Welcome to my September Newsletter.
As we head into Spring there is some welcome news for households and businesses. The Reserve Bank has reduced the Official Cash Rate again. It is now sitting at 3%, down from 5.5% a year ago with further cuts signalled this year. That means lower mortgages, business loans and interest rates, putting real savings back in people’s pockets as they refix their terms. For example, repayments on a $500,000 floating mortgage are around $330 less a fortnight than they were a year ago. Lower interest rates also mean more growth, supporting business expansion, construction activity, and new jobs. On top of this, the Government has announced $7 billion of new projects which will be underway be Christmas, including roads, schools, hospitals and courts. By managing the economy responsibly and cutting wasteful spending, we’re easing inflation, boosting growth, and helping Kiwi families get ahead.
I’m realistically optimistic about the year ahead. While there are certainly challenges in the economy, we’re also seeing real signs of growth and business confidence beginning to emerge, especially in the South Island. A strong indicator is people voting with their feet: more than 85,000 people moved from the North Island to the South Island between 2018 and 2023, outpacing the northbound flow by 30,000. As the Minister for the South Island I believe at the heart of this trend are housing affordability, study opportunities, lifestyle changes, and growing employment prospects in the South. This steady shift adds strength to our communities and bolsters local economies. Even the Ranfurly Shield shifted south over the weekend, another sign the momentum is firmly with our part of the country!
To keep that momentum going, strong regional connectivity is critical. That’s why the Government is backing at-risk regional air routes with up to $30 million in concessionary loans for small passenger airlines. This support will help carriers cover essential costs like aircraft leasing and maintenance. New digital upgrades will allow passengers to book seamlessly across regional and major airlines, and will make travel simpler and more reliable. These steps mean our communities stay connected, businesses can thrive, and the South continues to be a place people want to live, work, and build their future.
Last week I had the privilege of fishing the Rakaia Gorge with Dame Lynda Topp, Patron for Fish and Game New Zealand, and strong advocate for supporting more women into angling and hunting. We were there to announce an important update to Fish & Game’s family fishing licences, making them fairer and more inclusive. From the 2025/26 season, both adults will have equal fishing rights and voting rights in Fish & Game elections, fixing an outdated rule that often disproportionately limited women’s participation. This change will help remove barriers, encourage more families to enjoy angling, and grow the next generation of fishers. I’ve also confirmed there will be no increase to licence fees this season, recognising the cost pressures many Kiwis are facing. The fishing season starts 1 October, and there is more information on the changes here.
Photo: With Dame Lynda Topp at the Rakaia Gorge
Recent Key Announcements:
Key milestone for new Ashburton Bridge: The long-awaited second Ashburton Bridge is a step closer with the signing of a key agreement (Beehive PR)
Government backing vital regional connectivity: The Coalition Government will support at risk regional air routes with up to $30 million in loans from the Regional Infrastructure Fund for small passenger airlines (Beehive PR)
Infrastructure Pipeline continues to grow: The value of infrastructure initiatives in the National Infrastructure Pipeline has grown to $237.1 billion (Beehive PR)
New Business Investor Visa to support growth: The Government is modernising visa settings to attract experienced businesspeople to help grow New Zealand’s future (Beehive PR)
Replacing NCEA to transform secondary education: We’re proposing to replace NCEA with new national qualifications that ensure young people have the knowledge and skills they need to succeed (Beehive PR)
New $3m focus on partnerships to improve youth outcomes: A new $3 million fund to support outcomes-focused programmes will significantly enhance our ability to improve the lives of at-risk young New Zealanders (Beehive PR)
Social Investment Fund open to change lives: Social service providers now have a new opportunity to change lives, with the opening of the Social Investment Fund (Beehive PR)
Biggest building consent system reform in decades: The Government is announcing the biggest change to the building consent system since the Building Act came into force in 2004 (Beehive PR)
Boosting competition for affordable electricity: new rule agreed to by the Electricity Authority will level the playing field for smaller power companies, boosting retail competition to put downward pressure on power prices (Beehive PR)
RMA reforms to deliver jobs and growth: The Resource Management Act has been holding New Zealand back for decades. It has let successive governments and councils say ‘no’ to progress, ‘no’ to development, and ‘no’ to building the houses, infrastructure, clean energy and other important projects that New Zealanders need to get ahead (Beehive PR)
Stronger accountability for your rates: The Government is putting clear facts and figures directly into the hands of ratepayers. When ratepayers know more about how their council is performing and where their money is going, they can engage more effectively and ask the tough questions (Beehive PR)
Scrapped surcharges a win for New Zealanders: We’re banning surcharges so consumers can shop with confidence knowing how much they will pay for their purchases. New Zealanders are paying up to $150 million in surcharges every year, including excessive surcharges of up to $65 million. That’s money that could be saved or spent elsewhere (Beehive PR)
Two new seasonal work visas to grow economy: The Government is introducing two new seasonal visa pathways to help New Zealand businesses access the workers they need during peak periods, while also prioritising jobs for New Zealanders (Beehive PR)
If you are interested here is a link to read the PR Releases relating to my Ministerial portfolios.
