Summit ‘pivotal’ to future strategy

Sunrise over the inner harbour brings a new day to Tairāwhiti. Around 100 people are in Gisborne today for the Tairāwhiti Tomorrow Together Summit — a collective regional initiative in partnership with central government to help advance a practical and achievable future action plan for the region. Picture by Ben Cowper

Tackling social and economic issues are top of the agenda today at New Zealand’s first regional political summit which is bringing together senior government ministers, iwi, business, the district council and community leaders.

Just over a year since Cyclone Gabrielle devastated the region, more than 100 people are expected at the Tairāwhiti Tomorrow Together Summit at Midway Surf Rescue Community Hub.

The summit is a collective regional initiative in partnership with central government and will advance a practical and achievable future action plan for the East Coast region.

The all-day summit will involve a keynote speech by the Minister for Emergency and Management Recovery Mark Mitchell as well as addresses by iwi, business leaders and the district council.

Presentations and discussion on partnering and investment will follow in the afternoon.

Prime Minister Christopher Luxon, Māori Development Minister Tama Potaka, Minister for Transport Simeon Brown, Minister for Regional Development Shane Jones and Minister for  Agriculture and Forestry Todd McClay will be addressing delegates via pre-recorded video.

Gisborne Mayor Rehette Stoltz  said the fact 30 percent of the new Cabinet were involved in the summit was testament to the new Government’s commitment to Tairāwhiti.

“The Tairāwhiti Tomorrow Together Summit is pivotal in developing a workable future strategy for our region where we have significant challenges with social and economic deprivation, including health, education, crime, employment and a lack of quality housing.

“This is further compounded by our exposure to ongoing severe weather events. Last year alone, we had the equivalent of more than 80 percent of Lake Taupō dumped on us.

“It is the characteristics that make up Tairāwhiti which make our region ideal for the Government to build partnerships which are focused on piloting new solutions and programmes that could then be  replicated in other regions.”