Recent news and announcements from Kānoa – Regional Economic Development & Investment Unit.
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Masterton's Hood Aerodrome upgrade complete
Masterton’s Hood Aerodrome has completed a major upgrade of its airfield infrastructure, improving safety and strengthening its ability to support the region’s economy, with a $10 million government grant from the COVID-19 Response Recovery Fund.
23 March, 2026
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Superhot geothermal preferred contractor named
New Zealand firm Todd Energy has been selected as the preferred lead contractor to drill New Zealand’s first exploratory superdeep, superhot geothermal well, which – if successful – could bring about a step change in New Zealand’s energy supply.
11 March, 2026
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Gas Security Fund expert panel appointed
Gas and energy industry specialist Andy Knight is to chair a panel appointed to provide expert advice to the Government on applications to the Gas Security Fund.
4 March, 2026
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Pre-construction work for new Falls Dam
Regional Infrastructure Fund (RIF) funding will support the future resilience of Central Otago’s primary industries with a $2 million loan towards pre construction work on a proposed replacement for the 90-year-old Falls Dam near St Bathans, Otago.
26 February, 2026
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Golden Bay Air receives first regional airline loan
Golden Bay Air is the first airline to receive a concessionary loan from funding ear-marked for at-risk regional air routes.
25 February, 2026
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New suite of Regional Infrastructure Fund reports published
Kānoa has published a new suite of monitoring and reporting reports for the Regional Infrastructure Fund (RIF).
17 February, 2026
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Support for energy resilience in the Far North
Reliable, affordable electricity is on the way for a kura (school) and 5 marae north of Kaitaia, supported by a grant of up to $1.26 million from the Regional Infrastructure Fund (RIF).
13 February, 2026
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Regional Infrastructure Fund support for Māori horticulture
The government is investing a total of $6.25 million from the Regional Infrastructure Fund (RIF) into 2 horticulture developments on underutilised Māori land in Northland and Waikato.
13 February, 2026
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Government loan helps boost productivity for Taranaki land
The government is providing a $950,000 loan through the Regional Infrastructure Fund (RIF) to support the Omuturangi 6E and 7A Ahu Whenua Trust, to increase productivity on its farmland near Hāwera.
10 February, 2026
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Government supports infrastructure for Kaikohe housing project
A $4 million grant from the Regional Infrastructure Fund (RIF) will help fund the infrastructure needed to create up to 100 new affordable homes as part of a Kaikohe social housing project.
10 February, 2026
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Waitangi Treaty Grounds road access improved
Road access to one of New Zealand’s most important cultural sites, the Waitangi Treaty Grounds, was upgraded in time for Waitangi Day events.
10 February, 2026
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CRHL Annual Report 2025 highlights strong regional impact
Crown Regional Holdings Limited’s (CRHL) Annual Report 2025 shows that government investment is delivering real economic benefits across New Zealand’s regions.
3 February, 2026
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$10m investment in new Ringatū Marae complex
The Government is investing just over $10 million from the Regional Infrastructure Fund (RIF) to upgrade the National Ringatū Marae Complex in Bay of Plenty.
3 February, 2026
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Funding boost for Nelson Marina project
Nelson’s planned marina expansion has been provided a $12.89 million Regional Infrastructure Fund (RIF) loan, which will help deliver infrastructure upgrades to drive economic growth and generate local jobs.
3 February, 2026
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Government support for Timaru intersection
A $2.84 million grant from the Regional Infrastructure Fund (RIF) will support a project to clear bottlenecks on State Highway 1 in Timaru, unlocking major commercial development and new jobs.
3 February, 2026
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Airport upgrade to strengthen regional resilience
Wairoa Airport will receive a $4.2 million upgrade to help support the region’s growing needs, especially during emergencies.
3 February, 2026
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Hotter, deeper, cleaner: Powering our way to 'supercritical' geothermal energy
New Zealand is at the fore of a global race to unlock one of the potentially most powerful renewable energy sources on Earth.
28 January, 2026
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New racing hub unlocks housing potential
A racecourse in the Hawke’s Bay will be transformed to help free up prime land for houses in Hastings, with a loan from the Regional Infrastructure Fund (RIF).
23 January, 2026
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Waikato Regional Theatre opens its doors
A new era for the arts has arrived in Hamilton with the opening of the Waikato Regional Theatre, a 1,300-seat landmark backed by a $14 million government grant from the former Provincial Growth Fund.
23 January, 2026
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Southland industrial subdivision receives boost
The Government has provided a $3.1 million loan from the Regional Infrastructure Fund (RIF) to kickstart an industrial subdivision near Gore.
