Northland's PGF funding - $130 million-plus, and rising

Regional Development Minister Shane Jones, kaumatua John Klaracich and Deputy Prime Minister Winston Peters at the dawn blessing of the project to rebuild the Opononi seawall yesterday.

The latest Provincial Growth Fund announcements for Northland mean more than $130 million from the $3 billion fund has been invested into the region so far.

Northland projects are getting more than $21m from the government fund.

Regional Development Minister Shane Jones, Deputy Prime Minister Winston Peters and Economic Development Minister David Parker were in the region yesterday announcing the funding.

The announcements mean more almost $130m has been given to Northland from the three-year, $3b fund so far.

There's up to $18.5m in water storage to unlock land use potential in the Mid North; $3.2m to rebuild the Opononi seawall and a yet-to-be determined amount for New Zealand's first three Regional Digital Hubs.

The $3.2m rebuild of the Opononi seawall and to improve the resilience of State Highway 12 will be welcomed by locals, Jones said.

He was in Opononi yesterday morning with Peters for a dawn blessing of the work site by kaumatua from Te Pouka and Ngati Wharara.

"Intervention is required now as shoreline erosion is affecting areas of the highway, and existing protection measures are no longer fit for purpose. This is an important route for the local community because it's the only coastal road connection between businesses and schools in the towns of Opononi and Omapere," Jones said.

The PGF will invest up to $18.5m in water storage to unlock land use potential with Jones saying the money will be invested to help investigate and, if feasible, construct community-scale water storage and use options in Kaipara and Mid North.

"This project is the largest PGF investment to date in water storage. Regional Economic Development Ministers backed the proposal because of the real opportunities that ensuring a more reliable water supply could bring to the region – up to $150m in increased horticulture earnings per year and up to 1150 jobs created,'' he said.

Northland Regional Council will receive the funding and will work with other councils in the region, iwi and the community to undertake the necessary work required to support the project's construction.

Northland is also getting New Zealand's first three Regional Digital Hubs to enable people to connect for business and accelerate economic development in the region.

"The Regional Digital Hubs will be a game changer for the region once they are set up and running by the end of this year. There will be three hubs in three locations in the region with the first hub to open in Kaitaia. The other two hubs are likely to be in Dargaville and Kaikohe," Jones said.

"The hubs will allow people to connect for business development and support, and offer services such as free Wi-Fi connectivity, co-working spaces and guidance on use of the internet for business and skills development purposes."

Kaipara District Council has welcomed the funding announcements.

"It's another fantastic win for Northland," Kaipara Mayor Dr Jason Smith said.

"Central Government understand the issues Northland faces with water, too much in winter, and not enough in summer. This work will help to even out those pressure points. What this project will look like, and how it will work alongside programmes already announced [in February] for the Kaipara Kickstart programme, will be the next step.

''We look forward to working with NRC and iwi to ensure the benefit of this funding is maximised. Being on the shortlist for a digital hub will help open up accessibility options for those in business, with co-working and support, alongside lifting Wi-Fi connectivity, all of which contributes to lifting economic wellbeing.''