Less than 10% of Provincial Growth Fund loans repaid as long timelines stretch out

Regional Development Minister Shane Jones says he is not concerned about the repayment rate. (Image: Supplied)

Tue, 04 Nov 2025

Less than 10% of the nearly $366m in loans issued through the Government’s $3 billion Provincial Growth Fund have been repaid, seven years after the regional-development scheme was launched, but Regional Development Minister Shane Jones is not fazed. Figures released to BusinessDesk show the fund, introduced in 2018 under the Labour-led Government of the time and championed by Jones, who was also regional development minister at that time, provided just over $440 million in loans to regional businesses and projects. Nearly $366m of t...

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