Scoop has an Ethical Paywall
Work smarter with a Pro licence Learn More

Video | Agriculture | Confidence | Economy | Energy | Employment | Finance | Media | Property | RBNZ | Science | SOEs | Tax | Technology | Telecoms | Tourism | Transport | Search

 

BUDGET:Power company proceeds reach Kiwirail, irrigation

BUDGET Power company sell-off proceeds reach Kiwirail, irrigation schemes

May 15 (BusinessDesk) - The government has sprinkled the proceeds of its $4.7 billion assets sales programme across projects ranging from housing developments to irrigation schemes and an increased bailout for state-owned Kiwirail.

Some $1 billion of the money, held by the Future Investment Fund, has been allocated in the 2014 budget, including $67 million for a new Grey Base Hospital on the West Coast and $172 million earmarked for upgrading and building schools.

Unprofitable Kiwirail is the single biggest recipient, getting $198 million for its turnaround plan while $75 million is set aside as a Christchurch housing contingency. The government is also allocating $40 million to Crown Irrigation to invest in irrigation schemes and Housing New Zealand's Hobsonville Land Company, which has a residential development north of Auckland, gets $31 million.

Gross proceeds from the sale of shares in MightyRiverPower, Meridian Energy, Air New Zealand and Genesis Energy came in below the original estimate of $5 billion to $7 billion, partly reflecting the decision not to sell the financially troubled coal miner Solid Energy.

The allocation announced today brings the total to about $3 billion over three budgets and leaves $1.68 billion in the fund.

(BusinessDesk)

Advertisement - scroll to continue reading

Are you getting our free newsletter?

Subscribe to Scoop’s 'The Catch Up' our free weekly newsletter sent to your inbox every Monday with stories from across our network.

© Scoop Media

Advertisement - scroll to continue reading
 
 
 
Business Headlines | Sci-Tech Headlines

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

Join Our Free Newsletter

Subscribe to Scoop’s 'The Catch Up' our free weekly newsletter sent to your inbox every Monday with stories from across our network.