Connecting with Carl

21 March 2025

Carl Bates

In the House with Carl

Law and order were major campaign issues for National in 2023, and the National-led Government has a number of Bills passing through the house in the Justice arena, all of which are scrutinised by the Justice Committee. As a member of the Justice Committee, I am now playing a part in the select committee process and speak in the House on Justice-related legislation.

If you have not heard me speak in the House on Justice, click the link below to see my recent six priority areas of the Sentencing (Reform) Amendment Bill speech.

https://www.facebook.com/reel/1003526904998403

Around and about the electorate

The dry weather since early 2025 has been a major issue for farmers throughout the region, but especially in South Taranaki. Agriculture Minister Todd McClay declared a drought on 27 February. Farmers requiring support through this period should contact their local Rural Support Trust on 0800 787 254 in the first instance. It was good to hear from farmers and farming leaders at the drought event I attended at Kakaramea put on by Taranaki Federated Farmers and Rural Support Taranaki. There was also plenty of discussion at the Egmont A&P Show.

The Te Matatini Kapahaka Festival was a real boost, not just for New Plymouth but for the Whanganui Electorate as well with teams staying as far away as Pātea. I visited Te Matatini with my colleague David Macleod, the MP for New Plymouth and was not only impressed with the performances on the stage but also the whole community vibe surrounding the event.

Although it is held in the Rangitikei electorate Central Districts Field Days attracts large numbers from the Whanganui electorate, both as exhibitors and visitors and I had some excellent conversations with rural people who understand that the Government has their back. We had many similar conversations with attendees at the Rural Games in Palmerston North

Whanganui has one of the leading creative communities in New Zealand and we are in the middle of Artists Open Studios where around 100 artists have opened their studios and workspaces to the public. The studios range from a gin distillery to the hull on a Convair aircraft in a Castlecliff back yard.

Lastly, congratulations to Hospice Whanganui who raised a massive $170,000 with their Dancing for Hospice event. Candice and I attended the Gala Night where the ten competing couples put on a fabulous show. This weekend my team and I will be walking laps of Cook’s Gardens in the Whanganui Cancer Society’s Relay for Life fundraiser.

Governing for you

The focus in the last month has been on growing the economy. The Prime Minister held a very successful Investment Summit in Auckland last week, then led the largest delegation in our history on a trade and diplomatic mission to India.

Health Minister Simeon Brown has announced five priorities for Health:

Focusing Health New Zealand on delivering the basics and achieving targets

Fixing Primary Healthcare to ensure Kiwis have timely access to a doctor

Reducing Emergency Department wait times so that 95% of people are admitted, discharged or transferred within six hours

Clearing the elective surgery backlog by partnering with the private sector to deliver more planned care

Investing in Health infrastructure both physical and digital so that we are building for the future

Minister Brown has also released a plan to strengthen Primary Care.

Lastly, Prime Minister Christopher Luxon and Trade Minister Todd McClay have announced that negotiations will formally begin with India for a comprehensive free trade agreement between the two countries.