April 14, 2020
Environment clean-up for boost economy
Work is underway to recalibrate what’s left in the Provincial Growth Fund to help restart the economy.
Regional Economic Development Minister Shane Jones says it will include some putea for Māori kaupapa, focused on job creation.
He’s looking for momentum from quick-start projects as the country moves down the alert levels.
There could be a role for iwi in retraining or redeploying workers, and scope for Māori landowners to tackle some of the environmental challenges that haven’t been given sufficient priority.
“Water quality, we can finally attack it now through a massive campaign of fencing, native planting, and the men and women who take up that sort of work, not only will it keep them occupied but if you want to enhance the quality of water and keep the stock out you’ve got to fence, so I think it’s a very good way the crown can work with landowners and let’s face it, in some parts of the motu we do have large blocks of Māori land,” Mr Jones says.
There will also be a lot of money going into trade training and apprenticeships, which if managed the right way could create a lasting legacy for Māoridom.
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