It’s been a really big couple of weeks for the South and I’m keen to share some highlights with you.
It’s hard to put into words how pleased I am about the government’s announcement of $180 million of new health funding coming to Otago Central Lakes over the next four years, and a commitment to a future integrated care hospital for inland Otago.
Since entering politics, healthcare for the inland Southland and Otago community has been a major focus of mine. Our community has grown quickly over recent decades, and public health services simply haven’t kept up.
70 per cent of New Zealanders who live more than two hours from a base hospital live in Otago Central Lakes. This plan is about changing that, so more patients can get the care they need locally, without travelling hours to Dunedin or Invercargill.
In a media piece back in 2022 I discussed the need for an out-of-the-box solution to see more public health services closer to home for people in Queenstown-Lakes, Central Otago and the Upper-Clutha.
In 2023 I had a fortuitous coffee at Frankton Marina with Helen Foot, a locally-based expert in health systems and infrastructure who was then doing all her work in Australia. We agreed to work together on trying to use innovative ways to seek to break through decades of planning inertia.
Helen’s expertise has been invaluable and her work immense, putting in hundreds of thousands of dollars of pro-bono work driven by her passion for our community.
The then QLDC Mayor Glyn Lewers and his then CEO Mike Theelan, and the then CODC Mayor Tim Cadogan agreed to form a working group with Helen and I, and they deserve a lot of credit for taking a leap of faith and putting a lot of work into this.
MP for Waitaki Miles Anderson, Todd Stephenson MP, and new CODC Mayor Tamah Alley then came on board, and their support has been outstanding.
With the announcement from Health Minister Simeon Brown here in Queenstown last week, planning is now underway to expand locally delivered healthcare services, backed by new funding to grow primary, diagnostic, maternity, mental health, addiction, and outpatient services in the Otago Central Lakes region – Queenstown, Wanaka, Cromwell, Clyde and Alexandra.
There is also now a pathway forward at a later point for an integrated general hospital in the region. That will be a conversation for another day, including where it could be located.
I’m incredibly thankful to Health Minister Simeon Brown, who took the work and the report our group prepared on board, directed Health New Zealand to prepare a Clinical Services Plan - the first one done for a region in decades in New Zealand, and the fastest one ever done, and that has culminated in this announcement.
A lot of people initially said that what we aimed to do was impossible and told me essentially not to waste my time, because people had tried for years and hadn’t really got anywhere.
However over the last few years many more people have worked together through some at times very challenging moments, to make the impossible a reality.
In Queenstown with Health Minister Simeon Brown and MP for Waitaki Miles Anderson at the announcement of health funding for Otago Central Lakes
It was pleasing to see so many people join Health Minister Simeon Brown and I in Winton recently week for a meeting on public health.
Minister Brown’s grandfather grew up in Tuatapere, so he has strong ties to the south.
The large group attending were pleased to hear of the Government giving greater focus to rural communities. We’ve added 700 doctors across New Zealand, and there is work underway for rural areas to be officially part of the weighting criteria used to determine public health decisions.
Thank you to everyone who came along!
A packed meeting in Winton with Health Minister Simeon Brown
When sign-off finally comes for projects, it’s easy to say the hard work and sometimes tension getting there is water under the bridge. In the case of flood mitigation for the Mataura River, water under the bridge is exactly what the community has been calling for.
Securing funding for flood mitigation is another of the local projects I’ve been pressing hard for, so I’m stoked to see the announcement from Minister for Rural Communities Mark Patterson in Gore last week confirming funds for the work.
This will reduce the risk of a large flood event forcing water into the Gore township, and like Māruawai’s classrooms, it has taken effort to get the go-ahead.
More flood mitigation is needed across Southland, and I will continue advocating for this to be prioritised for our community. Changes to the RMA will mean less bureaucratic hold-ups, so hopefully in future we won’t be sitting idle for as long waiting for the green light.
Another major announcement was Transport Minister Chris Bishop green-lighting a new cycling and walking bridge at Jim’s Way across SH6 just up the hill from the Shotover Bridge on the way into Queenstown.
Carrying around 27,000 vehicles a day, SH6 in Queenstown is a busy state highway and this bridge will address safety concerns from locals, parents, and visitors, trying to cross the road.
I’m pretty stoked about this, I’ve been relentlessly advocating across governments to get this built (as well as other active travel infrastructure), and to keep funding for active travel in the region.
Well done to Queenstown Trails, The Lightfoot Initiative and others who also worked hard on this for years.
At the site of the new Shotover Bridge with Minister of Transport Chris Bishop (centre) and NZ Transport Agency Waka Kotahi director of regional relationships James Caygill
Great news for Central Otago and the Southern region today with Government committing up to $1 million to Roxburgh Gorge Trail to close the 12 km gap in the trail, and $302,000 for Otago Central Rail Trail restoration.
