April 16, 2019
Kaeo bridge ka pai
The 10 bridges promised by National during the 2014 Northland byelection are finally being delivered – by the Labour-New Zealand First Government.
Regional Economic Development Minister Shane Jones was at Kaeo yesterday morning for the blessing of the site for a new bridge across the river.
Also on hand were several National MPs who happened to be in the district, and who had to take a pasting from former Te Taitokerau MP Dover Samuels during the welcome.
Mr Jones says Kaeo is a sort of freshwater shellfish, and the elders focused on how the town's fate is tied to the river.
"The tangata whenua did remind everyone that whatever design is finally settled on, we don't want a situation where the flooding worsens for the township of Kaeo, we want a bridge and a road that offers greater safety outcomes, and if it's possible to give some of the members of the community some work, that's all ka pai as well," he says.
Copyright © 2019, UMA Broadcasting Ltd: www.waateanews.com