Wedd's Weekly

Big tick for the team in blue!

It is my pleasure to be bring you this year’s first edition of Wedd's Weekly and I have some exciting news to share!

We have officially announced the election date as Saturday; November 7 and I am thrilled to have been selected as National's candidate for Tukituki again. It's such a privilege to continue working hard for the people and communities I care deeply about.

I hope you all have been enjoying a fantastic summer and spent some quality time with your loved ones over the holiday period. We have kicked off the year with our caucus meeting and discussing party policies for the upcoming election.

National are focused on fixing the basics and building the future and in our Prime Minister's State of the Nation 2026 speech he spoke about how we are doing this.

We are-

Stopping wasteful spending – supporting lower inflation and lower interest rates.
Growing the economy, to create more jobs and more opportunities for Kiwis, with rising exports, investment, and productivity.
Providing more visible policing, and a tougher stance on law and order, driving down violent crime, retail crime, ram raids, and youth offending.
Aiming for stronger achievement in our classrooms, whether you’re just starting school, or needing an opportunity to catch up.
Upgrading the roads, schools, and hospitals you rely on, and delivering resource management reform that makes it easier for your businesses to get to construction sooner.
Supporting New Zealanders’ financial security for the long term, with greater levels of savings and investment.

GOVERNMENT ANNOUNCEMENTS

Government invests in Hawke's Bay health

We recently cut the ribbon on a new radiology department at our Hawke’s Bay Hospital and now work has begun this week on a new inpatient ward at Hawke’s Bay Hospital.

This new ward is a practical way to meet growing demand quickly. It will provide 28 inpatient beds for short-stay surgical patients and surgical assessments, helping streamline care and freeing up surgical and medical beds elsewhere in the hospital.

Once complete, the ward will help meet demand during peak periods, and strengthen the hospital’s ability to deliver timely, quality care.

Increasing inpatient capacity now will reduce the use of overflow areas, improve emergency department wait times, and help the hospital manage growing demand while long-term redevelopment continues!

National is committed to improving healthcare in Hawke’s Bay and getting better outcomes for patients.

Opening the new radiology department

RMA Reform

We are reforming the RMA and slashing the red tape so we can grow our economy, create jobs and lift wages.

We want our builders to build and our farmers to farm.

We are putting a stop to the time and money wasted navigating endless, complicated consents - giving businesses more certainty.

We know the RMA is a direct contributor to New Zealand’s infrastructure deficit. It drives up costs, slows projects down, and has become a complicated nightmare for councils and developers alike.

We are reforming New Zealand’s planning system to make it easier to build houses and other critical infrastructure like roads, energy projects, hospitals and schools is also key to building the future. We’ve done a lot in two years to unlock growth and development through things like Fast Track, but our replacement of the Resource Management Act will be the real gamechanger in the long term.

Backing major events!

Our government is backing major events like concerts, and we want to see more big events coming to NZ!

It was amazing to be able to see my favourite artist, Ed Sheeran live and be able to take my kids with me. It was a fun-filled family affair!

We are supporting events through our $70 million tourism and events investment package. This support helps bring world-class artists to New Zealand.

We’ve already announced backing for events like Linkin Park, Ultra Music Festival, Six60 & Synthony and the FIFA World Series, with more to come!

More concerts in NZ mean full hotels, busy bars and restaurants, and more people out supporting local businesses. That’s good for our hospitality sector and great for the wider economy.

Ed Sheeran rocked the concert!

I also had the privilege to see world class tennis at the men’s singles and doubles final at the ASB Classic!

Our government is investing $5 million in a roof for Auckland’s Manuka Doctor Arena to ensure we keep drawing the big tennis stars and the crowds!

This is the first infrastructure project from our $70 million Major Events and Tourism Package.

New Zealanders can now build granny flats in their backyards without needing building or resource consents, marking a milestone in the Coalition Government’s effort to expand affordable and diverse housing options for Kiwis.

Updates to the Building Act and the new National Direction under the Resource Management Act remove the need for a building consent and a resource consent for small standalone dwellings up to 70 square metres in size, also known as granny flats.

These exemptions from building and resource consents will save New Zealanders up to $5,650 in direct costs when building a granny flat and speed up the process by up to 14 weeks!

We know Kiwis have been feeling the strain of the cost of living, so it’s great to see this long-awaited change, which will provide practical housing solutions that reduce costs for extended families, small communities, and even businesses that provide staff accommodation, such as farms.

Free Trade Agreement with India- big win for Hawke's Bay apples!

Just prior to Christmas we welcomed a landmark Free Trade Agreement with India and this is significant for Hawke's Bay exporters.

When I was on the Board of NZ Apples and Pears, one of our main priorities, was getting better market access to India, but it never got across the line.

The new trade agreement opens up access to 1.4 billion consumers in India, who are demanding high quality Hawke’s Bay produce and are willing to pay a premium for it.

This deal is unprecedented—especially for apples. Hawke’s Bay growers now have structured access in a market that’s on a fast growth path. It positions us as a leading supplier and opens tremendous export potential.

This is not only great news for Hawke’s Bay horticulture, but red meat, viticulture, honey and wool exporters in the region.

For apples we have been paying a 50 percent tariff on our apple boxes to India, while other countries pay much less.

This new trade agreement means this tariff will be 50 percent less on our apple boxes, which is a huge commercial benefit for Hawke’s Bay and will be worth millions to our local economy.

Hawke’s Bay already produces more than 60 per cent of New Zealand’s apples and has recently hit record exports, and the pipfruit sector is projected to grow, creating hundreds of jobs and injecting millions into our local economy.

Our region relies on our exporters, and this will benefit families across Hawke’s Bay. With this FTA, we’re not just cutting tariffs—we’re securing our place in one of the world’s most dynamic markets. Hawke’s Bay apple growers are now better placed than ever to thrive and compete globally.

With India’s economy set to become the world’s third largest by 2030, Hawke’s Bay apple exports are expected to surge, strengthening the region’s role as a global leader in premium fruit and driving sustained economic growth for local communities.

Great news for apple growers

OUT AND ABOUT

Enhancing quality of life

Cranford Hospice is planning a new home!

I met the Cranford team to learn more about the new facilities which will be built between Havelock Road and Howard St.

The new Cranford buildings will enable them to provide the best palliative care for people across our community, enhancing quality of life and supporting families.

Thanks to Cranford Hospice for all you do in our community every day.

It's an important cause to support - every bit helps them continue this incredible work for our community.

It’s been a fantastic cherry season in Hawke’s Bay, and I loved getting out with some of the hardworking students who were loving their summer job.

It is great to see the opportunities for our young people in Hawke’s Bay as our Government is supporting the growth of horticulture in our region.

Cherries galore!

Local athlete makes history

It was amazing to see the two Sam’s making history and a world best time for 16 -year-old Sam Ruthe - 3:53.83!

Sam Ruthe made history on the Hastings Track recently at the NZSS and the Potts Classic smashing the 800 and 1500m records and has done it at Cooks Gardens in the Mile - well done to these two legends.

Putting rural Hawke's Bay on the map

I loved my recent trip to Waipawa, the beating heart of our rural community.

It was a real highlight to catch up with local business owners, especially Rhys from Waipawa Butchery who came third in the world at the World Champion Butcher Apprentice Competition. Such an incredible achievement!

I also sat down with our new Mayor Will Foley, and Deputy Jerry Greer. It was great to chat through the big issues for the region, like RMA reform and water security, to make sure we are all moving in the right direction.