Proposed sale of network on annual meeting agenda

A109 Light Utility Helicopter flight with mayor Gisborne City from the air in November 2023.

A successful sale of the region's electricity network will help fund new community facilities, Trust Tairāwhiti chief executive Gavin Murphy says.

Mr Murphy was speaking ahead of the annual meeting of the trust, which is also the regional economic development agency (EDA) and regional tourism organisation (in partnership with the Gisborne District Council).

“We see a lot of regional opportunities across the three ways we invest, including within the regional community facilities plan developed over the last few years and submitted to government for funding, on top of the existing trust $15m and GDC $5m commitments to date, as well as other community facilities that are not part of this facilities strategy that we would like to support.

“We want to make sure government and other funders are supporting us along the way.

“We also have a pipeline of opportunities we are looking at in the economic development space and the community, but currently our ability to contribute to these is somewhat limited by funding availability.”

Mr Murphy said it had been a challenging couple of years for the region's economy.

During that time the trust's regional economic development agency had focused on its commitment to developing wood processing and supporting businesses with the Covid-19 response.

“A lot of time and effort has gone into being available to support our businesses and what they need, or to talk to them about the challenges they were seeing,” Mr Murphy said.

The trust would now focus on getting back to business as usual and the broader EDA needs, including increased regional tourism marketing with international borders re-opening and preparing to receive cruise ship visitors, as well as supporting summer events.

The trust would also be taking a partnering role with GDC on a broader city centre vision.

“That was one of the conversations that developed out of the Statement of Intent discussion with the council in February/March, where there was still some city centre activity funding the council wanted to continue to partner on.

“Essentially, we have agreed to a scope on a broader city footprint reflecting the areas between the moana and the awa and the inner harbour, and working with the council to carry on some of that activity and looking to development opportunities.

“That will be additional funding in a mixture of project work and resources.”

Tomorrow's annual meeting — at Lawson Field Theatre from 5.30pm — will provide an opportunity to learn more about the trust's work and investments over the last year to support community initiatives, regional economic development and tourism.

The agenda includes a year in review, including key activities from Eastland Group, along with an overview of the 2022/23 Statement of Intent.

The floor will open for questions during the general business section and trustees will answer questions and receive feedback about the proposed sale of Eastland Network.