April 17, 2019
PGF gets health check as critics circle
New Zealand First leader Winston Peters is welcoming the Audit Office decision to cast a ruler over his party’s signature policy achievement, the Provincial Growth Fund.
Controller and Auditor-General John Ryan says the speed with which the $3 billion fund was established, the nature of many of the funding proposals, and the high level of public interest means he needed to pay special attention to the way the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment's Provincial Development Unit is handling the fund.
Mr Peters says oversight by the Audit Office is to be expected for all government agencies and activities.
He says criticism of the fund is mainly coming from Epsom-based National list MP Paul Goldsmith and Epsom MP David Seymour, neither of whom have shown any interest in developing the regions.
"And my challenge to those who are trying to make something of it is 'tell me what you are doing or have ever done for the people out in the provinces who have never had a fair go?'" Mr Peters says.
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