Upcoming events:
5 Sep Rural Nats Forum, Rangiora
5 Sep Greater Christchurch SuperBlues, Christchurch
5 Sep Multi-Cultural Aoraki 20th Birthday Celebration, Timaru
6 Sep JP 75th Anniversary Conference, Ashburton
13 Sep Malayali Association Cultural Day, Timaru
16 Sep Aviation Industry Association Conference, Wellington
19 Sep Seniors National Party Morning Tea, Nancy Lu Guest Speaker
25 Sep Upper Harbour Youth MP Event
28-29 Sep Parliamentary Hunt
30 Sep-2 Oct Chatham Islands Visit
3 Oct Invercargill SuperBlues
Visit the following sites for more information on events happening in our region:
Highlights:
In August I had the privilege of hosting several of my colleagues across the electorate. We’re incredibly fortunate to have someone of Erica Stanford’s calibre leading the way as Education Minister, driving the most transformational improvements to our education system in a generation. I was delighted to welcome Erica back to Timaru, where she visited some of our fantastic primary and secondary schools, announced the Government’s new NCEA changes, and met with local employers to talk about immigration and the introduction of two new seasonal visas to support businesses during their busiest times.
Hon Nicola Willis, our Minister of Finance, also spent time in Ashburton recently. Alongside a number of party events, she visited several local businesses and had plenty of positive and engaging conversations with the community.
I was also pleased to have Catherine Wedd, MP for Tukituki, visit Ashburton. She toured the impressive new Torea Orchards site on Buckleys Road at Pendarves, this is an exciting development that is not only expanding local horticulture but also driving a new export business that will see Mid Canterbury produce reaching international markets. Catherine then joined the Luncheon Club as guest speaker.
Photo: With Hon Erica Stanford Minister for Education
I was delighted to attend this year’s South Canterbury Business and Community Excellence Awards in Timaru which was another brilliant night celebrating the success of our local businesses and community organisations. While the economy still has its challenges and navigating the current landscape can be tough, the outstanding achievements on display proved there is plenty of opportunity here in South Canterbury for businesses to seize and grow.
I had the privilege of presenting the award on behalf of the South Canterbury Chamber of Commerce, which manages the Young Enterprise Scheme for our region. YES gives students the chance to unleash their inner entrepreneur, setting up and running a real business, from developing their own product or service right through to bringing it to market. This year was particularly special, as for the first time in the history of the awards, a Young Enterprise company entered the competition.
Photo: With YES members at the Business and Community Awards
A huge congratulations to Carolyn Cooper and the team at Presbyterian Support South Canterbury for their remarkable success in winning both the Supreme Award and the Community Award. These achievements are a true testament to the hard work, dedication, and impact the entire team make in our community. Finally, a big thank you to Farmers Mill for kindly inviting me to join their team on the night, it was a privilege to share in such a wonderful celebration of our region’s innovation, resilience, and community spirit.
Photo: With Miles Anderson, MP for Waitaki
I was proud to attend and speak at the South Island Big Sing Choir Competition in Timaru. As Minister for Youth, I was hugely impressed by the incredible talent on display. The dedication and effort from the school teams could be heard in every performance. The vocals were outstanding, and it’s no wonder New Zealand is home to the world’s best youth choir! If you haven’t already, check out the Kiwi movie Tina, which is based on the Big Sing contest and inspired by the viral video of a Samoan love song performed by a non-Samoan choir.
Photo: South Island Big Sing Choir Competition at the Sacred Heart Basilica in Timaru
I also recently spent time at the South Canterbury YMCA, meeting the young people enrolled in their education programmes. The group challenged me to take a turn in ‘the hot seat’, where I enjoyed answering a wide range of thoughtful questions, not just on issues affecting young people, but on topics that matter to all New Zealanders. A big thank you to Tanya, Logan, and the team at The Y for their warm hospitality and for the inspiring work they do to support and empower our young people.
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 9am - 3pm.
Get Updates