5. Question No. 5—Regional DevelopmentANDY FOSTER (NZ First) to the Minister for Regional DevelopmentQuestion No. 5—Regional Development5. ANDY FOSTER (NZ First) to the Minister for Regional Development: What announcements has he made about investing in regional economic growth?Hon SHANE JONES (Minister for Regional Development): Recently I attended an event near the Hauraki Gulf. Sadly I was greeting by a small group of protesters who I soon dismissed as speckled eco-squawkers. After that the leader of the New Zealand First Party—the Deputy Prime Minister—and I announced the Kōpū Marine Precinct which is going to expand and improve investment in the servicing of marine craft and broader maritime industries. An 80-metre wharf is the main feature along with a floating pontoon. Aquaculture is a priority for this part of New Zealand and that is why we are looking forward to the timely passing of the fast-track aquaculture consents bill.Andy Foster: Why is the Kōpū Marine Precinct critical for driving economic growth in the Coromandel region?Hon SHANE JONES: Economic growth in a number of our regions has faltered over the last three years. Our circumstances in regional New Zealand in many respects are dire not only because of inflationary pressure but because of large degrees of red tape regulatory dead-weight effects. For those reasons we are continuing to support not only aquaculture—Chlöe Swarbrick: A long way to say New Zealand First".Hon SHANE JONES: Enough from the psychedelic crowd over there. Not only will the Regional Infrastructure Fund improve opportunities in regional New Zealand which will be announced in the very near future in July; it will also ensure that infrastructure where appropriate is modernised and renewed for the inevitable growth of the mining sector.Andy Foster: Can the Minister tell us why infrastructure is so important for regional New Zealand?Hon SHANE JONES: That question requires a very judicious reply; I shall give my best shot at that.SPEAKER: Does that mean brief?Hon SHANE JONES: Within the audience within the community groups that gathered with us were the leaders of the Ngāti Maru tribe including the elder Harry Mikaere who has assumed the mantle of an earlier group of rangatira not the least of which was Mr Shu Tukukino. They said this: without infrastructure without clear direction without a robust quality of regional leadership that goes over the top of the catastrophising demonising effects of climate alarmists we will never have growth in regional New Zealand.Andy Foster: What other announcements is he planning on investment in regional infrastructure?Hon SHANE JONES: It should be evident to those who have paid great attention to the recent Budget decisions: up to $100 million has been made available to various flood resilience projects. That will be rolled out. It is a response to the list of projects served up by the regional council leadership of New Zealand. They are wending their way through the approvals process because we want to make sure that such announcements get the balance right between what the Crown can pay for exclusively and what costs can be shared with regional communities. We understand that this is a classic practical response to the concerns associated with volatile weather which is why climate adaptations time has well and truly arrived and I will deliver it with appropriate professionalism."