The first three posts on the Government’s official website, when PoO checked at 10.30am, suggest “resilience” is the buzz word of the day in Beehive circles.
“Trough” would have done the trick as an alternative buzz word in two of those posts, but government media flunkeys are apt to avoid using words that might draw disapproving attention to the swill their ministers will be serving to eligible oinkers.
The three posts are:
The Government is stepping up support for rural New Zealand with a $4 million Rural Wellbeing Fund to expand investment in community-based initiatives.
Applications have opened for a $30 million fund for projects that will enhance the resilience of New Zealand’s coastal shipping connections and help boost economic growth, Associate Transport Minister James Meager has announced.
The Coastal Shipping Resilience Fund was established through the Government Policy Statement on land transport. Funding will be allocated through a contestable process, with the criteria’s scope confirmed today.
Foreign Minister Winston Peters has taken part in two major international events in Nice, France this week, focused on Pacific resilience, prosperity and security.
The first two statements draw attention to the availability of publicly funded slops.
- Trough for the rural sector:
The fund brings the Government’s total investment in rural resilience and mental health to more than $11 million over the next four years.
But wait – there’s more.
In addition to the Rural Wellbeing Fund, the Government has confirmed:
- $6 million over four years for Rural Support Trusts across the country;
- An extra $1 million in 2025 for frontline rural mental wellbeing services;
- $400,000 in grants for A&P shows that foster rural connection and pride; and
- $250,000 to support the expanded outreach work of Rural Women New Zealand in 2025/26.
“The establishment of this fund is a result of advocacy by Federated Farmers Chair, Wayne Langford, who has been a long-time champion of rural wellbeing and mental health,” Mr McClay says.
And here comes the word of the day:
The contestable fund to drive rural health and community resilience will prioritise initiatives that have strong local backing and secure co-funding from industry or regional partners. It will support new and existing initiatives like Surfing for Farmers, Farmstrong, NZ Young Farmers, FirstMate and many more.
It looks like there are job opportunities, too:
A five-member panel with representation from the primary sector will be established to assess project applications. Projects must demonstrate strong local delivery, provide clear benefits to rural people, and ability to attract co-investment from industry and sector partners.
McClay said:
“We’re backing the people on the ground who are already doing great work—this fund is about scaling up, reaching further, and removing barriers for rural communities to lead their own wellbeing efforts,” Mr McClay says.
And:
“This package is about ensuring the farmers and growers who generate our export income, create jobs, and sustain our regions have the support they need to thrive,” Mr McClay says.
Expressions of interests for project funding are now open. For more information, visit www.mpi.govt.nz.
- Trough for the coastal shipping sector
The Coastal Shipping Resilience Fund was established through the Government Policy Statement on land transport. Funding will be allocated through a contestable process, with the criteria’s scope confirmed today.
“The coastal shipping sector is vulnerable to natural hazard risks. Disruption to the sector could worsen New Zealand’s supply chain and economic performance,” Meager says.
“This long-term investment is crucial to ensuring we as a nation can get our goods to market, which is vital to growing the economy. Economic growth means more jobs, higher incomes and better public services for all Kiwis.”
The fund will be used to invest in a small number of landmark projects, to support assets and facilities with a long lifespan well beyond the three-year funding period.
This could include strengthening wharves and jetties, improving access routes to and from ports, or upgrading freight handling equipment.
Preference will be given to applications which include co-investment.
Meager says the fund will also consider requests from sectors that support the resilience of the wider coastal shipping sector through, for example, energy and fuel, navigation aids, or the training of seafarers.
“Coastal shipping plays an important role in New Zealand’s freight network. It provides a safe and low emitting way of transporting large, heavy cargo such as shipping containers – along with cement and aggregate used in building new infrastructure.
“It is also a lifeline when natural disaster strikes, as demonstrated following Cyclone Gabrielle when coastal shipping provided critical services to Tairāwhiti. The fund will ensure those benefits can continue.
“The fund will enhance the coastal shipping sector’s ability to prepare for, respond to and recover from disruptive events that would otherwise undermine our coastal freight connections.”
Meager’s press statement did not contain a link for oinkers to check on their eligibility and learn how to take their place in the queue.
Since this article was drafted, RMA Reform Minister Chris Bishop and Auckland Minister Simeon Brown have posted an announcement on the progress of the Resource Management (Consenting and Other System Changes) Amendment Bill. It has been reported back to Parliament today by the Environment Committee, containing significant changes to enable housing growth in our largest cities.
This statement did not mention resilience.
Bob Edlin is a veteran journalist and editor for the Point of Order blog HERE. - where this article was sourced.
1 comment:
Three of the few Govt funds that don't specifically mention Maori . Well done
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