Hayes Joanne: Oral Questions — Questions to MinistersText is incorporated into the Bound VolumeHayes Joanne: Oral Questions — Questions to Ministers[Sitting date: 02 December 2015. Volume:710;Page:8462. Text is incorporated into the Bound Volume.]4.JOANNE HAYES (National) to the Minister for Economic Development: What is the Government doing to encourage investment jobs and growth in regions like the West Coast?Hon STEVEN JOYCE (Minister for Economic Development): I am pleased to have the question. A number of things. Last week on behalf of my colleague Amy Adams I was pleased to announce that Greymouth has become New Zealand’s 12th fully fibred town under the Government’s ultra-fast broadband programme. We are also investing in other critical infrastructure on the West Coast. There are tens of millions of dollars for regional roading projects like the Taramakau replacement bridge near Greymouth and the Mingha Bluff to Rough Creek realignment near Arthur’s Pass. There is new tourism development: the Old Ghost Road Trail involving a $3 million Government investment; our $10 million commitment to create New Zealand’s 10th Great Walk between Blackball and Punakaiki in honour of the Pike River commemorations; and we are working with the Buller District Council in particular on a range of other projects to assist the region’s development.Joanne Hayes: What is the Government doing to develop further opportunities for growth on the West Coast?Hon STEVEN JOYCE: To maintain this momentum I announced last week that the Government will undertake a comprehensive regional economic growth and investment study for the West Coast. [Interruption] The West Coast is blessed with fertile land stunning scenery and a proud population with a strong commitment to their region. Interestingly for members of the Opposition the West Coast sought this programme. The regional leaders asked for us to come in and do this programme. I am keen to see that potential turn into dividends for Coasters and the rest of New Zealand through innovative ideas for new and existing industries. Although mining and dairy have been the traditional industries and tourism continues to grow diversification and new opportunities are the key for the West Coast. This study will help identify more opportunities for competitive new industries and help remove the roadblocks that may prevent them from developing. The West Coast is the fifth region to join the Government’s regional economic growth programme joining Northland the East Coast Manawatū-Whanganui and the Bay of Plenty.Hon Damien O’Connor: How does the employment of a Wellington consultant to write a report on the West Coast offset the 1000 jobs lost when the National Government destroyed Solid Energy through incompetent oversight?Hon STEVEN JOYCE: Perhaps the best answer to that is from the Mayor of Buller Garry Howard who salutes the approach and says there is a real commitment to it: “I have read about one of these projects and spoken to the mayor involved and they are getting things happening. What they are doing is developing an action plan. It will be a 12-month process but things will continue to happen in the meantime.” That is the mayor Garry Howard who says yes in the past with other Governments and other representatives from other MPs there has been lots of talk but actually this time he is seeing action on the Coast for the first time. So if I was the member I would be worried. [Interruption]Mr SPEAKER: Order! The level of interjection is unacceptably loud between both Mr Brownlee and Damien O’Connor. If they want to have a conversation they are welcome to take it outside into the lobbies if they so wish.Joanne Hayes: What are some of the wider benefits we are seeing of this joined-up approach from the Government’s regional growth programme?Hon STEVEN JOYCE: Well we are seeing a number of benefits already—for example in the Bay of Plenty with the Ōpōtiki Harbour project. But I also wanted to raise particularly Northland where we have launched a similar regional growth programme and seen the recent announcement that the Queenstown Resort College will open a Tai Tokerau Resort College early next year. This will be based in Paihia. It is training young people to work in the hospitality industry. It is a collaboration from the private sector the region and central government and will predominantly train young Māori and capitalise on the growing tourism industry. It is a great project and I was pleased to see that the local MP was able to raise himself to come along and also be welcoming of it.Rt Hon Winston Peters: Well if the new college in Paihia is going to be so good for the Māori of Northland where the part-owner is undisclosed until that date—Shanghai CRED Real Estate—and kept away from the audience until the—Mr SPEAKER: Order! Can I have the question please.Rt Hon Winston Peters: Could I ask why were Mr Flavell’s comments not included in the document put out by him as Minister and by the other Minister who turned up; in short Mr Flavell was—Mr SPEAKER: Order! The general debate will start shortly.Hon STEVEN JOYCE: There was a lot in that question but perhaps if I could draw one thing out certainly this Government welcomes investment into the north. If the member wants to say that Shanghai CRED Real Estate or whatever company it is should not be investing in the north well he just has to say so and I am sure the Northland people will mark him accordingly.