I am honoured to be selected again as the National Party candidate for Tukituki! A huge thank you to everyone who has supported me over my first term. I am excited to build on the progress we've made in the last term.
Last week we hosted our Prime Minister in our region in between a busy week of financial scrutiny in Parliament. It was great to see the Prime Minister back in Hawke's Bay, meeting with growers and hearing firsthand about the challenges and opportunities ahead for our primary industries. Our growers are the backbone of our region and our country.
We have also welcomed Katie Nimon, MP for Napier, back to parliament this week, after parental leave. It’s wonderful to see her return to Wellington. Katie, Dana and I are working hard to advocate for the East Coast. Welcome back Katie!
Re-Selected as National's Candidate for Tukituki in the 2026 General Election
I'm thrilled to have been selected as National's candidate for Tukituki again!
It's a privilege to continue working hard for the people and communities I care deeply about.
I’ve been a staunch advocate for our RSE Scheme and water storage for Hawke’s Bay, and we’ve made considerable progress in these areas, with investment in water security and positive changes to the RSE scheme.
New Zealand’s horticulture exports have hit a record high under National - we’ve cut red tape so growers can get on with the job.
This means more jobs, higher wages and more opportunity for people living in Hawke’s Bay.
We've also had excellent progress for the Hawke's Bay hospital, with a new ward on the way and upgrades to our radiology department so 10,000 more scans can be done every year.
I’m proud to call Tukituki home with my family.
Representing all the wonderful people here is the best job, and I'm excited about the chance to keep going - fixing the basics and building the future.
Click the link below to read the announcement:
Prime Minister Visit
I Loved showcasing our Hawke’s Bay Fruit bowl to the Prime Minister.
We spent time with the team at New Zealand’s largest blueberry grower, Gourmet Blueberries and it was so good to see all the innovation and potential for growth.
An incredible business exporting quality blueberries to the world and across NZ!
It was good to discuss the opportunities and challenges especially around water, consents and our Government’s RMA Reform.
We are focused on doubling the value of our exports to grow the economy and create jobs and Gourmet Blueberries is part of our Hawke’s Bay growth story!
Thank you to the team. I’m excited to see these blueberries on the Pavlovas this Christmas!
Read more here:
RMA Reform Announcement
As chair of the Environment Select Committee, I am proud of the work we've put into getting the Resource Management Act (RMA) reformed.
New Zealand’s new planning system under the Planning Bill and Natural Environment Bill will make it easier to build the homes and infrastructure our country needs, give farmers and growers the freedom to get on with producing world-class food and fibre, and strengthen our primary sector while protecting the environment.
There will be 46% fewer consents, meaning more housing and infrastructure and less red tape.
Economically, the new planning system is projected to boost GDP by an additional 0.56 per cent every year by 2050, worth up to $3.1 billion annually.
It is estimated that the new system will create $13.3 billion in savings over 30 years through reduced administrative and compliance costs.
We're dedicated to cutting red tape across the country so our economy and communities can thrive.
New Zealand Secondary School Athletics Champs
What an incredible event for Hastings, hosting the New Zealand Secondary Schools Athletics Champs. It was so good to see thousands from across NZ flocking to our region.
Congratulations to Sam Ruthe, who made history on our Hastings track, breaking local legend, Richard Potts 36 year record for 1500 meters by 8 seconds in 3.38 minutes! Also breaking the 800 meters record.
Richards 36 year record is an inspiration for our young athletes. He now gives so much back to the sport locally, which is so great to see.
Scrutiny Week
As Chair of the Environment Select Committee, I got the opportunity to hold our environmental agencies to account, asking the tough questions about how they’re delivering on their responsibilities and ensuring they’re focused on outcomes that matter for New Zealanders.
Scrutiny Week is all about transparency, accountability, and making sure taxpayer dollars are being used effectively to protect our environment while supporting sustainable growth.
These sessions are a great chance to dig deeper and push for better performance.
I’m committed to making sure our environmental policies are practical, balanced, and deliver real results for communities like ours here in Hawke’s Bay.
New Campaign Policy Announced
At the National Conference, the Prime Minister has announced our first campaign policy.
National will raise Kiwisaver contributions to 12%, so that Kiwis will have more money to buy their first home or retire.
While the contributions aren't mandatory, this change is a huge step in the right direction for hardworking kiwis who want to get ahead.
For example, a 21-year-old earning $65,000 per year could achieve retirement savings of around $1.4 million.
If you’re a New Zealander who works hard, who gets the kids to school, and makes the right choices for your future, your family, and your community, then you deserve to get ahead.
To learn more, click the link to our announcement below:
Fish and Game Fly Fishing Trip
It was great to get out and about with Fish and Game New Zealand learning about fly fishing, the conservation of our rivers and the work they do to protect our environment! I was also very lucky to catch a 7 pound trout. Must have been beginner's luck.
Our fly fishing sector is worth about $140 million to our economy and supports thousands of jobs so it was amazing to spend the day out on the Travers River appreciating all the work NZ Fish and Game do to protect and conserve our rivers.
Over 140,000 fish licenses are sold each year and Fish and Game have a current campaign “Women on the Fly” to encourage women to get out there and give it a go!
This was my first fish on the fly and I am hooked!
The Worst Children's Library Event
Held on the same day that Australia introduced their social media ban for under-16s, this interactive exhibition in the Parliamentary Library showcased the scale, range and severity of online harms for children.
