean."Good tip," Ardern said.Looking ahead, Ardern said any future moves on plastics would require co-ordination not just from the Government, but from business, communities and individuals.Ardern this morning talked up the Government's plastic bag-ban, saying it has already made a significant difference in New Zealand.However, she said New Zealand still had "enormous long-term" challenges when it comes to plastic waste.Act Leader David Seymour called on the Government to explain how strong the evidence supporting these bans actually is. Photo / Mark MitchellBut critics say the Government needs to front up with more evidence that this new ban is actually needed in New Zealand.Act Leader David Seymour called on the Government to explain how strong the evidence supporting these bans actually is."The Government is making the lives of New Zealanders slightly more difficult when there appears to be no real evidence of the scale of the problem."Associate Environment Minister Eugenie Sage said there was no silver bullet when it comes to reducing plastic pollution, but admitted New Zealand needed a "system change".She said she aimed to have a full Government response to the report within six months. 

Ridding New Zealand of single-use plastic items is a "personal priority" says Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern, who this morning revealed the Government's next steps in its fight against plastics."There is more to do," Ardern said.Her comments came after she announced a ban on more single-use plastic items, including meat trays, cups and takeaway food containers.This comes six months after the official plastic bag-ban came into force.This morning Ardern's Chief Science Adviser, Professor Juliet Gerrard, released a report called: Rethinking Plastics in Aotearoa New Zealand.It made a number of recommendations but its overall message to the Government was more needs to be done to get rid of single-use plastic items.Conservation Minister Eugenie Sage says a lot of plastic waste doesn't need to be created in the first place.She says the report will now go to the Ministry for the Environment."Will look at all the recommendations more closely, come back, and I hope within six months we'll have a really serious response to the plan." "Our goal must be to make Aotearoa and economy where plastic rarely becomes waste or pollution," Ardern said.She revealed that through the Provincial Growth Fund, the Government was looking into funding "optical scanners to improve plastic recycling".She said the Government was also eyeing out new projects which would support the conversation of plastic waste into other products."People want to get plastics out of our environment and live up to our image as tidy Kiwis – we just need a plan to get there."Ardern said she gets a lot of letters from people, mainly children, concerned about the amount of plastic in the ocean.She said she reads every letter from a child that is sent to her. One letter contained a checklist of how to save turtles – step one, stop throwing plastic in the ocean."Good tip," Ardern said.Looking ahead, Ardern said any future moves on plastics would require co-ordination not just from the Government, but from business, communities and individuals.Ardern this morning talked up the Government's plastic bag-ban, saying it has already made a significant difference in New Zealand.However, she said New Zealand still had "enormous long-term" challenges when it comes to plastic waste.Act Leader David Seymour called on the Government to explain how strong the evidence supporting these bans actually is. Photo / Mark MitchellBut critics say the Government needs to front up with more evidence that this new ban is actually needed in New Zealand.Act Leader David Seymour called on the Government to explain how strong the evidence supporting these bans actually is."The Government is making the lives of New Zealanders slightly more difficult when there appears to be no real evidence of the scale of the problem."Associate Environment Minister Eugenie Sage said there was no silver bullet when it comes to reducing plastic pollution, but admitted New Zealand needed a "system change".She said she aimed to have a full Government response to the report within six months. 

Is the much-maligned Provincial Growth Fund making a difference in the regions? 

With all the talkback about the year fees free this morning the underlying issue was spending.  More specifically, wasteful spending.The first part of the Government billion dollar free tertiary fee programme was $340 million dollars on the Year One 2018 students.  Over the weekend we discovered that a third of the students in that cohort quit, which raised heckles.But the fact remains that a third of first years always quit or fail or suffer circumstances that mean they leave study.  In fact less people left tertiary education last year that in 2017 before the policy came in.The $340 million spent didn’t create more students.  Nor did it make the ones who did take up the offer stay.  So the real shame is that we spent $340 million dollars on nothing.  Though all the kids of 2018 who get their education for a third less are very thankful.  My son who started in uni in 2017 is not best pleased.Spending also made the news with the allocation of $6 million to extend mental health services at 20 clinics around the country. I was less than impressed. In May $1.9 billion was allocated to mental health services. The government is currently figuring out how to spend that money. This was the first announcement.Frankly $6 million to extend existing services is not worth a headline or a mention. It’s vastly underwhelming when a pot of $1.9 billion was put aside. And at the glacial speed this government takes to make concrete decisions you have to wonder if anything will be committed before next November.It joins a lot of other vastly underwhelming spending promises. The Provincial Growth Fund has a budget of $1 billion a year to spend.  It’s not going to get anywhere near that before the next election.Infrastructure spending on road was cut and in its place other promises. Money was then put aside for trams and trains and the Sky Bridge, all of which seems stagnant due to planning paralysis.Last week we also learnt of home loan provisions created as part of KiwiBuild that have not been subscribed to at all. Another $400 million has been promised to KiwiBuild but when pressed last week Megan Woods had no detail and promised some before the end of the year.Last night of the telly Paula Bennett called the extra spending of $6 million on mental health a fail. It’s not a complete fail because this is more than was spent before.The thing about spending is that you’ve actually got to spend it. And that’s the fail.There’s only one thing worse that promising something. It’s not delivering it. But then again, every dollar not spent is a dollar saved.

