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Home / The Country

Government focus on forestry and regions welcomed locally

Kelly Makiha
By Kelly Makiha
Multimedia Journalist·Rotorua Daily Post·
24 Oct, 2017 03:03 AM5 mins to read

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Jacinda Ardern at Red Stag Timber with Red Stag Group chief executive Marty Verry on the campaign trail in September. Photo/Stephen Parker

Jacinda Ardern at Red Stag Timber with Red Stag Group chief executive Marty Verry on the campaign trail in September. Photo/Stephen Parker

New Government policy that will benefit the regions is being met with open arms in Rotorua with city leaders saying they are pleased money is finally being spent outside the main centres.

The coalition agreement between Labour and New Zealand First has been released today, which sets out policy for the new Government.

It is the result of 12 days of negotiations which ultimately saw New Zealand First leader Winston Peters and his party choose to put Labour into power.

Among the policies getting the nod is a $1 billion a year Regional Development (Provincial Growth) Fund as well as significant investment in regional rail.

The new Government will also re-establish the New Zealand Forestry Service, and Rotorua has put up its hand to be the home of the new service.

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Red Stag group chief executive Marty Verry said Red Stag had offered land at Waipa area near the mountain bike carpark during the campaign period if the Government wanted to build the Forestry Service hub in the city.

"We will see if they want to talk."

Mr Verry said any such development would be great news for Rotorua and would be a good fit for the commercial precinct being developed in that area, which included a spa business, mountain bike shop, bar and cafe.

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Mr Verry said Labour and NZ First offered a "sweet" of re-establishing the Forestry Service during the campaign period but he would like to see the whole promise of a wood first policy brought in.

Labour announced at the start of September while in Rotorua that the Forestry Service would be set up as part of the Ministry for Primary Industries.

Labour Party leader Jacinda Ardern said at the time she wanted to see wood processed and manufactured onshore, rather than being sent overseas as raw logs.

The Labour leader said her Government would give first preference to wood in new building projects, such as its "KiwiBuild" programme to build 100,000 affordable homes.

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Mr Verry said at the time a wood-first approach would mean more houses built in less time.

Rotorua Chamber of Commerce chief executive Allison Lawton said she would be pleased if more money came to the regions because it was long overdue.

She said it was a common held view cities such as Rotorua generated a lot of money through GST thanks to its tourism spend yet wasn't seeing its share of reinvestment from the Government.

She said instead money had been spent on boosting Auckland's infrastructure.

"But the devil will be in the detail. There's been some big headlines and that's fantastic and I will be really interested to see how it will be distributed."

Policy at a glance

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Regional development
A $1 billion per year Regional Development (Provincial Growth) Fund

Rail
Significant investment in regional rail.

Forestry
Re-establish the New Zealand Forestry Service, and planting 100 million trees per year in a Billion Trees Planting Programme.

Auckland Port
Commissioning a feasibility study on moving the Ports of Auckland to Northport

Biosecurity
A funding increase to Biosecurity NZ and a select committee Inquiry into biosecurity

Irrigation
Honour existing Crown Irrigation investment commitments

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Monetary policy
Review and reform the Reserve Bank Act

Minimum wage
Increase to $20 an hour by 2020, with the final increase to take effect in April 2021

Tax
Increase penalties for corporate fraud and tax evasion, and introduce a tax on exports of bottled water

KiwiBank
Investigate KiwiBank's capabilities to become the Government's banker when that contract is next renewed.

Foreign ownership
Strengthen the Overseas Investment Act and create a comprehensive register of foreign-owned land and housing

Research and development
Increase R&D spending to 2 per cent of GDP over 10 years

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Health
Re-establish the Mental Health Commission, annual free health checks for seniors with the SuperGold card, free doctors' visits for all under 14s, increasing the age for free breast screening to 74

Education
Restore funding for gifted students and Computers in Homes, pilot counsellors in primary schools, free driver training for all secondary school students, restart Te Kotahitanga teacher professional development

Defence
Re-examine the Defence procurement programme

Housing
Establish a Housing Commission

Law and Order
Work towards 1800 new police officers over three years, investigate a volunteer rural constabulary programme, increase funding for Community Law Centres, establish a Criminal Cases Review Commission

Social Development
More funding for family violence networks, including Women's Refuge and Shakti, pilot a Youth Education, Training and Employment programme and provide 800 extra places for the LSV scheme, introduce Ready for Work programmes

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Superannuation
Keep age of eligibility at 65

Environment
Move to an emissions-free government-vehicle fleet by 2025/26, introduce a Zero Carbon Act and independent Climate Commission, which will consider including agriculture into the ETS, establish a tyre stewardship fund, piloting alternatives to 1080, work towards a Kermadec Ocean Sanctuary

Conservation
More funding for the Department of Conservation

Democracy
No new parliamentary building this term, an independent review of electoral processes and enrolments, and a review of the parliamentary processes, and pass a 'Waka Jumping' bill

Immigration
Ensure work visas reflect skills shortages and cut down on low quality international education courses. Take action on migrant exploitation, particularly international students

Pike River
Commit to re-entry to Pike River

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