Mitchell Mark: Oral Questions — Questions to MinistersText is incorporated into the Bound VolumeMitchell Mark: Oral Questions — Questions to Ministers[Sitting date: 11 February 2016. Volume:711;Page:8928. Text is incorporated into the Bound Volume.]9.MARK MITCHELL (National—Rodney) to the Minister for Economic Development: What recent announcements has he made about economic development in Northland?Hon STEVEN JOYCE (Minister for Economic Development): Last week alongside a number of other ministerial colleagues I launched the Tai Tokerau Northland Economic Action Plan at a function of around 150 community and business leaders in the Bay of Islands. The plan identifies 58 actions that will help increase growth in the region prioritising infrastructure improvements relating to transport digital skills and capability and water. Nothing generates sustainable higher-paying jobs and boosts the standard of living better than business confidence and business investment. The plan which was generated by local government business and community leaders working with central government will build confidence amongst potential investors and will lead to more and higher-paying jobs for the people of Northland.Mark Mitchell: Why has the Government made Northland the focus of an economic action plan?Hon STEVEN JOYCE: New Zealand will not be able to realise its full economic potential until all our regions are thriving. Although Northland has shown good progress recently with nearly 4000 more people in employment now than 2 years ago and an unemployment rate down to 6.2 percent which is the lowest it has been since the previous Government led the country into recession over many decades and several Governments the region has not reached its full economic potential. The Government is therefore working with the local iwi central government local government agencies and Northland businesses. They are all working together to put together a plan that we are all confident will lead to a step change in economic activity in the region over the next decade.Dr Shane Reti: What economic development opportunities does the economic action plan set out?Hon STEVEN JOYCE: There are 58 projects a number of which are getting under way. For example critical infrastructure like ultra-fast broadband airport improvements—Hon Member: What about the election promise of sealing roads?Hon STEVEN JOYCE: Yes new bridges and roading upgrades; the Hundertwasser Art Centre and the Wairau Māori Art Gallery in Whangarei to which the Government has committed $4 million to help construct; new tertiary providers working in the region like the Queenstown Resort College to get more young people into training and employment in the tourism sector; better use of Māori land to encourage more farming horticulture and forestry and high-value products like mānuka honey; and of course other projects like trading more with the world which is why trade deals like the Trans-Pacific Partnership and the Korean free-trade agreement are so important to regions such as Northland.Tracey Martin: Kia ora. How does the Minister reconcile his Government’s promise to Northlanders to upgrade 10 single-lane bridges when only three of those bridges are funded and the Northland economic action plan does not even mention a bridge?Hon STEVEN JOYCE: The member is mistaken with the second part of her question. Actually the upgrading of the Twin Coast Discovery Highway including bridges is very clearly in the economic action plan. It is a reasonably short booklet but if she would like to read it again I am happy to show her where it is. With regard to the other part of the question that commitment is over a 6-year period. We have already stepped up with three bridges. The fourth is coming. There are three to be investigated. I will tell you what. This Government will deliver those bridges in Northland. Northlanders will know it and they will be very positive about that achievement.Tracey Martin: How can Northlanders trust a word he says when the Wellsford to Warkworth motorway has no indicative route and yet the Northland economic action plan on page 12—for the Minister—says it will be delivered within 5 years?Hon STEVEN JOYCE: Again I think the member needs to have another look at the report because the report refers to the Pūhoi to Warkworth section being delivered within 5 years and that is the construction that is taking place. The Warkworth to Wellsford section is the second part of that. The report also refers to four-laning the highway to Whangarei which is being investigated now by the New Zealand Transport Agency and the Government. That would be a very big commitment to the region. Can I say to the member that picking on a Government is fine on a number of things but on roading in Northland we will be shown to have done more for Northland than any other Government.Tracey Martin: I raise a point of order Mr Speaker. Can I offer the Minister page 12—Mr SPEAKER: No. Order! No you cannot.