In The House with Carl
Rural Health has been in focus in the last month with the sod turning, and work commencing, on a $4.4 million extension to the Waimarino Health Centre in Raetihi. This will enable health providers to come together in a one-stop shop.
On the conservation front, an initiative to control goats and deer in theWaitōtaraConservation Area was announced by Minister Hon Tama Potaka. This is about reducing the damage they cause to the ecosystem and will augment deer control already in place in the neighbouring Whanganui National Park.
We protect our children from harm in the physical world every day. It is time we took their safety online just as seriously. Having chaired the Education and Workforce Committee's inquiry into online harm, I was invited to join Prime Minister Christopher Luxon and Education Minister Erica Stanford at the announcement of legislation to reduce the level of harm children are exposed to on a range of social media platforms.This video explains why it is so important to protect our children from online harm
The Ngā Hapū o Te Iwi o Whanganui Claims Settlement Bill passed unanimously after its final reading in Parliament,givingeffectto the Deed of Settlement signed by Iwi and the Crown in May 2026.Here is an excerpt from my speech in the final debate.
Around and about the electorate
Winning Party Votes for National, and keeping the Whanganui Electorate blue,was the focus of the local campaign when it was officially launched on Saturday 29thAugust. Following an early morning cancellation by Hon Erica Stanford due to illness, Hon Nicola Willis rearranged her day and drove straight to Whanganui. Our Deputy Leaderspoke to supporters keen to celebrate the achievements of the last three years and hear about our plans for the next term.
Rural contractors do amazing work throughout the country supporting farmers to be productive drivers of the New Zealand economy. Alastair from Kalin Contracting in Normanby briefed me recently onVehicle Dimension and Mass (VDAM) regulations. In Whanganui, TRS Tyre and Wheel isthe only company in New Zealand to custom manufacture wheels for all agricultural and industrial applications. TheWhanganui Electorate is home to many such businesses supporting the success of our primary sector.
600 primary school students took part in the annual Inter-School Cross-Country atAranui Schoolin Castlecliff last week where many parents and grandparents were supporting the youngsters.Meanwhile, meeting MathEx winners at St George’s School was a reminder of the important work we are doing to improve numeracy and set our young people up for success.
Delivering for you
The Planning Bill and Natural Environment Bill will shortly replace the Resource Management Act.
The new planning system will make it easier to build the homes and infrastructure our country needs. It will give farmers and growers the freedom to get on with producing world-class food and fibre, and strengthen our primary sector while protecting the environment. The bills are expected to pass their final stage in Parliament next week.
Coming Events
- Monday 21 September – Nancy Lu MP visits Whanganui
- Wednesday 23 September – The 54thParliament rises for the election
- Friday 2 October – Carl's Community Connect inHurleyville
Links to recent news items
- Whanganui Chronicle -Whanganui Treaty settlement clears final hurdle after 9 years of negotiations
- Ruapehu Bulletin -Funding boost of $405,000 for Horopito hub on Mountains to Sea trail(Page 3)
- River City Press –Local National Party campaign launched(Page 15)
- River City Press -Calling time on wild goats(Page 26)
- Stratford and SouthSolar on Schools – 14 Taranaki schools included in early rollout(Page 5)
- Pātea-Waverley Press -New planning laws good news for rural NZ(Page 5)
- Opunake and Coastal News -Change is imminent(Page 9)
- Taranaki Daily News -Sparks fly at Climate Justice Taranaki’s election debate in Hāwera
I look forward to seeing you out and about in the wonderful Whanganui electorate.