23 January, 2026
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Fuel access boost for Marlborough Sounds communities
Remote communities in the outer Marlborough Sounds will soon have access to a local, reliable petrol supply at Elaine Bay through a $350,000 grant from the Regional Infrastructure Fund.
15 January, 2026
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Gas security fund opens
Regional Economic Development and Investment Unit (Kānoa) is calling for expressions of interest for co-investment proposals that will accelerate or increase the volume of gas to market or provide storage for managing seasonal demand.
13 January, 2026
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Remote Horeke community gets power upgrade
The remote community of Horeke in Northland will have its electricity supply upgraded with the help of a $1.6 million grant from the Regional Infrastructure Fund (RIF).
17 December, 2025
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Kaikōura redevelopment opens for summer
The completion of Kaikōura’s waterfront redevelopment, Wakatu Quay, marks a major milestone for the revitalisation of the region.
17 December, 2025
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Tasman’s Port Tarakohe upgrades complete
The $12.7 million upgrade of Port Tarakohe has been completed, marking a major step forward for economic development and emergency resilience in the Tasman District.
9 December, 2025
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Regional Infrastructure Fund supporting resilience on the West Coast
The Government announced it is investing $2.31 million from the Regional Infrastructure Fund (RIF) to upgrade Jackson Bay Wharf, strengthening the region's disaster resilience and supporting the local fishing industry.
27 November, 2025
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Energy boost for Chatham Islands
The completion of the Chatham Islands Renewable Energy Project is expected to reduce both local power prices and carbon emissions on the Chatham Islands.
27 November, 2025
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Ōpōtiki Harbour supports aquaculture growth
Work on a new harbour servicing the eastern Bay of Plenty is complete, unlocking opportunities for aquaculture and marine industry growth, new local jobs and regional prosperity.
25 November, 2025
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Government announces flood resilience funding
The Government has announced that it will invest $96.8 million from the Regional Infrastructure Fund (RIF) into 32 flood resilience projects across New Zealand, helping protect more than 30,000 homes and around 350,000 hectares of land.
17 October, 2025
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Te Waihekeora Reservoir
Horticulture and job opportunities in Northland will get a major boost with the completion of Te Waihekeora Reservoir, a 3.3 million cubic metre water storage project south of Dargaville.
2 October, 2025
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First supercritical geothermal site chosen
Land within Rotokawa Geothermal Reservoir in the Taupō Volcanic Zone has been selected as a preferred site for New Zealand’s first supercritical geothermal exploration, with design work already underway to develop the first well.
24 September, 2025
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East Coast receives $24.62m funding for infrastructure
$24.62 million from the Regional Infrastructure Fund (RIF) will support horticulture expansion in Wairoa and Tairāwhiti through water storage, flood resilience and whenua Māori projects.
28 August, 2025
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Canterbury water storage receives $56.4m investment
The Government is investing more than $56 million into water resilience projects in rural Canterbury to help protect against changing weather patterns and increase productivity through higher value land use.
18 July, 2025
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Solar projects increase reliability of power supply for communities
Loans from the Regional Infrastructure Fund for 3 solar energy projects will make local electricity supply more secure, building community resilience.
4 July, 2025
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Water reservoir will boost industry and agriculture in the Wairarapa
A reservoir to be built near Carterton will be a game-changer for the town and wider Wairarapa region.
4 July, 2025
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Key transport link opens to boost Bay of Plenty economy
A key piece of transport infrastructure linking a new industrial park in Bay of Plenty to the wider region will help grow the economy, creating jobs and opportunities.
26 March, 2025
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Government funding confirmed for Whakapapa ski field purchasers
Cabinet has agreed to provide Whakapapa Holdings 2024 Limited (WHL) with a loan of up to $5 million to support its purchase of the Whakapapa ski field, on the condition that WHL obtain a concession to operate the ski area from the Minister of Conservation
10 December, 2024
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New sea walls safeguard Ōpōtiki’s transformation
Two new breakwater walls officially opened in Pākihikura (Ōpōtiki) Harbour in September 2024 provide boats with safe harbour access to support the continued growth of aquaculture in the Bay of Plenty.
11 October, 2024
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Parihaka infrastructure upgrades funded
Parihaka papakāinga, a village on ancestral Māori land, is set to receive Government funding to improve its wastewater infrastructure.
2 October, 2024
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First Regional Infrastructure Fund co-investments confirmed
Flood resilience projects protecting communities across the regions could get started as early as this year, with the first tranche of project funding from the Regional Infrastructure Fund (RIF) now confirmed.
16 September, 2024