All-weather race tracks to be paid for by Jones' regional fund

Not one but "several" all-weather race tracks will be paid for out of the Provincial Growth Fund thanks to a deal secured by New Zealand First in coalition talks with Labour. The Cabinet has effectively approved the tracks, along with the Dunedin Centre of Digital Excellence and Te Hiku Sports Hub in Kaitaia which Labour campaigned on last year. Regional Economic Development Minister Shane Jones says $30 million in contingency funding has been set aside for their construction. National's economic development spokesman Paul Goldsmith told RNZ political reporter Jo Moir the approval of the race tracks highlights the vague nature of the provincial fund.