From major infrastructure projects and unlocking the country’s natural resources to the disappearance of banking services in regional communities and the future of marine protection, New Zealand First Minister Shane Jones is at the centre of some of Aotearoa’s biggest economic and environmental debates.
Jones, the Minister for Regional Development, Resources and Oceans and Fisheries, joins Radio Waatea to discuss his vision for nation-building and the challenges facing regional New Zealand as the country heads towards the November general election.
For Māori communities, the issues are particularly significant. Regional development can create jobs, support Māori businesses and improve infrastructure, but decisions about mining, natural resources and marine protection also raise important questions about whenua, kaitiakitanga, customary rights and the responsibilities of the Crown.
Nation-Building: What Does It Mean for Regional New Zealand?
Jones has made regional economic development a central part of his political agenda, arguing for greater investment in infrastructure, industry and the productive sectors of the economy.
Across Aotearoa, regional communities face challenges ranging from ageing roads and essential infrastructure to limited employment opportunities and difficulties attracting investment.
For many rural towns, the question is whether government investment can create lasting economic opportunities rather than short-term construction activity.
Nation-building also raises questions about which projects receive funding, how economic benefits are measured and whether communities have a meaningful role in determining their development priorities.
For iwi and Māori businesses, regional infrastructure can open opportunities in tourism, agriculture, forestry, fisheries, construction and other industries.
However, the challenge is ensuring that investment produces lasting benefits for local workers, businesses and whānau.
Resource Development: Economic Opportunity or Environmental Risk?
One of Jones’ most closely watched policy areas is the development of New Zealand’s natural resources.
The Government has placed greater emphasis on minerals and resource extraction, including the potential economic value of resources used in manufacturing, construction and emerging technologies.
Supporters of expanded resource development argue that it could strengthen regional economies, generate export revenue and create employment.
Critics question the environmental consequences of some extraction activities, particularly where proposals involve sensitive ecosystems, conservation areas or culturally significant whenua.
For Māori, the debate is also about the relationship between economic development and tino rangatiratanga.
Iwi and hapū have different perspectives on resource development, reflecting their own circumstances, priorities and responsibilities to their whenua.
Some see opportunities for investment and employment, while others are concerned about environmental damage, the protection of wāhi tapu and the long-term consequences for future generations.
Jones will be asked how the Government intends to balance those interests and what safeguards are in place to ensure resource development delivers genuine public benefits.
Regional Banking: Are the Banks Abandoning Rural Communities?
Access to banking services is another issue affecting communities outside the main urban centres.
As banks increasingly shift services online and reduce their physical branch networks, some rural residents and businesses face difficulties accessing everyday financial services.
The impact can be particularly significant for kaumātua, people with limited internet access and small businesses that depend on cash transactions or face-to-face banking.
For some communities, visiting a bank can now involve travelling considerable distances, creating additional costs and inconvenience.
The issue also raises questions about access to business lending, financial advice and the role of major banks in supporting regional economic development.
Jones will be asked whether the banking sector is meeting its obligations to regional New Zealand and whether further government intervention or alternative service models are needed.
For Māori communities, reliable banking access is also important for supporting whānau financial wellbeing, marae operations and the growth of small enterprises.
Marine Protection: Who Decides the Future of the Moana?
As Minister for Oceans and Fisheries, Jones also has responsibility for policies affecting the management and use of Aotearoa’s marine resources.
Marine protection remains a contested issue, with competing concerns about biodiversity, commercial fishing, recreational access and customary rights.
Environmental groups have called for stronger measures to protect marine ecosystems, while fishing interests have raised questions about the effects of restrictions on livelihoods and regional economies.
For Māori, the debate has an additional dimension.
The moana is central to whakapapa, cultural identity, customary food gathering and the exercise of kaitiakitanga.
Iwi and hapū have longstanding relationships with their rohe moana, alongside rights and interests recognised through fisheries and Treaty settlement arrangements.
The challenge is determining how marine protection decisions should be made and how Māori authority and customary interests are recognised.
Jones will be asked whether existing marine management arrangements strike the right balance between conservation, economic activity and the rights of tangata whenua.
Māori Economic Development and the Future of the Regions
The issues of infrastructure, resource development, banking and marine protection are closely connected to the wider Māori economy.
Māori organisations are major participants in regional industries, including agriculture, forestry, fisheries, tourism and property development.
Greater investment can create opportunities for Māori enterprises and support employment in communities where economic options have historically been limited.
However, economic development also depends on access to capital, infrastructure, skilled workers and reliable public services.
The challenge for government is ensuring that Māori businesses and communities are positioned to participate in new investment opportunities.
There are also questions about whether iwi and hapū are being engaged early enough in decisions affecting their resources and economic interests.
Election 2026: Growth, Jobs and the Environment
With the general election approaching on November 7, the competing priorities of economic development and environmental protection are likely to remain important issues for voters.
New Zealand First’s approach places emphasis on developing regional industries, increasing investment and making greater use of the country’s natural resources.
Other perspectives place greater weight on environmental safeguards, climate obligations and the potential long-term costs of resource extraction.
For voters, the debate involves practical questions about employment, regional prosperity, environmental protection and the management of public resources.
It also raises questions about how government decisions affect Māori communities and whether the benefits and costs of development are distributed fairly.
Shane Jones Joins Radio Waatea
Shane Jones joins Radio Waatea to discuss what nation-building means in practice, where the Government sees opportunities for resource development and how regional communities can secure greater economic investment.
The conversation will also examine the future of banking services outside the major cities and the balance between marine protection, commercial interests and Māori customary rights.
The central question is whether Aotearoa can strengthen its regional economies and create new opportunities for employment while ensuring its whenua, waterways and marine environment are protected for future generations.
For Māori communities, the answers will have lasting implications for economic development, environmental stewardship and the ability of iwi and hapū to exercise their responsibilities as kaitiaki.
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