‘Where is the money?’

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

MP Meka Whaitiri is ‘‘chasing up” the New Zealand Transport Agency over the $137 million Tairawhiti roading package.

Government MPs needed to work hard to meet the ‘‘year of delivery’’ expectations set by Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern, said Ms Whatiri, the Labour MP for Ikaroa-Rawhiti.

There were challenges in Tairawhiti.

“I’m being asked by Gisborne District Council, the forestry industry and other parties . . . ‘where is the money?’’’

Last week saw a financial review of NZTA.

Ms Whatairi asked what was happening with the Tairawhiti roading package.

She received “a vague reply’’ and requested “more specifics” on when that funding would be released.

Getting the funding out was part of the year of delivery, so “it better” be released this year, she said.

The $137m road funding is part of the $152.7m Provincial Growth Fund financial support for Gisborne announced by the Prime Minister and Regional Economic Development Minister Shane Jones last September.

Ms Whaitiri said targets had been changed in the Government’s much-criticised house building programme.

Only 300 KiwiBuild homes would be completed by July 1 instead of the original target of 1000.

“In Tairawhiti, we have to make sure there are enough state and emergency housing for those families in need.’’

She is to host public hui in Gisborne, Hutt Valley, Hastings and Wairoa, and the first series of hui will be on housing.

The Gisborne housing hui is at the Pirates Rugby Football Club on March 25 from 6pm.

Ms Whaitiri said she was hoping Housing and Urban Development Minister Phil Twyford or Local Government Minister, Maori Development Minister and Environment Associate Minister Nanaia Mahuta would attend the housing hui, along with non-governmental organisation representatives and housing advocates.

“We want to tailor the hui to the regions.”

“In Gisborne, the biggest issue is state housing and papakainga (housing on Maori ancestral land).”

There will be hui on water in July and on mental health in October.

These will be held at the same four locations.