PARTY VOTE NATIONAL!
We turned Tukituki Blue over the weekend as we work hard to build the future for Hawke’s Bay.
Thanks so much to my awesome team, family and friends for helping us get signs up across Hastings, Flaxmere, Havelock North, Clive, Haumoana, Te Awanga, Waimarama and Central Hawke’s Bay!
It's just 45 days until early voting opens - so we will be working hard every day to earn the party vote for National.
OUT AND ABOUT
Celebrating women farmers
Women are the powerhouse behind Rural New Zealand and it was wonderful to celebrate the UN International Year of the Woman Farmer Breakfast in Parliament.
From our farms and orchards to our rural communities, women make an enormous contribution to shaping the future of agriculture in NZ.
First candidate debate at Grey Power, Hastings
It was great to speak at my first Tukituki candidate debate at Grey Power, Hastings.
I got the chance to speak about our National Party policies and all we have achieved for Hawke's Bay. Thank you to Ron Wilkins for inviting me and all who came to support us.
Zespri AIMS Games
It was fantastic to attend the Zespri AIMS Games.
The games are one of Australasia’s largest junior sporting events, held annually in Tauranga.
The tournament welcomed a record-breaking 14,506 athletes from 467 schools, competing across 27 codes.
467 schools are represented and 27 sporting codes played.
Well done to all the participants and well done to the organisers.
New Hawke's Bay depot for NZ Post
It was great to visit the new purpose-built NZ Post depot.
The Hawke's Bay Operations Centre on Tomoana Road brings together freight, parcel processing, fleet and delivery operations from three separate depots- one on Taradale Rd in Napier, and two in Hastings on Ave Rd and Jervois St.
The new centre means the company could operate more efficiently and be more responsive and it was great to learn about the process and how our mail and parcels are delivered across Hawke's Bay.
Thank you for having me!
NEW HAWKE'S BAY HOSPITAL CONCEPTS RELEASED
Early concept images for HB Hospital released
The new Hawke’s Bay Hospital concept images have been released, and it is a really exciting milestone for our region.
The new building would bring the hospital’s busiest and most critical services together, including the emergency department, intensive care, maternity services and operating theatres.
For Hawke’s Bay families, this means a modern hospital, delivering timely, quality healthcare.
Feasibility work and site investigations are now complete, with the project moving forward into the next stages of design and planning, supported by funding from Budget 2026.
These are still early concept images, and the design will continue to develop, but it’s exciting to see the first real glimpse of what’s ahead for Hawke’s Bay Hospital.
To see Renders of the Acute Service Building reference concept designs and read more click here- Design work progresses for three regional hospitals | Beehive.govt.nz
Reducing child and youth offending through sport and recreation
The Government is investing $2.4 million across six community programmes using sport and physical activity to support children and young people who may be at risk of offending or reoffending.
The Reducing Child and Youth Offending project is a Sport NZ-led initiative focused on understanding and advocating the value of physical activity and sport to support children and young people who experience higher risk factors relating to offending or reoffending.
In Hawke's Bay 'The Meke Foundation, Hawke’s Bay' will support rangatahi 12 -18 within The Meke Academy, a kaupapa Māori, sport-first education programme. They use daily physical activity, mentoring, cultural identity development and Te Kura learning to create positive life outcomes for vulnerable rangatahi in Hawke's Bay.
International Visitor Levy reset to keep taxes low
National will reset how the International Visitor Levy (IVL) is spent so councils receive a direct return from the visitors they host, without introducing a bed tax.
Tourism is New Zealand’s second-largest export earner and a key driver of economic growth, jobs and higher incomes. As visitor numbers recover and continue to grow, the communities hosting those visitors should share more directly in the benefits of tourism success.
To achieve this, a re-elected National Government will change the way funding from the IVL is distributed, rather than introducing a bed tax that would make it more expensive for New Zealanders to book a holiday in their own country.
To ensure local communities see more of the direct financial benefit from tourism, a re-elected National Government will reset funding from the International Visitor Levy from 1 July 2027, so that:
• $100 million per annum is invested in the Department of Conservation to support the conservation estate that underpins New Zealand’s visitor experience.
• $50 million per annum is invested through a Tourism Priorities Fund to support tourism growth and resilience.
• All remaining IVL revenue, starting at $86 million in 2027/28 and rising to $106 million in 2030/31, is distributed directly to councils based on the share of international visitor guest nights they host.
Free online food safety training benefits thousands
Thousands of food business staff have benefitted from the Government’s new online food safety courses so far.
The Food Safety Basics training modules launched just four months ago have been well received by food businesses.
More than 7,000 people have accessed the first module introducing food safety and over 3,000 the most recently launched one on hygiene.
Food businesses are a critical part of our economy, and the Government is committed to finding and removing obstacles to their success.
With food safety training costing anywhere from $50 to $200 a staff member, these free resources are not only providing an important line of defence for consumers but also saving businesses money.
The modules can be found here- https://www.mpi.govt.nz/food-business/food-safety-toolkit/food-safety-basics-online-training-modules
National backing first home buyers
Owning a home is part of the Kiwi dream, but getting a 20% deposit can be tough for a lot of people.
National has just announced a policy to widen access to 5% deposits.
If you, or you and your partner earn under $300,000, you could be able to buy your first home with just a 5% deposit under National.
Home ownership is important, and as part of our plan to fix the basics and build the future, we want every Kiwi to be able to get into their first home. We want to help you get ahead, and this policy will help you do so alongside introducing no new taxes, boosting KiwiSaver, extending paid parental leave, and lowering the student loan repayment rate.
But to get it, you have to give your party vote to National.
Free cervical screening for all eligible women aged 25 to 69
Cervical cancer is one of the most preventable cancers there is. But only if it's found early.
That's why we're making cervical screening free for all women aged 25 to 69, from the 1st of March 2027.
Right now many women pay anywhere from $35 to over $100, and that cost can be a barrier.
Find cancer earlier, treat it sooner, save more lives.
It's all part of our plan to eliminate cervical cancer in New Zealand.
New nationwide rural recycling scheme for farm plastics
The Government is introducing a new nationwide rural recycling scheme that will significantly increase the recovery of farm plastics from March next year.
The new, regulated Rural Recycling Scheme will expand recycling and recovery of agrichemical containers, bale wrap and silage sheet, with a new nationwide take-back system, replacing the current voluntary recycling schemes.
The scheme has been designed by industry and - with the support of farmers - will significantly increase the recovery and recycling of farm plastics. It will be managed by the not-for-profit Agrecovery Foundation.
The voluntary schemes, operated by Agrecovery and Plasback, currently collect under half of the in-scope plastics that farmers and growers use. The new national system will significantly increase recycling and recovery and reduce the quantity of farm plastics going to landfills, being buried or burnt on farms.
The scheme will require producers to contribute a small fee for products sold to support a free, nationwide network of take-back sites and collection services. The existing regional network of around 240 take-back sites will be expanded to allow for the increased volume of rural plastics for recycling markets.
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I look forward to seeing you out in our Tukituki community soon.
