Welcome to my March Newsletter.
I’m writing this month’s edition after a successful day celebrating the 150th Temuka-Geraldine A&P Show in Winchester. The mood was good, and it was great to see lots of kids and families enjoying the trade stalls, horses and kids' events. Shout out to the students at Geraldine High School for their awesome work supporting the agrikids competition and showing real leadership for our youngest South Cantabrians.
There’s good reason for this optimism. The first quarter of 2025 is showing recovery. I'm particularly encouraged by the remarkable surge in farmer confidence we're seeing – up 68 points in Feds’ latest survey, the largest improvement since records began in 2016.
This isn't happening by accident. The Government has been systematically removing barriers that were holding our farmers back, taking over 20 specific actions to reduce red tape and free up farming. Our focus now is on driving growth through four key areas: slashing regulatory burden, accelerating innovation and productivity, enabling infrastructure and trade, and strengthening support for rural communities.
This local growth story is part of a broader positive trend. The Reserve Bank's recent decision to reduce the Official Cash Rate signals growing confidence in our economic direction. For our farmers and local businesses, this means more favourable conditions for investment and expansion.
The combination of lower interest rates and rising rural confidence creates a powerful momentum for growth. When our farmers succeed, the benefits flow through our entire community – from the local contractors and suppliers to the shops and services in our towns.
Wearing my South Island hat, recent investments outline our commitment to looking after our environment in the mainland while going for growth. The Government’s $30 million investment from the International Visitor Conservation and Tourism Levy is a major boost for South Island communities and recreational hunters. This funding supports conservation efforts, predator control, infrastructure upgrades, and sustainable hunting, ensuring both environmental and economic benefits.
A $3.5 million investment in deer management in Fiordland National Park comes at a crucial time, helping to control populations as commercial recovery operations decline. Importantly, meat recovered through these efforts will be made available for commercial and social benefit. Another $3.5 million will go toward tackling wilding conifers in Wakatipu, Aoraki, and the Mackenzie region, protecting native landscapes from these invasive species.
Preserving our wildlife is also a key focus, with $9.5 million allocated to predator control. This includes vital work to protect the critically endangered Southern Dotterel in Rakiura National Park and broader predator management in the Catlins, Central Otago, and parts of the West Coast to help native bird populations thrive.
Visitors to South Island’s treasured destinations will see improvements through an $11 million investment in infrastructure. This includes upgrades at Aoraki Mt Cook, safety improvements to 116 suspension and swing bridges, and efforts to manage visitor numbers at Franz Josef. Milford Sound, as one of our premier tourism spots, will receive significant investment, including cultural enhancements with the installation of Gateway Pou Whenua and improved infrastructure planning to support visitor experiences.
This package reinforces the Government’s commitment to balancing conservation, recreation, and tourism. By investing in sustainable growth, we are protecting the South Island’s natural beauty while supporting local communities and recreational hunters.
Over the last month I’ve met with most of the South Island mayors and chairs in person or online. At a recent island-wide zoom call with LGNZ member it was great to have very constructive conservation about priorities for growth and investment in our future. I’m next looking forward to getting over to the West Coast to discuss the key issues facing coasters in the next couple of year.