Is Horowhenua getting its fair share of the Provincial Growth Fund?

National's promised to put $200 million towards fighting cancer - if the party makes its way out of opposition.Leader Simon Bridges has unveiled the plan today during the second day of their annual conference in Christchurch.He says a National Government will fund an independent Cancer Agency and set up a multi-million dollar fund dedicated to cancer drugs.He told the Weekend Collective that everyone in the country is touched by."People shouldn't have to start a GiveaLittle page, they shouldn't have to move country to get the cancer drugs that people can get in Australia." Bridges says that there are big cancer drugs that are funded in Australia that are not speculative and have proven results, but are not funded here.He says that the Government has the $50 million a year to spend but are spending it instead on programmes such as the Provincial Growth Fund.The agency would be implemented if National wins the 2020 election, but Bridges insists that is capable despite only polling around 40 per cent.He says that leaked poll results last week shows that Labour is spooked by the threat of National. "Halfway through, they haven't got the confidence, they haven't delivered." Asked if they have the coalition partners to get back, Bridges says that NZ First and Greens may not reach the five per cent threshold. He also suggested that a Christian or "true Greens" party might come up organically, but denied that National has any role in setting one up. 

National's promised to put $200 million towards fighting cancer - if the party makes its way out of opposition.Leader Simon Bridges has unveiled the plan today during the second day of their annual conference in Christchurch.He says a National Government will fund an independent Cancer Agency and set up a multi-million dollar fund dedicated to cancer drugs.He told the Weekend Collective that everyone in the country is touched by."People shouldn't have to start a GiveaLittle page, they shouldn't have to move country to get the cancer drugs that people can get in Australia." Bridges says that there are big cancer drugs that are funded in Australia that are not speculative and have proven results, but are not funded here.He says that the Government has the $50 million a year to spend but are spending it instead on programmes such as the Provincial Growth Fund.The agency would be implemented if National wins the 2020 election, but Bridges insists that is capable despite only polling around 40 per cent.He says that leaked poll results last week shows that Labour is spooked by the threat of National. "Halfway through, they haven't got the confidence, they haven't delivered." Asked if they have the coalition partners to get back, Bridges says that NZ First and Greens may not reach the five per cent threshold. He also suggested that a Christian or "true Greens" party might come up organically, but denied that National has any role in setting one up. 

National's promised to put $200 million towards fighting cancer - if the party makes its way out of opposition.Leader Simon Bridges has unveiled the plan today during the second day of their annual conference in Christchurch.He says a National Government will fund an independent Cancer Agency and set up a multi-million dollar fund dedicated to cancer drugs.He told the Weekend Collective that everyone in the country is touched by."People shouldn't have to start a GiveaLittle page, they shouldn't have to move country to get the cancer drugs that people can get in Australia." Bridges says that there are big cancer drugs that are funded in Australia that are not speculative and have proven results, but are not funded here.He says that the Government has the $50 million a year to spend but are spending it instead on programmes such as the Provincial Growth Fund.The agency would be implemented if National wins the 2020 election, but Bridges insists that is capable despite only polling around 40 per cent.He says that leaked poll results last week shows that Labour is spooked by the threat of National. "Halfway through, they haven't got the confidence, they haven't delivered." Asked if they have the coalition partners to get back, Bridges says that NZ First and Greens may not reach the five per cent threshold. He also suggested that a Christian or "true Greens" party might come up organically, but denied that National has any role in setting one up. 

Each week The Front Page takes you behind the scenes of the biggest story from the New Zealand Herald and Newstalk ZB. Today it's the plastic bag ban, and what really needs to happen to protect our environment. Hosted by Frances Cook.Single use plastic bags are now banned, as the Government tries to crack down on pointless waste in our lives. It's surely one of the smaller changes we'll need to make as climate change looms, but still the fury from some about losing their plastic bags has been intense.The rules apply to any type of plastic less than 70 microns in thickness, that's new or un-used, has carry handles, is provided for carrying sold goods, and is made of bio-based materials like starch.The law also covers bags made of plastics that are degradable, biodegradable or oxo-degradable.It comes as the Government also spends $40 million from its Provincial Growth Fund on crowd-sourcing ideas to reduce the amount of plastic waste in New Zealand.So is this pointless symbolism, or the first step of many needed to change the unsustainable way we're living? For the latest Front Page podcast I talked to Herald science reporter Jamie Morton about what the ban impacts, the science behind it, and what conservationists say needs to happen next. I also talked to Herald lifestyle reporter Rebecca Blithe, who is attempting to go plastic-free, about how that works in the realities of modern life. If you want to know how Rebecca's challenge goes, keep an eye out for the final results in the July 15 edition of Be Well, in the Herald and online. If you have questions about Herald investigations, or want to stay up to date on social media, you can find host Frances Cook on Facebook here https://www.facebook.com/FrancesCookJournalist/ Instagram here https://www.instagram.com/francescooknz/ and Twitter here https://twitter.com/FrancesCookSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Insight - With $3bn heading to 6 regions under the Provincial Growth Fund, questions have been asked about how it's being spent and by whom? Lois Williams asks those getting funding to plant trees or run cultural centres in Shane Jones's home region of Northland.

