27 April 2001 Media Statement

Creating strong regional economies
– Regional Partnerships third round

"Regions have the answers that will secure their futures," said the Minister for Regional Development Jim Anderton today on the announcement of the latest six regions to receive Regional Partnerships Programme funding from Industry New Zealand.

"Each region that develops a regional plan and uses it to grow makes our overall economy stronger, creating jobs and generating income. Regional Development is like creating strong Super 12 regional economies.

"The ideas that each plan needs have to come from local people committed to making their regional economy work. Now these regions are funded we want them to be as successful as they possibly can," said Jim Anderton.

Jim Anderton was pleased to see partnerships' funding going to the West Coast, Otago, Taranaki, Waikato, Waitomo / King Country and the Coromandel/Hauraki/Matamata Piako regions.

Funding announced today is as follows:
West Coast $100,000
Otago $100,000
Taranaki $94,000
Waikato $30,375
Waitomo/ King Country $55,000
Coromandel/Hauraki/
Matamata Piako $88,000

The funding is to assist regions to create economic development plans. Up to a further $100,000 may be applied for to ensure the plans can be implemented and then funding of up to $2 million per region is available to contribute to major regional initiatives that come out of the strategies developed in the first two stages.

A total of over $1,300,000 has now been approved to 14 support regions since the scheme was launched last year. The other regions supported in the first two rounds are Wanganui/Ruapehu/Rangitikei, Marlborough, Rotorua, Northland, Hawkes Bay, Kapiti/Horowhenua, Wairarapa, Tairawhiti.

ENDS

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