Wedd's Weekly - May 8 | National Party

It was a beautiful day to have our Minister of Agriculture and Trade Todd McClay MP in Hawke’s Bay to celebrate our regions farmers.

This year's Hawke’s Bay Farmer of the Year winners, Mandy and Charles Yule hosted over 300 farmers for their field day.

It was great to connect with farmers and talk about the Free Trade Agreement with India and the huge opportunity this creates for our red meat sector.

So much positivity today - as red meat exports and prices have hit record highs under National as the world demands our high-quality produce.

The Free Trade Agreement with India will be a game changer for farmers and growers in our region and create jobs and opportunity.

OUT AND ABOUT

Preserving history

It was exciting to attend the pōwhiri to mark the completion of the Amokura Hawke’s Bay Museum in Hastings.

It has been a journey to build our Hastings landmark, which will house 90,000 treasures of Hawke’s Bay connecting people, stories and place.

A huge congratulations to everyone involved in this project. It shows what can be achieved when central government, local government, iwi and community work together.

Beautiful day for winter sport

It was such a glorious Hawke’s Bay day for winter sport to kick off with Havelock North Wanderers AFC.

I loved watching my youngest take to the field in his first games of the season.

Fixing the Basics and Building the Future!

National is energised and ready for the campaign this year, with many talented candidates selected across NZ.

Great to get together with our Lower North Island Teams in Wairarapa and spend time with some of my new campaign team members from Tukituki - charged and energised!

Thriving business and innovation

It was a pleasure to meet Alberico Miranda, originally from Santa Maria de Lamas (the heart of the cork manufacturing industry) when I toured the facilities at Foodeast, in the heart of Heretaunga, Hastings.

It was great to see the work that goes into supplying top quality corks to wineries in New Zealand and Australia directly from Portugal.

During a visit to New Zealand at the end of 2002, he fell in love with the country and saw that there was a niche in the market for a supplier of top-quality wine corks., and he hasn't looked back since.

Great work!

Affordable housing

It was special to attend the blessing of the first four homes at Te Awhi Rito in Flaxmere.

This is the newest housing development completed by Tamatea Pōkai Whenua, and built by TW.

Te Awhi Rito will see 15 affordable homes delivered for whānau, available as either rentals or progressive homeownership opportunities via Ka Uruora - a whānau housing provider.

When complete, this kaupapa will be enjoyed by whānau and community, with 140 brand-new, affordable homes and a range of housing opportunities created.

Well done to everyone involved! Our Government is working hard to create the settings for more affordable housing and this morning was a special moment in Flaxmere’s housing journey.

GOVERNMENT ANNOUNCEMENTS

NZ and Singapore agreement protects fuel supply

Let me tell you about the latest thing National is doing to secure fuel for your community.

We live in a volatile world. The last few months have shown us that NZ is not immune to other countries’ actions. You see it every time you go to fill up the car.

That’s why National is building connections around the world that protect New Zealand when things get choppy.

It’s exactly what we’ve done with the India FTA – which will see more money flowing into Kiwi communities.

And it’s what we’ve done this week, with the PM, Nicola Willis and Todd McClay in Singapore for a new ‘Essential Supplies’ agreement that protects fuel supply coming into NZ. It means that – even when the world is facing major upheaval - Singapore will not stop providing New Zealand with petrol and diesel, and New Zealand will continue to keep food flowing in return.

It’s important because around a third of NZ’s fuel is refined in Singapore.

This is just the latest in our plan to secure fuel supply for Kiwi communities like [Electorate] – we are building more storage and investing in additional reserves so that we can protect Kiwis from the upheaval in the middle east.

It’s all about fixing the basics and building the future.

Councils invited to fast-track local reform

The government is giving councils a three-month window to put forward proposals to fast-track local government reform in their region. Councils are central to the Government’s new planning system which will pass into law this year. It is important that we tackle resource management and local government reform together so councils can get on with delivering.

In November 2025, the Government announced its proposal to simplify local government which would remove regional councils to cut duplication, improve accountability, and deliver more efficient services.

Councils feedback was clear – they want to move faster and have more say on how they want to reorganise.

The Government is giving them this option through the ‘head start’ pathway. Councils have three months to develop their own plans – otherwise the Government will step in and do it for them.

Cabinet will then decide which proposals to progress, with decisions later this year. Endorsed proposals will be signed in 2027, with changes implemented before the 2028 local government elections.

Lead-free plumbing rules protect drinking water

New rules restricting lead plumbing products will ensure new homes and buildings are fitted with modern plumbing products that protect the quality of our drinking water.

The move to lead-free plumbing products has been well signalled. In 2022, plans were announced to tighten the amount of lead permitted in plumbing products used for drinking water, alongside a transition period to give the industry time to prepare before the updated guidance comes into effect from 2 May.

This update sets a clear, modern standard and gives New Zealanders confidence in the safety of their drinking water. It is a sensible, preventative step that will benefit the wellbeing of Kiwis over the long term.

$3b export surge under NZ-EU trade agreement

We are celebrating two years since the NZ–EU Free Trade Agreement came into force, which is already delivering, with exports to the EU up more than $3 billion.

One in four Kiwi jobs are tied to trade, and exports are a key driver of our economy. When we make it easier for New Zealand businesses to compete internationally, it supports jobs, lifts wages, and puts more money in people’s back pockets.

That growth means businesses are selling more, hiring more people, and paying higher wages. It means more work on farms and orchards, more shifts in factories, more freight through our ports, and more confidence for local businesses to invest and grow.

Since coming into Government, exports have grown by more than $17 billion. We’ve also concluded, signed, and brought into force the New Zealand–UAE Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement, and completed negotiations with the Gulf Cooperation Council.

National is working hard on the world stage to secure free trade agreements that open new markets for Kiwi businesses to access and grow their exports.

Building better school infrastructure for the future

We’re investing $56.6 million to redevelop six schools that need essential upgrades.

The work will deliver new classroom blocks, sports courts, and specialist learning spaces, along with the removal of buildings that are no longer fit for purpose.

Kiwi kids deserve to learn in warm, dry, and safe environments.

This is part of the Governments wider $2 billion investment to turn around school property across the country.

By focusing on teaching the basics brilliantly and backing schools with the right support and infrastructure, National is setting Kiwi kids up to succeed.

Feedback sought on employment dispute resolution process

Workplace Relations and Safety Minister Brooke van Velden is seeking feedback from the public on their experiences with employment advocates, how employment disputes are experienced in practice, and where improvements could be made.

The focus of the feedback is on understanding people’s experiences across the full dispute journey, from issues handled in the workplace through to mediation, the Employment Relations Authority and the Employment Court.

The public engagement will run on MBIE’s website from 5 May to 31 July. You can make a submission or find more information. See here: ‘Have your say’ - https://www.mbie.govt.nz/have-your-say/consultation-on-the-employment-dispute-system .

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