9. Question No. 9—Regional Economic DevelopmentJENNY MARCROFT (NZ First) to the Minister for Regional Economic DevelopmentQuestion No. 9—Regional Economic Development9. JENNY MARCROFT (NZ First) to the Minister for Regional Economic Development: What progress if any has been made on Provincial Growth Fund projects across the country?Hon Paula Bennett: Why weren't you on TV this morning?SPEAKER: Order! No one asked me.Hon SHANE JONES (Minister for Regional Economic Development): The question requires a very focused response. Two projects in particular stick out where the New Zealand Government's approach unlike the other side is fiscal sprinkling on provincial seed beds in the form of the Tairāwhiti roading package because we are a pro-road Government. We have dedicated $137 million and the Rakaiatane Road upgrade shows great progress has been made by working round the clock and to demonstrate the flexibility in the regions in relation to transport $40 million for a capacity increase in relation to the Tranz Alpine an overdue addition to the products and the services in the tourism sector.Jenny Marcroft: What are some other projects making good progress?Hon SHANE JONES: Despite the verbal spray from the other side of the House Invercargill is going to receive overdue attention. Great strides are being made in that part of the country despite the misrepresentation about a certain polytech. A million dollars has been allocated for inner-city development and subject to quality leadership and an engagement between the Government's imagination and the ambition of the South we'll see more progress there. In the Tairāwhiti I say no more than the single young woman on the forestry course saying it has been a life changer for her and her people training on the ground dedicated to transforming the lives of those communities blighted by the previous nine years.Hon Gerry Brownlee: I raise a point of order Mr Speaker. You've been quite firm today in preventing questions being asked that had any degree of colour to them and similarly asking questions that had any degree of list to them. The answer that was just given by Mr Jones had not only colourful comment in it but also potentially derogatory comment. Also he then went on to give a very long list. Now given that he's being asked the question by one of his own people it's surprising he has to do that but it would be pleasing for us if there could be some consistency in the rulings on questions and answers.SPEAKER: I thank the member for his request.Jenny Marcroft: What feedback has he heard from the regions about this good progress?Hon SHANE JONES: A leading identity from the New Zealand renaissance economic community Mr Mike Williams has stated on behalf of the Howard League that if you live in a small rural community and you have family members coming out of the hīnaki giving them a licence—something that the last regime refused to provide the money for to this organisation—is a life changer. Mr Meng Foon a long-term advocate for that part of New Zealand otherwise known as Tai Rāwhiti whose voice became hoarse as he sought to attract attention from the last regime now has had his prayers answered.SPEAKER: OK that's enough thanks.