The 54th Parliament has officially adjourned and it's off to campaigning we go.
But before we set off for campaigning, I was back in Wellington for the final two days, and we passed two significant bills into law! The broken RMA is gone, and my three-day post-natal stay Members' Bill passed into law.
The RMA has been holding our country back for years and on the last day of the 54th Parliament, we changed that - with our new RMA reform, which will make it easier to get things done - from housing, renewable energy projects, helping power up our economy.
Thrilled to see my Member's Bill passed into law
Better postnatal care for mums is something I’ve advocated for since coming into Parliament, with my members bill to give mums a 3 day stay if they choose.
On Wednesday, this bill was passed into law and became the final bill to pass in the 54th Parliament.
This will provide better maternity care with more maternity beds, more staffing and more resourcing to ensure mums and babies can have the special time and support they need.
Thank you to the Mothers Matter advocacy group, the midwives, mothers, families and everyone who stood up to make this happen and to Minister Louise Upston and my National Party colleagues for their advocacy and support for this.
This is a victory for mothers across New Zealand.
The broken RMA is gone!
As Chair of the Environment Select Committee, and chairing endless select committee meetings with hundreds of submissions I was super excited to see legislation being passed to replace the Resource Management Act (RMA) once and for all!
For 35 years, the RMA has acted as a handbrake on growth, making it harder to produce the food and fibre and build the homes, infrastructure and energy projects New Zealand needs – all while failing to deliver the environmental outcomes New Zealanders expect.
The Planning Bill and Natural Environment Bill replace that system with one that is simpler, faster and more consistent – and one based around the centrality of private property rights.
That means fewer plans, less red tape, fewer delays, and fewer battles over the same issues every time a project is proposed.
It’s time to get things done in this country!
We are fixing the basics and building the future.
OUT AND ABOUT
Building the future!
It was great to have Minister of Transport Chris Bishop in town and see the progress being made on the Hawke's Bay Expressway, the first Road of National Significance to begin construction on time, on budget and on track.
It will improve travel time efficiency, resilience and safety on State Highway 2, while supporting economic growth and accommodating future population growth across the Hawke’s Bay region.
Over the coming months, work will focus on completing the three bridge structures and progressing pavement construction across the corridor. Bridge beam installation will continue at the Kennedy Road and Meeanee Road overbridges, while deck, barrier and abutment works progress on the new Tūtaekurī River Bridge. Across the wider corridor, pavement, drainage and utility works will continue ahead of further traffic switches.
The construction contract for the Links Road/Pākōwhai Road interchange is currently out for tender, and we expect to award it in mid-November, with work planned to start before Christmas and be completed in late 2029, marking completion of the project. Enabling works are underway.
Upgrading the existing expressway in a staged and affordable way will ensure benefits can be delivered sooner by alleviating congestion, improving, reliability and safety, and accommodating future growth.
We are backing the fixing the basics and building the future.
Delivering more housing
We also visited Wharenangi Road Development driven by Mana Ahuriri Trust alongside partners Hāpai Housing, TW Property, and Metlifecare.
A new Woolworths supermarket has been announced for Napier on the prime development site, which will also include a retirement village, shops and 140 new homes.
Te Roropipi spans about 17 hectares at 42 Wharerangi Rd and will deliver a thriving community in the coming years.
Groundworks are underway for parts of that land.
Thank you for having us!
GOVERNMENT ANNOUNCEMENTS
National to end screen use in ECE and limits set in primary schools
What if Kiwi kids had more time to learn, play, and connect?
If re-elected, National will end screen time and devices in Early Childhood Education and introduce tighter limits in primary schools.
Technology still has a place in education, but it should enhance learning, not become the default way children learn.
We’ll also launch a School Start Check to help identify children who may need extra support before starting school.
The Set Up for Success policy is all about teaching the basis brilliantly.
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