Shot in arm: 1000 new homes, 300 jobs
$55m from Govt for project on Ma¯ ori land in east Rotorua
The $55 million investment into a project that will see more than 1000 new homes built on Ma¯ori land and generate about 300 jobs will be a “muchneeded shot in the arm” for Rotorua.
And one local MP says the project itself is testament to the “amazing” things that can be achieved when iwi, local council and central government collaborate.
The funding was announced jointly by Finance Minister Grant Robertson and Infrastructure Minister Shane Jones yesterday as part of a new package of infrastructure investments, with $3 billion from the Covid Response and Recovery Fund being allocated across the country’s regions.
The urban development project, a partnership between Rotorua Lakes Council, Nga¯ti Whakaue and NZTA is the first shovel-ready project in the Bay of Plenty to be granted funding.
It aims to help facilitate the development of Ma¯ori land, provide housing and generate short and longterm employment.
The project involves building roading and stormwater infrastructure to enable housing development for up to 1100 sections, as well as state highway upgrades and stormwater works.
The State Highway 30 (Te Ngae Rd) upgrades are to four intersections at Wharenui Rd, Brent Rd, Basley Rd and airport/eastgate.
Groundworks are already under way. Design work and consenting is expected to begin for the remaining 900 sections of zoned land and contractors will continue on to the next stage of development.
Nga¯ti Whakaue kauma¯tua Monty Morrison said he was “absolutely thrilled” with the announcement.
“Nga¯ti Whakaue has been working for some time to develop this block of land so this funding is a long time coming and it is great timing.
“The need for housing and jobs in Rotorua has always been a problem and the number of unemployed has been climbing since Covid so this funding will create real opportunities and will be a major shot in the arm for the community.”
Morrison said he hoped this project would encourage further collaboration between iwi, local councils and the Government.
“It has been a collective effort to get this across the line and to have it now in our reach is terrific.”
Rotorua mayor Steve Chadwick said the news was “phenomenal” for the city.
“We’ve been chipping away at