Wairoa flood protection advances with $70m Crown funding approved
'We're also working with both the Māori Land Court and Te Tumu Paeroa, where appropriate, to support the ongoing kōrero [conversation] with owners of whenua Māori,' Yule said.
The Crown's $70 million of funding had been set aside following confirmation of the council's cost-sharing agreement with the Government in August 2023 for flood mitigation in the region.
Council chairwoman Hinewai Ormsby said securing the Crown's support and endorsement for the preferred flood mitigation solution, Option 1C+, was a significant milestone and an important step forward.
'For the project and for our Wairoa community, with whom we have worked closely to get to this place.
'It also demonstrates the Government's faith in the process followed to date, and confidence in our ability to deliver a technically viable flood mitigation solution for Wairoa.'
Yule said getting to this point in the project was a direct reflection of the huge amount of work that had been done.
'It's a testament to the way in which the people of Wairoa have come together to progress one of the most significant infrastructure and resilience projects ever delivered in Wairoa.
'With the PDP approved, the project's focus remains on securing the land access required to deliver flood mitigation for Wairoa.'
Further cultural assessment activity was also ongoing, to ensure the proposed flood mitigation solution could protect marae and other cultural taonga, including Te Kopua and Waihirere Urupā, he said.
'There is still a significant amount of mahi ahead for us all, and we remain committed to progressing this work at pace, and to continuing to work together to help safeguard the resilience and wellbeing of the community of Wairoa.'
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Scoop
6 hours ago
- Scoop
Government Backs Voluntary Nature Credits
Press Release – New Zealand Government The development of a nature credit market is important to investors and New Zealands reputation. Associate Minister for the Environment The Government is supporting the expansion of a voluntary credits nature market through the running of pilot projects across New Zealand. Establishing a market that is durable, measurable and transparent will help farmers, landowners, iwi, and conservation groups unlock new income streams for looking after nature on their land, Associate Minister for the Environment Andrew Hoggard announced today at Fieldays. 'We want to connect those caring for the land with investors who support conservation. Nature credit markets help fund trusted environmental projects that actively protect and restore ecosystems.' Mr Hoggard said international and domestic investors—including corporates, banks, and philanthropists—are seeking high-quality nature and carbon credits that meet global standards. The development of a nature credit market is important to investors and New Zealand's reputation. 'New Zealand companies spent millions on carbon and nature credits mainly offshore last year. With the right framework, we can keep more of that investment at home.' The Government moved quickly to repeal the previous Government's direction to Councils to identify and map Significant Natural Areas (SNA) by suspending parts of the National Policy Statement – Indigenous Biodiversity. 'Farmers and other private landowners are doing their part to protect native biodiversity and want to do more. Supporting voluntary natural credits markets is a chance for the Government to show them the carrot, not just the stick. Privately funded pilot projects are underway to test how nature credit markets can work in the New Zealand context. As part of these pilots, we will test the role for Government which may include setting principles, and a framework for standards, to build market confidence and ensure quality.' Further details on the Government's role and the design of the expanded market will be announced in the coming months. Information about voluntary nature credits market pilots The pilots represent different land conditions, locations, types of market participants, and activities. They will help the Government understand how to meet the high standards of international markets, the role of Government, and what works best in New Zealand. This real-life experience will provide valuable insights as we move to the next stage of market design. Te Toa Whenua Northland, led by Reconnecting Northland. Transitioning around 100 ha from exotic forestry to native including pest control on iwi-owned land. Waituna Nature Credits Prototype Southland, led by Whakamana te Waituna Charitable Trust (Awarua Rūnunga, Ngai Tahu, Fonterra, Southland District Council, Environment Southland, and Department of Conservation). Restoring 400 ha of farmland at lagoon margins to lowland forest & wetlands (RAMSAR protected site). Waimanu Forest Gisborne Led by Aratu Forests. Converting a commercial forestry block to 50 ha of natives for biodiversity uplift and increased recreational and educational values. Scope to expand to up to 5,000 ha. Sanctuary Mountain Maungatautari insights Waikato, led by Sanctuary Mountain Maungatautari. Observing the current process of issuing credits for conservation and protection activities within the 3,360 ha inland ecological sanctuary. Existing Biodiversity Credits Market (BCM) project standard insights Led by Ekos. Offering market insights from an existing BCM provider. Includes understanding the journey of Reconnecting Northland's proof-of-concept project through this process. Adapted nature credits international standards Led by Boffa Miskell. Testing at-place an additional NZ BCM project standard that is adapting UK methodology to NZ environments as a competitor to domestic or international project standard/certification providers. Voluntary carbon market standard with biodiversity safeguards insights Led by AsureQuality. Testing its carbon project standard, which requires native revegetation, designed to be more applicable and affordable for the New Zealand context. Nature positive credit programme pilot Led by Silver Fern Farms. Testing a processor-led programme for market attraction, and potentially third-party investment, in on-farm nature restoration and enhancement activities that support commercial 'nature positive' claims. Nature-based markets pilots for rural landowners Led by Pāmu Farms. Exploring pathways to make nature-based markets accessible to a range of New Zealand farmers and landholders.
