33037 (2025). Tangi Utikere to the Minister of Local Government

33037 (2025). Tangi Utikere to the Minister of Local Government: Did the Government conduct any cost-benefit or strategic value assessment of Waikato’s Regional Deal proposal before making its decision to not select the Waikato region for a Regional Deal?

Hon Simon Watts: As a part of the assessment, the Department of Internal Affairs undertook high-level economic analysis including the alignment of the proposed projects with the objectives in the Strategic Framework. Collectively, the regions selected in the first round provided robust and viable plans for growth and showcase the diversity of the New Zealand economy, from tourism, housing and transport development, through to aquacultural and horticultural exports.