New Zealand Funds $50 Million Critical Minerals Projects on West Coast

The New Zealand Government is allocating up to $50 million from the Regional Infrastructure Fund to support two critical minerals processing projects on the West Coast. Minister for Regional Development and Resources Shane Jones announced that Westland Mineral Sands will receive $30 million toward a proposed $70 million separation and processing facility near Westport, while Tāiko Critical Minerals will receive up to $20 million for a $40 million wet separation plant in Barrytown.

The investment focuses on processing ores containing zirconium, titanium, and rare earth-bearing concentrates. The funding is contingent on the companies securing private co-funding. By establishing domestic early-stage processing, the government aims to create approximately 170 permanent high-value jobs and 90 construction jobs, reducing the export of raw materials in favor of higher-value products.

Josie Vidal, chief executive of the New Zealand Minerals Council, welcomed the investment as a necessary reality check against misinformation about the mining industry. She noted that minerals export earnings reached $2.4 billion in 2025. This initiative aligns with a broader strategy to secure a diversified critical minerals supply chain for science and manufacturing, supporting ongoing negotiations with the United States to reduce global reliance on Chinese supply lines.