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Some tough talking has got a plan to overhaul Whanganui’s port back on track.
Whanganui District Council sought matching funds from the Provincial Growth Fund but approval was delayed after local iwi indicated consultation and wānanga could take up to 18 months.
Regional Economic Development Minister Shane Jones says civil leaders and tangata whenua were told speed was of the essence.
"I’m not interested in unnecessary bouts of consultation, relitigation of old settled issues, We now need to ensure that the community can gain opportunities through the COVID response fiscal package, park up our historical ideological squabbles, work together because COVID has inverted everything in terms of our economic model," he says.
Shane Jones says as he talks to mayors and councils around the country he’s impressed how many have incorporated iwi into their plans.
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