Every book in the 'Worst Children's Library' was a visual representation of something a child has seen online, according to data drawn from hundreds of global sources.
Events like this highlight the need for protecting our children in online spaces, and I will continue to advocate for more safeguards.
Our Government is continuing to work in this area alongside my member's bill that was drawn from the ballot to ban social media for under-16s.
Thank you to the organisers for drawing attention to such a crucial issue.
GOVERNMENT ANNOUNCEMENTS
Groundbreaking Education Results
This year, we ran a 12-week trial of a new maths programme delivering groundbreaking results for children who were a year or more behind.
Year 7 and 8 students who took part made a year’s progress in 12 weeks.
Even more encouraging, students not in the trial, simply learning under the new curriculum, an hour-a-day of maths, and using high quality resources, also made, on average, a full year’s progress in just 12 weeks!
We are expanding to 13,000 more students next year who are behind, so more of our young people can be confident in maths.
Parents can have confidence this Government has a plan for your kids at school and it’s delivering results.
These results show that, with the right foundations and the right support, every student can get ahead and be confident mathematicians.
Significant Boost to School Property Budgets
The Government is continuing to supercharge school property, increasing maintenance funding for the first time since 2010 so more students benefit from safe, warm and dry classrooms.
From July 2026, the base rate will rise by 50 percent – from $30 per square metre to $45 per square metre.
Our priority is getting spades in the ground as soon as possible so schools, families and communities’ benefit.
Simplifying Local Government
Local government is meant to serve communities, not confuse them, but right now the system is tangled in duplication, disagreements, and decisions that defy common sense. Under our new planning system, to be introduced before Christmas, regional councils will have a significantly reduced role. We’re proposing to remove regional councillors entirely, and direct local authorities to run their regions more efficiently and effectively.
The government plans to put through proposals to remove Regional Councillors and replace them with new Combined Territories Boards made up of mayors from the region’s city and district councils.
Capping Rates
Rates rises are increasing costs for Kiwis and putting pressure on household budgets.
The Government has been clear with councils, focus on delivering the basics. Despite that, some communities have seen double-digit rate increases year after year.
That is why we are progressing with a rates cap.
Rates increases would be limited to a maximum of 4 per cent per year, and consultation is open to finalise implementation.
The cap will apply to all sources of rates but will exclude water charges and other non-rates revenue.
Ratepayers deserve councils that live within their means, focus on the basics and are accountable to their community.
New Emergency Management Bill introduced
The Government has introduced a new Emergency Management Bill today, set to strengthen New Zealand’s emergency management system.
The Emergency Management Bill will replace the Civil Defence Emergency Management Act 2002, and enable the improvements identified by the Government Inquiry into the Response to the North Island Severe Weather Events of early 2023.
The Bill strengthens the role of local communities and iwi in emergency management by ensuring they have places at the decision-making table for local emergency management and requiring engagement with communities and iwi during development of local plans and the national plan.
This a huge step forward to ensure our community is resilient and safer.
Red Meat Exports Reach Record High
Red meat exports have reached a record high of $10 billion – a huge milestone for our farmers and exporters. This achievement reflects the hard work happening across the sector and the opportunities we’re unlocking through smart trade policy.
We’re hustling on the world stage to open new markets and reduce trade barriers, making it easier for Kiwi businesses to compete globally. Every deal we strike and every barrier we remove means more value for our products and more confidence for our producers.
Because when we trade with the world, we grow our economy at home – that means more jobs, higher wages, and more opportunities for Kiwis. It’s about backing our regions, supporting our exporters, and ensuring New Zealand stays competitive in a fast-changing global market.
Stalking Now a Criminal Offence
Stalking will become a criminal offence punishable by up to five years in prison.
The Crimes Legislation (Stalking and Harassment) Amendment Bill outlines a range of stalking behaviours, including:
- Watching and following another person.
- Unwanted communication.
- Damaging another’s reputation and relationships.
The Bill will come into force in May 2026, to allow for training for Police, court staff and the judiciary, and the development of information for the public.
Our government is committed to ensuring there are real consequences for crime and that the needs of victims are always prioritised. It underpins all our work to restore law and order.
Crimes Amendment Bill Ensures Fairer Sentencing
Criminals will soon face stronger penalties for attacking first responders, coward punches, human trafficking, and retail crime.
Our government is committed to fixing the basics in law and order and ensuring victims’ interests are at the centre of the justice system. A vital part of that, is making sure criminals face real consequences for crime.
Supporting the Health of our Farming Communities
The Government has renewed its investment in the rural wellbeing programme Farmstrong, Associate Minister for ACC Nicola Grigg has announced.
The $2.7 million investment is the first phase of a five-year agreement between ACC and Farmstrong, totalling $6.8 million.
Agriculture continues to be one of New Zealand’s highest-risk sectors when it comes to injuries.
In 2024, ACC accepted over 17,000 new claims for work-related agriculture injuries, with recovery costs around $120 million.
This investment will help reduce the frequency and severity of injuries in the agriculture and horticulture sectors by focusing on the link between wellbeing and injury risk.
Farmers are the backbone of our economy, and this is just another way our government continues to back New Zealand’s most productive sector.
I look forward to seeing you out in our Tukituki community soon.
Regards, Catherine