Hon KIRITAPU ALLAN (Minister of Conservation): As part of a Government that is absolutely committed to regional New Zealand, it was my privilege to attend a visit in Rangitata alongside the member of Parliament for that region Jo-Anne Luxton, to announce a Jobs for Nature investment of $16 million. This was to protect and enhance the unique and significant Rangitata River. We went down to the lower part of the Rangitata River and were met by the people of Te Rūnunga o Arowhenua, who are currently employing in excess of 10 young people, and they have received $8.7 million for a project focusing on that lower region. We also met with farmers and others from the upper Rangitata River who had been spearheading a project in the upper Rangitata region, and they were awarded $7.3 million to work alongside farmers and others to preserve the biodiversity values of the upper region.