The funding is a big win for both the economy and the local community.
Once the Roxburgh Gorge trail, and the Kawarau trails are completed, people will be able to get off the plane in Queenstown and bike all the way to Dunedin. (There is also another section from Waihola to Dunedin to be built).
The Great Rides are vital to our local economies with more than two million people enjoying the Great Rides each year and spending an estimated $1.28 billion in the regions.
They boost economic growth by creating jobs, supporting local businesses, and attracting new hospitality and accommodation services to set up nearby, as well as being awesome facilities for local communities.
I’ve done a lot of work advocating for the Roxburgh Gorge 12km trail link to be completed for a number of years across various governments, and am stoked for this announcement to ensure it can be completed.
With James Russell of Gorge Creek Station and Otago Central Trails trustee Peter Mulvihill (right).
We’re forging ahead with local Government reform. Regional council layers will disappear by 2028, and local councils will be given a fast-track chance to reorganise themselves in the next three months to take on those regional council functions.
Our councils have an opportunity to get to the front of the queue and take the opportunity for more localised control of regional functions. Shared services, reduced overheads, fewer layers are all potential benefits from these changes.
I’m incredibly pleased funding for eight new specialist classrooms at Māruawai College has been confirmed.
I worked closely with the school’s leadership and board advocating for this to progress, and the school’s motto: ‘no reward without effort’ rang true in this situation.
This Government inherited a school property system nearing crisis, where schools were promised projects but left waiting, often for years, on delayed, expensive, and unfunded builds.
This Government’s focus on improving education has shifted school property from delays to delivery, and I’m excited for the students and teachers who will make the most out of these new spaces.
The Prime Minister and I with Māruawai College Principal Melanie Hamilton
I had a great visit to Fiordland College and Te Anau school recently, including a tour of the college with two of the Head Students Wade and Ella, and a great discussion with Principal Steven Mustor and some of his team.
Fiordland College
It was also exciting to have a tour of Te Anau School with Principal Fallon Graham and have a look at the new school hall and classroom which is just awaiting code of compliance, as well as discussing the growth in the basin.
I did a lot of work with past principal Grant Excell to support the work of the community who got right in behind the campaign to get a new hall and classroom, and advocated across governments to help get this across the line.
Last time I was at the school in December 2024 it was grass - with funding just having been confirmed, today the hall and new classroom are built and almost ready to open. Just in time too, as they are expecting 61 new entrants soon. Very exciting!
Both schools do a brilliant job for the Fiordland basin.
Te Anau School
Education Minister Erica Stanford and I recently had an excellent tour of Wakatipu High School with Principal Oded Nathan, Head Students Zara Small and Haru Kuroe, and Youth MP Ankita Pilo.
Wakatipu High School
Great to visit KingsView School in Frankton. Like all the schools in the Wakatipu basin, they have a fast-growing roll.
Here with CSAQ Chair Rob, Principal Amos Pilgrim, and CSAQ members Rodney and Tommy
In the international arena there has been the recent signing of the India Free Trade Agreement which will also have positive effects for Southland and Otago.
Our meat, dairy, trees, fruit, seafood now have greater access to the massive Indian market.
The Indian economy is forecast to grow to US $7 trillion (NZ$12 trillion), with a middle class expected to number more than 700 million, by 2030.
This is a once-in-a-generation step forward for New Zealand.
It means better returns for our primary producers and the people and businesses associated with them.
Tariffs on sheep meat, wool, coal and many other products will be removed immediately. This is great news for our community.
My Climate Change (Restriction on Civil Proceedings) Members’ Bill has been picked up by Minister of Justice Paul Goldsmith.
The government will amend climate laws to prevent companies from being sued over damage caused by greenhouse gas emissions. This has been supported by Cabinet and all government parties.
The change will prevent findings of liability in torts - a type of civil case where one person or entity claims another has caused them harm.
This option did not exist until 2022, when in a world first, New Zealand's Supreme Court allowed this new tort to in effect come into being by allowing it to go to trial. My Member’s Bill stops that – another world first.
This will apply to current and future cases - stopping a landmark case against Fonterra and five other major companies. This was creating uncertainty in business confidence and investments that the government must address.
The law change would remove the possible development of a new regime that contradicts the framework Parliament has already enacted to respond to climate change.
New Zealand already has a legal framework to manage emissions, through the Climate Change Response Act and the Emissions Trading Scheme.
Our response to climate change is best managed by the government at a national level and not through piece-meal litigation in the courts which would be chaotic. The only people smiling would have been the lawyers, whilst the cost for such litigation would have flowed on to ordinary consumers, adding to the cost of everything in our country.
Thank you to everyone in our community who is working hard and making Southland the fantastic place that it is.
I hope you have a great weekend!
Joseph