Hon Kelvin Davis announcing $8.2 million in PGF funding at Te Ahu in Kaitaia.
Te Tai Tokerau MP Kelvin Davis was in Kaitaia yesterday to announce grants of $8.2 million from the government's Provincial Growth Fund for five Far North projects.
The recipients included Kaitaia's Te Hiku Sports Hub, ($3m); before the 2017 election, then Opposition leader Jacinda Ardern promised $2.8m for the project
when she campaigned in Kaitaia.
Sir Hekenukumai Busby's Kupe Waka Centre project at Aurere received $4.6m, the Aupouri Ngati Kahu Te Rarawa Trust $250,000 to scope three key development projects, Te Hiku Water Solutions $99,500 to investigate a water storage scheme to support high-value horticultural production, and $257,000 to investigate building and operating a barge site at Te Mingi (Parengarenga) for transporting logs to Whangārei.
Mr Davis said a lot of work was being done in Tai Tokerau to drive economic growth and help improve the lives of local people.
"We know the Far North District faces a range of complex challenges, including high unemployment, an underutilised labour force and comparatively lower GDP than other districts, but we won't rest on our laurels as we turn around the fortunes of the regions," he said.
