Almost 180,000 Northlanders are being called on to get behind a new Kia Kaha Northland social media campaign to bring five huge infrastructure projects to the region.
Rail, road and more - the Kia Kaha Northland campaign calls for further infrastructure boost in region. Photo: Northern Advocate
Northland's three mayors have jointly launched Kia Kaha Northland campaign - as high-profile Northland leaders - rather than specifically representing their councils.
"It would be a complete failure by this generation of Northlanders and a betrayal of all our mokopuna to let this opportunity be lost," Far North's John Carter, Whangarei's Sheryl Mai and Kaipara's Jason Smith said in the joint launch.
Getting the projects north would benefit Northland and New Zealand's economy as a whole, they said.
Northlanders - and others outside the region - were all being encouraged to participate.
A Kia Kaha Northland campaign's promotional video appeared on 300,000 Facebook and other social media accounts yesterday to alert Northlanders and other New Zealanders to the new campaign.
The five Kia Kaha Northland-backed projects are:
- A new $240 million ship repair dry dock in Whangarei - to service ships from New Zealand and Australia, rather than Asia where they must currently go for this work
- A new multi-million dollar Royal New Zealand Navy base in Whangarei - to replace its current Devonport, Auckland base
- The multi-million Northport, Whangarei expansion - for cars and containers currently entering New Zealand through Auckland, as well as for exports from Northland and elsewhere
- The multi-million dollar completion of four-laned highway from Whangarei to Auckland, including the planned four-lane highway to Port Marsden.
- The fast-tracking of a doubled-tracked rail line from West Auckland to Whangarei, including the planned spur to Port Marsden - to carry freight
A four month window between now and May was the moment in time for Northlanders to lobby for these once-in-a-lifetime projects, Carter, Mai and Smith said.
"Major infrastructure decisions to be made over the next four months by Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern and Deputy Prime Minister Winston Peters will determine Northland's economic prosperity for the next hundred years," the mayors said.
Northlanders' lobbying would be critical in making sure the five projects came to Te Tai Tokerau, they said.
"For example, while the Prime Minister announced on December 9 the car and container port in Auckland's CBD will close, her Government has not yet decided where it will go," the mayors said.
"All the people of Te Tai Tokerau must tell the Government, the National Party and all of Parliament that we want all five projects to start now," they said.
"We need all Northlanders to support Kia Kaha Northland by liking it, sharing it or following it on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram," the mayors said.
"Northlanders also needed to lobby politicians at all levels too through social media, emailing and calling or writing to New Zealand's Prime Minister and Deputy Prime Minister, the Leader of the Opposition as well as their local electorate and list MPs."
The Kia Kaha Northland campaign belonged to those who participated on its social media or became otherwise involved, the mayors said.
Kia Kaha's purpose is to show Northlanders are behind the five projects coming north.
Crowdfunding's being sought for further Northland Kia Kaha social media advertising. The initial video and Facebook advertising launch has been privately funded.
Northland Chamber of Commerce chief executive Stephen Smith said he was wildly enthusiastic about bringing the five projects to the North - and the new social media campaign.
His organisation had already liked the campaign's new Facebook page and was sharing it with others.
The five projects had to be viewed as a package for Northland.
Smith said four laning the Whangarei to Auckland state highway's full length was an essential.
Alan Preston, Save Our Rail Northland campaigner, said the Kia Kaha campaign was great news. He had liked and shared it via his group's Facebook page.
He said rail would bring huge economic benefit for the region and offered an important opportunity for strategic future proofing Northland and wider New Zealand in the face of an oil shock.
Local Democracy Reporting is a public interest news service supported by RNZ, the Newspaper Publishers' Association and NZ On Air.
