It was great to see the amount of people from our community out paying their respects to our service men and woman on Anzac Day this year. I attended services in Southerburn, St Andrews and Oamaru which had good numbers of young and old.
Regardless of people’s political leanings, Anzac Day is an opportunity to acknowledge the sacrifices of so many for their commitment and courage whilst serving our country.
Extending this acknowledgment, the National-led Government recently introduced legislation to formally recognise the service of more New Zealanders as part of official Anzac Day commemorations.
Today's service personnel carry forward a long and proud tradition. Every New Zealander who has served in war and war-like conflicts deserves official recognition and honour. Anzac Day is the right moment to acknowledge them.
The Anzac Day Amendment Bill has passed its first reading in parliament and is expected to be passed in time for Anzac Day 2026.
Also on the events front recently I was able to attend Wheels at Wanaka and the Mackenzie Highland Show which were both fantastic, and it was wonderful to join Maheno School in their celebrations for their 150th Anniversary a few weeks back.
Judging the Mackenzie A&P Highland Show sheep competition
Alongside these events in our community I have been holding a series of Constituent Clinics around the electorate which have provided a valuable chance to speak with people about a wide array of matters relating to the Government’s course of action.
Clinics in Cromwell, Waimate, Kurow, Oamaru, Fairlie, Geraldine, Ranfurly, and last week in Twizel, have seen a good number of people coming in and it is always pleasing to speak face-to-face to get a broad understanding of various concerns and feedback. Thank you if you made the time to come and see me.
A regular thing I am hearing at these clinics and events is the sense of relief that this Government is providing through common-sense regulations to get New Zealand back on track.
A particularly good example of this is the recent announcement that the Government will be directing Government agencies to use wool products in Government Buildings.
This is fantastic news for the many sheep farmers up and down New Zealand, and particularly here in the Waitaki. This announcement will mean a boost for the hardworking farmers and local businesses associated with the wool industry.
From 1 July, government agencies will be directed to use woollen fibre products in the construction and refurbishment of government buildings, where practical and appropriate.
As a farmer myself I am all too aware of the tough conditions sheep farmers have been dealing with recently. Currently it is costing farmers to shear their sheep when it used to be typical for the wool cheque to be the biggest income on the farm.
This is great policy and significant for so many in our agricultural and textile manufacturing sectors, and supports the Government’s work to double the value of exports in the next 10 years.
Celebrating the announcement of wool policy for Government buildings with fellow MPs Catherine Wedd, Suz Redmayne and Mike Butterick
Making it easier and more affordable to build is also part of the Government’s plan to grow the economy – creating more jobs, boosting wages, and helping Kiwis manage the cost of living.
New Zealand needs to build more houses, roads, hospitals, and schools – but red tape and bureaucracy have made it difficult and expensive to get things done.
Construction costs have jumped 40% since 2019, driven by a lack of competition in the building sector. The status quo just isn’t good enough.
That’s why the Government is delivering a package of changes to make building faster and more affordable.
We’ve passed legislation to allow up to 250,000 more building products on the market this year alone – giving builders and homeowners more choice, better prices, and improved supply.
From July, over 12,000 essential products – including plasterboard, cladding, and insulation – will be cleared for use. More options mean more competition and stronger supply chains.
We’re opening the door to more trusted building products from overseas, making builds and renovations cheaper and less stressful. And to keep standards high, we’re putting clear rules in place, so only quality products are allowed in.
We’re also backing our builders by cracking down on cowboy operators. Most tradies do great work, but a few bad examples have unfairly dragged down the reputation of the many. We’re cutting unnecessary rules that slow down good builders, while keeping protections in place to stop poor workmanship.
We’re making it easier to build granny flats too. Families can now build up to 70 square metres without needing a resource consent – up from 60 square metres. That means more room for loved ones, with less paperwork.
This is just the beginning. More changes are on the way as we fix the building and consenting system. It shouldn’t be so hard or expensive to build in New Zealand – and we’re making sure it gets easier from here.
How to turn common-sense practical policy into legislative and regulatory change is certainly a topic I will be discussing with the Waitaki Electorate’s 2025 Youth MP, Enya O’Donnell of Waimate.
Enya is a talented student with a strong interest in politics, so I am looking forward to seeing her extend her depth of political knowledge and experience as the Youth MP for our electorate.
Enya’s tenure began at the end of April, going through to the end of August, including a trip to Wellington to sit in the Youth Parliament in July.
2025 Waitaki Youth MP, Enya O’Donnell, with me and local heading dog, Tweed
Congratulations, Enya, and thank you to the incredibly strong field of applicants who put their names forward from all over the Waitaki electorate. Well done for putting your hand up - it is heartening to see so many keen young people with such a strong interest in their community and country.
I hope the remainder of autumn is enjoyable and productive for you,
Miles