Still talking up rail but no commitment

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

Despite Regional Economic Development Minister Shane Jones again talking up the positives of a rail line to Gisborne, there remains no Government commitment to reopening the line.

Just days after the Government’s Wellbeing Budget promised a $1 billion boost for KiwiRail, Mr Jones told Maori Television that the return of rail to Gisborne would make it easier to send timber overseas and open up more opportunities for our tourism operators.

Last month he said reopening the Gisborne to Wairoa rail line, which has not operated for more than six years, would need to happen if Gisborne was to become a wood processing hub.

However, a spokeswoman for Mr Jones told The Gisborne Herald there was no Government view on the line.

“The Coalition Agreement between NZ First and Labour makes it clear that investment in regional rail is a commitment from both parties but this does not change the fact that no decisions on the Gisborne line have been made.

“KiwiRail is more than welcome to submit a proposal to the Provincial Growth Fund for the reopening of the Gisborne line but no decisions have been made.

“Gisborne is an area of focus for the Government and the Minister has made comments recently about exploring the possibility of a special economic zone to incentivise investment in the manufacturing and wood processing sectors.

“Investigating the benefits of reopening the Gisborne line should be done in alignment with the Government’s broader vision for Gisborne and Tairawhiti.”

Last year it was agreed through the Provincial Growth Fund to fund two studies on the line to assess feasibility of rail tourism ventures and the viability of reinstating a freight service between Gisborne and Wairoa.

A spokesman for the Provincial Development Unit said a funding agreement to progress the project had been executed and work was under way.

“BERL has been engaged to undertake the feasibility study and we expect a final report to be complete towards the end of this year.”