Hon Gerry Brownlee
Minister of Transport

Hon Steven Joyce
Minister for Economic Development

24 January 2013 Media Statement

Government and Tairawhiti leaders join forces

Transport Minister Gerry Brownlee and Economic Development Minister Steven Joyce have today announced the Ministry of Transport and Ministry of Business Innovation and Employment (MBIE) will join forces with the local authorities of the Tairawhiti Region – Gisborne, Wairoa and Napier and Hastings – to deliver a broad and deep study of the region’s economic potential over the next 30 years and appropriate transport infrastructure that would service that.

“I was delighted to have the opportunity today to host local authority leaders from the Gisborne and Hawkes Bay regions,” Mr Brownlee says.

“Our discussions very quickly went beyond the region’s present transport network and there was collective agreement that the greatest benefit for everyone lay in better understanding the potential for long term economic growth and the requisite infrastructure across all transport modes to support that.

“This is about planning for the decades ahead rather than confronting issues on an ad hoc basis as they arrive in a region everyone agrees has great economic potential,” Mr Brownlee says.

Work will begin at a local level and with Ministry officials immediately to draw up terms of reference for the study.

Mr Joyce says MBIE welcomes the opportunity to support the region through a better understanding of how to unlock its potential.

“We are looking at a piece of work that can support the regions’ economic development over a 30 year timeframe; ensuring strategic decisions are made on sound economic information by all stakeholders.”

Gisborne Mayor Meng Foon says he is confident today’s discussion will result in positive long term outcomes for his region.

“I’m happy with the outcome of today’s meeting and I look forward to the broader economic study of our district’s potential and how future transport modes might support that.”

Local MPs Hon Anne Tolley and Hon Chris Tremain describe today’s news as a positive step forward for the region, enabling the combined provinces to fully understand the future drivers of economic growth, and the infrastructure across all transport modes to enable that growth.

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