Wedd's Weekly 29 April 2026

It has been another busy week, attending ANZAC services, a quick trip to Melbourne to attend the global Women Deliver Conference, and then back to Parliament to chair a big day on the Environment Select Committee navigating through our Resource Management Reform. This week has also been a significant week for our export region, as the Free Trade Agreement with India was signed. This will be huge for Hawke's Bay, creating jobs and opportunities.

Anzac service in CHB

Dawn service in Hastings

Anzac service in Havelock North

To commemorate Anzac Day I attended the Hastings Dawn service, and beautiful services in Havelock North and Waipawa.

This Anzac Day was the first time that all those who have served our country in times of war could be formally recognised under a new law passed earlier this year.

Thank you to all of those who serve and have served in our Armed Forces for your sacrifices to our country.

We will remember them.

Women Deliver 2026

Speaking alongside Global Leaders at the Women Deliver Conference

Women Deliver is the largest global conference representing women from across the globe!

I was honoured to be in Melbourne for two days, joining 6,000 global leaders and speaking about New Zealand’s story.

It was a privilege to speak in two sessions, sharing New Zealand’s progress and our commitment to protecting the next generation.

From advancing regional leadership in the Pacific to our work on digital safety for children, and the progress we are making - with our gender pay gap now the lowest on record at 5.2%

I was also proud to share NZ’s progress for women, alongside the former Prime Minister of Canada, Justin Trudeau, on an Oxfam panel where we both spoke about our countries work to empower women and girls!

New Zealand and Canada are both global leaders in progressing the sexual reproductive health rights of women and I was proud to share New Zealand’s story at the largest Women’s Conference in the world in Melbourne - held for the first time in the Pacific Region!

Thanks to the Asian Forum of Parliamentarians on Population and Development (AFPPD) for funding me to be here and the support for our pacific region in advancing the sexual reproductive health of women and girls.

Life in the fast lane

I checked out New Zealand’s first two storey racetrack in Pakūranga, with our former transport minister and local MP Simeon Brown MP.

The track, which is imported from Italy is a first in New Zealand and will be open soon for families to enjoy!

With faster, efficient consenting, under our new RMA reform, we can achieve more amazing infrastructure projects like this.

Well done to the Game Over team for driving this project at pace.

GOVERNMENT ANNOUNCEMENTS

FTA with India

Legal verification of the New Zealand-India Free Trade Agreement (FTA) has been completed with both countries agreeing its signing on 27 April in New Delhi in front of a large contingent of Indian and New Zealand businesses.

This once-in-a-generation agreement gives our exporters unprecedented access to 1.4 billion people and an economy set to become the third largest in the world.

With so much global unrest, a trade agreement with India has never been more important for New Zealand’s prosperity.

Signing the FTA allows New Zealand to initiate a formal parliamentary treaty examination and means the public can scrutinise the agreement in full.

The historic agreement was concluded in December and eliminates or reduces tariffs on 95 per cent of New Zealand’s exports – among the highest of any Indian FTA.

Almost 57 per cent of our exports will be duty-free from day one including lamb, wool, coal, leather, most forestry and industrial products. This will increase to 82 per cent when fully implemented including infant formula, a kiwifruit quota almost four times our current exports and seafood. The remaining 13 per cent including kiwifruit, apples, mānuka honey, wine and some dairy is subject to sharp tariff cuts.

Additional 90 million litres of diesel coming

The Government has secured an additional nine days’ of diesel supply to boost New Zealand’s fuel reserves and help shield the country from the global oil shock.

Under the terms of the deal:

• the fuel will be delivered to Marsden Point either as a single cargo or as two cargoes

• the Crown's exposure to any long-term fall in fuel prices will be limited; and

• the fuel will be held at the direction of the Crown.

Updated granny flat rules increase choice

The Coalition Government is expanding its granny flat building consent exemption to support faster construction, more choice for homeowners, and a wider range of off-site building methods.

Two new changes will make it easier and faster to deliver granny flats, particularly through off-site construction.

We’re making a practical change to allow consent-exempt granny flats to be built off-site before a Project Information Memorandum (PIM) is issued, provided all conditions are met.

That means homes can be built in advance, giving buyers the ability to inspect them before purchase and reducing overall construction time.

We’re also expanding the exemption to include Structural Insulated Panels with a CodeMark certificate, recognising a wider range of proven building materials while maintaining confidence they meet Building Code requirements.

Alongside this, we’re making minor technical improvements to ensure the rules are clear and workable in practice. All the changes are expected to be made by Order in Council in Q3 of 2026.

Attendance initiatives continue to get children back in school

The threat of prosecution has been effective at getting students re-enrolled at school.

34 cases have been formally notified to the Ministry of Education’s Prosecutions Unit. 17 cases were resolved before a prosecution had to be taken. As of 28 April 2026, one prosecution was underway.

Tougher legislation to manage extreme risk prisoners passes first reading

Legislation to strengthen the management of prisoners who pose an extreme risk to prison or public safety while in prison has passed its first reading.

The Corrections (Management of Prisoners, and Prisoners’ Property) Amendment Bill underscores this Government’s commitment to restoring law and order.

The Bill introduces a robust statutory process to determine whether a prisoner poses an extreme risk and needs a higher level of custodial oversight.

It strikes a careful balance between managing the risks posed by these prisoners and protecting their rights to natural justice. When making a determination on which prisoners pose an extreme threat, the chief executive is informed by an expert advisory panel’s recommendation, and any other information the chief executive considers relevant.

Government consults on biosecurity changes to safeguard beef exports

New Zealand's ruminant protein regulations are under review to protect the country's $4.9 billion beef export sector.

The review aims to address issues around cross contamination, where products intended for feeding to ruminants such as cattle become contaminated with ruminant tissue that may contain prion diseases and accidental exposure, where products not intended to be fed to ruminants but containing animal protein are accidentally eaten by ruminants.

The consultation runs from 28 April to 12 June. Details here- Review of the Biosecurity (Ruminant Protein) Regulations 1999 | NZ Government.

Cracking down on nitrous oxide misuse

The Government is taking further steps to tighten controls on nitrous oxide to reduce harm and curb its illegitimate use.

• Large canisters with no lawful use will automatically be classified as psychoactive substances

• Imports of nitrous oxide will require approval from the Director-General of Health.

• Stronger settings will support law enforcement

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