A109 Light Utility Helicopter flight with mayor Gisborne City from the air in November 2023.
A109 Light Utility Helicopter flight with mayor Gisborne City from the air in November 2023.
Opinion
The region has a major opportunity today to start bringing the new Government alongside in helping to meet the challenges of recovery from Cyclone Gabrielle and other recent severe weather events, and to build resilience for the future, at the Tairāwhiti Tomorrow Together Summit being held at the Midway SurfRescue Community Hub.
It is also an opportunuty to crystalise local thinking on what our key priorities are, test them with government agencies and the Government — as well as get an idea of where their thinking is — and help build unity around what is needed for the region to build back better.
The day will start with a karakia and an introduction then a short video address from Christopher Luxon (his first trip here as Prime Minister can’t be far away), followed by a presentation by local MP Dana Kirkpatrick, then five-minute video addresses from Government Ministers responsible for transport, agriculture and forestry, Māori development and regional development.
This is followed by a session on mātauranga Māori and science in our future developments and decision-making — with presentations on diversifying a business from forestry, to woody debris removal, to roading; science in decision-making; and an update on developments at Mātai Medical Research Institute.
There will be short speeches by the chair of Rongowhakaata then the Mayor, followed by a session on infrastructure — including water infrastructure, roading and industry opportunities (by the LeaderBrand CEO), broader economic development matters and investment opportunities (by the Trust Tairāwhiti economic development manager) and a council presentation on its investment plan from August 2023 — what was funded and what investment is required.
Next up will be the keynote speech by the Minister for Emergency and Management Recovery Mark Mitchell.
This is followed by a facilitated session with our two new local MPs, National’s Kirkpatrick and Labour’s Ikaroa-Rāwhiti MP Cushla Tangaere-Manuel, titled Making the future happen: Together, tomorrow.
A full morning session is then closed with a speech by the Rongowhakaata chief executive.
The afternoon is shorter but weighty, with a session on “partnering and investment” introduced by Trust Tairāwhiti chief executive Doug Jones, with presentations by the chief executives of GNS Science, Landcare Research and forest research institute Scion, the head of direct investments for the NZ Super Fund, and the deputy CEO of the Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet — then a facilitated session on “next opportunities”.
