New Zealand Government releases details of $1.1 billion Jobs for Nature program

New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern has advised that a $162 million plan to clean up the country's waterways, a process expected to creating 2000 jobs across 23 projects, will come from the $1.1 billion Jobs for Nature package announced in the 2020 Budget.

Announcing the program, Prime Minister Ardern stated “we are stepping up the pace of getting New Zealanders into work in the wake of COVID-19. These 23 projects will deliver over 2000 jobs across the country that also help to deliver the Government's goal of cleaning up our waterways."

Advising that most of the jobs would not require people to undergo extensive training, so are "good to go", Prime Minister Ardern added “these projects will help restore wetlands, rivers and streams, regenerate native bush and control pests and weeds while creating much needed jobs in the regions.

“People visit New Zealand and buy our produce because of our clean green image; it's how we market ourselves to the world so we need to protect it."

Jobs for Nature is a programme of work which seeks to address major environmental needs and create over 11,000 jobs to stimulate New Zealand’s post-Coronavirus economy.

Welcoming the funding announcement, the Regional Sector of Local Government New Zealand (LGNZ) said the programs is an endorsement of the return on investment councils can provide for both the economy and environment.

Regional Sector Deputy Chair and Nelson City Council Mayor Rachel Reese says the projects have the potential to deliver huge environmental benefits, explaining “we’re very pleased that the Government is supporting regional and unitary councils to undertake these vital projects which will improve freshwater quality, enhance native ecosystems and deliver major planting and pest management and restoration programmes.”

“This support shows the value that Regional Sector projects can offer New Zealand’s communities and environment.”

In late April, regional councils provided a list of 302 projects for the first tranche of funding, with a total estimated funding requirement of approximately $2 billion. The successful projects were selected because they demonstrate clear and immediate job creation, significant environmental outcomes, Iwi and community engagement and/or partnership as well as regional spread.

Mayor Reese added “from addressing sedimentation issues, to pest and weed control, re-vegetation, riparian planting, erosion mitigation and even setting up a conservation cadets system, these projects address many environmental needs, while creating 500 jobs in the first year, and over 2,000 job opportunities across the lifetime of the projects.”

This funding injection provides a huge opportunity to accelerate work that the sector already delivers on a day to day basis, including progressing the objectives of freshwater management regulatory reforms.

Mayor Reese suggested that integrated and sustainable land and ecosystem management or whole of catchment approaches delivered through partnership are the ideal model for delivering and scaling-up environmental enhancement projects.

$100 million in funding will go towards restoration of Northland’s Kaipara Harbour, which is facing degradation from sedimentation and nutrient pollution. Using the funding, work will be undertaken to reduce the annual average sedimentation.