A Provincial Growth Fund (PGF) loan – loans financed through the New Zealand Government – has been awarded to Moana New Zealand to allow commercial expansion of Pacific oyster farming.
The funding, which totals NZD 11 million (USD 7 million, EUR 6 million), would allow for the expansion of Pacific oysters’ farming from 14.4 million oysters to 24 million oysters year-on-year by 2024.
According to a statement last week from New Zealand’s Deputy Prime Minister Winston Peters, and Regional Economic Development Minister Shane Jones, the funding will help in the transformation of its oyster farming operations to increase production, employment, earnings, and environmental outcomes.
Moana New Zealand utilizes “flip farming”, a technique in which oysters are placed in baskets and then submerged at various depths, to increase the production of oysters.
“The growth is encouraged by the ocean's natural tidal movements. Flip farming replicates these movements by semi-automating the basket flipping process, encouraging growth,” Moana New Zealand stated. “This is usually a manually laborious process requiring skilled workers year-round to turn baskets by hand - no mean feat given oysters' 18-month growth cycle.”
Moana New Zealand Chief Executive Steve Tarrant said the funding will spur the development of Pacific oysters.
"We're really pleased to have secured regional funding which is to be invested in sustainable marine technology, infrastructure creation and the human capital required to facilitate that long-term,” he said. "Implementation of the project is expected to smoothly navigate resource consent processes, with Northland Regional Council already providing written approval and Waikato Regional Council reviewing consent currently.”
Moana New Zealand’s General Manager of Operations - Shellfish and Meals Fiona Wikaira added that the assistance will help jobseekers as employment positions are expected to become available throughout regions in which Moana New Zealand farms and harvests oysters.
"Early indications show more than 30 jobs at Parengarenga, Whangaroa, Coromandel, Orongo and Kerikeri, which we're obviously happy to announce in the context of this difficult year,” Wikaira said. "We're committed to continue delivery of talent pipelines as part of our 2023 aspirational oyster plan."
The Pacific oyster funding is part of PGF’s nearly NZD 30 million (USD 19.6 million, EUR 16.8 million) project that is aimed at creating immediate and long-term jobs and lift economic and social outcomes for Northland and its people.
“These 11 projects will bring around 480 construction and long-term jobs to the region. A number of these jobs will begin immediately as construction starts and over the long term will lead to full-time permanent roles,” Peters said. “These jobs will have a positive impact on the social and economic outcomes of the communities they are in. More money will get circulating where it is needed and the local economy will be boosted.”
Photo courtesy of Moana New Zealand
