Wedd's Weekly - 18 October

19 October 2024

Catherine Wedd



REPRESENTING NZ ON THE GLOBAL STAGE

Schools are back, and I am back in Parliament working hard as our government continues to move at pace.
While Parliament was in recess I was honoured to represent New Zealand as the chair of our NZ population and development group and the chair of the AFPPD ; Asian Forum of Parliamentarians on Population and Development in Indonesia – a trip funded by AFPPD.
I spoke about New Zealand’s progress as longstanding champions of gender equality and the work we are doing as Parliamentarians to promote female representation and our support in the Pacific.
We fund many programmes in the Pacific to support the sexual reproductive health rights of women so this was an important opportunity for parliamentarians across Asia and the Pacific to discuss the sexual reproductive health rights of women and action a declaration!

OUT AND ABOUT

Tūpore is a company which cares about their people, and this was clear to see when I visited recently!
Robbie and Gavin do an amazing job employing and upskilling local people. It was great to learn more about their business and commitment and passion for getting infrastructure built across Hawke’s Bay!
It was a pleasure to meet the master mechanics at Beacham Cars and learn about the craftmanship and skill involved in classic car restoration, and customisation.
It’s always great to see and support local business exporting to the world.
I caught up with the Hawke’s Bay & East Coast Aero Club members and discussed their contribution to the community post Cyclone Gabrielle. They received the Civic Honors Award recognising the base at Bridge Pa providing invaluable support during Cyclone Gabrielle.
I joined my fellow MPs to receive the Vulnerable Road Users (horse riders) petition from Julia McLean and her daughter Delia at Parliament.
There were an impressive 8966 signatures.
I recently met with our Hawke’s Bay advocates as they were collecting many signatures across our region.
Well done to our Hawke’s Bay horse riders and the national group for your advocacy to raise awareness around horse riders on our roads.


GOVERNMENT ANNOUNCEMENTS:

Tukituki Water Security Project on the Fast Track:

The Government’s announcement last weekend, to place 149 regionally and nationally significant projects on the Fast-Track list, will create pipeline of significant projects around the country, rebuild our economy and grow productivity.
The Tukituki Water Security project’s inclusion on this list is important news for our farmer and growers.
Water is the lifeblood of Hawke’s Bay and with climate change upon us, we need more resilience. As the HBRC is significantly reducing water allocations across the Heretaunga Plains we can’t grow what we already have let alone grow anymore.
Water storage will help drive more productivity, provide jobs and opportunity and strengthen our economy.

Inflation has dropped to 2.2 per cent:

This week’s inflation figures are more good news for New Zealanders. Stats NZ reported the inflation rate dropped from 3.3 per cent in the year to June to 2.2 per cent in the year to September.
That’s down from 5.6 per cent a year ago and over 7 per cent in 2022.
At 2.2 per cent, inflation is now within the Reserve Bank’s target range of 1 to 3 per cent for the first time since March 2021.
The era of crushing price rises is now over. Kiwis can look forward to mortgage rate reductions, and businesses will find it easier to invest and innovate with lower borrowing costs.

Structured maths addresses shocking Year 8 achievement stats:

A new maths curriculum based on the structured maths approach will be introduced a year early, from Term 1 2025, with resources available to support teachers.
Resources, including teacher and student workbooks will be provided to every primary and intermediate school.
Our government has also invested $20 million for professional development in structured maths for teachers.
The Teaching Council will lift maths entry requirements for new teachers to require at least 14 credits at NCEA Level 2 maths.
There will also be twice yearly assessments for maths in primary schools from the start of 2025, and small group interventions to support students who have fallen significantly behind.

Plunket to help increase childhood vaccination rates:

Our government has invested $1M to train Plunket nurses as vaccinators, supporting our target of 95% of children fully vaccinated at 2 years old.
We're on a mission for 95% child vaccination!
In addition to training Plunket nurses, Health New Zealand will be providing support for pharmacies to upskill their staff to vaccinate children as young as six weeks old.
This complements the Government’s $50 million investment in hauora Māori providers, which is aimed at boosting vaccination rates in communities that need it most.

Welfare traffic light system off to good start:

Our economy is stronger when more people are in work, and a well-performing labour market is critical for giving New Zealanders more opportunities to realise their potential.
Our government will not tolerate people who accept Jobseeker Support benefit but refuse to uphold their obligation to seek a job- it’s not fair on hardworking Kiwis who pay their taxes that go towards those who benefit payments.
Data from the first full calendar month of the Government’s welfare traffic light system shows more beneficiaries are doing what is required of them
The traffic light system began on August 12 with the introduction of a new warning system for the existing benefit sanctions regime. Beneficiaries now see their colour status when they receive correspondence from MSD and log into their MyMSD.
The system will be expanded next year as part of the Government’s wider welfare reforms to include new non-financial sanctions and increased accountability for those who repeatedly fail to comply with their benefit obligations. This will occur alongside a new requirement for those on Jobseeker Support to reapply every six months to continue receiving payments.

Anzac Day commemorations will honour more veterans:

The Government is making changes so that more veterans who have served New Zealand will be formally recognised as part of official Anzac Day commemorations.
The service personnel of today are part of a long and proud tradition. A change is well overdue, and we need to acknowledge that all those who have served New Zealand in time of war and war-like conflicts deserve to be officially recognised and honoured.
It’s appropriate to do that on Anzac Day.
The Anzac Day Amendment Bill is expected to be introduced in the House before Anzac Day 2025 and passed in time for Anzac Day 2026.

IN THE MEDIA

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I look forward to seeing you out in our Tukituki community soon.
Regards, Catherine