5. Question No. 5—Economic and Regional DevelopmentWILLOW-JEAN PRIME (Labour—Northland) to the Minister for Economic and Regional DevelopmentQuestion No. 5—Economic and Regional Development5. WILLOW-JEAN PRIME (Labour—Northland) to the Minister for Economic and Regional Development: What recent reports has he heard regarding the impact of regional economic development investments in Northland?Hon STUART NASH (Minister for Economic and Regional Development): Last week I spent five days in Northland as part of Waitangi commemorations and also to hear firsthand the impact of our direct investment in partnership in the region. Investment in the regions through the Provincial Development Unit (PDU) is a central part of our COVID recovery plan to support infrastructure jobs and businesses. I visited six projects and spoke to dozens of people representing local councils iwi manufacturers tourism businesses primary producers education providers cultural institutions community groups volunteers and innovators who all responded enthusiastically to the partnership approach we are taking to the region. I would like to personally thank the Northland PDU team of Vibeke Wright Tania Anderson Petra Witana and Jade Morunga who are doing a fantastic job representing their local communities.Willow-Jean Prime: Did he receive specific feedback from Northland councils or businesses about particular projects?Hon STUART NASH: Six projects I visited are spread throughout Northland from the Ōhaeāwai battle site enhancement to the Ngāwhā Innovation and Enterprise Park in Kaikohe; the Waiariki Ngāwhā Springs Kaikohe; Waima Topu B farm; the Manea Footprints of Kupe centre in Ōpōnoni; and the Waitangi Mountain Bike Park. I won't pick favourites but it's clear that each and every project is making a quantifiable difference to jobs businesses and economic development in the regions. For example the Far North Holdings Ltd received a grant of $19.5 million to develop 165 hectares into the Ngāwhā Innovation and Enterprise Park. It will enable the processing of high-value primary products like berry fruit and avocados to be scaled up. Importantly it will create a circular economy where waste from the berries and avocados will be converted on site into biogas. This project would not have proceeded without Government investment.Willow-Jean Prime: What impact are these projects having for Māori economic development?Hon STUART NASH: The investment is about much more than economic development. It's also having a significant bearing on intergenerational legacies around the management of iwi land and enables the retelling of histories of local hapū and iwi. For example the Waima Topu B Ahu Whenua Trust received a reasonably modest investment of just under $1 million from the Whenua Māori Fund. The land had been neglected by the former leaseholder but is being transformed into a high-performing beef farm with excellent pasture management. The Government's investment supports the owners to be active managers of their land and increases productivity and more importantly restores the whānau's pride in their land. The owners are now supported to clear scrub and redevelop the pasture and once poor-quality land will become productive and a commercial success for the hapū and iwi. It's likely to result in a $321000 increased profit per annum.