Mahe Drysdale: Tauranga mayor on the Government beginning negotiations for regional deals with local councils - Heather du Plessis-Allan Drive

Tauranga's mayor says the region wants certainty - as a deal with the Government inches closer.

Infrastructure Minister Chris Bishop's confirmed talks are progressing on 10-year Government partnerships for housing, developments, and assets.

Auckland, Otago-Central Lakes district, and Western Bay of Plenty are the first areas.

Tauranga's Mahe Drysdale says they want new tools to help with infrastructure.

"So we can deliver the houses, we can deliver the infrastructure that's required to get those houses, we can deliver jobs and we can deliver the economic growth that the Government keeps talking about."

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