Kānoa: Regional Economic Development and Investment Unit
Improving the well-being of New Zealanders living in our regions is the goal of Kānoa – Regional Economic Development & Investment Unit (Kānoa – RDU).
We do this by delivering government funding to nurture each region’s economy so they can grow and develop to reach their full potential.
Originally established as the Provincial Development Unit in 2018, a new name 'Kānoa' was chosen in 2021 to better reflect our goal of helping build sustainable, inclusive and productive regional economies.
This new name coincides with the establishment of a new funding programme, the Regional Strategic Partnership Fund. This fund, the RSPF, is providing $200 million to invest in projects which the regions themselves identify as priorities.
The RSPF is just one of several funds which Kānoa – RDU manages.
These include the Provincial Growth Fund (PGF), COVID-19: Response and Recovery Fund (Infrastructure Reference Group), COVID-19 Response – Worker Redeployment Package, Regional Investment Opportunities (NZ Upgrade Programme) and the Tourism Sector Recovery Fund.
The Regional Strategic Partnership Fund
The Regional Strategic Partnership Fund (RSPF) is a $200 million fund to support regions to make steps towards achieving their economic potential.
New Zealand’s economy is built on its regions and their individual strengths.
Each region faces different economic challenges and opportunities depending on the businesses and industries based there, the resources they need to thrive, the infrastructure they rely on, and the skills of the people who call these places home.
The Government wants to make regional economies stronger and more resilient to improve the economic prospects, wellbeing and living standards of all New Zealanders.
The Regional Strategic Partnership Fund is part of this strategy.
It provides $200 million to partner with regions to invest in projects they have identified as regional economic development priorities.
When completed, these projects will improve the regions’ economic outcomes and the wellbeing of their communities.
North Island Weather Events Primary Producer Finance Scheme
The North Island Weather Events (NIWE) Primary Producer Finance Scheme (the Scheme) aims to help North Island land-based primary producers that have been severely impacted by the North Island Weather Events in early 2023, including the Auckland Anniversary Weekend floods and Cyclone Gabrielle.
The total funding available is $240 million and must be committed by 30 June 2024.
Expressions of Interest (EOI) for the Scheme have reopened for four weeks and submissions can be made up to 27 October 2023.
Established funds
The funds which Kānoa – RDU manages includes the Provincial Growth Fund (PGF), COVID-19: Response and Recovery Fund (Infrastructure Reference Group), COVID-19 Response – Worker Redeployment Package, Regional Investment Opportunities (NZ Upgrade Programme), the Tourism Sector Recovery Fund, and the Regional Strategic Partnership Fund (RSPF).
