PM welcomes blue highway supply solution

Prime Minister Chris Hipkins will visit Tairāwhiti regularly to keep informed about the district's recovery from Cyclone Gabrielle.

Mr Hipkins yesterday announced government funding of $2.25 million over a three-month establishment period for a Gisborne-to-Napier coastal shipping service, which he described as a “financial backstop” to ensure the service was viable.

Speaking at Eastland Port, Mr Hipkins said the shipping initiative was part of the country's recovery and rebuilding process, which would take time.

“I'm looking forward to being back here regularly,” he said.

The Government would forget no one and would “touch base from time to time” to meet the needs of those most impacted by the cyclone.

Yesterday was his second trip to Gisborne in about a month. The Prime Minister visited Te Karaka on February 17 after Cyclone Gabrielle.

“I'm sure it will be the first of many to the region as we make sure that we are doing what we need to do to support the recovery.”

Mr Hipkins said the Gisborne-to-Napier route was economically crucial for the country, but the highway, vital for moving produce, would not be fully operational for a long time.

The blue highway — or coastal shipping — would fill a significant part of that gap. It would keep supply lines open at a time of extensive disruption.

Mr Hipkins said the Government had previously been investing in the blue highway elsewhere in the country. He described the Gisborne-to-Napier initiative as “pragmatic” and “the sensible thing to do”.

Business and exporters would “know capacity was there”.

Building resilience into infrastructure could require building roads differently, better or in different places.

“We will work our way through it.”

The immediate step was to re-establish transport links and the blue highway could make a big difference.

“It is a really good early step as we begin to move to a more fulsome recovery from the cyclone.”

Mr Hipkins travelled from the port on to Wairoa where two previous two attempts to see the town, which was cut off by the cyclone, were cancelled by bad weather (see story below).

Eastland Group chairman Matanuku Mahuika told The Herald coast shipping had been part of the port company's long-term plans.

Asked if the company was confident the service was viable after the three months establishment period with government funding, he said: “We'll just have to wait and see.”

There had always been a coastal shipping plan and the Government's initiative was an opportunity.

“We think it can work but we just don't know. It is hard to say because there's a lot of demand with no rail.

“We think it's a good initiative. We think it's something the district needs.”

Eastland Group chief operating officer (regional infrastructure) Andrew Gaddum and his team initially started looking at it.

“And we approached the Government to see if they were prepared to remove the risk for us in setting up the venture.”

Mayor Rehette Stoltz said it was wonderful to have the Prime Minister in Gisborne supporting local businesses.

“It's good for Gisborne, good for business and good to get stuff moving because we still have disruption in our roading network.”

East Coast MP and Regional Development Minister Kiri Allan, Ikaroa-Rawhiti MP and Associate Minister of Agriculture Meka Whaitiri and Napier MP and Economic Development Minister Stuart Nash were also at the port yesterday.