DEPUTY Prime Minister Winston Peters and Regional Development Minister Shane visited the Opotiki Harbour Project this morning to attend the karakia of the completed harbour.

They were welcomed with a pōhiri from Te Whakatōhea on the landward side of the eastern seawall. They were joined by some 100 guests, some with involvement in the project dating back more than 20 years, including former mayors.

Mr Jones said the two new breakwater walls would provide boats with safe harbour access to support the continued growth of aquaculture in Bay of Plenty.

As well as the two 450m breakwaters extending out to sea, the $115.3 million harbour redevelopment includes continuing dredging of a channel to enable larger vessels to use the facility in most sea and tide conditions.

The Government supported the project with combined funding of $95.3m from the Provincial Growth Fund and NZ Upgrade Programme, the largest single project investment managed by Kānoa, the Regional Economic Development and Investment Agency.

Bay of Plenty Regional Council provided co-funding of $20m.

Mr Peters said the harbour work was a crucial part of the cluster of government co-investments in Ōpōtiki that were supporting a positive future for the town.

“This is the first major harbour built in New Zealand in decades, and it is a big day for everyone involved in years of hard work to bring a new future for Ōpōtiki to life,” he said.

“This success has been underpinned by a strong commitment from local community leaders including iwi and councils, to create new jobs, increase household incomes, and add millions to the economy.

“It is these collaborative investments and projects that are going to lift regional New Zealand off its knees and back into prosperity and pride.”

Mr Jones said the harbour redevelopment paved the way for the development of a commercial marina and other businesses, supporting the future growth of the aquaculture sector in Bay of Plenty.

“These harbour walls represent the protection and strengthening of investments by iwi, central, local and regional government in Ōpōtiki. In 2018, we discussed this vision and now, six years on, our commitments together total $176.9m in the harbour and a number of other associated infrastructure projects,” he said.

The Ōpōtiki town wharf has been upgraded to accommodate mussel boats as an interim measure while the private marina and commercial wharf work progresses.

A new marina will safely berth boats and enable produce to be easily transferred to the Whakatōhea mussel-proccessing factory in Ōpōtiki rather than by road from Whakatāne

As well as the direct jobs created through the harbour development itself, three new rock quarries have been accelerated through construction of the sea walls.

A local cement contractor also substantially scaled up, creating more jobs and training to local people.

HEB Construction, the project’s lead contractor, trained 40 locals into a crew to support construction of the harbour walls, with support from the Ministry of Social Development.

“All this work is building on other successes delivering positive impacts for Ōpōtiki, including the Whakatōhea mussel-processing factory,” Mr Jones said.

There are 17,000ha of potential aquaculture space for development in Eastern Bay of Plenty and a lot of opportunities will open up with the right investments and infrastructure in place.”

The Kānoa-administered government co-investment with local partners has had a substantial impact on Ōpōtiki.

The funding has helped to create jobs, improve infrastructure, and support Māori businesses and community organisations.

Details of the impacts of these project investments –  Pākihikura (Ōpotiki) Harbour Redevelopment and other Ōpotiki projects including the Whakatōhea mussel-processing factory – are available in two recent impact assessment reports.

Collaboration key to Ōpōtiki Harbour

Ōpōtiki Mayor David Moore said today's event brought together the range of people involved in making the Ōpōtiki Harbour vision a reality.

“It is incredible to consider that more than 20 years ago, [former Mayor] John Forbes and [Whakatōhea leader] Robert Edwards were sitting together considering how the Ōpōtiki community could turn its fortunes around and bring back the prosperity of Ōpōtiki’s past.

“They looked out to sea and saw the potential there. But more importantly, they started planning for it and all the different parts of the puzzle that would need to come together.

“This event marks a significant milestone and there have been many others over the years in all the different projects – the first mussel lines in the water, the opening of the processing factory, building and purchasing specialist vessels, first boats between the walls, upgrades at the Ōpōtiki wharf. And there are more to come as other projects finish or come online. This is an ongoing process for all of us.”

“This absolutely wouldn’t be possible without the funding and support of Kānoaand central government’s commitment to providing the tools and funding so that regions can build their own growth in the way that we best know how.

“But I do want to acknowledge how much work has been done by so many people to get to this point. Three mayors have now carried this torch, many leadership teams and staff at both council and Whakatōhea. We’ve had incredible supporters in many ministries and departments, industry and research, politicians of all stripes, and genuine grass-roots support in our community to get this off the ground,” Mr Moore said.

In particular, Mr Moore acknowledged Toi Moana Bay of Plenty Regional Council as one of the first to show their confidence in the vision and contribute the first $20million to the project back in 2013 through the Toi Moana regional infrastructure fund.

Regional council chair Doug Leeder said collaboration had been key to the success of the project.

“The Ōpōtiki Harbour project illustrates what can be achieved when central, regional and local government, iwi, business and local stakeholders genuinely work together with a common goal.

“With our contribution through the regional infrastructure fund, we recognised the benefits the harbour will bring to the whole region through new, sustainable and skilled jobs, education and training, business and growth opportunities. It opens new pathways to achieve better social and economic outcomes," Mr Leeder said.