Photo: Canterbury mayoral forum members
Recent Key Announcements
Residency fast tracked for Primary Teachers: The Government is ensuring more Kiwi kids access the teachers they need to thrive in the classroom by fast-tracking the residency process for primary teachers. (Beehive PR)
Multi-million dollar benefits possible for farmers and growers: The Ministry for Regulation makes recommendations to cut red tape on products used by the agriculture and horticulture sectors. (Beehive PR)
Living cost inflation continues downward trend: Average household living cost inflation has continued a downward trend. (Beehive PR)
Regional Tourism Boost to attract international visitors: A new $3 million fund from the International Conservation and Tourism Visitor Levy will be used to attract more international visitors to regional destinations this autumn and winter (Beehive PR)
Backing farmers to innovate and make more money: The Government is ramping up a programme to boost sustainably and farm productivity. (Beehive PR)
Violent crime drops for the first time since 2018: Police data shows that violent crime has fallen for the first time since 2018, indicating that the Government’s tough-on-crime and victims-first approach is working. (Beehive PR)
More funding for biodiversity protection: The Government is boosting investment in the QEII National Trust to reinforce the protection of Aotearoa New Zealand's biodiversity on private land (Beehive PR)
Creating a level playing field in the energy sector: A proposal by the Electricity Authority for mandatory non-discrimination obligations for electricity gentailers. (Beehive PR)
Consultation on charity tax settings open: Consultation is open for an Inland Revenue Issues Paper on the taxation of charity and not-for-profits. (Beehive PR)
Justice Select Committee: The Committee has finished hearing oral submissions for the Treaty Principles Bill and will start preparing a report for the House due on 14 May. The Committee are currently also considering a number of other bills and recently reported back important changes to our sentencing laws to limit the sentence discounts available to repeat offenders. (NZ Parliament Website)
Smoother path for Great Rides: Cycling our Great Rides is about to get a whole lot smoother, with a $9 million Government boost for infrastructure upgrades and replacements. (Beehive PR)
Going for Growth: Public Works Act overhaul: The Public Works Act will undergo its most significant reform in nearly 50-years to help unleash an infrastructure boom. (Beehive PR)
Upcoming events
8 Mar Mayfair A&P 99th Show
8 Mar International Women’s Day & Aoraki Women’s Fund Women of the Year event
8-9 Mar Cancer Society Relay for Life, Opihi College, Temuka
12 Mar Rural Support Trust Time Out Tour Timaru, Matt Chisholm guest speaker
13-16 Mar Caroline Bay Rock and Hop, Timaru
14 Mar Lunch Club in Timaru, Katie Nimon MP for Napier guest speaker
15 Mar Methven Show
28 Mar South Island Agricultural Field Days Kirwee
Highlights
I had a fantastic time celebrating Chinese New Year with the South Canterbury Chinese Society in Timaru. The performances by all the young families were a highlight, and the food was simply outstanding! I was also grateful to join the Temuka Lions for their 40th anniversary celebrations, I’m thankful for all the work they do in our community. Our region is enriched by our volunteers and diverse cultures who contribute so much to what it means to be Kiwi.
It was a pleasure to welcome Tim Costley, MP for Ōtaki to the electorate as guest speaker at the Mid Canterbury Luncheon Club. While in Ashburton we visited the Aviation Museum which showcases one of the country’s most extensive aircraft collections, maintained and curated by a team of dedicated volunteers. Tim served a long career in the Royal New Zealand Air Force as a helicopter pilot before entering politics. We also visited the mighty Fairton School for a fun morning of interesting chats and antics with the students. We did some collecting for the NZ Heart Foundation where the community gave generously. It was a very enjoyable day in Mid Canterbury.

Photo: Collecting for the NZ Heart Foundation

Photo: Fairton School
Applications are now closed for the Rangitata Youth MP role. I’m delighted at the response and the talent of the young people who have applied to represent our region. I now have the tough job of choosing just one individual. Youth Parliament activities run from May to July, culminating in a two-day event at Parliament on Tuesday 1 July and Wednesday 2 July 2025.
In February, Methven hosted the largest turnout ever for a BlueGreens conference! The presentations and conversations were robust, and it was a fantastic showcase of the conservation projects undertaken in the South. Congratulations to Northland MP Grant McCallum and all the organising team who did a wonderful job attracting all those North Islanders to our part of the world for a great weekend.

Photo: QEII funding conservation project
Finally, I attended my first official Waitangi Day celebration as a Minister, representing the Crown, alongside colleagues and Prime Minister Christopher Luxon, at Ōnuku Marae in Akaroa. It was a privilege to be invited and to be part of the forthright and direct conversation on the day, it was a coming together of values and ideas on how we make New Zealand the greatest little country in the world. I love this country!

Photo: Media stand up with PM at Ōnuku Marae
Recent interviews
Contact the team
Any issues or feedback to do with my portfolio areas, contact my ministerial team at j.meager@ministers.govt.nz
If you need help with a local electorate issue (Mid Canterbury or South Canterbury) contact my electorate offices at james.meagerMP@parliament.govt.nz
Call: South Canterbury 03 683 2009 or Mid Canterbury 03 307 1729.
Drop in: Monday to Friday 10am - 4pm.