A $500 million-plus upgrade of rail to Auckland, a $150m-plus rail spur to Marsden Pt, and the possibility of moving Ports of Auckland work to Northport - new Forestry, Regional Economic Development, and Infrastructure Minister Shane Jones has promised major economic development for Northland.
As well, Waitangi Treaty Grounds will get a massive overhaul, including building a "legacy" museum to honour the Maori Battalion's exploits during World War I and World War II.
Mr Jones, the NZ First list MP who stood in Whangarei, was officially sworn into his new roles with his parliamentary colleagues yesterday and he promised the provinces would be presented with huge economic development opportunities over the next three years, with Northland set to get a major boost.
He said as part of NZ First's coalition agreement with Labour the parties had agreed the rail line from Northland to Auckland would be upgraded at a cost of $500m-$600m. A spur line would also be built to Northport, at Marsden Pt, costing another $150m-$180m.
The coalition agreement also includes a $1 billion a year fund for regional development projects - including a "Billion Trees Planting Programme" to plant 1 million trees a year.