With less than two months to go until Election Day, things are certainly getting busy across Rangitīkei! The House will rise today for the final time ahead of the election, which means more time for getting out and about in the electorate.
Our campaign signs started going up on 5 September, with Team Rangitīkei out in force. A huge thank you to our outstanding volunteers who gave their time to help, and to the many property and business owners who have generously loaned us a fence, paddock or building. I’m incredibly grateful for your support.
There is still lots to do between now and 7 November, and we would welcome some extra help to keep Rangitīkei blue. If you have a fence, paddock, shed or side of a building where we could put up a campaign sign, please get in touch. We also need help delivering flyers – whether it’s a few streets or your neighbourhood, every bit helps and would be hugely appreciated. If you can help, please email rangitikei@national.org.nz
Over the coming weeks I’ll be hosting café catch-ups in Foxton, Levin and Taihape, as well as welcoming several Ministers to Rangitīkei.
Hon Nicola Willis will be joining me for a public meeting in Feilding on 25 September at the Manawatu Community Hub Library at 5:30pm – everyone is welcome. Then on Friday 9 October, Hon Todd McClay and my colleagues Carl Bates and Barbara Kuriger will be joining me for Feilding Rural Day. It’s always a fantastic day in town and I’m really looking forward to it.
You’ll find more on these events below, along with plenty of other news from around Rangitīkei. I hope to see many of you out and about over the coming weeks!
Rural School Bus Service Back on the Road
It was fantastic to join Nikita Walker and Councillor James McKelvie on Tangimoana Road to welcome students home on the first day of the new school bus service to Palmerston North.
Watch our reel from the first day of the new service
The service connects students from Tangimoana, Rongotea, Lockwood Road and Kairanga with participating Palmerston North secondary schools, and will remain in place while the wider school transport policy review is completed.
This has been a real community effort. A huge thank you to Nikita, James and Palmerston North Boys’ High School Rector David Bovey for their advocacy and work towards a practical solution, and to the many local families who shared their experiences with me. Your voices really did make a difference.
Marking a Milestone at Speldhurst with the PM
It was lovely to be back in Levin with Prime Minister Rt Hon Christopher Luxon in August, this time visiting Speldhurst Country Estate as it celebrates its 10th birthday.
The Prime Minister marked the occasion by planting a tree, following in the footsteps of former Prime Minister Sir John Key, who opened Speldhurst 10 years ago. We also toured the Ivy Suites project currently under construction and caught up with Wayne Bishop and Andrew Miller from The Wayne Bishop Group, the local Bunnings Trade crew and some of the outstanding tradies bringing the project to life.
It was great to see another example of the investment happening across Horowhenua and the local people and businesses helping the district grow.
My KiwiSaver Bill Introduced to Parliament
I was thrilled to see my KiwiSaver (First Home or Farm) Amendment Bill, which was adopted as a Government Bill, introduced to Parliament early in September.
The Bill will remove barriers for people living in service tenancies who want to use their KiwiSaver to buy their first home, while also making it easier for eligible first-home buyers to use KiwiSaver to purchase a farm.
I’m incredibly proud to see an idea which started as my Member’s Bill take this important step through Parliament.
Watch my reel for more on this
Riley puts me on the spot!
If you haven’t caught our Question Time with Riley & Suze series on Facebook, 12-year-old Riley recently put me through my paces with some great questions about life as an MP.
We covered everything from what an MP actually does and what I enjoy most about representing Rangitīkei, to the mysterious role of a Junior Whip, a visit to the Feilding Saleyards and some slightly less serious questions about my Parliamentary colleagues.
We finished with a quick-fire round, where Riley managed to uncover a few things you might not know about me!
Catch up on the series:
Episode 1 | Episode 2 | Episode 3 | Episode 4 | Episode 5 | Episode 6 | Episode 7 | Episode 8 | Final episode
Upcoming Events
Café Catch-Ups
I'd love to see you at any of the locations below for a relaxed catch-up about what matters to you – get yourself a coffee and come and chat.
Foxton: Monday 28 October – Robert Harris Café, 32 Johnston Street – 9:30am-11am.
Levin: Monday 5 October – Focal Point Levin, 14 Salisbury Street – 9:30am-11am.
Taihape: Monday 19 October – Café Telephonic, 8 Huia Street – 9:30am-11am.
Public Meeting with Hon Nicola Willis
Friday 25 September: Join Hon Nicola Willis and me for a public meeting at the Manawatu Community Hub Library, 64 Stafford Street, Feilding. Doors open 5pm for a 5:30pm start. This will be a unique opportunity to hear directly from Nicola in a relaxed setting, as she shares her perspective on the issues facing New Zealand and the Government’s priorities for the future.
Feilding Rural Day – with special guest Hon Todd McClay
Friday 9 October: Feilding Rural Day is an iconic annual event when the country comes to town and, this year, so will special guest Hon Todd McClay! My colleagues Carl Bates and Barbara Kuriger will also be joining us. See you in Manchester Square for a fantastic day celebrating our rural community.
News & Announcements
Earthquake-prone building reforms passed
New legislation will better target earthquake-prone building requirements based on risk, with the reforms expected to save building owners across the Rangitīkei electorate more than $200 million in remediation costs.
Faster and fairer retirement village repayments
New protections for retirement village residents will include a maximum nine-month repayment period and, for many residents, a payment of 10 per cent of net termination proceeds within four weeks of moving out.
New mobile units expand access to breast screening
Four new mobile breast screening units are being delivered across New Zealand, including one serving women across Manawatū and Horowhenua.
Government to cap rates
New legislation will require councils to keep annual rates increases within an initial target range of 2–4 per cent, with provisions for limited circumstances where greater flexibility is required.
Foxton Solar Farm fast-tracked
A new 220 MWp solar farm near Foxton has received Fast-track approval and is expected to generate enough renewable electricity to power approximately 47,000 homes each year.
Here to Help
My team and I are available to assist you.
Reach us by emailing Suze.RedmayneMP@parliament.govt.nz or calling 06 323 7253.
Visit us in person at one of our office locations.
Feilding office: 51 Fergusson Street, Feilding - Monday to Friday, 10:00am to 3:00pm.
Levin office: Corner of Bath and Oxford Streets, Levin - Mondays and Fridays, 10:00am to 3:00pm.
Please feel free to forward this email to friends and family who might like to stay in touch. I appreciate your help staying connected with the community. If you've had this email forwarded on, you can sign up to get regular updates here.
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