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How do assets for critical minerals projects, such as extraction infrastructure or mineral processing plants, meet investment eligibility for individual businesses under the Regional Infrastructure Fund, that businesses must have as a primary focus “energy security, water security, food security, connectivity (transport solution or digital connectivity), or growth of a Māori-owned business that is critical to enabling outcomes through a community or region”? and 5 other questions

Answered 6 questions (2026)
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Questions

  • Asked by

    Steve Abel

    List MP · Green Party

    5710

    Question published

    How do assets for critical minerals projects, such as extraction infrastructure or mineral processing plants, meet investment eligibility for individual businesses under the Regional Infrastructure Fund, that businesses must have as a primary focus “energy security, water security, food security, connectivity (transport solution or digital connectivity), or growth of a Māori-owned business that is critical to enabling outcomes through a community or region”?

  • Asked by

    Steve Abel

    List MP · Green Party

    5711

    Question published

    What specific types of critical minerals infrastructure, if any, are eligible for the ring-fenced funding for critical minerals in the Regional Infrastructure Fund?

  • Asked by

    Steve Abel

    List MP · Green Party

    5712

    Question published

    Are research and development projects for critical minerals eligible for Regional Infrastructure Fund funding?

  • Asked by

    Steve Abel

    List MP · Green Party

    5716

    Question published

    Will applications to the Regional Infrastructure Fund for critical minerals projects only be considered for the West Coast, noting the West Coast is the only region that identified mineral extraction as a regional priority?

  • Asked by

    Lan Pham

    List MP · Green Party

    6148

    Question published

    Is it the Minister's intention that the recently "ring-fenced" $80 million in the Regional Infrastructure Fund to develop and process domestic critical minerals resources is a one-off fund or an annual fund?

  • Asked by

    Lan Pham

    List MP · Green Party

    6150

    Question published

    What criteria are being used to assess applications to the recently "ring-fenced" $80 million in the Regional Infrastructure Fund to develop and process domestic critical minerals resources?

Answered by

Hon Shane Jones

List MP · NZ First · Minister for Regional Development

Answer

As the funding has been ring-fenced through the RIF, Kānoa – Regional Economic Development & Investment Unit will assess critical minerals investment proposals against the fund’s eligibility and location criteria. Information on the RIF’s eligibility and location criterion can be found on the Grow Regions website: www.growregions.govt.nz/new-funding/regional-infrastructure-fund/. The Regional Development Ministerial Group can consider whether to refer critical minerals RIF proposals to Cabinet for consideration if they do not meet the full eligibility criteria of the fund.