1News
7 hours ago
- 1News
Kāinga Ora to use wool carpet in new state homes
Kāinga Ora has announced it will use wool carpet in new state homes from July, following a directive that government agencies use wool in the construction and refurbishment of their buildings. The change in procurement rules, to make wool the preferred option in government buildings, was a directive to about 130 agencies in April and takes effect from July. On Wednesday, the state housing provider announced it would follow suit, with 4500 new state houses expected to be fitted out in the next three years. The return of wool carpets to state homes was welcomed by Economic Growth Minister Nicola Willis and Associate Agriculture Minister Mark Patterson at Fieldays the same day. "The decision is great news for sheep farmers, and all the New Zealanders whose jobs and incomes are tied to the fortunes of our world-leading wool industry," Willis said. ADVERTISEMENT The morning's headlines in 90 seconds including passengers stuck on ferry overnight, new flights to Sydney coming, and the weirdest things we leave in Ubers. (Source: 1News) She said the Government wanted wool producers to have more opportunities to supply woollen products to the construction industry "wherever practical and appropriate". "Kāinga Ora's new supplier agreement was made possible because the agency chose to re-open an initially nylon-only carpet tender and give wool a chance to compete. "I'm told woollen carpet manufacturers responded very strongly to that opportunity and that the new carpet supply agreements come with no additional cost." The new procurement requirements covered government-owned buildings that cost $9 million or more, and refurbishments of more than $100,000. A spokesperson said the total value of the Kāinga Ora contract was commercially sensitive and couldn't be disclosed. Nicola Willis speaks to media at Parliament on May 6. (Source: 1News) ADVERTISEMENT They said some contracts for carpet in homes had already been let, but under the new supply agreement newly contracted fit-outs would be met through the wool-carpet supply contract. Where nylon carpet had already been installed in existing homes Kāinga Ora would continue to use nylon carpet for single room or smaller patch repairs. Willis said the message was clear. "When wool was put back on the table it more than held its own, delivering value for taxpayers and a win for sheep farmers." She said the new policy directed government agencies to identify opportunities to use woollen products, and to properly consider a range of factors in procurement including whole-of-life cost, sustainability and health benefits. "We're leveraging government spending to back the wool industry and the New Zealand economy. I hope private businesses will follow our lead." A new Kāinga Ora home in Richmond, August 2023. Photo: RNZ / Samantha Gee (Source: ADVERTISEMENT She previously said natural qualities allowed wool to dampen sound and absorb pollutants, while woollen fibres contributed to healthier indoor environments by naturally regulating humidity and improving air quality. Patterson said the move continued to deliver on a New Zealand First and National Party coalition agreement to prefer woollen fibres in government buildings. "Woollen fibres create safer, healthier and more sustainable living environments for families." He said the sector contributed $549m to the economy in the financial year ending 2024 from exporting processed and unprocessed wool products. "The Government is determined to help lift the fortunes of the strong wool sector in supporting our sheep farmers."
Kiwiblog
8 hours ago
- Kiwiblog
Was anyone held accountable?
Radio NZ reports: After spending $23m but failing to modernise the births, deaths and marriages registry, officials are having another go. The Department of Internal Affairs has written off $22.9m on the project abandoned last year, returned an unspent $58m to the Crown and remains locked in a dispute with the Australian company DWS over the contract it terminated in late 2023. 'Although some of the work completed will be able to be used for a future civil registration system replacement project, from an accounting standards perspective, it [decided] should impair (write off) all capital costs incurred to date,' DIA told RNZ. So $23 million wasted. Has anyone been held accountable for the failed project?
