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Māori development projects across the country are set to receive a total of $18.8 million from the Provincial Growth Fund that will create infrastructure and permanent jobs.
Regional Economic Development Minister Shane Jones says the projects announced today aligns to the PGF post COVID-19 reset criteria to create jobs and get social and economic recovery underway in regional communities.
Māori small business agency Poutama Trust will get $5 million to provide access to development capital for small- to medium-sized Māori enterprises.
Rakiura Māori Lands Trust will receive nearly $2.2 million in loans and grants for an environmental tourism initiative on Stewart Island, including a predator-proof fence.
In Northland,Taumata Tirotiro Ltd will receive $719,000 to develop four Māori-owned land blocks for beef farming, while Pukerewa Station Development in Waikato will get $900,000 for water reticulation and fencing.
There’s also money for a food production hub in Ruatāhuna, kiwifruit orchard development at Welcome Bay, a sheep-milking conversion in Rerewhakaaitu, strawberry farming in Whanganui and upgrading an East Cape campground.
Mr Jones says many of the groups would not have received funding from commercial sources as their assets are on collectively owned Māori land.
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