Economic and Regional Development

The Provincial Growth Fund (PGF) is successfully creating jobs and boosting regional economic growth, an independent evaluation report confirms.

Economic and Regional Development Minister Stuart Nash launched the draft Advanced Manufacturing Industry Transformation Plan for public consultation at the EMEX Trade Show in Auckland today.

The Government has appointed a Startup Advisors’ Council to help identify and address the opportunities and challenges facing high growth start-up businesses.

Māori businesses will play a vital role to help lift whānau Māori aspirations and dreams for a better life, while reinforcing New Zealand’s economic security.

The development of sustainable, plant-based foods and meat alternatives is getting new government backing, with investment from a dedicated regional economic development fund.

A new fund to improve access to finance for small and medium businesses is included in a package of Budget 2022 initiatives to drive economic security, innovation, and low-emissions growth.

The Government has released a review of the operation and effectiveness of the law controlling commercial space activities, and signalled a separate study on wider issues of space policy will begin later this year.

The shared nineteenth-century histories of Aotearoa-New Zealand have come to life with the official opening today of one of the most culturally significant sites of the 1860s New Zealand Wars.

The Government has responded to recommendations from the Productivity Commission’s report into Frontier Firms and will update existing programmes to support the growth of firms exporting innovative products at scale.

The small settlement of Waipawa in southern Hawke’s Bay has been declared the most digital town in Aotearoa New Zealand after a push to get more businesses online and connected to the world.

The Arts and Economic Development Ministers say the New Zealand screen sector can take a bow after The Power of the Dog won the coveted Best Director Oscar at today’s Academy Award ceremony in Los Angeles.

A New Zealand delegation has headed to Los Angeles to lift the profile of our screen sector as Kiwi co-production The Power of the Dog goes up against the world’s best for the Academy Awards.

Wellington City Council and the Government are coming together to support inner-city Wellington businesses who lost significant revenue due to the illegal occupation at Parliament grounds, with a $1.2 million business relief fund.

The Government is partnering with the community to support the country’s aquaculture industry to help develop a much-needed mussel spat hatchery in Te Moana-a-Toi Bay of Plenty.

Workforce pressures in the advanced manufacturing sector are to be eased with the approval of spaces for 100 critical workers to enter under a special immigration arrangement.

Two new winter festivals in the lower South Island are getting government backing through an annual fund that supports start-up events to become internationally significant.

The Government will invest in world-leading lithium recovery technology with potential to strengthen our geothermal energy and advanced manufacturing sectors, and contribute to a lower carbon future.

A thirty year project to construct the Hundertwasser Art Centre in Whangarei will be realised with its public opening today. 

The Events Transition Support Payment scheme (ETSP), will be extended to 31 January 2023 and expanded to include business events, Economic and Regional Development Minister Stuart Nash announced today.

A remote Far North marae has become the 500^th regional economic development project completed with Crown investment from the PGF and other funds.

Latest research into our premium ice cream industry suggests exporters could find new buyers in valuable overseas markets as consumers increasingly look for tip top quality in food.

The government has launched a review of the way it funds parts of the film and television industry to ensure the screen sector has a more secure long-term future.