Ardern rejects Collins’ claim PGF spending is ‘dodgy behaviour’
WELLINGTON: Labour leader Jacinda Ardern is pushing back on claims by the National Party that a $100 million Provincial Growth Fund (PGF) spending announcement yesterday was ‘‘verging on corruption’’.
The claim from National leader Judith Collins was ‘‘absolutely not true’’, Ms Ardern said, noting that when it was in government, National also made spending announcements during the campaign period.
The row between the two leaders comes after Regional Economic Development Minister Shane Jones announced $100 million from the PGF be spent on upgrading hundreds of marae across the country.
This is the last official PGF announcement, and essentially means all the $3 billion fund has now been allocated.
Speaking to reporters yesterday, Ms Collins said it was ‘‘outrageous’’ the funding had been announced so close to next week’s election.
‘‘It’s absolutely verging on a corruption of the system — it should not be happening,’’ she said, adding that it was ‘‘very dodgy behaviour’’.
‘‘Just imagine the absolute hys
teria that would be greeted if a National government ever tried to do that.’’
However, Ms Ardern pointed out that this was exactly what
National had done in the past.
For example, a week out from the 2017 election, thenTourism Minister Paula Bennett announced the first round of a $100 million tourism infrastructure fund.
Ms Ardern said the $100 million announced yesterday was part of reallocated PGF funding that was diverted into Covid19 recovery projects which created jobs.
‘‘It is important that we keep the job of the recovery going, in spite of the fact there is also a campaign on.’’
Mr Jones agreed: ‘‘People’s jobs continue to suffer [due to] Covid,’’ he told the Herald.
He added that he remained a minister ‘‘right up until the point at which the new regime is sworn in’’.
The $100 million allocated through the PGF will pay for the upgrading of 351 marae across the country.
Maori Development Minister Nanaia Mahuta said marae reflected and represented Maori identity, language, matauranga (knowledge) and whanau wellbeing.
The money was estimated to create 3100 jobs and would ‘‘filter into the communities’’ by creating business through the purchasing of building materials.
The Bay of Plenty gets the most money — almost $30 million for 77 marae, which Mr Jones expected would create close to 650 jobs.
Some 53 Waikato marae get almost $14 million in upgrade funding, as do 60 marae from Tairawhiti/East Coast. — The New Zealand Herald