It was great to be at the Fieldays this week with farmer confidence at all-time highs as National works hard to back our farmers and growers across the country. It was a very positive few days and I enjoyed catching up with hundreds of farmers and many of our local constituents on the National party stand. If you are planning a trip today or tomorrow, come and say hello to our National Team. We have worked hard for our farmers and will continue to do so, as they are the backbone of our economy and help create jobs and opportunities for everyone.
In a huge win for conservation, National is committing to permanently double baseline funding for the Queen Elizabeth II National Trust if elected.
Thousands of farmers have quietly been part of New Zealand’s conservation solution for nearly 50 years. It’s a proven model that has already protected more than 186,000 hectares, and it works because land stays in the hands of the people who know it best.
The vast majority of land in New Zealand is privately owned, with significant areas of native bush, wetlands and biodiversity.
This makes the QEII Trust's work with farmers and landowners through voluntary covenants critical in protecting our unique biodiversity and landscapes
This commitment is a practical, partnership approach.
National is fixing the basics and building the future for rural New Zealand.
The extension to the Hawke’s Bay Prison, to keep our communities safer is happening at pace, on budget, and on time.
It’s providing a big pipeline of work for local companies, with the new facility set to create over 100 new jobs and stimulate our local economy, with the prison being one of the region's largest employers.
We really appreciate the work of our local corrections staff, who work hard to help rehabilitate people back into our communities across NZ.
I visited the construction site with Corrections Minister, Mark Mitchell and Katie Nimon to see the work progressing and met with many local contractors.
Adding more capacity and resilience to our prison system is about keeping Kiwis safe as we work hard to restore law and order and rehabilitate those who want to turn their lives around.
I loved supporting Relay for Life which is back in Hawke’s Bay after many years! I ran many laps with our team and it was so good to see so many people out supporting the cancer society.
Well done to all the organisers and everyone who came out to support the Cancer Society.
An amazing event, supporting a great cause.
Loved being out at Te Aratipi Station near Waimarama, for Hereworth School’s Farm Walk Fundraiser.
We enjoyed the beautiful native bush and farm walk with hundreds of families.
Te Aratipi is a 4th generation farm and a very special place. Farmers do incredible conservation work, preserving our environment for future generations and we all appreciated this today.
Thank you to Eddie and Ro Palmer for allowing us all to share your special environment.
I had the privilege of attending the official opening of the office and administration block at Pukehou School. It's an amazing rural school and it was very special that the new building was named after Jacqui Gilbertson who has worked at the school for 26 years. This was very special to be part of.
Congratulations to the school and thank you for inviting me.
Congratulations to Sam and Sarah Duncan for their successful Elgin Angus Bull sale and achieving a record-breaking result! It is amazing to see our red meat sector doing so well and seeing the record prices. This is being driven by a global demand for our amazing red meat that we produce here in Hawke's Bay. Well done to the PGG Wrightson's team and Sam and Sarah for all your hard work.
I love taking Ministers around the electorate and it was great to welcome our Minister for Mental Health, Matt Doocey to the electorate this week.
We visited Te Ara Manapou, an amazing organiation which provides support for maternal mental health and addiction.
We also visited Nga Harakeke Mai Rongokako (CAFS) and met the incredible staff who work there, providing support for children and families.
In Budget 2026 we are investing $20.18 million for maternal mental health services.
One of the most important periods in a child’s life is the first 2,000 days. By providing support to families early, we can help build a stronger future for our children
Hawke's Bay is one of the few regions, which have peer support workers in specialist mental health services already in place.
Hearing about the experience of staff and their journeys was very interesting and valuable for our work in this area.
Thank you for all you do.
New doctors to train in the regions that need them most
Hawke's Bay is one of the regions which will host clinical training for the University of Waikato's new medical school from 2028.
We know that where doctors train often influences where they practise. By embedding students in regional and rural communities, we're creating a pathway for more doctors to stay and work in the areas that need them most.
We are focused on fixing the basics and building the future of our homegrown health workforce – delivering the next generation of doctors trained in the communities that need them most.
Optimising land use to power rural productivity
We’re backing farmers and growers to build the future of rural New Zealand.
That’s why we’re investing $59 million, in partnership with the sector, into projects that support smarter land use and innovation on the ground.
This means higher productivity, more confidence for farmers to invest, and more jobs and stronger communities in the regions.
National is fixing the basics – and backing farmers to get ahead.
Food and fibre exports set to hit record $64.3 billion
Exports are set to hit a record $64.3 billion – up more than 6% despite tough global conditions. That’s Kiwi farmers delivering.
We’re backing them.
We’ve taken agriculture out of the ETS, banned full farm-to-forestry conversions, scrapped the ute tax, are replacing the RMA, tackling wilding pines, and have signed an FTA opening access to a 1.4 billion–strong India market.
And we’re not done yet.
We’ll keep cutting barriers so farmers and growers can focus on what they do best – producing for New Zealand and the world.
National is fixing the basics and building the future for rural New Zealand.
Building the future generation of young farmers
The Government is investing in the next generation of young rural leaders by backing a new initiative that will grow our grassroots rural wellbeing leaders.
This new investment will support the creation of a Rural Wellbeing Champions Programme embedded in the iconic New Zealand Young Farmer of the Year Contest. It will help develop regional wellbeing champions who can lead wellbeing conversations and support their peers in rural communities.
The Government is investing $98,000 to support the 100 Champions Rural Wellbeing Programme, delivered by New Zealand Young Farmers in partnership with Farmstrong.
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I look forward to seeing you out in our Tukituki community soon.
Regards, Catherine
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