Chatham Islanders are celebrating not only the opening of a new $3million state-of-the art fish factory, but also confirmation of the Government spending $52million on a new Waitangi wharf, with construction to start next year.
Fishing is the major industry on the islands, population 650, with around $124million worth of fish caught annually in its waters.
Processing at the new factory of Aotearoa Fisheries will include blue cod, lobster and paua.
The factory was opened by Minister for Primary Industries Nathan Guy at a ceremony on Wednesday.
Acknowledging the boost it would give the local economy, he said the redevelopment would not have happened without the Government's $52million investment in a new wharf.
"The wharf is the lifeline for the Chathams and, without this, private companies wouldn't have the confidence to invest here,'' he said in a statement.
The construction phase of the new factory has already provided extra employment locally, while the new wharf is also the island's only cargo-handling facility for supplies, including diesel for the electricity grid and fuel for air services.
Aotearoa Fisheries chief executive Carl Carrington said the factory was the company's first major investment on the islands since its lobster plant 15 years ago.
The new plant had 50% greater capacity to process fish, Mr Guy said, which meant more processing could be done on the island, creating more local jobs.