So if the first major poll of the year is to be believed then Labour is well loved. Prime MinisterJacinda Ardern is the best person to lead the nation by a country mile and Simon Bridges just can’t cut through when he’s being beaten by Judith Collins.That last finding is surprising because it’s not as though Judith Collins has been striding across the news and being very visible. A quick search shows that Simon Bridges has made the news 10 times as much as Judith Collins, who once a week fires off a Kiwibuild attack and once a week gets an opinion piece written about her as a possible leader.That all leads me to say that Judith Collins always had more base appeal than Simon Bridges and Mr Bridges, despite a wealth of time on our screens and our radios, has not grown his support. This poll is an indication of Bridges' weaknesses, not Judith Collins strengths.Then there’s the strength of the Prime Minister’s support which never fails to gobsmack her opponents.  I have often warned that National supporters are sounding a little too much like Democrats in the States. Still unbelieving that their party managed to snatch victory from the jaws of defeat they keep praying that Jacindamania will suddenly implode and she’ll disappear.Well, that still hasn’t happened and what this poll actually says to me, is that we have one of the poorest crops of politicians that I’ve seen on all sides of the house. The ones who are rating are the best of a bad bunch.I’ve been asking people lately which politicians they rate. Which ones they feel comfortable with and who they think is competent. Grant Robertson is coming up more and more. Mark Mitchell. Kris Faafoi. Stewart Nash has some traction for a while until he went nuts over some barbells and a friend of mine called him Trevor Mallard lite, which I thought was quite good.When Jacinda is mentioned much is made of her ability to sell her parties ideas. He so called PR speak and proficiency. Yet I’m not so sure she’s still got the knackWhat’s interesting looking back over the stories published by the media over the past 6 months is the absolute caning the government has got from what conservatives call the left wing biased mainstream media. Sroubech, Kiwibuild, Capital Gains Tax, the Provincial Growth Fund.  The Working Groups.So Jacinda and her team know that the knives are out on any slip-up and they should be ready to fight back. After Waitangi Day Mike Hosking pointed out that the Prime Minister had over-egged the Maori unemployment figures. It wasn’t a biggie, the figures are the lowest in a decade, but they haven’t been caused by this government, but as Mike said it went to credibility. So this morning he put it to Jacinda. She must have known it was coming, but she fudged and claimed not to know the context. Just as she also fudged the Wanaka Kiwibuild story.She got a caning from apoplectic opponents on the text machine.To me, it seems that someone isn’t keeping their eye on the ball. Either in her office when it comes to briefing or maybe the PM is believing her own Teflon press.

So Shane Jones has been in the select committee this week, facing questions about the Provincial Growth Fund.Of course, he faced rigorous questioning as to whether he’s using it as a political slush fund to reward New Zealand First’s friends and win favour in the party’s heartland.It’s an easy accusation to make, so far the prime beneficiaries of Shane’s largesse has been in the North where both he and Winston Peters have their power base.His answer was, to the winner goes the booty and that the North was first up and best dressed. Shane fancies himself as an orator and he’s fond of a flowery flourish but I’m not a fan. It diminishes his authority and reduces my confidence.But that said there is no doubt that the North is starting to feel a little bit better about itself. In fact, it was the star of the latest ASB regional growth survey. They’ve seen Four-point-six per cent employment growth, 5.2 per cent in retail sales, 10.3 per cent house price growth and a 19 per cent growth in construction.So it’s worth a helping hand because these figures come off a low base and the North still has a long way to go.The question is whether Shane Jones and his merry NZ First team have an eye for winners and an eye for the opportunities that are sustainable and able to grow under their own steam.I worried about that when the Provincial Growth Fund granted just over $6 million to restore New Plymouth’s cathedral. While it was a great feel good, and while it will temporarily increase construction work in the region it fails my ongoing benefit test. Once the cathedral is all fixed up the benefit will dissipate.After some initial scepticism that the Provincial Growth Fund's $3 billion in 3 years was the ultimate in pork barrel politics, I’ve come to the conclusion that it could, in fact, be a small stroke of genius.I had a number of callers yesterday raving about the energy and zip in the regions these days. One even went as far to suggest there was a silver lining in the cities housing crises as it was prompting house price refugees to stream into the regions in one of the biggest population re-distributions we’ve seen in a long time and that’s not a bad thing.Judicious use of the Provincial Growth Fund could fertilise this and make New Zealand a more balanced economy and country.But that ball rests in Shane Jones’ court. So far I doubt his claim that the North’s applications were the best dressed but it’s early days and I urge the economic advisors from around the country to put their thinking caps on and front foot the Minister with outstanding, achievable and sustainable ideas.Whatever you do don’t sit around waiting for the magic wand to be waved over your town or Mr Jones will wave it all away on his hobby horses.  

Government Launches $1B Provincial Growth Fund by Newsbeat